A new coach for the Hawks? Be careful what you wish for
He might not be the greatest coach, but he's not the worst, either. (AP photo)
Mike Woodson is a free agent at season’s end. He says he wants to stay, but he has been nettled by Rick Sund’s refusal to offer an extension. And if the Hawks crash out in Round 1, Sund’s hesitance might turn out to be sagacious. For all the good work Woodson has done here, wouldn’t a loss to the understaffed Bucks suggest that this team and this coach have gone as far together as they’re going to go?
But know this: Woodson is respected around the league. He’ll be a head coach somewhere next season, and he might well get a better offer than a re-up from the Hawks. Already the annual Larry Brown rumors have commenced, the latest ticketing the nomad’s nomad for Philadelphia, where he’ll become team president and hire his buddy Woody to coach the 76ers.
So now, as the Hawks face a rather enormous Game 5 tonight, we must ask: If not Woodson, who? The drums will beat for the usual suspects — Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Eddie Jordan, even Sam Mitchell — but I can’t see any of them as an upgrade.
Johnson presided over one of the biggest flops in NBA finals history, taking a hugely gifted Dallas team and losing to Dwyane Wade. Scott had the benefit of coaching two of the finest point guards of the era — Jason Kidd and Chris Paul — and still contrived to get fired by both the Nets and the Hornets. Jordan, seen as the brains behind Scott with New Jersey, has been fired three times and his most recent team, the Sixers, quit on him. Mitchell, who grew up in Columbus and played at Mercer, had one winning season over four full years before being dumped by Toronto.
If the Hawks indeed wind up searching for a coach, they won’t be seeking someone to preside over a rebuilding team. This is a gifted roster that’s getting close to what should be its peak years. (This applies even if Joe Johnson flees, which I don’t believe he will.) The next coach should be someone who could take what Woodson has done and lift it higher.
To be frank, there aren’t many available coaches who fit that bill. Gregg Popovich isn’t walking through that door; Doc Rivers isn’t, either. And the biggest name on what some believe to be Sund’s wish list — meaning Doug Collins – isn’t all that big.
Doug Collins has coached three NBA teams over eight seasons. He hasn’t taken a team to the NBA finals. He has won a total of three playoff series, all with Chicago in the ’80s. He was fired by the Bulls to make way for assistant coach Phil Jackson, who started winning titles by the bushel. Collins has since been canned by both Detroit and Washington.
He’s a high-profile guy because he’s on TV, but so is Jimmy Fallon. Besides, Collins keeps turning teams down. What about Atlanta would make him want to do it again at age 58?
If there is to be a Woodson replacement, it’s apt to be a current NBA assistant. Tom Thibodeau is Rivers’ defensive coordinator in Boston, but would he have the cachet to make a roster of guys now making huge money listen? (Maybe.) And don’t the Hawks need a guy to redesign the Iso-Joe offense more than another defensive-minded man?
Were I Sund, I’d target Dwane Casey. He was a head coach in Minnesota, where he was fired 40 games into his second season. But the T-Wolves have become an example of how not to run a basketball operations, and Casey has worked alongside two of the best in business — Nate McMillan in Seattle and now Rick Carlisle in Dallas. Casey is smart and personable and good with his players, and he has the added benefit of having served under Sund with the Sonics.
I know what you’re thinking: Dwane Casey isn’t a household name. That’s the point. The Hawks aren’t going to land one. (Would Rick Pitino leave Louisville to work for the Atlanta Spirit?) And honesty compels me to report that, as much as I like Casey — he’s a Kentucky guy, too — I don’t know for a fact that he’d do better than Woodson.
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161 comments Add your comment
UGAKev
April 28th, 2010
4:13 pm
Get a big man!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of Marvin Williams who is a bust who has never really improved. Play teague more often!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woodson never plays first year drafted players. Teague shows me something everytime he is in the game. He can run with younger athletic players in the playoffs. The Hawks players shouldnt have to be reminded this is the playoffs. If that is the case then we were doomed from the beginning.
WOODY=0 WINS
April 28th, 2010
4:16 pm
Mark, can you honestly say Woody has done anything to maximize the talent on this team or is he simply getting the bare minimum amount of wins with his talent? Everyone talks about how he improves every year in wins but why is that? Lets take a look
2004-05 13 wins
2005-06 26 wins (addition on Joe Johnson)
2006-07 30 wins (departure of Al Harrington team basically stayed the same anyway with only 4 win improvement)
2007-08 37 wins (addition of Al Horford and Bibby half way through the season)
2008-09 47 wins (Bibby plays and entire season, addition of flip murray and mo evans)
2009-10 53 wins (addition of Jamal Crawford)
HOW IS MIKE WOODSON RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THESE WINS, improvement is basically the minimum considering huge upgrade in talent year to year
Sharrieff
April 28th, 2010
4:16 pm
MB, let me break it to you gently. . .coaching is the difference at every level, Pop Warner to the pros. Look at what Mike Smith has been able to do with a franchise that never had back to back winning seasons. It was the COACHING. The man for the Hawks is now announcing on FSS. . .yes THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT HIMSELF, Dominique Wilkins!!! Listen to his analysis every time the Hawks are playing. He dissects the game as it’s going along and you have to wonder why Woody can’t see what ‘Nique is pointing out. Doc took the cursed Celts to the title and ‘Nique could do the same with his beloved Hawks (give him a legit center. . .trade Marvin for a draft choice). And we’d finally right the wrong done by Babcock and Wilkins!!! Plus, it’d fill up the stands!!!
Mark
April 28th, 2010
4:21 pm
Eraserhead….I agree with you….Look where the Hawks were before he arrived…I guess you just can’t please everyone….Good Luck Woody in what ever happens!
MikeMitchell
April 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
Definitely get rid of marvin williams. Marvin Williams has “LITERALLY BEEN THE WRECKING BALL THAT HAS RUINED THE SUCCESS OF THE HAWKS.” Williams has single-handedly CRUSHED the hawks chances by being a total non-factor and being completely invisible in the playoffs. Marvin has almost been like a ghost out there on the court. He wont guard anyone close enough to create turnovers or block shots; Marvin continues to turn the ball over as soon as it is passed to him or as soon as he makes his lame moves towards the basketball. MARVIN IS THE “RYAN LEAF” OF THE NBA. MARVIN WILLIAMS IS A COMPLETE BUST AND HIS BASKETBALL IQ IS -1000.
WOODY=0 WINS
April 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
Mark, are u really going to say Avery Johnson’s a bad coach cause he lost in the finals?
We can’t even win a road playoff game
GeneTenace
April 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
MikeMitchell: I agree with you. You’re right. Marvin has definitely been the wrecking ball thats about to smash the success of the hawks as soon as the hawks get eliminated by the Bucks.
i_am_soulstar
April 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
Is it just me or does Woody seem like he feels the Hawks are entitled to a win just because they’re playing at home. Please get rid of that attitude man.
Mike Fratello
April 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
Go get Mike Fratello!!
JASon
April 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
Its a good point, Mark: Is this the type of situation we can expect no matter who is in charge? Then you always have to worry about resentment and losing solidarity when you let your coach go. I don’t know all of the coaches out there, but I think there are other better candidates you didn’t mention. We need someone who is going to be a little more demanding of the team mentally, while not sacrficing what we already do good: knocking down shots and not turning the ball over.
Tweets that mention A new coach for the Hawks? Be careful what you wish for | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
April 28th, 2010
4:53 pm
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#1 GT fan
April 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
KEEP WOODY! get read of Marvin. And get a big man, so you can put Al at 4 and Josh at 3! I say keep Joe, unless DWADE becomes a free agent. Then maybe get red of Joe. But not until then.
Freddo
April 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
Bye bye Woodson.
JuliusCesaer
April 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
Dont get D-Wade. Wades game is very predictable and stale. All Wade does is drive hard to the basket every time like a wild bull. When you seal off the painted area he then starts hoisting 3s and shoots them for a low shooting percentage. NEWSFLASH: Joe Johnson is a much better player than Dwyane Wade. I guess that shocked you but its true. Joe is deferring his skills to the other stars on the Hawks. Keep in mind: if joe wanted to he could get 50 points each and every night.
Freddo
April 28th, 2010
5:06 pm
Actually, everyone needs to go. A complete housecleaning, including the owners. Fire them all and stop the bleeding.
Jay
April 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
Your straw-man article won’t protect Woodson. There are plenty of examples where someone made your straw-man argument, but then the next coach turned out to be much better. Ask Alabama fans if they regret firing Shula for Saban.
KB
April 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
I never liked Woodson as a coach. Good player though when he played for the Kansas City Kings back in the day (I am from Kansas City.) I still think that his greatest weekness is that he doesn’t know how to develop young players. This season proved it with the lack of development of Jeff Teague. This team gave Acie Law the hook before he got started, M. Williams is nowhere near where he should be, and Al Horford is going to be burned out before his time.
We should have acquired Paul Silas instead of Mike Woodson. Silas would have shaped the men to be the best they can be. That was then, and this is now. This teams need to get Avery Johnson now. This team needs a coach who can show them how to get to the big game. People don’t follow titles. People follow people has been to the promise land. Johnson as a player has been there and won it. Yes, you can see his team choked against the Miami Heat, BUT HIS TEAMS WAS AT LEAST THERE!!!
Look, this team could do great things. But if it is held back by ill-suited management, then this team will be a team will be known as bunch f of should have, could have, and would haves.
KB
April 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
Sorry about the typos.
JC
April 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
Can we please get someone who’s not afraid to yell at Josh Smith?
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
#1 GT Fan… I agree! Marvin is just another lottery bust and we need a solid center so Horford doesn’t have to play out of position. Joe Johnson is solid and I think we would regret letting him walk. D-Wade would be nice, but I don’t see him leaving Miami. Good luck Woody and GO HAWKS!!!!
R.U.KIDDIN-ME???
April 28th, 2010
5:47 pm
ASG,PICKUP THE PHONE & MAKE THE CALL NOWWWW!!! TO WHOM YOU SAY??!! NONE OTHER THAN MIKE FRATELLO THAT’S WHO!!! WHY YOU ASK??!! B/C WOODHEAD CAN’T GET IT DONE!!! THERE IS GOOD ENOUGH TALENT HERE SO THAT THIS SERIES SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP TO NIGHT BUT NOT WITH WOODY PECKERHEAD AT THE HELM!!! THREE THING’S YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF WITH THE LITTLE CZAR,THE TEAM WILL PLAY DEFENSE,THEY WILL DEVELOPE A BENCH & THEY WILL WIN!!! I WISH JOE SMITH WOULD TALK AT THE END OF THE SEASON BUT I KNOW HE WON’T B/C HE’S A CLASS ACT BUT I BETCHA’ HE’S PISSED AT THE WASTED SEASON HERE!!! ASG,MR.SUND,GET TO IT BEFORE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND’S & RUIN ANOTHER SEASON!!! THE CLOCK’S A TICKIN’ BOY’S….GET TO IT…. NOWWW!!!
Dr. Dave
April 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
Mike Woodson consistently shows that he does not give the Hawks an advantage coming after the first gahlf and rarely after a time out. The loss to the Bucks in game 4 is just further proof of that. The team defense was non-existant, with Jennings, Salmons and Ilyasova getting wide open looks because we were consistently not handling their picks/screens properly, if at all. ZaZa spent too much time in the game and was for the most part a defensive liablity. Jennings is too quick for Bibby, but Jeff Teague was not given adequate run during the season and Woody has never trusted rookies as much as he should. Furthermore, Marvin Williams is underperforming not because of a lack of talent, but because Woody does not ever make him a first our second option on any plays down the floor. He is a last option or a place to dump the ball off when Joe or Bibby pick up their dribbles. He has no confidence and I guarantee if he is ever traded he would likely become an 18 to 20/ 10 rebound guy.
I think Kenny Smith or Avery Johnson would be good solid replacements. Kenny has never coached in the NBA, but he is smart, personable and would gain the respect of the players and fans quickly.
Not Drinking the Kool Aid
April 28th, 2010
5:57 pm
Mark, Are you kidding? Avery Johnson and Byron Scott not being good enough coaches? I don’t know much about Dwayne Casey or even Lawrence Franks? What I do know: 1) Mike Bibby should not be the starting point guard for the Hawks especially in the playoffs and I think we all know why. 2) Jeff Teague should have been developed better over a full season and I put this directly on Woodson (for reference see Acie Law); for proof that it can be done see Russell Westbrook, Tyreke Evans, C.Paul, Darren Williams, Stephen Curry, etc. etc. 3)For a team that has been together five years there is no reason to have stupid turnovers, defensive lapses, stagnant offense, and players who don’t know their role on the floor. All of these are coaches problems. The coach clearly defines offense, defense, and what and where each player should be and what each player should be doing? Avery Johnson got the most out of Dirk Nowitzki by challenging him to lead by example instead of being tissue paper soft. Dirk wants to shoot jumpers. Avery made him tough as hell in those playoff games by backing down opponents Dirk was pretty much unguardable. Since then Dirk has regressed. Mike Woodson does not develop talent, and has no offensive schemes, and really no defensive philosophy. If Woodson did we would see it on the court. A team will only go as far as the coach takes them. He is a babysitter for an NBA team. Now its time for the team to get a teacher and a coach.
TruthSeeker
April 28th, 2010
5:58 pm
Avery Johnson would be a HUGE upgrade over Woody. In Avery’s WORST year he won 51 games in the Western Conference. In Woody’s BEST he won 53 in the East. He has the disciplined approach and analytical mind that the Hawks need from the head coach.
I like Woody, but he’s served his purpose here. He stabilized the organization and got us back to being a perennial playoff qualifier. But the novelty of just getting to the playoffs has worn off. We need a guy who can lead us deep into the playoffs, and Avery is that guy.
DawgBoi
April 28th, 2010
5:59 pm
Mark Bradley,
Terry Stotts and Tim Floyd got fired and found another job in the NBA. Getting hired by an NBA team doesn’t mean anything. Winning does. Woodson will never have a team that can win on the road. Scotty Brooks has a young team that finished the regular season above .500 on the road and they play out West. Those are credentials that mean something. Slightly in Woody’s defense (he’s still garbage), OKC has a true Superstar in Durant. ATL does not. Have I mentioned there’s a guy named Wade that has some nice credentials of his own (NBA Finals MVP and he was the best player on that gold medal winning Olympic team IMO).
Einstein
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
Mark, if Woody leaves, why do the Hawks have to select from recycled trash for a coach? I bet there are several assistant coaches that are better qualified than half of the current NBA coaches. A good organization will identify them…do you think the Hawks front office fits that bill?
Avery Johnson
April 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
@ Ron Jirsa – I ain’t no dog on bad coach neither . I want the job too…I’m better the coach than you would’ve be.
Not Drinking the Kool Aid
April 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
Also, why not sit J-Smoove when he makes a bone head play? Joe wants to win period, he is not vocal, he leads on the floor. Spirit Group do us all a favor and get a coach in here before you lose the few fans and more money than you can ill afford to lose!!!!
TheAntiMe
April 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
Can Woody and bring in Jeff Van Gundy.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
6:09 pm
If I’uz paid to blog, I’d prefer that most folks like me, (most folks like Mark I believe) but hey, a page-hit is a page-hit.
Harry Hawk
April 28th, 2010
6:11 pm
OK if not Bob Weiss, bring back the Wizard
chris
April 28th, 2010
6:18 pm
Jeff Van Gundy he is the man
K-FREE1
April 28th, 2010
6:18 pm
I think Woodson has done a fantastic job has head coach. He isn’t the one who made those horrible picks doing the Knight regime. This man has came out a terrible situation and made it a good one. We don’t have a true center something we really need a beast of a 7-footer, if we had that piece we would be talking about our first championship in the Atl. People talk about Chris Paul we still wouldn’t be championship caliber, so people let that go Marvin is doing fine he will be alright. Until we
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
I recently tried to swear-off the Hawks, but I’m like a sobering Lindsay Lohan stumbling upon an eight-ball of blow.
The blow, in my case, is the damn TV.
I’m all for the Fratello thing. If they bought into his system and brash coaching style, they would be an awesome bunch. The defense would vastly improve, guaranteed. BUT, they’d have to buy-in, hook, line, and sinker. With today’s players, that’s kinda iffy.
BirdDawg
April 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
People still saying that getting a “real” center is the key to this team winning a championship, huh? Great, let’s go out and get Shaq. With Woody’s switching defense, he’s sure to be the key to stopping Jennings or anyone else from driving the lane. It’s obvious that a great center like Shaq is the key to improving the perimeter defense of our big men. Of course, there is another alternative. The team could get a real coach that employs a real defense that keeps the big men near the basket for help defense. Now, I understand how tempting it would be for any coach to take a shot blocking monster like Josh Smith and stick him on the perimeter to defend point guards, that’s why Power forward/point guard matchups are so prevalent in the league. But maybe, just maybe, we should defy conventional wisdom and keep our shot blockers near the lane to block shots. Just a thought.
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April 28th, 2010
6:38 pm
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Tim Tebow's Tears
April 28th, 2010
6:38 pm
If woody’s the ceiling we were doomed from the start…..
MitchC
April 28th, 2010
6:40 pm
Chris brings up a good name that I didnt even think of. Jeff Van Gundy might be a good fit. Actually, he’s been in this situation before.
Does anyone remember the Knicks of the early and mid 1990s, when Pat Riley resigned in 1995, following the Knicks taking a step back, after their 1994 Finals appearance? Don Nelson was hired briefly, and, after he resigned, the Knicks hired Van Gundy. While they didnt win a championship with him, they were consistently a solid team that made the playoffs, and they did make a Finals appearance in 1999. This all happened when their best player, Patrick Ewing, was on the decline. Van Gundy is a good coach, whose teams know how to play defense, and, he has already been to the Finals, both as an assistant to Riley, and as a head coach.
In my mind, if Woodson goes, Van Gundy should be a name that should be at the top of the Hawks list. I dont know why I didnt think of him myself.
Thanks, Chris!
O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
K-FREE1
Did you ever consider that when the GM is making a pick, he will talk to his coach for some input?
Woody is on record saying he didnt think that highly of Chris Paul, so maybe him and Billy Knight were on the same page.
Ultimately, the GM makes the call, but he probably got input from Woody on the picks.
WTF
April 28th, 2010
6:48 pm
Eddie Jordan?? Are you serious?? Why would anyone hire a coach who’s been fired THREE TIMES.
While we’re at it, how about signing PJ Carlismo (also fired three times) to be our head coach, and go out and sign Kwame Brown, Darko Millicic, Tim Thomas, and Luke Walton. NBA Finals every year with those guys haha.
MrHughes
April 28th, 2010
6:56 pm
Bring on Avery Johnson! I’ve been wanting him for years here in atlanta! If not JVG!
Sweet Lou
April 28th, 2010
6:58 pm
As long as its not Bob Weiss or Mike Fratello…well, Fratelllo I could live with
NY Hawk
April 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
If the hawks lose this series or don’t represent in round 2, Woody has to go. Replacement needs to be Mark Jackson if he hasn’t been snapped up by then.
OldTimer
April 28th, 2010
7:05 pm
The Hawks are not a marketable product. So, it doesn’t matter.
champ
April 28th, 2010
7:08 pm
mike woodson should be replaced at the end of the year.
BirdDawg
April 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
Mike Woodson should be replaced tonight. Harry the Hawk can coach in the interim.
BirdDawg
April 28th, 2010
7:11 pm
Mike Woodson should be replaced tonight. Harry the Hawk can coach in the interim!
tdog
April 28th, 2010
7:12 pm
I keep hearing from the players the reason they lost was a lack of effort and concentration. Isn’t that the coach’s job to motivate these guys and keep them focused?
rob graner
April 28th, 2010
7:14 pm
Woody is horrible…needs to find one of his 8 assistant coaches that can help put a motion offense in. I can go and watch an AAU tourny and see all the one on one I want too…at this level you need to fall back on something to get some movement from your team
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
7:25 pm
If you’re inclined, here’s the live chat from Game 5. With video of a dunking deer.