Playoff series win is validation for Woodson
If Mike Woodson feels vindicated after going 106-222 in his first four seasons but winning a playoff series in year five, it's no wonder. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
Two months ago, the Hawks were coming off a loss in Charlotte that dropped them to 2-6 in a stretch and 13-18 since January. They were sliding. They had an enigmatic star (Josh Smith) and a combustible coach (Mike Woodson) who were having a very public feud.
Woodson, the aforementioned coach, took the brunt of the criticism. It happens. When a coach goes 106-222 in his first four seasons, he gets a lot of things thrown his way. One of them is not the benefit of the doubt.
It follows that when new general manager Rick Sund decided to bring Woodson back – albeit with a lukewarm two-year contract – the public response was mixed.
But Tuesday night, the Hawks are some place few figured they would be: In Cleveland. In the playoffs. Playing.
It doesn’t matter that the Hawks are massive underdogs against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. It doesn’t matter if this series goes four games, five or seven. They won a playoff round. That alone validates a 47-win season.
It also validates Mike Woodson as a head coach.
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But if he’s bubbling over with I-told-you-so, well, he deserves to.
When asked Monday if he believed his coach felt vindicated, Josh Smith said: “Probably so. He probably deserves it just as much as we do. Of all the criticism he had to face during his career while being here, I know he feels relieved. He might not say it, but you can tell a big weight is lifted off his chest.”
How?
“I can just tell by the way he’s walking around and acting. He’s interacting with everybody. He’s real excited. But he’s also determined to prove something this series as well.”
When the topic of vindication was broached Monday, Woodson reiterated what he said after Sunday’s clinching win over Miami. He thanked ownership for sticking with him, then added: “I think we’ve always been on schedule, regardless of what the media and everybody else says. When you build around a young team it takes time.”
Coaches and teams ultimately are judged by post-seasons. Had the Hawks lost to Miami, a 47-35 record would’ve been an afterthought. Woodson knows this.
Instead, the Hawks won a playoff series for the first time in 10 years, so Woodson’s accomplishments can be magnified. That’s the way it works in sports.
Despite injuries, the Hawks held onto the fourth seed in the East for the season’s last three months (which ultimately probably decided the Miami series). They didn’t become fragmented during when the Woodson-Smith feud boiled over with a benching during the aforementioned loss in Charlotte. They rebounded from a dreadful Game 6 against the Heat to win Game 7 easily.
All that is a reflection of the coach.
Sund prefers not to publicly evaluate players and coaches, particularly during the playoffs. But he credited “Woody and the coaching staff” for navigating the team through injuries and holding onto the fourth seed.
Since Woodson’s contract had expired, Sund effectively hired a man – incremental progress or not – coming off four straight losing seasons. He gave Woodson neither a slap (one-year contract) or a ringing endorsement (three years).
“I came here with a completely open mind,” Sund said.
One year later, Woodson’s resume just got better. Validation and leverage comes with that.
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89 comments Add your comment
Bobby
May 5th, 2009
2:04 am
Woody, great job and I know you are a Bobby Knight man and love the man to man defense… but I’ve seen you unleash a 2/3 zone defense before in certain situations… Do it against Lebron and we may just pull off one of the great upsets of all time.
Mitch
May 5th, 2009
5:25 am
This series win over Miami shows just how far this team has come. They are doing it piece by piece. After staying home in April for eight seasons in a row, we take the World Champion Celtics to a seventh game in Boston last year, and now finally win a playoff series this year.
I’m glad that Hawk management stuck with Mike Woodson. I was always criticizing him until he got to the playoffs last year, and now he’s proven all the doubters wrong.
I honestly don’t think this will be much of a series with Cleveland. The Cavs should win it in five, or at most, six. However, it will serve as valuable experience for this team to say “Okay, we had a good season, now won a playoff series, and hopefully next year..”.
Not to make comparison with the Braves, because I know baseball is different than basketball, but I have to look at certain similarities. The Braves in the 1980s, like the Hawks, from 2000 to 2007, were down for years, until getting to the World Series two years in a row. They got Cy Young Greg Maddux, and, after a hiccup in 1993 against a probably inferior team in the NLCS in the Phillies, finally got the World Series ring they had set as a goal. They made the World Series three of the first five years that Greg was with the team
Back to the Hawks: Honestly, I dont see why a superstar wouldn’t want to play for this team. We are a team on the rise, and, just maybe, if we can get one more good to great player, maybe we can have the parade down Peachtree Street that the Braves had in 1995.
Congratulations, Hawks, on a very good season. We are now one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, and, who knows, just maybe next year, we can elevate ourselves to the next level, and rise up into the Cleveland/Boston/ Orlando elita level.
Mitch
Jeff Schultz
May 5th, 2009
7:13 am
JMar: “Woody is garbage.” Well, I guess we know which way you voted in the poll.
Eman: Remember the days of Kareem, Moses, Parish, Lambeer, Sikma, etc.? Now it’s a relative wasteland.
Ned: You might be right, but bottom line is the team didn’t lose Game 7 and didn’t lose the series and actually did win a big game on the road (Game 4). I’m not trying to convince you or anybody of Woodson’s greatness, but a winning a playoff series is something this franchise hasn’t done in 10 year and he deserves some credit for that.
Truth: Cleveland’s Mike Brown was named NBA coach of the year last month. Woodson finished eighth. The voting order: 1-Brown, 2-Rick Adelman/Houston, 3-Stan Van Gundy/Orlando, 4-Nate McMillan/Portland, 5-George Karl/Denver, 6-Jerry Sloan/Utah, 7-Eric Spoelstra/Miami, 8-Woodson, 9-Phil Jackson/L.A., 10-Doc Rivers/Boston.
Snowman: Let me know how the poll works out.
JOHN KONKACK
May 5th, 2009
7:54 am
sign everyone to a multi year, multi million dollar contract
TROTTINGHOME
May 5th, 2009
8:26 am
schultz and woodson both suck and Cleveland will stomp the hawks
ATL Fan
May 5th, 2009
8:34 am
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/167920-hawks-success-triggers-typical-atlanta-criticism
Westurd
May 5th, 2009
8:35 am
Jeff is definitely right on one front….Hawks fans have years of scars to heal. It feels great being were we are, but by no means are we ready to carry Woody out of the gym on our shoulders. I am willing to admit that I have seen Woody do some “coaching” as of late (ie putting West in at the end of the halfs to “pester” Diva Wade) but we got a long way to go. How about we run a play out of a timeout for a change?
Anyway, I am willing to support Woody for now, but I would def keep my eyes open to other coaching oppurtunities.
…..Now you Know………HAWKS GETTING IT DONE TONIGHT!
truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
8:40 am
Jeff Schultz
May 5th, 2009
7:13 am
Its good to know he was highly regarded last year. Im referring to this year. Yes the Hawks had a good year last year. Lets try to live in today. The list for the coach of the year has not been announce yet. If Woodson did win it… Do you think hed grant you an interview? Yea, right.
BraveFan73
May 5th, 2009
8:45 am
I like Mike Woodson. I do believe that Atlanta’s front office has to decide if Mike Woddson is the best available coach out there. Frankly, I do not believe he is the best available coach. I have always believed that our local media, especially our columnists at the AJC failed to say the obvious, Mike Woodson’s first 3 years were spent without an NBA level starting point guard. It was not fair to Woodson and it shows how pathetic our former GM, Billy Knight was. Knight is the clown who failed to draft Derron Williams, Chris Paul, and Brandon Roy to name a few. An earlier post said that a superstar comes once in a generation. Heck, we have passed on a few in the past half of decade.
On the other hand, Atlanta had a number of top tier coaches available at the end of last season including Avery Johnson (who has the highest winning percentage of any NBA coach in history), Flip Saunders, Mike D’Antoni, etc. Would this type of coaching talent be better for Atlanta? I think so. It is nothing against Mike Woodson. It simply is what it is. By the way, Johnson is still available today. Something tells me that most coaches would take the Atlanta job due to the fact that the city is popular and their is a perception that Atlanta has great young talent.
As a Hawk fan, I am proud of the team and Coach Woodson. There is no way that he is going to lose his job and he deserves the appreciation that the city is giving him. He and his staff have obviously worked hard. He does need Rick Sund to do a better job than our previous head coach. That means that we have to re-sign Mike Bibby. We do need to get a top tier backup PG, like Jarrett Jack, because Acie Law is clearly another Billy-1st Round-Bust (by the way, where is Salim…did he jump off a roof or has he been committed to a local pschy clinic?).
With Bibby, JJ, and Josh all signed, we could use Jack, re-sign Flip Murray, and build around our young players (Al Horford, 23 years old; Zaza Pachulia, 25 years old; and Marvin Williams, 23 years old). That gives us a solid unit of 8 guys about 5 of them under 26 years old. We need more quality depth inside. With all due respect for a hometown guy, Randolph Morris is not good enough and Billy-Bust 18, Speedy Claxton, has to go! Maurice Evans has been great on and off the floor (in the locker room). I expect Josh Childress to get shipped back to the US after delivering nothing. To my understanding, we will have him for two more seasons. That gives us strong perimeter depth, especially if we can get a free agent like Jack.
We could start Bibby, JJ, and Marvin Williams. Then we can have Jack, Murray, Evans, and Childress on the bench. That is scary good with Josh Smith, Big Al, and Zaza. To my understanding there are some great posts available. We just need one.
Good luck against Cleveland to the Hawks and Coach Woodson! Go Hawks!
Mac
May 5th, 2009
8:45 am
As many times as I typed in bold “FIRE BILLY AND WOODY!” on AJC blogs, I’d never have expected to see what I am seeing from Woodson’s team this year. Way to go, Woody. Hope you have a lot of success here for a long time.
dap01
May 5th, 2009
8:49 am
Woody deserves credit because of the many offensive plays that he has developed, the many adjustments he makes each game and the masterful substitutions that he makes each game.
I especially applaud his development of young players. AC Law’s development can be directly attributed to the great skills of Woody’s ability to tutor!
dap01
May 5th, 2009
8:51 am
I do like Woody. He does deserve much credit for the obvious success of the Hawks. But I do not feel that he is the coach to take the Hawks to the next higher level. I hope he proves me wrong.
tale of woe
May 5th, 2009
9:00 am
Truth – you are an idiot…Mike Brown won the Coach of the Year THIS YEAR. That is what J.S. was saying. He was named the winner LAST MONTH. Woodson finished eighth.
truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
9:23 am
Jeff Schultz
May 5th, 2009
7:13 am
Oh I see, you are saying that is this year’s poll, not last years. Is there only one coach of the year poll? Why would you vote before the season is complete? Is the poll saying Woodson is one of the top eight coaches in the NBA? Then why are you saying he is a bum?
I do see why you are the grand pupa of hate!
Snowman
May 5th, 2009
1:44 am
I’d like to add a vote to your bum writer poll and vote Schultz is a hater and not a real Hawks fan. Atlanta should have writers who are.
Another great post BTW.
JD
May 4th, 2009
9:07 pm
The man is overly sensitive. He doesn’t take criticism well. He gets prickly. He lets things that are said or written about him consume him.
I know that you are a high ranking official in the Bubba hate posse as was mentioned in Snowman’s post.
I do want to point out to you that Schultz wrote that because Woodson won’t put up with his Hateful mouth and has distanced himself from Schultz’s foolishness. That is Schultz’s view through hateful eyes. What Schultz should have done was apologized and admitted that he was wrong and evil. He should have asked to be forgiven. As snowman said he had a chance in this article to right his wrong. But spinelessly he passed on the opportunity. Humble and humility are not Schultz’s strengths, hating is his game. He demands so much penitence from Vick, but shows no class or remorse of his own.
The pot calling the kettle Black.
Ted Striker
May 5th, 2009
1:17 am
Ted I’ve now feed my messenger pigeon with Bil-jack, If you will step away from awnings and branches and out into the open I can get your message to you, oh yeah, take your hat off and have Schultz with you as the bird will do two passes.
CONGRATS HAWKS!!! GOOD JOB!!
truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
9:33 am
tale of woe
May 5th, 2009
9:00 am
My bad. I was thinking ESPN’s Coach of the year pick. I was under the impression that there is more than one poll. My bad. Either way he is regarded as a top eight coach.
I hope you have a nice day.
ET
May 5th, 2009
9:39 am
Let’s see…Atlanta just did something they hadn’t done since coming to Atl…Win a game 7 in the playoffs. They have the 3rd youngest team in the NBA. They just completed their first full year with a true point guard since maybe who Jason Terry? But still there are a group of pseudo fans who still think Woody should be fired. Didn’t Avery Johnson (one of the good coaches available) get canned from the Suns this year because he couldn’t get the players to play for him? Woody got us to the 2nd round of the playoffs as a #4 seed for the first time in forever.
It reminds me of the Bush haters. He kept us safe from terror attacks (man made disasters if you use the oboma-ism) yet there are many who want to try to taint this accomplishment by charging the lawyers whom advised Bush with crimes. Some people will never stop trying to prove that the person they don’t like is a bad person, bad coach, bad president, etc. They don’t care what the ramifications are. They want to prevail at any cost.
I say do as the far left is doing…shut these people up by digging up dirt on them or make something up to discredit them. Better yet, have a committee convene once a week like they are now doing up in D.C. to plan an attack on the people that think differently than you do …Oh wait, isn’t that what the KGB does over in Russia? I guess Oboma’s next act will be to rename the USA the USSA (United Socialist States of America). What foreign country will he visit to apologize for that?
Keep Woody. Stop Socialism. Go Hawks.
Mike
May 5th, 2009
10:00 am
hit me up at jlow3939@yahoo if you are looking for courtside tix! Have 4 tix!
JMar
May 5th, 2009
10:04 am
I think the only reason Woody is coaching the Hawks is because ownership got him for very very cheap. I’ll be curious to see what happens when he approaches them looking for a sizeable raise.
Shannon
May 5th, 2009
10:25 am
The Hawks have won in spite of that cry baby coach we have……
Mark from Ohio
May 5th, 2009
10:48 am
I think congratulations are in order for the Hawks organization. They are doing the right thing by building an organization and staying committed to it. Coach Mike Brown has been criticized plenty up until this year – his offense was “offensive”, needs to concentrate less on defense, can’t get game rotations that work, etc. But the truth is in the current product – Cleveland works their tails off on defense, confident that good defense will provide the opportunity to win more games than just good offense. Yes, we are fortunate to have a player such as Lebron James – who despite the criticism I have read in some comments here (especially yesterday) about the refs giving him preferential treatment, has bought into the system of defense first. Regarding this – I will only say after watching him all year, you have no idea the beating he takes going to the hole, you just don’t see it as much because he is one strong, quick and powerful freak of nature. There are just as many (or more) calls not made than cheap ones that are made.
The Hawks have an unusually atheletically talented team and will be not only be a handfull for the Cavs, but let’s face it, are a team that very well could take the Cavs down. It should be an extremely exciting series – let’s all enjoy it.
Heat Check
May 5th, 2009
11:20 am
The replies here are like a sea of idiocy, with Truth Serum bringing the tidal waves. 65% of Hawks “fans” believe losing 3gms by a combined 60pts VALIDATES a coach? Wow. If those 3s weren’t falling Sunday….
Mac
May 5th, 2009
11:36 am
Do dumb check what validates him is a 16-game improvement in wins and better clutch performances in crunch time. Please go fishing now. Your season is over.
Mac
May 5th, 2009
11:37 am
NO dumb check what validates him is a 16-game improvement in wins and better clutch performances in crunch time. Please go fishing now. Your season is over.
Jeff Schultz
May 5th, 2009
12:45 pm
Trotting Home: I don’t blame you for who you are or what you say. You live in Cleveland. You can’t help yourself.
Tale of woe: Thank you for your English-to-English translation.
ET: “Keep Woody. Stop Socialism. Go Hawks.” Well, you are original.
Heat check: So where does this leave Eric Spoelstra, since he LOST four games?
The Woodson Poll is still running roughly 2-1 in favor (65 percent to 35 percent). Weigh-in if you haven’t already!
Truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
12:50 pm
Shannon
May 5th, 2009
10:25 am
The Hawks have won in spite of that cry baby…
Are you talking about Schutlz?
Truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
12:51 pm
EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN 1971
May 5th, 2009
12:01 pm
AMEN!
Truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
1:08 pm
Jeff Schultz
May 5th, 2009
12:45 pm
Is it true you were caught stuffing your own ballot box?
Shout out to Schultz’s bubba crew that was ripped by EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN 1971!
How much longer will you live in Denial Schultz? Why is it that everyone see you
for you except you?
The Woodson Poll is still running roughly 2-1 in favor (65 percent to 35 percent). How foolish are you? Any president with a 65 percent approval rating would be a shoe in for a second four year term.
The Schultz’s poll is running 70% to 30% against schultz and his bubbas.
ET and EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN 1971 just weighed in.
J Dub
May 5th, 2009
1:09 pm
I don’t hate Mike Woodson. I don’t love Mike Woodson. I am happy for him and ecstatic for the Hawks. If Mike can consistently lead us to the playoffs and we improve every year, I think that is all the validation that he needs. He has done that. I sometimes disagree with his in game calling, subbing, etc, but I have done that with Bobby Cox for years and you can’t argue his resume.
This has been a great year for the Hawks. They set goals for themselves at the beginning of the year and they met them. They set them publicly too so that we all could be on the same page. 40+ wins, #4 seed, 1st round playoff win. It all happened! I can live with that. I can be happy with that. It wasn’t long ago that I thought we would never see the playoffs or a winning season again. If we don’t get past the Cavs, I will be dissapointed. We all will if we love the Hawks.
As for the offseaon, if we don’t have to give Bibby the bank, I too think it is imperative to keep him. The big question however is, at what cost? We do need a legitimate big man and maybe there is one we can get in the draft. Maybe free agency. We need someone to be a consistent inside threat. I think we need to keep our core in tact and if we are going to make trade bait, let’s not use Marvin or Zaza. Maybe that doesn’t leave too many attractive options but we can find what we are looking for in the draft or free agency.
Let’s pull together Hawk fans and be proud of our boys and our coach. I have had my negative and positive feelings for Woodson but now is not the time. We are about to play in the most important series in the Hawks recent history. Let’s go men!!! Let’s beat the Cavs!!
HAWK CHICK
May 5th, 2009
1:34 pm
woody does need to use the bench more, and get more coaching help. especially shooting coaches.
GO HAWKS, GO HAWKS, GO HAWKS-
WOODY NEEDS TO COACH MORE AGGRESSIVELY AND NOT BE SEEN AS PASSIVE- SCREAM , CURSE, YELL, WALK THE BENCH AREA, JUST WIN!!!!!
truth-serum
May 5th, 2009
4:59 pm
SCHULTZ, LET THE HATE BEGIN!
Dungy has ‘positive meeting’ with Vick in Kansas prison
By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Retired NFL coach Tony Dungy meet with suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in prison at Leavenworth, Kan., on Tuesday.
“I can confirm that coach Dungy and Michael met today,” Vick’s longtime agent Joel Segal told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It was a real positive meeting.”
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Vick, who is serving a 23-month sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation, is set to be released to home confined on May 20. He is scheduled to be released from federal custody on July 20.
Dungy, who led the Colts to a Super Bowl title, retired in January.
St. Bernard
May 5th, 2009
5:22 pm
No matter what you think of BK (and I didn’t like him). Woody is horrible at developing picks. If he continues on with us, we might as well auction off every pick we get year in, year out. It pains me to see what Acie Law has become. If we’re not going to use these kids, then why ruin them?
irishmafia
May 5th, 2009
10:52 pm
Wasnt that article supposed to be published on April 1st? Cause it surely is a joke. Woodson good coach? LOL LOL lOL Yeah he’s the net Red Auerbach! Hey he’s only 104 games under 500 for his coaching career. Given a team with a plethora of high draft picks and two all stars and a bunch of athletic players, they constantly underacheive. Geez they barely made it over 500 this season. Good coach HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA Good one
JMar
May 5th, 2009
11:06 pm
I hope Snowman the bandwagon jumper enjoyed Game 1.
fire woodson or at least get the pictures he has on the owners
May 5th, 2009
11:06 pm
No coach in the history of the NBA with 100 games under their belt even comes close the the terrible record Woodson has rung up and somehow keeps his job. He was one game awya from being fired had he lost game 7 to Miami. So quit with the coronation. The lack of consistency poor defense and lack of effort all falls into the lap of the coach. Oh and BTW with all the lotery picks he has wouldnt you expect that they should be in the playoffs an advancing? Not merely a few games over 500.
EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN SINCE 1971
May 6th, 2009
1:07 am
FOR YOU WOODSON HATERS I GUESS IF WE BRING IN A GREAT COACH AND END UP BACK IN THE 8TH SEED YOU GUYS WOULD BE HAPPY. ENJOY THE SERIES AGAINST THE CAVS,LAY OFF OF WOODY UNTIL THE HAWKS DECLINE IN THE STANDINGS NEXT YEAR,IF THE HAWKS GO FROM 4TH SEED THIS YEAR TO OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS THEN SCREAM FOR HIM TO BE FIRED,ITS LIKE YOUR BOSS ON YOUR JOB,YOU MAY NOT LIKE HIM OR HER BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE TEAM,BUT YOU CANT GET YOUR BOSS FIRED BECAUSE (YOU DONT LIKE HIM OR HER). SAME WITH WOODY!
Snowman
May 6th, 2009
8:07 pm
JMar (Bandwagon jumper…huh?), let me make it clear I have liked the Hawks ever since Woody arrived!!!…he has done a great, great job despite all of the drama surrounding him since he has been there. The Cleveland series is just another stepping stone to the eventual WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in the Atl!!!
fire woodson or at least get the pictures he has on the owners…well, I forgive you…it’s not your fault son…it’s not your fault at all…good luck in life!!!…
Snowman
May 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Maybe not this year but eventually (smile)…I just wanted to clear that up…before everyone pounced! (smile)…Go Hawks!!!…
truth-serum
May 7th, 2009
4:20 pm
Snowman
May 6th, 2009
8:07 pm
To me its ridiculous that whichever team has the dominate superstar,(Kobe,James,Shaq)also wins the Coach of the year award.
Woodson may very well be deserving of that title, when you consider what he is working with.
I do agree that the birds are within reach of a title. One or two players, timing and good health and we are there.
I would love it if you covered the Hawks. You blogs are positive and uplifting. You don’t need to resort to race baiting or hate journalism to cover the Hawks… Have you thought about replacing Schultz?
Shout out to Woodson…Oh that’s right. He doesn’t read this blog site because of all the hateful unrealistic garbage JS has written.
truth-serum
May 7th, 2009
5:42 pm
Snowman
May 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Good Writing Snow!
I often wonder why the coach of the year must always be the one who has the superstar like Kobe,James or shaq to win the Coach of the year. Why cant the coach of the year be some one who takes a bunch of young jocks and take them to the next level like say a …. Woodson. Just a thought!!