Larry Drew may not excite you but he could just work out
Larry Drew got the Hawks' job over two other finalists, Dwane Casey and Mark Jackson.
They did not hire the name coach. They did not hire the proven coach. They did not hire a coach who probably makes the average Hawks’ fan think, “Yippee! This is why we drop-kicked Mike Woodson! So we could hire . . .” Um, Larry Drew?
Don’t fret. This might work out.
This shouldn’t come as some grand proclamation that Drew is going to be the next Phil Jackson, who stepped up from assistant to head coach when the Chicago Bulls fired Doug Collins in 1989. (Jackson won six NBA championships in the next nine years).
It’s not a guarantee that he even will be the next Alvin Gentry (a name you will hear often from Hawks’ management over the coming months). Gentry, who led the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference finals this year, was a six-year assistant coach with the team before finally taking over for the fired Terry Porter midway through last year.
But don’t indict Larry Drew just because he worked for Mike Woodson, the coach the Hawks just got rid of.
He’s a different coach (more creative). He’s a different guy (not so hypersensitive and paranoid). He’s a smart basketball guy. He’s tough. He’s disciplined.
Most importantly, he has one advantage over any other coach the Hawks could have hired: He knows where the problems are.
The Hawks, like most teams, have issues, both on the court and in the locker room. Their issues relate to Josh Smith’s continuing lapses in maturity (and effort); Joe Johnson’s unwillingness to share the ball (possibly the residue of Woodson’s offense); Johnson’s tendency to disappear in playoff games; Marvin Williams’ effort and toughness rarely matching his talent level; inconsistent defense on the perimeter; offensive creativity.
And maybe this: A clear willingness to knock the other team down when it’s necessary.
Drew has been up close for these problems. He knows what buttons need to be pushed. He is not going to play favorites. Practices will be tougher. Accountability will be more apparent. He also was a point guard in his playing days, which should help in the development of Jeff Teague (the seldom-used rookie under Woodson).
Don’t want to celebrate Larry Drew’s promotion? That’s fair. Just don’t assume failure. He is a different voice than Woodson. A better voice.
You wanted somebody proven. You wanted some sign that the Hawks were serious about going to the next level — which is to say, winning at least one game in the second round. Understandable.
Doc Rivers. Completely understandable. It was never going to happen.
Avery Johnson. Completely understandable. But after three interviews, Johnson either got tired of waiting or figured New Jersey was a better option, anyway.
Byron Scott, the former New Jersey and New Orleans coach, would have gotten people more excited. So would have Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin, a former Hawk. For whatever reason, neither got a look.
So who did this come down to? Drew: 1) a respected assistant coach who knows the Hawks’ problems; 2) Dwane Casey, a Dallas assistant coach who briefly coached the Minnesota Timberwolves before being fired, possibly prematurely; 3) Mark Jackson, who went from player to broadcaster and has never coached in his life.
It’s fair to wonder if everybody in the Hawks’ front office was on the same page about this. It’s fair to wonder if Drew is capable of making the transition one folding chair over.
Just don’t assume he can’t.
Several weeks ago, I wrote a blog suggesting Drew was a legitimate candidate. I mentioned how he was highly regarded and respected by players, including the toughest and most respected player in the room: Al Horford.
Most readers didn’t agree. In fact, in an online reader poll of the four finalists last week, Drew finished a distant fourth with seven percent of the vote — far behind Johnson (62 percent), Jackson (17) and Casey (14).
When the Hawks open next season, it probably won’t be, “Larry Drew Bobblehead Night.”
But sometimes the exciting hire isn’t the best hire. And if Drew wins, watch how popular he becomes.
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205 comments Add your comment
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
12:01 am
Why in the heck did you fire Mike Woodson?
HawksFan
June 12th, 2010
12:06 am
I’ve got no idea if this will work and I’ll admit that I’m pessimistic at best about the move after wanting a more proven choice.
With that said, if there’s anything good about this then it’ll be the fact that our offense will at least be different next year because as a HS coach, and former collegiate player, it was all I could do to watch Woodson’s Gawd-Awful offense “in action.”
There are plenty of very good and deserving assistant coaches out there. Maybe Larry Drew is one of them and maybe he’s not. I thought the Hawks had more leverage with the crew they could potentially put in uniform next year and how attractive that might be to a bigger name.
Now that they’ve gone the “unknown assistant route”, then Rick Sund is essentially wagering his future employment with the Hawks that this works out.
I then remind myself of Rick Sund’s proven inability to hire a good coach at any point in past and it makes me want to vomit that this is what a 50+ win playoff team has chosen to do.
TruthSayer
June 12th, 2010
12:16 am
Nice article Jefferey
HawkKingBibby
June 12th, 2010
12:18 am
FIRE DREW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DZ
June 12th, 2010
12:25 am
yawn….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Tee
June 12th, 2010
12:32 am
Hell of a hire, I like Larry Drew tocome on as a head coach, to all you rocket sciences out there what makes you all think this guy can’t get this team rolling to the next level. Has any of you ever looked on the side lines and seen how this group of Hawks athletes totally ignored Woody all season long and listened to the Drew man instead. Heck Woody was so scared that Drew was gonna rid of him that he hardly came to him or listened to the mans advise. As an intelligent athlete I know how hard it was for Mr Drew to talk to Woody in crunch time. HE WILL NOT LISTEN TO HIS ASSISTANTS AT ALL., HE WAS A 1 MAN SHOW.Pleas away with the negative and give this guy a chance…. Brown couldn’t win with LeBron, Doc has a team that the Hawks swept during the regular season, We can’t be too far off. This guy has the respect of all players the word on the street is and so what if they spent not much on coach, More money for a dominant Centre or high quality bench player. … How much did Florida Marlins spend on their team during their world series win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Money isn’t all, Bring the best out of our players and sit back and enjoy and have a damn beer and support it IF YOU ARE A TRUE HAWKS FAN………….GO HAWKS……….
♥Mz. Hawkdafied♥
June 12th, 2010
12:41 am
It’s all a gamble. So the Hawks organization put their bet on Coach Larry Drew. What do you mean not an exciting choice? Heck, a change is a change. Larry Drew is no Mike Woodson. For those of us fans that wanted a coaching change, we got it in a man named Larry Drew.
I’m excited! Go Coach Larry Drew! Go Hawks! ♥
Blue
June 12th, 2010
12:45 am
Larry Drew … Really.
Jeff D.
June 12th, 2010
12:57 am
I’ll give Drew a fair shot to do some good work here. I was hoping for a bigger name for the job but this is how things get done with this ownership. Decide on a coach by conference call. Does everyone have their latte machiatos? Ok, lets get started.
All I hope for is an UP TEMPO offense will can cut and slash, make sharp passes and utilize the youth of this team. I’ve seen way too much of the bus stop offense under Woodson and I’m confident Drew can blow it up. The man has put in his time and he’s getting his shot. I can’t feel bad about that at all.
Jeff D.
June 12th, 2010
12:58 am
…that will cut and slash.. (getting late here)
David Smith
June 12th, 2010
1:13 am
Larry Drew was the last name I wanted to hear as a head coaching candidate for this team. I wish we could have landed Avery Johnson but, it was evident that he wanted too much power and money for someone who hasn’t coached for two years. I hope Larry can get this talented team over the hump and make a NBA Finals appearance before it’s all said and done.
Patrick
June 12th, 2010
1:34 am
Isn’t this the guy you hire when you are at the bottom looking to rebuild? I thought it was time for the veteran coach that takes raw talent and molds it into a championship team…. This is the Atlanta Spirit’s cheap way out…
I think the Atlanta Spirit has taken its last dollar from me… Two can play the cheep as hell game.
eric
June 12th, 2010
1:45 am
I understand your blog to try and give him a chance, just reading some of the other post, I have to agree the Spirit don’t want to win. As management you want to go higher than Woodson could take you , and I think we are just staying put, To make money, you have to spend money. If you want to go further into the second round, and hey maybe win it all, you have to motivate, and coach those guys. Lost of talent, but their selfish, and stubborn, Woodson, (whom I liked), lost them in the playoffs. I think Scott, should have been the hire, he has won as a player, and that might be a great motivator to the Hawks.
Kiljoy
June 12th, 2010
1:49 am
YAWN! Slow speed chase to the bottom. Time to sell the Hawks to Arthur Blank
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
June 12th, 2010
1:57 am
Wow. kinda of anti-climactic been that BK attempted to make this very move 2 years ago but was stopped by non other than the ASG. This is not the sexy pick but who cares as long as we develope a decent offensive scheme to go with all this talent. Plus Jamal Crawford’s rationale was as good as any: Drew knows the ends and outs of this team, the flaws and the tweaks that need to be made to make us a better squad. Good Luck to Drew.
BTW – Sund wanted Casey IMO – ASG chose Drew – idiots should have gave the green light back in 08 we may have won a game in Boston
Reid Adair
June 12th, 2010
2:42 am
While I’m not thrilled about hiring Larry Drew, I will agree that Drew deserves the benefit of the doubt for now. He has some interesting challenges that he should be quite familiar with – whether or not to keep Joe Johnson, starting Jeff Teague and giving him more minutes in place of Mike Bibby, not to mention the need for a true center.
So, congratulations and welcome, Coach Drew.
The Who
June 12th, 2010
2:48 am
“Meet the new boss….same as the old boss.”
Hey for all of you out there talking about how great this is and give it a chance or even how great Drew is…you might be too young to realize this is Groundhog Day in Atlanta! We’ve had this conversation in Atlanta for 40 years now!!
More of the same
June 12th, 2010
3:04 am
One of the dumbest coaching moves in atlanta sports history. The hawks will not be any better next year with a mediocre assistant type calling the shots. Go cheap, be average. The hawks owners must be broke, since they can’t afford a real coach.
Whopper Dawg
June 12th, 2010
3:34 am
Jeff,
I still remember the falcons quote, “We looked everywhere, when our coach was right down the hall”.
Same deal here, if you are an assistant for 6 years and don’t have influence on the club, you have to be a terrible coach. If you did have an influence on the club, then you were part of the problem.
Neither is positive. You have put the best possible spin on it, but again,,,,,
Swamp Fox II, and I will be glad to eat these words.
Ted M
June 12th, 2010
4:12 am
What kinda contract does he have?
Mitch
June 12th, 2010
5:49 am
Jeff:
My first question is: did the Hawks ever make an attempt to interview Tom Thibodeau? Talk about a coach who knew how to stop the Magic, even with an aging lineup. One would think that having seen Thibodeau’s masterful blueprint, he’d be the guy you want. But, was his name ever even mentioned with the Hawks?
If the Hawks were waiting on Thibodeau, that’s one thing. Otherwise, this whole search was just another silly charade.
The problem with this hire isn’t Larry Drew, per se…it’s the manner in which the Hawks performed this search…quite frankly, Rick Sund and the Hawks as an organization look especially foolish in light of what has transpired.
The gist is…if Larry Drew was the man, you hire him right away and with conviction…you don’t bring in teaser big names such as Avery Johnson and Mark Jackson…and then look foolish losing Johnson to the Nets…and then after that you suddenly decide, well Drew is the guy we want.
What this move ensures, imo, is that Joe Johnson has played his last game as a Hawk. The best we can hope for now is a sign and trade…which hopefully wil turn out to be a good move, but who knows?
No matter what…the Hawks have wasted an opportunity to make a big splash and prove to the basketball world that they are serious about winning an NBA Championship. Perceptions aren’t everything, but sometimes they are just what a team needs to get over the hump.
Imagine what the perception would have been if the Hawks hired a big name coach. This town would be all abuzz. People would be lining up for tickets.
The hiring of Larry Drew does nothing but perpetuate the perception that the Hawks are a cheap, striving for mediocre-at-best franchise that continues to make head-scratching decisions.
Larry Drew will have to try to erase that stigma. I wish him well and like you Jeff I hope this is a blessing in disguise. But…the timing of this hire and the way it came about does not speak well for the organization.
larry drew | TrendyTwits
June 12th, 2010
6:01 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Josh Smith: Hawks coach Larry Drew is lowest-paid in NBARotoworld.comNew Hawks head coach Larry Drew's contract will be for two guaranteed seasons with an option for a third season, worth about $1.2 million per season. …AP source: Hawks set to hire Larry Drew as coachThe Associated PressDrew's the man, but what's the plan?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Report: Hawks pick Drew as new head coachSeattle Post Intelligencermsnbc.com -Yahoo! Sports -Examiner.comall 269 news articles » [...]
Jim
June 12th, 2010
6:18 am
Sund may think this gives the Hawks the edge in signing Joe Johnson. If the hawks sign Joe, they will have a good team and will hopefully be better if/when Teague gets going.
bob smyrna
June 12th, 2010
6:26 am
Great job owners. I didn’t realize Goodwill sold coaches too.
Notso Fast
June 12th, 2010
6:39 am
It’s not about winning, it’s about keeping the payroll down. Now we can start getting excited about free agents to help the team. Unless they will play for close to “free”, they don’t need to even plan a trip to Atlanta.
JROLL1
June 12th, 2010
6:47 am
MY SON CALLED ME LAST NITE WITH THIS NEWS, AND I PRAYED IT WAS JUST A BAD DREAM. ARE YOU SERIOUS? DANWEINER, I’M WITH YOU COMPLETELY ON THIS ONE! THE TEAM AHS HEARD LARRY’S VOICE FOR 6 YEARS AS WELL….NOBODY’S LISTENING!
left to right
June 12th, 2010
7:22 am
I have seen this movie before. Its called “Ron Jirsa”
Isn’t it PR 101 to release bad news on Friday afternoon?
DMR
June 12th, 2010
7:24 am
The Hawks made a decision to hire Drew, fine. The Hawks picked an assistant to Mike Woodson, fine. He may be the answer, fine. We should not prejudge his potential failure or success because he has been so close to all the problems. But don’t kill the fans in the media next year when the arena is half empty. This hire probably does not excite the fans and they have a right to take a wait and see approach. Why not? We’ve been taking the “Wait til Next Year Approach” for over a half century.
romeo
June 12th, 2010
7:28 am
Hahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R.U.KIDDEN-ME???
June 12th, 2010
7:28 am
THE MADNESS CONTINUE’S WITH THE ASG & RICK SUND IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PUPPET(HAND’S ON FOREHEAD,HEAD SHAKING BACK & FORTH)!!!! NICE TRY J.S.NICE TRY!!!
DHD
June 12th, 2010
7:38 am
Ask me in 2 years. I’m not a prophet so I just don’t know how he’ll do…and neither does anybody else including Larry Drew.
LOL!!!
June 12th, 2010
7:55 am
If it was up to pleasing the fans then mike smith probaly wouldn’t be head coach of the falcons and they still wouldn’t have a winning record 2 seasons in a row
bob
June 12th, 2010
7:57 am
Wow, Atlanta going in the wrong direction.
Hawks Fan
June 12th, 2010
7:58 am
If Larry Drew is so special how come no other and I mean no other team with a opening has even given him an interview!! Larry Drew was part of the coaching problem with the hawks for the past six years. If Larry Drew is so much better than Mike Woodson and is the next best thing why did the owners wait so long to hire him. The lone owner that didn’t want Joe Johnson should be allowed to buy the hawks from the owners at least he has the resources to call himself the owner of an nba franchise. The hawks and the atlanta spirit group could sell tickets by the freeway at discounted prices and I still wouldn’t buy a ticket. I urge other fans to boycott buying tickets and hawks gear so the hawk’s owners can move this sorry franchise somewhere else and maybe we can get an expansion franchise with an owner such as an Arthur Blank who is passionate about winning and making money.
BuckeyeFan
June 12th, 2010
7:58 am
This confirms it- the Hawks need to stop pretending to the public that they care about increasing the number of wins, the playoffs and being a REAL contender in the NBA. It is all about the cheapest coach posssible!
SecondSage
June 12th, 2010
8:18 am
Two things we should see. Drafting a true center, Solomon Alabi or Jerome Jordan, that’s first. Next give the team to Teague, let him play 25-30 minutes a game, win or lose. Let Teague gel with Horford, Smith, and the new center.
If those things happen, hiring Drew is not a bad move. It’s up to Sund and ASG to put the right pieces in place.
If we draft a SF and sign Joe Johnson to Max Money, then this team is done. Sign Joe for 7 figures then he can stay.
Go Lakers
June 12th, 2010
8:31 am
WOW! Larry Drew! If this was the best theASG could do they should have kept Woodson.
Braves2010
June 12th, 2010
8:36 am
Larry got the job by making the low bid to the ASG. That’s the only language they know.
locdog59
June 12th, 2010
8:38 am
The debate is over, it is done. Larry Drew is the new coach and I am still a Hawks fan for better or worse. If Coach Drew wins I’ll be his biggest fan.If he doesn’t woe be unto him because he will get run out of town on a rail. Playoff performances aside, he is inheriting a 53 win team. We are beyond the point of accepting a “good effort”. Win or I keep my ticket money (and concession money) in my pocket!!!
CajunStorm
June 12th, 2010
8:51 am
BORING!! but COULD work out. The thing with being an asst. is that you might have a lot of responsibility but only SOME authority. I, like many others here I’m sure, have been 2nd in command a time or 2. My responsibilities were HUGE but I had to delegate the BS politics of my “chrt” position. NOW, when the PROMOTION to the BIG DOG Chair came around ALL of the things I wanted to do I HAD THE AUTHORITY to do so.
I pray that Head Coach Drew puts the negotiating hat down and picks up the CROWN he has been awarded….if he is to be a success!
Lon Kruger
June 12th, 2010
8:57 am
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…can’t stop laughing…ha ha ha ha ha ha…
Chris
June 12th, 2010
8:58 am
Respect your opinoin Jeff but the Spirit group shouldn’t tell the fans that they fired Woodson because the believed they needed a new voice and a new direction to get to the next level and then hire an assistant from the same staff. I didn’t believe we would get Doc Rivers but there were better options than Drew.
Joe Johnson will be gone now….We won’t spend any money to get a legitimate Center or a Shooting Guard to replace Joe. Even if the Spirit group wanted to spend the money…What big time player is going to want to come play for this ownership group???
In the next 2-3 years, the spirit group will have us right back where we were which is a team that never sniffs the post season. Know anybody that has deep pockets that will buy this team?
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
8:59 am
Chef — Funny. Just spoke to “Tree” the other day.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:00 am
JeJe — We’ll find out Monday at his press conference. Not sure if he’ll be answering questions before then.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:02 am
Tim Dix — I know Atlanta Spirit budget questions get asked a lot (and rightfully so) but in this case I think budget was a byproduct of the hire. But it also seems clear they didn’t want to spend the 3-4 million per year it would take to lock up Avery Johnson.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:03 am
Hawks Fan — I’m neither on nor off the bandwagon. I just write. But I’ve written from the outset that I thought Larry Drew should be taken seriously. Obviously that doesn’t guarantee success. I want to see what the man can do.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:06 am
4 Jacks — The Atlanta Spirit owners will be the first to tell you that I’ve taken a fair number of shots at them. Obviously I would’ve liked to see them lock up Avery Johnson and I wrote that. Obviously I would’ve liked to see them talk to Byron Scott and Ty Corbin, and I wrote that too. But once you get past those guys, I’ve always thought Drew should be considered. Don’t know what else I can do to that.
CWO
June 12th, 2010
9:07 am
Schultzie – tell me you didn’t pull the “if he wins look how popular he will become” argument? That’s your closing selling point? Come on – of course winning is a cure all – if Bob in Acworth took the Hawks to the finals he’d be popular, but you know this is an uninspired, underwhelming hire – I guess I can appreciate your effort to help us see the bright side. However, the Hawks are also asking the fans to accept that a career assistant/first time head coach is going to win the respect and admiration of Josh (and maybe Joe) AND take us to at least the Eastern Conference Finals next year? Or maybe Hawks leadership will define progress as just “not getting swept in round 2″…
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:07 am
NC Braves Fan — “Known quantity, different style.” I like that. You can write.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:08 am
FanATical — Personnel wise, everything starts with Joe. If they sign him, it simplifies offseason. If they do a sign-and-trade, it opens the door to a lot of things.