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
The Hawks have me in Shock!
November 19th, 2009
9:30 am
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.
my two nieces do the same thing and the get it for getting A’s, it’s like having season tickets cause their both straight A student’s lol
Suicide lines: Knicks to decide on Iverson today; Dirkus Circus
November 19th, 2009
9:44 am
[...] Mark Bradley, AJC: "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(notes) 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.'" [...]
JD
November 19th, 2009
9:50 am
Haven’t posted in awhile but it’s finally happened. The promise of this team is starting to show itself. There’ve been some growing pains, but there have also been some additions that have stabilized this team. Let’s give some credit to Rick Sund’s signing of Joe Smith, who has come in and probably shown Josh Smith how to play in control and also tempered ZaZa Pachulia’s enthusiasm (as he and Joe Smith were teammates in Milwaukee).
I don’t know if anyone thought everything would fall into place this fast with this team, but surely`
Hawks Fan!
November 19th, 2009
9:55 am
Hawks beat Heat and Crawford only scores 10? And goes like 3-10 or something like that…scary!!! Go ATL!!!!
jokurone
November 19th, 2009
9:57 am
Let’s not count our Championships before they hatch. Teams go through a long season and a lot of factors need to be entered into the equation (injuries,slumps,etc;)With that being said the work ethic exhibited todate is outstanding. They have persevered through the other teams fast starts(Miami)and attempts for a furious end(Blazers OT)to pull those games out.We may have something special(Rathman&Nique) working here. I will be going downtown to witness firsthand the beginning of a new Dynasty called Enter your comments here
Dr. Warren
November 19th, 2009
9:57 am
If the Hawks double this run and go 20-4, they’d only have to go 1 game above .500 the rest of the season to reach 50 wins.
Hawks Fan!
November 19th, 2009
10:01 am
Funny! NBA.com boxscore has us 11-2…serious typo…we like to earn our wins lol…but thanks for the love!! Check link below!
http://www.nba.com/games/20091118/MIAATL/gameinfo.html
Eric
November 19th, 2009
10:02 am
Billy Knight is somewhere smilling, don’t forget the man who put it all together!!!
Dashizz357
November 19th, 2009
10:14 am
All you haters before the season started that wanted coach Woodson’s head, sorry NO ROOM on the band wagon……walk!
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
November 19th, 2009
10:17 am
The Atlanta Hawks will win the NBA East this year. They have only made two recent mistakes. One, they did not resign Mr. Joshus Malik Childress. That was downright stupid. We need Childrerss. Two, they dogged out Billy Knight the same way they dogged out Mr. Wilkens. Now that we have a good team start paying them what they are worth. After they win the division, and the Eastern Conference and possibly the NBA Championship I want the Hawks Management to start paying these players what they are worth. These players pay almost half their money to the Internal Revenue Service, to the State of Georgia Department of Revenue, and to their home state Taxation Agencies and local Taxation agencies. They have to pay property taxes sometimes on two or even three homes (Hopefully one for their mothers, and they have to pay their Income Taxation Accountants, their attorneys, and their agents, and publicists. Their is never any reason for the Hawks not to give them a blank chack when it comes to pay. Give it up Hawks Management and pay these men their fair income!!!!! Give them their money!!!!!
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
November 19th, 2009
10:33 am
As the Atlanta hawks prepare to win the Southeast Division and the NBA Eastern Conference, and possibly the NBA Championpion this year it is important to remember the Hawks made two recent mistakes. One they did not resign Mr. Joshua Malik Childress in 2008 and they push Mr. William R Knoght down the steps. I do like people who do pay their emplyees properly and I do not like people who backstab people (remember the Atlanta Falcons backstab Mr. Vick).
But hopefully the days of backstabbing emplyees is over. I am stil mad as Hell about the way the Hawks backstab Mr. Wilkins the year we should have won the NBA while Mr. Jordan was playing baseball.
Now is the time for the Hawks Management to show these men they appreciate them. These men are paying almost half of their incomes to the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Georgia Department of Revenue. On top of that is additional Income Taxes to their home state and possibly local Income Taxes. On top of the Income Taxes are the thousands of dollars Property Taxes they pay annually for two and sometimes three homes (one for their mothers). Also they have to pay thier Income Taxation Accountants, their attorneys, their agents, and their publicists. All wee demand is that they pay these men all of their money and tell us no excuses!!!!!
Fred R.
November 19th, 2009
11:28 am
Hawks have game. They may very well upset a contender in this postseason and it wouldn’t surprise me. http://tiny.cc/jDQsi
JSasser
November 19th, 2009
11:38 am
If the Atlanta “fans” don’t start completely filling up Phillips arena EVERY GAME then ATL is what a lot of people have said in print “not a good sports town” Bloggers are nice but….. go buy a ticket!!
RG
November 19th, 2009
11:41 am
I was saying a couple of years ago that Woodson needs to go, but he stuck with his program and these guys seem to want to play for him more that ever and it is working. I think if things are still going this well at mid-season he deserves and extention.
CPJ rocks
November 19th, 2009
11:41 am
wow Johnson can coach and dunk? what? oh that is another Johnson, give up the good work, take a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU
John Kontract
November 19th, 2009
11:50 am
Esteemed columnist or some unpaid Hawks expert, please give me the team’s starting five in ‘04-’05.
Not to bring up bad memories, just to appreciate how far the team’s come.
JD
November 19th, 2009
12:14 pm
Sorry for that, my infant got to the keyboard…..
As I was saying, I don’t know if anyone thought everything would fall into place this fast with this team, but surely you’ve got to give the ownership group (as much as they’ve been maligned and dogged for their apparent lack of direction – even though they were going through an internal power struggle with Belkin) and this coaching staff credit for staying the course with this team. We’ve ALL had our differing opinions on Billy Knight (ok, the guy was arrogant, but he was right about knowing a thing or two about basketball) and Mike Woodson and the direction this team was going. Yes, there were some slip ups in the draft (i.e. Sheldon Williams when Brandon Roy was available) but look at where they are now. You’re right, Bradley. Who would have thought that we would be talking about the Atlanta Hawks (and they’re the leading stories on the national media – ESPN and NBATV) so early in the season.
We also must approach this with measured optimism. It IS only November and we really do need to see how this team holds up for the course of the season. But for now, let’s just enjoy the ride. GO HAWKS?!!!!
Farve Dollar Footlong
November 19th, 2009
12:22 pm
I’m glad the Hawks gave Mike Woodson the opportunity to make this team as good as it is. Many pro sports teams give you too few chances to win. They want you to win immediately with a team that they inherited. Mike Woodson is a good coach and kudos to the Hawks for giving him TIME to prove it.
AceDawg
November 19th, 2009
12:37 pm
Go Hawks! I lost interest in basketball when the Dominque Wilkins era ended and Jordan left the Bulls. Now I’m back in the mix and have a lot of faith that you all can be the best. Way to stick with a coach when nobody else would.
FALCON JOSH
November 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
I’m not really a big basketball fan but I just got tickets to see this team!!! Go Hawks
joel marable
November 19th, 2009
12:50 pm
Lets just call al Horford D.D. 4 DOUBLE DOUBLE.THEY ARE PLAYING GREAT,WISH MARVIN COULD TAKE THE BALL TO THE HOLE EVERY NITE INSTEAD OF SOMETIMES.SETTLING 4 JUMPERS.WE NEED AND AUTOAMTIC 14 PT NIGHT FROM HIM.HE HAS BEEN IN THE LEAGUE LONG ENOUGH.AND HOW ABOUT SOME CUTTERS TO THE BASKET WHEN J J STARTS POUNDING THE BALL 2 MUCH.AND LETS WIN WITH DEFENSE EVERYNIGHT.THEY LOOK GOOD BUT NOW TEAMS ARE GONNA START COMMING 4 US NOW.
joel marable
November 19th, 2009
12:51 pm
Enter your comments here
joel marable
November 19th, 2009
12:56 pm
THEY LOOK GOOD BUT WE NEED MARVIN TO GO TO THE HOLE EVERY NITE INSTEAD OF SETTLING 4 THAT JUMPER.HE SHOULD B GOOD 4 14PTS A NITE.HE HAS 2 GIVE US THAT.HOW ABOUT SOME CUTTERS TO THE BASKET WHEN JOE STARTS POUNDING THE BALL AND SIZEING HIS MAN UP.INSTEAD OF STANDING AROUND WATCHING LIKE A FAN.I’VE SEEN THIS A LOT.AND TRY TO WIN WITH DEFENSE EVERYNITE.WE LOOK GOOD BUT TEAMS ARE GONNA START COMMING AT US NOW.PUT ON THE HARD HATS HAWKS.LETS JUST CALL AL HORFORD D.D.FOR MR DOUBLE DOUBLE.
Reggie Reg
November 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
Josh Smith has finally got to the point wher he understands his role. When he starts throwing up threes again….look out. They are fun to watch…Jamal Crawford is the truth!!! Joe please don’t go….you actually look like you are starting to have fun out there. Big Al has matured into a rebounding beast, and I guess Woody finally has the “buy in” he lacked in prior years. Marvin stepped it up last night, but sometimes you barely know he’s playing..gotta change that. Josh please keep your head on straight…you are the key young man. Good luck guys..stay healthy.
tyger
November 19th, 2009
1:24 pm
Kudos to Billy “The Architect” Knight…
is due all the credit – despite not being here to reap his just reward. He was lambasted over taking Marvin over Paul and Shelden over Roy/Gay etc. But look where we are and look where they are.
Knight similarly did wonderful jobs for Indiana and Memphis, yet is on the outside of the NBA looking in. So goes it for the black man….build it up, make it work, and the white guy gets all the money and credit. Ah, such is life, but us hardcore fans know who turned this franchise around – and he ain’t here.
Yes, Sund tweaked the roster and added Crawford, Joe Smith and Collins, but our core group has us in this position and those are Billy’s boys. Yes, Sund did re-sign them, but that was a no-brainer.
In fact, if he could’ve been a bit more tactful we would have Childress and JJ on the books as well, but instead we have Mo Evans and an overpaid Bibby to look forward to.
Mike Woodson
November 19th, 2009
1:50 pm
Can I get an extension for what we do on the court, every year pay me more money!!!
Suicide lines: Knicks to decide on Iverson today; Dirkus Circus | Lancilo USA
November 19th, 2009
2:00 pm
[...] Mark Bradley, AJC: "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(notes) 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.’" [...]
Mike
November 19th, 2009
2:11 pm
Good column Mark. I would however point out that the team really started to turn around when Mike Bibby joined late in the season the year before last. Before he joined, they were headed to another terrible season. They have played above .500 ball ever since. Im not saying he is Michael Jordan, but it seems that a good, experienced point guard is what this team was missing the most.
Last year the problem was depth and still a bit of inexperience. This year, the team is more experienced. They have added more depth with Smith and Crawford. This team is reminding me more and more of the playoff squads of the late 90’s led by Smith, Blaylock, and Mutombo.
Drew
November 19th, 2009
2:16 pm
I’m a 4th year season ticket holder and very proud that the Hawks has improved each year. I really enjoy attending the games and the players efforts each night.
My seats are very close to the players. 4th row. And one thing I’ve notice is that Josh Smith has the worse attitude of any player including most players from the other team. I also went to the autograph signing for season tickets holders and he was the only one that couldn’t manage to put on a smile, not even for the kids. He just looked pissed off the entire time.
The rest of the team was gracious. Everyone was very appreciative and happy to be playing in Atlanta. (Stand outs were Jamal and Al – just terrific attitudes) Not sure how I feel about Josh Smith long term. I know he’s having a good year, but he seriously needs to have an attitude check especially towards the fans that support him.
Regardless, i love the Hawks and the rest of the players!!!
i_am_soulstar
November 19th, 2009
2:39 pm
So glad Marvin decided to join us on this party on the moon. Better late than never.
JOE JOHNSON
November 19th, 2009
2:44 pm
WHO SAID I WASN’T A SUPERSTAR LOL!! LOOK FOR ME TO KILL MORE PLAYERS LIKE THE WADE’S, ROY’S, AND LEBRON’S HA HA HA!!!! WAT UP JOSH????
nique
November 19th, 2009
3:17 pm
no reason joe should have played 38 minutes last night. don’t have confidence that woodson will keep him fresh for the playoffs.
Ray Ellison (from Djibouti)
November 19th, 2009
3:30 pm
I am currently in the Horn of Africa and it is good to see that the Hawks are doing well. A couple of friends and I were talking the other day about how the top 3 teams (Boston, Orlando, and Cleveland) have stacked. I mentioned that Atlanta was in a better position because, even though they acquired Jamal Crawford, their starting lineup has been the same for the past 3 years. Consistency is everything. The one thing Atlanta has lacked was talent on the bench. They have never been more than 7 players deep. I was sad to see Josh Childress go, but as of right now, i probably wouldn’t care to see him back. I believe Woody has proved himself as a coach. He stuck it out and he has improved each year (once again, consistency). If the hawks make the playoffs again, his contract extension should be automatic. As of right now, I’d like to show my support for the hawks and all the teams in the A. Good job and bring us home a Title!!
Vic
November 19th, 2009
3:33 pm
I was one of the people that wanted Woodson fired 2 seasons ago. I think this season is a testament to personnel rather than coaching. I have YET to see Woodson call a timeout and draw up a play that leads to a basket other than J. Johnson going one on one. Any good coach (Avery Johnson) could have them where they are today. They got further in the playoffs last season because they had a good defensive scheme against Wade, and the Heat IS Wade. If he doesn’t score, they don’t win.
I don’t believe the hawks will get to the eastern conference finals (which would show progress) with Joe Johnson being in isolation so much and going one on one. He tends to force his shot sometimes and everyone else is standing around. J. Smith has finally listened to someone about his shot selection. Who is in J. Johnson’s ear about his?
dawgfan13
November 19th, 2009
6:23 pm
I am convinced that the HAWKS are for real. I think they have what it takes to be the East rep in the finals. A few things have to happen though 1. Woodson must find time to groom Teague 2. Josh Smith must stay on his game and shoot better from the free throw line 3. Marvin Williams has to get rolling with his game(think what the Hawks would be with Chris Paul or Darren Williams with out Marvin) and finally stay hungry and mentally tough on the road and dominate at home. If these things happen we could be looking at a magical season.
Kevin Thomas
November 19th, 2009
6:27 pm
I agree with JimR in Forest Park-if you are going to try to build a consistent fan base with your local NBA team, you need their flagship station to have a nighttime signal that goes further than the Tower Place parking lot area in Buckhead. Up here in Kennesaw, you have to rely on Fox Sports or ESPN to get any results on the Hawks.
Kevin Thomas
November 19th, 2009
6:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Tree
November 19th, 2009
10:17 pm
It’s a great move to get rid of Josh Childress.
About nba, atlanta hawks, crawford, eastern | Find me About
November 19th, 2009
10:36 pm
[...] 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, …Read Original Story: The soaring Hawks: From worst to first in 4-1/2 years – Atlanta Journal C… [...]
riley hawkins
November 20th, 2009
8:31 am
the hawks have not played their best yet–these guys are on a mission
About houston rockets, hawks win, smith, atlanta hawks, crawford | Find me About
November 21st, 2009
4:32 am
[...] 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, …Read Original Story: The soaring Hawks: From worst to first in 4-1/2 years – Atlanta Journal C… [...]
About houston rockets, seventh, hawks win, josh smith, atlanta hawks | Find me About
November 21st, 2009
12:30 pm
[...] 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, …Read Original Story: The soaring Hawks: From worst to first in 4-1/2 years – Atlanta Journal C… [...]
Dwyane Wade Shavlik Randolph Time Scorer
November 29th, 2009
1:25 am
[...] The soaring Hawks: From worst to first in five years | Mark Bradley [...]