General Hawkspital
Luke and Laura or Josh and Woody?
HAWKSVILLE – So we’re back to this are we?
Feuds between Hawks coach Mike Woodson and his players isn’t anything new around here. But I have to admit, I thought it was a thing of the past.
I foolishly assumed that last year’s playoff run and this past summer’s realization that things had to get better from there was the end of all the drama.
And then Friday night happened and the Hawks locker room turned into an episode of General Hawkspital, the Hawks produce more drama in a season than Luke and Laura did in 20 years together.
It’s not clear exactly what words got tossed back and forth between Woodson and longtime co-star Josh Smith. But it’s safe to assume that they weren’t talking about catching a movie together on the next off day.
What became abundantly clear as the media scrambled through the Hawks’ locker room before tonight’s game against Detroit at Philips Arena is that whatever fences that needed to be mended got the treatment required.
Smith was smiling. Woodson, too. It was no doubt the product of an earlier face-to-face between the two where they (once again) hashed out their differences, promised to try and do better and then went their separate ways.
The only glitch in this entire process is that these two guys are joined at the wrist (no handcuffs needed). They’ll share the blame this summer if this season continues to spiral out of control for the Hawks, who are in need of major boost with just 20 games left in the season and the official chase for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference already in full stride.
You’d think that would be clear to them by now. Smith is the only player still here from Woodson’s first day of training camp in 2004.
I suspect they’ll never be super close. Sometimes guys just don’t mix well, their personalities clash. But in the meantime, they might want to find a way to work together so the Hawks don’t take a promising season and dump it in the trash.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
289 comments Add your comment
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
8:37 pm
Too many 3s tonight.
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
8:38 pm
Bibby does not have it tonite. AC played well in the 1st half. Let’s see if Woody has the intestinal fortitude to play AC extended mins in the 2nd half…
otrhawksfan
March 9th, 2009
8:38 pm
i told you guys acie would get some pt. I hope marvin has a speedy return. do your thing solo you might bring the togas out. lol
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
8:39 pm
Flip the Switch… Yes Sir…
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
8:40 pm
The Hawks will die by the 3 tonight. 2:00 minutes left in 3rd quarter and you heard it here first.
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
8:41 pm
Look like Josh may have tweak his ankle again..
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
8:42 pm
i noticed that Melvin.. gimpy back to the bench..
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
8:42 pm
There you have it folks.
Smoove is at it again tonight. Getting open rebounds, missing free throws, can’t make a pass, and can’t catch a pass.
Also showing off that atrocious jumpshot of his. Thank God we have Joe
And can Horf stop shooting wild running shots every time? We will get you the ball more soon enough
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
8:45 pm
This is the Joe Johnson that I’m use to seeing….
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
8:46 pm
i look for Joe to have a big home stand… to continue, for the rest of the season and into the playoffs…
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
8:48 pm
I like how Mr. Verrett says Marv felt like he could play tonight then says the situation is so bad that Marv is seeing a specialist…Nice
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
8:50 pm
bone head Flip…
there is no reason why Acie should not play the rest of this game… Bibby doesnt have it tonight coach…
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
8:50 pm
I would had like to see Woody rest Joe to start the 4th…Oh well, I guess he’s to nervous to do that…
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
8:55 pm
Acie with the blow by…
nobody can stay in front of this guy, im telling u…
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
8:55 pm
Verrett is about as good as his job as Nique is at his. ‘Nuff said.
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
8:59 pm
bibby better be getting flip… Acie should not leave this game..
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
9:02 pm
What time did I say that Bibby would have a rough game against an elite PG? Oops, there I go again, breaking my arm trying to pat myself on the back.
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
9:02 pm
You guys should reread my 11:47 A.M. post today:
I think we will win tonight.
First, someone needs to show Joe this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mPu4PhGBI
Can he please get some explosiveness back? Is he hurt? I feel like he’s had 2 good games since December and that he hasn’t had a 30 point game since November.
If Horf and Smoove can play together and help each other out, we will do very well on this homestand. I sure hope Joe can be ready to explode soon though.
For New Orleans, we all know CP3 has had this game circled for months. And we know Bibby can’t guard anyone. So let’s give CP3 his 30 points, but let’s shut down the rest of the team. That means to box out David West (who is that?) and not let him take open shots.
Let’s close this one out!
Also, Acie drives well and passes well, but go up with the layup my man! (no homo)
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
9:04 pm
How’s CP3’s assist-to-turnover ratio tonight?
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
9:06 pm
ill be the first to say that i have been highly critical of Flip but. he is a hell of a 6th man and spark…
KevinA
March 9th, 2009
9:07 pm
How about NO can’t score 85 pts. Great Defense. How about Hawks win!!!
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
9:08 pm
Forget about Duck and Bibby for a second:
ZaZa and Flip are absolute steals with their contracts. We’re paying 5.5 mill a year for these two guys. ZaZa is an AMAZING offensive rebounder, makes FTs on the most part, and never gives up. Flip can score 20 and has that fire in him. We NEED NEED NEED to resign these two players!
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
9:08 pm
Kill em Joe..!!!
hawk'shawk
March 9th, 2009
9:09 pm
Where all the Josh haters at now? we finally playing as a team and passing the ball around, thanx WOODY. did i actually say that. wow. great defense so far accept all the switches.
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
9:10 pm
Astro Joe, can u please shut up? Every prediction u make is wrong. Hawks are winning this game.
Thanks
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
9:10 pm
the Joe haters dont know if they want to applaud or turn the cheek…
KevinA
March 9th, 2009
9:10 pm
How about a great team effort. Josh for cabinet position for DOD. Department of Defence.
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
9:11 pm
Bibby cant even get by Tyson Chandler…
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
9:11 pm
Big shot by Bibby…
KevinA
March 9th, 2009
9:13 pm
Ladies and gentlemen bow legged ants and cross eyed mosequotes. A big win for the hawks.
bigdave
March 9th, 2009
9:13 pm
Great Win… Lets Kill D JAZZ!!! redemption time… the hottest team in the league.. and they played dirty Utah Basketball in Salt Lake… lets get em’!! Im amped…!!!
Astro Joe
March 9th, 2009
9:14 pm
Hawks stopped shooting so many 3s. Finally!
KevinA
March 9th, 2009
9:15 pm
Kudo to the bench for giving us the first lead and a nice turn around in the first half.
otrhawksfan
March 9th, 2009
9:16 pm
Good win for the home team but i need the hawks to start winning games that are meanning aka the spurs and utah on wen. Acie showed what he can do tonight maybe he will be vital in the playoffs. just something to thing about.
KevinA
March 9th, 2009
9:16 pm
Mimia wins, this win was sooooooo needed.
TskOoOo
March 9th, 2009
9:16 pm
This is the most we’ve looked like the Home Hawks vs. Celtics last spring in the playoffs.
We just NEED to get off to better starts though.
Samuel
March 9th, 2009
9:24 pm
Duplicate comment detected. WTF!!
Cuz,
Is this some type of conspiracy?
Woody=COY
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
9:25 pm
All-Star performance tonite by Joe Johnson. Good team effort tonite…. Solid and timely contributions across the board….
Melvin
March 9th, 2009
9:27 pm
Samuel, has Woody won a coach of the month this season? If not, wouldn’t you think it would be hard for him to win Coach of the Year???
jubb
March 9th, 2009
9:29 pm
Great win. I hope Marv won’t be out too long.
ILL-logical
March 9th, 2009
9:33 pm
what a game against one of the hottest teams in the league! Still, I wonder if,while Marvin is out, josh played the 3 and Al the 4 and—excuse me I got distracted by those pigs flying by my window. where was I again?
Mike Woodson
March 9th, 2009
9:34 pm
Joe had a huge night. Next game I’m only callin plays for Joe and he’s playing the entire game.
cp
March 9th, 2009
9:35 pm
Great win. Nice to see Joe have a big game. The bench was huge. Other than the late 3 he hit , Bibby didn’t do much. I would have probably let Law finish the game but its not much to complain about after a win like that.
MAC-TOWN
March 9th, 2009
9:35 pm
MORE PT 4 ACIE!!!
Nate ArchiBALL
March 9th, 2009
9:36 pm
KevnA that line was almost a blast from the past…… If anybody on this blog remembers when radio station WAOK played music, one of the DJ’s, Dwayne Bernard Maxwell Jones, used that line — ladies and gentlemen, hobos and tramps, cross-eyed mosquitoes and bowlegged ants.
Good game Joe, glad to see you back. Keep up the hard work Josh. We need more Acie and Solo.
jubb
March 9th, 2009
9:38 pm
I agree MAC. Did you see him blow by CP3 on that play? This guy is a competent basketball player. Woody is just not using him correctly. We can’t rely on Bibby to play heavy minutes down the stretch. Acie needs some burn.
Tiger Woo
March 9th, 2009
9:46 pm
Nice win by the Hawks! Good job Woody! Woody – let the haters be your motivator!
Samuel
March 9th, 2009
9:52 pm
Melvin,
I didn’t say Coach of the Month. I said COY. Big difference. Right now, he running a little behind Adelman and Sloan. Karl disqualified himself by “gettn punked” by Mellow. They(Nuggets) are also fading fast.
We close out the season strong, win the 4th spot and win a 1st round playoff series and he still has a chance.
Reggie
March 9th, 2009
10:10 pm
Wow when Joe is son his game like tonight he is a top 10 player in the league. What was different with him tonight was his confidence. He wanted the ball and wanted to score it. Lately it seems like he just wants to take about 10-15 shots a night. He really took over and showed stuff. He also had more of a playoff mentality. I’m am so hyped about these big home games because it really gets the crowd in and gets energy in our players. It’s a playoff atmosphere and really gets our players actually playing with intensity. Since we have already gotten our playoff spot pretty much I would rather play harder teams right now than a bunch of mediocre teams. We can’t make a run for 3rd and if we actually maintain the 4 seed with this schedule then we will get some people talking. Let’s see if we can take down the top 2 PG’s teams back to back.
Reggie
March 9th, 2009
10:12 pm
Samuel I’m not a Woody hater but he doesn’t deserve the COY