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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Hawks lack a leader to follow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
So this is what it’s like when Reality meets Potential.
Josh Smith skies for a dunk. Josh Smith stands at the intersection of oblivious and unconscious following a timeout and fails to set a pick or … do … anything. And a teammate is left hung out to dry.
Joe Johnson hits a big jumper to key a comeback. Joe Johnson forces a late shot from behind the backboard against two defenders — low-percentage, even for Moses — then saves the worst for overtime: He travels, has a shot blocked and misses a layup.
Salim Stoudamire hits a three. Salim Stoudamire drives and passes back to the atmosphere, which misses.
Hawks lose. The won-lost, Reality-Potential breakdown now stands at 9-26. But just think how much more aesthetically appealing the Hawks will be if they can upset Houston today in Philips Arena and break into double digits in victories.
Houston has lost 10 of 12, but the Hawks have a way of boosting a franchise’s hope index. Washington had lost five of six until dumping the Hawks by 31 points last Wednesday. The Wizards came back three nights later and won in Philips in overtime. The Hawks had 47 turnovers in the two games.
Suddenly, it’s good to be a Wizard.
How come it’s never good to be a Hawk?
Well, you could write a book. But depending on the horror quotient, Bram Stoker might claim copyright infringement.
So let’s stick with the most basic of reasons why the Hawks seemingly have saved their best meltdowns for when it really matters. Either nobody is capable of taking charge, or nobody wants to take charge, or somebody tries to take charge only to discover that his four teammates have the collective attention span of a flea.
When the game is on the line, the Hawks don’t run an offense or a defense. They break huddle, then run in different directions. That’s either coaching or lack of listening. But when you’re 9-26, there’s enough blame to go around.
The Wizards game the other night at Philips was a classic example. The Hawks followed every highlight with self-immolation. They rally, look to turn a corner, then implode. They can’t figure out why it keeps happening to them. But the answer is the same in every sport. An opponent steps up, and the team that lacks a player with some sense of just-gimme-the-freaking-ball fizzles.
Johnson and Al Harrington are as close as the Hawks get to go-to guys. In the last game, the two went a combined 13-for-39. Johnson also had seven turnovers and went 1-for-5 in overtime.
It might not seem fair to single him out. That comes free of charge with $70 million contracts.
Here’s the problem (OK, another problem). Harrington is a nice player, but he’s going into free agency. The Hawks can trade him or let him go, but there’s a better chance that I’m starting for this team next year than he is.
The Hawks are 9-26 with Harrington. They’re not going to be much worse without him. He’s not the guy to build around. It’s not his team. If it’s ever going to Johnson’s team, it’s not yet. It was easier to be a go-to guy in Phoenix because Steve Nash was feeding him the ball. But Nash wasn’t included in the sign-and-trade. Not many players can do it alone — and Johnson is not one of those elite few.
“I won’t say it’s difficult because I don’t think it’s anything I can’t handle,� Johnson said. “But at the same time, I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ve had my mistakes. I’m adjusting.�
He says he wants the ball with the game on the line. “I just feel a lot better when the ball’s in my hands,� he said. But nobody’s hands have been great.
The Hawks are averaging nearly 17 turnovers a game. I don’t know how many on average are being committed in crunch time, but when a team is 9-26, it can’t afford to scorch the few opportunities it has.
“We’re still trying to figure some things out,� Woodson said.
Like maybe who their leader is.
Here’s one possibility: He’s not here.
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