AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 19
Monday, November 19, 2007
Check the mirror first
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now is the time that the confidence sags, the gusto wanes and the belief in self starts crumbling at the edges.
And no, I’m not talking about the Wolverine Nation worrying about what life A.L.C. will be like compared to a life filled with mediocrity.
I’m talking about the growing sense of unrest in Hawksville, where players play their guts out (well, most of them at least) every night but don’t see the fruits of that labor on the scoreboard.
I’m talking about the lingering sense of desperation while a team is just nine games (3-6) into a season that has barely begun.
I’m talking about the readiness of a small but rabid base of fans (at least around these parts) that is clamoring for something to believe in, where their team is concerned, even if that means venturing into the dangerous waters of a new regime in the midst of what still could be a franchise-turning season.
I’m talking about the Hawks baby, so you know we’re going to go way beyond the obvious (and yes, it is Christmas in November for guys like me but I’ll have to wait until LSU finishes it’s title run to unwrap my gift).
The urge to panic and want to toss out everybody from the owners to the ball boys is an expected one, and certainly not one I’m willing to wade into at this time. Normally I would caution against making any sort of irrational assumptions or decisions about the direction of this team.
But it’s clear to me that until people are willing to look themselves in the mirror, that’s right, check the mirror first, all this uncertainty and simmering unrest will continue to erode the fabric and chemistry of this team. So I totally understand that urge and won’t talk any of you out of feeling that way (you think you’ve had it bad not making the playoffs last season, try going from a national championship-caliber program to being a punch-line for App. State jokes the world over and ask me if I know your pain).
Who couldn’t be doing more? Who could possibly think that what they’ve done already is good enough? Any coach, player, executive or owner that thinks so is obviously drinking two or three shots of what we all need. Because there is still so much work to be done where these Hawks are concerned.
That’s not disrespect to the efforts being put forth by many. They have to ask themselves, though, is what I’m doing enough?
I know Dr. Phil has cornered the market on giving advice (solicited and otherwise). So I won’t pretend to have all the answers. But as I’ve stated here many times before (so another one shouldn’t shock anyone), the team that doesn’t play for each other ultimately destroys each other.
And I don’t know that these cats, as much as they may like each other and like playing together on the floor sometimes, truly understand the difference between playing as a team and playing for the team.
Their raging inconsistency from night to night is what has led me to this conclusion. I watched them Saturday night in Milwaukee from just inches away on the end of the bench (along with a slew of scouts from other teams that saw many of the same things I saw).
I saw the camaraderie and noticed the way Josh Smith’s teammates rallied behind his pedal-to-the-floor showing in that loss. But the vibe in the locker room after that game was as awkward as any I’ve observed since coming here to cover this team.
Until these cats come together, and I mean really understand the notion of playing for each other and nothing else, they’ll continue to struggle - as much as 3-6 with 73 games to play constitutes a struggle.
