Woody’s words of wisdom
Jamal Crawford and Hawks coach Mike Woodson are on the same page now after a brief meeting of the minds after Crawford played just 12 minutes in the season opener.
HAWKSVILLE – Jamal Crawford was understandably a bit confused about his role as the Hawks’ sixth man after playing just 12 minutes in the season opener.
A prolific scorer sitting on the bench for most of a track meet that ended in a 120-109 win for the Hawks didn’t make much sense to anyone else either, including Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
So he did what any reasonable people manager would do, he called Crawford into his office Thursday (well before tonight’s game against Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards of Washington at Philips Arena) and dispensed a few words of wisdom.
“I had to let him know that he is a big part of what we’re doing here,” Woodson said. “I can’t sit here and say, ‘Jamal I’m going to give you 35 minutes a game.’ But I have to make him more a part of what we’re doing, without a doubt. Because he has a position on this team where he can score the ball for us and be a big threat and take some of the pressure off of Joe [Johnson] and Mike [Bibby], Marvin [Williams], Josh [Smith] and Al [Horford]. He is coming off the bench and you need guys coming off the bench to score the ball. I’ve got to help him and put him in positions where he can be successful and help us win games.”
I asked someone to translate that from coach speak for me and apparently it means Woodson reminded Crawford that he’s a scorer first and foremost and not to lose that mentality, even when he comes off the bench. Crawford has shown off spectacular passing skills throughout the preseason and even in the opener. But the Hawks need him to do what comes naturally, and that’s score at will.
That sounds like a reasonable plan to me, especially with Arenas and the high-scoring Wizards in town.
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334 comments Add your comment
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
There’s a little left for Teague truly. Ha.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
we got a squad yall…
madtbone
October 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
Nice play by the reserves. I hope their hard play rubs off on the starters. Crawford is a highlight reel so far.
Blast
October 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
Watch Hawks second unit GO!
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
25-12 Hawks run after allowing the Wiz to run off 12 straight early. Love the pace Crawford pushes when he’s going off out there.
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:14 pm
Can the crowd make some kinda noise. The capacity looks embarassing
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Vet.
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
Looks like this all over the league right now B.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
he was fouled i heard it…
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:16 pm
When’s the last time Joe Johnson got a breather like this in a game.
D.Carter
October 30th, 2009
8:17 pm
A blind person can see that J.Crawford needs to replace Bibby in the starting lineup…Bibby is a jumpshooter only and a pure liability on defense… I still think resigning Bibby as a mistake..Teague and Crawford give the team an element that we havent had outside of Joe, and thats the ability to break down a defender off the dribble and get in the lane consistantly…. Teague and Crawford dont really settle for the jumpshot which creates open lanes for AL and Josh
Blast
October 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
Yes, Sekou. Especially this early in the game. Things sure have changed in Hawksville.
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
I didn’t use a question mark because I know that there is no answer. Ha.
terrell barron
October 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
Just read Woody’s lips when the Wiz called timeout. He said “how long has Joe been out? lol! There’s no need to rush Woody. We’re still up, for crying out loud. haha
Najeh Davenpoop
October 30th, 2009
8:19 pm
I like that Crawford wants to pass more. I also like that Woody wants him on the floor primarily for his scoring, if that makes sense (a coach should always put his players in position to do what they do best). But I had no problem with Crawford’s limited minutes in the first game. Crawford is not a great defender, and the Hawks were having no problem scoring points. In addition, the Hawks were playing a team with a big front line, so they couldn’t go small with the Crawford SG/Johnson SF lineup they have flashed in the preseason. it made no sense to bring in a defensive liability who can score in that situation.
On a regular basis, though, Crawford should definitely be playing 25-30 minutes per game.
Nice to see the Hawks step up the intensity on both ends of the floor after a sleepy start.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 30th, 2009
8:20 pm
Dang, I don’t know how Flip Saunders tells apart Mike Miller and Fabricio Oberto.
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:21 pm
see Teague misses one shot and dumb old woody wants to bring Bibby in. SMH
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
great D!!
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:23 pm
what….
Joe some rest in the mid of the 2nd… after just coming in.. well…
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
parabola… courtesy of J. Criddy…
D.Carter
October 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
If you think Crawford is a defensve liability Bibby must be pure defensive negligence!!! spell check…lol on the 3rd shot of HENN!!!!
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:24 pm
Mo has to watch his emotions…
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
Why did josh try to throw an alley oop to BIBBY o__0
Blast
October 30th, 2009
8:26 pm
Hey! NBA refs giving Hawks more respect so far! Hawks actually getting their calls. Who would habe thunked it!
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:28 pm
good move Al…
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
up tempo…
Blast
October 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Crawford just need to keep shooting, man.
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
I hope Crawford doesn’t get the swine flu licking his fingers all the time.
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:31 pm
Bibby needs to stop shooting and give it back to Jamal
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
the slowest move in the history of the league…
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
this fool could get 50 every night if he wanted… get em’ Criddy…
J.J.M.
October 30th, 2009
8:32 pm
lol@sekou
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
Things I liked seeing the most in this game so far:
Joe driving to the basket and drawing fouls. That bucket against three defenders was a thing of beauty.
Jamal Crawford exploding on the scene offensively. This guy is scary. Very scary. Nothing against Flip, but uhh….
Josh with 6 rebounds.
Things I didn’t like:
Josh trying too hard to duplicate his assist totals from last game, and managing to do nearly the opposite with his turnovers.
Brendan Haywood scoring double figures in the first half.
B crutch
October 30th, 2009
8:34 pm
ha swine flu good one, Al needs to let the game come to him more, he seems to be rushing on the offensive end.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
does Joe Johnson still play for this team?
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Woody giving Joe the Lebron treatment…
D.Carter
October 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Please Woody, Bibby needs to assume the role of Eddie House… If you wanna compete with the big boys start Jamal, bring bibby of the bench and let his minutes be based upon if he is hot… ala EDDIE HOUSE
Najeh Davenpoop
October 30th, 2009
8:36 pm
Now THAT is what Jamal brings to this team. I remember a lot of cold stretches last year where we really, really could have used a guy who is quick enough to break anyone in the league down off the dribble.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
i was never critical before… but Marvin does fall every attempt to the cup…
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
Crawford’s steady heat while Gilbert’s suddenly gone cold.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
Veteran.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Looking around the league, check out what Brandon Jennings is doing, after being hated on by every NBA expert in history for not going to college. The man almost has a triple double and the third quarter is only halfway over. I wonder how many players have put up a triple double in their NBA debut?
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Sekou ,
If it hasn’t happened to Bibby, it ain’t gonna happen to Crawford. Bibby messes with his fingertips more than anybody I know…
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
Al isn’t playing very good so far. Maybe he’ll do better in the 2nd half
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
8:40 pm
excellent half. excellent…
terrell barron
October 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Crawford for 10 mill or JJ for 15-17 mill? Hmmmm???? Seriously. Is JJ worth 5 to 7 mill more than Crawford?
2 FOR JOHN DREW
October 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
Boy …. JJ ’s gonna be fresh for the 2nd half.
BONE
October 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
there u go Al
Najeh Davenpoop
October 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
Nice move by Horford to finish the half. As slow as the Hawks started, they really stepped it up in quarter number 2.
D.Carter
October 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
AH Joe you might wanna rethink that contract offer