Atlanta Hawks: Status quo as CBA sorted out
Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple days, blog people. I’ve been laid up sick after I made a major miscalculation and didn’t initiate my proven NyQuil Strategy at the first sign of trouble.
The Hawks had some meetings before Rick Sund headed off for Chicago but they weren’t detailed discussions about the team’s direction. The Hawks essentially are on the sidelines waiting to see what happens with the CBA. It’s hard for them to make plans that could become moot under the new rules.
ASG’s talks with a potential buyer for the team don’t seem to be affecting the basketball operations side of the organization. The key line in the story by the AJC’s Tim Tucker’s: “[A] deal is not close and that it’s far from assured one will get done.”
So it’s business as usual for the Hawks–or at least it would be if not for the uncertainty about the CBA. I wish I had more for you but everything is pretty much on hold right now.
In the meantime here are links to stories from the last couple days so you can tell me why I’m wrong:
- Teague got caught up in the sexual assault allegations by the former Wake Forest student. In a “Today” show segment, the woman accused Teague of pushing her in the bathroom where a teammate allegedly sexually assaulted her. But the Miami police report does not indicate that the woman told investigators Teague pushed her, nor do the cops list Teague as an alleged offender.
- Here are my player-by-player review capsules that appeared in the AJC today.
- Here are my five reasons to be optimistic about your Hawks that will appear in tomorrow’s AJC.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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378 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_-)
May 20th, 2011
3:57 am
O’Brien
Word to your Mother! Call ‘Em Out – Boy.
Buddy Grizzard
May 20th, 2011
4:17 am
“that’s an emotional analysis, not a rational one. it’s unconcerned with balance or reason.” – MC
Michael I think you missed this paragraph from my post:
Josh Powell first big man off the bench? All-NBA Al sat for an entire half of a playoff game with Sund’s and Lame Duck’s jobs on the line? Starting Jason Collins against CHI’s fast, athletic big men? Subbing out Teague in Game 6 to let Jamal Crawford run point and put the Hawks in an insurmountable double-digit first quarter deficit? Leaving Jamal Crawford in for the entire fourth quarter on a 1-for-9 shooting night while Zaza, with the best +/- of any Hawk in the playoffs, sits the entire 4th?
Those are rational, unemotional and, I dare say, unarguable observations concerning demonstrably bad tactical decisions Larry Drew made in the playoffs. If the Hawks win Game 2 against Orlando, Kirk doesn’t get hurt in Game 6. It’s like when Orlando was in the finals against L.A. Remember the game when Kobe came down and hit a game-winning three and Orlando had a foul to give? Stan Van Gundy’s failure as a coach cost Orlando the best shot at a title it will probably ever have.
The window to compete for a championship closes FAST. When you have the talent to be a top 6 team in the league, it’s not the time to try and help a rookie coach hopefully find his way to one day obtaining competence.
My paragraph above lists 5 monumental tactical errors that cost the Hawks a chance for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Can you name 5 GOOD tactical decisions Drew made in these playoffs to counterbalance those? He played man against Orlando and stayed on their shooters… that’s one. What about two, three, four? Blog people help MC out here.
In the meantime, I’m founding a new Committee. It’s not emotional for me because I’m already resigned to the fact that Larry will be around until the Hawks have new owners because ASG doesn’t have a clue what it takes to compete for a championship. Give $120m to the second worst shooter among active players in win-or-go-home playoff games? Hire a coach who deploys the consensus worst player in the NBA as his first big man off the bench while Zaza sits?
So allow me to introduce The Larry Drew for NBA Coach of the Year, 2011-2012 Committee. Our slogan is brought to you by the AJC’s own Michael Cunningham and Big Ray.
LARRY DREW FOR COACH OF THE YEAR!! BECAUSE:
“He’s not any dumber than his players.” – Big Ray
“He makes slightly more smart decisions than stupid ones.” – Michael Cunningham
JustAThought
May 20th, 2011
7:02 am
Oh Buddy my MAN! I hear you.
Hey MC……….just because you got a mic/recorder shoved in your face don’t mean you gotta say something. Its best to let people think you are a fool than it is to speak and confirm it. You might want to pass that on to Drew.
joe
May 20th, 2011
7:36 am
Larry Drew is just happy to have a job, he is delusional if he really said the Hawks are very close to competing for an NBA championship……… they are a miserable collection of guys that are also just collecting a check ( JJ, Marvin, most of the bench…..)
doc
May 20th, 2011
8:03 am
o’b
“What I would like to know, is what did LD learn about himself? He made some questionable coaching decisions, and during the season, my impression was he blamed players for not executing his game plan, but very rarely would he take the fall for their performances.”
that is a theme if you remember i brought up last week and how sorry i was that LD continues to say he didnt miss the boat on the teague situation. i wish instead he had fessed up to his oversight had learned something from it. how can he get josh to fess up to his issues, jj to his or al to his as captains if he cant lead by example. each of our captains had huge issues last year in leading and doing it the LD way. one of the ways that the bulls did so well was that their star and MVP point guard rose bought in to thibs and lead. sorry, i didnt see it from our leaders and maybe it was from on high.
the other issue i have with LD is, one has to wonder who got left out on the bench in addition to teague that might have performed better. honestly, the two guys who were the best and most consistent players during the playoffs were the two guys who LD seemed to use as examples and neutered during the season giving their play time away for no real good reason in zaza and teague. were there others that could have helped us given better utilization and roles during the season and into the post season besides collins?
one reason the hawks fell on their sword at the end and during the season is the lack of depth and fatigue factor. that also wore them down during the payoffs as well. they rested up came out good in the first 9-10 games like they do in the regular season and then fell on their faces to lose games 5 and 6 with the bulls pulling away. were there others overlooked mr drew?
yup, we need to hear more from LD on why he cant fess up. rev, can you help the man and get him as seat at the confessional kneeling table? confess sir and your sins can be washed clean and you can be a better coach in the process and i am not saying we need to be rid of you just yet. you have just laid the ground work for next season. if you can lead by example you might be able to pull it off and honesty with yourself is the first way to get it done..
drmaryb (*_-)
May 20th, 2011
8:10 am
What is The Question?
“Drew was a Hawks assistant for the previous seasons but acknowledged he “saw a different side” of his players as head coach.
“I learned even more things about them,” he said. “I will take that and look at it, and I will analyze it and go from there.”
_______________________
If this is the answer – What was the quetion?
I tried to find this entire article, to no avail. I can accept this answer, if it is put into it’s proper context. If, Larry Drew was queried, “After your first year of coaching this Hawks team, what have you learned about yourself and in retrospect what would you do differently?
Then, I would hope for a different response, one that address O’Brien’s responses.
mountain_jim
May 20th, 2011
8:12 am
MC – I also wish to express my appreciation for your excellent Hawks coverage this season.
I live in blacked-out NC and refuse to pay for League Pass, don’t have enough bandwidth to stream from the shady sources, so much of my ability to follow the season (pre-playoffs) came from this blog and its contributors.
Thanks all.
I am not optimistic that Hawks can improve without some major changes. I see all these other teams getting better while we stay the course, other than throwing away picks for (imo) unneeded players. I wish Sund was replaced. Drew I can see getting another year.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 20th, 2011
8:22 am
An Answer!
“I learned even more things about them,” he said.
________________
To me, it sounds like Larry Drew learned something. That in and of itself, is a mouth full. We don’t know what he learned, but my guess is this:
Like any relationship, you learn things about your mate that you’d didn’t know in the “honey moon phase”. Once the glitter wears off, reality sets in and a change is about to come. You must redefine your relationship to make it grow, or to take it to another level. Everything must change, from both sides.
When you go to battle and are fighting for your life? That is when the truth is revealed. Some of these players must be moved to get to the next level, from a management perspective. See Sund. See ASKG.
You can’t cook a steak, if you don’t have a steak to cook. This team needs a talent infusion and a super star. If not? What do you really expect?
The Thrasher were sold. What’s next – Hawks? Let’s Go!
Westurd
May 20th, 2011
8:23 am
O’Brien nailed it @ 8:24
doc
May 20th, 2011
8:25 am
buddy and MC are you talking diffusing or defusing. it is confusing. heh heh
just in case:
diffusion – the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentratiion, to areas of low concentration.
defuse – to grow less dangerous; weaken
buddy maybe you were better in math than lewis.
tanker
May 20th, 2011
8:26 am
All of those whose talking about LD with the name calling CAN ALL GO TO HELL! Everything you talk about or call LD, its back to your MOMA! SHUT THE F*** UP! That’s what wrong with this world too much haters. If all of you can do better get off your lazy no good a** and make a differenc. Again, in the meantime you all can go to HELL!
doc
May 20th, 2011
8:37 am
yes MC ot echo others, great job this season. even turned around about your only critic it seems heh heh
as far as that sh!t nyquil, try high dose vit c, high dose echinacea and zinc next time as soon as you feel anything close to your usual symptoms. your body will appreciate it and respond quickly.
as far as LD admissions, i hope that sund has asked him what i brought up here earlier today. i guess we dont need a mea culpa from him nor do we need it from al, jj and josh in the media but certainly it needs to be brought up and addressed in the exit interviews as well as goals going forward for all of those guys. if these things can be repaired, overall, with the proviso there is some bench strength, i am optimistic about this team and without crawford next year. again, if they have money to spend it would be better to get three guys instead of one, if it is a true big with a motor and two motor wing guys one to play d and the other to take the three as needed.
with depth we have a top three team in the league next year, though some may blanch, wail and flail at the idea. they have shown it for the short run and only by getting the depth can they do it going forward. wouldnt it be nice if we could get a few role players for marvin?
O'Brien
May 20th, 2011
8:47 am
Doc,
After the game 2 victory, Miami’s coach said (and I’m paraphrasing) he is questioning himself, because he may have missed the boat on Haslem, by waiting so long to give Haslem an extended opportunity to impact the game.
I don’t expect LD to openly criticize himself, but everyone understands that a rookie (HC or player) will make mistakes. To me, LD just comes off as never making a wrong decision, but is quick to deflect the blame on the players for not executing.
I think he is a better X’s and O’s coach than Woody, and he is more flexible. But I still think he would be better off as an offensive coordinator, not the head guy, because he does not hold players accountable enough (except for Teague and maybe ZaZa), and he doesn’t seem able to motivate them consistently.
Geemack
May 20th, 2011
8:53 am
Hopefully Teague sues the “Today Show” for defamation of character.
O'Brien
May 20th, 2011
9:00 am
Doc,
if they have money to spend it would be better to get three guys instead of one.
Agreed. But the Hawks don’t have money to spend. If the Hawks start Hinrich, JJ, Marvin, Josh and Al next season, our starting lineup alone will be making ~$58 mil.
For a team that does not want to go into luxury tax, it will be difficult to improve their depth without making a trade.
We saw Thibs bench 2 starters (Boozer and Noah) for the entire 4th quarter of a playoff game. Last night we saw Scott Brooks in OKC bench 2 starters (Westbrook (all-NBA PG) and Ibaka) for the entire 4th quarter of a playoff game. If LD wants to do that (although I doubt he would), the Hawks need to give him better options (and he must utilize those options properly).
doc
May 20th, 2011
9:23 am
o’b money games will be decided with the cba until then status quo and wishful thinking. again, i am not putting my money on rick sund getting the right three guys or LD playing them based on umm past performances, if you know what i mean as i talk of a perfect “hawks world”.
coachx
May 20th, 2011
9:32 am
Possible free agents bigs:
Too expensive: T. Chandler, D. Jordan, probably S. Hawes.
Probably too expensive but possible could be had for the MLE (if there is a MLE next year)
S. Dalembert
MLE to league minimum material:
J. Pryzbilla – seemed healthy to close the season after 1.5 years of being injured.
Reggie Evans – rebounding beast at PF
K. Fensenko – Huge dude but stiff….that is what you get for the minimum
A. Gray – see above
C. Smith – bruising backup PF
J. Foster – crafty rebounding veteran
SteveW
May 20th, 2011
9:43 am
ASG’s on the cheap camp roster:
Alade Aminu
Richard Hendrix
Trey Gilder
Sergei Gladyr
Luke Jackson
Magnum Rolle
Hilton Armtstong
tom
May 20th, 2011
9:47 am
Hey MC, when are they going to get you a more custom banner for your hawks blog like D orlando has for the falcons??
bigdave
May 20th, 2011
10:11 am
Luke Jackson refuses to quit.
Fundamentals
May 20th, 2011
10:24 am
I’m very optomistic about next year as always. It’s good to see that Teague finally got a shot. Hinrich will come back ready and shouldn’t be as injury prone if we have options. Pape Sy looked pretty good out there, he appeared hungry, athletic and absolutely “blue collar”. If anything the Bulls series taught us the value of a real bench mob, not a collection of pieces that won’t gel.
My issues do come with decision making. Sund decides to go cheap. Hawks top 6 decide to never attack the basket. Drew never decides to hold them accountable. Drew counts on Jamal when everyone in America can see he’s having an off night…consistently.
We have very few players signed for next year. We have plenty of flexibility to get the right pieces who will rebound, attack and give our team the tenacity it needs. CBA and the sale of the Thrashers should only help us in terms of getting that type of talent inexpensively.
Fundamentals
May 20th, 2011
10:28 am
Amen Geemack and O’Brien
Fundamentals
May 20th, 2011
10:31 am
We need a Captain that actually buys into the system…not a token title. We need a leader who rises to the occassion in the playoffs. We need someone consistent who can push this team like a professional. We need someone to come back from the summer with a strong will and determination to push this team to it’s limit.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 20th, 2011
10:42 am
Thank You!
MC
Thank You for a season for phenomenal Hawks Basketball coverage.
Your work has been stellar, informative, inciteful and very much appreciated by myself and as it seems, many, many other bloggers.
Feel better, pace yourself and hopefully next year?
A change we can believe in – is gonna’ come.
________________
Mmmmmwah!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 20th, 2011
10:46 am
“All of those whose talking about LD with the name calling CAN ALL GO TO HELL! Everything you talk about or call LD, its back to your MOMA! SHUT THE F*** UP! That’s what wrong with this world too much haters. If all of you can do better get off your lazy no good a** and make a differenc. Again, in the meantime you all can go to HELL!”
LD’s granny is still around? She must be old as hell…
Rusty
May 20th, 2011
10:54 am
If they retain the lame duck,it will prove how very stupid &cheap they are . There is no justification in keeping him.
Rusty
May 20th, 2011
11:04 am
Who the hell would want him as an offensive coordinator, there was many games this team could not score the ball
KevinM
May 20th, 2011
11:04 am
Fundamentals, the captaincy that was put on our 3 guys was a huge mistake. Make note, if Sund ever decided to make a trade with 1 of the 3, the blame would be completely placed on that guy’s shoulders.
I think what you’re asking for is a #1, not a bunch of #2s and 3s.
The only way we are going to get a #1 is to rebuild through the draft.
Our shot is now….
- Cleveland has 2 slots available and can take on a captain’s contract.
- Minnesota isn’t interested in another youngster.
Kahn on ESPNU right now discussing his pick. Kahn doesn’t sound the draft is his preference this year.
I move 1 of our all-stars immediately to work with Rubio.
It’s there for the taking to get us a #1……Enes Kanter. ESPNU praising him in the workouts today. 6′11 in shoes and 260, down 10 lbs despite no basketball in a year.
Centers are working now……Draft combine in Chicago.
I hope for this despite my dismal outlook for Sund and Drew returning. When you think the door is open, here’s the ASG once again slamming opportunity on the outside of the door.
KevinM
May 20th, 2011
11:19 am
Looks like Jerry West is going to try his magic out in Golden State.
Expect some major changes there.
KevinM
May 20th, 2011
11:29 am
One more draft prospect who never finished high school for a 2nd round pick, but I wouldn’t expect him to last 48 picks…
Jeremy Tyler, who played overseas in Italy and Japan last year. He’s 6′11/245, a la DeAndre Jordan.
He might be worth the risk to go get a late 1st rounder from someone.
Daniel
May 20th, 2011
11:55 am
Why does anyone expect LD to publicly admit to anything? This is the guy who after he was hired intimated that he had the answers all along, but Woodson wouldn’t listen. Being relfective has not been a strong suit, which may suit him well as a head coach.
We all know what LD learned about his players. When he was the assistant he was Josh’s and probably Joe’s shoulder to cry on and venting platform for how Woody hurt their poor little feelings. He obviously didn’t think that the same players would treat him the same way.
you know it, I know it. Let’s stop pretending its something else.
SteveW
May 20th, 2011
11:58 am
Well the good news is Marc Gasol was a #48 pick
We have the #48 pick
So good things have happened late in the draft.
Ramon Sessions was even later than that in the 2nd round.
Fundamentals
May 20th, 2011
12:08 pm
I agree, I don’t see a captain coming forth? We might possibly need some sort of trade. Rubio might be nice, but I’m not sure I see him coming here? I don’t see Sund/ASG going after him when they are enamored by Teague.
I tend to like the Teague/Kirk duo and hope for a good C prospect myself. Enes looks to be a decent big. Jordan or Chandler would be good fits. I liked Emeka last year only to get bashed, but he played well along CP3. There are plenty of “blue collar” bigs who can rebound around every draft, we just don’t take on “projects”. We tend to sign folks who never quite fit in?
Would you vote that Hilton deserves a vet min for us? Is he worth a chance? I felt like he showed some toughness, D and rebounding in his short stints? He proved more effective than Powell and Etan in terms of long term chemistry here?
Cleveland liked Marvin? How much we don’t know?
MN definitely doesn’t need more youth?
JoJo the Godfather
May 20th, 2011
12:17 pm
nbadraft.net has us taking freshman Jereme Richmond out of Illinois in the second round. 6′6″- 6′7″ SF that sounds a lot like Pape Sy. Athletic, strong finisher at the rim, no jump shot or range, but could be an excellent wing defender in the nba. Only 19. Sound ok to me for such a late pick.
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:20 pm
@Buddy: “Michael I think you missed this paragraph from my post: Josh Powell first big man off the bench? All-NBA Al sat for an entire half of a playoff game with Sund’s and Lame Duck’s jobs on the line? Starting Jason Collins against CHI’s fast, athletic big men? Subbing out Teague in Game 6 to let Jamal Crawford run point and put the Hawks in an insurmountable double-digit first quarter deficit? Leaving Jamal Crawford in for the entire fourth quarter on a 1-for-9 shooting night while Zaza, with the best +/- of any Hawk in the playoffs, sits the entire 4th?”
these are all things i’ve criticized Drew for repeatedly throughout the season. in fact, they are some of the things i criticized him for in the item that from which you cherry-picked one. it’not disingenuous for you to fail to acknowledge this while sarcastically suggesting i think Drew is coach of the year.
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:21 pm
@JustAThought: “Hey MC……….just because you got a mic/recorder shoved in your face don’t mean you gotta say something. Its best to let people think you are a fool than it is to speak and confirm it. You might want to pass that on to Drew.”
i don’t see a specific critique anywhere in there.
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:22 pm
@drmaryb: “I learned even more things about them,” he said. “I will take that and look at it, and I will analyze it and go from there.”
“If this is the answer – What was the quetion?”
the question was (paraphrasing): you were the assistant coach for six seasons with these guys but did you learn new things about them, and they about you, as the head coach?
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:24 pm
@mountain_jim: ‘MC – I also wish to express my appreciation for your excellent Hawks coverage this season.”
thanks much
Fundamentals
May 20th, 2011
12:24 pm
MC – don’t sweat it buddy. We who blog here know your take? Focus on the draft, on who we’ll get and what’s really happening, not on lame rants.
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:24 pm
@drmaryb: “MC Thank You for a season for phenomenal Hawks Basketball coverage.”
thanks to you and the rest of my blog people for reading.
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:25 pm
@doc: “yes MC ot echo others, great job this season. even turned around about your only critic it seems heh heh”
thanks . . . i would start to worry if i had no critics.
“as far as that sh!t nyquil, try high dose vit c, high dose echinacea and zinc next time as soon as you feel anything close to your usual symptoms. your body will appreciate it and respond quickly.”
noted . . .
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:25 pm
@tom: “Hey MC, when are they going to get you a more custom banner for your hawks blog like D orlando has for the falcons??”
man, don’t get me started. they’ve been talking about that since they hired me.
O'Brien
May 20th, 2011
12:26 pm
Naming 3 captains out of 5 starters (and 15 total players) made no sense from the start. Football teams dont even have 3 captains, and there are 53 men on the roster. And it doesnt help when all 3 captains have different answers after a game. So who should the players listen to?
We need one band, one sound. So even if all 3 captains are back next season, I hope LD lets the team vote for one captain.
doc
May 20th, 2011
12:28 pm
dmb, though it could be inciteful, was it insight you were looking for? the only person that got too terribly inciteful was grandad and now buddy with mc’s work. a little irony at work today and diffusing out amongst the minions, or was it defusing them?
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:32 pm
@Fundamentals: “MC – don’t sweat it buddy. We who blog here know your take? Focus on the draft, on who we’ll get and what’s really happening, not on lame rants.”
ha . . . i’m good. all reasonable critiques are welcomed, none are taken personally.
i hope to have some draft stuff when Sund and Co. return from Chicago.
Sautee
May 20th, 2011
12:34 pm
Najeh,
LOL at “LD’s Granny”
O'Brien
May 20th, 2011
12:35 pm
Grandad,
Your guy is very confident. From hoopshype;
The last word comes from, let’s say, a highly-confident Florida State forward Chris Singleton: “I’ve been telling everybody I’m a modern day Pippen. I feel I can do everything..
KevinM
May 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
Derrick Williams is out there saying he sees himself at the 3 next year.
This is the one Najeh wants to grab if possible, so if he can work at the 3, I am buying. He has had his talk with Minny, but Kahn doesn’t sound thrilled about another draft pick.
We all know the history of the #2 pick; more downers than ups. Kevin Durant, Alonzo Mouring, Jason Kidd and Gary Payton were the exceptions to the rule. The rest: not so much….
KevinM
May 20th, 2011
12:45 pm
MC: ” hope to have some draft stuff when Sund and Co. return from Chicago”
Come on MC, don’t you want to be in Chicago with Sund? On ESPNU and it looks like a lot of time to get plenty of info from the entire league.
Throw that thought out there to Sund to go get us a lottery selection since he gave away our 18.
Daniel
May 20th, 2011
12:46 pm
MC- I want to jump on the bandwagon and thank you for the good work this season.
I see a direct correlation between LD’s admission that he learned more about his players as head coach than he had in his role as assistant and the fact that his relationship with the players as an assistant was a main selling point in his hire. Essentially his hire was based on the assumption that he knew/respected/was respected by the team more so than Woodson.
Does his admission suggest the different relationship he had with the players than he does as head coach reflect more on the positions of head coach/assistant coach than actually the person that is Larry Drew?