The Atlanta Journal-Constitution sat down with Hawks general manager Danny Ferry and coach Larry Drew on Friday and asked each the same three questions about the season as the team heads into the playoffs. Here are Ferry’s answers. Drew’s answers will appear later.
Q: What was your biggest surprise about this season?
A: I don't know if there were any big surprises. Seasons and teams are fragile. You never know what adversities you are going to face, how many injuries you are going to have. We certainly had ours, like other teams. I'm happy that our group was resilient and found their way through a season that has had some ups and downs, like we've had and other teams. It's been good in that regard. I think the players and coaches, throughout the year, have done a good job.
Q: Is there one thing that you expected this season that did not happen?
A: I came into the year not knowing anyone. I didn't come in with any expectations other than I thought the group collectively could be competitive. It could be said for Larry that even though he's been here, he didn't know a lot of the people that we had coming in or had coached them. The same with Larry and I. We didn't know each other. It's all, in my mind, been a very positive year. We got a group of people together we knew would work hard at what we were doing this year. We had some really good times and wins and we've had some hard times. That's what teams go through. But to go back to the word "resilient" and not making excuses, no one within the group, whether it was the players or the coaches has done that through the year is a really positive thing.
Q: Not knowing what to expect coming into the season, was there a moment where you realized you would be successful?
A: I've said from the very beginning that I thought this group would be competitive. Saying it and doing it are two different things. As I said, seasons and teams are fragile. A lot of things have to align themselves the right way as you go through those challenges. We have good players. There are veterans and a good mix of young players. That being said, seasons and teams are fragile, throughout the whole NBA, and this group has been resilient. This group has not made excuses. They've had some hard times and hard things happen. They've had some really good things and wins and runs.
Our focus right now is to be in playoff mode. We have an opportunity in front of us. We are playing a very good basketball team in Indiana. They play really good defense. They have really good players. We have to look at this as a really great opportunity for this group to carry this good season even farther. I don’t think we should get too reflective right now because I think we have to focus on where we are and what we are trying to do right now. We are in playoff mode right now. This group has done a good job to get to this point. We need to focus on the good team we are playing and how we are going to beat them. That’s a big challenge.
