Atlanta Hawks: Players say Drew isn’t Woody 2
LD, second from right, moves over to Woody's spot (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
It wouldn’t be a bad thing in the larger sense if LD is another Woody. In the aftermath of the recent postseason disappointment, it’s easy to forget Woody led the Hawks to one of their better seasons after helping them rise up from their status as laughingstocks. But Rick Sund said the Hawks needed “another voice,” after all, so there’s some understandable skepticism when they hired Woody’s right-hand man to be the “new” voice.
Clearly Atlanta believes LD offers something distinct from Woody. The Hawks hired him after rejecting not just Woody but his entire program. Promoting his lead assistant means they don’t think LD got much of a chance to put his stamp on that program. And the Hawks are telling you that not only do they expect LD’s way to be better than Woody’s way, but that he’s the guy to guide them to the next level even though he’s never been in the head coach’s seat before.
Anybody making snap judgments about the legitimacy of those views is just guessing. Sund and ASG made their choice. LD gets his shot to win over skeptics. At some point it will become clear if he’s the right choice.
I talked to some players this weekend, and all of them said they expect LD’s approach to be different than Woody’s. Drew often ran the second-team offense in practice and was said to deploy creative sets, with one player describing them as a “fun” departures from the isolations. Another player said when things went badly for the Hawks, LD tended to be more of an “encourager” than a “screamer” and focused his energy on laying out a detailed plan for how the Hawks can get better.
The players have better insight into LD than the rest of us, and so it’s significant that he enjoys wide support among them. But they can’t be sure how Drew the assistant will work out as Drew the head coach. His relationships with players will be tested. Now LD has the final say on how the run the team, including playing time and touches, and players inevitably aren’t going to like some of his decisions.
It’s probably not much different than most real-life workplaces when your direct boss becomes the “big boss.” It happened to me at a previous job. I knew that when my supervisor became the department’s boss our relationship would necessarily change. Where once he would go into his boss’s office as my advocate, and sometimes privately agree with my gripes, suddenly I was griping to someone else about his decisions. We talked every day when he was my direct supervisor; when he became the department head and had wider responsibilities, sometimes the explanations came down through the chain of command, and sometimes not at all.
I knew that when he was promoted my boss had to put some of that “command distance” between us. I’m not saying I always liked it but I accepted the circumstances and did my job. It’s not an exact analogy, I know, but Hawks players now have to do much the same with Drew. It’s part of being a professional.
That raises another important point. It’s not just ASG, Sund and LD who are under pressure. The players have a lot to prove, too. It’s fair to critique Woody’s strategies, his management of the team, and his failure to bring along Rook’. But, in what’s probably a common NBA tale, the players whom Woody treated like pros and gave some degree of say in their working conditions eventually let him down (and that’s before you even get into the issues with his roster, which is another blog altogether).
The players credited Woody with creating a loose atmosphere that made it enjoyable for them to come to work but then they didn’t get serious when it was time to do so. Woody backed off from the long, hard and frequent practices players didn’t like and in the end they didn’t work as hard as they should. Woody gave them on-court freedom (especially J.J.) and instead of taking that trust and becoming a free-flowing offensive team, they became a selfish “get mine” kind of team–and resisted Woody’s efforts to get them to share the ball.
Now Hawks players get a replacement for Woody whom they know and like. The new voice in charge is a familiar one and the internal hire causes fewer disruptions and less uncertainty. As one player said, now it’s up to him and his teammates to support Drew by getting on board with his program, respecting his decisions even if they don’t like them and sacrificing for the team.
Otherwise, no matter if LD draws up better plays, holds all guys accountable and develops the next Rook’, he might end up just like Woody did in the end.
MC
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399 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
2:34 pm
Truth Serum ,
I don’t post as Rick Sund, but the person that does is clearly having fun doing so. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Sautee
June 14th, 2010
2:40 pm
Truth-serum,
How did Horford get Woodson’s vote if the coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own team?
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/05/05/all.defense/index.html
From the article linked above:
“The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.”
Once again you are lying in an attempt to make Horford look bad.
Grandad
June 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
Sautee:
I’m glad you’re here, as I would love to share a cup o’ coffee
with you someday. I feel like we may have alot in common.
Love of the game being the *community center.
northcyde
June 14th, 2010
2:42 pm
LOL . . and what do YOU do Big Ray? You don’t think you exhibit characteristics that everyone can see on the board?
If anybody remotely criticizes Josh Smith, you break out into hives and get defensive about the kid. And you do the same thing when I, or anybody else, hold the fans to the fire about their commitment to what is supposed to be their favorite basketball team.
LOL . . it is what it is. Everybody, including you, has an modus operandi on these blogs.
********************
@ Ken Strickland . . . man, you sure do have high expectations for Teague. If you’re expecting Drew to turn him into a 12 – 13 ppg . . 6 – 8 assist guard, you’re pretty much expecting Teague to be a top10 PG in this league.
So I did a player search on basketball-reference.com. In the past 5 years, here are the guys who are 6 – 4 or shorter to average 12 ppg and 6 assists in a season , . and the # of times they did it ( in parenthesis ).
http://tinyurl.com/37839t9
Steve Nash ( 5 )
Baron Davis ( 5 )
Chris Paul ( 5 )
Dwyane Wade ( 5 )
Chauncey Billups ( 4 )
Andre Miller ( 4 )
Deron Williams ( 4 )
Gilbert Arenas ( 3 )
Raymond Felton ( 3 )
TJ Ford ( 3 )
Allen Iverson ( 3 )
Devin Harris ( 2 )
Kirk Hinrick ( 2 )
Derrick Rose ( 2 )
Mo Williams ( 2 )
Jason Kidd ( 2 )
Brevin Knight ( 1 )
Stephon Marbury ( 1 )
Mike Bibby ( 1 )
Jose Calderon ( 1 )
Sam Cassell ( 1 )
Tony Parker ( 1 )
Rajon Rondo ( 1 )
Rafer Alston ( 1 )
Jamal Tinsley ( 1 )
Russell Westbrook ( 1 )
You’re looking at about an average of 12 guards who are under 6 – 4 achieving this feat per year. Only 10 did it last year. This is NOT some simple feat you’re talkng about here. And it will be even harder to be achieved, if a shooter like JJ is taken away from Teague.
The minimum standard on this list, is T.J. Ford in the 2007 – 08 season:
23.5 min
12.1 ppg
6.1 ast
2.0 rebs
And he had to shoot 47% FG to achieve those numbers in that short of a time.
So you’re expecting Teague to go from a guy who got minimum playing time . . to a guy who gets at least 25 minutes a game, and will be at minimum . . a young T.J. Ford?
I don’t know man. If Drew could do that for Teague, that means either a ton of GMs overlooked this kid in the draft, or Drew may be the best coach in Atlanta history.
Texas Pete
June 14th, 2010
2:43 pm
kirkinga
It doesn’t matter who the coach is until the Hawks get the right pieces in place. Woodson did not deserve to be fired. For whatever reason, he was not a popular coach in Atlanta. Despite the fact that the Hawk improved every season under him, the fans did not seem to appreciate him. I don’t care if Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, or Chuck Daley coached this team, we were not getting past Orlando or Cleveland. That tells me the bigger problem is at the player level and it’s not that big a problem. Every team has concerns from top to bottom, ours are threefold:
1. We need a presence in the middle. Defensively, we need a guy our opponents are going to respect and account for when driving. Josh is great for coming from the side or behind but we need someone to stop the drive straight up. Offensively, we need someone who gives us more second chance points via offensive rebounds.
2. We need help for Joe Johnson offensively (or need to replace him). This can be done by a combination of coaching philosophy or player acquisition. This was Woody’s biggest flaw IMO, the iso-Joe just doesn’t work in the long run. Perhaps Drew has more imagination for making the Hawks work in a half-court set.
3. We need a point guard for the future. I don’t know if Teague is the man but by gosh it’s time to give him a chance to lead or fail as a starting PG. Bibby should come off the bench more.
Six years later and we’re in the same “needs” boat we were when this all started shipping Jason Terry away. We still need a Center and a PG. The difference is we’ve got the other 3 spots solid and are deep enough on the bench to make noise. We’re a 53-win team folks and that has to be respected. Let’s not lose sight of all the teams who wish they were in the Hawks’ position.
lewis
June 14th, 2010
2:44 pm
Answer me this. If Al Horford was the starting center for the Celtics right now, would the Celtics be a better team with Al at the 5, or with Perkins at the 5?
That, O’Brien, is a good question. Thank you for asking. With the big 3 + rondo, the Celtics don’t need the offense that Al provides. Al is a great defender, gets his body in the right position to make shots difficult, decent job keeping his hands up and closing out on shooters. That said, he’s not as good of a defender as Kendrick.
Kendrick has 40 lbs added on yet similar defensive quickness (he can move for 280 lbs). His size and lack of offensive focus allows him to be more effective on the defensive end. He could care less about size, i’ve watched him ruthlessly go at Shaq and the biggest guys in the league. While he looks like a friggin beast on the court sometimes, I am told that he is one of the nicer guys in the league, very slow speaking, heavy country accent.
Celtics starters not named Kendrick Perkins need the ball, they’re all good scorers. The fact that Kendrick doesn’t play a role in the offense really just makes things easier for all involved. Perkins is one of the few remaining successful true defensive, high FG % centers obviously you’re going to want that over a hybrid 4/5 who brings more offense / foul shooting / passing to the table.
Now put Perkins as the starting center for the Hawks, and tell me if the Hawks are a better team with Perkins at the 5, or with Al at the 5
The only way the Hawks become a better team with Perkins at 5 is with Al at 4. Hawks need Al to bring anything and everything to the table. He’s moved probably from the #5 option to the #3 option, with some wanting him to be the #2 option because him and Josh put up roughly the same numbers and have similar post scoring abilities.
to finish this ugly series of random thoughts,
All things considered,
I would believe you 100% if you told me Al Horford was the starting center for the 2010 champion celtics. I would also believe it if you told me that Kendrick Perkins was the starting center for the 2010 championship Hawks, but I’d be curious to figure out who surrounded Perkins in Atl to make up for Horford’s 15-20 ppg.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
2:45 pm
Ken Strickland ,
I have every reason to believe that Jeff Teague is hungry. He should be focusing on proving himself , rather than proving Woody wrong, and if he does…he’ll do well. I don’t think it will be an issue, as long as his work ethic is solid.
drmaryb
June 14th, 2010
2:49 pm
Sautee
Move on mam! Let that ish – go! There is NO link & I bet you have NO girlfriend.
You beat up old dead buried horses. Hell, you would probably dig up King – Tutt, if you knew where he laid!
Grow up dude and keep rollin’.
drmaryb
June 14th, 2010
2:53 pm
Can’t wait to see JT0 get some burn!
JoJo the Godfather
June 14th, 2010
2:55 pm
Congrats to LD. Good luck to him. I’m sure once his playing days were done, that his career goals shifted to becoming a head coach and winning titles. I hope it happens for him soon. I’m pretty sure he was an assistant on the Detroit team with Woody, so he’s probably got a ring from that. Let’s hope he can keep a competitive team on the floor year in and year out until ownership changes or decides to spend some real money. It would be nice to spend the MLE every year and make moves at the deadline to improve the team even if it means taking on a contract. I’d love to re-sign Joe & Chill, draft a 1st rounder, and give Haywood the MLE this offseason. Won’t happen with this ownership though.
Teague/Bibby
Johnson/Crawford/Evans
Childress/Williams
Smith/
Horford/Haywood/Pachulia
…giving out minutes to that team would be a nice problem for LD to have.
northcyde
June 14th, 2010
2:57 pm
That’s a damn good post lewis.
For Kendrick to be our Center, we’d have to have Smoove and Marvin be pretty significant on a nightly basis on the offensive end, along with production at the PG spot, for Kendrick’s effectiveness on defense to properly offset his lack of offense.
Good breakdown.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
3:13 pm
Northcyde ,
If anybody remotely criticizes Josh Smith, you break out into hives and get defensive about the kid.
Did I pinch a nerve? LOL…wow are you sensitive. I’m a self-proclaimed supporter of Josh Smith (among other Hawks players, and certainly the team overall). But my oh my is our hypocrisy boundless. If I break out in hives when Josh gets criticized, then you broke out in the measles, small pox, and caught a case of Hepatitis B if somebody said anything negative about Joe Johnson and positive about Jamal Crawford within the same paragraph. See how that works? It’s called exaggeration…
And you do the same thing when I, or anybody else, hold the fans to the fire about their commitment to what is supposed to be their favorite basketball team.
Uh..no, it’s not “I or anyone else”, it’s mostly you. And I’m not the only one who responds to your fan bashing. I’m just the one who cuts the deepest.
Nobody around here gets more heated, fixated, and detailed on what they think fans are and aren’t supposed to be or do, than you do. You like to tell people exactly how they should be as fans. Okay, so that’s your MO (this is the short version of the latin phrase you referred to earlier, most often used in my profession). Do I disagree with that? Yep. And I’ll make fun of it, rather than rant and rave like a lunatic, calling you names, etc.
Sorry if it’s more heat than you can deal with. Of course, if you truly despise the fan base so much…well, you live in Tennessee, right? Memphis has an NBA team. Maybe they are better fans than we are, at least by your definition.
O'Brien
June 14th, 2010
3:14 pm
Lewis,
I would love to get a center in here that can give al a break when we play the howards and bynums of the league. And sometimes we could play Al at PF with the new Guy at center when Josh goes to the bench.
I like Haywood, but other than that, I don’t know who else is available that we have a realistic chance of getting.
northcyde
June 14th, 2010
3:14 pm
When it comes to Horford and Josh . . they BOTH have to become tougher players. That’s the only way we’re going to get to that next level with Al playing C and Josh playing PF. They have to play big and strong, and not just athletic.
I think we all know that the Hawks have a “softness” problem, from JJ on down. Being physical just isn’t in the makeup of this team. I don’t know how any of this changes in the future, without bringing in “tougher players” via a trade.
It’s a reason why those mid 90s San Antonio Spurs teams seem to always lose in the 2nd round. They were way too soft, despite them having talent.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
3:17 pm
drmaryb ,
Yeah, he can be a bulldog with some stuff (but hey, when somebody repeatedly posts something that’s false..), but he is married. Met his wife, very nice person.
Sautee
June 14th, 2010
3:17 pm
Grandad,
Thanks. I’ll share a cup with you sometime. And yes, it seems we have a lot in common.
dr.maryb,
My wife of 16 years would be glad to know that I don’t have a girlfriend. And at age 60, I’ve likely done all the growing up I’ll do.
But I refuse to let Truth-serum outright lie about Horford, just because he has a hate agenda for him. If it bothers you, well……. you ARE the Queen of Scroll, right?
Also, if it helps, here is a link which will give you some insight about the “relationship” I have with T-s:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/06/17/say-goodbye-to-marvin-williams-hello-to-caron-butler/comment-page-2/
Read pgs. 2 , 3, and 4 and you’ll get some insight into why I refuse to let him lie.
Melvin
June 14th, 2010
3:18 pm
I once heard that talking to yourself doesn’t mean that you are crazy but when you start answering yourself then maybe you need to be evaluated.
Truth Serum, I think you are flirting with insanity…LOL
drmaryb
June 14th, 2010
3:19 pm
Lewis
Great analysis! Great mind!
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
3:25 pm
lewis ,
Can’t argue with any of what you said, it was the best answer I think I’ve seen to such a question.
Here’s where I think the debate about Horford being a center vs being a power forward comes into focus just a bit. I think Horford is every bit as good a defender as Perkins, just not at the center position. Conversely, though Perkins moves well, I think Horford would be a better defender at the power forward spot than Perkins would.
But I have no proof to back that up (since Horford spends nearly all his time at the 5), except where we’ve seen Horford more than adequately stay in front of a backcourt player, when caught on a switch (if he’s had time to track the player before they make their move).
I think Perkins would get eaten alive if he had to play in the switch defense that Horford had to play in. But that’s just my opinion. Also, there would be some times where Horford would be mismatched against other power forwards that like to wander out to the perimeter (Rashar Lewis comes to mind).
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
3:29 pm
Northcyde ,
For the second time since the universe was created…agreed:
When it comes to Horford and Josh . . they BOTH have to become tougher players. That’s the only way we’re going to get to that next level with Al playing C and Josh playing PF. They have to play big and strong, and not just athletic.
In fact, I feel that this is almost precisely why the Detroit Pistons championship team that featured Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, managed to do what they did. Well, that and the fact that they were tough from spots 1 through 5, beginning with the ultra tough Chauncey Billups, the kind of pg I haven’t seen in these parts since…well….
I honestly believe that Al Horford can be that kind of tough. I can’t say the same of Josh Smith, at least not right now. Yes, I said that. Josh Smith fan and all…
Grandad
June 14th, 2010
3:30 pm
Lewis
or
“That, O’Brien, is a good question”
Whomever:
The Celts would trade Perkins & ‘Big Baby’ for Al. *G-dad*
Yes – I said it.
Bash if you wish.
Don’t even talk about #’s.
They’re skewed anyway, especially for Al.
*Intangibles*
* Make Al worth ‘SO’ much more.
I would not trade Al for Perk & BB.
Once again Bash away, I don’t care.
If you do not understand this point I’m making,
(with all due respect)
then I fear that you just don’t understand the
[game / or the secret].
I’m sorry, as that was disrespecful.
What do I know?
Al is so under-rated aroud here, because some people
only look @ the #’s.
“The Game” in it’s purest form, it’s essence, is so much more.
I must go, startin’ to sound like a durn poet.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
3:32 pm
Read NBAdraft.net and saw their analysis of the Hawks, including what they should/could/might do in the draft. Interesting reading.
I wonder if we’ll take a gander at Larry Sanders if he falls to us? Less of a project than Solomon Alabi or Hassan Whiteside (who may not even be available by then, unless realize he’s a shorter Hasheem Thabeet), and fits the tough guy rebounder/defender we could use off the bench. He needs to add weight, though…
Stanley Robinson intrigues me as well.
northcyde
June 14th, 2010
3:32 pm
LOL @ sensitivity. All I’m doing is tossing it right back at you. No sensitivity on my part sir. I just tell it like it is, as I’m sure you think you do. You spend way more time replying to my comments, ( albeit indirectly most of the time ), than I do to yours. LOL . . so like I said. It is what it is.
I wish I could support the Grizzlies more. They remind me of us 2 years ago. If I do go to a Grizzlies game, it’s either to see the Hawks play, or because I happen to be in Memphis for some reason,
But my allegiance to the Hawks is longstanding. I’m just glad as an adult, I can support my team by going to the games.
It is what it is in Atlanta I guess. Expecting some of the fans to be more committed to the team, is just too much to ask I guess.
Grandad
June 14th, 2010
3:38 pm
Sautee:
Doesn’t sound exactly like Mary Ellen.
‘drmaryb’ – she’s sassy but not mean-spirited.
I wonder if the ‘Hatter’ is posing again.
He’s shrewd.
Let me know about that cup o’ Joe
*[logistics]
we’ll “get ‘er done.
2 FOR JOHN DREW
June 14th, 2010
3:42 pm
good reading !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandad
June 14th, 2010
3:43 pm
Dang, I gotta go:
Big Ray:
If we get a shot @ Larry Sanders it will be a blessing from heaven.
Check out my vid from prev. post:
Jerome Randle:
link provided @ 1:14 if I screw this one up.
http://vimeo.com/4895282
kdawg
June 14th, 2010
3:49 pm
larry who-cares…. what moves will the hawks makes will determine fan base and excitement!
lewis
June 14th, 2010
4:03 pm
http://www.nba.com/finals2010/index.html live press conference larry drew — for all those who aren’t stuck at work and unable to download flash player
kdawg
June 14th, 2010
4:05 pm
please please please please please please please hawks get rid of that clumsy fallin over his own feet while driving to the hole, getting hung on the rim attempting a layup,air ball shooting,last person back on defense marvin willliams….why don’t this guy just retire or apologize for robbing the hawks..
I MUS WRITE
June 14th, 2010
4:08 pm
NorthCyde- Josh and Al are definitely two players i want to keep but,I dont see The Larry Obrien in our future w/h them at the PF/C. I mean Kurt Thomas out tuffed us for stretches and Lets not forget Dwight Howard man handle’n us-He does that to alot of teams but Boston held him in check and I think the reason they did is because of the length and girth-could be the T. Thibeddeau defense as well but the 6′11 250 KG and the 6′10 285 Perkins had a big role in them winning the series We need another big with a decent post game and a bangers mentality.
Lewis-Al is a better overall player IMO but perkins is the better post defender. We wouldnt be a better team with Perkins. Al’s passing,jumper,footwork and ball handling are alot better than Perkins.
If Jj leaves its not the end of the world, i think he will leave which is why we should do a sign and trade with Sacremento and get Jason Thompson/1st rd pick
I also wnat Chillz back on the Team. Its time to bring the fro back home.
Randolph Morris should be resigned and given a chance to see what he can do with consistent minutes. His D still needs work but his touch around the rim and post moves are nice. Bring Siler in as Collins replacement-My gawd he is horrible. I know Siler could have done better than what chesse burger gave us. Waste of a roster spot. While im at it -thanx Joe Smith and Mario its been real…….
With the extra cap space if JJ leaves we should also make a play for Rudy Gay…..Hmmmm just had a vision Pg- Crawford . Sg-Rudy Gay . Sf-JSmith . Pf-Horford . C-J Thompson. This would be a sweet line up running a Houston style offense.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
4:09 pm
Northcyde ,
Well at least you recognize it as a game of catch that goes both ways, though I think you take it a bit more serious than I do. I frequently laugh when typing…and yes, I do respond to your comments more than you do mine. I told you before (and you probably missed it), I enjoy talking (even when disagreeing or challenging) with people who understand more about the game than the average boob who wants to make silly comments that are either glittering generalities, or outright simple-minded misinterpretations.
Disagreement does not an enemy make, at least it shouldn’t in the blog world. Some people get that, some don’t.
It is what it is in Atlanta I guess. Expecting some of the fans to be more committed to the team, is just too much to ask I guess.
That is a conclusion I came to long ago, especially after realizing that Atlanta is not a purely, or even mostly native populated city. The diversity is incredible, and while I won’t chalk up all of the issues with the fan base to this, there is no denying it’s effect.
As you said, it is what it is.
OK
June 14th, 2010
4:11 pm
Larry Drew Press Confrence Live! NOw!
http://www.foxsportssouth.com/pages/liveevents_streaminghawks/
john
June 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
I noticed Mark Price in the article’s photo, what is his role with the hawks and does he have head coaching aspirations.
I MUS WRITE
June 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
Grandpa- Hollar at me i got a connect on them blue diamonds.
Big Gay-???? Wow Doc really LOL……… “Whatcha gonna do,Whatcha gonna do, when they come for you”
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
Grandad ,
Saw that, good vid. I would like a Larry Sanders type, also interested in Robinson if he’s available. Jerome Randle is smaller than I’d want to go at the point, but he has some serious skills. Will it cause him to be a low level journeyman who has a rough time staying in the league, like Mike Wilks? If so, then let’s pass on that.
I could maybe go for him in the 2nd round if some other/better options aren’t available. He could also go undrafted, and it might not be a bad idea to let him hang around for summer league or something to that effect. Not that he’s a bad prospect, I just want to see what he can do with tougher competition. Hard to make a living in the league at his size.
Upside of that includes players like TJ Ford, DJ Augustin, Juan Barrea, and Earl Boykins. Not a long list…and all but maybe Augustin are backup types.
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
June 14th, 2010
4:14 pm
Thanks 4 the link OK.
Big Ray
June 14th, 2010
4:21 pm
I MUS WRITE
P
June 14th, 2010
4:22 pm
Mark Jackson was the MAN for the JOB!…
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
June 14th, 2010
4:22 pm
Larry Drew just said a big criticism of this team is the lack of ball movement. And Joe pounding the ball all the damn time and Josh being on the perimeter.
He’s saying all the right things.
OK
June 14th, 2010
4:25 pm
Whooo!! L.Drew is Smooth lol. FINALLY an intellegent person at the podium!
Uh oh!!! Here comes the Mike Bibby Question Hahahaha!!!1
lewis
June 14th, 2010
4:27 pm
there better be a damn video of this press conference available when i get home
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
June 14th, 2010
4:28 pm
Damn I just saw a fine ass girl there. Whew
OK
June 14th, 2010
4:31 pm
I saw that too! But they are a dime a dozen. Especially whne there are professional Athletes around! I Ant’s sayin’ she’s a Gold digger….
Might’ve been Elle Duncan though.
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
June 14th, 2010
4:32 pm
Yea it probably was her OK
Westurd
June 14th, 2010
4:37 pm
Two thoughts:
1. This blog is getting too incestuous
2. Is it possible LD is a place holder until Doc is ready to take over?
doc
June 14th, 2010
4:39 pm
i mus ray knows i am playing with him, as the instigator of that moniker is now answering himself as he rants against us all.
well, i look forward to hearing more from mr drew. sounds like he articulates well. has he mentioned rebounding the ball playing defense and working harder, yet? it is all we got to do to win if i remember my woody lessons well.
Section 303
June 14th, 2010
4:40 pm
O’Brien, I saw an interview with Mark Cuban. In it, he was talking about his early years as a Mavs owner. The team was struggling and he thought guys were slacking and making excuses. So, after a road loss, he went on the team bus, asked the coaches to leave for a second, and just blasted the players. He told them that this was not what he was paying them for. And, if they didn’t start playing better he would trade them to the worst teams he could find. He also told them that he did not hold the coaches responsible for their bad play, since he knew the coaches were busting their a$$es trying to prepare for each game. The players were not doing their jobs.
That’s were I got that wanting the owners to get on the players from. Our owners are so buddy-buddy with all the guys, it makes me sick. They need to start applying pressure on these guys. The Hawks are not a young team anymore. They’ve been around now for a little while. The expectations are higher. Efforts, like we got against Orlando, just can’t be tolerated.
I think we have a group of players who got a little full of themselves, boasted about being one of the best teams in the east, and then crapped their pants when it was time to back up the talk. Owners need to help the coaches kick these guys in the nuts when they just roll over.
Really, it’s hard for me to remember this team won 53 games. I am so disgusted with the playoff effort, it is almost like those 53 wins never happened. I read a quote from Jamall Crawford, after Coach Drew got hired, saying “it’s not like we’re a bad team”. I found myself saying, “Really?”. Certainly seems like they are a bad team to me.
Section 303
June 14th, 2010
4:42 pm
OK, I love me some Elle Duncan. Seeing her is worth the price of season tickets. I swear, that lady gets better looking everytime I see her.
OK
June 14th, 2010
4:46 pm
Section 303,
I concur, Amen! Like Fine Wine! Where can I get a bottle of THAT!
OK
June 14th, 2010
4:52 pm
Nobody really important worked out for the Hawks today.
Monday, June 14
Terrico White – 6′5″ shooting guard from Mississippi
Elliott Williams – 6′4″ shooting guard from Memphis
Dominique Jones – 6′5″ shooting guard from South Florida
Manny Harris – 6′5″ shooting guard from Michigan