Atlanta Hawks: Inside ‘Camp Drew’
L.D. (seated on right) as Spike Lee
Dropped in to Philips yesterday for the last day of Larry Drew’s “clinic” for his assistants. He took five days to school them on the finer points of his offense so they’ll have it down by the start of training camp. The Hawks also will run some “traditional stuff,” L.D. said, but the goal during this camp was to work on Atlanta’s motion stuff.
The lineup: Bob Bender as Bibby, Lester Conner as J.J., Duane Ferrell as Marvin, Kenny Gattison as Smoove and Tyrone Hill as Al. L.D. filled in for Conner late in the session.
(Not exactly the Hawks but, shoot, I wouldn’t mind taking that squad down to the rec league.)
L.D. recorded the session on video so he could show it to his players when camp opens Sept. 28– he said he felt like he was directing a movie, and Conner called him “Spike Lee. There were lots of cracks from the coaches about getting clowned by players once they see their old bodies working this hard. L.D. had to tell his assistants to take it easy a few times.
L.D. (understandably) didn’t want any video in the public domain. So I’ll try to explain what I saw even though pictures would do the job much better than words (also keep in mind the coaches were working against air). . . .
There was lots of motion and ball movement, yes, but what stood out was how much of the action had players cutting to the basket. It seemed there always was an option for the next man in the sequence to either accept the ball while moving to his position or reverse field and look for a cut to the basket. Not everything happens on the strong side, either, so ball-watching and inattentiveness by defenders can mean backdoor baskets.
“It’s very difficult to guard,” Conner said. “You have to be precise in your defensive schemes. You can be beat at any spot on the floor at any time. NBA teams don’t like to guard a lot of movement and screens. I’ve heard the guys [Hawks players] are all for it and are excited about it.”
For weeks L.D. has said his system would “force the ball to move” and I get that now. Things happen so fast there’s not much opportunity for holding the ball. The screens and cuts happen quickly and if the first option is not there then the ball quickly swings the other way, leading to move movement.
Not much possession time is spent on the one- or even two-man game. Each guy gets a chance to touch the ball at different spots on the floor. Decisions must be made quickly for things to flow correctly.
Some of my notes: “pindown screens with curl to free-throw line. . . dribble hand-offs, sometimes with roll man. . . backdoor cuts. . . high-post pick-and-pop. . . flare screens with roll man. . . ball reversal to quick weakside seal post-ups. . . high-low post-ups. . .”
L.D. has some philosophical principles to go along with the Xs and Os. He said he believes his system will work because the Hawks have so many “interchangeable pieces” to work with. Al will play some power forward with Zaza or Twin at center but Drew said the combinations won’t end there.
“We have the luxury a lot of interchangeable positions. We’ve got twos that can be play 3, threes that can play four, fours that can play five. We can even move Josh to the five against certain matchups. You might see the five at the three. You might even see the five at the one. [Regardless of lineup] nothing changes as far as the action on the floor. I want to utilize our abilities as interchangeable pieces.”
Such an approach could make the Hawks less predictable. It’s theoretically tougher to hone in on a player who is deployed at multiple positions and can be used multiple ways within the offense.
L.D. said his emphasis is on exploiting Atlanta’s strengths rather than covering for its weaknesses. For example, here are his views on Smoove playing minutes at small forward:
“He has the ability to erase a lot of defensive mistakes because of his athleticism. I won’t match him up against a lightning-quick guy where he would have to defend multiple screens. But he certainly will be able to play some 3. At the same time, he can be a tough matchup at the 3 as well. You play him at some 3, there is a high probability he is bigger than that three man, stronger than that three man. Certainly the way to take advantage of that matchup is to post him up. We will certainly try to utilize his ability against a smaller guy. It won’t necessarily be about us adjusting to what the other team does. We want to put the opponent in a position where they have to match up with us.”
It’s an aggressive approach. There certainly will be more turnovers. Theoretically there should be fewer isolations and long jump shots. I figure L.D. will have to use his bench liberally, too, if he wants the Hawks to run a lot of motion offense and while also becoming a bona fide defensive team. He’ll have to make lineup adjustments on the fly.
The Hawks are going to have to be in good shape to run this stuff; L.D. said conditioning would a “top priority” early in training camp. The Hawks also are going to have to be precise, unselfish and persistent. L.D. has some work to do with that Woody had a lot of stuff he wanted to run too but he never could coax guys to do it consistently. Things got tough and the Hawks freelanced.
Drew is going to have to break the Hawks out of their iso offense, sometime-y defense mold. It will be interesting to see how he manages it and how the players take to it once it’s time to do the work.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
329 comments Add your comment
Iblameurparents
August 12th, 2010
9:49 am
The motion offense is definitely what this team needs to reach its potential. The 1990’s style of isolation offense certainly set this team back a few years. Has LD hired all of his assistants? If not Tom Sterner, former assistant with the Mavs and assistant to Doc when he was in Orlando would be a great fit. He is well versed in the motion offense and is familiar with the version that Doc runs with Boston. Tom is a good guy with a ton of NBA experience, lets get him on staff.
nunna!!
August 12th, 2010
9:53 am
This seems to be (with the talent we have)a high scoring offense once everyone gets on board and we can execute it.
I love the concept of this offense and how LD will showcase the players strengths on the offensive end.
Now having said that..I wonder what kind of defense we’ll be playing.
I heard on sports radio in Denver that Othello Hunter may be used a lot coming off the bench this year,and will be looked upon for weakside help on the wing..
Wish we had him in this offense,he would have been great
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
9:54 am
Every coaching philosophy sounds good on paper. The if’s are still huge. What about turnovers? What about rotating back on defense? What about the players actually buying in?
I am curious if LD is going to be open to his assistants suggestions, since he obviously got this job based on the supposition that he had this brilliant offensive scheme the whole time Woody was here, but Woody just rejected his advice.
I am sorry but I just don’t believe anything Drew has to say right now. His hiring was based on one of two principle either he wasn’t a good assistant, meaning he didn’t implement his principles to help the team or he didn’t have enough of grit to make it work with Woody. Both of which are probably not true.
The ASG has spun so much of the failures of last season on the coach and pinned so much hope on just changing the coach (FROM WITHIN WITH OUR OWN ASSISTANT!!!) That they have to say something.
Really, this just sounds like throw #$%# at the wall and see what sticks.
Progeny
August 12th, 2010
9:55 am
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=princeton+offense&aq=0
For those of us who need a visual, here is a nice intro to the Princeton offense.
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
9:58 am
Hey, I could be the best coach in the preseason. All I have to say is that our plan is to exploit the other teams weakness and mismatches. Our team will share the ball more. We will be more aggressive and consistent on defense!! Oh yeah, let me dress up some terms to throw around and of course pander to the fans by addressing the short comings from the season before.
Of course none of this addresses the real core issue here which is talent level and heart. This team has second round talent level and D-league heart. How you going to fix that Drew? Blame Woody?
robdawg08
August 12th, 2010
10:09 am
I bet Bender & Ferrell are better than Bibby & Marvin…
robdawg08
August 12th, 2010
10:10 am
Ask Drew how he plans to stop LeBron,Wade,Bosh & the Heat ? He doesn’t have that answer…
robdawg08
August 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Why does Bibby score 22 points then disappear and score 6 the next game on the same number of shots ? Mr. Inconsistent poster boy. Runners up are Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
10:19 am
Daniel, I agree on the heart comments. We came in disgruntled and should have lost to the Bucks. Then we just laid down again pointing fingers. Can LD fix it…no, but the players can.
I predict we’ll make moves by the All-Star break if there are players that don’t want to fit in…at least I hope. It all comes down to buying in and playing hard every night.
You can’t tell me our breakdowns on both sides of the ball had to do with talent. We have talent to surpass the 2nd round…we just didn’t maximize it or have the heart to try.
Give 100% and lose = no shame
Give 90% and lose = total disgust for me anyway.
Leave it all out there, see what happens and live with it. Fans really don’t care as long as they know talent was maximized. Then and only then can you really put pressure on management to up the talent level and expectations for everyone.
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
10:19 am
Rufus1, thanks for the article. Very refreshing. I expecially liked the conclusion:
“It remains to be seen if Atlanta is truly a great team waiting for the last key ingredient or just one of those teams that sprout as a playoff contender for 5-6 years and then fall back into mediocrity. But to simply close the door on their current run and not respect the gains and talent the franchise has accumulated as of late shouldn’t be accepted — at least from hardcore fans. Time to give a little respect.”
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
10:20 am
robdawg Its all about HEART & DESIRE! They have no real focus for either.
esaun
August 12th, 2010
10:49 am
long season for the hawks in the newly stacked east where they will be vying for the 6th seed at best. get real josh at the the three; no handles at all, none existence of a mid game, and then the body type of a karl malone on a weight lifting protest
Fresh
August 12th, 2010
10:53 am
It’s refreshing to see actual logic and strategy being discussed on the blog instead of the usual “doom and gloom” outlook. Good jobs people!!!! I may not know much about this offense, but I’m reading posts and trying to gather as much knowledge about it as I can.
Inside "Camp Drew" - True Sports Core Forums
August 12th, 2010
10:56 am
[...] [...]
BigTimeTECHFan
August 12th, 2010
11:00 am
Very nice – The more I hear about Drew the more I like him.
Hawks will challange this year. Getting rid of Woodson was best move the hawks could have made, 50 wins was on talent alone, add a good to great coach to 50 win talent and the Hawks will be in the mix.
I like this offense with:
Jordan Crawford 1
Jamal Crawford 2
Joe Johnson 3
Josh Smith 4
Al Hortford 5
Josh Smith – Has talent to be 1st or 2nd team all NBA, removing the iso’s will help him get there. Joe Johnson was better player being team player in PHX, working ball around, not being focus of offense will actually make him better.
BigTimeTECHFan
August 12th, 2010
11:02 am
Ask Drew how he plans to stop LeBron,Wade,Bosh & the Heat ? He doesn’t have that answer…
I bet Dumars, Rodmen, and Lambier would find away.
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
11:02 am
esaun – get real. If you don’t like the Hawks just find a home eslewhere. I’ll take criticism, I give criticism, but how can you say that about a kid who was almost an All-Star and who was on the Defensive Team who didn’t reach his full potential yet.
Smoove is learning and growing each year. I think if he could add the short jumper to his game like Horford he would be a difficult prospect at 3 or 4. In the motion offense he should just catch and finish, not dribble to make his own play. That’s the point of the offense.
Josh can cut and finish with the best of them. If everyone else buys in and moves quickly in their rotations Josh and Teague should excel together while also making their teammates better. They both have a knack for distributing the ball.
The turnovers to me come from forcing the dribble and not having a defined plan on what to do. Hopefully a designed play and system can help them in that they know when and where the shot is coming from. It should also help with rebounding as well.
KevinM
August 12th, 2010
11:05 am
To the Ptree hoops link: maybe you got one or two of them correct. The ASG retained flexibility. So what, that doesn’t translate to a championship run this season! Shaq not being here….okay, take your chances with Zaza and Twin……………again. Don’t give me the comment about Twin NOW being in shape. Why did he sign here if he wasn’t going to be ready? Don’t blame Woody……..again! When are the players going to be made accountable?
The ASG is a complete joke this offseason. They were the grand recipient of the highest paid player this offseason. Congratulations. You think E#2 considered taking less to make this team better?
I know I wouldn’t have either. E#2 isn’t about getting more elite players in here. Neither is the ASG.
They overvalue their roster and teams like OKC make us look slow.
For a new coach who thinks we have so much flexibility….sounds like a guy who has a team where no one does anything great.
This team is not complete, most of us agree with that. Did they make moves to improve this team THIS year? Looking no further than this year, I say no. How can you look much further with an impending lockout?
What do we need? Hmmmm, let’s see…
- some interior defense with more length than what we have now
- improved leadership at the PG.
- a defensive presence on the court in the perimeter…I am counting on Marvin to be that…still waiting.
I am all for Teague getting the shot, but motion offense favors Bibby IMO. Similar to Derek Fisher and Jason Kidd, Bibby has the smarts to retain his position in LD’s new offense. He has offensive advantages over JT. I like JT and he might be the PG we need going forward. I just have to see him match up more against the elite before annointing him the floor leader.
Let’s go into this season with the 10 guys and 2 min vet contracts……always good not to have the 13th player on the roster yet so the fans can debate who the much needed 13th player will be.
Basing what LD does with this roster is an experiment in waiting. I can’t argue for it or against it at this point.
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to blame all the limitations for the past 3 years on Woody?
Its time the players are held accountable…..
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
11:06 am
@esaun – “long season for the hawks in the newly stacked east where they will be vying for the 6th seed at best. get real josh at the the three; no handles at all, none existence of a mid game, and then the body type of a karl malone on a weight lifting protest”
Sorry esaun, you are late to the party. The view you are presenting in the first sentence has been discredited. And if I understand you correctly in the second sentence, you are saying that Josh Smith should not be utilized as a small forward. I believe Coach Drew said in Cunningham’s article that Smith is staying at the power forward unless there is a matchup that they can exploit.
The negativity is tiring. The discussion is moving foward. Onward Ho!
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
11:07 am
We stopped everyone but Dwight last year. Why is this year so special? They’ve only got one ball between them. I think our only real defensive liability is Teague/Bibby against the Heat, but they can handle Chalmers so I’m not too worried. Our problems have come on the offensive side…not the defensive side.
When we gel and play team D we can shut down anyone. If you haven’t noticed that watch every game. It helps to watch more than the nationally televised broadcasts.
Mitun
August 12th, 2010
11:08 am
what’s the deal of finding a big man? are they not going to trade for one or sign one or what?
Ken Strickland
August 12th, 2010
11:11 am
Man, you guys have been presenting some serious links. This OFF is going to give us a tremendous advantage over Miami. People are so hung up on DWade and LeBron’s excellent help DEF, they ignore the issues they have when defending one on one. The motion OFF eliminates their ability to provide help DEF, and forces them to them to defend one on one, which exposes their DEF weaknesses.
These links also validates Grandad and myself, along with a few others. So, I guess we’ll no longer be viewed as over zealous optimists by the multitude, especially by those negative minded GLASS HALF EMPTY fans. Don’t be surprised to see the Hawks lead the NBA in points in the paint, fast break points, assists and OFF efficiency.
Some fans have already complained about us having too many guards. But with JJ, Teague, Bibby, Jamal & Jordan Crawford, we’ll be able to provide constant perimeter DEF pressure for 4qtrs all over the court. That move alone will reduce the DEF pressure on our front line players.
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
11:12 am
We supposedly have ~ 3.5 million in cap space to fill player slots 13-15? There are a few names floating from Thomas to Aninu to Ajinca. Also the idea of Sy is out there for SF/SG help. Trades are possible. I honestly think we’ll have better luck at the trade deadline in Feb as teams begin to dump talent before the new CBA and uncertain offseason. We might just pick up a jewel.
Rufus1
August 12th, 2010
11:15 am
Rev
I have posted same info on 3 different national blogs over past 3 days, including Bleacherreport.com. maybe they were reading my stuff…Lol
I agree with the article. I am an optimistic person and I believe this years Hawks will emerage as a Legit Contender for the East. I am a firm believer that with a change at the PG and better coaching, we are Legit. I never thought we were efficient at the 5 because Al is very good, but the PG’s defensive liability is serious. It Teague can change the we are a completely different team.
PS. I have never believed D12 was our problem with the Magic….I believe it is Jameer Nelson, when he breaks down our defense.
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
11:18 am
@Fundamentals – “Trades are possible. I honestly think we’ll have better luck at the trade deadline in Feb as teams begin to dump talent before the new CBA and uncertain offseason. We might just pick up a jewel.”
You are singing a beautiful tune. Hopefully this song will begin to climb the charts on this blog.
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
11:31 am
@Rufus1 – “PS. I have never believed D12 was our problem with the Magic….I believe it is Jameer Nelson, when he breaks down our defense.”
I agree. Jameer Nelson is an exceptional player, but the Hawks opened the door for him to exploit them last year with our stubborn use of the switching-D.
I view Dwight as a “fixed fortification” defensively. So the idea offensively is not to go through him but around him by playing a great mid-range game with lots of activity outside the paint. Defensively, however, the Hawks must make him work without making him the focus. Give him his points & rebounds, but the focus should be on the perimeter. I really want the Hawks to find a true center that can make Dwight work hard without double-team help.
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
11:42 am
Listen guys, I am generally not a “doom and gloom” guy. As most of the long timers on here can attest too.
But, We are being sold a bill of goods here.
We are supposed to believe that the “big upgrade” this season is a new offensive system being employed by a coach who at best was an ineffectual assistant or at worst culpable in the teams poor performance??
Why aren’t they talking about accountability on the players to buy in and play defense?
Why are the players not being subjected to scrutiny and ire for a playoff loss of HISTORIC proportions in which this team embarrassed us as a city and fans.
Yet, we like lemings sit here and continue to discuss the value of Josh at 3/4 and match ups of Crawford and Johnson like any of that matters to the actual team, players, coaches or owners.
BTW, What blame has Drew taken for our horrible performance? What about the players? I haven’t heard a single word, except to blame Woodson for everything.
I am not saying Woodson needs to still be the coach, but what a bunch of bull.
Motion offense my rear….
How about playing with some pride and accountability?
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
11:55 am
AMEN Daniel – 99.9% of the time I can agree with your every word every time.
Woodson is the easy excuse to buying time before accountability sets in.
You can never run from time…it’ll always catch you and then the truth will find you out or set you free.
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
11:57 am
Daniel – If our guys bought in on both sides of the ball 100% w/ heart would you say we’d get past the 2nd round or at least compete well in it this year?
Would you say Woodson should’ve finished the season against the Lakers in some form last year if the same effort was given last year?
I’d say yes to both, others wouldn’t. What say you?
Grandad
August 12th, 2010
11:58 am
Ken Strickland – “High Five”
vava74
August 12th, 2010
12:01 pm
Daniel,
It was Woody who said that he did not give a sh!t about offense.
It was Woody who always relied on the switching D even when it failed miserably.
It was Woody who acknowledged that his assistants would tell him other things to do but he “often” (in his own words and should be read always) did not took advice.
A coach that had pet players and rigid rotations regardless of performance between games and within games is a coach who will spawn misery like we witnessed against ORL.
He was so inept as a coach that even today people thing that our problem against ORL was Howard when in fact our problem was to OVERREACT about Howard offensively, forget to shut down the 3 pointers and on offense fail to take Howard off the paint.
Yes, the players had a mediocre showing in the playoffs but the conditions were created by Woody and by the time the playoffs came, there were extensive fractures within.
Al and Josh called during the season – even shouted within games – for more ball movement and we so no change in our ISO heavy game.
The same happened defensively: the player lost faith in the system.
Should have they tried harder? Yes, but they would have only made the inevitable a little more palatable.
Grandad
August 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
Rev in Tampa:
Thank you ever so much.
I forgot last evening to express my gratitude
for your kind words, toward KS & myself.
I was having so much fun discussing the topic
@ hand that I almost overlooked my ‘new’ good friend.
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
12:13 pm
Vava : I am not by any means trying to give Woodson a pass here, but for the same coach who did improve this team to a 53 wins from absolute nothing it is unfair and frankly a snow job to blame all the teams failures on him. Particularly, when the “solution” was to hire his assistant coach who seems to be protected by that same teams failures. All I am saying is that I could start to have a little more faith in Drew’s new offense [sic] if he also addressed the burning issue of how he can change a team that admittedly didn’t fully “buy” into and play for the previous coach. I need more than just “because I am not Woody” as an answer. I would also like for him to address publicly his failures in what happen to the team last year. Until that happens I am not buying what he is selling. Literally, anybody can say if the players just do exactly how I drew it up and the shots fall and they hustle on defense then my scheme will work (ANY SCHEME!!!)
This is not about Woodson getting a raw deal… this is about the people who are still here (All of whom were here before) take responsibility for our failures BEFORE declaring the answer for the future.
Fundamentals- I think if the team played to its capacity (and no one can be 100% 100% of the time) but not quitting. We should have made the Orlando series interesting 6/7 game series with close games win or lose. I would have been ok with that.
Rufus1
August 12th, 2010
12:17 pm
Great Post Vava
Even with great players you have to put them in the best postion to win.
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
12:18 pm
Like I said before, Same here Daniel. I realize everyone has a let down now and then in performance, but usually not together at most every critical time. We just fold under the pressure and point fingers till Woodson’s head rolled. Now it’s all a fairytale. Sounds good, but chapter 2, the preseason things will change. I want to see how well we gel by the time the All-Star break rolls in. That’s when we need to make the hard decisions about “core” “team” and “future”.
Matt Freije
August 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
Any word on Mike Woodson’s eyebrows?
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
12:22 pm
I co-sign vava74 @ 12:01pm
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
12:37 pm
Any word on Woodson period? What’s he doing?
Rufus1
August 12th, 2010
12:47 pm
ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, It CALLED BASKETBALL 101
All LD is trying to do is better utilize the Hawks talents by creating easier scoring opportunities, by using screens, motion and spacing….Its not Rocket Science…That is why I AM SO EXCITED.
ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, It CALLED BASKETBALL 101.
The Hawks have been playing HORSE for 6 years, so please forgive me and others if we get excited about FUNDAMENTAL, DISCIPLINED BASKETBALL…That is the difference between the elite teams and the Hawks.
Undisciplined teams get blown-out by good teams and struggle against average or below average teams.
PS. Ask Paul Hewitt and Mark Richt how far TALENT ALONE can take you…not far enough.
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
The truth is the Hawks are not as talented as Boston, Miami and Orlando. They may be as talented as Chicago and Milwaukee. No offensive system is going to change that. We HAVE to play like a team that has desire, grit and a never say die attitude to stand any chance of being a second round sweep again.
The Hawks have tried to sell us that we should “Rise Up” and “Now we know”. Well, all we really know is that this team (owners, coaches and players) lie down and blame shift.
Maybe they should just market “Hey, Woody is gone!!! Now we can finally play like winners!”
Pathetic.
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
BTW Vava- Happy for Spain? Or hurt by Ronaldo’s failures?
Fundamentals
August 12th, 2010
12:58 pm
LOL at the comments Daniel – Perfect!
O'Brien
August 12th, 2010
1:16 pm
KevinM,
Although JJ received the highest free agent contract this off-season, he is only the 16th highest paid player in the league. And keep in mind, he was third team all NBA, which means he was a top 15 player.
Daniel,
I think Woody was the biggest problem last year (directly and indirectly). And I think his exit was long overdue.
However, I also think the players should be held more accountable for last season, because they quit during the Orlando series. And thats unacceptable as paid professionals.
However, I think LD will be a big upgrade over Woody, in terms of holding players accountable, no more switching everything every game, more options on offense etc.
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
1:18 pm
Daniel, the playoffs against Orlando were over before they started. The Hawks were out-flanked by the Magic’s offense. It was purely a strategic victory. It was IMPOSSIBLE for the Hawks to beat the Magic given their switching-D. Van Gundy said that he was going to make the Hawks pick their poision – either defend the perimeter or defend the paint. The Hawks chose to split the difference and defended neither. It was embarrassing. I would have given up as well.
I, like you, also believe that the Hawks have a character flaw in their determination. Their dismal road record and their performance against the Knicks, Bobcats, & Pistons give truth to this character flaw. MC called their defense “sometime-y”. But I love the character statements that I have read from coaches Drew & Connor. They intend to take control of this team and begin working on the character flaw as a first priority with their training camp conditioning.
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
1:25 pm
Hawks home record last year: 34-7. Hawks road record last year: 19-22. Striking inconsistency. Obviously the Hawks are motivated by the home town cheers. They have to learn to dig deep in themselves when on the road.
It seems to me that the Hawks had better aim at overcoming Orlando in the regular season so that they can earn more home-court advantages in the playoffs.
DevN
August 12th, 2010
1:29 pm
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17062
Article titled “The Atlanta Hawks Deserve Some Respect”.
My guess is that if they show heart and play hard when it matters most respect would follow..
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
1:33 pm
O’Brien- “I think LD will be an upgrade over Woody in holding players accountable” I would love to believe that too O’Brien. But, there is absolutely NOTHING to suggest that this statement is true. Especially since, he hasn’t taken any accountability himself or even discussed the players failures for last season. Why should I believe Larry “Hey, I’m not Woody” Drew?
Daniel
August 12th, 2010
1:35 pm
Oh wait, I am supposed to be excited because he has drawn up a motion offense utilizing his assistant coaches. Oh yeah, maybe he can start selling instructional DVDs too. Wake up. We are being lied too. We have to demand something more from our players, coaches and owners.
jss
August 12th, 2010
1:44 pm
@ Manny T
“Coachie” Pete Carril is back in Sacromento already. For those of you too young to remember; Butch Van Breda Koff (the old Lakers coach) was his coach (at Lehigh) and taught him the motion screening game. His Princeton Offense was only different in that it always started at the foul line (check the photo). Marvin’s responsibilities increase; but Horfod and Smoove are the ones who will really see their demands to set and reset the ball. Joe shouldnotworry,all he has to do is to watch some old tape of “the logo” Jerry West. You can score big if you do the little things well…
Rev in Tampa
August 12th, 2010
1:45 pm
Daniel, what do you want Drew to do – throw the players under the bus even before training camp? If he did that he would surely lose them. The players would tune him out. One of the biggest advantages of changing coaches is being able to start fresh. The past is behind them.
“Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.” ~ George Adams