Sund: Players Need ‘Another Voice’ After Six Years of Woodson’s
The Hawks decided not to offer coach Mike Woodson a new contract.
Woodson coached the Hawks for six seasons. The team improved its record in each of the last five years, including a 53-29 record this season that was fifth-best in franchise history, but GM Rick Sund decided the team needs a new leader.
“It was a hard decision,” Sund said. “When I analyzed and looked at it, I went round and round. Finally I think it got to the situation where the compelling thought is, ‘Maybe change is good for everybody.’ That happens quite a bit in the NBA. Maybe the players need to hear another voice, and maybe Mike needs to talk to another group.”
Sund declined to comment on the details of his evaluation of Woodson. Sund also didn’t want to discuss any potential candidates to replace Woodson or offer a broad outline of what qualities he wants in a successor.
Early media speculation has centered on Dallas assistant Dwane Casey, whom the Hawks interviewed before hiring Woodson. Sund was the Seattle GM when Casey was an assistant coach there for five seasons.
Woodson, who is free to seek other jobs, did not return a message. He has defended his tenure with the Hawks while highlighting accomplishments that include three consecutive playoffs appearances, and said he received unfairly harsh criticism for the team’s loss to Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But Hawks management had doubts that Woodson’s approach would lead to further improvement, according to two people with knowledge of the decision. Among their concerns was that Woodson would have an increasingly difficult time getting through to his players if he returned.
Some players felt Woodson didn’t rebuke certain players as strongly as he did others for their mistakes, according to four people familiar with the locker-room dynamics. The differing levels of accountability led to resentment for some players , the people said.
Players credited Woodson with helping to maintain a loose atmosphere and reducing the length, frequency, and intensity of practices in an effort to keep them fresh for the playoffs. But one player said he hopes a new coach who doesn’t “play favorites” can improve the team’s chemistry.
Beyond those issues, the Hawks weren’t satisfied with Woodson’s 8-14 postseason record over the past two seasons. Last season the Hawks beat Miami in the first round before losing 4-0 to Cleveland in the semifinals. This season the Hawks beat Milwaukee in the opening round before losing in four games to the Magic by an NBA-record total margin of 101 points.
Hawks forward Josh Smith said the team’s decision to part ways with Woodson despite his success is a sign of the higher expectations for the franchise.
“It feels good to know we are not just satisfied with just being the eighth seed or improving every season,” he said. “We’ve got expectations of going to the playoffs every year and being a difference-maker in the playoffs. The organization has everything going in the right direction.”
Woodson, 52, had a 206-286 record with the Hawks. He took over for Terry Stotts in 2004-05 after previously serving as an assistant coach in Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Milwaukee.
Former Hawks GM Billy Knight tried to fire Woodson more than once during his third season but ownership rebuffed him. Knight resigned after the 2008 season and was replaced by Sund, who signed Woodson to a two-year contract after he guided the Hawks to their first postseason appearance in eight years.
Smith is the only player on the roster to play all six seasons under Woodson. The two had a contentious relationship at times but Smith said they had come to an understanding.
“It was rough starting out, but everything was smooth sailing a couple of years ago once we finally figured out what we wanted out of each other,” Smith said. “You just hate to see somebody you came in the game with leave like this.”
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590 comments Add your comment
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
10:05 am
Do what ever it take 2 get avery in here.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
10:09 am
Asg have 2 be smart, if they spend the money it will pay off but spend it wisely.
GO
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
10:21 am
The thing hawks must do.
1.sign avery
2.trade marvin and teague and maybe 24# for devin harris
3.sign joe back but we must bring in a star with joe
4.trade josh or horford 2 get a star in here
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
10:32 am
Here is what i would do.
1.first sign avery
2.bring chill back
3.trade teague and marvin for devin harris
4.trade josh and zaza for bosh
5.bring joe back
6.sign free agent al harrington
7.draft 24# solomon alabi
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
10:37 am
HAWKS ROSTER
STARTER DEVIN, JOE, CHILL, HORFORD, BOSH
BENCH BIBBY, JAMAL, MOE, AL HARRINGTON, S. ALABI
RESERVE MORRIS, ACIE LAW
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
doc
May 16th, 2010
10:40 am
darrell, where is the beef? where is the defense? your biggest guy is jj and he doesnt seek contact.
kidding right?
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 16th, 2010
11:21 am
Gotta agree with doc. What the heck? darrell starks get serious man.
robdawg08
May 16th, 2010
11:31 am
You could hire Phil Jackson or Pat Riley and they couldn’t win with this current roster. Add two star players and one of us could coach the team. You can’t get wine from dead grapes. Let Johnson go and sign Bosh.
robdawg08
May 16th, 2010
11:33 am
Starks, Bosh is a free agent. No team owns his rights for trades. Its not hard to understand. He can sign with ANY team without compensation to his former team.
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 16th, 2010
11:35 am
BBgenie you wanna know why the ASG charged Hawks fans for a $5 t shirt? Why? Because when they were giving them FREE white t shirts the previous season, Ryan Cameron had to beg and plead for some of them to put the FREE t shirt on. Perhaps if they were paying for them out of their own pockets they’d actually wear them.
Jody
May 16th, 2010
11:39 am
What happens with this team before July 1 is going to tell the tale. If the decision is to try to keep Joe going forward, you’re not going to accomplish that by simply hiring an assistant coach with “upside”. They’ve got to make some moves. Rick Sund has said they’ve got to find a way to compete with the best teams (namely the Magic). It’s not hard to figure out. If you want to compete and have a chance to win in the post season, you’ve got to be able to match up and at the most critical positions, the Hawks simply could not do that against the Magic no matter what system they could have implored.
Jody
May 16th, 2010
11:43 am
And didn’t I read somewhere a couple of months ago that ticket prices were going up? If that’s true, instead of folks calling out Atlanta fans for lack of support, it’s time to call out this franchise for lack of intelligent activity. Hawks better get on their game. My guess is that fans simply will not tolerate the status quo.
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
11:51 am
I no he is a free agent but he can still agree 2 a sign a trade if chicago, new york or jersey dont sign him, that how he can get his max deal thru a sign a trade.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 16th, 2010
11:54 am
doc, matt harpring, hellz no!
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
11:59 am
DOC i have improve this roster at 1 at 3 and 5
1.DEVIN IS BETTER THAN BIBBY
2.CHILL IS BETTER THAN SORRY MARVIN
3.HORFORD AND BOSH IS BETTER THAN HORFORD AND JOSH ON THE BLOCKS
4.BENCH IS BETTER WITH AL HARRINGTON
5.24# SOLOMON ALABI WHO IS 7′1 A DEFENSE OF STOPPER
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 16th, 2010
12:02 pm
darrell starks you want chris bosh that bad that you are willing to give up zaza the one Hawks player that doesn’t shy away from contact and josh the one player that you can expect to play defense.
doc
May 16th, 2010
12:12 pm
mz, tell me why.
nah dont bother i am not being serious only that is the type of guy who makes good head coaches,
smart basketball iq,
hard worker,
had some adversity in his career both physical and mental,
had to handle both being the man then being the capable back up that competed every chance he got to include pressuring the guy in front of him to get better or he got his job,
not afraid to be knocked down going to the hole or knowing how to knock someone down himself,
nothing appearing complacent or accepting the status quo,
always wanting to be better including being pissed at his coach for holding him to the minute count
coming off injury which sloan did (not like in chicago where the coach literally got slapped)
lady, i mean what is wrong with those attributes as a starter and the type you look for when looking for coaches, no?.
O'Brien
May 16th, 2010
12:18 pm
Samuel’s way of thinking seems to be that whether you lose by 43, or by 9, its still a loss, so it shouldn’t matter. A loss is a loss. I look at it differently.
Losing by 9 suggests that a couple plays here and there could have made a difference in the outcome. Losing by 43? There is no way to describe that.
As for COY, Mike Brown was COY last year, and led his teams to 60+ wins 2 seasons in a row. But despite the high payroll and a very deep team, they did not make the NBA finals. Whose fault is that?
Ken S,
JJ is unrestricted, so it doesn’t matter whether the Hawks match an offer or not, JJ will go wherever he wants to. But I wonder if it will come down to money with him..
Another assistant HC I’ve seen mentioned is Elston Turner. 6 years with Sacramento, 4 years with the Blazers, and reunited with Adelman in Houston.
He interviewed for the Phoenix and Minnesota jobs in the past, and interviewed for the current Sixers job. If he is anything like Adelman, I would give him a chance…
Rob G. (ATL Homeboy) _ (over in San Diego)
May 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
First off Mike Woodson,
I hope that you will read this particular comment from an individual who believe in loyalty and commitment. I would like to extend my appreciation for all that you brought to the Hawks and this so-called organization. The very same organization that have been fighting an up-hill battle regarding the ownership of this pathetic team, since you were named the Head Coach. No one else wanted this job, but you had a game plan and these delusional fans or individuals commenting on your departure, really frustrates me to the max.
As mentioned previously by me, the Hawks as a team would have to crawl before walking and also have the right combination of players to be a success. As your record indicates throughout the last few years, there is no doubt, because it is quite evident the progress this team made with a majority of players on the team who wouldn’t get consideration from other head coaches. You definitely! did a good job in my opinion. I saw way too many times the effort and the commitment you tried to convey to the players during the course of the season as well as during this last playoff appearance what need to be done in order for the team to advance. Or course this fell on deaf ears, the Magic’s, were just a better team with better players than the Hawks. Management, namely (the Sund guy) should have provided better players. With this being said, I personally like to thank you for the success you brought to this team, this organization and this City. Without a doubt you will be rewarded for the loyalty and commitment you provided to this team. Unfortunately, people do not always see or have the same vision. But, I no doubt know you will have a championship ring before the Hawk even smell the playoffs again. I was hoping the organization would retain your service I am disappointed that this Sund guy came to this conclusion after he himself have only been in the position only one year. Again, no loyalty which is what we have to deal with in this day and age. And I am talking about corporations, companies etc., et al.
I no longer have to wonder how the Hawks are going to fare next year. As I, will no longer follow them as faithfully as I have done the last six years. Again, all of this was based on loyalty and commitment. You did a masterful job and I would have much appreciated the crowning, if only everyone else had the same vision as you, with what you had to do, re-do to make this team respectable.
Mr. Mike Woodson, thank you and I wish you much success in the very near future. GREAT JOB!!!
Oh, by the way these are very unappreciative fans, which hide behind a computer and make nonsense comments. Next year it will be this Sund guy who gets the axe. OUT!
The name Dwayne Casey is suddenly the coach the ownership is considering due to Sund having worked with him in the past. Good Luck!
smh
May 16th, 2010
12:39 pm
Mike Woodson I mean Rob G. (ATL Homeboy) _ (over in San Diego) we know its you . Its time to move on.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2010
12:47 pm
doc @9:40 am, probably the smartest post I have seen on this topic.
darrell starks
May 16th, 2010
12:49 pm
BIBBY, JOE, MARVIN, JOSH, HORFORD TEAM A
VS.
DEVIN, JOE, CHILL, HORFORD, BOSH TEAM B
WHO WINS ? TEAM B BY 30POINTS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
doc
May 16th, 2010
1:33 pm
najeh, nothing but respect. i have learned how to scroll from my dear hot thong lady DR MB. what i have learned also is there are certain posts, whether i agree or not, to never scroll even if i know i might not agree. they make me think or respond. you are in the last group, among many.
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
1:52 pm
darrell starks:
Please don’t take this harshly as I highly regard
your input. But what is your infatuation with
Devin Harris? Plus Solomon Alabi can’t even stand up
without a prop. He is a project at best and will not
fit into our five yr. window of opportunity. I
love your passion & stream of ideas but, I must admit
that any proposal ending with the departure of Big Al
loses my support immediately. I look forward to being
your advocate in the future.
Mitch
May 16th, 2010
2:56 pm
Grandad!
Thanks for trying to post articles on Tom Thibodeau…please keep trying!
The Hawks need Thibodeau’s intensity…his detailed preparation…his insistence on execution…and his ability to develop players.
Someone needs to get these players’ attention and to hold them accountable.
Think Stan Van Gundy is intense? Doc Rivers? Intense is why their teams are playing today.
If what Rick Sund is looking for doesn’t start with “intense”, then this team will never be a real challenger for a title.
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
4:09 pm
Thanks Mitch – I’ve amended each, tried again this Am
to get one through by itself but the blog gobbler got
it as well. It’s 4:00 PM now I’ll try again @ half-time
to see if I can get one or both posted.
I would link but I’m a techno dork.
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 16th, 2010
4:13 pm
Rob G. the Hawks were loyal to Coach Woodson. They gave him six years.
doc, so you think Matt Harpring is a new voice the Hawks will listen to and respect. I don’t. I am sure Matt has qualities that are desirable but not as a new coach of the Hawks. Matt has no experience as a head coach or any coaching experience for that matter. In 2010-11 he will be only two seasons removed from being a basketball player. The new coach of the Hawks should be experienced, someone who the team can respect and will listen to.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2010
4:18 pm
Darrell, this is real life, not NBA 2k11.
Joe Johnson > Bosh
terrell
May 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
Doc showing Woody how to play the Magic. Take notes Woody.
doc
May 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
mz. no i dont say it seriously. need someone strong to change the culture, be an equally good teacher and on floor general that communicates well during games. i mean never misses the chance to communicate.
Clyde
May 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
Hawks up for sale???
The Real Hawk
May 16th, 2010
5:06 pm
Do NOT sign JJ!
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2010/3/10/1366059/the-non-atl-future-of-joe-johnson
terrell
May 16th, 2010
5:06 pm
U serious Clyde?
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
5:11 pm
Sorry Mitch / Blog Gobbler – don’t want it posted!
Whenever MC puts up a new blog I will type up the
main points of the article to present the flavor
of said feature w/o the context verbatim and will
provide the writer’s name.
Clyde – Hawks for sale?
Hawks were thrown in with several teams Cavs included
as far as value declining…NY Daily News:
I don’t trust anything I read or hear from
our northern opptressors. (i.e. carpetbaggers)[NY]
Grandad
May 16th, 2010
5:14 pm
*oppressors
I cannot blame the n.o. for my typos.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2010
5:31 pm
Amazing how that vaunted Orlando defense struggles so badly against a team that a) makes a concerted effort to get the ball inside, b) looks for contact when driving to the hoop, and most importantly c) shares the ball and moves without the ball.
Jody
May 16th, 2010
5:35 pm
As we’re now seeing in this Boston-Orlando game 1, when you have both the size in the frontcourt and speed at the one to matchup (not necessarily shut down) with the Magic, they can be beat.
Kiki
May 16th, 2010
5:44 pm
What is really enlightening is to see how Charlotte was able to get D12 in foul trouble and how Boston is getting D12 in foul trouble and frustrating him someway. Honestly, both Woody and the players let us down huge!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2010
6:07 pm
If you want to get the other team’s center into foul trouble, you have to have an offensive game plan beyond just jacking up jump shots all day.
Kiki
May 16th, 2010
6:12 pm
Cosign Najeh.