Coming up on Game 23
Hey, folks-
Hope all are well. A few things:
While some interesting things were said on the topic, I am going to completely not venture an opinion on the European players thing.
KevinA – thanks for the number crunching (the Hawks are 8-0 when they hit 22 or more assists and 10-1 when JJ has five or more assists) . I think this obviously says plenty about what makes them go. It’’s something that the players and Mike Woodson recognize, that they play their best when they’re unselfish and when they get out and run. Al Horford says this a lot.
This isn’t exactly the most insightful observation you’re about to read, but this obviously happens most when they’re defending and rebounding to start their transition game. It’s trite, but they have to defend well to win.
One thing I’ll say about Jeff Teague – even when he wasn’t playing much, he wasn’t having too much trouble getting to the basket. But he had a pretty low percentage on his drives. It seemed like 1 out of 4 shots in the paint was going in and the rest either bounced off the rim or were rejected.
I asked Jamal Crawford about this, and he said Teague had to figure out the angles he was taking to the basket and so forth. So maybe he’s figured out something. I think it might be a little premature to say he’s ready for a steady diet of minutes – I’d feel differently if he’d gone for 19 points, 15 assists, four steals with just three turnovers against, say, Miami and Milwaukee and not Chicago and Toronto and, too, I don’t know if the NBA is similar to baseball and the NFL where a rookie can have success out of the box but then the “book” gets out on him and he plateaus – but he may well have turned some sort of corner. He would make the second unit, and in turn the team, so much more dangerous.
Anyway, Joe Smith will not be playing again Sunday. Wednesday against Memphis might be the day.
Things I’ll be watching against the Nets:
1) How is Brook Lopez defended?
2) How are the minutes apportioned with the second unit?
3) Can Teague keep up his excellent run?
4) Can the Hawks play even better than they have the past two games?
Apropos of nothing, but Charlotte is in the No. 8 spot in the East right now. and Miami is just one game over .500 (11-10).
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245 comments Add your comment
Mike is Back
December 14th, 2009
11:07 am
Fundamentals, preciated bro…all the credit belongs to the organization, coaches and the players. IT’S NICE TO BE RELEVANT AGAIN. lol
Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2009
11:22 am
Woody seems to be following a similar career path as Doc Rivers. The more talent he gets to work with, the more creative he gets with his schemes and personnel, and the better he appears to be as a coach. I have been critical of him in past years too, and I don’t back down from that criticism, but he has been damn near flawless this year and he deserves our respect. I give him a solid A- so far for this season, and if it hadn’t been for that little lull the Hawks had a couple of weeks ago it would be an A.
doc
December 14th, 2009
11:22 am
i mentioned earlier this year that we were a very deep team to have the number ten or eleven guy be someone like mo evans. realistically that is what he represents when you begin to look at the rotations that woody has come up with. cudos to him to be pro enough to keep his game together to do the job as a fill in like he does. look this team and woody are just now beginning to understand the weapons that they have at their reserve that we as fans have really hoped for earlier in the season in our fantasy worlds that we live in. let us keep the momentum going here against an improved memphis team and the utah jazz always a nemesis.
samuel, agree with your comments. i want woody to be the guy that is here for the long haul like sloan has done at utah rather than win coy awards. continuity is key in organizations of any kind. too many of those awards only mean one year wonders and find those guys out of work two years later for whatever reason like what happened in n.o. this year. my desire is to see this team give a credible run at the three spot, win at least one series and challenge or win a second series and no blowouts as they do it, against them, like it was against cleveland, then see the guy get what he deserves. i dont think he needs to go to the next level quite yet but show consistency like we want of this team. again it is a difficult decision for sund to go with woody as the next contract is for longer term and he has to know what he has and feel comfortable with it or we as fans will suffer if he makes the wrong decision gong forward to find woody has a ceiling, right where he is. no one has a clue right now, only suppositions.
coaches have to live at altitude just like players, kind of like a golfer going low or a guy like kobe or lebron going off to have crazy numbers, to shoot a 59 or score more than 50 respectively. it takes a special personality. it takes a special kind of person to live at that altitude and i hope that woody has it. after one winning season and one series won in the playoffs, i am not just yet ready to give it to him. not a hater but a realist and i think you know what i am talking about since you have been a player and are coaching now.
doc
December 14th, 2009
11:31 am
mike, i was one of the very solo voices called a pollyanna four years ago for suggesting woody had some redeemable features so i am not a hater only stating what the probs are for management as i have stated before and again today. as a fan i want the next contract to be the right one to whoever can continue to take the team higher.
it is a 82 game season, not 24, though the first 24 say, job well done. as teams rise, the coaches can get just as tight under the collar as players can, if you know what i mean. let us see how he handles success or adversity this year before we declare him the second coming. again, the best thing for us and the organization is for him to succeed in what we see happening this year for the whole year and hope it translates into a situation to expect it frequently rather than infrequently.
The Jerk
December 14th, 2009
12:17 pm
I already have Ken’s Wednesday blog written out:
Hey Folks. Going to be an interesting game tonight against Memphis.
Questions:
Who will cover Rudy Gay after his explosion on Sunday night?
Will Woodson use his bench bigs to help out on Randolph and Gasol?
Looking forward to hearing back from you all.
niremetal
December 14th, 2009
12:35 pm
Were you born a poor black child in Mississippi, sittin’ on the porch with your family, singin’ and dancin’?
Mike is back
December 14th, 2009
12:36 pm
DOC, I hear ya bro…agreed. I’m not saying make a decision before season end…just acknowledging the point Samuel made about the Hawks being the third seed, and displaying improved play in the second round…that should be enough to garner an extension.
He is certainly making a strong case early on. They will endure some tough stretches during the season…that is inevitable…however, if they continue play unselfish…they will be hard to beat…that too should also merit consideration for an extension.
niremetal
December 14th, 2009
12:37 pm
And in case you missed the reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Vp9fQ616k
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2009
12:59 pm
It’s one thing to criticize certain players and our HC, right or wrong, but it’s pretty stupid when someone resorts to criticizing a temporary beat writer who took this job on as an added responsibility. THEN AGAIN, THE NAME HE/SHE/IT CHOSE, “THE JERK” DEFINITELY SAYS IT ALL.
Since Teague has gotten meaningful and consistent mins over the last 3gms, I did a little checking to see what he’s been giving us compared to Bibby. TEAGUE/BIBBY-MPG 21.67/20.67, PPG 10.3/7.33, APG 5.67/3, SPG 2/1, TO 1.67/1.33 FGA 22/19, FGM 13/9. When we combine their stats, we end up getting a hell of a lot more overall production at PG than we’ve gotten when we’ve overplayed Bibby and ignored Teague. And when you factor in Teagues superior DEF, especially his on the ball DEF, we don’t have to play so much of that switching DEF that allows teams to score so many inside pts against us and gets our frontline players in early foul trouble.
If we continue playing and Woodson continues coaching the way we have the last 3gms against the better teams, we can take over the East. None of last yrs top 3 Eastern teams can match our speed, quickness, athleticism, versatility and depth.
The Jerk
December 14th, 2009
1:12 pm
The first thing Ken said when he got here was that he isn’t trying to replace Sekou’s shoes.
Why would anyone say that? Are you right then telling us you’re not going to try hard at this temporary add-on job? There’s no difference between these anemic blogs and Joe Blow Big Ray’s blogs in my opinion. Sorry for expressing an opinion. I know it’s forbidden in this country.
doc
December 14th, 2009
1:23 pm
jerk, the problem i have with your comments is you may be or are probably a regular blogger here that feels he cant be upright and state it without cowering behind a different tag. have an opinion but keep it real instead of being a coward. of course ray and ken can easily do the homework to see who it is if they cared enough about your insignificant trivial drival.
The Jerk
December 14th, 2009
2:20 pm
doc, aren’t you like 55?
You’re almost older than my Dad. You should be playing sudoku or on your yacht right now.
Leave me alone.
doc
December 14th, 2009
2:33 pm
heh heh.
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2009
2:50 pm
THE JERK-I’ll bet DOC did a far better job of raising his kids and stimulating their intellect than your father obvious did with you. I feel a need to apologize to you for launching an attack on your issues with Ken Suguira. When I made that statement, I hadn’t yet realized you were probably too stupid to discuss any basketball issues, so you resorted to something much simpler, and that in itself showed initiative. Good for you, and I have no right to expect anymore from idiots like you.
The Jerk
December 14th, 2009
2:56 pm
Thanks, Ken.
Your evaluation of my behavior on a comment-board filled with a bunch of old has-beens and immature high school kids really is quite accurate. I’ll let my Dad know of your evaluation of him — he will be quite amused.
And thanks so much for filling my screen with your 6 paragraph posts. I am sure it helps you achieve Self-Actualization, knowing that you can post insightful comments about a team on a website like this.
Thanks again for making my day. You are a good man.
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
THE JERK-You’re very welcome. I’m just glad you can read. And just so you know, I didn’t pass judgement on your Dad, that was adequately done by you and your stupid comments.
Oh, one more thing. Using the term SELF-ACTUALIZATION was really impressive. It’s too bad your youth, inexperience and upbringing has retarded your ability to use your vocabulary to come up with an actual intelligent thought or idea that could be shared with the blog.
Crashing the Glass
December 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
What a joke
December 14th, 2009
9:27 am
Crashing the Glass keeps posting here trying to get people to read his blog not realizing that there’s a reason no one comments on it – its because no one reads it because its terrible. You are no better than the rest of us, fool. Stop pretending you are special enough to deserve your own blog. And Ray, stop trying to pump him up. Your continuing endorsements dont make him look good, it just makes you look bad.
Tell me this, Mr. hiding-behind-a-fake-name- Why is this so important to you? If you don’t like my stuff, don’t click on the links, genius.
Ray is a genuine guy that’s trying to add a little support to an emerging Hawks/NBA blog that he, along with a number of others, enjoy reading. Links are part of the internet- deal with it.
Like this one-
http://crashingtheglass.com/
Ha!
doc
December 14th, 2009
3:28 pm
nice concise stuff ba.
like it that you are covering other areas of the sport not just the hawks. it too is relevant and helps to keep the hawks in the context of the whole. we forget to do that here frequently as folks play out their own agendas to convince someone to agree with them. disagreement is the foundation of discussion, why would folks want it any other way? they would have nothing to talk about.
BA
December 14th, 2009
3:36 pm
Thanks doc- I’m honored that you’ve been reading- funny I thought “no one” read CTG- least of all one of members of Sekou Smith’s original Mt. Rushmore.
Of course the Hawks are my team, but I enjoy writing about other teams as well, for the reasons you said, and it also satifies my OCD tendencies each night after work.
Seems a shame that now, in what has been a golden era for our Hawks, we have to deal with these half-wit cannibloggers. I guess that’s how it goes though.
Big Ump
December 14th, 2009
3:55 pm
Mike is Back
I totally agree, you hit the nail on the head. Been saying that a long time We still winning. So why complain? Just being realistic.
Blast
December 14th, 2009
8:54 pm
Thing I love most about Hawks right now is that they are one of the only teams that have kept the same core together for 5 years or more! As a result, that core has had a chance to grow. From cellar dwellers to possible contenders. Joe, Josh, Marvin, Bibby, Horford, Zaza, and the new additions, Hawks are for real!
Recent statements from Joe indicates to me that he will likely resign with the Hawks. Especially when you read this link below.
An interesting story on Woody’s take here in the ATL. From a Celtics Blog less!
http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/12/7/1189120/should-woodson-get-extension-hawk#26763779
JeJe
December 14th, 2009
9:22 pm
Woodson beat Teague in 1-on-1?
Josh said the Hawks are an offensive team that can add defense to mix (I thought we’re supposed to have a defensive philosophy)?
Horford said it’s all about effort for RandMo?
Interesting stuff
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2009
10:28 pm
After the next 2 home gms, we’ll embark on a 4gm roadtrip and play 8 of the next 12 gms on the road, which includes consecutive back to backs, 4 in all during that stretch. This stretch of gms will be a very good test for the Hawks. If we keep coaching and playing at our current level, we’ll come out on top.
With Teague responding so positively to the increased consistency and mins over the last 3gms, I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on with Woodson and Teague of late. According to reports, Woodson is really putting in extra time and effort with Teague, and it’s certainly paying off, and I’m loving it.
doc
December 14th, 2009
10:45 pm
a virus just invaded ken’s computer and commandeered its content. not to worry the real ken will survive.
heh heh
Grandad
December 14th, 2009
11:10 pm
Mr. Jerk:
It’s interesting that you, being a learned man, invoked Dr. Maslow’s
concept. Obviously you have already acheived self-actualization therefore you feel the need point out what is phony, you’re both spontaneous and creative, plus you are not bound by social convention.
As most of us have advanced beyond the physiological stage of our
“Hierarchy of Needs”, then where on the pyramid do the rest of us belong? Myself and I suspect most on this board have at least risen to the esteem level. As far as Ken Suguira is concerned; if you do not enjoy this blog, then farewell. If you wish to have an intellectual debate, I don’t care to waste my time with you. If you desire a discussion of psychology [self-actualization] with someone, then please go find a blog that suits your fancy.
Ken Strickland
December 15th, 2009
2:04 am
GRANDAD-AMEN!!
DOC-you need to leave me alone, old timer, hee, hee. I’m serious, which is why I did that comparison with Bibby and Teague. Teague has outperformed Bibby with both of them having played about the same mins over the last 3gms. I honestly find it hard to believe Woodson would actually push Teague the way he has because he will make it hard for him to keep Bibby in the starting lineup.
Unlike some of our fans, I don’t care WHO coaches the Hawks, but rather HOW they’re coached. Even though he’s out of shape, rusty and some of you have enjoyed making fun of JCollins and his size, he’s demonstrated over his last 2 limited opportunities that he still knows how to play the position. When we have blowouts, we should consider inserting both players in the gm at least midway through the 4th qtr, instead of waiting until the last couple of mins. We need to start thinking right now about getting Collins ready to pound with Shaq when we have that back to back with the Cavaliers.
doc
December 15th, 2009
3:29 am
see i told you so …
just playing ken.
The Jerk
December 15th, 2009
10:12 am
Grandad,
Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate you implying I am having a psychological debate, when, in fact, I was just making an offhand remark about Ken Strickland’s yearning desire to run this board.
My affinity with psychology is pretty average, as I do not study the topic. However, since you imply I am some self-proclaimed psychological guru, I’ll take that as a compliment too.
Best,
The Jerk
Ken Strickland
December 15th, 2009
11:25 am
THE JERK-If your idea of wanting to run this board is being an active participant in discussions about the Atlanta Hawks and their future, that shares and receives info, asks questions, poses different senarios, offers and defends his opinions and often offering challenges to the opinions of others, RATHER THAN BEING FOCUSED ON COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING AS TRIVIAL AS NOT BEING SPOON FED INFO BY KEN SUGIURA, then I guess you can accuse several of us regulars of wanting the same thing.
A word of advice. If KenS doesn’t provide you with enough of what you want, try using the internet and doing a little research on your own, like a lot of us do. That way, you’ll find KenS will become far less of an issue for you. Just show some initiative. You’ve certainly demonstrated you have the intellectual cacacity to raise your BB IQ through individual research.
Even though I frequently jump down the throats of TRUTH SERUM, ROD FROM CP, along with their numerous alter ego’s, and SAMUEL, I recognize they still manage to render some well thoughtout and insightful comments. Your contributions seem to focus almost exclusively on a side issue that you can remedy with a little effort and initiative. COMEON, GET WITH THE GROUP AND START USING YOUR OBVIOUS ABILITIES TO BE A PART OF THE ATLANTA HAWK DISCUSSION.
jerrywest
December 15th, 2009
11:51 am
http://www.peachtreehoops.com has a great article up on Horford.
The Jerk
December 15th, 2009
2:38 pm
Ken Strickland,
My frustration with Ken is not due to my laziness or unwillingness to research this team. I spend 3 hours a day checking and re-checking sites like RealGM etc.
My frustration is due to the fact that HE is the closest to the Hawks out of any writer. HE is the one who is with the team and talks to the players. So why should we suffer with these paltry pregame blogs which ask questions and make comments about the most obvious stuff —> “How to guard Brook?”
Anyway, the Hawks have been winning. Tough stretch coming up, but if we keep winning, who cares? If Hawks win the next 50 games, you can all say anything you want to me and I won’t c are.
Ken Strickland
December 15th, 2009
3:19 pm
JERRYWEST-thanks for sharing that excellent article on Horford. This article reinforces what I said in an earlier comment about him being classified as a very talented and versatile athlete, rather than a so called NATURAL PF or UNDERSIZED C.
Has anyone else noticed something very unique and exciting about the current Hawks and how we’re responding to them? In the past Woodson and most fans have made issues of our benchs’ lack of talent, depth and experience. Well, things have certainly changed now. When was the last time we were able, or even willing, to talk about, have confidence in or make such an issue of the talent and performance of bench players 9 thru 12?
Unless you’re still blinded by reality, and/or personal agendas, we’re all starting to see what we deprived ourselves of by limiting the rotation to 7-8 players. If Woodson had been willing to assume the responsibility of managing player’s mins earlier, we likely could have gotten this kind of bench production earlier as well.
Fortunately, Woodson seems to have started seeing the wisdom and benefit of taking on the previously rejected responsibility of managing players mins and spreading the wealth by extending his rotation, at least for now.
I’ve acknowledged Woodson when he does a good job of coaching, and I’ve made him an issue when he hasn’t measured up. However, when we’re winning, some of his supporters like to give him all of the credit. But when we start playing poorly and losing, they suddenly become DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND and have little to nothing to say, other than to start blaming certain players.
HOW CAN ANYONE MAKE THEMSELVES BELIEVE WOODSON HAS SO MUCH CONTROL AND IMPACT ON THE TEAM WHEN THE PLAYERS AND TEAM ARE PLAYING WELL AND WINNING, YET SUDDENLY BELIEVE HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL, IMPACT OR BLAME WHEN THE PLAYERS AND TEAM START PLAYING POORLY AND LOSING?
Let’s hope that both Woodson and the team continue to do as well as they’ve been doing lately.
BA
December 15th, 2009
3:34 pm
Ken Strickland is the man. I like reading his posts. Somebody needs to take their personal shortcomings and deal with them somewhere ohter than a damn Hawks blog.
Don’t hate on Strickland and the long posts. A long post is far preferable to some fake-name, non basketball gutless sniping.
Maybe spend three hours a day to figure out what your own problem is, instead of referencing obscure websites. Strickland is just a well written guy with a penchant for production, not your mean dad.
Ken Strickland
December 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
THE JERK-I understand, but you’re assuming he’s the closet to the team. You have to understand that although he’s currently the Atlanta Hawks beat writer, unlike Sekou Smith, it’s not his only responsibility or his primary responsibility. It takes a lot of time and effort to line up players, coaches and execs for interviews. It takes additional time, effort and research to monitor blogs, write articles, as well as accumulate and present information to these blogs. Sekou did the same things, but he did it as his primary responsibility, without having the additional burden of another job.
Under the circumstances, I think KenS has done a very good job, and it’s been appreciated and acknowledged by the overwhelming majority of the bloggers. Consider this. You’re obviously annoyed with me for ASSUMING certain things about you and making certain judgements based on those uninformed assumptions, right. Well, please stop and consider that you’re doing the same thing with KenS. COME ON, LET’S TALK ATLANTA HAWKS BASKETBALL!
Grandad
December 15th, 2009
7:50 pm
Mr. Jerk:
My apologies sir.
Self-Actualization, being a theory brought forth by Dr. Abraham Maslow,
[psychologist], led me to believe you were either an amateur or a professional practitioner of psychology.
My only concern was to defend Mr Suguira. Someone on this board said it best, after Sekou left: “Ken Suguira just happened to draw the short straw for this assignment.”
I do not want to enter any debate between yourself and K.Srickland, except, censorship on this board by a blogger [you in this case]
would give me pause.
Big Ump
December 15th, 2009
8:49 pm
Seem like some blogger have a stinking way of thinking that what they say is true. WHY IS IT WHEN THE THE HAWKS LOSE THEY GO BERSEK AND BLAME CERTAIN PLAYER AND THE HC, BUT DISAPPEAR WHEN THEY PLAY WELL. OR POST A 1 LINER ABOUT THEY PLAY GREAT ALL BECAUSE THE TEAM PLAYED THE WAY THAT THEY BEEN TALKING ABOUT. I’M SURE THE TEAM OR HC DON’T TAKE THEIR ADVICE HOW TO PLAYED THE GAME. BECAUSE IF THAT WAS TRUE WE WILL BE STILL LOOKING FOR OUR FIRST WIN THIS YEAR. AGAIN YOU CAN SPIN IT ANYWAY YOU WANT BUT THE THE HAWKS WIN AS A TEAM AND LOSE AS A TEAM. THEY ALL IN IT TOGETHER NO MATTER WHA A CERTAIN BLOGGER TRY TO MAKE YOU THINK OR REVERSE WHAT OTHER SMART BLOGGER BEEN TELLING HIM ALL SEASONS.
northcyde
December 15th, 2009
8:53 pm
This blog is too funny.
Because if we’d followed the “let’s play everybody in the 10-man rotation at least 12 – 15 minutes” theory, we’d be a 12 – 11 ballclub right now. And I say that because that 2nd unit was NOT ready to play with each other at the beginning of the year. LOL . . I guess people forget opening night, in which the 2nd unit got DESTROYED by Dahntay Jones of all people.
Like Woody said from the juimp . . . . (paraphrasing) “I’m not sacrificing wins, just to play guys the minutes they think they deserve”. And I agree with that completely.
If we were a 12 – 11 ballclub, this blog would be rallying up the troops, conducting Tea Party-like rallys outside the CNN Center, chanting . . FIRE WOODY ( clap . . clap . . clap, clap, clap ) FIRE WOODY ( clap . . clap . . clap, clap, clap ).
There would be no talk of . . “Hey, we’re 12 – 11, but let’s wait until the All-Star break to evaulate this team and Woody.” Or . . . “let’s see how we perform in the playoffs as the 4th seed with a 48 – 34 record, before we pass final judgement on Woody.
LOL . . no way. You’d have fans at Philips doing the tomahawk chop and the war chant ( both of which Braves fans flat out stole from Florida St. ), talking bout . . . . OOOOOOOO-O-O-OOOOOOO . . . . FIIIIIRE . . . THE . . . CO-OOOOOACH.
The “Woody supporters” on this blog have to be extra praiseful of Woody when times are going good, because we know how it goes down every time they lose a game. They players get no blame. It’s all on the coach . . . like he has an XBOX 360 controller in his hand, controlling every move of every player.
So forgive the “Woody Supporters” from being a little happy these days. People have been expecting Woody to win the Daytona 500 . . driving in a Volkswagon Beetle, for years. Now that he has a real car to run the race in, he’s showing that he can be a good driver.
Keep driving your butt off Woody. We got your back!
MAD-DONNA
December 15th, 2009
9:15 pm
northcyde, you have got to be kidding! I might support Woodson if he had more control of Josh Smith! I mean, how many GOOD coaches would tolerate him playing point-forward? And, can we learn some designed plays to run in the half-court game?
Big Ump
December 15th, 2009
9:55 pm
Northcyde
You right on point with your latest post. We 17 and 6 and they still complaining and saying that the only reason we winning is bacause the team is playing like what they had been preaching about. I’m like you I don’t want to guess what this blog would be like is we were 12-11.
Grandad
December 16th, 2009
12:00 am
TS: [and your other selves]
I was most gracious to mr.w. recently. It’s also untrue that those of us who are perpetually negative toward him, never criticize the players.
I personally have been critical of Joe Johnson. While others have pointed out Bibby’s shortcomings.
Many of your cronies constantly grumble about Marv. You and your other aliases carp on Big Al and Teager incessantly.
My point being: quote “The Hawks win as a team, lose as a team, we in it together”: ‘Big Ump’ 8:49 PM.
Therefore you (and your special friends) should be no more critical of
any one player than myself or others are of mr.w.
*On the other hand, I will always attempt to be open minded and continue to call ‘em as I see ‘em.
vava74
December 16th, 2009
6:27 am
Ken,
I agree with the bulk of your criticism of Woody, however, I feel that you overplay your hand when you do it.
You state that it is Woody that commands a slow pace and that he is guilty of not making this team run more. You call this “Woodyball”.
Well, there are two ways of running: a sustained way, starting with good defense and the domination of the defensive boards and a non sustained way, which could be seen as GS and NY currently play.
The Hawks players themselves admitted after a few losses that they got hammered by Woody for not playing good defense (by mainly being lazy on the switching defense) and after those “lectures” we bounced back with some very good wins.
I think that this illustrates that Woody likes when the Hawks play up tempo and wants them to do so, however, he rightly thinks that that can only work when running comes out of good defense.
So, when we don’t get the stops nor the defensive rebounds, its is only natural (and not an option) that we do not play a faster paced bball.
Where I do believe you are right is that when we cannot run, our offense is limited and Woody takes too much time (or fails) to make adjustments.
The above, however, does not overrule a simple fact: it is not always Woody’s fault when we do not defend well, our switching defense fails and we cannot run. Many times this comes as a consequence of poor effort/bad days by the players.
Finally, given our current record, it is impossible to conclude that Woody is not doing a good job so far.
Yes, he is far from perfect, however, there are other teams out there who have similar or better rosters on paper and that are clearly achieving less success than us.
Ken Strickland
December 16th, 2009
10:34 am
VALVA74-I recognize Woodson does allow the team to run, use more than a 7-8 man rotation and do most of the things I complain about. My major complaint is he hasn’t yet committed to allowing them to do it consistently. When we’re playing well and on a winning streak, we’re always using an extended rotation and playing fastbreak, attacking the basket style of basketball. When we hit a lull and start losing, we’re always playing halfcourt, perimeter jumpshooting, ISO basketball.
The switch from one approach to the other seems to always happen when we play a quality team and lose. You’re correct when you say Woodson has gotten on his players for not playing good solid DEF, but can you say that he’s done that when they suddenly reverting to playing WOODY BALL? When JJ, Bibby or Crawford start playing ISO ball and excluding teammates, which one can you say Woodson always ends up doing?
(1) Call a timeout, or take the culprit out of the gm, to correct their behavior and make them go back to sharing the ball and playing uptempo. or
(2) Shorten the rotation, play each culprit extended mins while standing on the sidelines with arms folded and allowing it to continue, often for gms at a time.
When this happens, can you honestly say they’re not doing what Woodson wants. Like he’s so fond of saying, IF I DON’T GET WHAT I WANT FROM A PLAYER, I’LL GO ELSEWHERE TO GET IT. He definitely understands what’s best overall for the team and has done some good things that’s been very beneficial. My biggest complaint with him is his lack of consistency in those areas, as well as a lack of committment to a definitive style of play.
Right now we’re running, fastbreaking, sharing the ball, attacking the basket, playing mostly staight man to man DEF and feasting on the weaker teams. The problem is, will we continue playing this way when we encounter Cleveland in those back to backs. What are the odds we end up going from effectively using a 9-10 man rotation to a 7-8 man rotation, even on back to backs.
When we play Cleveland, what are the odds that Teague, who does everything uptempo, gets no more than token mins because Woody knows Bibby is more comfortable when the OFF is slower and perimeter oriented. Now, Woodson could do a 180 and prove me completely wrong for the upcoming series with Cleveland, AND GOD I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
Nothing would please me more than if Woodson would commit to making this team establish themselves as an uptempo, fastbreaking, attacking the basket team that gets after you on DEF and consistently uses it’s deep, athletic, versatile and experienced bench to wear teams down.
Isn’t it obvious that Sund is looking for more than just annual increases in wins or playoff appearances. He’s looking for improvement and growth from Woodson as well as the team, along with trying to determining the degree of influence he’s had of the growth of the team and its players. He knows Woodson can oversee and direct a winning team, he’s already adequately proven that. I believe Sunds higher expectations for the team, and accessment of its overall talent and abilities, makes him more concerned with finding out if Woodson can coach and direct a potential championship calibur team to the next level. As good as we’ve been so far this yr, we can become so much better through player development, improvement and utilization of that talent and development, without adding a single player. BOTTOMLINE, SUND WANTS TO DETERMINE IF WOODSON IS CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TEAMS SUCCESS, OR IF THE TEAM IS BASICALLY CARRYING HIM.
And this idea that Sund will be forced to extend his contract if the Hawks have a successful season is bull. After all, haven’t we been pretty successful since Bibby’s arrival and Sund hasn’t felt pressured to make a committment. What he wants to find out about Woodson will require the entire season to determine. Personally, I hope Woodson proves he’s more than capable and leads the Hawks to a first ever conference title appearance, at the very least. In the end, for me, it’s about the team, not the HC, unless the HC hinders the team.
truly1
December 16th, 2009
11:47 am
I echoe you Ken strickland I want to see HC woody when times get a little tougher on the starters does he go back to starters playing extended minutes. It is easy to play your bench now when your playing newjersey. Sometimes your bench can keep you in the game when your starters arent playing so well. And some games you are going to lose anyway so why play your starters so many minutes. I wonder if woody has learned these things yet. We will find out.
KevinA
December 16th, 2009
11:59 am
Ken Strickland,
Should Sund and Woody be judged according dollars spent? Like 10-24 million extra? Shouldn’t every 10 million of extra pay roll be worth 6 games? Kobe, Gasal, Bynun, Odom, and Artest = 65 million. That equals our pay roll.
Big Ump
December 16th, 2009
1:00 pm
Grandad.
On your post at 12:00 am talking about blogger being critical of players. That’s true with others bloggers including you. But I challenge you to find anything I ever said by a player in the year and a half I been posting. I wasn’t going to address this, but I knowed if I let it pass then you probably add something else I had never said before. Granddad I’m always a team man not like others. So when you accuse someone, please make sure you have your facts right. On call’em
like you see them it look like you just call’em what you thought you saw or what you want to see. Grandad have a good day and holiday.