AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDoes this team deserve to make the playoffs?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In sports, there are teams that roll through their regular season and clinch a playoff spot early. Other teams get hot toward the end of the regular season and continue their hot run in the playoffs.
Alas, the Hawks are neither of these.
The way they’re playing lately, the Hawks are going to “back into” the playoffs. I.e. Philadelphia, New Jersey and/or Indiana would have to collapse in order for the Hawks to get in.
Is that what you really want, Hawk fans? Do you want our team to be struggling when they take on #1 seed Boston? In essence, do you want to see a team that is the opposite of being on a roll?
Don’t get me wrong. I want to see the Hawks in the playoffs. But I also want to see a playoff with teams that deserve to be there.
I hope the Hawks get hot real quick.
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By Hock
March 13, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this
Does a team 12 games below .500 belong in the playoffs? Sure, NBA fans need a good laugh.
By BA
March 13, 2008 2:57 AM | Link to this
I’m so f**ing disgusted right now. I started this year on Woodson’s side. But you wouldn’t see mismanagement this bad at your local mickey-d’s. Mario West HUSTLES. He plays the game the right way. Why, at this point in the season, is this guy just now getting minutes? Why is Joe being allowed (God bless him) to play forty-five minutes a game in the N.B.A.? You know who I envy? The upcoming coach and G.M. Because with this talent a real coach could do so much. And the new G.M. will finally bring in the role players for the bench that we need. I think this year could have been totally different if from the start they started Pachulia instead of Marvin. Remember two years ago when Pachulia started? Almost a double double per night. Some guys just have to start to have that confidence. I know Smith can’t shoot the three, but the combination of Joe and Smoove on the perimeter defense would be strong. Plus it would free up Smoove to get those blocks from behind more often. Those seem to really rattle people in the lane. Pachulia (with the right coach) would be better equipped against other team’s fives. But most importantly, it would get our consitently worst defensive player (Marvin) off the floor. The Hawks could set the tone early defensively. also strengthens the bench (Chills AND Marvin) because Marvin has proven (at N.C.) to be an effective player off the bench, whereas Pachulia clearly is better off starting. K.Y.P.- know your personnel. And of course, to end my diatribe, I have a request. Too the three people who continue to use this blog as a personal chat room, we are all begging you, PLEASE STOP. I’m sure you all have very insightful observations on this basketball team. I’d love to read them. But what I DON’T want to read is as follows: Who is a doctor Who is a woman Who is giving who a vasectomy Who thinks should win the election Who plays tennis How anybody “feels” about anyone else Please, exchange e-mails, meet in the “horny chickenheads who like doctors” chatroom, or just meet in person and exchange whatever S.T.D.’s one of you undoubtedly has. But please, I’m begging, NO MORE PESONAL CRAP IN THE HAWK’S BLOGS!!!!!
By oldmike
March 13, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
To quote Jim Mora Senior - Playoffs? Don’t give me playoffs. This team is being totally mis-managed by Woodson. Look at the teams playing well. They have consistent player rotations. Everyone knows their role. Starters aren’t abused with excessive minutes game after game. For Gxx’s sake JJ is logging 42+ a night. The guy is exhausted at the end of games from taking on the other team’s primary scorer and also being the only go to guy on offense. Why isn’t Bibby allowed to run the offense at the end of games? It always boils down to ISO JJ and pray he hits a shot. I am sick of watching them night after night play the same way. Give away games they should win. At the end of the day it all goes back on the Spirit(less) owners. They are not in the business of running a professional franchise. The league needs to mandate them to run this team with purpose and direction. Woodson needs to go. So does BK. Although I am beginning to think the owners “cheap out” everything and his hands are tied. Please, no false hope of the playoffs. Get a new coach in here. Resign JSmooth and Chills and go from there. I can wait till 2009 to see this bunch excel in the right system and start being a force in the league.
By ken
March 13, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Is it possible for the Hawks to finally figure out who they are in the last 20 games ? Is it possible for Coach Woodson to change his in game strategy and have clearly defined roles for every player on the team? Can this team as structured go on a serious run and win say 15 out of 20? If all these possibilities become reality, then and only then, do the Hawks deserve to make the playoffs!
By STRETCH
March 13, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
This team does NOT deserve to make the playoffs….not THIS year! Ive been watching every game and its the same thing over and over.
They dont play with any heart when on the road. Only a couple of players show up for every single game.
When they play at home, they give a galiant effort but thanks to Woody, its all for not. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS GUY IS STILL A F@CKIN COACH IN THE NBA. ONLY IN ATLANTA….LOSERVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!
And dont get me started talking about the Fair weather fans. Halftime was almost over before there was even attendance. Even the play by play guys on FSN noticed. One of the guys even stated, qoute…”im glad we have better fans in Houston”
Sad that it has come to this, but this city is going to lose a franchise one of these days….Come on Atlanta!
By earl watson
March 13, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
fire the coach please they dont respect him nd he just was riding on larry browns coatail
By earl watson
March 13, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
woodson and night get paid to lose there is only 2 players that play hard and 1 they wont play mario west and they keep horford on the bench 2 long they have an explosive player in robinson on a 10 day contract that should be playing woodson stinks stinks stinks
By Willis 42
March 15, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
NJ, Washington and Philly won tonite. Philly is rolling now, just beat the Spurs for three straight.
Andre Iguodala, a player we passed on to get Chills, is a man for them, almost 20 a game. Jersey beat Utah.
Looks as if Smoove and co will be watching playoffs on TV
By Joe
March 16, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
Poor Joe Johnson….I bet he is hoping not to make the playoffs! All this talent and he is playing 40 plus minutes. he is badly mis-managed and NEVER once did he complain to media. He is a standup character. We have the right team to make noise but Woody and his twin brother is the wrong people to run this organization. At least the fans are not hating on the players and pointing fingers where they should!
By ATLplayer
March 16, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
I don’t believe in BACKING into the playoffs. There is no such animal! If the Hawks make it then they deserve to be there. The teams that don’t make it don’t have what it takes! You can’t fault the team for making it…all the teams play a 82 game schedule. The teams with qualifying records earned the right. Get off that BACKING into the playoff!
By JohnD
March 16, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
If insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result - then Mike Woodson may be crazy.
By Koncaker
March 16, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Horfords production has dropped off for a couple of a games and now people are putting Luis “21 straight” Scola as ROY. We may not get anything this yr.
By Koncaker
March 16, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Horfords production has dropped off for a couple of a games and now people are putting Luis “21 straight” Scola as ROY. We may not get anything this yr.
By clipped wings
March 18, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
It would just be nice for them to be in there — no matter how they get in.