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
BONE
October 30th, 2009
9:30 pm
I like that Teague is aggressive. Acie would have just passed it just to pass it.
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
9:30 pm
This message is for coaches around the NBA. If you don’t know already, you will NEVER win an argument with Derrick Stafford. NEVER!!!!!!
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:33 pm
Najeh ,
Jennings had a very Jason Kidd-like game.
I’m loving seeing Teague get minutes like this. He can learn so much in real time minutes.
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:35 pm
Nice to see Teague go right to the seat next to Woody on the bench, where Woody continues to instruct him.
You never saw that with Acie Law. He nearly always ended up right near the end of the bench.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
9:35 pm
D. Carter…
but you were basing Joe being expendable off of offensive skills as if thats all it would take for Crawford to replace a Joe Johnson. so you think Crawford is a better offensive player than Joe? wow… o..k… how many double and triple teams has Crawford seen? Joe is one of the most lethal 1 on 1 covers in the league. Joe actually should be at the line more, maybe its Crawfords slight frame that makes the foul calls more obvious… can’t agree with you argument here.. but hey…
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
Good move by Josh, but good help defense by the Wiz.
You can’t tell me Mike Miller is that much faster than Marvin in the open court. Lazy defense by Marvin…
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
Somebody tell DeShawn Stevenson that the boogalu goes in the FRONT, not the back….
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
Bad defense by Horford, but he looks tired. The offensive move confirms it….
Blast
October 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
Joe and Crawford in the game at crunch time. No Bibby, no Teague. Sooooo many lineup possibilities! Though Hawks only up by 7.
BONE
October 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
I think we should trade Marvin. I hardly ever notice him on the floor
Sautee
October 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
anthony,
That IS the offense.
Johnny Walking
October 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
Stevenson cut that BEARD off damn!! Nasttyy. WTF is going with the music. Sounds like the media player on my PC. Cant touch this???? Did the Hawks stop paying for the use of REAL music? Gilbert has been off the whole night laying Opossum. Dont let him come in and get 20 points to end the game…
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
Hawks have gotten a bit stagnant on offense here. They need some life. Woody comes back with Bibby for Crawford.
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
Why isn’t Collins playing? I’d use him for a minute or two against McGee, and let Al rest. But whatever…
BONE
October 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
Al starts his moves to far away from the basket
Blast
October 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
What’s Josh doing eiyeballing Flip Saunders?
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
This is the best way to use “ISO Joe”….on a post up.
This will draw more “defensive 3 seconds” calls.
Joe looks like he’s hurting just a bit….
Blast
October 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
MARVIN||||||||||||
hawks_4_life
October 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
Way to go Marvin
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
Just like I said, there it is.
Back ‘em down in the post, draw the defender, somebody is open in a position that they can score in.
Much better than “ISO Joe” out on the perimeter, with absolutely no movement or guys not in position to score.
Joe makes decisions like this, and the game changes on ISO plays, becoming more effective than ever, see?
BONE
October 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
Ewwww Al is shooting 30%. Damn maybe that Pacers game was a fluke. U can’t be shooting 30% as a center.
vava74
October 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
Maaaaaarvin!!! Finally! He’s alive Dr. Frankenstein!!!!
hawks_4_life
October 30th, 2009
9:46 pm
Great defensive effort so far tonight
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:47 pm
Terrific effort by Josh to keep that play alive. THAT is something that definitely doesn’t make the stat sheet, and NEVER gets mentioned on a blog.
Sekou Smith
October 30th, 2009
9:47 pm
Woody to the crowd on Josh busting his tail trying to help Marvin up, “they look like keystone cops out there.”
2 FOR JOHN DREW
October 30th, 2009
9:47 pm
Just saw you on the tube SS ….. you kin to MO VAUGHN ?
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:48 pm
Hah! Josh trying to help Marvin up, they both go down.
At this point, Rod would say that Marvin’s clumsiness has rubbed off on Josh….
vava74
October 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
that’s more like it
KMP
October 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
Great ISO play – JJ to JS to Big AL
BONE
October 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
Josh with the Oop
Johnny Walking
October 30th, 2009
9:50 pm
That was a Slap Yo GrandMommy Dunk!!!!! Helll Yeahhhhh!!!
Jody
October 30th, 2009
9:51 pm
Need BIG plays? Call employee # 5, J Smoove!
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:51 pm
JOOOOOOOOOSH SMIIIIIIIIIIIIITH!!!!
The block, then the dunk off the PERFECT pass from Bibby!!!!
Blast
October 30th, 2009
9:51 pm
Atlanta Hawks basketball!!!! Josh Smith is a Superstar!!!!!
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
900 blocks for Josh, youngest ever. Nice job.
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:53 pm
WHAT was that foolishness by Joe Johnson?
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
9:53 pm
AAAGGHH!
What was THAT foolishness by Josh?!
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
9:54 pm
looked like a foul that wasnt called…
vava74
October 30th, 2009
9:54 pm
what a stupid foul… you either let him go or you hit him strong…
Blast
October 30th, 2009
9:55 pm
Boston beating the hell out of Bulls right now.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
9:58 pm
Josh doesnt settle for the jumper, drives, and gets the And1
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
October 30th, 2009
9:58 pm
Sekou – it looks like your blog entry/article was a great segue to the game. Crawford went off like we thought he would if given a chance and Woody got an added surprise of great defense.
Big Ray
October 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
Clutch plays both Josh on both ends of the floor.
Crappy no-call on Joe’s move to the basket. Should have been a foul.
bigdave
October 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
good win… keep it at 10+
Sautee
October 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
LOL, Miller thinks he’s playing Butler.
Blast
October 30th, 2009
10:01 pm
2-0 baby! Now we go out West. Come out West 3-2 and we’ll be good!
2 FOR JOHN DREW
October 30th, 2009
10:02 pm
Real test comes sunday night ….. probably watch this game 2or 3 times before then
Johnny Walking
October 30th, 2009
10:03 pm
Good Job Hawks holding serve!!
The Hawksta
October 30th, 2009
10:04 pm
We bad! We bad!
hawks_4_life
October 30th, 2009
10:05 pm
Execellent game by the hawks, very good defensive effort