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
Dos Hawkquis
November 1st, 2009
12:10 pm
Has anyone else noticed that Zaza and Marvin are cluts driving to the lane? OMG!! Everytime they drive, they mysteriously end up on the floor. WTH??
ALSO, PLEASE NOTICE HOW THE LEAGUE IS CATERING TO LEBRON!! STERN WANTS HIM IN CLEVELAND.
1.THE LEAGUE ISSUED A RULING THAT WOULD ACCOMODATE THE “CRAB” DRIBBLE, BY STATING OFFICIALLY THAT A PLAYER CAN TAKE 2-STEPS AFTER RECEIVING THE BALL.
2.BRAYLEN EDWARDS, A 1ST RD. PICK ON A SCRUB TEAM, SLAPS LEBRON’S FRIEND. LEBRON ISSUES A STATEMENT. THE 1ST RD. EDWARDS IS TRADED THE SAME WEEK FOR SPARE PARTS.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
Dos Hawkquis
November 1st, 2009
12:11 pm
Coach Woodson has the same problems as Mark Richt, of the Georgia Bulldogs, he is loyal to a fault. Woodson is gracious to Bibby, because Bibby SAVED Coach Woodson’s job by leading us to the playoffs and taking B-town to 7games. There is no way and I mean NO WAY that Jamal Crawford should be coming off the bench.
I bet that if JJ/Crawford/Marvin/Smoove/Horford were your starting 5, we would be impossible to stop and Bibby coming off the bench would provide a spark with the 3-pt ball.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
Dezz real bygg Nuttz
November 1st, 2009
12:12 pm
Dos Hawkquis, I too like a back court with crawford at the point and JJ at the two. That would be sick!! Who could stop that? Bibby and teague moe evans and Joe smith plus collins. Nice second crew too! Cant wait till the 25th game when we work though and find the rotation.
Dezz real bygg Nuttz
November 1st, 2009
12:14 pm
Dos Hawkquis Yeah, Ive noticed that zaza is a clux and is the slowest man in the NBA.
Dos Hawkquis
November 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
lol @ Dezz!! the slowest man in the NBA. Ha!!
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
ILL-logical
November 1st, 2009
12:51 pm
The wet kisses Jamal got in today’s ajc reveal an appreciation for professional basketball unseen in this city in more than 20 years.And it’s about time!
When Woodson “fiqures out ” a rotation-hopefully based on performance and not his personal preference- things could get really interesting around the ATL.
The Braves are still fighting the war of Northern aggression and the Falcons are ,frankly, defenseless. Jamal has all but stated that he is really a true point guard; tonight’s game with the Lakers will indicate where the Hawks are relative to last year, especially in the front court and Cleveland is off to a shakey start. The Hawks have an excellent opportunity to achieve not only regular season success but with JC at the helm, playoff success as well.
hawks_4_life
November 1st, 2009
1:02 pm
Like I said starting JC at point would take away from our bench, however I think it would be a great idea if he was in the game in the 4th quarter to help close and seal the victory.
O'Brien
November 1st, 2009
1:04 pm
Dos,
I like Crawford at the Point on the offensive end, but on defense, it could be a mismatch in favor of the other team.
I agree that Marvin and ZaZa are clumsy when driving. With ZaZa, I expect him to draw a foul, or turn the ball over. I have not been impressed with ZaZa so far this season. I hope he gets it going tonight, because we will need him against Bynum. And I have not been impressed with Marvin. But its a long season, so he will have his opportunities.
Does anyone know if Gasol is playing? If he isn’t, that would be HUGE for the Hawks. And I wonder if the Lakers will put Artest on Joe, and let Kobe guard Marvin. If Kobe is guarding Marvin, then we need to run some plays for Marvin, let Kobe work.
The Lakers lost at home to Dallas friday night, so I think they will be ready to play. Hawks might have to overcome an early blitz.
Dos Hawkquis
November 1st, 2009
1:26 pm
O’BRIEN,
There is no way that Crawford is MORE of a defensive liability than Bibby. As far as running plays for Marvin to make Kobe work. That would be a good strategy is Marvin was agressive and had that killer instinct. He lacks that. I would start Crawford tonight. With him coming from the west coast, he is used to the Lakers and what they will bring.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
hawks_4_life
November 1st, 2009
1:29 pm
Obrien
Last I saw he is out for the game tonight
niremetal
November 1st, 2009
1:50 pm
There is no way that Crawford is MORE of a defensive liability than Bibby.
Actually, there is, as anyone who has watched Crawford for the last 9 years (or even the last 2 games) could tell you. Since he’s quicker and taller than Bibby, one would think that he would be a better defender, but he plays neither hard nor smart on that end. He has no feel for the game on defense, and always seems to end up fouling when he does bother to try and make a play on the ball.
If Crawford gave a rat’s ass about defense, he would easily be a better defender than Bibby. I know that the grass always seems greener, but no one but Kelly Dwyer actually says Bibby is one of the very worst defenders in the league. Plenty of people have said the same about Crawford. And there’s good reason for that. Every scouting report on him says the same thing: He doesn’t try. Everyone who watched him play in New York and with the Warriors said the same thing. See his most recent SI scouting report, which called him one of the worst defenders in the league at guard. DraftExpress and Hoopshype both say he doesn’t play defense, and even one of his coaches with the Warriors noted that he didn’t give an effort on D.
And if all that failed you could have just watched the first two games, where he either committed a foul or got torched almost every single time the man he was guarding made a move to the basket. I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m not. At least Bibby often forces his man towards a help defender or hedges enough to cut off his path to the lane – like Steve Nash, Bibby might not have great defensive tools, but he plays smart D. Crawford just gives up on the play when he realizes his man is going to get by him – he doesn’t try to alter his angle to the basket.
The grass isn’t always greener.
niremetal
November 1st, 2009
1:52 pm
Here’s the link to that story about Crawford’s defense in Golden State:
http://48minutes.net/2009/01/16/warriors-trying-to-rebuild-jamal-crawfords-defense-from-ground-zero/
You can go ask Golden State fans or check their message boards to see if they thought Smart’s off-the-court work with Crawford led to him giving more defensive effort on the floor last season.
Hopefully, Woody and Co. will get through to him and make him try harder on the defensive end. But old habits are hard to break.
FIREMIKEWOODSONEXPRESS
November 1st, 2009
1:59 pm
PEOPLE PLEASE THE HAWKS BEAT TWO TEAMS THEY SHOULD HAAVE. THEY WILL STILL NOT BE ABLE TO WIN THE GAMES THAT MATTER. BECAUSE WOODSON IS A IDIOT. I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE HAWKS AGAIN UNTIL THEY FIRE MIKE WOODSON.
Tbird
November 1st, 2009
2:08 pm
Nire: Crawford has played on perennially poor teams…and bad defensive teams as well. He was actually an average defender for much of his stay in Chicago, admittedly gave little thought or concerted effort in his last two stops. In his first two games as a hawk…both of which I have dvr’d…he was poor in game one and retty good in game two…actually stripping Arenas in the post on one occasion and keeping him in front and making him pass off on another. Let’s give him some time…by any stretch he is capable of being a MUCH better defender than Bibby who is helpless against either speed OR size.
Josh Smith,jj,Bibby,Crawford,Marv,Horford- Woodson
November 1st, 2009
2:23 pm
FIREMIKEWOODSONEXPRESS Gee, we are going to miss you! Bye, good luck to your new team.
JeJe
November 1st, 2009
2:47 pm
LOL @ Kobe guarding Marvin. Does he even have to cover him? I saw Luther Head (Who?) who is 6″2 shut down Marvin in Atlanta back in 2008. All you have to do to guard Marvin is stay within 2 feet of him so he cannot get a jumpshot off and if he tries drive, he’ll fall.
Truth-Serum
November 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
ah Roger that Dos Hawkquis, place a big Ditto on the Crawford is a better defender than Bibby. We are talking about back-em-down he cant jump any higher than zaza, Bibby,Right? Ill bet Bibby cant dunk anymore, any takers? No doubt Crawford is a better point than bibby and could command a double team at times. Dont get me wrong, Bibby is an asset for sure, but if you want to cause Kaos with the other team, Crawford and JJ would be a back court from hell. Im not worried about Crawfords defense. His man is going to be winded anyway after the track me JJ and Crawford would put on. Get them a true center and lets go hunt that title!
hawks_4_life
November 1st, 2009
2:53 pm
Raptors getting stomped by the Magic. Someone needs to show them what a defensive playbook is. LOL
Idiot Check
November 1st, 2009
3:13 pm
FIREMIKEWOODSONEXPRESS..sha na na na…sha na na na… hey hey hey… Good bye…sha na na na…sha na na na… hey hey hey… Good bye. ” sing it with me now…..sha na na na…sha na na na… hey hey hey… Good bye.
hawks_4_life
November 1st, 2009
3:15 pm
OH OH im up 6-5 on my fantasy basketball, too bad i wont hold on to it by the end of the day.
Grandad
November 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
Grndds Mthr & Trth Srm.: You amuse me. However, my real mother is in Heaven. Also; I spell it that way because I want to. After careful consideration I thought the extra “d” was redunddant. Pun intendded.
Once again I mostly read this board for information. I generally skip over the inane banter. However, earlier I picked up on your clever repartee. For the record, I wish Woody great success. I just don’t see greatness for him. He is workmanlike but not innovative. He does not inspire greatness. He has virtually no charisma. My delemma is that he was my choice when BK was making the selection. He also insults me with his rude language in the media. He should be aware that children and ladies listen to him on occasion. But I do wish him well for in so doing our Hawks will in turn be successful. On another note, I am “country” but be careful because your “bubba” remark was loaded and unappreciated. It would disappoint my real mother. Hopefully , from now on I can give the rebuttals a rest and resrve my comments for the best game with the best athletes on the planet.
Idiot Check
November 1st, 2009
3:35 pm
Grandad/Ken, you are an idiot. I CHECKED!
Joe Mama
November 1st, 2009
3:36 pm
Ditto Grandad/Ken you are an Idiot!
Grandads Mother
November 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Son please come home!
Grandads Mother
November 1st, 2009
3:38 pm
Bubba Ken, please stay away from my Son!
Joe Mama
November 1st, 2009
3:39 pm
Go home to your mother son.
Sautee
November 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
yawn.
more useless bs. by our multi-named poster.
It’s ok. I know how to scroll. Thanks dmb, wherever you are.
Grandad,
Good luck. Some trolls just want reactions.
There will be one soon. Keep watching.
hawks_4_life
November 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
Raptors just made me eat crow lol.
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
NIREMETAL-There’s can be a difference between being a bad defender and not giving a good effort. Bibby’s inability to fight over picks, due an obvious lack of lateral movement, is why Woodson employed a switching DEF. His lack of speed, quickness and lateral movement is also the reason JJ is usually assigned to play the opposing PG’s, instead of SG’s.
No HC that Crawford’s played under has had to take such drastic steps to accomodate any of his DEF liabilities. The fact he’s demonstrated the ability to fight over picks automatically makes him a better defender than Bibby. You mentioned the Warriors. Well, since when has DNelson required a player to play DEF, or designed a recognizable DEF system? And former Knicks HC IThomas, for whatever reason, couldn’t get his players to play OFF or DEF, and in some instances, even enter the gm.
It’s no secret you like Bibby as our starting PG, we’ve had that discussion recently. But to say Crawford, as a defender, is as bad, or worse than Bibby is going way overboard with your enthusiasm for Bibby. Crawford’s ability to effectively fight over picks could eliminate our need to switch on pick and rolls, as well as allow JJ the luxury of going back to defending SG’s instead of PG’s. That, in turn, would be a tremendous help to our frontline, who wouldn’t consistently end up in mismatches because of our switching DEF.
JEJE-I remember seeing 6′7″ 200lb Bruce Bowen of the Spurs hand 7′0″ 245lb Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks his lunch the yr Dirk won the MVP award. NOW, DID BBOWEN’S DEF PERFORMANCE AGAINST DIRK MAKE HIM LESS OF A PLAYER? DID IT CAUSE THE NBA TO TAKE BACK HIS MVP AWARD? Come on!!
Joe Mama
November 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Truth-Serum
Good insite T.S., Looks like youve started a good debate. Actually its a no brainer. That would be quiet a duo.It could be a all time hawk great back court. Well I guess youd have to start with pistol pete and lou hudson, and there were other good hawks tandems. Surely this would be a good duo. The question is how do we get Woodson to buy into it since its his team.
Truth-Serum
November 1st, 2009
4:26 am
fresh-start-for-crawford
Good article from Sekou. It has me drooling. I can imagine Crawford at the point with JJ @ the 2. NO doubt that would be the best best court in the NBA!!! Ferocious. That would definitely open up the low post….wide open. Choose your posion!
Grandad
November 1st, 2009
5:30 pm
Shout out to my mother!
Grandads Mother
November 1st, 2009
5:32 pm
Shout out to my son!
Joe Mama
November 1st, 2009
5:41 pm
Good insight
quite a duo
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
SAUTEE-you have to admit, this clown is one sick puppy. Makes the character in the movie, THE FACES OF EVE seem perfectly normal. What kind of sick mentality can consistently derive so much pleasure from such an infantile endeavor? Even a child gets bored playing the same gm over and over. He’s living prove that just like all alcoholics aren’t enrolled in AA, all nut jobs aren’t where they belong either.
Since he seems to have so much fun conversing with his multiple personalities, just scroll past his BS and don’t respond. Remember, just because a parrot can repeat what he hears doesn’t mean he’s capable of comprehending what he’s saying. WOW, I just insulted all parrots.