The Hawks pick a lousy time to unleash a rotten effort
When Udonis Haslem lights you up for 17 points, you're not trying very hard. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Before the game, Mike Woodson spoke of the need for an increased level of commitment if his Hawks are to win the Southeast Division. Afterward, Josh Smith said this:
“It’s kind of frustrating when you don’t even give yourselves a chance. We didn’t really come to play today.”
The Hawks are a good team that comes to play most every game. This was an exception, an egregious one. They lost by 18 points to the sub-.500 Miami Heat on a night when Dwyane Wade scored eight points under his average. They lost scoring 27 points in the first quarter and 49 thereafter. They assured themselves of being in second place in their division at the All-Star break, which is not where they want or need to be.
Woodson pregame: “We’re right where we want to be. We’ve closed the gap on the top three teams, and now we’ve got to make a serious push and be committed. After the All-Star break, we have to really concentrate on trying to win our division … Somehow we’ve got to try to get the second spot [in the East].”
Woodson postgame: “We had a just awful fourth quarter [12 points] … We had a good meeting right here [after the game]. We talked about how we’ve got to be committed these last 31 games.”
No, Jamal Crawford didn’t play — he woke up with a sore shoulder — and neither did Zaza Pachulia. But the Hawks lost by 18 points on their floor to an indifferent opponent. There’s no excuse for that no matter how many subs you’re missing. There’s no excuse for letting Miami reserve Daequan Cook score as many points in 65 seconds as your entire bench did in the game.
Even good teams have lousy nights, but this was a particularly lousy time to unleash this. The Hawks had won a tough game over a good young opponent in Memphis on Tuesday, and they had a chance to head into the break on a four-game run. Instead they authored one of those bewildering efforts of pre-breakthrough days.
The Heat threw up a little zone defense and the Hawks could manage only 27 baskets in 48 minutes. Joe Johnson needed 21 shots to score 16 points. Marvin Williams needed 11 shots to score 11 points. The game was tied with 8 1/2 minutes left, whereupon the Hawks managed but five points — five! — the rest of the way.
Said Al Horford: “We just gave it away. But this could be good for us in the long run — it could get us refocused.”
The first 50 games of the 2009-2010 season were better than we could have dreamed. The 51st was worse than we could have imagined. It would be wrong to let one rotten effort overshadow the good work of the past four months, but there cannot be any more losses like this if the Hawks are to take the Southeast and claim the No. 2 seed in the East. The stakes are higher, and the margin for error thinner.
This team has a chance to play for the Eastern Conference title, but the next 31 games will shape the postseason. (Will they have the homecourt edge in two rounds, or just one? Will they get Cleveland in Round 2, or someone else?) Even as we salute these Hawks for having come so far, we cannot help but look on this one game and say: That was a performance culled from a past we hoped had been buried.
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63 comments Add your comment
Paul in RDU
February 10th, 2010
10:30 pm
Could I be 1st?
CT
February 10th, 2010
10:30 pm
This loss just showed how important Crawford is to our success.
Paul in RDU
February 10th, 2010
10:30 pm
Couldn’t resist – I won’t do that again!
Mark Bradley
February 10th, 2010
10:31 pm
You could, Paul in RDU. Kudos.
Mark Bradley
February 10th, 2010
10:32 pm
Crawford is vastly important, CT. But when it’s tied in the fourth quarter and you’re at home, your starters should be able to carry you.
Section 303
February 10th, 2010
10:33 pm
Mark, the Hawks deserve to be ripped up and down after tonight. Like you said, it looked like one of those dog efforts we used to see back in ‘06 or ‘07.
Also, I am sick of hearing about how Crawford did not play. I listened to Sam Raden on 790 thezone whine about that the entire drive home. The Hawks have beaten teams with key injuries this year (Hornets without Paul, Celtics without Garnett), does not mean the games don’t count. Grow up. No excuse is a good enough excuse for tonight’s weak, weak, weak effort. Nice way to put a good taste in everyone’s mouth before the break.
Plus, you know they will go out west and crap the bed. But, I’m sure there will be plenty of excuses going around…always is for this team.
Really, they should refund my money and the money of anyone else who was there tonight. Just a complete debacle.
Mark Bradley
February 10th, 2010
10:34 pm
You play with who you have on a given night, Section 303. Last I checked, the Hawks weren’t missing a single starter.
Paul in RDU
February 10th, 2010
10:35 pm
Thanks Mark – Now I can go back to the Duke-UNC game. Thank God we have Raycom up here in the Triangle and I don’t have to listen to Dookie V
Section 303
February 10th, 2010
10:39 pm
That was my point exactly, Mark. You got that, right?
Dayman
February 10th, 2010
10:40 pm
NO BENCH
Wes
February 10th, 2010
10:49 pm
Mo Evans and a draft pick for Tayshaun Prince (and cash, whatever it takes). The team needs more energy off the bench, and Tayshaun is a proven scorer and great defender.
cdog
February 10th, 2010
11:02 pm
now rick sund, after that stupid, dumb so- called performance, do you still think the hawks need to stand pat and not trade for anybody? even though crawford was out, an NBA team does not stink up their own home court the way the hawks did tonight. you apparently are satisfied so you want to finish in 4th place, get put out and then you will blame mike woodson when the problem is you.
llf
February 10th, 2010
11:09 pm
Here’s a big news flash for the AJC. The University of Georgia has fielded a men’s basketball team, and the are playing games! You might consider having someone cover the team — at least on game days.
Mark Bradley
February 10th, 2010
11:33 pm
I got it, Section 303. I was merely seconding the emotion.
Eric
February 11th, 2010
12:07 am
It’s all mental, the Hawks still don’t think they can win when they play back to back games. This is another step to becoming an elite team instead of an average one.
Mark Bradley
February 11th, 2010
12:12 am
That’s a salient point, Eric. The really good teams don’t make excuses on back-to-backs. They just show up and play.
LY Munz
February 11th, 2010
12:16 am
Mark,
Any chance we can rid ourselves of Marvin at the deadline. If this team had even a halfway decent sf imagine where they would be. I am completely fine letting Crawford start and having Mo Evans coming off the bench. If we can turn Marvin into a Haywood type to guard Howard, Shaq, etc. I think it would be huge for this teams chances.
As presently composed, I think we are overvaluing them a little to feel they will have a chance at the East finals without 2nd round homecourt. Marvin Williams provides absolutely nothing to this team and I can’t stand the fact that the ATL media doesn’t call him out more.
For a #2 picks he has to be giving more then he has been. He may be a nice guy but he is completely clumsy and can do no more then hit a wide open shot, although even that has become rarer these days.
I hated signing him to an extension when we did it and hated it even more now. It reinforced for me just how little creativity most NBA gms lack. Rather then take a chance on somebody else, Sund took the easy route and gave the bust Marvin a 5 year deal. While he deserves a ton of credit for Crawford, that Marvin money could have been spent much more wisely and will haunt us for years. He is in his 5th year in the league and if he hasn’t figured it out by now I’m sorry to tell you it just will not be happening. He is destined to be a 9 pt 5 reb type of guy who’s role should be a spot sub for a good sf. Absolutely pathetic choice by Knight but still not as horriffic as Shelden Williams. Sorry for the rant but had to get it out.
Mark Bradley
February 11th, 2010
12:29 am
I don’t think Marvin’s trade value has ever been lower.
tyler
February 11th, 2010
12:57 am
I can’t remember ever seeing a team this talented lose so many games it shouldn’t. We have proven that we can beat the good teams (minus orlando and cleve) but it’s these winnable games against mediocre teams that we can’t seem to find any consistency. Jamal being out does hurt but come on, like you said- we had all of our starters. Although- I will say that Crawford is a 6th man only in name alone. He should start- but that’s another topic and quite frankly not that big of a deal. Anyway- we should be sitting on 36, 37 wins right now.
lady j 80
February 11th, 2010
1:54 am
The Hawks are a good team but not a great team. They have had their opportunities this first half to have a healthy lead over Orlando and should be running away with second place in the East because the Celtics are nothing close to the team they were when they won the championship. However, the Hawks are sitting in 4th place because they are not winning the games they should dominate and they are very inconsistent. The Hawks certainly need to make some trades to improve the sf position, point guard, and bench. Without Jamal Crawford, the Hawks have NO bench. The Hawks have the potential to be an elite team. However, success is not built on potential alone. It takes hard work, consistency,committement, and focus. Once they add that along with a few missing pieces in terms of players then i will BOLDLY say that i smell a championship title here in the ATL.
BirdDawg
February 11th, 2010
3:27 am
“The Hawks are a good team that comes to play most every game. ” Are you serious? This statement is laughable at best. The Hawks are a good team that comes to play for stretches of most games and none of others. I’ve watched a lot of their games and I’ve yet to see a complete effort out of this team for 48 minutes. Give them credit for winning 33 out of the first 51 games, a great accomplishment, but still far below what they’re capable of if they apply themselves and actually correct their deficiencies instead of just talk about them. This team has been outplayed less than ten times this season, Orlando and Los Angeles being the most glaring examples. All other losses have been due to a lack of effort for most or all of the game and that is simply unacceptable. Cleveland loses two of their top three players and they don’t miss a beat. Why? Because they all play hard every minute of every game no matter the situation. Because their All-Star instills a sense of urgency in his team every night with his play and effort. The Hawks have yet to display that and until they do, they will never reach their full potential and they certainly won’t sniff an NBA Title. The Hawks are arguably the second most talented team in the league next to the Lakers, but their effort places them below teams with much less talent at their disposal.
Dr. Warren
February 11th, 2010
4:02 am
Injuries weren’t why the Hawks lost last night. But we should note: the Hawks have stayed miraculously injury-free this year. Boston has a better record with major injuries. Ditto for Orlando. What happens in the last 30 games if someone goes down?
DeepDiver
February 11th, 2010
4:44 am
So Crawford didn’t play. This is still basically the same team (minus Flip Murray and Zaza) that blew out the Heat three times at home in last year’s playoffs. The Heat played the night before as well so that excuse doesn’t hold water. You would have wanted the Hawks to show some fire in this one given the drubbing they took in Miami earlier this year.
Still, nice first half. Put this stinker behind us and move forward, but we definitely owe them now.
joe
February 11th, 2010
7:46 am
the hawks are soft defensively and and predictable offensively. too often someone has their best game of the season against the hawks(both in points and rebounds). bibby is the worst defensive guard in the nba and can not even hit an open jump shot . JJ is a good player who thinks he is a great player. Marvin is invisable( 2ent overall pick,ouch) Josh gives effort, but still has no jump shot, and Al gets run over by anything resembling an nba center. all this together and the hawks should be thankful they are 15 games over .500
Rock Preston
February 11th, 2010
8:08 am
LY Munz and Joe are spot on. I 2nd that emotion!!
Martin Calloway
February 11th, 2010
8:19 am
Would love to see one of the Hawks’ owners explain to an Atlanta fan why they should pay money to watch that effort(?) last night. Even Woodson looked indifferent. Maybe they’re underpaid in this economy. Why not run West out there more to illustrate what’s needed?
Jay
February 11th, 2010
8:33 am
This team just needs a more consistent shooter at the SF. I still plead for Coron Butler, but Mark do you think maybe Tracy McGrady could come and play the 3??
WonderDawg
February 11th, 2010
8:35 am
I’ve watched every quarter of the Hawks games the past 2 years. They are so much better now than last year, mainly because of Crawford and Josh’s improvements. However, this cast will not win the east without a true big man. Horford cannot guard big post-up players. O’neal, Howard, and even last night’s O’neal give him fits. They win occasionally, but will not win a series against a team with a big center. The Hawks should try to trade him and a couple of draft picks for Kevin Love. That would give them improved defense in the middle, another shot blocker, as well as another 3-point shooter. Just my opinion.
WonderDawg
February 11th, 2010
8:45 am
Trade Al Horford and a couple of picks for Kevin Love. True big man. Better defense, shot blocking and even 3 point-range shooter. Hawks will not win a playoff series against teams with a good big man until they get one themselves.
jg
February 11th, 2010
8:56 am
Man that fourth quarter was tough to watch! How do the Hawks do this so much? I’m so tired of watching “this” game! I’ve seen it way too much! I mean they have five days off in a row. You’d think they’d be busting it every second–but it looked as if they were stuck in mud without Crawford.
After the Memphis game I actually thought we might NOT need to make a move. That we just might have enough to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. But after the debacle that was Miami last night, New York, OKC or just insert whatever team–we need something! I don’t know who but we need a little something something to help this team make that next step. Is it McGrady, Mike Miller or even a Udonis Haslem? Could be–but we can’t afford to sleep on someone–You only have so many chances to do something special–our time is now–don’t blow it Hawks.
Jay
February 11th, 2010
8:56 am
Trade who for what??????
The Grinch
February 11th, 2010
9:00 am
Horford gets run over by anything resembling a center because he’s a PF. I feel embarrassed for Sund every time he gets on the radio and claims Horf is a legitimate NBA center. He’s a good player who’s going to get better, but woefully out of position. That’s why we get bulldozed by Cleveland and Orlando.
I get that much angrier at Marvin when about once every four or five games he spends a quarter or so actually driving to the basket and being effective. The crowd and announcers get all excited, then he slips off and takes an extended nap. If he was confused, it would be one thing. If he just had no talent like Sheldon it would be another. But those rare yet seemingly effortless bursts prove he’s just a lazy, unmotivated d-bag.
And I don’t care how many times Crawford gets called a bench guy or a 6th man; he and Josh Smith are the co-MVP’s of this team. When either one is out we get destroyed.
Ozzy
February 11th, 2010
10:05 am
Wow – there are people that pay attention to NBA basketball?
Who knew?
Hey Mark – how do you like Tech Bball now?
Barrington
February 11th, 2010
10:08 am
How many times are we going to here “we just didn’t have it tonight” from the players and/or Coach Woodson? Coah Woodson has done a poor job getting his team motivated to play some nights. This is the sole reason why he wasn’t given a contract extension. If the Hawks lose in the playoffs, it better not be in the first round. If we lose in the 2nd round, we at least should take whoever we play to 7 games. That’s the only way I see Woodson keeping his job. Gutless performance, hands down.
Barry
February 11th, 2010
10:21 am
Top 6 things Sund needs to do to improve the team:
1. Fire Woodson- not a motivator & no clue offensively
2. Add a true center
3. Get rid of Marvin Williams
4. Play Teague more valuable minutes
5. Start Mo Evans instead of Marvin Williams
6.
Barry
February 11th, 2010
10:22 am
Oh, and 6 should be Fire Mike Woodson, again!
Barry
February 11th, 2010
10:28 am
Anyone who feels we should trade Horford is an idiot. He’s playing out of position which isn’t his fault. Josh Smith should have been a sign and trade and we should have kept Flip Murray and not signed Marvin. Al and Crawford are my MVP’s for this team. Joe Johnson is soft and not a leader. Josh Smith has no fluidity in his game and he still takes those 15-20 foot jumpers. Mike Bibby is no longer a shooting threat and Marvin Williams is just SAD (sorry and dumb). I say the Hawks should be greatful for the position they’re in. The Hawks have improved in spite of Woodson, not because of Woodson.
Bill
February 11th, 2010
10:38 am
What would happen to ZaZa’s game if he spent some time in the weight room and added 20 pounds?
Mark Bradley
February 11th, 2010
10:59 am
Let’s not go wild over one bad game. It was a really bad game — but it was still just one game.
Mark Bradley
February 11th, 2010
11:00 am
Oh, and Martin, I don’t see any way the Hawks would make a move for McGrady. Nor should they. Can’t stay healthy.
bigeasy830
February 11th, 2010
11:20 am
last night proved that jamaal Crawford is our best and most valuble player. He needs to be a starter. Bibby services are no longer neeed and the inconsistent and soft approach to the game is no longer needed by Marvin Williams, Trade Bibby and Marvin and try to pick up a good center. Also start jamaal at the point and try to develop the rookie point he looked as if he have taken a step back in his development. He looked confused.
That guy
February 11th, 2010
11:58 am
I like Crawford off the bench because he brings the energy. Very few teams have that luxury. IMO Bibby would be completely useless off the bench. He isn’t an energy player, he’s a stabilizer. Mo Evans has been quite dissapointing this season, and don’t get me started on Williams.
If it’s possable, a trade for Prince would be awesome for this team. As is I don’t see us any higher than third, but we are only one impact player away from competing for that second spot.
Just to add on to the UGA basketball comment, Kennesaw State also has a division I basketball program that is on the rise. I know plenty of you are going to laugh at this, but the Owls are out of their transitionary period, and redshirt freshman Markeith Cummings is the, or close to, the leading freshman scorer in the NCAA. He was ahead of UK’s Wall for that spot last week. The team has won 7 of their last 9, and with a good run in the A-Sun tourney, the Owls would qualify for the NCAA tourney. Probably not likely, but take note AJC there is more than just GT basketball in the area.
Section 303
February 11th, 2010
12:05 pm
Guys, can we stop with the potential trades? Here’s a tip…none of them are going to happen. So, just stop it.
Blue
February 11th, 2010
12:10 pm
Barry ….. You hit the nail on the head brother.
Joe Johnson probably will not resign with the Hawks after this season. And that’s a good thing!
mrs.mitchell
February 11th, 2010
12:40 pm
how could that happen
jg
February 11th, 2010
12:41 pm
i liked the pickup of joe smith but has he scored more than two points since he injured his thumb? he’s always been a solid 15 to 17 foot jump shooter–but he’s lost that shot. poor bibby can’t make anything clean–where’s his stroke? we need these things following the break or we’ll be fighting to stay in our fourth slot.
The Hawks pick a lousy time to unleash a rotten effort | Mark Bradley Video
February 11th, 2010
1:16 pm
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Section 303
February 11th, 2010
2:01 pm
@Blue: I love how you just declare that Joe Johnson will not resign with the Hawks. Like you have any idea what he will do! And, here’s the thing, if he does not resign that is not a good thing.
nique
February 11th, 2010
2:42 pm
we need a coach that can draw up a play that his players can execute when they need a bucket. is that so much to ask?!
BirdDawg
February 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
I think most of the problems with this team can be attributed to Woodson. He is not a true head coach. He doesn’t have control of his team as evidenced by their continuous lack of effort. He has no clue offensively as evidenced by the lack of plays run (other than Iso-Joe or Iso-Jamaal) in crunch time. He mismanages young talent as evidenced by the numerous rookies whose careers he’s derailed since he’s been here, Jeff Teague being the latest. Woodson should have followed Billy Knight out the door. This team has far too much talent to waste on the coaching ineptitude of Mike Woodson. Time to stop making excuses for losing winnable games. Time to stop making excuses for not being the second or top seed in the East. The window of opportunity to win a professional sports championship doesn’t stay open long and if the Hawks don’t act to correct their shortcomings immediately, that window is going to close before it’s even fully opened.
cdog
February 11th, 2010
7:42 pm
barry, it’s rick sund who should be fired instead of woodson.woodson has done the best job any coach can do with the type of players he was given.
cdog
February 11th, 2010
7:47 pm
mike woodson is the best coach for the atlanta hawks.bring in another coach and watch the franchise go back to losing and mediocrity. he gets everything he can out of what sund gave him.give him a legitmate center and the hawks will rise above the east. it’s rick sund stubborness to bring in a center, not woodson’s coaching that has the hawks behind the cavs, majic and celtics.
BirdDawg
February 11th, 2010
8:36 pm
cdog, are you serious, man? Tell me, what offense does Mike Woodson run? With the quickness and athleticism available to him at center and power forward, what scheme has he come up with to slow down the other centers in the East to give this team a chance. What are the Hawks three primary plays run in crunch time? Let’s be real, Mike Woodson seems to be a great guy, but a lousy coach. Switch Mike Woodson and Phil Jackson and see how fast the Hawks rise while the Lakers go south. A coach has to learn to use the tools that he has to the best of THEIR ability, not his own. Any improvement the Hawks have made has been through the natural maturation process of an NBA player and the fact the team has been together so long. Not due to the coaching prowess of Mike Woodson. He has no offense to speak of, he can’t manage games properly and he doesn’t develop young talent the way he should. Until Woodson gets his act together, it doesn’t matter if we have Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire, this team is going nowhere fast.
Hawk Str8Talk
February 11th, 2010
9:21 pm
FYI – I did a blog on a pre-game press conference Rick Sund did with the Hawks bloggers last night. Check it out – http://www.hawkstr8talk.com/2010/02/grizzlies-heat-chat-with-rick-sund.html
KakNiqueTree
February 11th, 2010
10:59 pm
“When Udonis Haslem lights you up for 17 points, you’re not trying very hard.” What’s up with that caption? Oh, yeah, that’s right, he went to Florida. Any opportunity to hate on a Gator…
iRepATL
February 11th, 2010
11:17 pm
lol looks like one of woodsons relatives signed up (cdog) to defend this sorry excuse for a coach…woodson, is a DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT not a head coach, its evident that he does not know how to run an offense by the sets he runs also i even believe he is massivley overrated as a defensive coach as well..and you spout about keeping woodson and getting rid of the gm is rediculous, sund is the best pickup this orginizaion has had since the jow johnson trade, after that statement i dont think anyone on here will take your future comments seriously.
cdog
February 12th, 2010
12:43 am
birddawg, its more to coaching than xs and os. or looking pretty with offensive plays,remember lon kruer? he was a great xs and os coach but couldn’t coach people on the nba level. mike woodson can. its more to coaching than running pretty offensive sets.its looks good but there’s other areas about basketball than xs and os on offense. yeah,irepatl, if the hawks had koby bryant or michael jodan and scotty pippen like phil jackson did they would look good and win a championship also with mike woodson coaching them.woodson does not have anyone close to the talent that jackson had to coach.woodson does little things that you don’t know anything about. he molded josh smith something that jackson would have had trouble doing he would not discipline smith the way woodson has. he has the confidence of his players who play hard for him(smile)except for last nigfht. they were short handed and had a bad night which was no excuse but he has the hawks as the third seed, a place where they haven’t been in years. so where’s the bad coaching coming from? every coach has offensive sets but its other areas they have to master.rick sund being in the position he is in, can do something about where the hawks are but outside of bringing in jamal crawford has done nothing to address the hawks jumping over the majic.you talk about talent, those teams has talent. rick sund only brought players to get past the old boston celtics.you will see where the hawks will be if tey don’t address a legitimate center to add to the team after the trade deadline and you think you are fustrated now, let them hawks get rid of woodsn, and bring a so called pretty play looking offensive guinius to try and coach the team.it will be back to square one, losing.of course you all don’t know nothing about the game of basketball.its not about looking pretty.sund is satisfied with the roster.red aubach would not win and make to the finals without a center to go up against the cavs or majic. you all are going to have something negative about a black coach in atlanta anyway so go for it, as long as woodson keeps winning no one cares what you think
cdog
February 12th, 2010
12:45 am
phil jackson has not slowed down the majic or cavaliers either
cdog
February 12th, 2010
1:22 am
there’s more to coaching than xs and os. it looks good but they don’t measure the coaching ability of a coach.if woodson was fortune enough to coach michael jordon, scotty pippen and koby bryant, he would have championships like phil jackson. there no great talent on the hawks roster but woodson has molded them into a championbship sqaud but unless sund bring in a legitimate center the hawks want get to the finals thanks to sund and his stupidity not to get a legitimate center.you all apparently don’t know the game of basketball or your criticizism is because woodson is a black coach which is probably reasons for criticisms of woodson.woodson does little things that has made the hawks winners but he needs help from sund to bring in a big man. he spent to much time preparing the hawks to beat the celtics and forgot the majic and cavaliers.red aurbauch want go to the finals without a good center. you all are going to be critical of a black coach in atlanta any way so no one cares what you say. woodson is a winner. i’m not his relative i just know a good coach when i see him regardless of his color.woodson has transformed the hawks into a championship sqad.he just need sund to bring in that missing piece which is a big man but he stubbornly refuses to do so.best thing to happen to atlanta? no way.billy knight did this putting together.outside of crawford, sund has done nothing.if woodson goes it will be badk to the good old days of losing again.
Snowman
February 12th, 2010
1:22 pm
What’s up “Hawk Nation”!!! (smile). Good job Mr. Bradley and an even better job Mr. Cdog!!! (smile). I rarely respond to this site because I am too busy “ripping” Jeff Schultz (somebody, anybody please give me a defense for how lousy that guy is and why does his bosses allow him to cover the Hawks? Except for weathermen (smile) I have never seen someone so wrong for so long and NOT GET FIRED or removed from covering the Hawks…I just don’t get it but hey if you keep reading his non-sense and don’t say anything to his bosses then you get what you get…he is HORRIBLE!!!). Mark you are “cool” and extremely fair and thank you so much for that.
I have not been responding to the blogs as much because “you-know-who” has not written much about the Hawks (of course, because they are doing extremely well!!!). What is up with this dude? Why does he NEVER give “Mr. Eyebrows” (smile) any props? I just don’t get it. Even if he HATED Woody (and he does) you would think you would have to write a positive article about the job he has done currently and the improvements they have made over the years (he isn’t a blogger, he is an objective columnist. Why has the public not asked for him to be fired? Why does his editor not make him be more objective/balanced and tone it down a bit? Mark Bradley use to be hard on Coach Woodson however Mark has come around and been great and extremely fair about coach. I am not asking Schultz to say Woody is Red Auerbach or Coach Knight but come on does he NOT deserve one “kick-ass” article about the job he has done with this club over the 6 years he has coached them (they did sweep the Celtics this year and the Celtics won the championship just 2 years ago and added Wallace to their team this off season!)?
Ill just chalk it up to foolishness however we in the Washington DC area would NEVER and I mean NEVER tolerate the writing that Jeff does about our local club if they were doing so well!!!
Now, to the reason I am writing and the Hawks did have a bad game Wednesday night. Joe was not feeling well, Jamal and Zsa Zsa were missing and they do pay the other guys too (smile). It’s a long season and you’ll have games like that. The Hawks could use a move or two to sure up this team prior to the deadline. Oh, and if we don’t resign Joe Johnson, boy we WILL be back to square freakin one in my opinion because you know they are not going to sign a LeBron, Dwayne or Kobe and JJ is the next tier.
CDOG, I love your entries and BirdDawg I have no idea what planet you are on however you are entirely wrong (is Jeff Schultz your relative…smile?). I am just enjoying the Hawks play and if Woody has to keep coach em up because moves have not been made, well so be it!!! That is exactly what he has been doing over the years. By the way,what coach would do better than Woody has given all the drama this team has had over the last 6 years? Someone had mentioned earlier how screwed up the #5 pick a couple was of a couple years ago when they drafted Sheldon Williams and for a #2 pick (and I like Marvin) he ain’t know #2 pick…and hey the Hawks still improved every year!!! I would love to see the list of coaches you have in mind BirdDawg that would have done a better job than Woody? please don’t say Avery Johnson and you are not going to get Phil Jackson or Popovich. Seriously who would have done a better job? It was 3 years ago when Doc Rivers and the Celts were terrible…thus it was Danny Ainge who got Doc some help and “wala” an NBA championship and now he is a great coach. I can’t wait to see this list and to see who he thinks would come to Atlanta while all that owner turmoil was going on.
Stay on them CDOG and continue to keep it real!!! By the way, Zsa Zsa (and this is not an original thought of mine) is just not getting it done this season and I wonder if it is because he got his money and a tad complacent. I’m in Washington DC and the Wizards have some pieces I think the Hawks could use (Butler, Jameson and especially Brendan Haywood).
Remember all coach Woodsons came from the Pistons team that won the Championship 6 years ago. Keep in mind, they traded for a then, Atlanta Hawk, at the last hour of the trade deadline (we have one coming up right and could use an additional piece or two, right?), Rasheed Wallace and it WAS ABSOLUTELY the final piece of the puzzle for them and pushed them over the top. That team also bought off the bench, Mehmet Okur (7ft), Corliss Williamson (The Big Nasty!!!), Mike James (instant offense), Elden Campbell (7ft) and Lindsey Hunter (defensive stopper). The record for the Pistons that year was 54-28 about how the Hawks are tracking currently. Is Atlanta Hawks bench that strong right now (heck no, not even close…what would our record be if it was)? Love the Hawks and love the job the coaching staff has done with this bunch!!!…Go Hawks and Go away Schultz (faraway, how about covering the Winter Olympics or something!!!)…Great Job Mark Bradley and Sund go get coach Woodson and the loyal city of Atlanta an additional piece or two and DC would be a good place to start (smile)!!!
E43
February 12th, 2010
4:46 pm
my biggest issue is with the hawks minute deployment. look up the stats; whenever joe plays 40+ the hawks are more likely to loose. i think woody needs to stick to the depth chart. i know our bench outside jamal crawford isnt trusted nor did they play well but stats are not favorable when any hawks starter plays 40+. this is an issue that has to be addressed early b4 the playoffs coz in basketball just like any other sport, injuries do happen. An example is the Houston rockets and their injury issues. all they did was move the bench up n kept playing. not vice versae like the hawks did
E43
February 12th, 2010
6:01 pm
marrvin williams is playing the way the hawks gameplan allows him to play. the guy has 424 attempted fgs when joe johnson(last to the bench has 939). and mike bibby(1st/2nd to the bench has 409)
dub366
February 14th, 2010
6:25 pm
The reason the hawks bench don’t play well is because they don’t ever know when they are going into a game. If anybody needed to come off the bench it’s Bibby, the Hawks made a bad investment in him for 3 years & he is slow now. What are the next 2 years going to look like? Jeff Teague should be starting,he can make a difference in the Hawks running game and run the offense in half court,plus play defense better. (PS) FIRE WOODY,he’s satisfied with what he has in this 4th place team.