The soaring Hawks: From worst to first in 4-1/2 years
Here's another Smoove move. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Hawks won their 10th game of the nascent season Wednesday night. In 2004-05, this franchise managed 13 victories over 82 games. A team once so far down it had to improve to get lousy is now, with the same coach and same power forward, tied with Phoenix for the NBA’s best record.
Said Mike Woodson, the coach in question: “I’ll never forget those 13 wins. I’ll never forget walking into the locker room and seeing those faces, knowing we couldn’t win many games.”
We knew the Hawks would improve. When you’re 13-69, you can get no worse. But did anyone expect the Hawks to get better in quite this way?
Jamal Crawford didn’t. A pro since 2000, he saw those Hawks firsthand. Did he foresee that woebegone bunch becoming the team that has become the league-wide talking point of the 2009-10 season? “I’d be lying if I said I did. You knew they’d get better. You just didn’t know it would be that fast.”
Five years sounds like a long time, and when you were losing at an epic rate it felt longer still. But think about this: It was only two seasons ago that these Hawks were still losing, but they’ve gone from 37-45 to 47-35 to 10-2 without changing a starter. They haven’t traded for Shaq or signed LeBron. They’ve done it the hard way. They’ve done it the way no NBA team ever does it.
Crawford again: “They’ve grown. They’ve gotten better [as individuals] these last couple of years, and they’ve put some pretty good pieces around them.”
Jamal Crawford is one such piece. He’s a proven NBA scorer who has never played in a playoff game, and he came here because he believed this team could win big. (Think about that. A seasoned pro suddenly sees Atlanta as a stairway to heaven.) He’s both sixth man and third-leading scorer, and if you’ve got that kind of guy playing in reserve you’ve got yourself a ballclub.
The Hawks have themselves a ballclub. With the national media descending on Philips Arena for Wednesday’s game, the Hawks gave a demonstration of what they’ve become. Tied at 35 with 6-1/2 minutes left in the second quarter, they led 60-43 at the half. They scored outside, scored underneath, stole the ball and ran the floor and left a team graced by Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley looking comparatively untalented.
Twelve times they’ve played, and 10 times they’ve won. And it isn’t as if they’ve been playing dogs. Six victories have come against teams with winning record. Over the past six days they’ve beaten Boston (9-3), Portland (8-4) and now Miami (7-4). This 10-2 has been achieved on merit.
And it has been achieved via a commodity not valued highly in modern sports: persistence. The Hawks didn’t always pick the right guy in the lottery, and they made their biggest acquisitions by landing the Phoenix Suns’ fourth-best player (Joe Johnson, in case you’ve forgotten) and a point guard who seemed to have lost two steps (Mike Bibby). And somehow this starting lineup has become a thing of balanced beauty, and now there’s a second unit to backstop it.
And the coach who was 116 games under .500 after four seasons has managed to turn into a mixmaster of the first rank. After so much shared losing, you’d figure Woodson and his men would have tuned each other out by now, but they’re playing harder for him in 2009 than they did in 2006. Which almost never happens.
Much of what the Hawks are doing indeed beggars belief, but only in theory. When you see this team on the floor, you don’t think, “I don’t get how this team is 10-2.” You think, “I understand compeletely.” Because the team that was once so bad is just this good. Yes it is.
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143 comments Add your comment
Political Man
November 19th, 2009
4:05 am
One thing is going to help. The talent in the NBA seems to have dissapated and gotten old. Look at Detroit, Boston, Miami – old and creaky. Orlando – doesn’t have the edge of last year. Cleveland – is Shaq really going to help, or is it still a one man band. The Hawks are young and athletic and have continuity. If they have the guts, they could win it all. That’s what it always comes down to in sports – guts.
happy fan
November 19th, 2009
5:18 am
I think some of the credit should go to the lawyers who finally beat the crap out of Belkin in court.
felix the cat
November 19th, 2009
5:46 am
As a falcons season ticket holder.. I confess the hawks are the better birds in the ATL
NikkiFree
November 19th, 2009
5:58 am
We ALL need to get down to the Highlight Factory and support these guys. They are doing their thang! They are even winning on the road now. Go Hawks!!!!
Snowman
November 19th, 2009
6:00 am
Enter your comments here
Bless you Mark Bradley, bless you!!!. Great article!!! Finally a fair and honest article that is extremely positive and you can feel the “pride” from both the way you covered the story and the “pride” the team has about where they are and where they came from!!!!
Mr. Schultz has NOT written a story since before a few days prior to opening day (see below). It has to be killing him to watch how well the Hawks and especially coach Woodson are doing. I know it is a long, long season and there wll be some bumps in the road, however so far so good after just 12 games into the new season.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/10/27/woodson-johnson-on-the-spot-as-hawks-open-season/
Here was my response to that article (see below). He has ripped coach Woodosn and the Hawks for years and I am so glad you and Sekou recognize where this ball club was and where they are currently and how that they have gotten better and better each year under coach Woodson. Coach has had a plan all the time, period, and he has continued to work that plan until he can bring a championship to Atlanta (I can’t believe I just said that because that was unthinkable just 6 short years ago!!!!).
Thanks Mark for an OUTSTANDING article. GO HAWKS and congratulations coach Woodson and his terrific coaching staff (Drew, Bender, Todd, Hill and Price…sounds like a law firm huh?…smile…great job gentlemen!!!) . Hopefully Jeff Schultz (Mr. freakin negative or Debbie Downer, which ever he prefers and both apply) has been removed from writing and covering the Hawks!!!!!! Again, thanks Mark and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Snowman
October 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
Well, well, well hello to “Hawk Nation” and I hope everyone had a good off season (even you Jeff although I was very surprised to see you were still with the paper…interesting). I wonder if there was another writer who wrote for the AJC who constantly criticized your writing and asked repeatedly to have you replaced and implied you have not done a good job even though things improved every year while you were there even to the point that you were among the the top 25% of the writers in the country. When not too long ago you were ranked at the absolute bottom, how you would like it?
I wonder if that writer would be “fair and balanced” (no pun intended) if every single frickin time they wrote about you, no matter what, the writer was saying how bad a job you are doing…hhhmmmm!!! Again, I wonder if you would think that writer had an agenda or it was personal. You have been an absolute jerk Jeff (seriously) when it comes to your balanced reporting on Woody. Not the Hawks or the current GM, just Wood…hhmmmm!!! With all of the current talent out there with Newspapers closing, cutting back and so forth, I am certain the AJC could find a much better writer than you and even you would have to agree to that, right? Take Tony K and Mike Wilbon to name a couple from our paper here locally and I know Tony has resigned from the Post. By the way, there talent would CRUSH yours. Why don’t I ever see you on any of the national shows for geust spots and expertise occasionally (like they do on the Sports Reporters or Around the Horn or the Colin Cowher show?), Just wondering?
Jeff, you should be removed, Fired!!! If I or you had a child in a physics or calculus class, who got off to a very, very slow start, and over the school year, studied hard, asked for help, kept working, met with the teacher, got some tutoring, stayed positive, formed a study group and over the year their grades got better and better and by the end of the school year was one of the top 8 students in a 32 student class, I and you would praise and compliment and really appreciate what they has accomplished!!! This is exactly what coach Woodson has done over a 6 year period with the Hawks. That is a hard job and he has done very well, given the degree of difficulty!!! Again, I live in a town, that has a football team, the Skins, whose coach and team has been terrible and we are not as hard on him as you are on Woodson. He deserves it, Woody does not.
Finally, that is why I agree with Russ, you are unfair, and if anyone should be replaced it’s you!!! In fact, I wish AJC ran a Poll; here are a couple of questions: should Jeff Schultz be fired? If AJC could get a top writer or whatever your position is, should he be replaced? Who thinks Jeff is fair and balanced in his coverage of coach Woodson. I am done with asking you to be fair, I have moved to wanting you fired!!! I wonder if the Mayor, Shirley Franklin, Mr. Brave, Hank Aaron, Mr. Hawk, Dominique, and the honorable Andrew Young feel the same as allot of us that you should be fired or at a minimum extremely unfair in your writing about coach. I am the “official band leader” for you being removed completely or to another part of the paper at a minimum. Again, I would feel a little different if you criticized other parts of the organization equally, then I could conclude it was not personal.
Kudos to Russ, Derek, Mitch!!! Remember the Big 3 (Boston, Cleveland and Orlando) are really, really good. The Hawks could win 50 plus games this season and be better than last year and still lose in the 2nd round and the season still be a whopping success and coach should get a ticker tape parade, c’mon who are we kidding, it was not long ago we were the Clippers and now we are like a Utah or better!!!
Ernest
November 19th, 2009
6:05 am
Another GREAT blog/article Mark!!! To me, this was a key statement:
It was only two seasons ago that these Hawks were still losing, but they’ve gone from 37-45 to 47-35 to 10-2 without changing a starter.
To do this, you MUST have patience and allow the players to continue developing chemistry with one another. You must believe you have a good ‘mix’ of players that know their roles and play within the concept of the team. When you have pieces that may not fit and/or excess in certain areas, you make trades to shore up areas you are deficient in. Doing this is tough when you have fans and the media clamoring for ‘quick fixes. Congrats to the Atlanta Spirit for sticking with the plan. Are we fully there yet? Only time will tell. I believe we have a foundation in place that will result in the Hawks consistently competing for a NBA title.
Benjamin
November 19th, 2009
6:11 am
The most promising sign, to me (knock on wood):
After several seasons in the NBA, Josh Smith finally seems to be getting it. He shot — and naturally, missed — his first three pointer of the season last night, twelve games in. He’s not trying to lead fast breaks down the floor with his teammates behind him screaming at him to stop dribbling and just hand the ball off. He’s focusing more on his natural-born talents and strengths rather than trying to create them on the fly. He’s just playing with reckless abandon right now, and that opens things up for the rest of the team.
As of right now, I’d be hard-pressed to not have three Hawks on the All-Star team. Josh, Joe J., and Al are all bona fide candidates for that honor, and Crawford is looking like a strong candidate for the 6th Man award, as well. It’s only 12 games, but this is the most fun I’ve had as an Atlanta sports fan in a long time.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 19th, 2009
6:15 am
It will be a interesting winter around these parts.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 19th, 2009
6:19 am
And what if the Hawks only lost 13 these year???
seed
November 19th, 2009
6:35 am
I appreciate this article Bradley. Nice to see which media guy is willing to be the first to say, “hey… wait a second… maybe everyone is wrong about this or that”
The Spirit has gone from being laughing stocks to gold standard. Eventually we will think of the adage “you learn the most about people when times are bad”. Well, turns out this ownership group went thru some of the most unimaginable stuff an ownership can go through and, in the end, so much turned out good.
Thanks so much for the courage of Billy Knight. Also gotta save a special place for some of that arrogance. It took a lot of guts to make the decisions he made, but I am glad he did and I am very thankful. Not just for today, but the thrilling ascent of this team starting in that Boston series, watching the carry over last year, the great start this year, and most unique of all, the shining future that many teams do not have.
Rick Sund has been awesome. This is like a fairy tale. The skill it takes to waltz in and tweek here and tweek there on what the nation thought was a crazy plan and idea is remarkable.
Looking like a great organization gentlemen. But now the real scrutiny starts.
Don’t stop shootin’ Joe!
You to Marvin…
Now about Josh and Al… These two guys are playing like Bandits. It’s always the same two suspects. Other teams may have their “superstars”, but we now have a squad that will flock to your star and recon with’em
How good was Joe Smith on defense when Miami tried to set picks… beautiful
The Real Hawk
November 19th, 2009
6:45 am
Marvin: 39% shooting, 28% 3pt shooting, 5 reb, and more turnovers than steals or assists. All in 29 mins. Is that enough?
Black Lab
November 19th, 2009
6:51 am
Great article….what is really key here are the “merit wins.” ATL has them over Blazers, Celts, Denver, and Heat. Looking forward to Houston and Orlando on TV. Went to the New Orleans game last SAT. What a blast to see LIVE the passing and communication on the floor by this group!
Jay
November 19th, 2009
6:52 am
Miami will eliminate them. Watch and see buddy.
RB
November 19th, 2009
7:00 am
My apologies to coach Woodson.I was in the group 2 years ago calling for his head. He has evolved into a very good coach. The Hawks have had that same evolution. Woody, please accept my apology!
JustaThought
November 19th, 2009
7:05 am
All right,Snowman! You might want to slow your roll buddy. One of the main purpose of a blog writer is to excite the masses, to get them to READ and COMMENT on the blogs(ie just like you do……). So if they all right the SAME opinion every day, not onlt would it be BORING, you my friend would not get on here and rant and rave like you do.
Michael Johnson
November 19th, 2009
7:09 am
Great jobs hawks. Someone in Atlanta needs to win a professional championship.
war jacket
November 19th, 2009
7:09 am
…and another thing. You forgot to mention the heart these guys play with. Al Horford and Josh Smith bring it every night ane every time down the court. Offensive rebounding is mostly heart, and did you see them battle Oden and Alredge the other night against Portland? Throw Pachulia in there as well. Doesn’t have near the raw talent as the other two, but plays on guts and HEART.
Love watching these guys.
yardie
November 19th, 2009
7:10 am
Hold your horses yall. Lets see how they handle the Magic. That’s what I am waiting on. I still remember that last pre-season game.
JustaThought
November 19th, 2009
7:20 am
Besides, what’s Schultzy going to say that all those other ass wipes (Tony K and Wilbon and all the other mouth pieces) are not saying? That’s right, he’ll be saying the same damn thing (opinions are like asses and elbows……everybody’s got’em). As bad as the Hawks have been, he should have been fired. IMHO, the reason he wasn’t is because who the hell was they going to hire? Remember, basically since the ASG has taken ownership of the organization they have been in an ugly internal power struggle. So no real coach would have taken the job, so they (Woody and ASG) have been stuck with each other for the most part.
Maurice
November 19th, 2009
7:26 am
Enter your comments here
JustaThought
November 19th, 2009
7:36 am
And just in case you didn’t know…………it’s just November, barely 15 games into the season. So how about letting 3 or 4 more months pass before you GIVE them a championship.
#1 GT fan
November 19th, 2009
7:41 am
LETS GO HAWKS…………. LETS GO HAWKS………….. LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommy
November 19th, 2009
7:49 am
Let’s not jinx it, but. . . .
The Braves went 86-76 this year. The Hawks look great, the Falcons still look like a 9-10 win team despite the injuries, and the Thrashers are 10-6-1.
If they keep it up, it will be the first time all four had winning seasons in the same year.
Shhhh. . . . .
Mark Bradley
November 19th, 2009
7:49 am
Nobody is giving the Hawks a championship. I mean, let’s get real. But if you can’t get excited about a 10-2 start featuring six victories over winning teams … well, you’re just looking to pick nits.
Bandwagon
November 19th, 2009
7:51 am
Kudos on the win Hawks!
1st JJ has a plan for his season. Put it on cruise control for most games, sit back and watch the rest of the team take turns beating opponents. Then when a superstar guard arrives he steps up his game and dominates them. He understands he doesn’t have to do it every night any more. I predict he will be a force to deal with come playoff time if he can continue to save his body for when his team needs that overwhelming effort he can provide. This should be a fun season for him.
Thanks Billy Knight for liking a certain style of player. Tall, quick, athletic with long wing spans. You have put together the core of this team that is starting to show why they were drafted.
Thanks Rick Sund for seeing what you had to start with and sticking with them. By adding carefully you have created a team that is quickly gaining acclaim. It is funny how it is the same basic team.
That credit goes to the coach and players. They have listened to RW and have all made the effort every off season to improve their game. This year it is starting to come together and they will all benefit from the effort. I expect many awards for lots of players as the season goes on.
GO HAWKS!!!
brent a.
November 19th, 2009
8:01 am
You have to give the Hawks credit for staying the course.
Remember how badly the Joe Johnson trade was panned when Boris Diaw won the MIP?
But, just two years later, the joke seemed to be on Phoenix when the Hawks landed the protected #3 pick in the draft, as opposed to falling to 4 or lower it was one of the deepest drafts of the decade.
The ability to add Al Horford in that draft, as opposed to the pick going to Phoenix, was key in allowing the Hawks to finally put together a legitimate starting 5.
Joe Johnson continues to shine, Josh Smith is finally playing is role, and not trying to step outside of what the team needs him to do, Bibby continues to play solid, and now, drafting Shelden Williams doesn’t look quite so bad, Marvin Williams will never be Chris Paul, but that isn’t his fault – he can play, and then, acquiring the likes of Joe Smith (solid veteran) and a great spark off the bench in Jamal Crawford (an upgrade form Fliip Murray) and the Hawks throw 7 legitimate players at you, and I still haven’t mentioned Zaza Pachulia.
I still think this team lacks the star power, both on the court, and on the sidelines to make the Conference Finals; however, this year, I don’t think the Hawks will merely be happy to win a round; but instead, I think they will compete strongly in round 2, forcing a 7 game series from Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando.
WW
November 19th, 2009
8:02 am
1st…now it is not annoying.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
November 19th, 2009
8:12 am
Remember when everyone said this guy couldn’t coach and that he needed to go, even some of our esteemed AJC reporters called for his job and doubted his effectiveness….Did he just all of sudden learn to coach????….Its athletes, athletes, athletes who play the game and make the plays…..Sound familiar with what is happening in Athens with the football team??? These guys are good coaches, did they all of a sudden forget how to coach??? They don’t have (due to some recruiting mistakes) the same players they had 2-3 years ago….Blame them, if you want, for making mistakes recruiting (which is really a crap shoot) but they have not forgotten how to coach…..Full confidence here in Coach Richt and all the Bulldog coaches….Every Dawg will have his day!!!!!
Leita Cowart
November 19th, 2009
8:12 am
Nice photo!! Curtis!!
Robert
November 19th, 2009
8:13 am
Well said 1st place gotta love it
mountain_jim
November 19th, 2009
8:15 am
Joe and the Hawks on the ESPN front page right now – Taking Flight!
When’s the next national tv game? That’s when I will get to see them here in NC next.
Holy Cow
November 19th, 2009
8:19 am
To follow teams through awful seasons, rookie players, and blowouts, but to improve year to year, add a key player, have one big win in a season or playoffs, put together a good season, and finally make a run at the title is great and something you never forget.
F-105 Thunderchief
November 19th, 2009
8:23 am
As recently as this preseason, I thought it would take a coaching change to see this type of performance. And, it’s still early, but it feels like what we’ve seen is what this team is. Hats off to Woody and to Sund for giving him more to work with.
j
November 19th, 2009
8:25 am
This team doesn’t have much left to prove … just keep winning … even if they do lose to orlando on Thanksgiving, it’s not going to take away from what they’ve done
Chris
November 19th, 2009
8:29 am
So if the Hawks manage to win it all this season does Steve Belkin get a championship ring? or would that be solved in court? I’d be interested just to see David Stern hand over that trophy to the ASG so I can figure out who owns this team.
IceFan
November 19th, 2009
8:30 am
I know it’s only 12 games, but WOW! This team is deep and exciting to watch. I think it was the first or second quarter last night where we had 3-4 dunks off of steals or offensive putbacks. That flip up alley-oop from Bibby to J Smoove was ridiculous.
Always been a fan, but it’s really easy to be now.
IceFan
November 19th, 2009
8:34 am
I know it’s early, but WOW! Always supported the team but I actually look forward to watching games now. Some of those hustle plays in the first half were ridiculous. Looks like this team is in sync and ready to make a serious run.
Mark Bradley
November 19th, 2009
8:35 am
He sure would. He’s still an owner.
Jim R
November 19th, 2009
8:43 am
How about a radio station to match the Hawks? I live in Forest Park and all I get is a word here and there. If this team is one of the elites we need an upgrade to a station worthy of them. There are actually folks out here that would listen that don’t have satellite or cable. Go Hawks. JR.
MikeB
November 19th, 2009
8:49 am
I’m proud to say that I’m a Hawks fan. But I must admit that enduring the losing was hard. Stay on top Hawks. The city will get behind you!
Dap01
November 19th, 2009
8:50 am
Great article MB. This team has potential to be even better. Woody seems to be getting better and better. Crawford will continue to improve. Marvin will improve and be a great shooter even if he gets limited shots. Josh and AH will get better. Teague will improve and by year’s end, add a great and fast element to the team.
Go Hawks!
Mark Bradley
November 19th, 2009
8:53 am
I have to say I was very excited when the NBA came to XM Satellite Radio. Because that way I can hear Steve Holman again.
Mark Bradley
November 19th, 2009
8:53 am
And I never thought I’d have a hankering to hear Holman. (I’m kidding! Kidding, I say!)
Crashing the Glass
November 19th, 2009
8:54 am
For more Hawks-related reading-
http://crashingtheglass.com/
Dominique Wilkens
November 19th, 2009
8:59 am
HEAT CHECK!!!!!!!!
KSEE
November 19th, 2009
9:00 am
LETS GO HAWKS! Keep playing tough…Keep playing Smart…. KEEP WINNING!!!!!!!!
bali smith
November 19th, 2009
9:09 am
good article on the hawks win and season but where is Sekou and his take on the Hawks
Manny
November 19th, 2009
9:18 am
Not to pat myself on the back, but I never wanted Woodson to be fired. The reason why was simple: They kept getting better with him.
I remember the first year that he coached. They looked better than that first year, but I thought that I could have made the Hawks better if I was the coach. I caught a couple of games that year because my two sons read a couple of books and the library gave us two tickets for each child… for two Hawks games and one Thrashers game. (Seriously. And they were good seats, too.) They were athletic and young. But they were playing hard.
But then I remember that season where they went to the playoffs. Many people were calling for Woodson to be fired. But I saw something in Boston: I looked at the eyes of two people- Josh Smith and Al Horford. Al looked like he was going to cry. Josh Smith was so angry that it looked like someone kidnapped his child inside of a Walmart.
Look… that crowd was crazy, but I saw them looking around- taking it all in. At that moment, I knew that that moment was something good and pivotal for the Hawks.
Last year, they beat the Heat, but they got blown out by the Cavs. People once again called for Woodson to get fired. I was upset with him because I thought he should have used his bench more. He showed an absolute lack of confidence in his bench. I thought that was bad coaching, but I didn’t want him to be fired. Why? Because the Hawks were getting better. I thought that they should give him some bench players that Woodson could have confidence in. I saw that loss as Woodson’s maturing as a coach and we need to give him that latitude in order to build a better team.
And here we are: a strong, athletic team where the nucleus have played together for a few years. We have a better bench. We have continuity and stability on the coaching staff. We emphasize defense and rebounding. We have multiple players in double figures every game. We have a vet on the bench that can score on anyone and can take anyone off the dribble.
In short, this is a good thing, but this is merely a culmination of the building blocks that was started years ago amid bad records, controversial acquisitions (signing Joe Johnson), anger and turmoil among coaches and players (see Josh Smith), and calls for the removal of the head coach (FIRE MIKE WOODSON!!!!)
The Hawks have me in Shock!
November 19th, 2009
9:27 am
It has been a GREAT week at work , I always root for the Home team, good or bad and right now I’m in sport’s heaven, I don’t wanna come back down, don’t pinch me, just leave me with my Mookie Blaylock jersey in the corner!!
Keith
November 19th, 2009
9:29 am
Best stat of the night, Joe Johnson with less than 40 minutes in the game.