AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > November > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWoodson, Knicks’ Thomas can relate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
For the longest time on Friday night, Philips Arena was dead. You know, almost as much as Mike Woodson’s chances of coaching in Atlanta beyond this season if the Hawks expire before the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year.
So, with Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ usually soft-spoken star, admitting, “We [as players] need to help [Woodson] as much as we can, because we know we don’t have much time left,” you had a team looking to quit breathing heavily before its home opener after lacking a pulse to start the season on Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Now the Hawks live, and so does Woodson as the team’s skipper for at least a little while longer. You can attribute the resurrection of both to Johnson (30 points, eight assists) combining with Zaza Pachulia (22 points, seven rebounds) to keep the Hawks from dying after their 17-point lead dwindled to three inside the final six minutes. The thing is, the Hawks were playing the dysfunctional New York Knicks. That, along with the Hawks’ resiliency down the stretch (“Our guys never cracked,” Woodson said), propelled the Hawks to a 102-92 victory.
Huge game. Yes, it was only the Hawks’ second game of the season, but when the coach has one foot and a few toes dangling out the door, especially after that ugliness against a pitiful 76ers team, every game is huge. To worsen matters, this was the quietest sellout of 19,604 in NBA history through much of the first half. Then again, you can’t expect to have that much positive noise coming your way after spending this century as mostly a negative. The same goes for the Knicks, with a trip to the playoffs only once in the past five years.
Come to think about it, you have many similarities between Woodson and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, including the bad one involving shaky job security, but let’s start with those other ones. For instance they both survived Bobby Knight. In fact, they both loved the former basketball coach, state messiah and red-sweater terror at Indiana University, where they both were all-everything dribblers for the Hoosiers.
Woodson even showed the younger Thomas around campus during his recruiting visit to IU. “The two things that stood out with him was that he wanted to know where I got my clothes, and if he could meet a woman like the one that I married,” said Woodson, laughing Friday night at Philips Arena, home of the Hawks.
For now. Just like Thomas is coaching the Knicks. For now.
After watching three coaches crash and burn while dealing with the ill-fitting players that Thomas assembled as general manager, Knicks boss James Dolan ordered Thomas to do nothing less than coach these Knicks to prominence. Woodson hasn’t gotten such an ultimatum. Still, when the average tenure of an NBA coach these days is less than three seasons, Woodson has an unofficial ultimatum to prosper after winning just 24 percent of the time (39-125) during his previous two Hawks seasons.
It’s just that everything involving Woodson’s situation with the Hawks is unfair. For starters, his general manager did the right thing by blowing up a dysfunctional roster, but guess who still has to find a slew of victories in a hurry despite lacking all the pieces to do so?
We’ve already told you about the Hawks multi-headed ownership situation. Not good. Not with one guy suing the other seven for control of the franchise.
And, even worse, while Thomas looks down his bench and sees talent, Woodson glances down his bench and sees a mess.
He knows the deal, though. Said Woodson, around the league as a player or a coach for nearly two decades, “The bottom line, for sure, is that you’ve got to win. We’re talking about winning and having the team going to the playoffs.”
We’re talking about doing both of those things for Woodson or else.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Terence Moore
Comments
By tbone
November 4, 2006 12:57 AM | Link to this
Terence, I wish that the AJC would give you the same ultimatum, write a decent review or else. I was at the game and I thought the HAWKS did a great job. The big 3, Jchill, Jsmooth, and JJ, held their own and Zsa Zsa really surprised me. When we get Marvin back, we will really be on point. Don’t hate, congratulate!! GO HAWKS!! from a season ticket holder, sect. 222
By Jay
November 4, 2006 01:16 AM | Link to this
Dont be a blind homer, tbone. We have no one that can post up. We have way too many small forwards. And most glaring, we have only one player that create his own shot. Josh Smith still cant. Until we trade someone from small forward, we’re gonna be the same team you saw tonight…a one-man team. Moore is right…Knight blew up the old mess and made his own. I dont fault Woodson at all for the last couple years. We’re full of very young players, only one legit center, only one true power forward, and two backup pgs. It would be a challenge for anyone to make this work.
Where will Marvin find his minutes with Josh Smith and Chills both averaging 30, and Joe Johnson averaging 35-40? Its a logjam created by Knight.
By Tony
November 4, 2006 01:53 AM | Link to this
Josh Smith doesn’t deserve 30 minutes. Childress plays the 2 also just in case you didn’t know.
By EGraves
November 4, 2006 02:16 AM | Link to this
Someone “please” tell me why Royal Ivey and Batista are not playing with the Hawks. Is it because only 12 players are allowed to be in uniform on a game-to-game basis. Someone please tell me what is going on. Please!
By LKHawk
November 4, 2006 07:05 AM | Link to this
Why would Woodson look down his bench and see a mess? I look down the bench and see a lot of young talent.
I think the Hawks will surprise a lot of people this year. They’re not going to win the championship, but learning how to win close games is the biggest part of the NBA. And they did it last night. How about giving htem a break every once in awhile. This is a team that is slowly improving.
By I Wanna Be Like Mike
November 4, 2006 07:48 AM | Link to this
Trust me….I know something about incompetence. The look on Mike Woodson face during the Sixers game showed it self again when the Knicks cut the lead to 3 points late in the 4th quarter…he has the look of: I really don’t know what the F’k I’m doing. Its the same look I have every day at work.
I just pray I get through another day without someone going and checking the B/S I put on my resume to get my job…Woodson is not a very good coach. Billy Knight is not a really go GM.
Go Falcons, Go Lakers, Go Braves and Go Falcons…oh…I said that alread !
By J-Man
November 4, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Well I ain’t gonna judge this team until they played a month or so that 76er game was tough just because it was their home opener just like it was tough on the Knicks because it was our home opener. you’ll see who this team really is when they have a week or week and a half road trip and you’ll also see what kind of team they are when they have a game in which its close not ones in which they’ll down by 15 or up by 10 if they win a majority of those games they’ll make the playoffs PERIOD.
By Dan in Albany
November 4, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
EGraves, Each team carries up to 15 players on their roster, the Hawks choose to carry 14 to save some flexibility. But you can only dress 12. That’s why Ivey and Batista aren’t in uniform.
By Numba One Fan
November 4, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this
I love reading all the negative print on this blog since it really shows the degree of ignorance from our so called “Hawks fans” Maybe I am seeing things different than you guys but I like what I am seeing from this team. Are they going to win the division….. hell no but, are they going to be competitive and prove a lot of people wrong…… hell yes!!. As far as Terrence Moore goes the guy is just plain stupid, ignorant and in his mind bigger than life. His twisted little grin on the local media outlets goes to show what an insufferable prick he really is. Terrence you will never be able to be in the same league with Furman Bisher or Jesse Outlar, as a matter of fact you couldnt even carry their tidey whiteys. You are at best a second rate “sports collumnist which is plainly exhibited everytime you are on television or post a half-assed attempt of a column. Now for the rest of the Hawk Haters on this blog… Please refrain from showing your ignorance with non factual and assinine posts. This very young team is coming together quite nicely and will only get better, there is athletecism and talent in this roster. This team will compete and if it can stay healthy to make a run at a playoff spot.
By TD
November 4, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this
The biggest difference I saw between this year’s team and last year’s was they didn’t fold when the knicks got within 3. Also, when the johnson sat down with 2 fouls and the announcers were wondering where the offense was going to come from, I thought stoudemire might be put in. Finally, when Marvin comes back I see Sheldon getting fewer minutes. P.S. (since I already used finally) J. Smith can create his own shot, he just appears to blank out on the court and I hope he doesn’t all in love wiht the long range shot after hitting that 3 last night. Go Hawks, Go Falcons, and TW please sell the Braves!
By TonyG
November 4, 2006 11:44 AM | Link to this
**MIKE WOODSON KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING!!LET HIM COACH!!THE PLAYERS LIKE HIM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE! This team should grow together, with Woodson. A coaching change would only throw this team off the tracks, leaving them to regroup and REBUILD AGAIN!! No more REBUILDING!!! Keep Woodson, let him do his job, and I’m sure we’ll all be pleased with the results.
By Neil
November 4, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Two questions: Where is Salim? Does anybody know if the first round pick we acquired from the Pacers for Harrington is in 2007?
By smartguy
November 4, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
awesome game. the hawks looked like a totally different team last night. they weren’t great, but the really good news is that they won a game, while only playing an average game; in other words, they can play much better. terrence moore never ceases to amaze me. what an idiot. the pick from indiana is 2007, but lotto protected. go hawks.
By wild bill
November 4, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this
Woodson has never been given a fighting chance. He deserves another year provided the hawks make some noticeable improvement this year. We need Marvin back. The one thing everyone seems to notice is the lack of a third scorer. Al Harrington, Chris Paul, Zaza, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson as starters. It could have happened. Thank you Billy. Does anybody know why we haven’t gotten any Falcons coverage this week?
By hawksfansince68
November 4, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
no judgement should bemade on thisteam til marvin comes back and thestarterscanplay their own positions. claxton1 jj2 mw3 js4 zz5. then the subs can rotate in at theirproper spots. tlue1 jchill2and3 sheldon4 and lw5.everyone will get their minutes and get theirshots. my hopeis 44-38 and the sevenseed
By By Cory H
November 4, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this
Way to go hawks we can finally be a 500 hundred team lol. But in all seriousness our team looks good, other than the first quarter against Philly we have played good defense and been smart with the ball. We must remeber that claxton is not 100% yet and were teach Sheldon how to play, but when Marvin comes back Speedy will have his rhythm back and he will open up Smooths game because there not trying to stop Shelden, so pick your posion leave Joe open outside or either Marvin or Smooth . And this time gives Shelden much need experience so when he and Chills come in off the bench watch out. Go Hawks 42-45 wins this year.
By bigbelly
November 4, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this
All you people who call Terence an idiot but keep spelling his name wrong.
If this was an And 1 mixtape the Hawks would slaughter anyone they faced. This team was put togeter buy a fool(Knight). Woodson is a good coach who is gonna pay for the ineptness of his superiors, and will one day prove it when he goes to an organization that is;how can I put this; organized.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Hawks will continue to suck until Nique lifts his curse. They need to get down on their knees and beg him for forgiveness.
By newkid
November 4, 2006 05:13 PM | Link to this
EGraves, don’t be surprised if you’ve seen the last of Ivey and Batista in the red, white, and gold of the Hawks (barring injury to others). Their contracts are valuable because they expire at season’s end, and could be used as ‘fillers’ in a trade (a la John Edwards) before the deadline. They don’t appear to figure into the ‘on court’ plans of our Hawks.
By G Money
November 4, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this
I am just happy that the Hawks won. Winning ugly or cute is still the same W at the end of the year. Additionally as I listened to the last part of the game on the radio coming in from a flt I heard that this was the first time the Hawks have been .500 since 2002-2003. That is amazing. Confidence is one of those intangibles that separates the winners from the losers. Hopefully, this gives the guys a bit of a spark. They play a well-equipped Magic team tomorrow. We’ll see if they are for real.
By g money
November 4, 2006 11:38 PM | Link to this
guys plaese tell me what happens my wasn’t salim not in the game. after joe pick up 2 foul instead woodson put boezman over salim.
By Remembering Roundfield
November 5, 2006 12:43 AM | Link to this
I fully agree that we should give the team a chance to find its identity and learn what it takes for them to win close games! We all want to see them do well, but they are not going to win every game. Even if they win every other game guess what their record will be? You’re RIGHT! A 41-41 record and probably the playoffs. I realize that it’s not in some people’s nature to be patient and positive, but that’s exactly what I’m asking us to be. Tony G is right, replacing the coach now would only delay the inevitable, but this team will one day win and win BIG!