Hawks plagued with too many issues, from owners to Joe
Whether it's Larry Drew or another coach, Hawks have problems that can't easily be fixed.
In many ways, the Hawks are no different than other organizations. They end the season with a loss and for several weeks plot their makeover.
Maybe they need a new coach. Maybe they need a new general manager. Maybe a star player who can be the rose one minute and the thorns the next needs to be traded. Or maybe a dysfunctional ownership group comes to the realization, “This isn’t working. Let’s go back to selling cellphone towers and newsletters. We’re outta here.”
But in at least one way, the Hawks so often are different from other organizations: No matter what decisions we logically think they can make this summer, it’s difficult not to come away with the belief that they’re still going to be in trouble when next season opens.
Most franchises give you hope. The Hawks give you hangovers.
The Braves missed the playoffs and did little this past winter to improve themselves, but one could reasonably believe they wouldn’t be subjected to a similar string of injuries and improbable slumps again. The Falcons were one-and-drummed in the playoffs again, but they have since filled two needs with a Pro Bowl cornerback and two offensive linemen in the draft. They are sufficient teases.
The Hawks just finished a season that was part impressive: 40-26, mostly without Al Horford. Also part depressingly reaffirming: They won their playoff opener against Boston, only to inexcusably lay an egg at home in Game 2 when Rajon Rondo was suspended, look catatonic in Game 4 and ultimately had too many brain lapses against a veteran team, losing the series.
The spin from franchise officials will be: “Next year, we’ll be healthy. Next year will be different.” Really?
The Atlanta Spirit tried to sell the team, had a deal fall through, then tried to convince everybody they were suddenly reborn and committed. Even if we bought that as truth (work with me here), the owners couldn’t make it through the playoffs without another goof. Michael Gearon Jr. called out Kevin Garnett and referees before a potential elimination game in Boston, and then blamed the Journal-Constitution for reporting the comments. Garnett’s response included 28 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and this verbal knockout: “I want to say thank you to the [Hawks] owner for giving me some extra gas. My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth, actually know what he’s talking about — X’s and O’s versus checkbooks and bottom lines.”
Success and failure in every business always starts at the top, so an ownership change could only help. But the Hawks aren’t an enticing product. Think of them as a house with several cracks in the foundation. Most potential buyers say, “No thanks. I’ll bid on the place down the street.”
General manager Rick Sund doesn’t love it here. If we needed reminding of that, his contract is up but he doesn’t know if he wants to come back. If Sund (also among the lowest paid) leaves, it’s difficult imagining that an established GM would want this job because of the ownership’s reputation and the inherited roster issues.
Coach Larry Drew, one of the lowest-paid coaches in the NBA, is waiting to see if the team brings him back. The guess here is that the option in his contract will be picked up, but he won’t get an extension. It’s the cheapest, safest route for ownership.
The core of this roster never has won more than one round of playoffs and, regardless of who the owner, general manager and coach are next season, there are two major issues: Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
Johnson reaffirmed in the playoffs that $20 million a year doesn’t buy heart or courage. His playoff shooting percentage: 37 percent, a career-low as a starter. He had games of 11, 9 and 15. He complained about not getting enough touches and double-teams. Rondo, Garnett and Paul Pierce stepped up at key moments for Boston. Stars do that. Johnson disappears.
Smith was the team’s best player this season. He helped bring the Hawks back late in Game 6. But when the Hawks trailed by a point with 10 seconds left and a play set up for Johnson broke down, Smith forced a 20-foot jumper and we slapped our foreheads again.
Where is the hope?
Drew was asked about his future Friday. But he looked like a man who cared more about his next two aspirin.
“It’s not something right now I’m going to worry about,” he said. “It’s been a long season. I just want to take a step back.”
If he returns, the view may not get better. This isn’t a simple makeover.
By Jeff Schultz
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224 comments Add your comment
Mike
May 14th, 2012
11:53 am
The biggest problem with the Hawks is they dont have that one reliable star on the team. They paid JJ like he is one, but he isnt. He’s just another very good player on a roster of very good players. Like I said, I think they are 3rd best in the East if healthy. Problem is, without a true elite player, I have no idea how they beat a healthy Miami or Chicago. It means more 2nd round knockouts.
They could get rid of everyone around JJ, but unless you get Kobe for it, there isnt any point. They are pretty much stuck riding out JJ’s contract.
Hog Wild Boars
May 14th, 2012
12:56 pm
JJ should refund the Hawks about half his salary. He got paid to be a 30/10 man and became a 10/5 man. Awful.
tyger
May 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
Josh Smith trade options:
He wants a major city and MAX contract…
He wants to play with Superboy…
He wants publicity…
Sounds alot like Brooklyn to me…
I wouldnt worry so much about the market…
If the LA/NO/HOU fiasco taught us anything…
It is that “Ole’ NBA Magic” is all powerful…
And if the Grand Wizard wants it, he gets it…
So, if Stern blesses Superboy/Smoove to NJ…
They will get a Top 5 pick…and whatever else…
They need to make it happen…
I wouldnt even worry about straight up trades…
They’ll just throw names, teams, picks, in a hat…
And work it out on the back-end…
So, dont be surprised if its a 4 team/12 player deal…
leon
May 14th, 2012
6:53 pm
Some of guys call yourself fans. The hawks were screwed by the nba. You need to go back and watch game 2 and game 6 again. I blame the hawks for folding, but I blame the nba and officials for using a popularity contest to pick who plays in the finals.
Boston didn’t beat the hawks, poor marketability did. They need to stop being nice and start being mad with the way they are looked at by the league office and do something about it.
They are good, but they will never get a call if they don’t have a image that can be sold nationally by the nba. This is why David Stern screwed them. Basketball is not enough, this is still entertainment.
Disgusted
May 14th, 2012
7:06 pm
You are a whiner Leon.
Admit it, you got beat by a better team with better seasoned playoff veterans.
Go Celtics Go.
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!
May 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
I won’t even miss you fair weather fans.
bad refs!
May 14th, 2012
10:58 pm
the hawks are a lot better than boston–they got hosed big time by the celtic-loving refs who want higher tv ratings. larry drew needs to protest.
Buddy Grizzard
May 15th, 2012
1:46 am
From the beat blog:
“If Philly beats Boston – Man, this was our year for the ECF or even beyond – esp. with Bosh maybe out awhile!”
What makes you think ATL would have a snowball’s chance against PHI?
Hawk 7
May 15th, 2012
11:15 am
trade joe and josh to the knicks for melo and some cash. Then, get dwight for 1 year before he goes to LA.
Atlanta Spirit: PLEASE JUST GO AWAY!
May 15th, 2012
1:34 pm
As Atlanta Hawks fans, please tell us when we EVER got any “fair weather” with this franchise!?!
O'Brien
May 15th, 2012
3:15 pm
Look at what OKC did in the draft in a 3 year span.
2007: Kevin Durant (#2), Carl Landry (#31), Glen “big Baby” Davis (#35).
2008: Russell Westbrook (4th), Serge Ilbaka (24th).
2009: James Harden
.
Look what the ASG did in the draft over a 4 year span;
2004: Josh Childress (#6), Josh Smith (#17).
2005: Marvin Williams (#2), Salim Stoudemire (#31)
2006: Shelden Williams (#5)
2007: Al Horford (#3), Acie Law (#11)
No wonder they have been to the WCF, and have another chance to get back this year (maybe get to the NBA finals). Meanwhile, all we have to show for it is 3 appearances in the second round, where we got swept twice.
Ownership is the biggest problem. They do all the hiring.
ryan
May 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
The Hawks were screwed by the officials and Hawks fans are screwed by the ASG so what can we do to have this changed and have a owner like the Clippers have or the Nets Atlanta has had bad owners long enough with Braves and Hawks Atlanta needs to RISE UP AN HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD !
tyger
May 15th, 2012
6:33 pm
PG Playoff Efficiency – as of May 15, 2012
Name PPG Eff
Rondo 15.0 +24.7
Paul 20.4 +23.4
Westbrook 23.2 +22.8
Parker 23.2 +20.3
Lawson 19.0 +19.0
Wade 22.3 +18.7
Holiday 16.9 +17.0
Kidd 11.5 +17.0
Conley 14.1 +15.7
Nelson 15.6 +15.2
Teague 14.0 +14.3
Chalmers 10.5 +12.8
Collison 9.0 +12.8
Sessions 10.5 +8.8
Harris 13.0 +8.3
ForrestTucker
May 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
Marvin showed a heck of a lot in this series. Marvin showed why he was drafted the #1 player in the entire draft by the Hawks. Marvin came to life and helped the Hawks win a couple of games in their series against Boston. The hawks could have beaten the celtics had they believed they were the better team, which they were. The regular season records showed who was the better team: Hawks 40-26, Celtics 39-27. THE HAWKS WERE ONE GAME BETTER THAN THE CELTICS DURING THE REGULAR YEAR, BUT THE HAWKS DOUBTED THEIR ABILITY. THE HAWKS SHOULD WATCH THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER PLAY THE ENTIRE POST SEASON AND WATCH WHAT A TEAM LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE. THEY BEAT OPPONENTS BY DOUBLE-DIGITS EVERY NIGHT. The Hawks could have scorced the Celtics by 20 points in each of their games and the Hawks should have swept the Celtics 4 straight, but the Hawks thought the Celtics were the better team, so the hawks showed a complete lack of confidence and played as though they were defeated before the bell even sounded at the opening tipoff.
JosephCollier
May 16th, 2012
4:24 pm
Marvin Williams shot the ball as good as “Pistol” Pete Maravich during the Celtics series. Marvin discovered why he was a high draft pick in his draft. Marvin also deserves to have his salary DOUBLED when the NBA season begins again this fall.
JackieGleason
May 17th, 2012
11:29 am
I was go glad to see Kobe Bryant lose last night. Both he and LaBron are great players–but they are not as good as Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant and the Thunder play the absolute BEST BRAND OF BASKETBALL I HAVE EVER SEEN. The only other team I saw in the last 30 years that was better was Magics laker SHOWTIME teams of the 80s with Kareem, Worthy and Magic. Other than that, the Thunder has shown me the most exciting brand of basketball I have ever seen in the association. I CANT WAIT UNTIL THE THUNDER ARE CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF THE BASKETBALL WORLD.
PaulWinchester
May 17th, 2012
2:36 pm
I agree “Great One”: I believe that Kevin Durant has gotten CHEATED out of the MVP for 3 straight seasons as he has been the scoring champion for 3 consecutive years. Durant is a team player and spent all summer long improving his jump shot. Now Durant is lethal from inside the half-court marker. Durant is as good a shooter as “Pistol” Pete Maravich was. But because Durant is only 23, Durant will win probably maybe 5 or 6 mvps before his career is over. KEVIN DURANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MVP THIS YEAR. DURANT IS BETTER THAN LABRON EVER WILL BE. LABRON IS A SPOILED BRAT WHO HIDES WHEN CRUNCH TIME COMES BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID TO TAKE THE SHOT.
JJRodriguez
May 17th, 2012
3:08 pm
Kobe is great, Durant is great and so is LaBron. In fact the NBA is so good right now that you have at least 10 players in the league that are as good as Michael Jordan: Kevin Durant; Kobe Bryant; LaBron James, Carmello Anthony; Paul Pierce; Kevin Garnett; Ray Allen, Dirk Norwinski, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli. These 10 players are every bit as good as Jordan was and all should be future hall of famers some day.
BrianHansen
May 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
The Hawks are VERY CLOSE to winning a title. They have 4 guys on their team who will be future HOFers. MARVIN WILLIAMS, JOSH SMITH, AL HORFORD AND JOE JOHNSON. Joe Johnson is the second best closer in the league behind Kobe Bryant; Al Horford has been playing as good as a young Wilt Chamberlain, Josh Smith has been impacting each game as good as LaBron James; and Marvin Williams has been shooting the ball as good as Pistol Pete Maravich. I am pleased with the progress that the Hawks have been making since Mike Woodsen first coached them into the playoffs with a losing record of 37-45. GO HAWKS.
JackWilson
May 18th, 2012
11:59 am
The Miami Heat are done, through, finished, stick a fork in it. I couldnt be happier to see coach Eric Spolster and D-Wade fighting in a confrontation on the sideline; watching LaBron CHOKE at the end of games being undecided and refusing to take the last shots. My question is HOW ARE THE HEAT GOING TO WIN NOT 1, NOT 2, NOT 3, NOT 6, NOT 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN THEY CANT EVEN WIN 1. I hate the heat and I love watching them lose. The Heat are the most hated franchise in the NBA. I couldnt be happier.
Ken Strickland
May 19th, 2012
10:10 am
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2012/5/12/3015954/atlanta-hawks-2012-season-review
Here’s something for those who insist on believing Jamal Crawford could have done more for the team than TMac, Pargo, and WGreen did combined.
Ken Strickland
May 19th, 2012
10:25 am
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1188053-atlanta-hawks-must-keep-core-players-intact
Here’s a must read for all of you TRADE FANATICS who insist we need to break this team up and start over.
Ken Strickland
May 19th, 2012
10:31 am
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/coach-gm-among-hawks-1436328.html
This is just a good informative read.
JackWilson
May 21st, 2012
12:06 pm
Jamal Crawford always went FLAT in the playoffs when he was here in atlanta. The only series in which Jamal was right was the most recent orlando series where we beat them the last time we faced the magic. Other than that, Jamal’s jumper was cold and he couldnt find his rhythm and all he did was turn the ball over and make a fool of himself. He had no choice but to leave town because jamal was easily replaced by tmac, stackhouse, and several others on the end of the bench. you add up all those players points and it still doesnt come up to jamals 20 ppg. Jamal was in it only for the money, just like joe johnson is and thats why the hawks will never have a championship contender as long as they get the wrong type of players