Hawks make quick exit against Magic, and change is needed
Josh Smith drifted too often. Joe Johnson had a dreadful postseason. It's no wonder the Hawks are out of the playoffs after getting swept by Orlando. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
They tried a little harder. Maybe that will count for something when the front office looks at game tape and tries to determine who should stay, who should go, who looked like the only thing that really mattered was direct deposit.
They tried a little harder. A little late, guys.
There has been a sense of inevitability in this series since the Hawks looked comatose in Game 2, getting outscored 28-10 in the second quarter, 32-11 in the third and – well, everybody pretty much stopped paying attention after that.
That’s a problem. Playing in a home arena with empty seats and empty hopes, the Hawks lost to Orlando 98-84 on Monday night. That’s a wrap.
You were thinking if the Hawks played well, they could win one or two games in this series. If things went really well, maybe they could stretch Orlando to seven games.
Instead what you got was Orlando in seven days.
The Magic won by spreads of 43, 14, 30 and 14 points – an average of 25.2. That’s worse than the average 18-point margin in Cleveland’s four-game sweep in the second round last year. In fact, that’s the biggest deficit in NBA playoff history for a four-game sweep.
Mike Woodson was outcoached in both playoff series. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Forget the 53-29 record. Does 25.2 sound like progress?
Al Horford gets it. He’s one of the few on this team who gets it. Horford ripped into teammates for their lack of effort following the 105-75 loss in Game 3, when the Hawks should have played with desperation. He didn’t back off Monday.
“We had high
One fan spoke for many with this sign about Joe Johnson (who averaged only 10 points in the series). (Curtis Compton/AJC)
expectations,” he said. “We wanted to be the three seed and we felt things would be a little different matching up with them. But it didn’t work that way for us.”
What was the difference?
“Just watch and see [Orlando’s] level of intensity that they played with. That defines their team. They’re a championship caliber team. Just take that in and play like that for next season.
“It takes a whole lot of effort. It’s almost to the point where you have to make yourself feel uncomfortable out there. We didn’t have that this year. With some of our guys when fatigue set in, everybody kind of shied away from it.”
There’s your perfect post-game wrap-up.
Not hard to guess who's moving on in the playoffs. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Coach Mike Woodson, despite a 53-win regular season, seemed to lose his players’ attention.
Joe Johnson, despite a fourth straight All-Star appearance, seemed to lose any great desire to earn the respect of this city or his teammates.
Josh Smith, the occasional flash of brilliance, seemed to lose his way.
After so much improvement over the past few years, the Hawks just took a significant step back. They suffered of the most embarrassing playoff exits in Atlanta pro sports history. Good luck to general manager Rick Sund and Atlanta Spirit owners as they try to figure out which team is closer to reality – the team that won 53 games or the one that showed significant character and chemistry flaws in this postseason.
The Magic shot 74 percent in the first quarter and led by 11. That lead grew to 17 in the third quarter. The Hawks didn’t quit this time. They got it back to nine before the fourth. But when the Magic opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, it was over.
Johnson was booed early in the game. Atlanta sports’ newest home villain said following Game 3 that he didn’t care if fans showed up or not. He repeated his own no-show act in Game 4. He made only 5 of 15 and finished with 14 points. In four games, Johnson went 17 for 57 (29.8 percent), with scoring totals of 10, 19, 8 and 14 (average: 12.7).
There’s a difference between being embarrassed and being disappointed. Losing a playoff series is disappointing. Losing playoff games by lopsided margins because of lack of effort is embarrassing. That’s not about talent. It’s about character, chemistry and coaching.
If ownership and Sund don’t make a coaching change, they basically are saying that getting pushed to the brink of elimination by an undermanned Milwaukee team in round one and getting waxed by a combined 87 points in three games against Orlando in round two was an aberration.
The bet here is they’ll decide otherwise. Woodson will be gone.
Woodson hasn’t endeared himself to the masses. The fan base is split on him. The players hardly leave the impression that they’re playing for his future employment.
This must is certain: The postseason shouldn’t have ended with such a bitter taste. Something has to change.
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Tweets that mention Hawks make quick exit against Orlando, change is a must | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
May 11th, 2010
12:43 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ReidAdair, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Hawks make quick exit against Magic, and change is needed http://bit.ly/aGF7bZ [...]
Frustrated Atlanta Sports Fan
May 11th, 2010
12:43 am
As the final buzzer sounded tonight I felt as though it was not only the end of the season but the true ending to the Billy Knight assembled Hawks team. Aside from Rick Sund’s acquisitions of Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague, Joe Smith, and Mo Evans, the major pieces of this team including the coach was assembled by the one and only Billy Knight. I think tonight proved that his thought process for building a team was dead wrong. I believe there will and SHOULD be a lot of changed this off season. Woodson should be gone for the simple fact that he can’t even get his team to show up during the playoffs. He has had to explain after more than a handful of games this season that his team was unprepared and didn’t show up. That is unacceptable when it happens so frequently with the Hawks. Not to mention that he may be one of the worst offensive minded coaches in the game today.
Joe Johnson will be gone. If that is the case, then so be it. He is a phenomenal player but not a bonafide superstar. The more and more I watch NBA games these days, in order to win the shiny trophy at the end of the season, you really need that superstar on your roster to take over or at least rally the team to put forth a fight. The Hawks don’t have that at this time.
I think that only way the Hawks get over this hump and become an elite team with the potential to win a championship is for us to take a few steps back. It means we will lose Joe. We build around Horford, he is the only one on the team to step up and take a leadership role on this team. It is going to take us having a few losing seasons again and falling back to the lottery. This is where Atlanta’s trend of drafting players that turn out to be busts must end (not counting Horford). For Atlanta to get over the hump, we are going to have to get lucky and draft the next superstar because lets face it, no superstar is going to come to Atlanta in free agency.
The Hawks have been fun to watch the past three years and making the playoffs was great for the city but it’s time for a change. We need a major roster shake-up to cleanse the Billy Knight mistakes. I do trust Rick Sund but it is going to be a rough road the next few years.
Good luck. I will be watching.
AGC
May 11th, 2010
12:44 am
Woody runs no offensive sets. The isolation to Joe where he dribbles out the clock, while the other 4 players stand in the corner, no movement, no cutting is as aggravating as any team I have seen. The complete lack of adjustments on either end shows Woody to be out to lunch. For the life of me
i can’t figure out why one of the best minds in Bball, Larry Brown, has stuck up for Woody and contends he is a good coach as I have seen know evidence to support such claims.
While I don’t like Joes comments, it was in a time of frustration and those things happen. I dont believe he is worth max money but would like to have him re-signed. Coaching is where this team needs the most help.
Loserville
May 11th, 2010
12:47 am
The ballots are counted—Atlanta, after failed seasons for the braves, falcons, thrashers and hawks is officially once again the winner of the prestigious award in pro sports: LOSERVILLE!!!!!!!
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
12:50 am
JVG can get this team to the title series, hire him the pieces are here:
1. Joe johnson – do not re sign, frees up money to make an offer to d wade
2. draft d. cousins from kentucky 1st round
3. find a big 7ft center in the other rounds, horford still at center but another 7 center to come off the bench
4. mo evans, joe smith needs to go, carl landry is a good free agent signing, w. tony allen
But if we do not resign Joe J. then we have to pick a player at his caliber to play two guard.
Jeff Van Gundy will figure it out if hes signed. the Hawks are almost there just need a little tweaking, Josh Smith is an awesome player waiting to be molded by the right coach
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
12:52 am
Woodson looks lost sometimes against better coaches in the league, thats why he needs to go
jackie
May 11th, 2010
12:53 am
joe,marvin and bibby are soft as ice cream.
3DawgKnight
May 11th, 2010
12:54 am
Feel free to copy any of mine that you wish for tomorrow AM.
(1) Do not re-sign Wdsn:
Choices – Mike buenholzer, Tom Thibodeau, Steve Smith,
or J.Van Gundy +(Doc’s contract expires) gage his interest?
(2) See how high Josh’s trade value is and if Hawks can
upgrade a position of need [pt./center] through trade.
(3) Ship Bibby’s contract off for anything of value,
even a bad contract, to get him out of the locker rm.
(4) Sign a lower level free agent or two:
list – Redick, Lowry, Bonner, Mason, guy’s who can
actually come off the bench & contribute.
(5) Bring back Childress. High basketball IQ + euro league exp.
(6) Adopt a team philosophy, top to bottom:
Develop smart players who play hard and with heart & passion
every time they step on the floor. Continue developing a team
that enjoys playing together and for each other.
* Sorry my plan had six steps!
# 6 should have been # 1.
JSS
May 11th, 2010
12:56 am
Van Gundy could not get of the 1st Round with Yao, McGrady and Battier… Sure, he’ll get it figured out against Lebron or Dwight Howard…
Wayne stuck in AL
May 11th, 2010
12:56 am
From Bleacher Report:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/390380-10-reasons-atlanta-hawks-joe-johnson-is-not-a-superstar#page/1
Orlando Magic News & Notes: | Howard the Dunk | An Orlando Magic Blog
May 11th, 2010
12:56 am
[...] You can find that story here. [...]
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
12:57 am
Yea Atlanta’s pro sports are really bad now, I can remember in my teen years when I was in Atlanta and fulton county staduim was free to get in after the 6th inning, we used to wait outside until around that time and then sit almost behind the dugout. thats when the braves were lucky to win 30 games a season. Man Atlanta really needs one of these franchises to get their act together and bring a championship to the city. even the lowly saints got one,???
Monroe T
May 11th, 2010
12:57 am
The hawks just need a real scorer like D-Wade to get the final piece. They need to pay Joe Johnson max money, since they will need experience next year. With a good draft the hawks can make some noise next year in the playoffs.
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
12:59 am
Well I live in houston and the main reason was because of one guy T Mac(the primadonna). He was a virus, it took the guts of Rick Adelman to persade upper management to bench him and let him go.
DASHIZZ
May 11th, 2010
1:01 am
PISSED!!!!!!!!!! the Hawks overachieved! They aren’t that good…….tell ownership to spend money & get an Amarie & a pure 3pt. shooter to go with what we have now……don’t trash the team because of 1 bad series! Spend the money & get another all-star……bring back J-Chill…& find a pure 3pt shooter like a JJ Reddick….to much one on one & to much damn dribbling from Joe & Crawford, trade Marvin. The Hawks wont see 53 win for a few years if you trash Joe & Coach…….Doug Collins isnt the answer, I promise you that! Real talk…….
JSS
May 11th, 2010
1:03 am
could not get out of the 1st round by the way…
No id
May 11th, 2010
1:06 am
Lol @ all these trade proposals and Dwayne Wade dreams..not gonna happen..If anything Woodson has coached his last game here..The ASG is not gonna blow the team up! They will do everything in there power to resign Johnson but not for max dollars. There needs to be change but not major change..We need more depth outside of just Crawford coming of the bench and we need a coach who has more than one offensive play and demands the most out of there players..I understand ppl are upset but come on, some of these roster changes yall are coming up with are not gonna happen..This offseason is where Sund needs to go to work.
Unreal
May 11th, 2010
1:08 am
This is how the hawks should look next season.
C – Blake Griffin
Pf- Al Horford
Sf- Rudy Gay
Sg- Monta Ellis or Kevin Martin
Pg- Ricky Rubio
No more Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin and Bibby
Bye old era, and hello new one!
Hairy Dawg
May 11th, 2010
1:08 am
We got to get better players with less stinkys. They need trade in block wood head to get coach that winning. Until mgt get serious with winning and no more stinkys then we need fixed team with talents.
PISSED!!!!!!!!
May 11th, 2010
1:10 am
Dashizz!!! You are right, the Hawks were not quite as good as some would had predicted, they gave several people many doubts at times during the regular season, especially in the 4th quarter… some of us have ACTUALLY wrote ownership on several occasions, during the last SEVERAL years… think they are listening? Not saying that they were not, but I would be surprise if they actually gave a crap… And oh yeah, did you watch the Cav series last year? Better yet, the Bucks series this year? The Hawks have had WAY MORE than just one BAD SERIES….I also agree with you that there is WAY TOO MUCH Joe and Crawford One on One ball, too much dibbling, lack of strategy and adjustments by the coach, the list goes on…. not sure what the conditioning was like at practice, but it obviously wasn’t working…. if the Hawks can sacrifice another 50 + win season in order to build up a great franchise, then I for one says GO FOR IT!!!!
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
1:13 am
JSS = Mike Woodson
JSS
May 11th, 2010
1:13 am
@Houston Dawg…
That was regular season, that team never showed up in 3 first round series and was outcoached in each one….
Adelman had his job made easy when Tracy went down for all of the 08-09 season and they finally realized what their role players were supposed to do… And having a hustle freak like Scola didn’t hurt either… But the league caught on to the bit this year and they were just above .500…
Aaron
May 11th, 2010
1:14 am
Assuming we don’t give JJ the max, we still don’t have enough money to go after Wade, Lebron, or Bosh. We just HAD to offer Bibby and Zaza multi year contracts. I am no expert on the salary cap thing, but if we could buy them out, then MAYBE we would have enough for Wade or Bosh, neither of whom have ever mentioned coming here in the first place.
We have to keep Josh and Horford, and get rid of Woodson. Teague showed promise at some points. Williams needs to go. I say start over around Josh and Horford, and try to draw Amare or Gay or someone here.
Jeff D.
May 11th, 2010
1:14 am
Quick note DASHIZZ, one of the swept teams has won four championships and another has been in the Finals twice.
RJ34711
May 11th, 2010
1:15 am
From a Magic fan. A true center and some desire! Also, the only true outside shooter that scared the Magic was Crawford. Horford should be playing the 4. As for your coach? There are only so many things you can do in a short amount of time. What he didn’t do was lead this team!
Good luck, there is some good young talent there. Build around Horford, Smith and Crawford.
S Hawk Fan
May 11th, 2010
1:16 am
Great article Jeff!!! However, I do disagree with you saying that the fans are split on Woody! In everything that has been put on the internet and what I hear at the games….. it is not even close! 90% of the fans are against him staying!
The Hawks are sad and it starts with Woody!
Unreal
May 11th, 2010
1:17 am
Enter your comments here
Sandlapper
May 11th, 2010
1:18 am
Nothing can stop us…nothing can stop us…nothing can stop us we’re Atlanta’s Air FARCE!!!!!
JSS
May 11th, 2010
1:25 am
@Houston Dawg…
You are out of your frakken mind calling me Mike Woodson… At least I know Jeff Van Gundy is NOT an answer for an NBA team anymore, maybe to replace Boheim when he hangs up the matchup zone at the ‘Cuse…
Unreal
May 11th, 2010
1:25 am
anyone knows if we can get blake griffin, Kevin martin and ricky rubio with josh smith, Marvin and Joe Johnson? I sure hope so.
Joe must go
May 11th, 2010
1:28 am
There are no words for the dislike that I have for this team. How dare a player disrespects a team when he only gives us 50% effort. ISO Joe must go!!! Coaching must be improved. I’d like to see Byron Scott or Avery Johnson come in here and provide some motivation and coaching. A coach that can provide a positive identity to our offensive AND defensive strategy. Watching these playoffs made me sick!!!!!! I’ve been living here all my life and I’ve never seen a professional team play with no heart, no pride, no enthusiasm, no character, no anger, and no love for the game. We love basketball here in Atlanta, and we don’t deserve to see such immaturity and lack of passion for the game. Someone please do something or else, I’ll have to concede and become a Cavs fan.
DASHIZZ
May 11th, 2010
1:31 am
Jeff D- your correct, each team had 2 or more superstar’s! Robinson, Duncan & Elliott………Mailman, Stockton, Hornacek……All maybe HOF’ers……who does the Hawks have on that level?…….No one, you have to spend money to make money! Kobe needed help Lakers went out & got Gasol. Dwight got Vince Carter & a healthy Jameer! Cavs got Lebron, Shaq & Jamerson & the year Boston won they went and got Paul P help by getting Ray Allen & Garnet….Joe Johnson & Cawford isn’t going to get it with Horford playing out of position………….sorry dude! What did you expect? Did you really think the Hawks were going to the championship………Wow, stop kidding yourself & wake up! Yes, they got blown by a team that might win it all……….Spend some money & get a real superstar, Joe’s good but not yet a superstar!
houstondawg
May 11th, 2010
1:33 am
Like I said JSS = Mike Woodson or his relative or friend, you choose, regardless we need a better coach, doesnt have to be JVG, but someone that knows how to coach players to a higher level and not get outcoached.
Sorry Woody but you had your chance.
T Bone
May 11th, 2010
1:34 am
Hire Jeff Van Gundy…maybe he can outcoach his brother! Seriously though, the Hawks obviously need to fire Coach Woodson. Although I didn’t expect the Hawks to win this series, I certainly didn’t expect them to get dominated in every facet like they did. I still think they have a some great young players to build around(Horford, Smith & Williams. As for Joe Johnson, he had a great run with the Hawks. However, all great things must come to an end. It’s unfortunate that Johnson won’t be remembered for helping turn around a Hawks franchise that was terrible for more than a decade. However, when you are the star player on a team and perform they way that he did for the last 7 games of the playoffs, you have dug your own grave. Star players don’t disappear the way Johnson did. Maybe they have 1 or 2 bad games, but not 7 in a row. The real question is, how much money did that guy just cost him with free agency just around the corner?
Joe must go
May 11th, 2010
1:40 am
Oh yeah Jeff, I know a lot of people in Atlanta, and none of them says keep Woodson. Everybody is saying he must go. 50/50 is a little generous.
Jeff P
May 11th, 2010
1:41 am
As an ATL fan that is now relocated to the west coast, I am embarrassed by this series loss but frankly this was as far as this team could go. Dump Woodson as he never really got along with mgt.
I still think the play is to get Bosh so that you have an inside/outside threat that can matchup with Orlando because that is the team you couldn’t matchup against more than any this year.
It all starts from the top down and frankly the Falcons are the only pro franchise in town that really has it all together.
It will be an interesting summer, but all the fantasies of D Wade, etc. have to be tempered, but I would also say don’t blow up the entire team as you still can build long term around Horford, J Smith (with the right coach) and Crawford.
JSS
May 11th, 2010
1:47 am
@IdrinkBPBayouwaterandithascloudedmybraindawg
I wrote my epitaph for Woodson after game 2, so nowhere can it be said I’m here trying to save a dead coach walking, get your crap straight… This team doesn’t need a retread, the fan base is imploding as much as the team did over the past 2 series. There are too many good assistants out there who know what they are doing for that mess… Shoot, go get Brian Shaw off of the Lakers or Tyrone Corbin from the Jazz… Who knows where Scott Brooks was coaching before he was given the reigns in OKC? I do, do you?
J
May 11th, 2010
1:48 am
sing and Trad Chris Bosh is a free agent. Put him at the 5 let Horford play his true spot the 4 and Josh the 3 that front lone would have a millions blocks and rebounds per game. We could use Joe in the trede let crawford start and bring in a shooter for when the double teams come down low. That will brind the trophy to the A.
Baker
May 11th, 2010
1:53 am
First of all, I think the Joe Johnson comments about the fans were mis-interpreted and perhaps a case of media trying to add some drama to a situation. I think he meant he tries to focus on the game and cannot worry about the fans in the stands.
Second, PLEASE DO NOT blow up this team. Ever since the days of ‘Nique, the Hawks get just good enough to get to or make it past the first round of the playoffs, then they lose, and instead of trying to add another piece or something(see Coaching change), they blow up the team. At this point the Hawks begin to stink again. Within a few years, they have improved enough to go back to the playoffs and the cycle sets in. I realize the ASG has a next to impossible situation dollar wise but maybe they can figure a way to add a key figure and have a chance in the second round next year.
Tiger
May 11th, 2010
1:57 am
Charles Barkley just said it, let Joe go, he is no superstar and doesent deserve Max money. Good player, yes, great, no. Woody needs to go. Avery Johnson will call players out when he needs to. Marvin must go, I believe M. Cuban will trade C. Butler. Go get a legit 18/12 nasty center and lets play ball
northcyde
May 11th, 2010
2:02 am
Jamal Crawford in Orlando series:
17 ppg
2.1 rebs
2.5 asst
33% FG
People can villify JJ and Smoove all they want, but they better look at this dude too. This is your go-to-guy next year.
JSS
May 11th, 2010
2:02 am
Co-sign the 2nd part of your post
Not going through that mess again, that is the same path is what destroyed basketball in the city of Seattle…
Legend of Len Barker
May 11th, 2010
2:02 am
Get rid of everyone except Horford, Crawford, and Teague. Teague may be a bust, but to be our point guard of the future, Woodson sure didn’t care to play him. Even with Bibby playing terrible this season.
Josh Smith is a huge part of the problem. Terrible shooter, terrible defender. His idea of defense is to let his man go past him and try to block the shot from behind. His only good shot is a dunk. He only seems to be interested in himself. He has shown little improvement since he was drafted.
Of course, that’s more improvement than Marvin Williams.
I knew this playoff series was over when Woodson’s plan to stop Dwight Howard involved Jason Collins and Randolph Morris in the first quarter.
Zelmo
May 11th, 2010
2:16 am
Just listen to a collection of Woodson’s huddles on the mike, then contrast with Scott Skiles. Players listen to Skiles because he’s got something valuable to say.
And say bye bye to Bibby. We need a point.
W/E
May 11th, 2010
2:22 am
We’ve known all year that Mike Bibby can’t defend anybody. My question is: Why didn’t Woodson give Teague more PT so he could develop seeing as he’s extremely athletic and can stay with the quicker guards?- my take on him already is that he’s Brandon Jennings with a less effective 3-pt. shot- which is better than Bibby. If we’d actually spend time grooming Teague our point guard situation will be settled in 2 years. I was pro ditch-joe before the comments he made. If he wants to be paid like LeBron and Dwade he needs to get some fire in him. LeBron and DWade don’t shoot 28% in the playoffs (PATHETIC). Bye Bye Woody- hello Avery or Byron Scott.
Paddy
May 11th, 2010
2:43 am
JSS, you asked what can the ASG do? Two things. Find a bank account that has some money in it. Find a way to be actual ownership leaders and not this laughing stock group. Or my opinion, get out of sports, you are not good at it! They have acted like the Marx Bros. since coming on the scene and ruined two pro franchises.
Steve
May 11th, 2010
2:46 am
Ok. Glad everyone is now on board with what I have been saying for 3 years. Joe Johnson is a great secondary guy, but he is NOT someone who will LEAD a team to a championship. He is not Dwight Howard. He is not LeBron. He is no Kobe. He is not Shaq. He is not Steve Nash. He is not a WHOLE bunch of people. He is a sidekick, a very talented one, but he is not a star. He is Scotty Pippen without a #23 on his team to help him win a championship.
With that in mind, the Hawks don’t have anyone on this roster who you can look at and say .. that is the kind of guy that could lead us to the promised land. They simply don’t have it, and no one can argue that. They also won’t get it thru trade (those players rarely get traded until they are past their prime). They also can’t get a big name like that to come here in free agency.
Let’s face it, for the Hawks to win a title they are going to have to bounce back down to the lottery and get lucky for once .. or they are going to have to figure out a way to slide into a bonafide star in the draft. Not just a piece, but a TRUE STUD.
I love saying Woodson needs to go, and I think that is true .. but the reality is that there hasn’t been a team to win a title in about three decades without a bonafide star on their team. You can kiss Pat Riley and Phil Jackson and others on the tush all you want, but they all had one or more stars on their team with a complement of players as good as the Hawks have. We haven’t had a true star here since ‘Nique’ and he was saddled with such complete ineptitude at typically three other positions in most of his years. Sorry folks, but unless we find a way to get a star we can’t win a title. Unless we find a way to get a star, the fan support will deservedly be mediocre.
As for Joe Johnson .. shutup and play. Don’t blame the fans for your pathetic showing in the playoffs. While fan support could make a difference in some close games, please show me a game in this series that was really in doubt Joe.
Josh Smith. I love your athletic game man, but you are a head case. In games two and three you made bad plays and started doing the ‘celtic’ whine to the refs instead of just owning up to you screwing up. Then, you start showing fire after those plays, but unfortunately when you play with fire you typically play out of control. That is just not a good thing. The fans love you and the fact you do tend to play hard, but keep your head int eh game and on your shoulders or you will never get any better.
Horford, Zaza, and Jamal … I appreciate every bit of ‘intelligent intensity’ and playing hard yet within your game that you professionals brought to the floor this year. If Atlanta is lucky enough to have you guys back next year keep up the great work.
Marvin. I hope with Joe’s exit you finally get a chance to shine next year. Be the man. Be aggressive in the off-season and show the coachign staff you deserve to be the focal point on offense and can give us 20/10. Your defense is good despite the lack of highlight reel type stuff, but show a little more intensity and WANT! You can be the man and you will have a bigger, fatter, paycheck waiting for you if you decide to take over.
As for my want. Do whatever we possibly can to trade up and get John Wall. WHATEVER IT TAKES. If that can happen and we can get a coach who actually like to run the floor we have a chance of overcoming everything in the first few paragraphs. Why? Because John Wall is the only true star in this years draft. Everyone else is just a pretender.
Chpatt
May 11th, 2010
3:01 am
Ok, people…we are known to many people as some of the worst basketball fans in the NBA, and for good reason.
1. Josh Smith, why the eff would you guys want to get rid of him. He should have been an all star this year….he just needs coaching. Woody let him off the hook all the time, and Woodson could never control his players
2. Joe Johnson: IF, and I mean IF we get a real coach in here i say we do our best to keep JJ. But the next coach MUST be able to teach Johnson that ball movement is better then dribbling.
3. Bibby: gotta go….he’s just done defensively and too inconsistent on offense.
4. Marvin: okay, we resigned this guy for a reason. Sund knew that Woody would probly be gone, so he resigned him. Marvin needs coaching, Woodson can’t develop players. Marvin is the perfect example.
5. Childress: If we keep JJ and continue with Jamal at 6th man, we should trade JChill’s rights or him if he’s coming back. He won’t fit into our sytem if JJ and Jamal are there.
6. Teague : Just develop him. We can’t just waste his talent thanks to Woodson. We could also use him as trade bate if JJ leaves.
Black Moses
May 11th, 2010
3:05 am
Most of the comments are laughable and don’t offer logical or reasonable solutions. What will probably happen is that Coach Woodsen will be fired and the team will be lucky to make the playoffs next year,
Biggest Misconception : 7ft guys who can play don’t grow on trees…or everybody would have one.
Reality Check : The Hawks finished exactly where they should have. They were the 3rd best team. I wished they had a better effort during the playoffs but it’s a young team that get’s better every year,
Rock & a Hard Place – While the whole Atlanta sports world has turned against Joe Johnson, the bitter truth is that he is probably the best player available that the Hawks can sign. Period…If he walks I can assure you we will take a huge step backwards.. .
Halsey
May 11th, 2010
3:05 am
The Hawks need to upgrade their front line. 3 6′8-9 guys doesn’t cut it for a starting front line. Almost every NBA Champ has at least one All- Star calibre 7-footer on the front line.