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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Hawks inconsistent from start to finish
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
That Joe Johnson was not in a good mood the day after the Hawks lost to a 2-10 team really isn’t the problem. That there have been too many reasons on too many days to not be in a very good mood — big problem.
Thirteen games into the season, the Hawks already had lost to a 2-10 team, a 1-8 team and a 0-5 team. They also started an NBA game Wednesday with Mario West and Anthony Johnson, at the risk of completely blotting out the memory of early-season upsets over Dallas and Phoenix.
Now, I’m sure it’s written somewhere that nobody should ever feel sorry for an athlete who makes $13.5 million a year. But I see Joe Johnson sitting in a chair in front of his locker, like a jewel in a landfill, and I’m certain I haven’t witnessed such pathos since watching Charlie Chaplin in “The Tramp.”
“We’re just so inconsistent,” the Hawks’ guard said before Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee. “It’s frustrating. We play the teams that we think we should beat, the teams that supposedly are not so good, and we tend to let our guard down. Then we get hit right in the face.
“It’s been a major concern. Somewhere here soon, we have to find a way to put it together while we’re still in the picture.”
That would be the playoff picture. Exactly where the Hawks project in that picture hinges on their ability to lock in on one personality. They lost Tuesday night to Chicago, which entered the game with the worst record in the Eastern Conference (2-10).
Bad Hawks also have also had home losses to Washington (0-5) and Seattle (1-8).
Good Hawks have beaten Dallas and Phoenix (albeit both were missing key players: Josh Howard and Amare Stoudamire, respectively).
Bad Hawks and Good Hawks both were evident Wednesday against Milwaukee. Coach Mike Woodson was forced to start a patchwork lineup because of injuries to Marvin Williams and Acie Law. Result: They led by 16 in the second quarter. They saw it fizzle to five in the third. They stepped up defensively and won 96-80.
They won. They’re 6-8.
Follow the bouncing ball.
Everybody believed these Hawks would run more. Woodson says that’s not possible because they don’t rebound or defend consistently. So more often than not, they don’t run. They plod. And they keep us guessing.
Johnson: “I’ve tried to say something, and be more of a leader. I don’t know. I just feel like it’s time that we grow up.”
He signed up for a lot of money. He didn’t sign up for this. When Johnson was brought here from Phoenix, he was assured by ownership and general manager Billy Knight that he would be surrounded by talent. He was assured the Hawks would be a legitimate playoff threat, much like the team he came from. But it hasn’t happened.
Johnson saw the problems coming. He vented before the season: “I knew it was a rebuilding situation where they had a lot of young guys. … But at the same time, there were supposed to be some more pieces, some more free agents. They talked about it again this past summer. But as you can see, nothing happened.”
The problems haven’t changed. Al Horford and Law (when healthy) have been nice additions. But the Hawks have too many players who do the same thing and not enough that do specific things that they need — like pass, rebound, defend and maybe kick a little butt.
More from Johnson: “We definitely can use a little help. It’s been tough. And a lot of our guards have been hurt, pretty much the whole year. But right now we’ve just got to fight with what we’ve got. We can’t worry about what we need and what we’ve got to get.”
The issue isn’t talent. It’s the mix. It’s chemistry. It also might be coaching. But if ownership isn’t going to make a move on Woodson or Knight, wouldn’t you think they would look at this roster’s strange mix and realize it’s not working?
Then again, maybe the idea is to only look on certain nights.
It looked great at the end Wednesday. Johnson would like to assume it’s the start of a trend. He knows better.
Permalink | Comments (43) | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Jeff Schultz
Gailey’s crying to the bank
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
It’s always sad when one of the decent people of sports gets fired. So, when Georgia Tech shoved Chan Gailey and his devout Christian ways out the door after six years as a solid but unspectacular football coach, it made you flirt with dabbing the corner of your eyes.
Well, until you started to think.
I’m not talking about Gailey’s 0-6 record against Georgia. Or about the maddening habit of his Yellow Jackets losing to inferior competition either before or after significant victories. Or about the inability of his teams to entice Tech fans to remain enthusiastic at home games - you know, even when they bothered to show up.
Four million dollars. That’s how much Gailey is getting not to coach.
FOUR MILLION!
This isn’t 1978, for instance, when Ohio State axed the legendary Woody Hayes after he slugged that Clemson player during a bowl game. Hayes’ salary was $43,000, a measly amount compared to that of today’s coaches, even if you consider inflation, global warming and whatever.
Four million dollars. Guess Gailey is crying all the way to the bank, and he’s likely sobbing by himself.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
