AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > January > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPart of Hawks’ problem: Woodson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Two losing coaches had dinner Sunday night and split an order of misery, well done.
Of course, once you get past the malnourished win-loss percentages and the dueling hang-in-theres, there’s really only so much that Larry Brown and Mike Woodson have in common. The New York Knicks can morph into a Toronto Raptor starter kit and Brown isn’t going anywhere. Brown doesn’t get fired. He promises his undying love for a team and then quits, or he coaches one in the NBA Finals while negotiating with another. It’s the benefit of not having a conscience.
Woodson doesn’t have Brown’s comfort zone. Notwithstanding’s Monday’s 120-101 win over the Knicks, the Hawks aren’t morphing into anything. That’s the problem. They’re still the Hawks.
Change the owners, the general manager, the players, the coach, the formula for artificially inflating attendance figures. Doesn’t matter. They’re still the face Murphy was thinking about when he said, “Hmmm. I’ve got this idea for a law.”
Even with the victory, the Hawks are on pace to finish 23-59. The scary reality: That would be an improvement over last year’s franchise-worst 13-69. But that’s sort of like comparing a clean rag with a used one. In the end, it’s still a rag.
Woodson is 25-100 after a season and a half. He was the fastest to 100 defeats in Hawks coaching history, breathing or otherwise. The team let that plateau pass without a commemorative cyanide capsule giveaway.
Now, this isn’t all Woodson’s fault. The Hawks are missing parts. They have been molded by the thumbs of Billy Knight. But when a team continually fizzles down the stretch of games, there’s a problem. When a team looks as lost after a timeout as before it, there’s a problem.
When a team is getting punked by Boris Diaw, there’s a problem.
The problem is Woodson.
Brown doesn’t think so. He believes any speculation that Woodson might be fired is undeserved.
“I’ve never had an assistant who was better,” said Brown, Woodson’s boss in Detroit and Philadelphia. “If they [Hawks owners] think they can do better, they ought to coach.”
I’m thinking: Could they do worse?
Let’s be clear: The Hawks should not have been considered a playoff team before this season. But they should have been considered somewhere between a playoff team and this. Youth aside, when players make the same mistakes nightly, it does not scream significant improvement.
Either what Woodson is preaching to his players is wrong (unlikely), or what he’s preaching isn’t sinking in (more likely). Blame the message or the messenger. Regardless, it falls on Woodson.
He’s the nicest, classiest guy in the world. But it’s not working. He’s not working. Losing close games shouldn’t be taken as a sign that things are getting better. Everybody loses close games. If the Hawks were 20 games under .500 after a full season (31-51), that would be progress. But 20 games under .500 after 42 — big problem.
Here’s another problem: Almost everybody can cross the Hawks’ roster with their record and conclude, “They’re underachieving.”
Not Woodson. When asked if this team had underachieved, he said: “I can’t say that. What I am saying is there have probably been at least 10 games we controlled and were somewhat our own worst enemy.”
Guess what? Every team can make those claims. Lucky shots, bad breaks, unfair calls, tired legs — all that stuff evens out. They’re losers’ excuses.
Woodson attributed late-game breakdowns to the team’s youth, then said: “I have to take responsibility for that. I can’t put it all on the players because we’re all in it together.”
They’re in it together. But they’re not on even footing. The Hawks have already fired all the players. They’re not going to do that again. When Boris Diaw turns into a threat, it’s not all because of his supporting cast.
Woodson says he still comes to work “excited about my job every day.”
Well. That’s one.
He dismissed speculation on his future, saying: “If a head coach has to look over his shoulder always worrying about his job, he can’t do his job.”
Tunnel vision gets you through a day. But it hasn’t helped his record. Brown can relate to the loss total, but he can fall back on his résumé. Woodson is trying to fall back on hope. Good luck with that.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Jeff Schultz
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By DavidU
January 30, 2006 07:38 PM | Link to this
Welcome to the dark side…or what I like to call— Reality. All Hawks fans have been saying this for 2 years. Glad you have come over to our side.
Does BK or the owners have a subscription to the AJC? I hope so, since they don’t listen to the fans maybe they will listen to the media.
By RoadDawg
January 30, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this
Tomorrow Moore will do a column about how Woodson is not getting a fair deal because he’s Black, to counter this one. I’ll bet anything.
By geechee
January 30, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this
I hate when you beat around the bush. Can’t you just let out your true feelings.
You quoted Woodson as saying “If a head coach has to look over his shoulder always worrying about his job, he can’t do his job.� He does not however give us any clue as to what it is exactly that is keeping him from doing his job.
Great column Jeff.
By mountain_jim
January 30, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this
Thanks for speaking truth to the clueless.
And when is Billy going to condescend to talk to the fans who ultimately pay his salary? Explain his ‘plan’ again, perhaps.
mj
By Hoss
January 30, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this
Where are all the Woodson supporters? I’m certainly not one of them, but someone out there must be a fan of the guy. He has a well groomed mustache. That’s gotta count for something.
He has until the end of the season to get this team completely turned around, or he will certainly be fired. The team might as well wait until then so the coach carousel is up and running and they can find a coach with a few more career victories under his belt who is desperate for a job.
By Chris
January 30, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this
Thrilled to see a columnist bash someone they have to deal with during the course of their job. Great job Jeff! Keep speaking the truth my friend!
By PoliticalMan
January 30, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this
The fact is that there are a lot of sucky teams in the NBA now. But look at Detroit. Someone did a good job of putting them together. Several of them are castoffs. The great MJ could not see the potential in Rip Hamilton, although many of us did. Subtle evaluation of talent and then using it is essential. Knight and Woodson come up short in both areas. They will be gone after this year. But it’s not easy putting together a team in the NBA. Most of the current teams prove that.
By Dejay
January 30, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this
While I have to agree with your take on Woodson and his future (or lack thereof), is there anyone around in the metro area to talk about the pieces that Billy Knight has put around him? Josh Childress over Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala? It would be different if this was done with the 15-20th selection but the 6th? And just how many more Chris Paul highlights does one have to see this season? Sure, Marvin Williams may turn out to be the better player a few years from now but there is no guarantee that he will do that in a Hawks uniform. Does Tracy McGrady and Boris Diaw ring a bell? They both showed flashes of brillance with their original team before moving on and moving up as far as the NBA food chain is concerned. I just can’t understand the motive of this team to go young when they have ZERO record of developing its own players whatsoever. There are people that were born the last time they last drafted an All-Star that are now grown. That’s 22 years and counting, people. Like they say, if the food is bad, fire the cook; if its been bad for a long time, fire the cook and the one bringing in the groceries.
By Ron Roberts
January 30, 2006 10:40 PM | Link to this
I have a couple of questions….
When does Billy Knight get the heave-ho for putting together a team of youthful guards with no inside presence to compliment them?
Why is it, when the Hawks go coach-shopping these days, they go after somebody with no NBA head-coaching experience? This franchise wants to be taken seriously by their fanbase, but can’t find a coach with some NBA experience to take them seriously? Something’s wrong with that.
I can’t put all this on Mike Woodson, but Jeff makes a TON of sense, here. Frankly, the only rationale we have for sticking with Woodson any longer than this season is to allow him to learn how to coach in the NBA all awhile the players learn to play in the league, as well. But ya have to wonder if the coach’s learning curve will slow the players’ learning curve, at this rate.
And for crying out loud, when will the Hawks’ brass get a clue and update their uniforms? These threads never were the sharpest duds in the league when they were new, and they certainly aren’t now, either. Geez, can we at least see something wearable for the fans (or the folks who snatch up any NBA jersey and sport it as daily fashion-wear) to get excited about? Little things like that may factor into a potential free agent coming. We’re dealing with guys who “majored” in basketball through college, not rocket scientists and MBA’s. Materialistic things can sway some folk.
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 12:14 AM | Link to this
Worth Repeating:
The hardest Thing for a rookie coach to do is devise an Offensive philosophy & offensive game schemes… You have to study the game historically and currently. You have to do R&D. You have to be an innovative risk taking individual. It has to be work out on paper before the season starts.
PLUS your mentor has a tremendous impact on your perception of the game – Rich Dad – Poor Dad. When a coach says he is a defensive coach, trust me, that means that he doesn’t understand, or hasn’t mastered the art and science of offensive coaching. THEREIN LIES the Hawk’s problem…
By Taurus
January 31, 2006 12:52 AM | Link to this
The problem is not the coach, at all. It’s the main piece that is missing with the Hawks. A point guard. A good point guard makes Quentin Richardson looks like a stud at Phoenix, but at N.Y. he looks like a phony. The same can be said about Boris Diaw. He looks like a complete stud with Nash or the way The Hornets look with Chris Paul. A good point guard is a floor general, a coach on the court. He makes shots easier for his players to make and sets them up in good positions. Joe and AL work too hard for every point they get, because lack of a good point guard to set them up for some easy shots. We can go on about the past, but it’s just that the past, whether it be who they should have drafted and etc. I think right now they need to concentrate on keeping Joe and Al together which is a very formidable duo, and make a trade for Kirk Hinrich or Maurice Williams. Both are good point guards that are getting better. My preference is Hinrich. I would look to trade any player on my roster for either of these two short of Joe and Al, and I guarantee you that you will have a playoff contender with either guard at the controls, with AL and Joe.
By RF
January 31, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this
Who do we draft this year Billy? Maybe a point gaurd? Not another 6’7 rangy tweener, enough already. Lets get it right! RF
By Wretch
January 31, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
The problem isn’t coaching at all…? Wow…
(…)
Okay…yeah, Woody’s part of the problem for sure. I saw that 20 games into the season. Pee-wee league “everybody-gets-a-turnâ€? rotations, forgetting to put key defensive or offensive players back into the game, players looking lost on BOTH ends of the floor, lack of effort, players making the same little mistakes over and over again, Kobe going off for 81 points… Wait, that last one wasn’t on Woody, but the guy is a rookie coach and he’s performing like on.
We don’t need that.
We do need a PG in the worst way and Chris Paul was certainly the answer for us. Anyone who has watched the game for as long as I have could see what kind of talent that kid was. Were he 2” taller, we likely would have had no chance at him. Sad. Equally sad is how much support he’s getting now that people can see him on the NBA stage – and how his worth (particularly to us) was overshadowed by the Hawks missing the “Bogutâ€? train.
Regardless, even if we had drafted CP, it would have only given Woodson more ground to demonstrate his ineptitude.
Good guy. Nice guy. Classy guy.
Yank him.
By Greg
January 31, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this
Give the team and the organization a chance…..they won 13 games last year and this year they have a legit chance to win 30!!! That would of 17 wins more than double last year. This team is young and young talent takes a bit of time to mature in this league. 30 wins this year the next year the playoffs. Give me a break did we expect to go from 13 to the playoffs?
By steve
January 31, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this
Mike Woodson is a nice guy but is completely over his head. I’m a season ticket holder so I this this garbage on a regular basis and I have NEVER seen a more poorly coached team than the Hawks. Woodson should have been fired in November but with his best friend running the team it hasn’t happened. If the Atlanta Spirit has any pride at all about the team they own…they need to step in immediately and put our young guys into the hands of a coach who really knows what he is doing. An interim coach would be better than the nonsense that we have now. Come on, guys, this isn’t too tough to see…Mike is just not a good head coach. In fact, he is a terrible head coach.
By Jagstang76
January 31, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
Taurus is right on! There are two massive holes in our lineup: PG and C. No offense to Lue or Zaza, but they are really only above-average backups. They will be perfect guys to have around when/if we make the playoffs, but they certainly aren’t going to get you there. Both have helped our offense a great deal, but they are not equal to the task at the other end of the court. I believe a PG would make a HUGE difference for the Hawks, but so would getting a solid big man in the middle who can swat shots and make things difficult for opposing bigs. My hope is this offseason will afford Knight to put the final touches on this team and give Woody a complete product. Then we will see whether he is the best coach for us or if he really is as bad as everybody thinks he is. In the meantime, we’re on our way to getting another top 3 pick!
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this
A good PG would help BK & MW hide for a while longer.
By Brendan
January 31, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this
I skipped over most of the comments, so I apologize if I’ve repeated anything already said, but I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm over the opportunity to revisit one of my all-time favorite Woodson quotes. Maybe, the greatest quote of all-time, if you’re keeping track of stupidity.
The quote? Well, it came from last year (2005). It was as follows. “I’m not really concerned about our record. Records are records. We can’t control our record.”
I’m sorry, but that pearl of wisdom from Woodson will probably stay with me always.
It ranks up there with the reporter’s question to LSU’s coach, “Do you think you’ll have to outscore your opponent to win the game?”
If Woodson truly believe he cannot control his record, why don’t the Hawks just take the rest of the season off? Why do “suit up” for games?? Why do they make the flight for away games?? According to Woodson, the concept of making an effort is pointless?
“I’m not concenred about our record. Records are records. We can’t control our record.”
Seriously. He really said that. That quote, alone, should be grounds for dismissal. If I were an owner and I saw a quote like that from anyone in my organization other than a beer vendor, they’d be fired on the spot.
By Rutuger
January 31, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this
It pains me to see the lack of improvement this team has undergone thus far. If they were even just competing for a playoff spot, the games would be nearly sold out every night. If they were an actual Eastern Conference Championship contender, you wouldn’t be able to find a ticket. There is a huge market for an NBA team here, we just haven’t had anything worth seeing in seven years.
At least the guys seem to be playing their hearts out as best as I can tell. I’ll root for them as long as they continue to do so… but I’d like to see some wins pile up soon; if not, my pateince may soon depart.
By ben
January 31, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this
Even the Clippers and Warriors have achieved respectability this year. Hawks must blow up franchise, bring in strong NBA personality and start over. Sorry.
By Ryan
January 31, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
Its come to the point of “If the team isn’t challenging for the playoffs by the SECOND YEAR we need to blow things up and start ovewr? Geez. .
By Matthew
January 31, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this
At least with Woodson you can expect to suck, no disappointment there. Unlike Bobby Cox who builds up your hope during the regular season then chokes.
If I hadn’t hurt my knees I would love to suit up for teh Hawks and turn them into winners. I am not just an expert at shooting on the rifle range; I am also an expert at shooting the basketball.
What I could do though to contribute to the Hawks would be as coach. I have an extensive knowledge of basketball which only legends like Red Aurbach and Pat Riley can rival. I could put in an offensive and defensive scheme which would dominate. All my theories have been proven by me on the court when I played middle school basketball (that was before I hurt my knees).
Of course I have e-mailed the Hawks front office many times offering my services but they have ignored me and never replied. Their loss, I guess they like being losers.
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this
(This says it all) Quote by Childress: “I was telling Al and T. Lue to make sure coach didn’t call a timeout in the third when we really got rolling,” a smiling Childress afterward. “We didn’t want anything to interrupt that roll we were on.”
By DavidU
January 31, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t know if I should Laugh, Cry or be irrate, at that quote…Probably a combination of all three.
RISE UP!!
By MP
January 31, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
WHO WOULD YOU BRING IN TO COACH THIS VERY YOUNG TEAM WE DONT HAVE A TRUE CENTER OR A LEADER ON THE FLOOR
By ebineezer
January 31, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
The surest way to continue getting the same results is to keep doing the same things, having the same people making the decisions. Billy needs to be the first to go. Woodson has not had a chance but he is part of the dynamic duo so let him go as well. When your on the bottom of the pile the only way to go is up.
By rick
January 31, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this
Deejay did not just say “flashes of brilliance” along with “Diaw” in the same exact sentence did he? Wow… (deep breath) Diaw is having a fluke season with a far superior coaching staff that can get the best, in his case the absolute best, out of a player. Kind of like Leo Mazzone with washed up pitchers. Diaw is not or will ever be anything remotely close to a star let alone a superstar. Please don’t put him in the same sentence as Tracy McGrady either. I’m glad we got rid of Diaw, that timid player for Joe Johnson. We overpaid, but being at the bottom, that’s how you have to get players.
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this
you guys are killing me!!!
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this
As I’ve said long ago on Sekou’s blog, the problem lies much higher than Woodson; its with ownership, and it’s a question of character and direction, or should I say the lack of it. Woodson was brought in to build a team through the draft; it would take time and management knew it.
Ownership went far away from that plan to force Belkin’s hand by giving away far too much to get JJ. They won but created expectations that are unrealistic and out of tune with the direction that had been created. While JJ sure can play, he was not and is not the answer. The answer was having a team concept and sticking to it. Now there is no concept and no team. Just a couple of guys sharing the limelight who don’t belong there but threw this team into disarray to get control.
Who would trust them now and who in the league would look to make a trade with them except under the type of terms that they gave Phoenix to get JJ, that is, terms that no self-respecting team would offer except for a true superstar, and maybe then even not. Teams depend upon trust. No trust, no team. You hear it from everyone connected with team sports. Not from anyone connected with the Hawks you don’t. Ever ask yourselves why?
By marshawn
January 31, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this
Did you go to benton high school? If so you know how hard it is to get into a division 1 school coming out of cairo illinois. i have a gpa of 3.221
By marshawn
January 31, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this
Did you go to benton high school? If so you know how hard it is to get into a division 1 school coming out of cairo illinois. i have a gpa of 3.221
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this
To The Flash: GO AFTER BK & MW all you want but leave JJ out the conversation. ALL OF these players are in a DYSFUNCTIONAL SITUATION. A lot of folks throw his name (JJ) into their comments to strenghten their post, especially when it is weak or they are frustrated with BK and/or MW…
By Chris
January 31, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this
Woodson is a great guy. I had the chance to speak with him after one of the Hawks’ preseason practices. Very classy guy.
Classy doesn’t win games. Woodson preaches defense, yet we sorely need some help on offense. The Pistons proved you can win with defense, yet look how they are doing this season with an offensive-minded coach.
We definitely need a couple of pieces to make this team competitive. A PG, a C (move Pachulia to 4—-he would actually dominate most East PFs), and an actual OFFENSE. During games, it looks as though we don’t even run plays. Someone gets the ball and says, “Here I go! Hope this works out!”
On a side note, I met Tom Gugliotta at the restaurant where I work the other night. Great guy, very reserved and classy. He says the Hawks are going in the right direction, and based on our win total as compared to last year’s, I can’t argue. A few more would be nice, though.
By Dee
January 31, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this
Woodson is a huge problem in the way the Hawks has looked for the past 2 years but Taurus made a very good point that I didnt notice before. If we had a really good PG & C, we would look much better cause JJ is getting on my nerves ball hogging soo much and never looking to give the ball to the ONLY HOT player on a consistance basis and thats Salim S!! He could be WIDE open and JJ decides to shot just because he’s JJ. MOve JJ to 2 guard or better yet on the bench for a while and let the shooters shoot!!
Dee
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this
Infamous
I’m completely with you that JJ is a terrific player and well worth the contract he has. My point is that they could have had him without trading away the draft picks and Diaw because Phoenix was not going to match and knew Diaw’s value in their system.
And, here, my focus is on Gearon et al for forcing this trade under ridiculous terms that they knew Belkin would try to block in order to engineer a fight for control. It is that ethos, and men who would not know the value of trust if they fell on it, that infects this team.
I have been reading and participating in the Sekou blog for some time. The only person who has mentioned the T word in all that time is me. T, trust, I repeat, is non negotiable. Without it, there is no team and no progress. And Gearon et al, including Knight, engender none! That is the list!
By DavidU
January 31, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
I’m glad they moved Diaw in the trade he’s another SF, the draft picks though maybe were too much. But sometimes you have to over pay to get a FA to come to a bad team. No one is sure that Phoenix would not have matched the Hwks offer, so you can’t risk it, but I understand what you are saying Flash.
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this
Oops, Thinkingman, not Infamous.
By the way, just so the bloggers here know, I never saw and still do not see JJ as a point, or even a 2. His natural position is a 3. So, going for him, in my view, only added to the logjam. Had the aim not been on him, and Gearon et al not badly miscalculated as seeing JJ the answer at point, maybe they would have gone for Paul, rather than Williams, and things would look much, much brighter.
There would be one, and perhaps two other no. 1s to play with to go after a first-class big. Check out my posting on Sekou’s blog for why I think that that could be J O’Neal.
By CK
January 31, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
RF… You ask who we need to draft! I say why draft at all…we are not very good at it and may fair better just waiting and seeing who is left over. That way we will have several new players for the NBA minimum and have plenty of cap space for next year’s free agent pool.
Also it is time now to start trading all our higher priced free agents to be for future draft picks that we really shouldn’t use for any drafts.
Once that step is completed then we can trade the newly aquired draft picks for more players at the bottom of the NBA ladder and have even more room under the cap for the free agent pool.
This has been our plan all along and there is no one better uin the league at developing talent for other teams than the Atlanta Hawks.
So stand proud and root for your home team. At least they are number one at something.
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this
Phoenix was not matching. You don’t pay that kind of money to a guy unless you really think he is a difference maker, not when you have three allstars already. If they thought that JJ was that player, then they wouldn’t have let him go.
No team was willing to offer JJ anything close to what the Hawks were, so a sign and trade was out of the question. They had no where to go with this thing but to let JJ go. I personally think that, in the end, they would have had to let him go for nothing.
The idea that they would have walked away from Diaw and one of the 1s is laughable David, if it wasn’t so sad.
And, at the end of the day, without JJ, assuming a real team ethos, I’d have liked this team’s chances in the next two years as much as any.
By DavidU
January 31, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this
CK, you may be on to something, maybe the real purpose of the Hawks is to be like a more prestigious NBADL team. And all this time we thought we were an NBA team, so our expectations have been way off….I apologize BK now I get your plan. RISE UP! we are the crown jewel of the NBADL.
By DavidU
January 31, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this
Flash, correct me if I’m wrong. JJ was a free agent, if he Signed with the Hawks, Phoenix had the chance to match the offer (this is just money). Hawks did not want to lose their chance of getting JJ, so they traded for him; the picks, Diaw, etc.
So my point was that the Hawks could not risk losing their free agent(JJ) in the chance that Phoenix would match. so they did the sign and trade for him. And I was saying that the Picks maybe were maybe too much, but that I agreed to sending Diaw since he was a SF form our stable. And that sometimes you have to over pay in a sign and trade when you are as bad as the Hawks are.
You were just not understanding what I was trying to say, no need to get all excited about it though.
By RYAN TRICE
January 31, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
SALIM SALIM SALIM SALIM IS THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE. I DON’T THINK COACH REALIZE WHAT A STAR HE HAS. SALIM CAN BE OUR PG OF THE FUTURE. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE THIS YEAR, WOODY NEEDS TO STOP PAMPERING THIS STAR AND LET HIM PLAY THROUGH HIS BUMPS AND BRUISES. SALIM STOUDAMIRE IS A WINNER AND A FUTURE LEADER OF THE ATLANTA HAWKS. COACH WOODSON NEEDS TO WAKE THA HELL UP!!!!!!
By Peter
January 31, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
Time to follow the Raptor’s example and bring in proven talent and veteran leadership. Perhaps Woodsen will become a solid coach in time but for now he’s outwitted at each turn. Most of the wins this year have come at the expense of surprised teams that took ATL for granted and found themselves too far down in a non-stop running game to get back. A true coach would use effective line-ups to force the pace and win the close games. Reassign him to advance scout and bring in a coach with experience.
By Mike of Alpharetta
January 31, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this
I quote: “Woodson is trying to fall back on hope.” Well, “hope” is not a strategy! Relying on “hope” is a recipe for disaster! Looks like that is the recipe being served daily to Hawks fans! Woodson may eventually be a good/great Head Coach. So far, the results don’t show that. There are lots of problems; young players, no cohesion as all the players are new, no post presence, lack of consistency, and of course, an inexperienced Head Coach. Are we willing to wait, or do we go out and get an experienced leader.
Personally, if we truly think we have the right guy, then let him try and get the players on the right page. I would give him through this season, and perhaps half of next season. If by this time next year we are not vastly improved, it is probably time to make a change.
We can put talent on the court. They need to learn to play together. If Woodson can get that done, the wins will come. In the mean time, I’m looking at the draft in ‘07, and the possible opportunity to select Greg Odin.
Mike of Alpharetta
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this
David,
I understood you the first time. Just don’t think you’re being honest with yourself when you allow that they were just trying to be safe in insisting on putting forth two 1s with Daiw to insure that Phoenix wouldn’t resign JJ.
Phoenix made it clear all along that JJ was not their difference maker, and anyone who had watched the playoffs would have known that. They needed to get bigger to get over and that, David, is that.
Whatever else is true, Phoenix needed to get bigger and they were not going to match and keep JJ, no way. You disagree or not? They certainly weren’t going to match and turn their back on Daiw and one no. 1. You disagree or not? If they did, and signed JJ in a match, there would have been time then, if you actually thought the guy worth it (I didn’t and still don’t), to make the deal on Phonix’s terms. You agree or not?
Which brings me back to where I began. Trust. There isn’t any on this team and that is a huge, the huge, problem because noone, and I mean noone, trusts ownership and that filters down. That is my take.
This laying the blame on the coach rankles me. He was hired under one premise, and now is managing a group of kids who are in disarray due to management, not him. And, this blog writer will never tell you that probably because Davie boy pats him on the back whenever he sees him and tells him how things are going to change, when the next move is made. So nobody unpacks their bags, nobody (accept JJ) knows where they stand, and there is no there there.
And, we’re talking about the coach? Please.
By DavidU
January 31, 2006 06:55 PM | Link to this
They certainly weren’t going to match and turn their back on Daiw and one no. 1. You disagree or not? If they did, and signed JJ in a match, there would have been time then, if you actually thought the guy worth it (I didn’t and still don’t), to make the deal on Phonix’s terms
Flash, actually once Phoenix matches Atlanta’s offer, they cant turn around and trade that player to the team they matched the contract offer of. So basically then JJ would not be coming to Atlanta. I just learned that from Astro Joe (its the reason why Duhon can’t be traded to Toronto), maybe you are like me and didn’t know this.
By HawksW810
January 31, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this
Thinking Man, I liked your earlier points good stuff, let us not forget, nobody is breaking down the doors to coach nor play on this team, which is one of the reasons Joe was pricey. These young guys need someone to tell them what they Will do, so as to erase all doubts about their rolls on this team, unfortunately Woodson is lost with these pups.
By The Flash
January 31, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this
Learn something every day, not in my life, but today I did. For me, it changes nothing. For others, it might. As I see it, we never get to the third possibility, because there is no, as in zero, chance that Phoenix turns its back on offer two, which if you really wanted JJ as a 3, not no PG that is for sure, I suppose you have to make.
Look, from what I’ve seen, JJ has been a PG in name only. He does not change the point of attack with his dribble; does not lead the break; does not attack the goal in creative ways from the backcourt; does not add quickness and movement as a true PG would; and scores most of his points off post-ups and flashes from a post-up into the wings and corner for a jump shot, just like forwards do. The Hawks needed another forward who was not a genuine PF like it needed (you can finish the sentence). But, given his versatility and effectiveness, others have convinced me that he was worth acquiring. But, at the expense of Daiw, and 2 ones, something smells in the State of Ga and it ain’t those onions.
And, by the way, that one would come in mighty handy right about now. Could do some real damage with that pick. And, if you had Daiw and the 2, on the wildest of chances that I would have been wrong, MW would be getting his minutes and you would have had a genuine PG long ago. These ideas could not have escaped the guys running the show, who have left you with a collection of players but without a team. Don’t blame W for that, is my point.
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 08:35 PM | Link to this
Tell BK JJ is not a PG. WE ALL KNOW THAT DUDE!!!
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this
JUST DON’T TRASH THE PLAYER(S) for bk’s STUFF!!!
By A Thinking Fan
January 31, 2006 08:41 PM | Link to this
Is like blaming your wife for having bad-a$$ kids ;-)
By doc
January 31, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this
flash give it up dude. if they didnt make the deal then we would really be sorry. i can surely say that between antoine and jj who brought a few wins? now what if we roll the dice and they keep jj for insurance and then as cash crunch time they send him on for the ones we gave them. please dont think jj wouldnt have performed even better than diaw this year with amare injured. i bet he would be throwing up 30’s and 40’s regualarly.
the significance of the diaw thing is our coaching staff and system couldnt reach him. if it had then we certainly didnt need chill and should/would have gotten something else. diaw was inconsequential to the hawks.
maybe they gave up one too many one, who knows. the down side was there arent many jj’s around ready to staart at the bottom. it will be determined only if they dont get the one back for al. that is the card that bk is holding knowing, probabl, if he doesnt get what he needs then he is gone.
now laugh if you want but the suns were languishing with only the addition of nash. they then went from about 28 wins to what 55. i dont think the hawks are that far off of it if they can get a seasoned point and unfortunately need to get a coach that can play a different style of play. you cant bruise with 6’8” guys. you have to run therefore the jockey is going to have to change. sad though, it is a given the team has not quit on woody and he is a really decent guy.
By HB Ando
January 31, 2006 11:44 PM | Link to this
Did somebody say that Diaw is having a fluke season? He fluked his way to a triple double tonight. I need someone to explain to me how playing with Nash created his double digit rebounds and assists. The issue of giving up too much for Johnson isn’t an either/or situation. The problem is we didn’t recognize or acknowledge the talent Diaw had here, due to his unselfish style of play, and traded him instead of either of the other two swing men he’s better than, Smith or Childress. If you really know hoops, and you’ve watched Diaw play this year, you’ll know it’s not a fluke. And it’s clear he has better skills than either of the Josh’s, who Woodson played in front of him last year.
Both Woody and Knight need to go. Woody has clearly shown that what ever talents he has as a coach are better utilized in an assitants’ role, and Knight’s player personnel decisions (and indecisions) have only enhanced Atlanta’s position as a laughingstock in the NBA. As fans, we can argue with one another on what should be done to improve this team, but the truth is that there’s no supporting evidence that this management team has the necessary insights and expertise to make this franchise a winner.