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
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:09 am
DrewFan — I’m sure a Hawks’ season ticket-ticket rep will be knocking on your door at any minute.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:09 am
FanATical — I’m also curious to see about his staff. Wondering if Mark Price will get a bigger role, as opposed to just being “free throw” coach.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:11 am
KevinM — It’s the “former assistant coach” analogy. That’s all it was. Don’t make more of it than that. … As for Joe, I’ve written several times — and I’m sure I’ll write again — that Joe’s not worth a max contract, and I doubt very much that he’ll get that.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:14 am
Jesse James: 0-8 in the second round. Almost lost to Milwaukee in the first round. That’s why.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:15 am
TruthSayer — Thanks.
Sid
June 12th, 2010
9:15 am
……………………….and the hits just keep on playing………………..!
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:16 am
The Who — Great song but pretty sure they won’t be playing it over the PA at Philips.
bill
June 12th, 2010
9:18 am
Yawn…wake me when we have new ownership.
GT
June 12th, 2010
9:18 am
No one knows these things. When Jackson took Doug Collins place for the Bulls not a soul thought this was a move like it turned out. I really thought it was motivated by convenience at the time. One thing about Jackson is he is an academic compared to the average coach. He would be making a good living in something if he wasn’t in basketball. He was not given a lot of talent as a player. Doc Rivers if successful, wins a title, has beat the odds. His winning and his personality compared to others like Drew or Woodson should be studied. The guess here is he is more concern with winning basketball that waxing his eyebrows. Could you imagine Jackson doing something like that. A basketball bench like a college class room is not the center of a fashion district nor is any other place where real work is getting done. Until one of these clowns proves me wrong ,give me a disheveled humble professor not unlike the professor that just left us from UCLA that thinks a high five is a drink and fashion is being married to the same woman for decades If you are absorbed with what you do like family, work ,in many cases religion, you won’t have the time nor character to be a loser.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:23 am
Mitch — On Thibodeau, I don’t know if they ever spoke to him. Doesn’t seem like it. I know some have the perception that he’s a defensive guru and may not be a great head coach (similar to a great defensive coordinator in football). That said, yes, I would’ve liked to see the Hawks speak to him. .. On the process, yes, that deserves some criticism. But I don’t know how much of that to put on Sund and how much of it to put on ownership. There are indications their thumb-twiddling is what led Avery Johnson to move on to New Jersey. So that’s all a part of it. … On general perception, we’re in agreement. But obviously winning would change all of that.
j
June 12th, 2010
9:26 am
Big deal, give the team a break people … assistant coaches do have less say, and it has been proven throughout this blog that an assistant coach can step up to the challenge. What we have on our hands are a bunch of negative nancies on this blog. Seriously, you’re upset b/c the Hawks chose him? Everyone wants the big name coach but those big name coaches were once little known. I love your optimism people, please find a seat away from me at the games!
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:26 am
CWO — “If he wins, he’ll become popular”: That’s not an argument. It’s just fact. I’m not trying to sell you on Drew. I’m just giving my opinion when I say he’s liked and respected and could work out. …. And, hey,actually winning a couple of games in the second round would be progress.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
9:28 am
GT — Wow, great comments.
CWO
June 12th, 2010
9:42 am
I appreciate your opinion and I guess that’s why I was hoping you would kill this hire (partly kidding)! I don’t wish anything but success for Drew – after all he’s getting the chance of a lifetime and is walking into (at the least) a skeptical fan base among other challenges. You accurately anticipated the mood of the average fan with your title…It just seems so disappointing. Then again, Mike Smith didn’t have many of us jumping up and down…
NOLA
June 12th, 2010
9:48 am
LMFAO ATL.
WTF Larry Drew? “Wait till next year,” the battle cry of the city of Atlanta and its pathetic fan base.
Melvin Flowers Macon Ga
June 12th, 2010
9:53 am
Well they did what I thought they would.
Hire another woodson there will be changes
but not enought.
Hawks don’t spend money and they might be in trouble next season.
1. The Bucks will be better
2. The Nets might be better
3. The Heat will be better
The Hawks must work hard to fill in what needed to be a better team next season.
The Hawks could finish 5th in there divison.
It will be a better divison and tougher.
This new coach I hope will make the best come out some of the Hawks.
Just sale the dam team and start over in Atlanta.
Navigator
June 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Larry Drew may be the next coach phenom, or the Hawks decision may have been more sinister in their decision. They want the tough minded Doc Rivers, who won’t be available until after next season. Rivers has proven he can coach in the playoffs, and he also sees the aging Boston team as one that will soon be going into a re-building period. The Hawks are young and talented, and one or two players away from making their run, so much as Phil Jackson going to LA, he sees a future with Atlanta.
S Hawk Fan
June 12th, 2010
10:14 am
Jeff… the only thing that is keeping me from thinking this is going to be a complete flop is your confidence in the selection. You are around the Hawks all the time and we don’t have that access. I realize that you are not saying he is for sure going to be a great coach but you seem to believe he is no the same as Woody.
From what you have seen what type of demeanor does he have? I grew weary of Woody’s constantly looking like he was clueless and then it then seem to translate to the players at times. He was stubborn on playing young guys and seem to make several players mad! He seemed rude and sarcastic during his press conferences!
I feel confident that you are telling us that Drew will not be the same! Because his margin for error will be real short!
Jeff tell us some things you have seen that help us see hope for a decent coach! Thanks for a great article and for some hope that we are heading in the right direction! Being a season ticket holder I am really trying and will stick with my original thought and that is I am thrilled Woody is gone!
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Heck, I heard the Hawks just hired Lane Kiffin!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 12th, 2010
1:07 pm
I’d like to think this article is right, but the fact is neither Jeff Schultz nor anyone commenting on here knows what they are talking about. Only the people in the interview room know what Drew’s personality and philosophies will be. For all we know, Drew could be the next Phil Jackson, the next Woody, or the next Bob Weiss.
Pete
June 12th, 2010
1:07 pm
This is beyond a yawn.
Please.
South ga boy in the ATL
June 12th, 2010
1:14 pm
Jeff may be totally right that Drew may turn out to be a fine head coach who the players will respect and listen to day in and day out. However, there is one prominent thing he left out of his argument in support of him. He was, by far, the cheapest candidate and I believe that was the overarching reason for his hire. If the ASG was, truly willing to give Avery 5 mil a yr for 4 or 5 yrs or Casey 3 mil a yr for the same length and they still believed Drew was the best candidate for the job at prob 1.5 mil a yr then I would be ok with it, but the elephant in the room, that Jeff conviently left out, is the ASG have no money and were never going to pay Avery or Casey the money they would have required so they were just window dressing. The job was probably Drew’s all along because he was going to be the cheapest employee and to leave that fact out of the argument for his hiring is very disengenuos. I hope Drew turns out to be the right hire, but real Hawks fans knew this was going to be the direction the lowly ASG would go because they are trying to run a pro franchise on a shoe string and pixie dust. Until we have an owner with some capital, aka Arthur Blank, we will never sniff anything more than what we had last year. A pig with lipstick, a wig, and makeup is still a pig
Atticus
June 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
This ownership group is a joke. Look at te Thrashers, look at this, what a pathetic excuse of a “search”. This guy could be a great coach but you CANNOT hire the assistant to the guy you just fired and expect me to believe this franschise is committed to winning. NEVER will I buy another ticket to each franchise (and I am a 40 year native) until this joke of a group is gone. I will spend my money on the Braves and Falcons.
ATLFan
June 12th, 2010
3:27 pm
Dan Weiner (Dick), nice welcome for the new coach. Why don’t you run across I-95 today about noon and see if you can contribute to the (funeral home) ecomomy. Scumbag. You probably don’t know anyone who would claim your worthless body, so better yet, just go jump off a bridge.
ATLFan
June 12th, 2010
3:32 pm
WELCOME TO ATLANTA, LARRY DREW.
Just think, this is the best of times for you.
Let me apologize to you in advance for these creeps.
rex
June 12th, 2010
3:35 pm
WOW ! could Sund have made a WORSE choice !! WTF !
Afraid it really is ASG here at work….handcuffing the GM just like they have with Waddell
Unreal….terrible terrible horrific choice….but it IS politically-Correct
Watch ticket sales and Wins plummet
JeJe
June 12th, 2010
3:42 pm
FIRE LARRY KNAPP
74Dawg
June 12th, 2010
4:08 pm
I don’t have a problem with Drew himself,he may turn out great. What I have a problem with is ASG. I haven’t seen a post(I didn’t read them all) that points to what i believe this hire was about: MONEY.
The ASG was true to form : CHEAP. This was a mirror image of their last hire, the Thrasher’s last ex-head coach. We all know how well that turned out. They hired the guy they could get for the least money by far of the ones interviewed. And offer at least a bad excuse for doing it: he knows the problems. I KNOWS the problems. JS KNOWS the problems. Hire him. The next act in this little melodrama will be the departure of Joe Johnson with nothing to show in return. And forget any meaningful free agent signings. The handwriting is now on the wall. If they let JJ walk,no free agent who cares about winning will consider the Hawks unless they grossly overpay. A built in excuse and self fulfilling prophecy.
Hawks Fan
June 12th, 2010
4:28 pm
Mark you believe your Headlines then I got some Beach property in Atlanta to sell you.
I'm Legal
June 12th, 2010
4:33 pm
Atticus, I agree ASG sucks big time. I’ll never spend a penny on anything they own.
Go Braves and Falcons…hel@ with the others.
4 Jacks
June 12th, 2010
4:37 pm
Jeff, I do realize that you have taken some shots at the ASG, and I for one appreciate someone that will take them to task. Guess what irks me to no end is the pretense they put on and then give us a bench coach that no one that I have heard of and I mean no one even interviewed for other jobs. Someone just needs to ask Gearon and these LOSERS to come clean and admit that Sund is a puppet and that they are completely inept as a ownwership group and they will not spend the money to make us a true or vialble contender. Instead they feed us all this BS, knowing that they are not going to spend the money and they are to stupid to be creative to bring a real winner here. It has nothing to do with Drew, in fact I feel a little sorry for him. It all has to do with the PATHETIC ownership we all suffer with. I have spent my last dollar until these guys sell the teams or show me they are serious about winning. Sorry to say it, but everytime I buy a ticket I am the sucker that is helping bail Gearon and these idiots out. Well, I am through being their sucker or patsy. Now I do not have season tickets, my money comes hard, but I do go to 8 to 10 Hawk games per year and 7 or 8 Thrasher games. Not anymore, not until things change.
cdog
June 12th, 2010
5:40 pm
larry drew will work.he need to make sure he maintain and earn respect as a head coach with his players.that’s the main thing needed with this bunch.rick sund can help by bringing in two good big men.i know i sound like a worn out record with this but there is no way an nba team will win a championship without a good big men.look at the celtics and lakers.both teams are loaded with them.that’s why they made it there.
TheAntiMe
June 12th, 2010
6:06 pm
What a lame decision. If the players are so crazy about him it’s probably because he’s a real pushover. I hope Mr. Drew is a bit more astute than his predecessor was with the X’s and O’s, as that has been a glaring weakness with the Hawks for much too long.
I am not very confident with this decision. Just what the Hawks did not need in a new coach was a Woody Jr..
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
6:06 pm
Chris — I don’t think Drew impacts Joe’s decision at all. That was always going to be about money.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2010
6:07 pm
CWO — Others have used the Mike Smith analogy as well.
True
June 12th, 2010
6:09 pm
Shultz and all you other people including Drew who said that the players did not like Woody. I have cut and pasted comments from an article this season straight out the mouth of the players. So Drew if what is said about the player not liking Woodson is true, be careful they will turn on you also. READ:
Article:
But ask the Hawk players and they, at least the five players I spoke to, agree that Woodson should get another extension. They are in unified agreement that Woodson is a big part of why they where they are. Some say it should have happened already.
Marvin Willians: Absolutely. He’s been a great coach for us young guys. I mean …if he’s not here….who knows what position we’d be in.
Will everyone say that?
Absolutely. I think you’re gonna get that answer from anybody around the room. We have a lot of faith in coach Woodson. You know, he really brought us along the way. We were 19 year old kids. We’re 24-25 now. We’re definitely playing some pretty good basketball. So, he’s a big credit to that.
Bibby:Yes. He should have got one a while ago.
Even Josh Smith, who has had his differences with Woodson over the years…
Yeah….I mean, he’s proven himself. And…he’s a good coach. He’s a good coach. He’s a players’ coach. You know, he works hard just like we work hard. And anybody who’s bettered their record every year that he’s been a coach deserves a contract.
Joe Johnson, who is opting for free agency, and is unsure about where he will want to play next season, was asked if signing Woodson might affect his decision…
Uhhhhhm….maybe. You know, I don’t really know….honestly, at this point, what’s in store.
Even newly acquired veteran Joe Smith had some surprisingly good things to say about Mike Woodson and endorsed a new contract…
I’ve enjoyed playing under Coach Woodson since I’ve been here and he puts us in good situations to go out there and be successful as individuals and as a group. So, if they can get something done, I’m all for it.
Joe went on to reveal a hitherto unrevealed dimension of the Hawks head coach and agreed that that the feeling for re-upping Woodson was pretty much universal in the locker room…
Oh yeah. Yeah. I think so. Everybody likes and enjoys playing for him….He makes the game a lot of fun, even in practice. Pre game, before we take the floor, he kind of relaxes us a little bit.
Can you give an example of that?
Umm. He just jokes around with us a lot. I mean, you know, he kind of notices when we’re tense…and when things are tight in the locker room. So he kind of jokes or says a few jokes or will do something to certain individuals, or say something to certain individuals, where… it could lighten the mood a little bit.
But you can’t share any of those?
Naw….(laughing)
Go figure. Exuding an innate dignity, always respectful, Woody is going all Chris Rock on you, when he wants to. Who knew?
But Joe Smith’s been around long enough to see the harsh business side of this league to know nothing is certain and business decisions are different that basketball decisions sometimes….
When I look at it, this thing is….more of a business than anything. And it kind of takes the sport out of it a little bit….because you’re thinking so much with a business mind. Hopefully they’ll get something done. Because, like you said, there’s not too many coaches that have taken a team from when they first got here, 13-14 wins, to now, last year 47 wins. Now try to take it up another level.
Mike Bibby returned to this team with a big pay cut. A favorite player to boo in Boston, it is clear Bibby is a key player on the Hawks roster, bringing mental toughness, and is a team leader. It is also clear Mike Woodson is a big reason Bibby returned and explains why…
love him and I’ve had a lot of coaches in my time. For some coaches I say I like, and got along with, and some coaches I didn’t. You know, I mean I love Coach Woodson. He’s relaxed. He has fun. I think that’s what you got to do.
I love coming to work here and…I can talk to him. I can give him my input on the team and stuff like that and not a lot of coaches let you do that.
I don’t think, right now, I could be in a better situation and actually that’s another reason why I came here, came back here.
Just how… being comfortable with the coaching staff and my teammates.
How do you rate him with all the other coaches you played for?
Definitely one of the top. I’ve had a couple…I’ve had Lionel Hollins, umm….Rick Adelman and Coach Woodson’s right up there with those two, too.
Adelman? That’s rich company.
I mean… you get a lot of different type of attitudes and personalities with coaches. You know, some coaches are “this is my way” and ‘this is how we’re going to do it’ and you have coaches like Woodson, I mean just…I tell the guys….we got it good (here).
A lot of coaches that you (the Hawks players) probably wouldn’t like playing for. I mean, we have got a good situation with coach Woodson. He definitely deserves an extension.
Perhaps such a statement was wafted in Josh Smith’s direction, the player with the unlimited potential but previously ongoing differences with Woodson.
Regarding those differences, I asked Josh point blank – Are they as bad as some have written or over blown?
Josh…
Overblown.
J-Smoove’s recommendation for a Woodson extension would back that up that statement.
(Back To Mike Bibby)… So then you’re kind of good for Woodson in the locker room. Kind of an extension….
Yeah, like I mean…when I’m out there and I see something on the court, I’ll give my input, and he lets me go with it. He lets me go out in there in the game…for him to have that much confidence in me…for him to let me do that, that gives people confidence to play.
High praise, indeed. In truth, after friction with Ron Artest with a going-nowhere Sacramento team, Bibby’s career has been resurrected in Atlanta.
Welcome to the ultra competitive NBA, an Atlanta team known for it’s frugality, an ownership group that has its own issues, a weak residual economy, an yet-to-determined new Collective Bargaining Agreement in the early stages of negotiations and it helps explain the situation. Are those the reasons why Woodson is coaching this crucial season without a net?
Is there any truth to Woodson not being a good tactician?
Joe Smith…
So far this year, (it’s) been so good. Every night different teams are going to present us something different. I think he does a good job of watching enough film, him and his staff do a good job of watching that film and trying to put us in the best situation to be successful out there
This what I’m talking about I did not say it the players did
Marquis James
June 12th, 2010
7:04 pm
Its official……Jeff Schultz work for the Atlanta Spirit Group!!!!!!!!!!!!
cdog
June 12th, 2010
7:06 pm
THERE WASN’T ANYTHING WRONG WITH WOODSON’S COACHING.HE DID AS GOOD AS HIS PERSONNEL HE WAS GIVEN.LARRY DREW PROBABLY LEARN SOME VALUABLE THINGS FROM WOODSON.BEING A COACH MYSELF I KNOW BECAUSE I WORKED UNDER SOME GOOD AND BAD COACHES,I EVEN LEARNED FROM SOME OF THE BAD ONES THINGS THAT HELPS ME TODAY.THE BOTTOM LINE IS,CAN RICK SUND AND DREW SIT DOWN AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE?BOTH NEED TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT ROSTER OF THE CONTENDERS IN THE EAST AND PLAN THEIR ROSTER TO BEAT THESE TEAMS IF THEY PLAY THEM IN THE PLAYOFFS NEXT YEAR.I THINK THE MISTAKE SUND MADE WAS NOT LOOKING AT CLEVELAND, AND ORLANDO SERIOUSLY. HE WAS MORE OBSESSED AT BOSTON AND FORGOT ABOUT THESE TWO.NEXT YEAR, HE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THOSE TEAMS ALONG WITH BOSTON, CHICAGO AND POSSIBLY MILWAUKEE SO THAT THE HAWKS WILL DOMINATE THE EAST.
ASG = bunch of clowns
June 12th, 2010
7:10 pm
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this was leaked/announced on a Friday night. That gives all weekend to let things simmer down a bit before Monday morning sports talk radio. If this had been announced on any day other than Fri or Sat, the callers would absolutely light into the Hawks the next day.
Florida jacket
June 12th, 2010
7:37 pm
first they interview based on race and then they hire the least qualified applicant, I’m done.
True
June 12th, 2010
8:09 pm
Shultz way don’t you comment on the article I posted about how the players actually liked Woodson.
You probably getting the negative information about the players from Drew. Who is now the Hawks new coach. Interesting
Dave
June 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
I agree that Drew knew his place which makes him a good leader. He was not the head coach and I’m sure his advice was listened to but not taken into consideration. Now that he has the final say so it should be different. Get Smith to act and play like an adult without complaining all the time and get Johnson to share the ball. Sit or get rid of Bibby and let Teague prove himself. Hawks need a true center so Horford can play his real position as power forward.
Willy
June 12th, 2010
9:01 pm
Mike Smith wasn’t a real flashy hire either.
todd grantham
June 12th, 2010
9:10 pm
Jeffrey, why would you say Doc Rivers never would happen? He has a Hawks legacy.
MitchC
June 12th, 2010
11:04 pm
I shrug my shoulders at the Larry Drew hiring. The last time I was excited when the Hawks hired a coach, was when they hired Lenny Wilkens, so you know how I’ve felt about the Hawks last several coaches.
Then again, I was in the minority that felt Woodson shouldnt have been let go. The team’s record improved every year he was the coach. They merely stagnated in the playoffs this year.
You mentioned Drew “working out” That remains to be seen. I say, if the Hawks fail to make at least the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2010-2011 season, and stagnate again, the bloggers, and probably the writers too, will be calling for Drew to be fired.
JeJe
June 12th, 2010
11:15 pm
BIBBY TOOK A BIG PAYCUT? LOL
HE SHOULD BE MAKING VETERAN MINIMUM MONEY. HE IS GARBAGE
JeJe
June 12th, 2010
11:18 pm
LOL
“Cavs Also In Touch With Mike Woodson”
REALGM LOLOLOL
Maurice
June 12th, 2010
11:50 pm
@True: It’s cool that you have little snip its of conversation and statement that the players made about Woodson over the course of the Regular Season, but that’s not why Woodson got fired. He got fired for his lack of consistency with the team and players. We acquired Joe Smith and Jason Collins to come of the bench to help our big guys. It did not happen in the playoffs. Jeff Teague was supposed to become our point guard of the future. The only future he had under Woodson was collecting dust at the other end of the bench. Even when Mike Bibby had an off night, Teague never entered the game.
Being liked and being a coach are two different things. Sure they liked him during the season. He controlled the playing time!
How's this scenario: Mike Woodson as LeBron's next coach? | Jeff Schultz
June 13th, 2010
9:24 am
[...] ♦ Larry Drew may not excite you but he could just work out [...]
d.carter
June 13th, 2010
12:23 pm
Ok Hawks fans, now that the most staged coaching search on earth is over, and Larry Drew is our new uhhhhhhh coach lets move our attention to some roster moves that can improve our team…
The Hawks will obviously make a run to resign JJ as the teams first priority… The small forward and center spots are the most pressing needs for the hawks after that, maybe an improved offensive scheme can improve Marvins game but i still feel the Hawks should make a run at Rudy Gay which would move Marvin to the bench and or maybe trade the rights to Chills and draft Gordon Hayward from Butler i seriously think this kid will surprise some people and make a nice transition to the NBA game… The kids has a range and adequate ball handling skills at 6-9… Also we must draft Brian Zoubek the center from Duke who will be available.. At 7-1 265 i love his BB IQ which is always tru of most Duke players and he is a hustle and energy guy which is some the hawks need more than anything…