Atlanta Hawks: Quietly making their case for respect
Miami–Both before and immediately after the Hawks beat the Heat, L.D. and his players claimed to reporters not to care that they don’t get more buzz.
Don’t believe them.
Long after inquiring reporters left, and with most of the team already on the bus, a couple Hawks players and a staffer talked about the W. They speculated that stories about the game would focus more on the Heat losing than the Hawks winning. They joked that ESPN’s ticker would probably show the score, some stats for LeBron and Wade, note Miami’s losing streak and then flash the next score.
“And now on to Memphis!” one of them joked.
The truth is the Hawks, like all competitive alpha males, do want accolades and respect. To their credit, they’ve never complained that they deserve more of either. They understand they have more to prove. They beat the Heat with a tough effort but they are still just 5-9 against opponents with winning records (though they notably beat the last two on the road while Miami is now 2-5 against Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Orlando).
The Hawks are now a half-game behind Chicago for fourth in the East. Even if the Hawks keep rolling, they have to know that for many casual observers the lasting memory is that surrender to Orlando last spring. For those watching them closely now, games like that ugly loss to Houston, which immediately followed the stirring victory at Utah, make them wonder if the Hawks are for real.
So for now the Hawks aren’t publicly making the case that they should be in the conversation with Boston and Miami as true contenders. But they do notice that they haven’t gotten much love despite staying among the East’s top five all year even as the injuries piled up.
Will beating Miami change the perception of the Hawks?
“Maybe,” Jamal said. “But we like being under the radar, honestly. We kind of like creeping and doing our thing that way. Nobody talks about us. That’s good as long we we keep racking up the wins.”
“We are content with staying under the radar and just keep trying to play consistent basketball,” Smoove said. “We’ve been pretty good as of late. We are getting guys healthy and we are figuring out a way to play together.”
Of course all this respect stuff won’t mean much in the end. The Hawks will either prove their worth in the playoffs or they won’t and then earn praise or criticism based on those results. Right now this is all just fodder for discussion among NBA media, fans and–as that scene in the locker room late last night showed–the Hawks.
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
222 comments Add your comment
yoursporthouse.com
January 20th, 2011
9:00 pm
LOL @Cal Bowdler!!
yoursporthouse.com
January 20th, 2011
9:00 pm
Ed Gray could score when given the chance.
Ken Strickland
January 20th, 2011
9:19 pm
AG-There are several reasons for our lack of attendance.
1-A population that’s predominantly from outside the metro Atlanta area.
2-A team without an established identity and history, or any player(s)that generates excitement.
3-Marketing a team takes money, money we didn’t spend, and I’m pretty certain our legal woes consumed a large portion of what we did have.
4-We don’t win consistently enough, and we don’t dominate and/or win in
an exciting enough manner to be an automatic draw.
5-All one has to do is read the comments, complaints and whining of diehard Hawk fans on these blogs to realize how hard it would be for a casual fan to get excited about attending a Hawks gm.
6-A lot of our fans were excited about the annual 6yr progression the team made under MWoodson, and voiced their disappointment over his dismissal for the same reason. Yet, most of these same fans are whining and complaining because LDrew, Woodson’s replacement, hasn’t turned the same Hawks into a championship caliber team in a matter of a few months.
I don’t know what your definition of an easy schedule is, but a 1st half schedule that’s road heavy, with the 2nd most back to backs and 4gms in 5 nights, certainly doesn’t qualify in my book.
Making trades and signing FA’s can demonstrate a committment to getting better, but it isn’t the only way and it doesn’t always have that meaning. Denver is trying to trade their 2 best players, but can you say they’re demonstrating to their fans a committment to getting better? Orlando was ahead of the Hawks when they made their in season trade. Can you say their fans are satisfied with them losing the last 2 gms to us, as well as falling 1gm behind us in the standings?
Despite my complaints to the contrary, MBibby has played much better this season. MWilliams, JSmith, JCollins and AHorford have also played better, and since returning from their injuries, so have JJ and Jamal.
We’re certainly getting better coaching and bench production. The Hawks obviously felt holding onto and continuing to develop our core out weighed any trade they could make. You always have to weigh the addition/subtraction factor that automatically takes place in the trade process.
Sund and the ASG aren’t stupid enough to think the Hawks will be a title contender as current constructed, but they have to find out what they have and how far this group can go in the playoffs. The real move towards becoming title contender will take place after the season.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:19 pm
“Lookinng at the Hawk history in drafting, Marvin is not looking that bad: (these are all first round picks)Roy Marble ‘89 #23: Rumeal Robinson ‘90 #10; Doug Edwards ‘93 #15; Priest Lauderdale ‘96 #28; Ed Gray ‘97 #22; Cal Bowdler ‘99 #17; DaMarr Johnson ‘00 #6; Sheldon Williams ‘06 #5; Acie Law ‘07 #11″
Just Flat out Brutal!! Don’t forget the great #6 pick Josh Childress in 04….
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:21 pm
Start winning some meaningful playoff series and the place will pack it in….
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:22 pm
prediction: Hawks will probably get eliminated in the 1st round…
Ken Strickland
January 20th, 2011
11:00 pm
SLIMJR-You’re so busy being negative and trying to get attention and/or a response to your negativity, you’ve failed to realize, OR SIMPLY DON’T UNDERSTAND, THAT ALL PLAYOFF SERIES ARE MEANINGFUL, SINCE YOU’RE ELIMINATED IF YOU LOSE ANY SERIES, DUH.
Publix
January 20th, 2011
11:14 pm
We are doing ok so far. I would like to see a trade though, doesn’t neccessarily have to be a big one, but for example:
Marvin and Zaza + next year’s draft pick to Dallas for Pavlovic and Haywood. Pavlovic played decent back with Cleveland and Haywood would give us a valid C.
Not too much I think, but enough to make us better THIS YEAR!
Slimjr
January 21st, 2011
12:03 am
“ALL PLAYOFF SERIES ARE MEANINGFUL, SINCE YOU’RE ELIMINATED IF YOU LOSE ANY SERIES”
You reading this SUND! Make a move or else your going to disappoint your fans again…
Keep up the great work JJ…..
WOLLEY STEKCAJ
January 21st, 2011
5:18 am
The Hawks are not relevant in the NBA. They will be disposed of quickly in the playoffs. Until they get a real go to guy there will be no opportunity for any playoff success. I just tell the truth, don’t let anyone convince you that they have a remote chance of success.
Mike is back
January 21st, 2011
8:04 am
ag, first off…I said under rated when I said top PGs…ALL OF THE PGs that was mentioned were good…BUT U…must have somehow missed that…Dude U would have had to see Mookie play…to understand.
I seen were someone mention Doc River name…Doc was definitely one of the Hawks Top PGs…although I wouldn’t consider him underrated…However, Doc was more of a Floor General…Mookie was an Assassin…Word Up!!
ag
January 21st, 2011
10:08 am
Wow, you really must be related to Mookie!!! I will admit he may be the best PG the Hawks ever have, but again look at the numbers… career 40% fg… Like Strickland said, when they moved the 3pt line back, his shooting % got worse. He did play great defense and would take you to the hole. Doc was a floor general, but he could score when needed. He may have been the fourth scoring option (Wilkins, Willis, Whittman/Battle/Theus), but was great at what he did. Eddie Johnson was a flat out scorer and complimented John Drew. Mookie by default was the second option behind Smith because those Hawks just could not produce much offense (Mutumbo, Henderson, Long,Corbin)
ag
January 21st, 2011
10:34 am
Ken, you really remind me of debating Terrence Moore…anyway
1. Even though Atlanta is full of transients, the Phillips is the smallest sporting venue of Atlanta’s professional teams. Yet in their history, never been a big ticket draw. While you have 20,000 to see the Braves, only 8,000 are watching the Hawks until Miami, LA Lakers, etc. come to town.. even back in the day, the Phillips would sell out to watch Bibby/Webber, Iverson, Shaq, etc. That arena would fill up every game with a real superstar (like Anthony)
2. Lou Hudson, Pete Maravich, Dominque Wilkins, Dikembe Mutumbo, etc…we have a history and idenity.
3. If I hear another radio ad talking about “the core” I will vomit! They are marketing the team heavly. Yet, getting trounced in the second round and setting records in your loses, in addition to your top player saying “I don’t care” really transitions you from a marketing campaign to a PR campaign.
4. In the 80’s we won a lot of games but that era was dominated by Bird and Johnson. In the 90’s we were also very succesful but it was Jordan’s era. We went way down in 00, but the latter three years we have been winners and should win 50 games again this year. Again see #3 on why our attendance sucks.
5. As fans we all are going to disagree until somebody holds up a trophy. (before the Falcons playoff game, Matt Ryan was the second coming, after, people are ready to run him out of town).
6. Name 5 people who did not want Woodson fired. Maybe you should have said if we were going to hire Larry Drew, why would we fire Woodson? I think I would fall in that category. By the way, where is Mike Woodson and Mike Smith (old coach of the Cavs?)
7. When you have played only 14 games against winning teams, I doubt I would consider playing Clippers day one and Kings day 2 a hell of a schedule. The only team to play fewer winning teams are the Lakers (11) and they are 5-6.
Overall, if LD continues to make changes to his lineup (bringing Marvin off bench) I will think the team is trying to improve. I will say again, bring in an athletic big if that is what the direction is (Kwame Brown,) somebody long and athletic who can run the floor.
ag
January 21st, 2011
10:44 am
Ken, forgot to mention trade by Denver. You know they are going to make a trade because Anthony said he will not resign with them. Billips is also involved because it clears cap space. They are clearly playing for the future as they are attempting to acquire picks and players.
ag
January 21st, 2011
10:46 am
JCII = Ed Gray
Hawksgoingbackward
January 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
@ag – you are just about the only person besides slimjr (who seems a bit wacky at times) on this site who has made consistent sense (that ive read anyway).
I have been a big believer that the Hawks lost a significant part of that game attending fanbase when Joe Johnson disrespected them (me included) and then they rubbed it in by signing him to the richest NBA contract without so much as even making the man apologize. The fact that he didnt apologize goes to show he truly doesnt care but he “represents” the Hawks. That is something I cant stand for.
Ive been relegated to rooting against what used to be my favorite team just to prove the point that Joke Johnson isnt worth the contract extension and with him we will never truly compete in the playoffs.
Add to the fact that Woodson and Drew were always so scared to lose their jobs they would never truly consider playing a rookie or inexperienced point guard like Teague because it would mean less wins upfront but would certainly bolster the future. Instead retreading the tires on Mike Bibby year after year after year.
This organization has no leadership from the front office, to the highest paid player. That is why it will never accomplish anything, I personally believe that the ownership knows not to expect much from this team, it just wants to “look” the part of an uscending team because this organization has been so consistently inept in the past.
Hawksgoingbackward
January 21st, 2011
12:13 pm
In addition, I feel like Marvin Williams has true talent (unlike a few folks on this blog). The problem started with the fact that he was drafted by the wrong team.
Look at how the Thunder (then the Supersonics) handled their number 2 pick 3-4 years ago. They had a bonafide all-star in Ray Allen but struck gold in having a top two pick with a talent like Kevin Durant being available. If Oden falls to them at 2 then they keep Allen, if Durant falls at 2 then they trade Allen.
The Hawks should have traded Joke Johnson to the highest bidder and built the team around Marvin Williams when he was drafted if they felt he was worth being chosen #2 overall, Marvin and Kevin have the same temperment and attitude and neither would do good with an established star already in place. The Thunder had leadership enough to make the right move and the Hawks, well Marvin’s nickname on this site is “Duck” which should tell that story.
Im not saying that Marvin would be as good as Kevin Durant. But im quite sure that hed be much better than he is right now without the presence of Joke Johnson, hed also cost less and provide the team with more options of adding talent, doing all this while respecting and appreciating the fans. The Hawks would also still make the playoffs and get beat in the first round, atleast the fans would have some dignity.
O'Brien
January 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
Marvin has stepped up when others have been injured. But what have you seen to suggest that Marvin can be a #1 scoring option for a 50 win team?
In my opinion, Marvin is the example of a really good backup QB who can fill in for a few games when your starter goes down.
But if he becomes the starter, then teams will game-plan for him, double team him, and put their best defender on him. If that was to happen, I dont think Marvin could put up JJ’s numbers.
Mike is back
January 21st, 2011
1:19 pm
ag, or whatever other names you go by…my bad dawg…Clearly, you are more knowledgeable about the Hawks…than us lowly bloggers on this blog.
ONCE, you mention Terrence Moore…that told us all we need to know…U THA Man Folk. heh heh Fing heh…lol
Ken Strickland
January 21st, 2011
1:41 pm
OBRIEN-To be honest, while JJ is our #1 scoring option, it’s by default. Jamal is the closest thing we have a player like Kobe, LeBron, DWade, Dwight, or any of the elite PG’s in the league, that can take over a gm or carry the team for sustained periods.
What we do have is a collection of very capable #2 scoring options. If Bibby or Drew made the effort to consistently include Marvin in the OFF, maybe as our #3 scoring option, we’d get more consistent and efficient OFF production from him than we’re getting from Smoove. Also, if Marvin was a #1 option in an OFF desiged to give him volumn touches, we’d see more performances like the one’s we’ve seen him have in front of his hometown fans in Seattle.
Whenever he’s been featured in the OFF, whether it’s due to the loss of a key scoring option, or playing in his home city, he’s produced across the board. Whenever the situation no longer exists, he conviently falls back into his #5 scoring option roll. Marvin, Bibby and Horford are the only Hawks that don’t try to force shots.
Atl teams= Playoff chokers
January 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
“Atlanta Hawks: Quietly making their case for respect”
Hawks lost ALL respect when they got beat by an AVERAGE of 30 a game in the PLAYOFFS last year. And one win against the Heat changes that? Get out of here.
Blake
January 21st, 2011
9:49 pm
To beat the Heat on the road and then to come home and lose by 41 to New Orleans Is disturbing!