Atlanta Hawks: Mike Woodson, Larry Drew not on speaking terms
Mike Woodson obviously wasn’t happy when the Hawks didn’t bring him back as head coach in 2010. But it sounds as if time and perspective, including his new job as head coach of the Knicks, have softened the hard feelings Woodson once had for the organization.
“I’ve grown in the 22 months,” Woodson said. “There’s not a day I don’t think about ownership here giving me an opportunity to coach a team for six years, because that doesn’t happen very often. I’d like to think the guys I did coach got better and our team got better. That’s what coaching is all about to me.”
Woody has never been one for PC so you can assume he’s being sincere. And that’s why it’s telling that he went out of his way to express gratitude for Hawks owners while staying silent on the topic of Larry Drew, his former-assistant-turned-successor as Hawks coach.
“We haven’t talked,” Woodson said. “I just want to talk about basketball. Let’s keep it that way.”
Drew confirmed that the two haven’t talked since Woodson left, and it’s not hard to figure why.
To get his first head-coaching job, Drew had to convince Hawks owners that he would do things differently than Woodson. Drew also told the owners he had ideas that Woodson never implemented–ideas that the owners also favored.
You can see why that might lead Woody to think his old friend and former teammate turned on him. But the bigger problem, according to Woody confidants, is that Woody believes Drew was making his case to be head coach with the team’s owners while Woody still had the job.
So there’s no longer a relationship between Drew and Woodson. By the end of his Hawks tenure, Woody also wasn’t getting along well with Rick Sund or the team’s owners. But he says, in the final analysis, his time as Hawks coach was a positive experience.
“It was a great experience,” Woodson said. “You stick around for six years, and you start to wonder can it happen for six more years. Realistically, that just doesn’t happen in our profession. It was tough walking away because I didn’t get to finish the job I started.
“But, hey, it’s part of the business. You learn and grow with it. I’ve moved on. It was a great run. I’m in New York now and I’m happy and excited about the guys I’m coaching.”
Woody still keeps in touch with some of his former Hawks players, including Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. He says he believes Josh was snubbed for the All-Star team the past two years and looked forward to giving Joe “a big hug” because Joe didn’t make the trip to New York when the Hawks played there last month.
New York media queried Josh on his relationship with Woody, who still maintains that Josh “probably caught more hell than any player I ever coached.”
“He definitely pushed me as a young player,” Josh said. “He saw something in me I may not have saw in myself. Now, as a veteran in this league, I appreciate all of the things I endured as a young player. Now my work ethic is unbelievable and it’s a testament to the work and the adversity I had as a young player.”
Someone asked Josh about his “run-ins” with Woody but he brushed it off.
“Every player has his fair share of run-ins with the coach,” he said. “I think it was magnified more so than other players. For what reasons, I don’t know. It’s not like this is a big market. It wasn’t something to be magnified because it wasn’t really that serious. We are still good friends, I still want the best for him, he still wants the best for me. We still communicate.”
Woody was a Knicks assistant when the Hawks were in New York. Now he will be in the head chair and Josh admits it will be “kind of odd” to see his old coach on the other side at Philips Arena.
“I gave him a call when he got the [interim] job and told him ‘Congratulations,’ and I know he’s going to do good things for the organization,” Josh said. “Right now, it’s telling it all.”
The Knicks are 8-1 with Woodson as head coach, a run that includes Ws against the Sixers, Magic and Pacers.
Josh figures a W tonight would mean more to Woody.
“Aw, man,” he said, chuckling. “He may not say it but he definitely wants this win, in this arena.”
Not surprisingly, Woodson said defense has been the key to New York’s resurgence. The Knicks have actually been solid defensively all season but, after some slippage during Mike D’Antoni’s final days, they’ve been even better under Woody.
Woodson is getting a prime opportunity to restart his coaching career after he sat out the 2010-11 season. He says he only went to one NBA game during that time (Spurs at Pacers). Woody says he watched a lot of NBA games and college games on television and even took in a few high school games in the Atlanta area, where he still owns a home.
“It just gives you a chance to reflect back on what you did and how you can change things and be better,” Woody said of the year off from coaching. “That’s kind of where I am today.”
Woody was asked what impression he thinks he left on players during his Hawks tenure.
“I’d like to think and hope they had fun, number one, playing for me, and respect what I did as a coach,” he said. “I tried to be honest and fair and teach those guys to play at a high level.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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89 comments Add your comment
please
March 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
Doc
Either you are Larry cousin or Larry his self writing these comments (LOL)
jwmoney12
March 30th, 2012
4:23 pm
Could someone please tell me why LD do not use his bench aleast at the end of quarters his starters look tired in fourth quarters.NEW YORK LETS GO!
Rufus1
March 30th, 2012
4:32 pm
For a 2mil a year job…
I would talk BAD about my mother….Woody needs to get a grip, “This is America Jack”, the land of opportunity and LD TOOK HIS.
If LD comes back next year, he would have made between 5-6mil…That maybe more than LD made in his NBA career….
I DON’T HAVE A FRIEND WORTH 6MIL….AND NEITHER DOES WOODY!!!
doc
March 30th, 2012
4:32 pm
aj, i was very mixed in my views that woody be shelved until i watched the terrible seires against the magic and saw it play out for the second year in a row that we werent even competitive. that year there werent the injuries of the year against the cavs, just over matched from a coaching perspective and getting anything out of his troops. it was sad but i had hoped a true voice would surface. and never in my wildest dreams would have expected the guy they wouldnt let bk change to be the guy thy went to after a full interview process as the last guy to interview.
i doubt the players had a big part in the hiring of ld except to say positive things about him if asked. i dont think they were meeting regularly with the wners on his behalf. ld as anyone does tried to know who he was interviewing for and answered the questions well. yes, he was in the cat bird seat to know the issues and come up with a strategy in dealing with them. why shouldnt he?
i think you and i, though enjoying the candor as fans were both going i dont believe he is saying this on the record. maybe ld is that kind of a guy as well, you ask me and i will do my best to answer it. i dont know but for the record i will stand up when woody comes in and clap for putting this organization on the right track and will do it for you as well.
Terrell
March 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
A lot of people want the Hawks to fail so they break this “core” up and start over. I find it funny, because of the fact that we’ve been through this before when we had that fire sale in the late 90’s early 2000’s. What happened? This team was set back until we took the Celtics to 7 games a few years back. How many of you really think that getting rid of everyone is going to make this team better down the road?
What’s going to make the team better is if we win and go deep in the playoffs. You tell me one superstar that would sign in Atlanta? The fans don’t go support the team as it is. Why go to a team that’s trying to rebuild? That is what superstars would say if we just get rid of everybody.
Slimjr
March 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
PARTOOK PARTOOK PARTOOK PARTOOK
McNasty
March 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
Woodson had major problems with Josh, benching him in games and not starting him. Josh even took a swipe in preseason with the “a coach that treats you like a man” comment.
Josh being so self centered and immature is why he isn’t an all star and I would not believe much that he says.
However he CAN play some ball and is an asset to this team
Woody was a terrible offensive and game coach. On top of that he appeared to be a jerk personally.
I stopped watching and going when the Spirit rewarded Woody for LOSING when they let Billy Knight go.
The hawks play better defense under LD if you look at their switching and playing through screens. While not perfect the offense is way better.
Tonight Please do not let those yankee carpetbagging NY fans drown us out at Phillips.
Help the hawks win!
doc
March 30th, 2012
4:40 pm
please are you a troll? you really show you havevnt followed the hawks and how they world has turned since the basg has taken over. if you arent a troll then come back only as please and stay here a while and offer your opinions as you do ad as i do. just dont change your name, trolls doo that.
that info is right out of the sacramento newspaper. the write up on it for the ajc by sekou is no longer on file to be accessed as when you go there it shows error now. if you google you will find at least the reference to the issue of ld interviewing, ld getting the job, only to have the basg renig on the prior arrangement. yes, only the basg bro and i assure you i dont have the imagination it takes to pull off some of the crap these guys do.
doc
March 30th, 2012
4:41 pm
rufus, ld is “only getting about 1 mil i think not 2 mil, so would you do it for that?
doc
March 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
you are so right rufus, why does he want his friend in the poor house when he aint. he should have had the grace to recommend him since he had blown it.
Astro Joe
March 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
doc, MC later reported about “chemistry issues” on the Hawks that I always thought contributed to the Orlando debacle. The hawks weren’t going to beat Orlando with Woody because of his defensive scheme (too much help leaving perimeter players open to bomb at will), but the amount of the devestation was a shared issue across coaches and players. In fact, you may recall that the dysfunction actually started with game 5 of the Milwaukee series. Joe had been playing very well and then suddenly, he shut himself down and the Hawks came too close to a 1st round disaster.
But all of that is water under the bridge and the exact details don’t change the fact that Woody (and his ENTIRE staff) needed to get gone in favor of something new & better. IMO, we got neither new nor better. The roster improved… I still recall a bench with Claxton, RandMo, Thomas Gardner, Othella Hunter, Solo Jones and one other waste of a roster slot.
LD has done a nice job this season (mostly) and Woody is doing good work in NYC. So I guess it all worked out for the main characters in this sorted drama.
doc
March 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
i wonder if woody will have his clip board stuck in his face when they do an intro. but really they mumble the intros for the visiting team so you really dont have a chance to recognize the enemy.
JayD
March 30th, 2012
5:10 pm
To his credit….. LD did try and get out before it came to this, and he was made to stay!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
5:25 pm
“A lot of people want the Hawks to fail so they break this “core” up and start over. I find it funny, because of the fact that we’ve been through this before when we had that fire sale in the late 90’s early 2000’s. What happened? This team was set back until we took the Celtics to 7 games a few years back. How many of you really think that getting rid of everyone is going to make this team better down the road?”
The only reason that didn’t work is because BK drafted Marvin ahead of CP3. If you change that one pick, it changes the entire fortune of this organization, and we are probably talking about one of the league’s elite teams right now.
Contrary to popular belief, in the overwhelming majority of cases, you don’t sign superstars, you draft them. Look at OKC. They traded Ray Allen, blew up the team, and now they are a title contender. Why? Because they made the most of their lottery picks. You think they would be where they are now if they had picked, say, Horford instead of Durant?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
Games 3 and 4 against Orlando are the only times I have ever been to a Hawks game where the team looked like it knew it would lose before the opening tip.
doc
March 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
najeh luck involved too
you think okc picks durant over oden? what if they got the one ball?
Section 303
March 30th, 2012
5:50 pm
I always liked Woodson. He had to leave, though. Something had to change after that miserable series with the Magic. No way he could come back after the team just quit on him in that series. Wish him well, just not tonight.
Would have been more interesting if the NYT had interviewed Teague about Woodson. Josh would have tangled with any coach early in his career. He got on the floor, despite it all. Teague was buried on the bench. It is clear now that he should have been playing.
I am looking forward to this one tonight. Not looking forward to sitting in Madison Square Garden South, though. Have no doubt the sh#t fans in this town will not show.
SWAT Native
March 30th, 2012
6:05 pm
I’ll be there, too, Section 303. I noticed the other night against the Bulls that their fans were pretty quiet when they were down early. I only realized how many of them there were when the Bulls started to pull away.
The key to keeping the fans of that .500 club from NY quiet is to not let the Knicks get out ahead. I’m also looking forward to seeing if we get lots of hot asian women tonight with Jeremy Lin in town.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
6:15 pm
I wanted to go to this game, but the cheapest tickets are $57. I can’t drop that kind of cash for a regular season game until after tonight when I win the Mega Millions and purchase a majority stake in the Hawks.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
6:22 pm
With no Amare, the Knicks will be going with a small lineup with Melo at PF and Landry Fields at SF. That should work in the Hawks’ favor.
POST UP JOSH
ag
March 30th, 2012
6:22 pm
I was not happy about hiring LD and I was tired of Woody. Yes, the team showed progress every year except in the playoffs. I really think the Hawks should have hired a more polished coach, yet there are so few coaches available who have ever been to a NBA championship.
One thing about LD, I have noticed growth. He has made adjustments to the lineup. He eventually will stop using Twin and use more of Ivan. He finally benched Marvin and moved JJ to SF. I have said for years are area of improvement is not center – but truly SF Eventually, LD will play Marvin at PF were he really can develop into a scorer off the bench and play TMac at SF (that is a big maybe).
Luke Cage
March 30th, 2012
6:25 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!
Luke Cage
March 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
LOL@Najeh
Dude your splitting that cash with me, ITS MINE!!
Luke Cage
March 30th, 2012
6:29 pm
I like “The Core” more now with Marvin giving positive minutes off the bench. I believe by next season he will be thriving in that role.
SWAT Native
March 30th, 2012
6:30 pm
Wow, Najeh, not just a share, but a majority stake? Great way to lose money – just ask the ASG.
Mike "Mack Daddy" Woodson
March 30th, 2012
6:32 pm
Sup ya’ll Big Daddy Mike back in MY HOUSE!!!
Mike "Mack Daddy" Woodson
March 30th, 2012
6:33 pm
I expect a 2 min standing ovation from my trusted loyal fans that can’t get enough of The “Mack Daddy”
Luke Cage
March 30th, 2012
6:36 pm
Lunch time before game time peeps
Mike "Mack Daddy" Woodson
March 30th, 2012
6:43 pm
Larry “Backstabbing” Drew will learn tonight that “To Be The Man, Ya Gotta Beat The Man”, ain’t now way i’m letting this “POOT BUTT” of a coach beat The “Mack Daddy”
James
March 30th, 2012
6:52 pm
For the complaining and criticism that Woodson received, even though some of it was well warranted, he really wasn’t all that bad. He was coaching an extremely immature team with only one or two true team players (Marvin and Al) as part of the “core” early on. He had to make a lot of changes and his decisions were iffy at times, but the Hawks did improve under him. I feel like Woodson’s biggest flaw was his inability to make adjustments, and at times, that really hurt the team’s success, but he was a bad coach. Some of his initial gameplans were pretty good, and typically the case with Woodson was that the Hawks would either have a very good gameplan coming in and they’d beat the opposition convincingly, or they’d have a gameplan that didn’t work, and they’d get blown out. There didn’t seem to be much inbetween.
At the end of the day, I’d say that both Woodson and Drew are close to equal as head coaches. Drew is more creative and probably a better offensive coordinator, while Woodson is much better at defining roles and preaching the basics like rebounding. Both guys have their flaws, but both are decent coaches. Personally, I’d rather have one of the elite coaches in the league on the sidelines for the Hawks, but that’s not to say that Drew and Woodson are horrible coaches. They are both coaches who are probably still learning and improving.
If I were Woodson, I think I’d feel a bit betrayed knowing that I had coached the team to an improved record every season I was there, and yet, I was not rehired. From a fan’s perspective, that doesn’t feel like the case, but that is what I would assume Woodson may have felt. I’m glad he is getting an opportunity to coach again, so that he doesn’t have to go out on a negative note the way he did after the Hawks were dominated by the Magic in the playoffs a few years ago.
It should be fun to see how things play out tonight. The Knicks have more talent and more offensive weapons than the Hawks, but I think the Hawks play more as a team and may have better chemistry. With both teams fully healthy, I think Hawks vs. Knicks would be an intriguing playoff matchup, but since that is not the case, we’ll have to settle for watching two injured teams battle with added drama on the sidelines coming from Woodson vs. Drew. If the Knicks really like/respect Woodson, you know they’ll have some added motivation to help him get a win over the guy who many may think took his job.
It should be fun to watch.
James
March 30th, 2012
6:54 pm
In the first paragraph of my previous post, I meant to say “he wasn’t a bad coach”, not “he was a bad coach”.
Eric
March 30th, 2012
6:57 pm
If the Knicks win tonight, Woodson should shave L.D.’s eyebrows. LOL.
KNICKS @ HAWKS, 7:30 P.M. ET « NBA.com | Ten Before Tip Blog
March 30th, 2012
7:08 pm
[...] A blog in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggests that the relationship between Woodson and his successor as the Hawks’ coach, Drew, is beyond frosty — as in over. Link here. [...]
Mike "Mack Daddy" Woodson
March 30th, 2012
7:12 pm
James,
Naw buddy, don’t be on a brotha’s side now, you know what u can do with that last post.
doc
March 30th, 2012
7:22 pm
anyone catch what sekou said about the game?
cdog
March 30th, 2012
8:14 pm
don’t hold grudges coach woodson, God will handle all wrong doers. help the knicks win and don’t worry about the hawks ownership or coach drew.GOD KNOWS THE GUILTY PARTIES AND WILL DEAL WITH THEM.
OtistheDrunk
March 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
I missed the opening of the game and am just now tuning in. Did the two coaches greet each other and shake hands at the beginning as most do? I’ll definitely watch the “shake or no shake” at the games end!
bama52
March 30th, 2012
10:51 pm
Enough about Woodson,he held Teague back and didn’t play Zaza much. Speaking of playing time if LD don’t use his bench more he will be on the outside looking in. T Mac if he’s able to play need to play,also Willie Green needs more minutes if he’s healthy. We won when Joe was hurt, what ever happen to passing the ball more on offense,getting the whole team involved. This team will give any team in the league a run and could win seven game series if Al H makes it back. Right now we want win in the playoffs without A H if we just isolate Joe and Josh. Josh and Marvin need to get back to driving the ball to the basket. Josh and Joe need to quit trying to make difficult passes,just pass the ball to an open teammate as quick as possible and re-position themselves for a better shot. We need tough smart ball from Josh, Joe and Marvin every night. Willie Green came in the game tonight and did just what was needed for his team to win. LETS GO HAWKS!!!! We see a team that can bring a NBA Champion ship to the ATL.
» What’s going on in the basketball world Basketball 101
March 31st, 2012
9:17 am
[...] as head coach of the Knicks, have softened the hard feelings Woodson once had for the organization. “I’ve grown in the 22 months,” Woodson said. “There’s not a day I don’t think about owne…Atlanta Journal-Constitution Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Larry [...]