Atlanta Hawks: Next Day J.J.
Joe Johnson didn’t exactly take it back today. He was mad that fans booed the Hawks throughout their Game 3 loss to Orlando and afterward told reporters he “could care less if they showed up or not.”
Asked if he had any more thoughts on the topic after sleeping on it, J.J. said:
“It was tough. I don’t think we’ve heard the boos like that in the five years since I’ve been here. When I first got here, man, there were probably like 100 people out there in those seats. I won’t say everybody is a diehard, but they’ve shown us a lot of support over the years. In the heat of the battle you tend to say a lot of things. But it was tough, man. I was a little [ticked] off but I am over now.”
His comments have led to speculation that he sounds like a guy who doesn’t like it in Atlanta anymore and can’t wait to leave via free agency this summer. But Johnson said that’s taking it too far.
“Don’t read in between all of that,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my years here. They’ve been great. We’ll see what happens Monday.”
That’s not a farewell speech, is it?
“No, not at all,” he said.
Some context on J.J.’s postgame comments. Normally he takes a while to get dressed before he faces reporters. But after Game 3 he was just out of the shower and immediately beckoned media when he made it to his stall. The question that led to the inflammatory quote was whether fans booing affected him or the team.
So does he care if fans show up for Game 4 tomorrow?
“If they come out and show us support, it would be great,” he said.
During a separate interview, Woody also touched on the fans and their expectations. The question was regarding Al Horford’s contention that the Hawks are a loose, fun-loving group that sometimes doesn’t know when it’s time to get serious (an observation I’ve made as well).
Woody agreed with that and then talked about how in the past he’s been viewed as a coach who is too demanding, how Hawks players don’t make negative headlines off the court, and then about the team’s chemistry:
“We do have a young group of good guys who do like each other. But when you face adversity, sometimes guys stray off and you start to point fingers. That ain’t always good in terms of your team. Sometimes you find out a lot about people when you do lose. We haven’t lost very many games this year, especially in this building. And people expect you to win. That’s a good thing. I think coming into the season, I made that very clear that expectations are going to be higher this year, and they should be. You should want it that way. People are going to expect much more than they’ve ever expected even though we’v4e never been an elite team, we are trying to get to that level. People sometimes expect too much, especially here in this arena where we’ve been pretty successful the last couple years. We’ve kind of spoiled our fans a little bit. Maybe that’s why they turned last night in terms of the boos and things of that nature because it was a lackluster game on our part.”
MC
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269 comments Add your comment
My Man Woody
May 10th, 2010
12:05 am
Just checked stubhub, you can get 2 upper level tickets for $3.00 and 55 tickets in varying sections for under $10 a piece. That is still a rip off to watch this heartless bunch.
Mystikal
May 10th, 2010
12:07 am
Trade Josh Childress and 2nd rd pick to Clippers (8) or Hornets (11) for their first round pick. Either of these teams could use a starting small forward and already have too much youth on their teams.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2010
12:11 am
I’m kinda debating whether to go to this game on a cheap ticket just to keep my streak alive (been to every playoff game this century) or to stay at home, knowing that there’s no way in hell I can convince anyone else I know to go to this one.
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:12 am
NORTH CYDE I LIKE THAT TRADE JOSH AND MARVIN FOR BOSH.
the only 2 thing i dont like is evans starting and jamal trade for devin harris we have 2 keep jamal and bring him of the bench he give us that spark we need.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:17 am
NORTH CYDE okay since we traded marvin and josh for bosh.
how can we get devin harris ? he will be on the trade block if john wall is drafted by the nets.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
cp
May 10th, 2010
12:17 am
Chris Bosh is not a center people. He is a scoring pf. He is also terrible defensively. I still don’t know how he is seen as a max type player although he hasn’t lead his teams anywhere. If you said trade him for lets say Josh and move Bosh to the pf position then yea I feel you but there is no way he should be playing center……. I also don’t think the Hornets would give up Collison. They are trying to save money… They might be willing to trade Paul seeing how Collison has played well for them, is cheaper, and CP3 always seems to be hurt now… I don’t know what will be done this summer but its clear some tweaking has to be done. Tweaking not blowing up the roster.
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
12:18 am
I’m waiting for $1 seats for the game
FIRE WOODY
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
12:18 am
WE NEED DAVID LEE
FIRE WOODY
jeje from lax
May 10th, 2010
12:21 am
Woody said we demand too much…LOL…is expecting a damn win in this series too much?
Simpdawg
May 10th, 2010
12:22 am
Maybe its time for the Hawks to build this team around Al Horford, and let Joe Johnson and Mike Woodson walk. Hire Bill Laimbeer, Avery Johnson or Byron Scott. Resign Josh Childress or sign John Salmons and Travis Outlaw. Trade Marvin Williams to Portland for Rudy Fernandez and Joel Przybilla. I would send our 1st round pick, Maurice Evans and Mike Bibby to New Jersey for Devin Harris and Josh Boone. Here’s the new Hawks lineup: Starters
Devin Harris
Rudy Fernandez/John Salmons
Josh Childress
Josh Smith
Al Horford
Bench
Jeff Teague
Jamal Crawford
Travis Outlaw
ZaZa Pachulia/Josh Boone
Joel Przybilla
Specialist (Bench Warmers)
Mario West
Randolph Morris
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:23 am
CP CHRIS BOSH WILL MAKE THIS TEAM BETTER POINT BLANK PERIOD WE HAVE NO INSIDE SCORE AT ALL.
GO HAWKS!!!!!
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
12:24 am
Stay at home Najeh. Gas almost up to $3. It ain’t worth it to go see the Hawks get they a$$ whipped like Kimbo Slice did last night.
FIRE WOODY
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
12:32 am
We need to go get Salmons and David Lee
pg – Jamal
sg – Salmons
sf – Jchill
pf – Jsmoove
c – David Lee
Bench – Teague, Bibby, Marvin, Horford, Zaza, Joe Smith, Draft Pick
FIRE WOODY
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:43 am
NORTH CYDE CHECK THIS OUT.
1.Trade josh and marvin for bosh.
2.Sign joe back 5 year 70mill that 14mill year.
3.Trade chill and bibby and morris for devin harris
4.Sign free agent outlaw
5.Sign avery as a coach
6.24# PICK SOLOMON ALABI
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:47 am
2010 ATLANTA HAWKS ROSTER
STARTE DEVIN, JOE, OUTLAW, HORFORD, BOSH.
BENCH TEAGUE, JAMAL, MOE, ZAZA, SOLOMON ALABI
RESERVE JOE SMITH, COLLINS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
12:49 am
THAT PAYROLL ABOUT 74MILL.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
crabapplejoe
May 10th, 2010
12:51 am
Watching the Hawks pitiful, lackluster display of “basketball” followed by Steve Nash’s inspired performance tonight after getting stitches over his eye is like watching two different sports.
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
1:02 am
I can’t believe some of yall are saying bring back Joe when he hasn’t done nothing in the playoffs.
FIRE WOODY
sam'l
May 10th, 2010
1:03 am
Trade Marvin and Teague for Devin Harris. Today’s most noteworthy comment. Check Harris out physically long and hard before you make that move….otherwise…..this might be very good.
The Hawks are maddening beyond their ability to lose big games. They could win Monday just to cause a few more headaches.
I hope they do win. Go Hawks!
Orlando Magic News & Notes: Magic Eye Sweep | Howard the Dunk | An Orlando Magic Blog
May 10th, 2010
1:03 am
[...] Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has that story here. [...]
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:08 am
Here’s a question. Would you guys be for bringing Woody back, if it included Eddie Jordan being his lead assistant?
I’m sorry but I still believe if you bring Joe, Josh, Horford, Marvin and Teague back and sign Brewer, Haywood, and Felton that the team would be a lot better. Brewer, Haywood, and Felton together would be the price of a Chris Bosh alone. The Magic made runs no matter who were on the floor because they had better depth. But when have you turned the channel to the game during this series and not seen either Joe, Josh, or Al in the game?
At 30 years old, Haywood coming off the bench and getting 25-30 minutes a game could be a big boost. And also I wouldn’t rule out signing Jermaine O’Neal for a backup Center role either. He is still a great inside defender.
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:11 am
Clyde, here’s the question, is it more that Joe hasn’t done anything, or that Woody’s lack of an offense hasn’t put Joe in a good position to be as effective as he can? I think its the offense that allows teams in the playoffs to game plan specifically how to contain Joe. On the Magic or Lakers who can you say you specifically want to stop? And with the coaching staff they have, do you think you could really do it in the 2nd round?
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:17 am
By the way, thanks to ESPN many of you are now saying Josh gives up on plays too much and how he should hustle on every single play (even when he’s hit in the mouth by his own teammate). But what player who starts have you seen in the playoffs who hustles on every single play up and down the court? You name one player, and I will show you where they didn’t. Even Lebron, Kobe, Wade, all of the Celtics, Spurs, and others have been criticized in games for having a lethargic (lazy) mood about them at some point during this post season. And Smoove misses two defensive plays on fast breaks, and half of you go crazy. Then you guys say to replace him with BOSH, who quit on his team the week after the all star game. CNNSI have been saying for months how Bosh gave up on the Raptors. Smoove is the type of player I would want on my team, and for the price he’s a bargain!
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
1:17 am
Ramon it has something to do with coaching no doubt. But you have to ask yourself is Joe worth a max contract. I say hell naw. Lets use that money for David Lee and Salmons.
FIRE WOODY
Mike is Back
May 10th, 2010
1:24 am
Clyde, I agreed on your Kimbo Slice comments. I don’t know WTF JJ was talking about…because what brought the raft down on the team was the fact that they was playing like they had the lead…instead of getting their scrubs asssssss blowed out at home…IN THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON.
There was no sense of urgency by the coaching staff or the team. If you are a fan making a sacrifice to shell out cash to support your home team…YOU WERE DAM DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT YOU WITNESS SATURDAY.
It was very disheartening to hear the teams captain make those types of comments about the fan…WTF did he expect us to do cheer for their listless performance.
Nire, I get tired people like you thinking you know anything about ATL fans…YOU CAN’T TRANSPLANT IT…YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT. Don’t criticize the fans…when the team had clearly pack it in for the season. Even ATL fans deserve better than that.
I think the players are just feed up Woody’s system…and it is being manifested in the game. However, I still think the Hawks have to resign JJ…but it is time to split him and Woodson up.
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:38 am
Clyde, I don’t think Joe is worth max money. But max money is 20 mil. I haven’t seen anywhere where Joe said he wanted 20 mil a season. But I do think I would rather pay 17 mil for him, than to lose his services and not have anything. It comes down to coaching, and ownership acknowledging that they’re going to have to go into luxury tax if they want to win. I would love to see Salmons playing NEXT to JJ not in place of JJ. Because JJ is a better facilitator and defender than Salmons.
Also, has anyone noticed that the chemistry questions are coming up THIS season, but didn’t come up last season? I’m getting the feeling that it is coming from Bibby and Crawford. Bibby can’t like playing with someone who’s taking all his minutes. And Crawford always get more shots than anyone on the court when he’s on the court (including JJ). And honestly NO one in the back court has done anything this post season consistently. Horford and Smoove have been the most consistent players on the court, with Zaza coming in at third.
hawkfan
May 10th, 2010
1:42 am
out of all of this, i will have to say al horford has played well but then again he won 2 ncaa championships in ufl so at least he knows what it takes to reach the top and it won’t get there by sole talent but effort and drive and hustle and teamwork and a driven-head coach, which are all the stuff the hawks are lacking now, and what happened to joe smith, what happened to the NOW YOU KNOW ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE playoff atmosphere at home in the playoffs it seemed we reached our peak and are now declining significantly, feel bad for jamal crawford this being his first playoff experience in his career of a decade and this is what he gets after being sixth man of the year, just sad, we need a winner mentality coach that is not safe with a 20 or 30 point blowout ala van gundy or not happy when another team comes back or one that would rely on homecourt in the playoffs to determine their team’s success, no reason a 3rd seed could play this bad and could have swept the celtics this season who are now tied with the cavs 2-2, whatever happened to the real hawks team needs to be investigated no more joking around, now it has gotten personal with the fans (also i think jj got frustrated that he realized he is not as reliable or clutch at the end that he and woody thought he was)
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
1:44 am
Ramon:
It’s kinda like what crabapplejoe said after watching:
“Steve Nash’s inspired performance tonight after getting stitches over his eye”
Plus NO…again a resounding NO!
As to Wdsn bringin’ in[I don't care if it's]; Eddie Jordan…
Michael Jordan…John Wooden…Red Aurbach…Jerry Sloan…
Jerry Seinfeld…Cosmo Kramer…Bear Bryant…or Led Zeppelin.
He had his chance. He should have considered those options a
long time ago! Again I say No!
!
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:47 am
Here’s my definition of worth max money, if you CAN’T win a game in playoff basketball just because you showed up on the court, than you’re not worth max money. Really I think only 5 players in the league are worth max money (Dwight Howard, Lebron, Durant, Kobe, and Wade)
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
1:50 am
Ramon i like josh but the hawks have 2 make a choice between HORFORD AND JOSH OR every year the hawks will be having this same conversation about what went wrong in the playoffs, the hawks have no inside presence untill then it will be the same old hawks, sometime you have 2 make move in order 2 get better and bosh will give us that in the paint.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:53 am
Grandad, he didn’t have those chances before. This is the first season where the Hawks are heading into the off season where the finances aren’t tied up in court. I’m not saying that I’m for it, I’m just saying its no guarantee that whomever you get will be better. Jeff Van Gundy couldn’t get past the 2nd round with Yao, McGrady (Healthy), Battier, and Alston. And Yao was the best center in the league then. Avery couldn’t do nothing more than win 60 games like Dallas always do, and find a way to lose a 2-0 NBA Finals series. Byron Scott doesn’t really run that many offensive plays with his teams. If you watched any of the Hornets game, you will see they did a lot of standing around and ISO plays with West, Stojakovich, and CP3. Or CP3 and Chandler would run a pick and roll, where Paul just threw it up to the rim. Collins had Jordan! That’s enough said on him. Truly there are only 4-5 coaches who have won the championship in the last 12 years. So there are only 4-5 championship coaches out there at the moment. And all of them had larger payrolls. I will say though I would love to see this Hawks team running the triangle set in their half court offense.
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
1:56 am
Ramon:
Sorry:
*[your quote should have preceded his]
somehow I managed to omit your quote.
“Josh gives up on plays too much and how
he should hustle on every single play
(even when he’s hit in the mouth by his own teammate).”
*[this was my response]
It’s kinda like what crabapplejoe said after watching:
“Steve Nash’s inspired performance tonight after getting stitches over his eye”
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
1:57 am
Darrell, Bosh can’t guard Rashard Lewis nor Dwight Howard. So how does he solve the problem? The problem in this series wasn’t the interior. The Hawks outrebounded the Magic last game by a lot, and still got blown out. The major problem with this team is lack of defensive pressure on the ball from the back court. And when you have Bibby and Crawford in at the same time, that makes it even that much worse. When those two are on the court you will always be playing 4 man defense against a 5 man offense. That’s why I say if you add just a back up center in the mold of Haywood, then the interior will be just fine. Horford and Smoove give majority of the league problems. The problem comes when they can’t challenge penetrating guards’ shots because they don’t have a suitable big on the bench to come in if they’re in foul trouble. Most of their fouls were against Nelson and Carter as much as against Howard.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2010
2:00 am
I’ll repeat what I said last summer when people were discussing Josh for Bosh — Bosh is a better scorer, and his rebounding numbers are higher mainly because he is taller and he’s the only person on his team interested in rebounding. But if you want him to be your “inside presence”, good luck with that. He sucks at defense and considering that Horford abuses him physically in the post, just imagine what Howard will do. Don’t get caught up in fantasy stats. Bosh is not the answer.
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
2:01 am
Grandad, that’s easy to say for Nash. Do you see the look on Smoove and Horford’s face when they’re on defense after a guard has just penetrated the lane, or they have to rotate out to the arc, because the back court messed up THEIR rotations? Smoove and Horford actually be looking like they want to ask their teammates “What the hell are you doing out here?”. If you’re the PF or C standing behind the matador flag all game long, you’ll start to get frustrated and give up a play or two also, lol.
sam'l
May 10th, 2010
2:02 am
Yeah, I saw Josh walking up the court, and my thought was he may be hurt…… and Josh wants to win and has the skills. He can knock down foul shots and he can make jump shots (!), He’s sort of like Charles Barkley in that he is independent and thinks for himself.
Joe is obviously out of here. So if you’re thinking of constructing a team around him, you’re dreaming. Unfortunate, but true. As a 53-year fan (that is, I’m older than 53, have been following the St.Louis Hawks-Atlanta Hawks for 53 years), I can say that Joe is a big-time talent, and I can understand why he doesn’t want to be in this situation.
Let’s assume the Hawks DO NOT win Monday……remember they are unpredictable. Sund should immediately get rid of the coach. Okay, he’s trying hard, he’s “improved” the team…..but he can’t put together the parts, and we have (had) four bona fide stars, Josh, Al, Jamal, and Joe. Unfortunately, Woodson has hung himself by not thinking clearly….repeating phrases over and over that indicate he hasn’t got a clue as to why his team malfunctions.
Then, there’s no cloud. Concentrate on finding the right coach…..and deal with the players sans Woody’s influence to determine who we need.
Joe’s series so far hasn’t been spectacular, but his overall performance should still take him far away to somewhere he isn’t embarrassed year after year by stupidity. .
.
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
2:08 am
Ramon:
Well said on the 5 max guys. I can’t think of any others.
Mr. Wdsn has had resources to coach. Heck, he should have
the acuity to coach himself w/o brilliant assts.
I’m not going to debate that any further, we have
discussed his coaching weaknesses ad nauseam.
You did bring up one interestin point;
our team is structured to run the triangle.
[I thought E.Jordan was a Princeton off. guy]
But I have felt all along that or players skill set
(to better include Marv) was best suited for the triangle.
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
2:10 am
*interestin’g’
&
*o’u'r
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
2:17 am
Grandad, I get what you’re saying. But remember Jackson didn’t come up with the Triangle, Winters did. Many coaches don’t manage their offensive sets. I guess I’m just scared of a Lon Kruger happening all over again. And truthfully Sund doesn’t have a great track record of hiring coaches. Though I will say with the hiring of McMillan it does show he’d be interested in hiring Mark Jackson.
And yes E. Jordan is a Princeton guy. But I was mainly just using him as an example of if Woody got help. Truly the main problem of Woody’s is his offense sets or lack of. If you have that corrected, with the subtraction of Bibby from the starting line up. And you place that with the addition of Haywood and Brewer (or Mike Miller/Outlaw) on the bench. Then what problem will you have then?
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
2:21 am
I dont understand where you guys get this emotion that bosh can’t play defense if you have a bunch of scrubbs in front of you of course you will look bad on defense, this the same thing every one said last year when i said lets get stoudemire and every one said no no he can’t play defense but look at him now taking his team 2 the finalls.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
2:22 am
Dam i cn’t sleep tonight this is fun.
IM TEACH YOU GUYS ON HOW 2 BUILD A TEAM.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
2:26 am
FIRST off all your not going 2 win no tittle with scrubs player on your team piecing in a player here or there thats not going 2 cut it.
you have 2 have atleast 2 or 3 stars on your team and bosh will be the best player on the hawks if they sign him.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
2:28 am
Ramon Joe ain’t even worth 17 million. I say give David Lee 9 and Salmons 8 if your gonna spend 17 million. We get a our center that we never had and a 2 guard that’s just as good as Joe for the same price.
FIRE WOODY
darrell starks
May 10th, 2010
2:29 am
WHAT COMBO IS BETTER.
HORFORD AND BOSH OR JOSH AND HORFORD ?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Ramon
May 10th, 2010
2:37 am
Clyde, I can’t disagree with that point you just made. But I don’t see David Lee being an upgrade over Horford at the center position. There’s nothing that Lee does better than Horford. Its just he’s in an inflated system. And when you have Harrington playing PF, it’ll be easy for you to get many Rebounds because no one else on your team is trying. I would rather have Haywood than David Lee. But the point is either way, the owners are going to have to go into luxury to complete. I really think with an offensive system, Joe ppg could easily go upto 23-25 per game, even with his minutes going down. And if you bring in someone like Brewer, than he no longer has to guard the best perimeter player on the team. Actually I could see a Joe/Brewer/Marvin/Smoove/Horford being able to be the Hawks version of the Bulls, with Teague(still developing)/Crawford/Outlaw/Haywood/Bibby and whatever draft pick being on the bench.
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
2:50 am
Ramon its all about depth. Our frontline would be really strong having David Lee, Smoove, Horford, Zaza, and maybe Joe Smith. JJ is just one player.
FIRE WOODY
Clyde
May 10th, 2010
3:07 am
Its all about depth. This would be one of the deepest teams in the NBA next year.
pg – Crawford
sg – Salmons
sf – Smoove
pf – Horford
c – David Lee
Bench – Teague, Bibby, Marvin, Jchill, Zaza, Joe Smith, draft picks
FIRE WOODY
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
3:08 am
Ramon:
Your correct on Tex Winters but they were together a long time.
Wdsn has many more problems and we cannot afford for him to
continue with his jaded, awkward, habitual, bitter & malignant
administering of or our team under his direction.
darrell starks – can’t sleep either.
At my age, if it aint one thing it’s another.
I sleep when whenever I can, right now I can’t.
Grandad
May 10th, 2010
3:18 am
Clyde – David Lee is probably gonna re-sign with the Knicks.
It’s been orchestrated. I read how they were gonna do it but
I forgot the details. He would cost us too much $ anyway.
People wanting Salmons need to beware;
whomever gets him does not need to overpay based on this season.
Redick will be a better bargain. His #’s per mins. played are
better than Joe’s. Basketball IQ/high due to playing for
Coach’K’ and for Van Gundy. Not a SS just a piece.
drmaryb
May 10th, 2010
3:26 am
NorthCyde
I see you took out the garbage on the blog earlier! Smells, lovely now! Mmmm Hhhhaaaa….. Like Roses!