Hawks quit on season (and Joe doesn’t care what you think)
If one picture can say it all for the plight of Joe Johnson and the Hawks, this is it. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Let’s start with the obvious: The Orlando Magic are better. They have a center. They have a point guard. They have a roster of players with complete sets of working organs, and isn’t that a novelty?
But sometimes things happen in sports that make you declare, “Push the button and blow the whole damn thing up.” This was one of them.
In a home playoff game, in an obvious desperation game, in a game where the Hawks had an opportunity to show us what substance they were made of, they collectively screamed, “Goo.” They didn’t score. They didn’t defend. They didn’t rebound. They didn’t compete.
We saw better performances when bodies were being jettisoned and the roster was all about 10-day contracts and cap space.
Down 2-0 in their second-round playoff series against Orlando, the Hawks tossed on a little seasoning, propelled themselves onto a rotisserie and told the Magic, “Flip the switch.” They trailed by 10 points after one quarter, 19 after two and 24 after three. A small gathering of fans at Philips Arena stuck it out until the end of Saturday’s 105-75 loss, perhaps hoping it would earn them some sort of refund.
Sorry. Payback will have to come in the afterlife. If you need to know what that’s like, just ask the Hawks. They’ve flat-lined. They’re down 3-0. Their backs aren’t against the wall. They’re on the floor.
Wait. It gets worse.
Al Horford, the best hope this franchise has for a leader, openly questioned his teammates’ heart.
“Effort. Effort — that’s all it is,” he said. “Guys can say all they want about coverages and all this. But it came down to effort — [not] going for loose balls early in the game, missing rebounds when they missed shots.”
And then: “It’s frustrating. I’m not the kind of person who’s going to go out there and point people out. I’ll let them know. But you’re not going to see me cursing somebody out. They know what they have to do, and it’s frustrating when the effort is not there.”
Wait. It gets even worse.
Joe “Max Money” Johnson might have permanently torched bridges with both the Hawks and the city of Atlanta. On the court, he shot only 3-for-15 and scored eight points. In the past six games, he has shot 31.2 percent (30-of-96) and averaged 11.5 points. His scoring totals in the last half-dozen: 13, 22, 8, 8, 10, 8.
“These guys look to me for guidance, and when you’re playing like that, it’s almost impossible for us to win,” Johnson said.
He was half-right. Pretty sure his teammates stopped looking to him for guidance long ago.
Before these playoffs, Johnson was determined to prove he belonged among the NBA’s elite players. He certainly has removed all doubt, but not in the way he has hoped. Even Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said, “Yeah, we’re double-teaming him some in the post, but he’s getting shots he would normally make.”
How does Johnson follow this performance? He basically tells Hawks fans that he doesn’t care what they think.
The Hawks were booed often, including as they were leaving the court at halftime and after the game. When asked about this, the “team leader” unloaded this gem: “They don’t bother me. It’s about us in this locker room. We could care less if they showed up or not.”
Good news, Joe. The arena might be half-empty for Game 4 on Monday night.
It’s the Hawks’ worst home loss of the season.
It’s their worst home playoff loss in franchise history.
If nothing else, coach Hawks coach Mike Woodson gets points for best summation: “Tonight was just non-existence.”
He looked defeated afterward. He looked like he knew the end was coming — for both his team and himself.
If Johnson has made a loud statement in this postseason about what he is worth, what kind of statement has Woodson made? He was outcoached by Scott Skiles in the first round and so far by Stan Van Gundy in this round, if for no other reason than Van Gundy is getting maximum effort out of his players.
Do Hawks’ players look like they’re fighting to save their coach’s job?
It doesn’t matter that Orlando is better. It matters that Orlando is the only team that showed up. The other one has checked out.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and on Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
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Earlier Hawks posts
♦ We’re live from Hawks-Magic: Can they make it a series?
♦ Thumbs up or down: Josh Childress a Hawk again?
♦ Hawks show their best side in desperate times again
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591 comments Add your comment
some guy
May 8th, 2010
11:47 pm
Hey Joe Johnson,
It is quite clear you do not care if the fans do not show up from your performance during the playoffs. Earn your pay check you idiot. You must have taken economics in college since if there are no fans = no fat pay check for your worthless performance and attitude. I hope you leave Atlanta with your selfish worthless attitude. You should be apologizing for your shameless performance.
Greg
May 8th, 2010
11:47 pm
Woodson is gone, Tree. No chance he survives this. Those who applaud him for being with the Hawks since they were terrible aren’t digging below the surface. It’s not like anyone else wanted to hire Woodson during those early years….and probably not any decent coaches who wanted the job, which is why we were stuck with Woody. How many high draft picks and big dollar free agent acquisitions have the Hawks had since Woody got here? A bunch. The ultimate judgment of a team and coaches worth is in the postseason and the Hawks have won two playoff series in Woodson’s 6 seasons as coach. Both of those first round series victories went 7 games, thanks in large part to Woodson, even though we were the higher seeded team.
I’ll give you that it won’t be easy to replace JJ from a talent perspective….and I’ll also say that he’s had a lot of pressure on him due to our lack of a legit PG or C. That said, he was gone regardless at the end of this year. Time to move on without him and Woody.
SecondSage
May 8th, 2010
11:47 pm
Teague was seriously underdeveloped. For that reason I’d want Woody gone. I think Bibby is good for 15 minutes a game. Jeff showed his mettle in the bench game with Cleveland. He showed he belonged. He cut off Brandon Jennings penetration as well as Jameer Nelson. The only player I saw burn him was T.J. Ford on the Pacers, Teague keeps everyone else in front of him.
Joe Johnson
May 8th, 2010
11:49 pm
some guy and mike. eat my dust out of this hick town.
Hawksfan11
May 8th, 2010
11:50 pm
Its Not ALL Joe Johnson’s Fault! You cant blame just one PLAYER. Face it, the hawks are not GREAT but they are GOOD. We need to keep joe but get another coach. Joe is not a superstar but him and Al are all-stars. With two all-stars, im sure u can build your team around them.
1. U got to decide who to keep, josh or al
2. Marvin’s role on the hawks is to play good defense and knock down the open shot, the problem is, that’s not marvin’s game, he is a big guy, he should be posting up, why do we have a 6′9 guy lookin for open shots! geez he’s a 6′9 SF! Get his ass on the BLOCK and POST UP!
3. We are playing one of the best shooting teams in the league and we have marvin and bibby and crawford (3 not good defenders) on the court for the bulk of the minutes, we should have used teague and west.
4. Can we PLEASE get rid of Zaza and Collins OMG! Morris has more upside and we need a backup PF becuz joe smith saw NO minutes.
5. We lack the HEART to be a contender in this league.
atl fan for life
May 8th, 2010
11:51 pm
Vick Supporter, while I agree there are a fair amount of fair-weather fans in Atlanta, there are a lot like myself who support the teams through and through. But you have no right to be accusing anyone. Clearly being a supporter of a player competing against Atlanta makes you a fair-weather fan.
And by saying that Atlanta fans are too hard on our teams, you are completely off base. On the contrary, Atlanta fans have been too nice. If this were New York, Boston, or LA, Bobby Cox would have been gone long ago, and Joe would have been booed off the court last year. Heck, the Yankees fired Torre after 4 championships; Bobby gave us 1. I’m glad Atlanta fans are actually getting angry; we’ve been putting up with bad sports for half a century.
realist
May 8th, 2010
11:51 pm
I love sports, I went to arguably the best all around sports college in the country. I’ve lived in some of the greatest sports cities, vick supporter is an idiot in every sense of the word. Anyone who supports vick in atlanta is not worthy of eating food. He has never been right. However, this is the first time. ATL is the best rap city and among the worst sports cities. The magic are the best team left in the NBA. Yeah the Hawks have quit but in a way they fit ATL. We quit on our teams when we know they are outmatched. They act the same way on the court. Why can’t we just be happy. Isn’t this as good as the ATLANTA HAWKS have ever done. Don’t you think these magic will be in the finals? just wondering
Numb2daGame
May 8th, 2010
11:51 pm
Wait a freakin’ minute. Where was the Joe Johnson interview conducted? You mean he was at Phillips Arena tonight? I hope the Knicks sign him as their only max contract player. He can’t even handle the pressure of the media in ATL. New York would chew him up and spit him out.
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
11:51 pm
And all of this “we should sign D-Wade” BS.
No FA wants to come here!! Have you people noticed? He plays in Miami, where all celebrities want to live or already do live there.
There’s no way D-Wade comes to ATL, especially with the type of fans we have. They would be trying to run D-Wade out of town and he IS a superstar.
This place is hopeless unlees we could get a lucky bounce in the draft lottery
Greg
May 8th, 2010
11:53 pm
Dwyane Wade is not coming to Atlanta. Get serious people. If he leaves Miami(which I doubt), he’s going to Chicago to play in the backcourt with a legit up and coming star PG in Rose.
Joe Johnson will probably wind up with the Knicks….for a lot less money than he’d hoped…but still a boat load.
Hawks
May 8th, 2010
11:53 pm
People in Atlanta should support the magic they are playing good basketball and their best player is a hometown guy from Atlanta Dwight Howard.
Mystikal
May 8th, 2010
11:53 pm
Wow, I don’t know what this means for Joe. He is a good player, but not a franchise guy as he has proven. He showed that to all the other teams watching him. Then he makes comments against hawks fans alienating his own team. So where does that leave him this off season. I thought playing worse than lost game was impossible, but even after doing that he still found a way to make it worse for himself.
Joe Johnson
May 8th, 2010
11:53 pm
New York, New York
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2010
11:54 pm
“Why is this a surprise to anyone? Same thing happened last year against LeBron & the Cavs…REMEMBER???”
Nah. At least in Game 3 of the Cavs series, the Hawks played their hearts out; LeBron was just too good.
Maybe if they played their hearts out in this game, Dwight Howard would have just been too good. But to lay down, spread their buttcheeks, and collectively beg Orlando to shove it in, like they did, just unacceptable.
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
11:55 pm
@atl fan for life
I take that my username is throwing you off? Well, don’t make any comments towards me. That will solve your problem.
Vick Supporter is my username and has been my username on here for years now. Not changing for you
Joe Johnson
May 8th, 2010
11:55 pm
Start spreadin the news, I’m leaving ATL.
sportsfan
May 8th, 2010
11:55 pm
Vick supporter? ok your an idiot…Vick sucked and was a ignorant ass and it showed.
JJ is an ignorant ass and a quitter and it shows. He will be gone at the end of the year.
Fans pay to see the athletes play and they make the team!!!!
bobo
May 8th, 2010
11:55 pm
Woodson is a bad coach-for this team. They are a strange lot of non-team players. When anything goes wrong,they go it alone. Sometimes teams are just not…..teams.
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
11:58 pm
Its funny….I’m talking basketball, yet people are replying with Vick towards me,lol. My username must really be getting to you people,lol.
Don’t care what you people think.
brody
May 8th, 2010
11:59 pm
Yeah Vick supporter, because no celebrities live in Atlanta and we’re all just terrible fans who don’t appreciate a good superstar. Sarcasm ends here.
shane
May 9th, 2010
12:00 am
Don’t care what you people think.
Yes you do. Or you wouldn’t be here.
omar
May 9th, 2010
12:04 am
Vick Supporter,
You have obviously not watched Mr. Joe Johnson s*ck the last 6 games. You obviously are only on this site to p*ss people off. Please go away, troll.
atl fan for life
May 9th, 2010
12:05 am
Vick Supporter, you say that the fans in Atlanta should be more appreciative of all the athletes you listed? How many championships did they bring us? Accepting anything less than ultimate success breeds failure.
The Real Bobby Cox
May 9th, 2010
12:06 am
Bobby Cox for years had the best pitchers money could buy, but know one was crying for his head.. Stop the Madness if haven’t call for Bobby’s head even after he goes upside his wife’s head stop the madness about Woodson! A Real Hawks fan since the Drew, Rollins, Rivers, Niq, Steve Smith and others play for us. We are just Fine, it’s all the fair weathers fans including you Shultz barking like little GA. pups, I walk by you every game and tell you to be good to us in your article. You’re being negative, Just because one person is acting like a Donkey, doesn’t mean you have too act a Donkey!!!
bobo
May 9th, 2010
12:06 am
Vick,you are smart enough to know yow “name” causes some negativity. Please don’t pretend you don’t. Your choice. IMHO,I could care less. If I used “Jesus’s” name on a Jewish theological blog,I should expect some pushback. Some might even say I was looking for it….
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:07 am
@omar
I’m here to piss people off? How? I’m talking basketball! Read my posts man. I’m not attacking anyone….my username bothers you, right?
bobo
May 9th, 2010
12:08 am
Same bottom line-Hawks really suck right now.
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:09 am
@bobo
This has been my username for 5yrs now. Not changing for anyone, nor am I trying bait anyone. Just stating my opinion like anyone else
Snowman
May 9th, 2010
12:09 am
Jeff you are a horrible, horrible person. I wish you were fired. I have tried to be nice but you just don’t make if easy or deserve it (I was really nice after your mom passed). Does the blog folks look forward to what Jeff has to say? Please comment because I think he is a Jack A$$ and a terrible writer as it relates to the Hawks. If Joe and Woody leave they are back to Clippers south , which is fine if that is what you want!!!
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/05/08/blown_opportunity/
Celtics lost by they 30 yesterday and they did not want Doc Rivers fired? Why are the writers in Boston 10 times better than you Jeff? They support their teams and coaches and when they criticize it’s balanced and constructive criticism!!!
This officially begins the FIRE JEFF SCHULTZ campaign (by the way, why are you and Rick Sund so close? What is the connection prior to him coming here?). The bottom line on the Hawks as they are currently configured are just not good enough to beat the Magic and Jeff you know that!!!
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:10 am
I’ll change it to JJ Supporter, Will that be better?
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:12 am
@Snowman
I don’t want Schultz fired…i like his articles, but you are correct about the “have the coach fired” statement.
Thats the answer to all sports in Atlanta. Fire the coach. Bobby Cox has been very lucky
bobo
May 9th, 2010
12:14 am
Vick
Read my post.Honesty is ….being totally honest. You shouldn’t be offended by something you want to create offense with. Your choice,I could care less. But, you have to agree that the Hawks are really bad right now.
Pete
May 9th, 2010
12:17 am
Your team makes the Magic look like world champions. The Hawks lack character. They may jump high, have good moves, but they don’t have the character to step up to a challenge and compete. The “stars” on the team act as if they’re entitled to be on the court and their lollygagging is disrespectful to all those who care about the team, including fans, owners, and other teammates. If these clowns were on the Magic, they would be benched and we have the talent that they wouldn’t be getting off of the bench. I can’t wait to spank em again and send them home for the summer. Good luck rebuilding a TEAM.
In all honesty
May 9th, 2010
12:17 am
While I’m not a fan of Joe Johnson’s comments, he’s not the only one to blame for this debacle of a series the Hawks are having. Any player should be allowed to have an off game or two. The team as a whole has not shown up. I’ve seen him have PLENTY of bad games, yet the Hawks have won. Orlando is a complete mismatch for them. They should have addressed that issue in the offseason or by the trade deadline. Also, while coach Woodson has made a steady improvement during his tenure, he is not a championship coach. Horford trying to guard Howard is a joke. Allowing your team to continously shoot jumpers instead of getting the easiest guy to get in foul trouble in foul trouble is ridiculous. Leaving guys open. Ummm, let’s see, letting your players dribble out the clock just to shoot bricks or create a turnover. He plays with his lineup way too much. Why ya’ll don’t like Josh Smith is beyond me. He and Horford are the only ones with any kind of passion on the team. (Jamal Crawford as of late) Hell, Josh Smith was the second leading scorer! I would love to have him on my team. A good coach would stop the bad decision-making. The team finished the season 3rd in the East, made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs and have a chance to prevent another sweep. Congrats Hawks! Time for some improvements.
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:20 am
@bobo
I never said that they wasn’t. My point is that the fan support sucks for the hawks or I should say in this town. JJ spoke the truth….probably shouldn’t have said it aloud, but its true. i believe the whole team feels that way. Do you not recall the many articles/interviews where they are asking for fan support? Can you honestly tell me that didn’t happen? The man is human, not a machine, nor is he LeBron.
We all know he’s not a superstar, yet you want him to perform as one. Yes, the Hawks got their asses kicked and yes they probably quit (some of them). they have no chance against the Magic ( we knew that also)
Taylor
May 9th, 2010
12:21 am
LOL a guy named Vick Supporter calling out the fans. It is idiots like you who cheer individuals and not the team, but anyway, can you blame ATL for being fair weather? Look at the crap that has been placed in front of them for years and years. People did not want to trust the hawks and I cannot blame them
Hank Arum
May 9th, 2010
12:21 am
This guy has the right angle, how can the Hawks really care when nobody in Atlanta does?:
http://bit.ly/c9Vu7y
Eric C.
May 9th, 2010
12:21 am
Snowman, WTH are you talking about? I think Jeff hit the nails on the head with this article. There are a lot of folks out there working real jobs, saving lives, moving the nation forward…and we watch the Hawks for entertainment and support outrageous coach and player salaries. I absolutely have zero tolerance for a player who calls the fans out and blows them off. I personally “couldn’t care less” if Joe Johnson is playing basketball next season.
Taylor
May 9th, 2010
12:22 am
Your argument sucks..”think about all the times they asked for fan support” obviously he cares about the fans showing up if they keep asking
Won't pay to see loser and quitter
May 9th, 2010
12:23 am
JJ put big numbers against sorry team, but chokes against good team. It would be real nice to get rid of Woody, Joe, Josh, and Bibby.
No joy in Hawksville | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
May 9th, 2010
12:23 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/05/08/hawks-quit-on-season-and-joe-doesnt-care-what-you-... [...]
Athens
May 9th, 2010
12:23 am
Keep Al, Jamal, Zaza…they are the only guys that give a s***. So tired of this regime. Woody has no clue.
cloudy
May 9th, 2010
12:23 am
Vick Supporter Take your sorry butt out of here. You have no idea what you are talking about. This team quits over and over on the road and when they play anybody that is decent. It’s joke fans like you that keep feeding their ego with excuses for their worthless efforts like this entire series as well as against the Bucks without their best player. Go watch WWE or nascar or something that you know something about. You obviously have no clue about this team and how to play the game.
Taylor
May 9th, 2010
12:26 am
As I am typing I just got the email from the Atlanta Hawks for 10 dollar tickets monday, no thanks
Numb2daGame
May 9th, 2010
12:26 am
I’m an avid supporter of the Hawks. Although probably foolish, my heart wouldn’t let me not get tickets for game 4. They have my support until it’s all over, though I’m honestly not sure they deserve it at this point. Some blue-collar workers save money from their paychecks for weeks to be able to take their families to see the Hawks. It is disrespectful of them to not give the effort the fans deserve. I’m a music artist here in Atlanta and when you have passion for what you do, whether there are 20 people or 20,000 in the crowd, the ones that showed up deserve to see you give your all. “No-show” Joe is NOT worthy of a max contract.
@Vick Supporter…I take it you don’t have your own company b/c you seem to be implying that you would give an employee a raise after they prove they can’t produce during the time it is needed the most…or after they said they don’t care whether your customers patronize your business or not. Not exactly good business. And yes I’m black so let’s please leave race out of this and all comments.
Eric C.
May 9th, 2010
12:27 am
Snowman, as for Mike Woodson…he did a great job getting the Hawks to where they are, but this team should not get blown out in every game while getting swept in the 2nd round. Orlando is better, but not by nearly that much.
Freddy
May 9th, 2010
12:27 am
Johnson QUIT with 10 games left in the season. The guy is a loser. This team is all quiters and have no trust and heart.. The coach is a bum and J. Smith is a PUNK
Vick Supporter
May 9th, 2010
12:28 am
This guy said it best….
http://lonelytailgater.com/uncategorized/those-fairweather-atlanta-sports-fans.html
J.J.M.
May 9th, 2010
12:28 am
lmao i find it funny it takes for the hawks to get beat bad for joe to finaly talk
Athens
May 9th, 2010
12:28 am
That said, bring back Fratello. Where are the Cliff Levingston’s and Kevin Willis’ of the world? Those guys busted their asses every night. Josh Smith and his “athletic ability” hasn’t won s***.