Atlanta Hawks: LD doesn’t lack confidence
'Congrats, Larry. Any chance you can call J.J. for me?' (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
Give LD credit. Dude came out strong on his first official day as Hawks head coach. Some highlights:
– LD does not lack confidence. Before he’s even coached a game, he basically has announced himself as an offensive innovator. Asked if there were any teams or coaches that run similar stuff to what he plans to use, LD smiled.
“No,” he said. “This is going to be unique.”
Could he offer some specifics about the system? For example, will it be based on pick-and-rolls?
“It will have some pick-and-roll in it,” he said. “What it does, it forces the ball to move. That is probably the best way to explain it. Yes, teams will try to lock into it, but there are reads to it. There are triggers to it. It forces the ball to move, it forces the body to move. Now we become more effective. We become a five-man attack team. It puts all five guys in position to attack and to score.”
– What about defense, though? There’s two parts to that one. One is Drew’s view on using switches as a base defense, the other is prodding this group to give consistent effort–remember Al’s lament during the playoffs that the Hawks didn’t push themselves “to the point of being uncomfortable” and that’s what kept them from reaching Orlando’s level?
So, is LD cool with the switches?
“I have my philosophies defensively,” he said. “Certainly every coach in the league does. I am going to implement things that I believe in, certain coverages.”
Could he be more specific?
“I will say this: I believe in holding every individual accountable defensively. I think players are too good. If you get caught up in too many gimmick defenses. . . . We weren’t a big gimmick defensive team, but at the same time my philosophy is to hold guys accountable to defend their individual guy.”
In other words, don’t count in switches to bail you out if you can’t stay in front of your man.
– During his news conference LD called out Smoove for his jump-shooting adventures, which I think is one more time than Woody did it in public since I’ve been around.
LD said he wants Josh in situations where he gets the ball moving to the basket and doesn’t have to dribble much to get to the rim. I mentioned Smoove’s effectiveness on pick-and-rolls with Bibby as an underutilized element of the offense, and Drew agreed.
And what does Smoove think about Drew’s “no jump shots” proclamation?
“He’s the head coach,” Smoove said. “Whatever he wants me to do, I am going to do it. I like to be down on the block, anyway. That’s more high-percentage than the outside jump shot. I know that his offensive plays are going to put me right where I need to be at and everybody else.”
Raise your hand if you think it’s going to be that simple for LD with Smoove.
– It’s not like Woody was calling isos from the bench all the time. Yeah, he allowed it to happen with few consequences, but the bottom line is what he wanted often didn’t translate to the court for more than couple possessions at a time before it disintegrated into isos.
What makes LD think he can get better results?
“It will always be a challenge,” he said. “We have run a little variations of it and our players love it. I don’t anticipate it being a problem putting in more.”
Raise your hand if you think it will be that simple for Drew to get J.J. and the gang to break old offensive habits.
– LD hadn’t yet told J.J. that he plans to implement an offense that won’t allow him to dominate the ball. When they last talked, it was still early in Atlanta’s searching process, so LD said the particulars of his approach weren’t yet germane. LD left Joe a message over the weekend but hadn’t heard back.
(”I respect the position he is in,” Drew said. “I know he is [swamped] with a lot of phone calls. When he can get back to me, he will.”)
How J.J. will react to the idea of playing in an offense where he’s not pounding the ball is one of the big offseason questions for Atlanta. The thinking is that if J.J. can change his style, then he’s very valuable to the Hawks, and if he can’t, then not so much.
Drew thinks J.J. will buy in. A preview of his pitch:
“Kobe, Dwyane, LeBron. . . I think Joe works harder than the three of those guys do to get baskets. I think the things I’m talking about implementing will make life easier for him. It will make him more effective and the rest of the guys equally effective.”
– Don’t read too much into J.J. not being at LD’s presser. The Hawks didn’t expect him to be there under the circumstances. Yeah, Jason Collins, RandMo and Mario made it, but then they weren’t going to get mobbed by media asking about their free-agent plans.
–LD offered more evidence that the Hawks are all-in with Rook’ (I’ve decided he’s Rook’ until the league officially changes years on July 1).
“I believe in both guys,” Drew said. “Both have the capabilities of running this offense; both guys will benefit from this offense. Mike is getting closer to my age, but the thing he brings to table is he can still shoot the basketball. [The offense] will create for him instead of him creating for himself. I believe in Teague. I think he has the ability to make team better and have an impact. I think the offense will benefit him with his speed and quickness and ability to break the defense down.”
In other words, the ball is out of J.J.’s hands, in Rook’s hands and Bibby is a spot-up shooter.
– Raise your hand if you think the Hawks are in trouble if this Rook’ experiment doesn’t work out. Because then wouldn’t the temptation be great to turn it back over to J.J. and Bibby again? Good luck going out and finding a legit vet point guard and a center with that mid-level.
MC
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242 comments Add your comment
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:06 am
What’s your point ? Gasol/Bynum & R. Wallace are all good centers on the championship teams. They don’t have a Zaza Pachulia.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:08 am
Hawks don’t have a Kobe Bryant or Paul Pierce much less a Bynum or R.wallace. Oh yeah, we had Rasheed for about a week once…
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:09 am
Face it, the Hawks have one player that would start on the Lakers or Celtics 9or Magic,Nuggets,Suns,etc.,etc. for that matter) Al Horford.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:10 am
Rest of the team is crap to put it bluntly.
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:13 am
truth serum will now call me Big Gay
June 16th, 2010
9:55 am
NO, I will save the big gay for special, well deserved occasions. Actually you and Drmaryb have offered excellent view and I appreciate you guys being here.
OK we disagree on Horford. Nuff said
I wont call you a lier or gay although you may be both. I just say I appreciate that we disagree, point out a case where you are clearly lost and move on.
If you do you research and stop writing with your emotions you will find than horfords foul to block shot ratio is .41 that is for every foul he commits he has .41 blocks. Now you do the math. in order to get to a 1 block( 3X.41= 1.21) it takes 3 fouls for horford.
Sorry
Have a nice day Blue Ray!
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:18 am
And I guess Dwight Howard isn’t wise, strong, tough, or in possession of the necessary defensive tools either, because Orlando hasn’t won the championship either.- Major cop out
They got to the semi final and we did not! whine, whine and mo whine!
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:20 am
there he goes again
June 16th, 2010
9:59 am
Is that the legendary “BROWN OOZE OF UNDERSHORTS” AKA SAUTEE?
Hamp
June 16th, 2010
10:21 am
Many may disagree but losing JJ especially if we sign and trade is a blessing in diguise. He has crippled the team by the Iso and I take it that he hasn’t answered the new coaches call is an indication he doesn’t want to be here. I hope he is not coming back the hawks will be forced to play as a team. Also a lot depends on if Josh came mature as a person and as a player. He needs to listen to coaching if not his game will not get any better.
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:24 am
Yeah teague got close to ten minutes a game. And watch many guards brake Al down in the post so year he should have learned how to break down teams in the post.
Lets not have any of these weak asise feminine excusesl Lets be men and get the job freaking done!
Give teague the ball and either raise up and assert your game on a NBA level or give that spot to some one who will.
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:24 am
*excuses
Joe Mama (AKA) Turth Serum
June 16th, 2010
10:26 am
Check that they got to the finals because the had a center we did not because we dont!
Woodson Part II
June 16th, 2010
10:26 am
LMAO!
honest_abe
June 16th, 2010
10:28 am
hhhhi, mamamama – my nanananan-name iiiiiii-is THE one and only lalalalallala-LARRY DADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADA- DREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!
at least post game press conferences should be entertaining. heh
one really interesting thing LD mentioned was about how marvin is a rhythm player. but with so many hawks players playing 1 on 1 it was almost impossible for him to contribute anything to the team offensively… i always thought marvin would be better suited coming off screens in a motion offense. i can’t wait to see how LD puts this team in a position succeed offensively
Joe Mama
June 16th, 2010
10:28 am
*And watch many guards brake Al down in the post so yea he should have
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
10:31 am
JC
Throw last seasons offensive numbers out the window! That’s the past and that was Mr. Woodson’s system!
Moving forward, L.D. Is describing an offensive scheme (something I have yet to see in the past six years)
My major peeve with that was, there were no clearly defined roles on this team.
If you run a fundamental offensive scheme, the idea is to play inside out: I interpret that to mean, establish an inside game down low and typically involves the #5 then #4 as scoring threats for high percentage baskets. Then it should loosen up the perimeter defense to allow some shots outside the paint. Which to me, means the SG and PG. The wings should be slashing and rebounding at all times.
Since Horford and Josh are our front court, you can do the math.
Response?
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
10:31 am
yeah, I think Im going to let the duck be the first option and every one else will have to pivot of the marv. Hell. Ducks are Birds and so are Hawks… so that my offensive scheme what you think?
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
10:34 am
Response?
LMAO!
question drmaryb, do you thing Al can create his own shot? shoot over centers taller than him? Force bigger centers off the block?
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
10:35 am
*think
honest_abe
June 16th, 2010
10:37 am
woodson part II has the intelligence level of woodson part I… what a dolt
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
10:40 am
“you do you research and stop writing with your emotions you will find than horfords foul to block shot ratio is .41 that is for every foul he commits he has .41 blocks. Now you do the math. in order to get to a 1 block( 3X.41= 1.21) it takes 3 fouls for horford.”
I see the point. In order to handle the post you have to be both aggressive and assertive. You must challenge, block and alter shots. you cant do this and be in foul trouble constantly because it limits your ability to be aggressive.
Also you can tell by that stat that Al is over extending himself prone to commit fouls than get the job done.
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
10:41 am
honest_abe
June 16th, 2010
10:37 am
woodson part II has the intelligence level of woodson part I…an apple never fall far from the tree.
BigTimeTECHFan
June 16th, 2010
10:52 am
Can we sign/trade JJ a get top 5 pick for Cousins from Kentucky
1. Teague
2. Crawford
3. J Smith
4. A Hortford
5. D Cousins
JoJo the Godfather
June 16th, 2010
11:13 am
BTTF….not possible. Other teams can’t even talk about Joe, much less to him, until a week after the draft. No way to use him to get in, or up, in this month’s draft.
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2010
11:16 am
Drew seems to have all of the answers. I especially like the concept that each player is accountable for defending their own man. I’m sure that once he explains that to Jamal Crawford, he will instantaneously become the second coming of Michael Cooper and Bibby magically transforms into Chauncey Billups. No need to develop and implement a defensive scheme when accountability (and Teague) will resolve the issue of poor perimeter defense.
dub366
June 16th, 2010
11:40 am
at lease he has a plan so let’s see what happen.
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
11:49 am
Now thats funny Astro! Couldnt agree more. Changing coaches is not going to change attitudes or raise talent levels.
JoJo excellent points. I guess we will really have to wait and see whats what after the summer because there will be trades and position switches in the draft as well as free agent signings. As it stands now this team will be no better next year than it was this year. Its the same” usual suspects, blue ray, As Obama voiced you cant get different results using the same people and philosophy.
If this team as it stands now were to play out next season Id bet my mortgage that a)they would not better 53 wins and b) the would not advance past the 2nd round.3) They don’t finish in second place.
The hawks are closer to the middle of the pack team than an elite team. In order to get over the hump there has to be some changes at key positions.
JC
June 16th, 2010
11:50 am
@drmaryb, undersized centers who are the number one scoring threats on their team are usually the result of run-and-gun offenses. I don’t know what LD’s new offensive system will be, but I doubt it will involve the break.
Additionally, Horford’s scoring opportunities might go up if we had a solid pass-first floor general like Nash or Kidd, where they could dish to him inside and have him put up uncontested shots. Unless Teague is actually 2008-09 Devin Harris in disguise, I don’t see that happening.
The only way for Horford to increase his scoring opportunities in any offensive scheme LD is likely to implement is to score in the post against centers, something which Woody Part II has pointed out is an uphill battle for Horford.
Don’t get me wrong – I want Horford to be successful. I just don’t think he’s the answer if JJ leaves.
Samuel
June 16th, 2010
11:57 am
2010-11
Orlando
Chicago (assuming they sign LeBron)
Boston
Miami (signs Bosh or JJ)
Washington (Add Wall to: Arenas,Howard,Thorton,Blayche,McGee, Foye,Miller,Livingston ect.)
New York(w JJ or Stodemire or both)
Atlanta/Milwakee/Charlotte
NJ
Philly
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
12:31 pm
“If you run a fundamental offensive scheme, the idea is to play inside out”
That is one way, I think its the best way!
O'Brien
June 16th, 2010
12:33 pm
I agree that as constructed, the Hawks will have a hard time winning the NBA championship. But it can still be done with Al at the 5, and Josh at the 4. However, we definitely need a legitimate defensive center (not ZaZa) to come off the bench.
And for those who want to get on Al, Ben Wallace career average is 6 pts, 10 rebs, and 2 blocks. Perkins career average is 6 pts, 6 rebs, and 2 blocks. Al’s career average is 12 pts, 10 rebs, and 2 blocks. Both Perkins and Wallace have won championships, and been to multiple finals.
And for whoever said Al has a hard time shooting over centers taller than him…really?
Like when he had 25 pts, 19 rebs and 5 blocks against the 7 footer Roy Hibbert? Or when he had 31 points, 6 rebounds against the All star and taller Chris Kaman? Or when he had 17 points and 10 rebounds against Andrew Bogut? Yeah, he sure struggles.
MC,
Any news about workouts?
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
Often time people worship a player and never deal with reality.
here are Al’s career stats:
Career 229 225 33.3 .527 .143 .753 9.6 2.1 .8 1.1 12.
THE REALITY IS HE BLOCKS 1 SHOT PERGAME
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
12:42 pm
WALLACE WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND PERKINS BRING DEFENSE TO THE GAME. THERES NOT A BIG DIFFERENCE IN 6 PTS OR 12.
WHAT MAKE PERKINS AND WALLACE (WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER)IS THE WAY THE INTIMIDATE AND MAN THE MIDDLE. DEFENSE WINS GAMES. THATS WHY PERKINS IS BETTER, IN MY OPINION HE PLAYS DEFENSE.
terrell
June 16th, 2010
12:43 pm
Glad to hear that he’s holding Bibby accountable for defending his own man. Oh did I just say Bibby? Sorry. I meant he’s holding the team accountable. And why is Mario West still on this team? Or in the NBA for that matter?
Woodson Part II (the sequel)
June 16th, 2010
12:44 pm
AND THAT IS WHY PERKINS AND WALLACE GO TO CHAMPIONSHIPS AND FINALS
D-E-F-E-N-S-E!!
Daniel
June 16th, 2010
12:53 pm
Wow the blog has really fallen off the rails here.
Michael- I agree with Ill’s statement earlier that Drew hasn’t been asked the right questions, yet. But mine are slightly different.
I want to here his answer to how he views the season vs. playoffs last year (I want to hear if he will admit the historic collapse in the second round or just coach speak around it.)
I would then ask what were specifically the failings in the playoffs that lead to that historic collapse.
Then, I would ask why if he has the answers now does he consider himself responsible for either not pushing his ideas or not recognizing the situation sooner. What is his responsibility in coaching a team that had the WORST SECOND ROUND DEFEAT IN NBA HISTORY?
Does he just hide behind the “it was all Woody’s fault” ’cause he wouldn’t listen?
If that is true will he listen to his assistants better?
Finally, Why should the fans trust that he has any better solutions to our teams problems when either a) his finger prints were already all over the team’s failures or b) as an assistant for six years he saw the problems but couldn’t(wouldn’t?) fix them?
terrell
June 16th, 2010
12:54 pm
Ramon, Artest signed for the mid-level to play for a championship. Coulda made a lot more if he had’ve went to a scrub team.
terrell
June 16th, 2010
12:57 pm
Is Marvin supposed to be part of the “5 man attack team”? And did Woody actually tell Josh to play on the perimeter? If he likes to play in the post so much, why is he always standing at the 3 pt line?
terrell
June 16th, 2010
1:08 pm
Please stop calling Jeff Teague “the Rook”. OMG!
Samuel
June 16th, 2010
1:22 pm
Yea, and did Woody tell Josh to try to run the break and dribble off his leg or argue every call or JJ to hold the ball despite 3 men guarding him or Marvin to “fall down” so much. Oh yea, he could have benched them and subbed Mo Evans or ZaZa or Joe Smith or Mario West or “Pig Foot” Collins. maybe then we would be in the Finals.
Bird watcher
June 16th, 2010
1:38 pm
I dont think anybody in there right mind expected the hawks to get out of the second round especially with the Howard / Horford match.
every body knew what was up including the hawks who packed it up!
Bird watcher
June 16th, 2010
1:38 pm
Josh has been an excellent finisher on the break!
Ted M
June 16th, 2010
1:56 pm
Did Woodson lack confidence when he was hired? Has any coach for that matter lacked confidence when he was hired?
Big Ray
June 16th, 2010
2:03 pm
Funny as hell listening to the sour grapes types. Flip Saunders got run out of Detroit because he couldn’t get the Pistons players to pay attention to him after a while. Mike Brown apparently couldn’t get the Cavs to do so. Scott Skiles experienced that in Chicago. Same with Woody.
Once the players quit buying into what you’re selling, you have just become ineffective and a waste of money. That’s why so many coaches experience the “short shelf life” in this league. If the players aren’t listening, then why keep you employed? People pay to see the athletes, the guys who do all the things some of y’all correctly keep saying the coach can’t do for them.
Wake me up when a team trades off or signs up guys based on whether or not they will listen to the team’s head coach. Only a handful of guys have that kind of clout, and even then it’s got to be a clear cut case of a disruptive player who is not worth the production he provides.
It’s why Amare Stoudamire hasn’t been traded. It’s why Rick Carlisle is in Dallas, and not Avery Johnson, who if he was as great as people think, would still have a job. It’s why Zach Randolph still makes over $10 million a year.
Stop moaning over Woodson, whose system came into question by the general manager and owners (and players). The same thing will happen to countless more coaches, maybe even Larry Drew. In the meantime, he deserves the chance to see if he can do what Woody did not.
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2010
2:10 pm
Ray, and won’t he get that chance regardless of these comments?
Big Ray
June 16th, 2010
2:13 pm
Yea, and did Woody tell Josh to try to run the break and dribble off his leg or argue every call or JJ to hold the ball despite 3 men guarding him or Marvin to “fall down” so much. Oh yea, he could have benched them and subbed Mo Evans or ZaZa or Joe Smith or Mario West or “Pig Foot” Collins. maybe then we would be in the Finals.
That ain’t the question. The question is why wasn’t Woody able to convince those guys to stop doing things like that? Josh has been creating turnovers off the break and arguing calls for six years. Joe has been holding the ball too long for five years. This starts in practice, and it starts in YEAR ONE. A coach on any level should know that. You don’t have to be a coach to know that.
This is what happens when you allow too much freedom on the court. And if you think the team is going to trade away the players because they won’t listen to the coach, think again. Quit blaming it on having a subpar bench. Our bench is better than the Lakers bench, and that’s a fact.
Marvin Williams’ flops are a direct result of Billy Knight’s flawed “I’m a genius in my own mind” vision. He is good at picking a certain type of forward. Unfortunately, he could not get out of that narrow minded focus. Pick a damn pg and stop listening to your coach who vastly prefers a veteran, shooter-but-not-penetrator, and you might still have a job. That and we wouldn’t be talking about giving the reins to an unproven mid-first-round pick and hoping our highest lottery pick in the last decade can turn into a guy who contributes regularly as a rotation player.
And YES, for those who will inevitably mention it, that would have meant no AL Horford. At least then we wouldn’t have to hear all this rubbish about how he’s not a center, and we need a center, we don’t want an all-star power forward, wah, wah waaaaah!
Big Ray
June 16th, 2010
2:15 pm
Astro Joe,
What, I can’t complain about other people complaining? I can’t be a hypocrite like everybody else? That’s like asking you not to be sarcastic or cynical. Oh, the humanity!
Big Ray
June 16th, 2010
2:16 pm
Exit stage left, I’ll be back for more canniblogging later….
Astro Joe
June 16th, 2010
2:35 pm
If success is defined as winning it all, then the vast majority of NBA coaches (and players) are failures. Including a guy with a current Ohio address who dominates free agent talk like he’s f’ing Bill Russell (a perennial Finals winner and MVP for you young bucks).
Samuel
June 16th, 2010
2:40 pm
That easy huh Ray. We’ll see how easy it is, won’t we now. 53 wins and the 2nd round. Any Ole coach can do that. OK
O'Brien
June 16th, 2010
2:53 pm
Samuel,
It’s not all Woody’s fault. But it’s all about accountability, and last I checked, the HC determines who plays, and who doesnt. If the players know that the coach will not do anything about their poor decisions, then they will continue to do whatever they want.
What do you want Rick Sund to do? Trade our all NBA defensive player Josh because he won’t listen to Woody? How about trading our third team all NBA SG because he won’t listen to Woody? Good luck with that.
And let’s say Woody benched Josh for not doing what he was told (and played RandMo instead). Do you think Josh would continue to make the same mistakes if he knew he would be benched? If we benched JJ, and put Mo in, don’t you think JJ would change his ball hogging because he doesn’t want to be benched?
If Woody had benched them, sure, we might have lost extra games, but I think Woody would have had more support from Sund. Woody was the Zoo keeper, and he allowed the animals to run wild.
Ironically enough, if it was all about wins and losses, maybe Woody would still be our coach. But he was so worried about wins and losses he did not reprimand his players. So despite 53 wins, he is unemployed.