Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media
Some fans had no desire to bring their cheer cards and towels home with them after the game. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Checked StubHub this morning. You can buy playoff tickets for as low as $6 for the Hawks’ likely season exit Monday night against Orlando. Wait a while. They’ll go down.
After all of the progress they’ve made over the past three years, the Hawks woke up as a severely damaged product this morning.
They have lost three games to the Orlando by 87 points. They have suffered the worst home defeat of the season and the worst home playoff loss in franchise history (Saturday’s 105-75 loss). They’re only the fourth team in league history to drop two games in a playoff series by 30 or more points.
Also, Joe Johnson said he doesn’t care if you show up or not.
So what were the national reviews? About what you would expect.
♦
“Joe, do you think you are costing yourself money?” That was the question posed to Joe Johnson after one of the more lackluster playoff performances a supposed max-salary player had played since the term “max-salary player” was added to the NBA lexicon in 1999.
And even more unbelievable than his performance and that of his teammates was Johnson’s answer: “No.”
Let me try to get this straight: In one of the final games this highly talented player will perform in before becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1, Johnson attempted 15 shots, missed 12 of them, was booed repeatedly and loudly and had about as much impact on the outcome as teammate Mario West, who was inactive. Memo to Johnson: Go back and take a look at what the Dow Jones did last Thursday. … Read up on what’s happening with the economic crisis in Greece, where the word “plummet” is being redefined downward with each passing day.
From Tim Povtak of AOL Fanhouse:
The Hawks waited 12 long years to have another 50-win season like this one. Too bad it’s ending in disaster.
It wasn’t worth the wait.
These aren’t growing pains anymore, a young team trying to find its way, a route these Hawks previously traveled. They look more like chemistry issues, a team that comes home for Game 3, and treats its paying customers to the biggest disappointment of the season.
“They deserve to be pissed off. The way we played, the fans deserve to be upset,” said Hawks forward Marvin Williams. “If your team lost by 30 in the playoffs, wouldn’t you be upset? If you get blown out like that, effort is always a factor.”
It’s been a hard and violent fall for Johnson and Atlanta the last few weeks, squeezing out a 7-game series against the Bucks, then enduring an ongoing Dwightmare in the Eastern Conference semifinals. And when they finally reach bottom with a splat, the pieces of their once-promising season could scatter and blow away.
Meaning, coach Mike Woodson, on the final year of his contract, will not be invited back. Same for Johnson, a free agent this summer, especially after insulting the fans as well as his team with poor play in this post-season. Losing by 43 in Game 1 was more graceful than refusing to compete at home in Game 3, bowing out by 30. Swiftly and suddenly, the Hawks went from soaring to sulking, from being admired to being disgraced.
But the demise of the Hawks actually began against the undermanned Bucks. Being taken to the limit by a team missing its best player wasn’t a good reflection on Woodson. Whether true or not, it gave the appearance the Bucks were better coached and prepared.
You’d think that a coach who takes a team to the second round of the playoffs would be safe, but there are mitigating circumstances. First, Woodson is not general manager Rick Sund’s coach; Sund inherited Woodson when he took over for Billy Knight. Secondly, this Hawks team has raised many questions, and not just because it lost all three of these games by double digits and two of the three by at least 30 points. These problems started in the first round, after two dominating wins over Milwaukee was followed by three straight losses and forced Atlanta to win two life-or-death games in order to advance. Whether these issues are Woodson-related or chemistry-related are for Sund to answer, but they certainly are present, probably the reason the circumspect Sund has not given Woodson a contract extension.
From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel:
This was not a basketball game so much as it was a funeral march. The only thing missing from the pre-game introductions was a lone bugler playing Taps as the Magic carried a coffin draped in a Hawks banner out to midcourt.
This was no coliseum; it was a mausoleum, a place where NBA atmosphere comes to die.
You call this place an NBA playoff basketball crowd. It looked more like a WNBA midseason crowd.
“It’s no wonder that Gone With the Wind author [Margaret] Mitchell was born in Atlanta: Frankly, my dear, this city doesn’t give a damn about the Hawks. And the feeling seems to be mutual.
The Hawks made a statement to everybody.
Just the wrong one.
There wasn't much reason for anybody to hold up their head. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
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213 comments Add your comment
ATL
May 9th, 2010
6:36 pm
2 PLAYERS. 1ST TRADE JOE JOHNSON ,MARVIN WILLIAMS, BIBBY AND CASH FOR DWAYNE WADE. 2ND TRADE JOSH SMITH AND AND IF WE HAVE TWO JAMAL CRAWORD TO RAPTORS FOR CHRIS BOSH. YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME TO GET THE BEST OUT THERE. WE CAN PICK UP ANOTHER SIX MAN AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES OUT THERE. NEXT STOP FINALS…….
BosnianBaller
May 9th, 2010
6:41 pm
nobody was at the game b/c people are sick and tired of these crappy teams in atlanta.all these teams suck why should we spend our money in this recession on crap.Don’t get me wrong I’m a die hard Hawks,braves,and falcons fan but all are teams always suck.I’m sick of the cubs crying about having no championships.They had the Bears in the 80’s and Jordan in the 90’s what the hell does atlanta have 95 braves.All are teams if they are good they end up choking in the playoffs or playing like vaginas(hawks).case closed.
whatever
May 9th, 2010
6:48 pm
Serious question that hopefully someone out there can answer: If the Hawks let Joe go, how much money will we have available to spend on other free agents? I don’t think that we can sign someone from another team to a max contract, but I could be wrong about that. Would love it if someone can help clarify.
Gwinnett Fred
May 9th, 2010
6:49 pm
ATL-
Have to give you credit – I haven’t seen as stupid a comment in quite some time.
You want to please explain how we can trade a player we don’t have the rights to after the season (J.Johnson) and in return get players (Bosh & Wade) that are unrestricted free agents too and their former team has to nights to??
Seriously, if you’re going to post (especially in all caps), please don’t bring attention that you do not have a clue as to what you are talking about – AND ARE SO GLAD TO SHOW HOW STUPID YOU ARE – YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harpie
May 9th, 2010
7:09 pm
Mike Woodson is the one who ruined Joe Johnson’s game. If Joe gets a chance to play with a coach who knows what he’s doing, he will rise again…
a.w
May 9th, 2010
7:16 pm
FANS, FANS, FANS. I AM SO SORRY THAT U GUYS SPEND UR MONEY GOIN’ TO A HAWKS GAME YESTERDAY. PLEASE. THIS TEAM IS A JOKE. THEIR MAKIN’ THE CITY OF ATLANTA LOOK BAD. THIS IS AN INDICATION. PLEASE BE WISE ABOUT SPENDING YOUR MONEY DOING SOMETHING MORE REASONABLE. SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH GETTING A JOY OUT OF. THIS ATLANTA HAWKS TEAM IS A JOKE. VERY PITIFUL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED.
a.w
May 9th, 2010
7:19 pm
ATL. THE FIRST TRADE SOUNDS NICE. BUT THE 2ND ONE DOESNT MAKE ANY SINCE. J.SMOOVE AND J.CRAWFORD ACTUALLY PLAYS HARD ALMOST EVERY GAME. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE POTENTIAL. KEEP THOSE, BUT DO THE FIRST TRADE IF MONEY PERMITS
Matt the Brave
May 9th, 2010
7:24 pm
Ok, Braves fans booed David Justice and he hit the game-winning homer. Fans boo Joe Johnson, he says he doesn’t give a crap. Too bad.
Stanisyourdaddy
May 9th, 2010
7:41 pm
THIS IS YOUR TEAM ATL????
I would move….
RT
May 9th, 2010
7:57 pm
dump joe johnson now!
crackbaby
May 9th, 2010
7:59 pm
Sorry (above)
Hawks are a good team. Orlando may be a great team. The Magic could win it all this year. So, perhaps the Hawks have improved. Last year they were swept by the second best team in the East. This year, 50+ wins and a lopsided series loss to the eventual Champs?
Folks, we are all disappointed (at least those who are Hawks fans). Joe Johnson is a really good player. Not a max money player but if he could be the second best player on your team, that would be enviable. He’s a very good defender in addition to being a very good scorer. He’s not Kobe / LeBron level and never will be. The Hawks are very soft mentally and also physically – this series has made that glaringly apparent. Get tough and get serious.
For the future, how about:
For sure Keepers – Horford, Josh, Jamal
Deal or dump – Marvin (why doesn’t anybody mention what a huge under achiever MW is?), Bibby, Mo Evans.
Via draft, trades or free agency, get -
1) Chris Bosh, or the best available inside scorer/defender
2) a point guard who is ultra quick, can drive with boths hands, and can defend (a la Brandon Jennings or Ty Lawson) and
3)a serviceable 7′ center.
Send Coach Woodson on his way. Nothing personal, he rebuilt the franchise but is unable to get the team to the elite level. Thanks for the ride, Woody.
See if Joe Johnson fits the plan and budget. If not, adios.
Figure out whether the rest of the fellas fit the new mold – Pachulia, Teague, etc.
See ya Monday night. go hawks.
Zach
May 9th, 2010
8:00 pm
If I’m Joe Johnson I’m blaming myself for that awesome (the bad kind of awesome) performance and not the fans. Who, honestly disses the fans after that performance on national tv? Have some class Joe. I don’t care if you’re upset. Clearly we’re all upset as well.
BosnianBaller
May 9th, 2010
8:00 pm
whatever- If joe leaves we don’t have 80 mil waiting for a new guy b/c we have more money tied up to other players.Let’s say the cap is 60 mil(i’m not sure what the nba cap is) we can go over the cap by re-signing our guys,but if we are at 59 mil and joe leaves then we only have a mil to spend.We can sign and trade Joe or just re-sign him.
Teams that are over the cap don’t sign free agents unless it’s a sign and trade.
jake
May 9th, 2010
8:01 pm
joe johnson had a bad game…. think all the good he has done!!! joe got this team to this level. yall some back stabbing fans…
rusty
May 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
jj was so stupid & foolish. the team went out of the way to bring him in for a huge amount of money,he could have paid that loyality back by signing for 70 mil/4 years. he put the team & him self in a lousy situation because of greed & ego. it is obvious that he cant take the pressure. woody has never helped him or the team by letting joe play iso joe
RT
May 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
Hawks need a true number 1,a star, a leader Joe Johnson is nether.
Chris G.
May 9th, 2010
8:05 pm
Out with Joe, Josh, and Woody and in with Dirk, Wade, and Avery Johnson. Instant contenders with a ton of heart
Chris G.
May 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
I will throw in Marvin too
Chris G.
May 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
Out with Marvin and resign Childress
Mr.Wrestling#4
May 9th, 2010
8:07 pm
Joe Johnson is 6-7 and can BARRRRRELY dunk.
Thank God his mediocre greedy ass didn’t sign the offer sheet that he didn’t deserve anyway when he could’ve.
Enjoy NYC, making less than that where the boos will be louder!
Moron.
Jeff Schultz
May 9th, 2010
8:16 pm
I posted this on the previous blog and I’m posting it again here: I want no mention of black, white, race, thugs, no thugs, etc., on this blog, or I will be forced to closed commenting. Thanks. JS.
Mama Says
May 9th, 2010
8:18 pm
The hawks are fine ! Before you guys start slamming me hear me out. The Hawks are obviously outmatched in the Orlando series, playing as hard as they might would not be enough. Howard is a force, a shot blocker and a shot changer, a dominate center-pure and simple. Ever team in the NBA has had major problems playing against him. So lets state the obvious problem first–the Hawks have to have a big dominating center ! This small factor would have made the Hawks a 60 win team and they would have been at home at least the 1st and 2nd rounds of the playoffs. Secondly and most obvious—the Hawks just have no energy. They are the Braves prior to Fred McGriff, The Falcons prior to, dare I say it, Michael Vick. One player can impact a team–the Hawks may have solved both issues by going out and getting a big center with an attitude. They still can it just may take trading Josh Smith to get him.
Sluggo
May 9th, 2010
8:42 pm
I think it’s fine for the Hawks fans to be upset with the blowout losses but in reality the Hawks are right where they should be. This team is not to the level talent-wise where it’s realistic to advance past the second round. Teams that win titles have great players. The Hawks do not have any great players. They have some really good players and that’s what really good players can do for a team. That is, get it to the second round. The last time I looked, Lebron was not wearing a Hawks jersey, neither was Koby, Steve Nash, Shaq, Garnett or Pierce, etc. Since Dominique the Hawks have never had a GREAT player. One that makes everyone around him better and hits big shots in big games. Wasn’t it Cliff Levingston that ended up with the final shot back in the late ’80’s in the Omni when the Hawks were up 3-2 in their series with the Celtics? To me, that about sums up Hawks post-season basketball. Go out, spend the money and get a great player to build around and move into the upper echelon of the NBA or be happy with Joe Johnson and a team that’s good enough to reach the second round.
Gwinnett Fred
May 9th, 2010
8:43 pm
Still wondering why folks are so down on Marvin Williams.
Was it HIS fault he was taken over Paul?? NOOOOOO
Was it HIS fault he was offered a huge deal to re-up?? NOOOOO
So that makes it really kind of hard to fault him for not being a better player.
At least he acts like a professional, unlike J-J-J-J-Just get the hell out of here Joe Johnson, which only point I’d like to point out is that I could care less if he wants fans to show up, but when I pay good money – I SURE AS HELL EXPECT HIM TO SHOW UP AND PLAY!
JSS
May 9th, 2010
8:48 pm
Oh Jeff Schultz, let it go, it is what defines the Atlanta sports, political, cultural and social landscape… Trying to make it otherwise is fruitless…
Rikki
May 9th, 2010
8:52 pm
JSS is correct.
Jeff Schultz
May 9th, 2010
8:52 pm
Rev. Al — You’re out.
Jeff Schultz
May 9th, 2010
8:57 pm
JSS — If I thought commentors could have a rational social debate, free of race-baiting, I’d consider letting it go. But I know otherwise, and so do you.
JSS
May 9th, 2010
9:03 pm
@Gwinnett Fred
Atlanta fans personalize their dislike… They did it to Rico Carty, Randy Johnson, Deion Sanders, Jon Koncak, Hubie Brown, Mike Fratello, Brad Komminisk, David Justice, Daniel Brouchard, Chris Reistma, Brad Clontz, Darrell Evans, Rick Mahler, Rolland Lawrence, Chan Gailey, Jim Donnan and Martin Luther King, Jr. & on and on… It is a Atlanta character flaw…
JSS
May 9th, 2010
9:09 pm
@Jeff Schultz…
I always warn you about the slippery path that is Atlanta… I miss it every time I leave… It’s been a banner year for you; first Waddell and now Woodson & Johnson… What else will there be for you to opine about besides that Tuesday thing?
Fred
May 9th, 2010
9:16 pm
Have you noticed how when a well coached team like the Spurs or Celtics have a time out or quarter break, the players come to sideline and look at the coach and seem to listen to what he is saying. Not the Hawks, they walk to sideline like a bunch of street punks and look off into space. Get a coach that demands their attention or keep on looking like a bunch of street punks.
stachemoney22
May 9th, 2010
9:26 pm
Hire Byron Scott!
Woodys No Goody
May 9th, 2010
9:30 pm
At the end of the day, this team is still headed in the right direction,” Woodson said Sunday. “If we can bring Joe back and hopefully I’m able to stay, we can complete the process we started six years ago. If we can add a couple of more pieces, good pieces, then anything can happen. I sure hope they don’t go back the other way and bust it up.
If I have ever seen desperation – this is it. How about NO Woody! Six years was plenty of time to prove this core belonged together and you be their coach. Fourth place in the east was not the goal for this season. (God I hope not!) I guess if they give you another three years we will be number two at this pace? No ones buying it anymore so C-Ya!
Hawks Fan
May 9th, 2010
9:39 pm
Go jump off a bridge Joe. My grandson got more guts than yo punk ass. You got the nerve to blame the fans? Please take gutless Woody with you. Please bring a coach in here with some attitude.
JSS
May 9th, 2010
9:55 pm
Be forewarned, what didn’t you people learn from imploding a team in 1999? I’m reconciled with the fact that Woodson and Johnson will no longer be with this franchise. This is a performance relationship field. Once you reach this level, that is the benchmark. However, I’ll be damned if I’m going through another one of those strip it to the skeleton rebuilds. Go ask the Knicks where that gets you?
Kew
May 9th, 2010
10:12 pm
I agree with you JSS – I don’t want to go through another rebuild with this team. I say remove a couple of pieces and go from there.
Notch Johnson
May 9th, 2010
11:16 pm
If I’m going to pay six dollars for Black Loafers, I’ll go to K-MART!!!!
Gatorman
May 9th, 2010
11:41 pm
Look the Hawks is Joe Johnson’s first team and it won’t be his last. He got this false believe that he’s one of the 3 or 4 best players in the NBA, when in reality, he isn’t even one of the best 10. 53 wins is a lot of improvement for the Hawks (4th best in the east), but the Joe Johnson’s are not championship players. Lebron James is one of those players, who makes all of the players on his team play better, but Joe Johnson is not.
Not Drinking the Kool Aid
May 9th, 2010
11:55 pm
First, it is amazing how many people come on this hawks blog and you never here comments from them until Joe and Woody make these comments after getting blowed out in the third game of the second round of the playoffs. I have been stating all season dating back to last summer that M. Bibby should have never been resigned and Woody should have been let go. Watching the Spurs play tonight, I see a team that is old but still competes and fights with plenty of effort, why not the Hawks, one word – coaching; another good deal would be to trade Joe and Jeff Teague for George Hill, excellent point guard for the Spurs, and Manu Ginobili. Start Manu or J. Crawford and start George Hill at the point. Draft or find a big man through free agency. Hire a good coach. All of you guys talking about getting D-Wade can forget it. Not coming here, 1st he lives in South Beach and hangs out with a lot of famous people, totally different atmosphere than Atlanta. 2nd he has an owner with deep pockets who will spend money to win, something we lack. 3rd he has Pat Riley at the helm of his organization, look at the heads of our organization, enough said.
CrazyDiamond
May 10th, 2010
12:02 am
My prayers will be answered if Mr Sund is able to act in the best interests of this team by the Atlanta Spirit ownweship and pulls off some bold moves, many of them mentioned in this blog. Woody, JJ, Josh Smith …
Otherwise, we are so screwed, ’cause we need bold moves, not just a tweak here and there. The Hawk’s problems are not due to anyone’s criticism of the team or the fans in a blog.
Steve
May 10th, 2010
12:05 am
When:
1) Your ownership is spending 8m per year less on players than the next lowest paid playoff team, and
2) You draft Shelden Williams at no.6 and Acie Law at no.11 in the draft, and
3) Let another no. 6 draft pick go to Europe – It is amazing the Hawks are this good!
And too those who make up trade scenarios of Bibby to somebody – at 6mill. a year for the next 2 years, nobody is going to take him unless it is sign and realease or something of that nature. We’re stuck with him mentoring Teague – not a bad role however.
MadMan
May 10th, 2010
12:07 am
Trade your 2010 1st round draft pick, Let, J. Johnson & Woody go. Try and get Avery Johnson here to coach and use the extra money to get a top notch free agent like Dirk Norwinski, Chris Bosh, or D. Wade.
MadMan
May 10th, 2010
12:18 am
What will be Atl’s draft position in the draft next year? Who’s a possible but decent center coming out of college to fill the 5 spot to get our current players in their natural positions?
Orlando Magic News & Notes: Magic Eye Sweep | Howard the Dunk | An Orlando Magic Blog
May 10th, 2010
1:03 am
[...] The Hawks are getting hammered by the national media. Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution runs down those stories here. [...]
athdogs
May 10th, 2010
1:25 am
This is like the 70’s with the Hawks, Braves and Flames all horrible. Maybe the Thrashers will move, as did the Flames. Maybe the Hawks will move, too. It’s the NBA, it’s not that big a deal. Maybe the Braves will show the fans just how little they care, and let Bobby coach the entire year. Any other franchise would let him go midseason, regardless of how good his teams were half a decade ago. Tom Landry, Dan Reeves in Denver, Joe Torre in New York, etc…his teams have been various shades of awful for four years now. It’s time for a change.
Woodys No Goody
May 10th, 2010
1:53 am
Someone just paid me on Stubhub to take their Hawks tickets. Ha!
jc_dawgs
May 10th, 2010
3:11 am
The best offensive player on the team is Joe Johnson.
The best defensive player on the team is Josh Smith.
BUT…and here is where the problem with this team lies….THEY ARE QUITTERS.
when the going gets tough….they quit. They are very unprofessional and unfortunately for Mike Woodson….he is inept at trying to coach these 2 players. Oh sure they are incredibly talented and when things go there way…they are great to watch and they can easily lead a team to 53 wins. BUT…when things get tough…like on the road where the opposing team elevates its game…Smith and Johnson refuse to give the extra effort to meet the adversity head on. They are lazy and mentally weak.
So who’s fault is it? I dont think Woodson is a bad coach. He just lacks the ability to reach players like Smith and Johnson…who have piss poor mental attitudes about the game of basketball.
Please….get rid of Johnson and Smith and then….lets rebuild as best we can with what we still have. I would rather go 29-53 and lose with heart than go 53-29 and see a gutless and historically bad playoff performance like the one we are having to endure.
These guys make millions…they are living the dream. At some point…they need to give back and display a positive mental approach to the game that has so generously rewarded them.
Jeff
May 10th, 2010
6:20 am
I think JJ and some of the other Hawks have forgotten who actually pays their salaries.
Josh must go
May 10th, 2010
7:31 am
time to trade Josh while his value is up. he will never grow up as long as he is in Atl with all his homies. he needs to go to another city where he will not have all his hangers on telling him how great he is . he needs to go to another city where he can GROW UP and stop crying and whining and pouting and just stfu and do his dam job.
Paddy
May 10th, 2010
7:50 am
You paid $85 to watch a NBA game!!!!! You must have a ton of money and no good place to spend it. And worse yet it was the Hawks, where the players don’t care if you come to the game and the ownership is broke and looking to bail-out. Sounds like fun to me. Give me that sharp stick, I want to jab it into my eye.