In more ways than we ever could have guessed, say, a week ago, this season has been an unexpected gift for the Hawks.

They have reignited this city's pro basketball fans. They have seen what Joe Johnson can do when a team really needs him to do it. They have identified a young player who is a certain building block for the future (Al Horford) and another who may have significant issues (Marvin Williams). It doesn't matter what happens tonight or for the rest of their playoff lives. None of that is going away.

The problem is the undercurrent. Mike Woodson can be a nice enough guy. He just hasn't been a particularly smart guy of late, in large part because of speculation on his job security.

This isn't a subject that should come up during a playoff series, let alone a club's first playoffs in nine seasons. It wasn't a subject any reporter likely would've broached Wednesday when the Hawks, in the most remarkable story of this or most postseasons, were coming off consecutive wins over the 66-win Celtics and were preparing for Game 5.

But Woodson, even if unintentionally, kicked open the door to the subject. Answering a question about Josh Smith's future, Woodson, for no apparent reason, began, "At the end of the season, if I'm the coach ..."

Oops.

This was sort of like a prosecutor hearing a defense attorney mistakenly bringing up an issue in a defendant's past and thinking, "Well, now I can ask about it."

The next few questions focused on Woodson. Not the Hawks, not the two wins in Philips Arena, not any of his suddenly resilient players —- unless you count the time Woodson responded to one question with: "You guys think this team should be the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I don't see it that way. We've got some good pieces, but we're young."

First of all, I don't remember anybody in this town drawing parallels between the Hawks and sliced bread. Stale bread, maybe.

Secondly —- huh?

I'm trying to recall the last time the Braves were wrecked by injuries or considered a playoffs underdog in the postseason and Bobby Cox saying, in so many words, "You know, we're really not that good." Or, "We're kind of lucky to be here."

He might think it. But he wouldn't say it —- certainly not when his team was coming off two dramatic victories and, as an unexpected bonus, had panicked the sports fans of Boston.

But Woodson has been doing this for weeks now. As focus on him has increased, he has increasingly alluded to the Hawks' youth and personnel deficiencies, indirectly pointing the finger at general manager Billy Knight. (Safe to say both sides have ammunition in that debate.)

In one recent radio interview, Woodson remarked, "Personally, I think I've done an unbelievable job," strange words from a man with a four-year regular-season record of 106-222.

Woodson fumed Thursday when he read media accounts of his comments in Boston.

When asked Thursday —- by a reporter he likes —- if he could clarify his remarks, Woodson gave an angry, "No comment."

A few minutes later, he was asked by somebody he doesn't like (me).

Question: "I understand you're upset about ..."

Answer: "I have no comments. Turn off your recorder. I'm done."

Question: "Are the quotes accurate? Were they misrepresented in some way?"

Answer: "I have no comment."

Question: "I'm giving you a chance to clarify your ..."

Answer: "No, I'm not gonna give you a chance. For what? I'm done. Thank you."

Lost on Woodson: If he hadn't opened the door, nobody would've walked in.

Oddly, those young, inexperienced Hawks players Woodson has alluded to are handling the postseason far better than their coach.

Josh Childress (granted, well-schooled at Stanford) said: "Stuff like that shouldn't come up in the middle of a playoff series. But I don't think it's a distraction to the players. Maybe Coach is thinking about it a little more than we are. The focus should be on us trying to win, it shouldn't be on: Is he secure in his job for next year? This is a big time for all of us in the organization."

Yes, it is. It was a wonderful way for Childress to answer a question and yet defuse a topic. Woodson might want to take notes.

jschultz@ajc.com

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