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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2009 > January > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHawks will go as far as Bibby takes them
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Even before Sunday’s 15-point home loss to a sub-.500 team that ended in boos and suddenly left some wondering, “Is this when the trap door opens?” Rick Sund made it clear that he hadn’t been sucked in by those previous weeks of bliss.
“This is really the year for us to see how this team comes together,” the Hawks general manager said. “We’ll evaluate it at the end of the year.”
Success is a fragile thing in sports. The Hawks are finding that out. They’ve gone from winning 10 of 12 to losing three straight, the last two bathed in ugliness: 102-87 in Orlando and 109-94 to Philadelphia at Philips Arena on Sunday.
“We just gave up too many points,” guard Mike Bibby said. “Unless we get back to playing better defensively, and we stop letting people make plays to beat us, we’ll have problems.”
It’s appropriate that Bibby should make the statement. How this season goes — and where this roster goes — starts and ends with him.
Bibby is the point guard, the floor leader, the piece the Hawks were missing until a trade 11 months ago. The deal with Sacramento started to pull the Hawks together, even if it couldn’t save Billy Knight’s job and, for that matter, came with no guarantees for Mike Woodson’s.
Recent results notwithstanding, things have clicked for most of this season. Even with the current “rut” (Woodson’s word), the Hawks are 22-14. The team has chemistry — at least, when players don’t defend like they’re in REM state.
The Hawks are viewed as one of the league’s up and coming teams. The problem with such labels is it assumes too much about the point guard position and Bibby’s future.
Bibby is playing without a contract beyond this season. That’s not going to change.
Sund has a history of letting guys play with expiring contracts. One year in Seattle, his team played with nine impending free agents. The Sonics won the division. Do you think he’s going to change now?
Bibby has shown an ability to compartmentalize. The contract status hasn’t affected him.
“My mom always told me, ‘Don’t worry about things you can’t control,’ ” he said. “So I’m not.”
Bibby won’t be traded. There is no reason to mess with a team that, for the most part, has blended well. Bibby and Joe Johnson are one of the league’s best backcourts. If the Hawks did start to fall apart this season, it’s far more likely there would be a coaching change than a roster change.
Never mind the up-and-coming tag. The Hawks have to win now. Sund knows. They must assume the window for success is small. Next year, Bibby might be gone. Joe Johnson will be entering the final year of his contract. See how quickly things can change?
“For me, it’s always been that way,” Woodson said. “I can’t look toward the future. When I took over, even though they gave me a four-year deal, I wasn’t guaranteed I would last each year. I’ve always tried to coach year to year. You have to try to get something accomplished now.”
He alluded to Bibby’s uncertain future adding, “Mike understands the situation. He’s been around long enough to understand the dynamics of what’s going on and what he’s going through right now. He’s handling it very well, knowing that he’s a free agent and anything can happen.”
Going through training camp with the Hawks has helped Bibby. So has staying healthy. His attitude? He told Sund in off-season meetings that the Hawks could be a legitimate playoff threat if everybody accepted their roles.
“That really resonated with me,” Sund said.
Said Bibby, “I’m not worried about how many points I score or how many assists I have. I’m just trying to bring us as many wins as possible. Everybody looks good if we win.”
The Hawks’ best player Sunday was the one without a contract next season. Bibby finished with 22 points, eight assists, two steals and four rebounds. It might be a good time for everybody to follow their leader.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By grip
January 11, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this
Bibby is doing a good job, but I hope we do not get our eyes off the prize. Our salary cap problems are something serious, if we are gonna win a championship there will have to be major changes to this roster. If we keep bibby a.c. must be developed…bibby will never be able to go to the basket or defend well…. joe must be signed, because of josh smith’s defense and potential, and his contract he must be kept..marvin has improved, maybe so much that another team will outbid us. Horford is good at what he does, but how valuable is he as a full time center with an undersized power forward as his teammate. Know one wants to hear it but we could deal horford and get a ton, whether you agree or not with my evaluation somebody’s got to go…..to many contracts not enough salary cap
By SQUAWKER
January 11, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this
Bibby is having a great season, no doubt. Unfortunately, all players get a spike in their stats in contract years. I would not be against re-signing Bibby for another 3 years or so, but we cannot break the bank for him. If we could get him for 10 or so per, I would ink him to a three year deal. Hopefully by then, Acie will be more than ready to take the reins….
By jt in dallas
January 11, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this
I’ve tried to stay out of this Atlanta stuff, but here it is: FIRE WOODY, PLEASE!!! The article about Bibby’s contract expiring is great evidence that Woody HAS to develop a back up point guard and Flip is Not the one (ball-hogging, turnover prone, selfish player that he is). I agree that Woody has it in for Acie Law for whatever petty reason. Wouldn’t it be great if BK had been allowed to actually make management decisions and sent Woody’s @#ss packing last year. I noticed that in the blowout fiasco in Orlando, Woody actually started (and played) the starters in the third quarter. That would have been a great time to give ALL his bench players valuable game-time experience, while resting his starters for the next game. (Maybe they would have come out ready for Philly, huh? Since I’m from Dallas, I see Avery Johnson as the best fit for the Hawks coach. However, we had Sund here also, and he was run out on a rail for keeping another sorry, sucky coach who like Woody, couldn’t pour p** out of a boot with the directions on the bottom. Sund, wake up and smell the roses.
By Rico
January 11, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
HAWKS NEED TO TRADE FOR MARCUS CAMBY. SOLOMON JONES, A DRAFT PICK AND ANOTHER PLAYER WILL DO IT. CAMBY IS THE FORCE IN THE MIDDLE ON DEFENSE THAT WILL SOLIDIFY MIKE WOODSON DREAM OF BEING #1 IN DEFENSE.
By Rico
January 11, 2009 10:17 PM | Link to this
RESIGNING MIKE BIBBY IS GREAT BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE MORE PLAYING TIME TO A.C. LAW. THIS WAY YOU GIVE HIM MORE EXPERIENCE AND YOU SAVE BIBBY ENERGY AND LEGS FOR THE 4TH QUARTERS AND THE REST OF THE SEASON. STOP KEEPING A.C. ON THE BENCH!!!
By Joshua
January 12, 2009 12:27 AM | Link to this
The wheels are starting to fall off. Tuesday night we will suffer our 4 lost in a row. Mike Woodson is so damn cluessless it pitiful. And None of the AJC sports writers have balls to ask the hawks gm how much he’s going to take. I bet Bradley is still on woodson nuts after last year 7 games. Nobody cares about Bibby, why can’t we just get a coach with sense?? Smith still shooting 3’s, they just gave up vs the 76’ers let them shoot them back to back to back 3’s with more the 2 minutes on the clock. When your team doesn’t play hard for you they don’t like you.
By Hms
January 12, 2009 6:43 AM | Link to this
Are you quite certain Schultz, that Mike Bibby will not be traded? Even if this is so, there is no guarantee that he will be retained here. What then to do about the point guard position, where Law has not been allowed to take his lumps and either make or not make strides?
By LAWTON
January 12, 2009 6:46 AM | Link to this
Its a combination of Woody not using the bench and the Hawks SOOOOFFFTTTTT middle. Teams run down the lane at will against the Hawks. They HAVE to get a center in there to take the load off Horford. They are overworking the starters STILL. Bibby, never been known for defense anyway, gets ate up every game off the dribble because of his age and that forces the other Hawks to have to leave their man and always causes a easy layup or open kickout for the other team. Im not faulty Bibby, he is my favorite Hawk player, im faulty Woodson for not developing A.C. quicker so that he can come in and take some minutes off Bibby’s legs so that Bibby can be rested for the 4th quarter pushes.
By Analchord
January 12, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this
Live by the 3…..
Stay in the paint. Brush on, wipe off. The Karate Kid couldn’t save the Hawks.
You have to control the pace of the game. You have to press. You have to keep possession longer. Try dribbling.
The dribble is a lost art. Dribble. Dribble. Double Dribble. Loose-ball fouls: Schultz’s drivel.
jklol
By Seriously?
January 12, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this
Schultz article:
Bibby is good and he doesn’t have a contract.
Captivating.
By kev
January 12, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this
Why Dont Woody play Randoff Morris ?
By old school
January 12, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
I have never posted a comment. I’m compelled to do so because of our head coach. Before I tought Mike Woodson desrved another shot. My thoughts were that the team improved each season. Now I wish he was gone. As before mentioned he is not developing the young guys on this team. If we are getting blown away why not play the bench p-layers so that they can gain valuable game time experience. He over play his starters. Basketball is suposed to be a team concept. I think we have some talented young big men who dont play often. When they are called upon they do produce. why is he so afraid to use them? He stunts their growth and diminishes their confidence. How would you feel if you team is getting blown away and you dont get playing time. He’s is a straight up moron God forgive me. Please get us an experienced coach Mr. Sund. I have watched and supported this team even when they were an embarrassment to watch. Please give me something good to feel towards the team for all the support I have given the team!!!
By Hms
January 12, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this
Analchord
I say methinks I know you well. Your comical repertoire is swell.
By Jim
January 12, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
Bibby is good offensively, but he kills us on defense. We still don’t have a true center, as we are about to see with Zaza and Soloman in the next few games. Horford needs to be playing the 4. The most glaring problem, however, is the lack of a coach. WOODY IS JUST AWFUL! He seldom has the right mix on the floor. He buries guys on the bench. He plays his best players until their tongues hang out. His team has no half-court game. The team is not coached in the fundamentals. They suceed strictly on playground talent and youthful hustle.
By cheese
January 12, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this
why do people still say we need a true center??? not even a quarter of the teams in the nba has a true center guys! the game has changed now and having a true center is hard to come by.
By Darrin "The Vent King"
January 12, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
Woody is history. There’s no way Sund resigns him next season unless of course the Atlanta “Kill My” Spirit makes him.
By Dr. Warren
January 13, 2009 3:05 AM | Link to this
So we’re on a 3 game losing streak, people. So what. We just won 9 out 10. That’s the NBA. It’s a long season. Fire the coach? Up until 5 days ago we had the 5th best record in the NBA. Relax.
By jlewis
January 13, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
Are you kidding Schultz, Mike Bibby is the player he is because of double teams on Joe Johnson, when he gets double-teamed and can dish to Joe or anyone else for open shots, then you can call him the best player. Also, teams opposing point guards tear him up on defense, he is small, and where you get leader from, show me? He doesn’t lead the team in assists or sets a defensive standard, PLEASE man, know some b-ball.
By D Brown
January 14, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
Jlewis is dead on…”Leader”; are you kidding me!? What kind of point guard allows the PF to run up the court with the ball on a consistent basis; know that he’s prone to turn the ball over? I hate to say it but Joe shouldn’t be bringing up the ball either…after half a season under his belt he should be demanding the ball before they get past the half court line.
One other thing we have to many passive people on this team …somebody, anybody besides Woody needs to throw a serious tantrum because they are slowly losing ground in the Eastern Conference.