Like it or not, the Hawks can’t afford to dump Joe Johnson
One of these three probably won't be back next season. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It’s danger time for the Hawks, and not as regards the 2010 playoffs. That’s a done deal. The danger lies beyond. The danger lies in overreaction.
With the exception of four well spaced games against Milwaukee in Round 1, the Hawks have been terrible this postseason. To watch them is to forget they won 53 games and are the East’s No. 3 seed. But that’s the point: We can’t forget, or we shouldn’t.
At the moment, the temptation is great to say the Hawks need to start over. Of all people in all cities, we should know better. Because we in Atlanta suffered through a wretched half-decade of what starting over means. (Mike Woodson gave a one word-description Sunday: “Hell.”) It means going 13-69. It means depending on the ping-pong balls to bounce your way and depending on your GM not to pick a guy named Williams.
The Hawks are going to lose in Round 2 for the second consecutive season. Last year they were hurt and had no chance; this time they’ve given themselves no chance. They have issues regarding mesh and direction, and it’s possible some of that could be corrected by importing a new coach.
But let’s say you bring in Doug Collins or Avery Johnson or Bryon Scott (or, more likely, Dwane Casey). The best coach cannot win without players. Let’s note that Pat Riley, who has five NBA titles, went 15-67 with the Miami Heat in 2007-2008 when Dwyane Wade got hurt and Shaquille O’Neal got traded.
Which brings us to Joe Johnson. He has averaged 12.3 points against Orlando, missing 71.4 percent of his shots. Off this performance, you wouldn’t re-sign him at 18 cents per season, let alone $18 million. But Johnson just was named third team all-NBA, which by definition makes him one of the league’s 15 best players. If he leaves, which of the other 14 takes his place? And if none does (and none would), haven’t you weakened your team to the extent it might not be in the playoffs next spring?
The Hawks have ceased meshing. Both Johnson and Al Horford admitted as much after practice Sunday. Said Horford: “The chemistry is OK at times … At times it’s not so good. At times we mesh, but sometimes when things don’t go our way we crawl in our own little hole.”
About chemistry: The Bucks had it, and they rode it to a 3-2 series lead over these Hawks. Then Milwaukee lost Games 6 and 7 by an aggregate 35 points for the simple reason its mesh couldn’t override a lack of talent. This is the NBA. It’s a players’ league. You can have the happiest locker room in the world, but if there aren’t enough big-timers in it you won’t win anything.
Loading ...This doesn’t excuse the performances the Hawks have offered this postseason. Said Horford: “The last thing we should worry about is effort. That should be a given.”
Said Woodson: “I’m not here to coach effort.”
And there’s your disconnect. Too many guys in this locker room have tuned out this coach, who for many of them is the only pro coach they’ve known. It’s not clear if Red Auerbach reincarnate could guide these Hawks past Orlando, but when you’ve lost three games by an average of 29 points it is clear someone’s message isn’t taking hold.
Woodson again: “At the end of the day, this team is still headed in the right direction. I sure hope they don’t go back the other way and bust it up.”
To break apart this roster now would be tantamount to surrender, and we know too well what that’s like. But to expect these players to respond more positively to this coach in his seventh season on the job is likewise folly. We Atlantans saw the same thing happen more than two decades ago when a good young team grew up around Mike Fratello but eventually stopped listening.
Now as then, it comes down to one question: Is it easier to change the team or change the coach? And the answer, now as then, is that the Hawks can conceivably find an upgrade on Mike Woodson. They might not find another Joe Johnson. This summer isn’t the time to subtract talent. It’s the time to do as the elite teams do and add, add, add.
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229 comments Add your comment
rooster
May 9th, 2010
7:52 pm
Go Hawks! And take the Thrashers with you.
djtruk
May 9th, 2010
7:52 pm
No set plays. One person gets the ball up top and all the others guys stand and watch. No movement. Josh Smith don’t need to shoot from outside. Bring Avery Johnson to the ATL and and let’s win some playoff games.
charles
May 9th, 2010
7:56 pm
Are you kidding me. Joe quoted in your ajc.com about fan reaction to yesterday’s game “Its about us in this locker room,” we could care less if the fans showed up.” Bring him back after that quote.
chin music
May 9th, 2010
8:10 pm
no heart.
Sautee
May 9th, 2010
8:19 pm
Geez, some of these trade ideas……….It’s NOT Fantasy Basketball guys and girls.
I mean Josh and Craw AND TWO FIRST ROUND PICKS for CP3? An oft injured point guard who has yet to win anything? While I love his game, you cannot convince me that ANY point guard short of Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson is worth that much.
And Perkins for Chills? Yeah, Boston would jump all over that one. Heh.
And my personal favorite: Darren Collison and Haywood for Bibby, Josh and Mo Evans
Never mind that Haywood and Collison play on DIFFERENT TEAMS.
Gimme a freakin’ break.
CJDawg
May 9th, 2010
8:19 pm
I hate it because I am a lifelong Hawks fan. I think we need a competent big man that can play the post, a PG that can penetrate the lane and hit the 20 footer if left to shoot and a new coach. BYE JJ!! He is not a winner. Josh Smith is the man who makes this team run. There is a two man PG problem with CP3 and his backup. Let’s make a move for either, let JJ go and find a real big for boards and blocks and 14 points a night. JS is ready to make the step to big time player. The right PG can set him up. The right coach with the right system can put together an athletic team with CP3, JS, MW, the unnamed Big and the scrappy forward that is a lockdown defender. I like it.
Smith & Johnson
May 9th, 2010
8:22 pm
Hawks management and payroll – Don’t forget the teams checks this week, they will be waiting.
kbatuc
May 9th, 2010
8:23 pm
I hope we all remember that these guys won 53 game and finished third. I know that doesn’t mean much now. I’m as nauseated by the Orlando series as anyone, The Hawks need to pass the ball and move on offense, no more driving against three defenders (Joe) after letting the shot clock run down to five. Josh could grab 25 rebounds a game if he hung out by the basket and not the 3 pt. line. He should watch what his more successful buddy Dwight does. Howard never dribbles it down on the break, He hangs out under the basket. That’s why he’s first team all-NBA. Josh is more mobile than Howard and has a better outside shot. That should just give us more options if they would just move the ball around. Just watch Orlando. Every time down 3, 4, 5 passes and boom, an open 3-pointer or inside to Howard for a basket (an usually a foul as well). The Hawks had more votes for members of the all-NBA team than Orlando (Johnson, Horford,Smith), they have the Sixth Man of the year. Just play ball-pass the ball! No more isolation game. It’s so fundamental. Johnson has played it at Phoenix and Arkansas, Horford won a national championship doing it as did Marvin at UNC (he could probably score 15 a game if they passed it more). The only one who does not know how to play the game is Josh. If Woodson can’t coach him or coach this style of play, than either he should go or they should trade Josh for a big man and/or shooting guard.
I drive down from Ohio to see the Hawks, whom I’ve followed since Richie Guerin was coaching Sweet Lou, Zelmo and Jumpin’ Joe Caldwell. I don’t want to see them go back to square one, but if they can’t play fundamental offense (they play great defense, especially Josh when he gets down the floor) then they need to get rid of either Josh or Woodson. I think Woodson has done great things since they were winning in the teens every year. As Bradley says, who will replace Johnson? He can’t carry a team, but can contribute 20+ a game if in the mix and the pressure is off.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Pretty simple, huh? BTW, I hope the Hawks pummel Orlando tomorrow! Go Hawks!
JASon
May 9th, 2010
8:24 pm
See I think that Josh is a wonderful player that is poorly coached. I think some people may be overcomplicating things here: get rid of woody, and get rid of joe. Get an offensive game plan. Period.
jdewayneatl
May 9th, 2010
8:25 pm
Most of the backlash coming against this Hawks team is from SUCKA** fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These fans only began to watch when the Hawks began to win. And even when they were winning did not go out to see the Hawks play. The Hawks are tied with the 2nd best home record in the league but are in the bottom third of the league in attendence.
The team has progressed over the years but we still have a 13 win fan base.
Be real the Hawks have underachieved this playoff season but this is without a doubt one of the best Hawks team since coming to Atlanta and REAL HAWKS FANS know this.
If you SUCKA** fans want a SUCKA** team, go root for the Clippers
htwo0rider
May 9th, 2010
8:30 pm
Joe’s gone, and Woody too. Back to the 8 seed
tell it like it is
May 9th, 2010
8:32 pm
Come on everybody lets get real! We all know that the reason the hawks can’t get past the second round is because they need a true center and a true pointguard who can manage the floor. Every successful team has these key players. The hawks just need to spend the money to get these pieces instead of droppig 70 million for bench players.
JB
May 9th, 2010
8:32 pm
To blow up or NOT, I say Not, a bunch of trades for 3-4 new guys, and a new Coach= vast improvement next year.
The reason we won 53 -talent
we need a better coach-to utilize the talent
Our Achilles is discipline,structure on offense and defense
Between JJ, Al and JS, we can only realistically afford to lose one player unless something spectacular is given in return.
We trust that the General Manager is not making millions because he’s stupid,right?
HAWKSFAN
May 9th, 2010
8:33 pm
I feel very sorry for this team, because they have huge potential “as a team”. However, it is difficult to reach such potential as a team without a leader. The leader is first and always expected of a coach, who should be able to mentor, develop, strategize, analyze, and deliver results. My family and friends have been critical of my thoughts of Coach Woodson all season, but I haven’t witnessed these leadership qualities in Coach Woodson for the past few seasons, especially this season. The Coach stands mostly during the game without any answers to anything. An example of such poor reasoning and strategic direction was shown during this series when he puts in Jason Collins, a 7 ft center, who hasn’t played most of the season. In speaking with Cheryl Miller, she questioned the Coach in surprise of putting him in the game now 1 or 2, and he said Collins was being brought in for ‘foul’ power. How dumb is that? Why not think of Collins for rebounds and points? That is what most centers should deliver. Everything has been about fouls. The players are playing for 1 shot, primarily at getting a foul. Why not go for points, and possibly get the foul? These examples were shown multiple times by Jamal Crawford, who should have delivered under the basket and within short range several instances. So, I don’t blame the players. They have deserved so much better. Players expect leadership, direction, and help to improve and be their best. They have won all their games on natural talent. Imagine what they could have been with such leadership. It is not Joe Johnson’s fault, and I believe his comments are out of embarrassment and mere frustration, but he needed help with answers. I suspect the Coach named Johnson the leader of the team, when leadership started first with the Coach. I hope all the players, including Johnson come back, and have the opportunity to work with a true Coach who can bring all those leadership qualities. It is very unfair to have anything less in a coaching position. It is unfair to investors, fans, and especially the players. Good management doesn’t allow such disasters, including lack of leadership, to play out over a period of time when overall performance isn’t evident. Don’t confuse the Hawk’s overall performance with good coaching and strategic play. As a Hawks FAN, I am amazed and thankful for how naturally talented and blessed this team is, and reflect on how great this entire season could have been.
Atl Resident
May 9th, 2010
8:49 pm
Steve
May 9th, 2010
2:53 pm
The Hawks are terrible! What a bunch of thugs. It will be hilarious to see Phillips half empty on Monday. The Hawks will only get worse now. Atlanta does not care about the NBA anything. The Hawks should leave with the Thrashers.
Why the Hawks gotta be damn thugs now? Hell if that’s the case the whole damn league has thugs no matter who you are. Just say the Hawks suck and thats it.
htwo0rider
May 9th, 2010
8:51 pm
kbatuc,
That is an excellent post. I too, have been a fan for a while (Dominque, Doc, Tree Rollins etc…days).
Tom
May 9th, 2010
8:52 pm
Let Joe Johnson go and sign Chris Bosh.
Phil
May 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
Please let Joe go. You won’t find anyone better than him (unless we somehow get Bosh) but you can use the money to improve other positions. Crawford isnt much worse than Joe and you can easily find a nice bench player like a Mike Miller without spending an arm and a leg. The biggest thing we need is a playmaker at PG. I think we can find that, a scorer off the bench and a veteran big man with the money saved on Joe. Then fire Woody, find a coach who can actually run an offense and presto….we actually may have a chance in the 2nd round next year.
Todd - Dacula
May 9th, 2010
8:55 pm
Its not the coach; its a team with no real talent. Needs: 1 better point guard, 2. a scorer that can drop 40-50 at the drop of a hat, regardless of who is defending him 3. a center
In addition, other than Crawford, the bench is not talented. Flip Murray would have served well on this team. Get what ou can for Josh Smith. One would think the home town boy would have more pride in how he plays other than when it comes to dunking. Josh shows little concern or effort often and he need to get his butt on the block and stop pulling te jumpers. He never shoot the ball the same way.
Initially, I did not like Woodson, but he’s handcuffed.
Indigo
May 9th, 2010
9:02 pm
If Knight had chosen either Chris Paul or Deron Williams, Woodson would be up for Coach of the year rather than being dumped on by everyone.
Willy
May 9th, 2010
9:02 pm
If Rick brings in a new coach he better be someone who’s a real smooth talker, because these players don’t like paying attention.
O'Brien
May 9th, 2010
9:07 pm
northcyde,
Even during the regular season, I dont think it was the right move to bring Bibby back. How many games was he absent in the fourth quarter (Woody going with Jamal and JJ)? How many games did he play limited minutes because he was horrible?
Andre Miller would have been fine, and I was even open to Jarrett Jack or Ramon Sessions. No, they are not great, but they are younger, cheaper, play better defense, and have the chance to get better. I just can’t believe that we gave Bibby a 3rd year.
As for JJ, I would like to see JJ come back. but I would not give him a 6th year, and I would not give him more than $16 mil per.
But what this team needs more than anything, is a PG and a new HC. We could also use a better SF than Marvin.
HawksFan11
May 9th, 2010
9:08 pm
Changing your lineup is not BAD! The Orlando Magics did it! They got vince and lost lee and turkaglo and still will be in the East Finals This Year. If you think you need to make some changes just make sure they are right.
John
May 9th, 2010
9:13 pm
I agree Mark, Joe has been miserable this post season, but they must resign him. They will not be able to sign anyone else close to him. I really think a new coach is the answer and I usually don’t say that. This has been a great season, but I am not satisfied. I may be satisfied with this season if we had made this a series even if we lose. I realize how hard it is to win an NBA Championship. I feel like the best team always wins, whereas, in the other leagues teams can catch fire at the right time and win it all. I am rambling. What I am trying to say is this series has been unexcusable; however, blowing the team up in hopes of eventually drafting another Lebron, Kobe, or Howard is not the way to go. I am a lifelong Hawks fan and have been through so much bad basketball that I feel like I can be content with reaching the semis and COMPETING, or the conference finals.
northcyde
May 9th, 2010
9:19 pm
Phil
May 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
Please let Joe go. You won’t find anyone better than him (unless we somehow get Bosh) but you can use the money to improve other positions. Crawford isnt much worse than Joe and you can easily find a nice bench player like a Mike Miller without spending an arm and a leg. The biggest thing we need is a playmaker at PG. I think we can find that, a scorer off the bench and a veteran big man with the money saved on Joe. Then fire Woody, find a coach who can actually run an offense and presto….we actually may have a chance in the 2nd round next year.
*********************
Phil . . . how long have we needed a PG though? I mean, the guy that everyone now wants to let go ( JJ ), has been our defacto PG for 5 years. So who is the PG that is all of a sudden going to come to ATL now?
Hawks PGs the last 5 years:
- Tyronn Lue
- Royal Ivey
- Salim Stoudamire
- Cedric Bozeman
- Speedy Claxton
- Anthony Johnson
- Mike Bibby
- Acie Law
- Jeff Teague
Joe's Johnson needs an attitude adjustment.
May 9th, 2010
9:24 pm
Enter your comments here
Joe's Johnson needs an attitude adjustment.
May 9th, 2010
9:25 pm
Dissolve the Franchise. The Hawks will never amount to anything and there are no real fans of the Hawgs.
Ginger
May 9th, 2010
9:27 pm
Changes are needed….Very Angry with effort and attitude of coach and players…..Get rid of the lazy underacheivers…..some are too happy with multimillion dollar salaries and their lifestyle.
1. Mike Woodson–has to go…Get new coach that will get the most out of the players—effort and hustle, and win or lose with class…which means trying your best at all times. Sorry is he that does not try his best.
2. Joe Johnson…..needs to go…bad attitude and all. maybe let some of this blow over and try and get the most value for him…..Sorry–talent or not…Talent does you no good at all if you don’t try…all the talent in the world is just theory until one busts his butt and hustles in a game….If I am going to lose—I will lose with men that bust their butts trying to win….that’s right ….JJ is a loser.
#Just a thought
May 9th, 2010
9:30 pm
We just need a new better coach who will pull Marvin from the starting line up. A new coach who is going to make the team practice to make a better defense, a new coach who is willing to yell and get in the players faces and not care if they like it or not. Sorry, Woody but you brought us up to 50+ wins but two years being swept, and yes this will be a sweep. You know it’s the coach cause a coach would not let his team get swept two yrs in the room Last yr we were hurt but this year we were healthy
And if the undermanned Bucks who lost their star player took us to 7games then you know the Magic were to demolish us and that they have done they have basically breezed through the playoffs!!
Get Real
May 9th, 2010
9:30 pm
You people are wacked. Let’s dump Joe and sign Wade! Like that could ever happen. Why would wade ever want to come to ATL? He can play anywhere he wants – NY, Chicago – places that LOVE NBA basketball and fill their arenas even when the teams suck. Why would ANY type A FA come to ATL if they have other choices? ATL has zero chance of signing or trading for any of these players. The reality is this team with a new coach and one more type B FA could possibly make a move next year. The core is not bad. Don’t let hurt feelings cloud judgement. What we have on this blog is a lot of emotion with no memory of 13 win seasons with no hope. If you actually care about the local NBA team (and many on here don’t) remember what it’s like to be irrelevant at the end of the season. Think UGA and national championship – very frustrating and sad.
northcyde
May 9th, 2010
9:32 pm
HawksFan11 . . . but adding Vince over Turkoglu was an UPGRADE though. It was an upgrade because Vince still has the ability to take over a game for short stretches. And he’s better at creating his own shot.
Vince is exactly what they needed, especially on those nights in which Dwight is in foul trouble and when the 3 point shooters don’t have it going. The Magic now have a shot creator like Vince to bail then out..
The are a really well-constructed team. That team has it all now.
Phil
May 9th, 2010
9:39 pm
Clyde, I sure as heck dont know who will take that role but its been obvious for years and still is that its our biggest need (even more than a true center imho) we sure need one. Look hard in the draft or trade our draft pick for one if there isnt a guy available in FA. He doesnt have to be of Chris Paul caliber, just a guy who can defend and create some plays for others.
NikkiFree
May 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
So it’s sounds like you’re saying the Hawks should keep Joe Johnson because it’s better than nothing. HAVE YOU NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO ATLANTA SPORTS?! We’ve had nothing more times than something to watch on the court. Not to mention, who wants a guy who is nothing more than a bonafide #2 (as opposed to the #1 he thinks he is)? Johnson doesn’t want to be here any more than the fans want him here. Coach Woodson needs to leave as well. This team is no longer playing for him anymore.
van
May 9th, 2010
9:45 pm
Johnson says to hell with the fans…..i say who pays his contract….let him go he will never make it in Atlanta and may not make it anywhere with that attitude…..
Get D-Wade
May 9th, 2010
9:45 pm
Just give JJ max money—with D-Wade and Bosh, JJ will be more motivated to give a lot more effort, and the Hawks should be a lot better!!!
Big Man
May 9th, 2010
9:52 pm
Regardless of what you say about Joe, anybody that says we need Woody or should keep his is an IDIOT and doesn’t know basketball. PERIOD.
HawksFan11
May 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
If i was ownership, i would sit down with joe and just offer him a nice contract but not MAX, if joe turns that deal down, that means he basically wants the money rather then to try to build this team! He should accept a large but not max contract, then the hawks can maybe sign a GOOD sharp shooter or a bigger wing player then Mo Evans.
Courtney
May 9th, 2010
9:55 pm
Who are the 24% of people not voting to Fire Mike Woodson. What Kool-Aid are they drinking?
SWAT Native
May 9th, 2010
9:58 pm
The saddest thing about the whole Joe Johnson thing is that bringing him here tore the ASG ownership group apart, and this has hindered the organization ever since. Now for him to give the back of his hand to Hawks fans adds insult to injury. It’s not the fans’ fault he has played like number two for most of the playoffs. He deserved to be booed. I liked Joe, but after last night I wouldn’t be sorry to see him go.
tribman
May 9th, 2010
10:03 pm
Stand around, pass the ball , stand around, pass the ball or not, dribble into a double team, stand round a little more and watch your teammate dribble. Woodson does not have an offense that can compete against the elite. Pass the ball Joe.
jake
May 9th, 2010
10:14 pm
Sorry, Mark, you’re DFW and the last word is wrong. Johnson is an offense killer. He dribbles too much and the other guys stand around waiting for him to do something. It’s ugly, playground basketball, and it’s at it’s worst when other teams ratchet up their defense. They know what he’s going to do, and they bottle him up and let him do it. And his record of consistently being a non-factor in playoff games speaks for itself. Johnson is not a leader, he’s all about Joe Johnson. The Hawks will be better without him.
Adam
May 9th, 2010
10:14 pm
I sure hope that Rick Sund is smarter than Mark Bradley.
When you’ve only got 5 players, your STAR is critically important. I cannot think of a single NBA team in the last 20 years that has won a championship with “good chemistry.” We need a superstar to put the team on his back and win. This year’s final is not going to be Lakers v. Cavaliers – it’s going to be Kobe v. LeBron!
Joe is a nice piece. He has taken command of regular season games, but that means NOTHING if you want to actually win a championship. He doesn’t hit the big shots, he doesn’t command the respect of the refs (which is critically important to avoiding foul trouble (see Game 1)) he does not make his teamates better and he does not command the respect of the other team. Joe Johnson is not a max contract player!
This is such a short sided article. Just because Joe was named to third team does not automatically mean he is in the top 15 – there are options out there in free agency. What if Pierce exercises his ETO? No one thought he would with $21m, but with a 2011 lock out looking like a real possibility, he might want to make his big money NOW instead of trying to negotiate a deal at 35. Or Melo will probably opt out next year, Stoudamire(not a 2, but a hell of a lot better than Marvin, (of course, I’d love DWade, but Miami can pay him $30m more than anyone else – can’t believe he wouldn’t want to keep kicking it on South Beach, making a ton more $ in a State with no no income tax – Wade has his ring, he’s not going to give that up), and hell, Salmons was better than Joe in the Bucks series!
And ultimately, I’d rather lose and have the chance of drafting the next Kobe, LeBron, or DWade than keep Joe and watch the Hawks consistently lose in the 2nd round. Hell, even if by some miracle the Hawks could have made it to the finals do you think there is any way they can beat the Lakers?
Just getting to the playoffs is not the goal. I’d rather not even go to the playoffs if it meant that I didn’t feel compelled to boo my team off of their home court.
Sure you can upgrade Woody – the defensive techniques have been good, but the man can’t run any kind of offense, so he will never be able to get to that next level. But it doesn’t matter if we’re counting on Joe Johnson. You could put John Wooten, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Dean Smith and the ghost of Red Auerbach on that bench and Joe Johnson will never be in the same class as Kobe or Lebron.
Cut your losses – paying Joe Johnson $18m a year is committing your team to mediocrity or worse. Look at it this way; Joe knows this is his contract year and THIS is the effort he puts out. What is he going to do AFTER he gets paid!
HawksFan11
May 9th, 2010
10:16 pm
@northcyde, i honestly dont think vince was an UPGRADE over turk. Vince might have had a better season this year but I dont even get why the raptors went after him. He is a closer, a reliable shooter, and a distributor, but the Raptors had that in Calderon. So instead of Turk having the ball, Calderon is too. Vince is basically the SAMETHING. Except vince has more explosiveness and is more athletic. Thats why i said the Magic made it back this year while changing there lineup because they swapped for the same type of player. I think you should swap only for players that fit the coach’s SCHEME. Vince and Turk fit the Magic’s scheme so thats why there record stayed identical even after being swapped. I say we swap for people who fit Woody’s scheme, wait what is his scheme Lol? Get a new coach and then get players to fit his.
Mark Bradley
May 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
I didn’t think the Magic upgraded by letting Turkoglu leave and trading for Carter. But the return to health of Jameer Nelson changed the dynamics of Orlando. It no longer needed Turkoglu to control the ball; Jameer does that. All it needed was an occasional finisher, which is what Carter is.
T. Major
May 9th, 2010
10:27 pm
i don’t think you fire woody, if you resign woody you do so only if he agrees to hired a offensive minded assistant coach similar to what doc river is doing in boston. doc coaches the offense and assistant handles the defense. that ’s the only way i would bring him back. i’m tired of watching the same damn pick and roll at the top of the key or the iso joe or jamal. it is time for some variety in this offense. bibby made a name in this league coming off of screens. since he has been in atl i think he forgotten how to do it since woody doesn’t know how or is just to damn stubborn to run it.
also there is no way jeff teague should not be on the floor. if woody would have gave him time in the regular season he would have been a better option in this series
JL Burke
May 9th, 2010
10:31 pm
Mark,
Hawks greatest needs are point guard and center. It’s hard to see how they can get a quality starter at either of these positions without a trade, at least if they use their salary cap money to resign Joe Johnson. Shouldn’t they at least look at sign and trade options to trade Joe for a starting point guard or center? For example, would they be a better team if they lost Joe and gained Chris Bosh?
Pat
May 9th, 2010
10:37 pm
I don’t think the Hawks can afford to keep Joe Johnson. Both JJ and Woody should go. Detroit won a few years ago built on defense, no star and a cadre of guys who on any given night could get you 10-20 points. This should be the model for the Hawks if they cannot get a legitimate superstar (which Joe is not). It makes no sense to tie up significant money in Joe Johnson just to remain where you are if you are not already at or near the top of at least the East.
JD
May 9th, 2010
10:38 pm
Sadly, the time has come for Joe and Woody to move. Both are likeable individuals but this thing is just not working and the Hawks won 53 in spite of the failure of the coaching staff to adjust during games and the failure of Joe to be an efficient scorer.
The Hawks need a player who can break down a defense and create for himself and others.
Al Horford can defend perhaps every center in the league not named Dwght Howard. Does anyone remember Dave Cowens? He led Boston to a long period of excellence. The system needs to change and that was Woodson’s responsibility.
Losing Joe Johnson might set the franchise back but not to the 8th seed as some have suggested. The money Joe wants would cripple this franchise for years. 5 or 6 years at 15-20 million a year? He is already in decline, so what will years 2 on be like? Let some other team, NY or Chicago, take that plunge.
The real killer of this franchise was the two picks wasted on Shelden and Marvin. That is in the past now but Marvin does not have a SF’s body and is not an excellent shooter, so where is the upside for him?
How does Jeff Teague spend his life playing basketball and come to the NBA with that pathetic shooting style? That is not a shot but a push in the direction of the basket. Why do you suppose every defender backs off even when Jeff is 15 feet from the basket? The whole league knows he is a poor shooter.
There are some good pieces in Atlanta, though Josh Smith is infuriating at times, and a coach (Doc Rivers?) and a find at PG and SF would make a huge difference. Let the new coach choose the players to keep and to bring in with help from the front office.
Sad homer
May 9th, 2010
10:55 pm
Joe Johnson is not worth paying $10 to watch and he is NO WAY worth the elite players are getting. He is not in the elite class. He put up good numbers against bottom feeders and could not do jack against top tiers.
I think the Hawks will be much better without Joe and Woody. Woody just looks lost at time and won’t be a better coach until he changes his styles and get tougher. If the Hawks gets a good shooting guard or veteran center via trade or free agency, they will be much better team. Move Al H. to PF and Josh S. to SF. Find a CENTER that can play “D” and rebound.
The missing pieces are Center and new coach that can get the best out of these immature Hawks.
Get rid of JOE and WOODY.
Barton
May 9th, 2010
11:10 pm
I need to get to these sooner.. 193 comments, I’ll never get read. Mark you couldn’t be more wrong. Not only can they afford it, but they will save money. Horford is the guy to build around and from what I here, the players may not like playing with Joe so much. If Sund even gives Joe a max contract offer I will forgo the 2010-2011 season. That’s right, boycott it completely. That’ll show ‘em.