Hawks take a step forward, but leave questions
LeBron James may be headed for a final. Joe Johnson is headed for a summer full of questions. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
Seven months ago, you would have taken 47 wins.
Seven months ago, you would have taken a playoff series win and a second-round sweep by the possible eventual league champion because that’s more than any Hawks team had given you in 10 years (and it only seemed like 20 years).
In short, it’s OK to feel satisfied with what front offices like to refer to as “incremental progress.”
“It was a good season,” Josh Smith said Monday night. “I’m not going to let a sweep leave a bitter taste in my mouth like last year.”
But when the Hawks lost to Cleveland 84-74 at Philips Arena, they completed a strange postseason that created more questions than positive vibes.
The starting point guard? Mike Bibby was on the bench for most of the third quarter, not exactly positive foreshadowing going into negotiations as he becomes a free agent.
The team’s best player? Joe Johnson, who has one year left on his contract, had another miserable shooting night (7-for-18) and has played only two strong playoff games out of 18 in two years with the Hawks. Take out Game 4 against Boston last year and Game 7 against Miami this season and Johnson has shot only 38 percent from the floor and averaged 16 points.
At what point do you determine: “This is as good as he gets, and this is as good as we get with him”?
Marvin Williams is unsigned. Josh Smith is still a thrill ride. That’s four-fifths of the starting lineup. The only absolute solid and stable piece to keep and build around: Al Horford.
The Hawks won a seven-game series against Miami. But they still showed an ability to get blown out by an opponent almost as often as they did an ability to dominate one.
You want to feel good about this team. But can you?
The Hawks aren’t a great team. They’re a pretty good team at a crossroads, and they’ve never faced a more important offseason.
“I think we can compete against everybody in the league if we believe and we put our mind to it,” Johnson said. “But honestly, I don’t think we believed we could win this series. We came in hoping we could win, not believing.
“It’s going to be an interesting summer. Hopefully we can keep the pieces in place. But this is a business.”
This last game was a marginal step forward from the first three. For one, the defense improved. Secondly, Johnson – whose lack of leadership has been an issue – accepted some blame Monday.
“I probably had my worst playoffs ever, both the first and second rounds,” he said. “We got out of the first round, but I feel like I could’ve done more for my team.”
There’s a tendency when teams are down 3-0 in a playoff series to play hard at the outset but fizzle quickly when the opponent steps it up. Give the Hawks credit. The Cavaliers might have been off their game a little, but Atlanta had chances to fold up and didn’t.
The last year the Hawks had won a playoff series was 1999, and the good feelings that season also didn’t last long. They were swept by the New York Knicks in the second round. General manager Pete Babcock apparently was so distraught that he popped a spring and traded Steve Smith for Isaiah Rider. The rest is inglorious history.
The chances of general manager Rick Sund blowing things up this summer are slim. But it’s startling how much things are up in the air. That’s rare to see when you have such a young team that has shown incremental progress over a period of years.
The team’s next direction is anybody’s guess.
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109 comments Add your comment
law dawg
May 12th, 2009
1:08 pm
all respect due to bibby, the hawks should let him go and sign jarrett jack as the next point guard. he’s young and is just entering his prime.
BillyWhiteShoes
May 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
I agree with Syd. I’ll take the job of shocking him everytime he gets 3 ft away from the paint.
truth-serum
May 12th, 2009
2:17 pm
I couldnt have enjoyed you more Snow! I’ve gained a lot from you. You are a class act. I appreciate you. I do however slightly and underlines the word slightly disagree with you on the Jsmoove trade. If he develops his mid-long range shots he will be a monster. He’s not bad now. Working on that shot (remember he’s straight out of high school) will make him a superstar. Chris Bosh is good but still light in the pants. Never the less. If you are the GM and you call that shot I’m with you. Bosh it is. Question is can Bosh defend the middle. We know that he can finish and keep his man at home so he doesn’t rotate out to Joe… we know he can run…but can he shut down the lane which is a green light thoro-fare under Z
truth-serum
May 12th, 2009
2:31 pm
Snowman
May 12th, 2009
10:55 am
New GM (and a front office still trying to get it together)
9) They won a terrific game 7 in the ATL and a critical game 4 in Miami
10) They over came Josh Smith doing whatever he wants to do and not playing within the system (sorry Josh but it is true, you are a smart guy however your basketball IQ is HORRIBLE!!!)
Another great post! Did you rip J-hate-Schultz or what? The reason Josh was doing what he will was in part because of the devisive article Schultz wrote trying to stir venom between Josh and Woody so he could get Woody fired. Looks like Woody looked right over Schultz. Some times you have to do that.
Lets check in over the off season as the trade are made and the team develops. At some point we have to take in a game together. Heres to you! Thanks for being there!~!
JustaThought
May 12th, 2009
6:03 pm
I’m still trying to figure out if you’re the GM of a re-building team, why would you bring in a coach that’s from the Larry Brown school of not playing/developing young players. Not only have the Hawks become a “stagnant” team, but now look who they have as a GM to get them to the next level. This team will have to be built thru the draft/trade cause no legit FA are going to look at this organization particularly after the dismal this play-off performance.
JustaThought
May 12th, 2009
6:10 pm
Only the journeyman type FA’s who are looking for the “extra” money they can’t get from most other teams will even consider ATL. And you could probably forget hiring a quality coach as well. This organization
is really “screwed” and will be until there is clarity from the top.
Snowman
May 13th, 2009
3:24 am
Truth, we will definitely stay in touch over the off season. One final thing about Josh, again in my opinion (and he is talented), he is not coach able. He has been in this league 5 years and when everyone in the building says “No Josh” don’t shoot and he does…c’mon…I LOVE ME SOME AI however unfortunately for all of the good he does on the floor he is also NOT COACHABLE (probaly not a good analogy but itis late and my brain has shut down…smile). I think that is Josh’s problem…not to mention when he is dribbling I am a nervous wreck as well (smile). He needs to grow up and et serious about his profession!…He however is one very talented young player. Maybe he will get it together one day however, I would take Bosh or Okafor(smile…if he was available).
Mr. Serum, you keep after Schultz and the Hawk and Woody Haters out there…and continue to keep it real!!!… don’t let him get away with the non-sense that he does. It is a HUGE off season for the Hawks and I hope Sund is up to the task!!!…By the way, that Lebron is a beast huh?…He could be (gulp, I can’t believe I am going to say this…here it goes) the GREATEST player of all time when it is all said and done. However he must get some rings to validate that talent!!!…
Take your time Hawks, do it right! | Hawks Blog
May 13th, 2009
11:48 pm
[...] the league, Sund is well aware that now is not the time for snap decisions. Those are the things, as my guy Jeff Schultz alluded to his in his column from Game 4 of the Cleveland series, that can implode a franchise. Sund needs to do what his predecessor did not after last [...]
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May 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz, AJC: "There’s a tendency when teams are down 3-0 in a playoff series to play hard at the outset but fizzle quickly when the opponent steps it up. Give the Hawks credit. The Cavaliers might have been off their game a little, but Atlanta had chances to fold up and didn’t. The last year the Hawks had won a playoff series was 1999, and the good feelings that season also didn’t last long. They were swept by the New York Knicks in the second round. General manager Pete Babcock apparently was so distraught that he popped a spring and traded Steve Smith for Isaiah Rider. The rest is inglorious history. The chances of general manager Rick Sund blowing things up this summer are slim. But it’s startling how much things are up in the air. That’s rare to see when you have such a young team that has shown incremental progress over a period of years. The team’s next direction is anybody’s guess." [...]