The Hawks’ next coach? Put Dwane Casey on the case
Improved his team’s record each of the past five seasons; just coached his team to the No. 3 in the East; has made the playoffs three years running; has won two playoff series, each in seven games.
If you’re the Chicago Bulls and you’re hiring for a coach, Mike Woodson would surely be at the top of your list. But the Hawks aren’t the Bulls, and they’ve gone as far with him as they can. And let’s not sell the man short: Under Woodson, this team rose from abject misery to win 53 games.
But the postseason just completed surely represented the end of the road for the Woodman. The Hawks haven’t yet said what they’re going to do, but if they weren’t willing to re-up Woodson when his team was winning 53 regular-season games, there seems no chance they’ll do it after his team lost a playoff series by an average of 25.3 points.
From Jamal Crawford, speaking between Games 3 and 4: “It was like an NCAA tournament game — they were the No. 1 seed and we were the 16. Except that they’re the 2 and we’re the 3.”
It’s possible the Hawks would have been swept with Zen Master Phil Jackson on their bench, but they couldn’t have looked any worse under any coach. This wasn’t a case of an opponent just being better. This was a stark study in what happens when good players stop listening.
Assuming the Hawks change coaches, the next man needs to be one capable of getting and keeping his players’ attention. As Woodson keeps noting, these aren’t the inept Hawks of 2004-2005. At issue now is finding the man capable of taking this team from Round 2 ignominy to Round 3 and beyond.
Avery Johnson’s name arises often, but word in NBA circles is that he’ll get the New Orleans job. Byron Scott is another possibility, but he has had the benefit of having two of the era’s best point guards (Jason Kidd, Chris Paul) in his two coaching stops and got fired from both. And there’s always sentiment to recycle some TV coach — Doug Collins, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Fratello — but with such big names we must ask: If they’re so great, why aren’t they coaching?
The man I’d hire was interviewed for this job when Woodson got it in 2004. (Also interviewed back then: Mike Brown, who now coaches LeBron.) The man I’d hire is Dwane Casey, who’s currently being sought by other teams — he has interviewed with the Hornets — but might have a greater interest in these Hawks.
Casey worked under Rick Sund, who’s now the Hawks’ general manager, for five years with Seattle as Nate McMillan’s chief assistant. He’s currently employed as Rick Carlisle’s assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. Casey got a chance to be a head coach in 2005 with Minnesota, but it wasn’t a real chance. Kevin McHale fired him halfway through his second season. (Casey’s record was 53-69, which was terrific if you note how the T-Wolves have since collapsed.)
Casey isn’t an exotic coach. He’s not going to go all Don Nelson on you. Where he’d be an upgrade is in relationships. The Hawks died in the playoffs because they stopped trusting one another. (When in doubt, shoot a jumper.) The next coach must handle feelings as much as X’s and O’s.
He must convince Joe Johnson — assuming Johnson stays, which I believe he will — to share the ball. He must convince Josh Smith not to compete with Johnson jump shot for jump shot. He must convince Smith, whose defense in the postseason was terrible, to make the basic rotations and not always play for the film-at-11 block.
Asked Tuesday if the team had stopped paying heed to Woodson in these playoffs, Al Horford said: “I think that’s fair to say to some extent. Some guys had mentally checked out.”
No, that doesn’t say much for those guys: How can you stop caring when you have, as Horford put it, “a chance to do something special”? But it also says they’re not apt to listen to Mike Woodson ever again. I believe Dwane Casey can make them listen. I believe he should be the Hawks’ next coach.
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270 comments Add your comment
JSS
May 11th, 2010
3:26 pm
@Z…
Because Sam lost control of a young team… But you know, I’d pay just to she his super fine wife Anita Meadows, the absolute 2nd best player this State ever produced behind Teresa Edwards. Yes she was better than Katrina McClain…
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
3:26 pm
what about Vinny Del Negro?
Keep Woody!
May 11th, 2010
3:27 pm
Woody deserves a raise and big bonus for taking this young team to the second round without a point guard or a center! Plus, he had a bunch of attitude issues to deal with from smith and johnson. The owners need to get him better players and he’ll take them to the nba finals next year! First priority: break the bank and get D-Wade and Bosh—pay whatever it takes.
Section 212
May 11th, 2010
3:28 pm
I am not in favor of blowing up the team… Hawks must remain a playoff team, much like the Jazz have been over the years. Simple approach is to not resign Woody, keep Joe (if he wants to be hear) and bring in a head coach (and staff) who will demand that Joe, Harford and Josh play as All-Stars at all times, especially Joe. Announce the the PG position is Teagues to loose. My vote is to bring in Ty Corbin. He has the benefit of knowing the Utah offense and has toughness.
ZEKE
May 11th, 2010
3:29 pm
Come on people I am a hall of famer give me a shot , I know how to win championships
Woodson is goofy
May 11th, 2010
3:29 pm
Send the Hawks back to St. Louis.
Gene Hackman!
May 11th, 2010
3:30 pm
Gene’s the man!!! Look what he did with that team in Hoosiers! With the Hawks, he would win the NBA in year 1!!!!
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
3:30 pm
At least they won a championship in STL…..
Section 212
May 11th, 2010
3:31 pm
The attitude problems and lack of offensive plan has been there all season. These issues cost the Hawks at least 5-6 games during the regular season. It was only further exposed when the team was under the spotlight of the playoffs playing against the top teams and coaches.
realtalk
May 11th, 2010
3:31 pm
FINALLY SOMEBODY TOLD THE REAL ISSUE!! CDOG YOU ARE A GENIUS!! These idiot clowns keep on dogging Woodson. We do not need any rookies coaches or has-beens! Woodson put in work. Each year, we are winning more and more games. The issue is NOT HAVING A TRUE BIG MAN IN THE POST!! BOSH, STOUDAMIRE, ETC. That’s what we need to grab more boards = more shot attempts=more points. We also need a team leader. This team obviously does not have a leader. Joe is a good ball player but we need a player with Dwayne Wade like capabilites who will not be scared to close games. I know we can not solve all of this in one off-season but we do need to correct one or the other. I would go for the TRUE CENTER first. Then go after a star athlete. Woodson is not the problem. There is only so much that a coach can do. Those guys getting nervous and playing to their full potential is not his fault. They just had a terrible post season. After this then maybe Teague will have adapted enough to be a true PG. The PG position is not solid right now. None of them play any DEFENSE. MY ONE AND ONLY WISH FOR THE HAWKS THIS POST SEASON IS TO AT LEAST GET CHRIS BOSH, OR SOME QUALITY BIG MAN. And for the record, MARVIN WILLAMS IS A BUST!! ITS TRUE!!
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
3:31 pm
Seeing Zeke post made me spit food….thanks I needed that today!
The University of Georgia Tech
May 11th, 2010
3:33 pm
guys who currently do not have coaching jobs currently: 1-jeff van gundy 2-avery johnson 3-mark jackson
guys who are head coaches in the nba and may leave for atl: 1-doc rivers(played here and family in florida) 2-erik spoelstra (miami is going w/pat riley s lets take their seconds) 3-don nelson(he is about to be out of golden state but doesnt want to be)
assistants in the nba atl should look at: 1-patrick ewing(assistant w/magic…cant beat em’ join em’) 2-tom thibodeau (assistant w/celtics defensive guy) 3-tyrone corbin (ex-hawk and current jazz assistant)
college head coaches to come to the nba and atl:1-coach k(aint happening) 2-bobby cremins(he owned the town of atl before) 3-paul hewitt (he fits the pro game better)
out of left field hires that would work: 1-bobby knight(needs a challange plus his son is going to be fired soon so he needs somewhere for him to work) 2-paul westhead (might loose but sure would be fun to watch) 3-hubbie brown (he won here before)
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
3:34 pm
“we need a player with Dwayne Wade like capabilites” THAT is sure not alot to ask for….we need that too!
realtalk
May 11th, 2010
3:35 pm
and please stay off of drugs when you say hire casey!! dude seriously you need to rethink your opinons before writing some of these columns!!
Jimmy Chittwood
May 11th, 2010
3:39 pm
At this point, I would take Norman Dale from Hoosiers or the basketball coach from ‘Teenwolf’ that ate fried chicken on the bench during the games…….
Blue
May 11th, 2010
3:39 pm
Dwayne Casey ……… ???????????
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 11th, 2010
3:43 pm
I wouldn’t mind Rick Mahorn as coach, as long as he came in kicking azz. A player’s coach is the last thing we need. We need a coach the players respect, one whose physical presence strikes terror in their souls.
Adolf Hitler
May 11th, 2010
3:43 pm
Patrick Ewing, Kenny Smith, or Avery Johnson.
Someone needs to get in Josh Smith’s ass and tell him to quit all of the whining at the refs and get back on defense or sit in the bench. The new coach also needs to find a creative way to get MArvin Williams going. The dude has a beautiful jumper, yet he seems to have no heart, and I haven’t seen anything that he does well too build on. Bibby needs to be laid up on the bench. the man cannot play ANY defense. Start teague and let him play through his mistakes. That was the main problem that i had with Woodson. he had no patience in developing a rookie PG.
We need a superstar….we haven’t had one in this town since 2007
cuckoosnest
May 11th, 2010
3:44 pm
Go for the guy who loves the Hawks, is a proven winner and whose teams play solid defense. Go get Doc Rivers.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 11th, 2010
3:47 pm
I say get Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn as coach’s.
That way JJ would be more scared of the coaches then skinny defenders
OPTION THREE
May 11th, 2010
3:52 pm
Pat Summitt should be considered ,
nah never mind they couldn’t afford her
jg
May 11th, 2010
3:54 pm
laimbeer sounds like a great choice–but i talked to the guy a few years ago while running camera at a wnba game in atlanta. approached laimbeer a few hours before the game in private to tell him, “hey i’m jg and i’m a huge hawks fan and don’t take this personal but i hated you as a player for the pistons but would have loved you if you had played for the hawks.”
but before i could say anything after i said i’m a huge hawks fan–laimbeer interrupts me and screams out “hey rick (rick mahorn) this guy likes the hawks–do you see any banners in this place.” and he then put his hand over his eyes as if to look around the top of the arena. mahorn then comes over to where we were and says “they aint no banners in here–every thing here is a bunch of losers.” i say well they played your pistons guys pretty tough until yall started fights with them. laimbeer says, “the hawks are a bunch of pu**y’s and still are.” i jokingly say well dominique and kevin willis are right over there and you guys should go tell them that.” without a laugh or smile or any thing mahorn says “where, i’ll go tell them right now.” don’t think he did but he sure wasn’t worried at all about doing it. i also said to mahorn–who also told me to refer to him as mr. mahorn–that didn’t you used to be an assistant with the hawks–and the best i remember he said something like, “yeah back when i was a loser.”
this is no joke the rest of the night even during their game–if i walked the players off the court during timeouts and into detroit’s huddle–laimbeer would look at me and place his hand over his eyes kind of like making a visor–and look up toward the rafters..as if to say where are the banners.
i always hated laimbeer and all of pistons–but after that–i’ll never have any respect for him. all i was trying to do is compliment him on a great career and even though i hated him because he always beat my hawks–i respected his game! he was a great shooter, great rebounder, great ft shooter, smart player, great passer but most of all a world class jerk!
say no but not only he11 no to mr. laimbeer.
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
3:57 pm
Is that coach dude from “The White Shadow” still alive?
BLACK IN BUCKHEAD
May 11th, 2010
3:58 pm
why want someone put MIke Glenn (FORMER HAWK) name in the hat i really thnk he’s what the hawks need someone who will push these guys and make them play at that level like the lakers boston and cavs, people come on he’s what ATLANTA needs mike a stundent of the game so let’s get him in for a interview.GO STINGER……..
Please say it ain't so
May 11th, 2010
3:59 pm
As a long time Hawks fan who just moved from Atlanta to Chicago one month ago, please tell me Woody won’t be following me up here
jg
May 11th, 2010
4:00 pm
did you see possession when joe johnson semi drove into the free throw area only to see dwight howard approaching–he was so scared he took one more dribble and passed out to the perimeter–as is he’d seen the devil himself.
so intimidated by howard it was unbelievable. the guy is very good but not that good. we gave him way too much respect. not once did we foul him hard. it reminded me of the way our teams used to play jordan. it was like we don’t want to hurt him–heck fire put him on the ground a time or two. throw the ball in to who ever he’s guarding and tell them to drive right into him, pump fake maybe get him off his feet and jump into him and try to get him into foul trouble. the bobcats had him on the bench the entire series.
we were just to dad gum scared of the guy. that they just shot the ball ridiculously well!!! some were tough shots but a great deal of the threes were wide open shots. we can’t make them–but give the magic credit–they were on fire the entire series.
bye bye woody–it’s been he11
jg
May 11th, 2010
4:02 pm
bye bye woody–it’s been terrible!
pluckthehawks
May 11th, 2010
4:05 pm
…and you could bring Salami out of retirment.
jg
May 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
too much respect from our guys toward dwight howard. i mean he’s good and all but he’s not that good. joe johnson was scared to death of the dude. he drove the lane one time and saw howard and retreated like a little girl. embarrassing! zsa zsa threw about 8 pump fakes at howard on one layup attempt only to shoot it over the goal. try some thing different–jump into the guy every once in a while. at least try to get him foul trouble by going inside. sure he may block your shot 4 or times but the others may result in a foul or two. the bobcats had him in trouble the whole series.
at the end of the day i really liked this hawks team. they did have a great year in spite of woody and these two playoff series. i hope the guys can get past this and if they decide to move a few players i’m ok with that. the coach should be gone already. i’ve been looking on the internet all day to see if and when it happens. as for the team you have to keep horford, marvin and josh–maybe some of the others will respond to a coach who actually puts them in position to win. maybe one that can draw up a few plays that can score more consistently. maybe one that will sit anyone that doesn’t follow his rules.
2011 new coach, new approach and new attitude!!!! go hawks
Go Hawks 2011
May 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Nique for the next Hawks Coach!
Go Hawks 2011
May 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
We need someone to control the team… Nique
BobinBuford
May 11th, 2010
4:18 pm
I’m with say it ain’t so – buy as a Bulls fan living in Atlanta, the last guy I want to see on the Bulls bench is Woodson.
Also the deal with Doug Collins coaching the Bulls was that Jerry Reinsdorf thought the Bulls had gotten as far as they could with him as head coach. As it was famously said, Collins took the Bulls from A to B, but not from B to C.
And if ANY team wants Paul Hewitt, there are a lot of fans on The Flats that would be glad to let him go.
crackbaby
May 11th, 2010
4:23 pm
Mark,
Is there any chance we could get Doc Rivers? His Boston teams execute well and in my opinion, maximize results. Don’t know his contract status but it would be fair to say he has roots in Atlanta.
MitchC
May 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
Mark, I’m on the fence about Casey. I dont know enough about him to pass judgement. Fratello is too old, and was the coach for another time, when the Hawks were dominated by Dominque. Collins, is also, too much of a dinosaur.
I actually like the idea of Jeff Van Gundy. Yes, I know he’s been on TV, and hasnt coached for a while, but, look at his resume. He was an assistant with Riley when the Knicks went to the seventh game of the 1994 Finals. Then, as the head coach, he got to the Finals again with an injury riddled team in 1999. He’s exactly the opposite of Woodson. He’s intense, and his teams play good defense, something the Hawks could definitely learn to do more of.
I guess Woodson is gone. It will be interesting to see what the Hawks come up with.
Smitty
May 11th, 2010
4:29 pm
Nique? do you listen to him? Great guy. Fantastic player. But self – inflated and very much like Josh Smith. Never won a championship at any level. and not all that smart, although that is obviously not a prerequisite for being anNBA coach, only a championship one(Jackson,Riley,Popovich)
Bushwacker
May 11th, 2010
4:32 pm
This team needs some one who is a great TEACHER adn MOTIVATOR “ASS KICKER” and his name is Bobby Knight!
Bushwacker
May 11th, 2010
4:35 pm
Agreat teacher and motivator who has nothing left to prove in college.
Coach K
Bushwacker
May 11th, 2010
4:37 pm
Does Coack K play golf, Augusta National membership and house on Ocone, I hear Big Ben is trying to dump one cheap!
Mitch
May 11th, 2010
4:38 pm
The best candidate for new head coach: Tom Thibodeau, Associate Assistant coach for Doc Rivers in Boston. For what the Hawks need: Thibodeau is the best answer by far.
Look at it this way: if we are ever going to win our division we have to figure out a way to defend the Magic and Thibodeau is regarded as one of the real defensive geniuses in the game today. In fact, when he was in charge of the defense with the Rockets, his teams were top 5 year after year…and now he’s helped to win a World Championship for the Celtics, who were awful before he arrived…and this past week has found a way to slow down LeBron and Mo and Company with a relatively old lineup, to boot.
If the Hawks could get a legitimate center like Al Jefferson for Josh Smith, they should do it. Everyone knows that Al Horford will be a great power forward. Jefferson can do what no current Hawk can do. He can muscle Dwight Howard off the block.
The other key would be getting Josh Childress to return…with his length and tenacity and smarts, it would be a lot harder for the likes of Lewis and Pietrus to have room all night to splash threes.
Thibodeau would do a great job turning Jeff Teague into a good defender and slasher on the other end, a la Rondo.
Heck, he’d probably finally get JJ to play with his feet and his head…if JJ sticks around.
Take care of the defense first…it will lead to an array of fast breaks and easy baskets, and then build up the half court offense. Thibodeau is made to order for this. He’s going to go fast, so the Hawks would have to pounce on him quickly. I’d be elated if they did.
Goldclub
May 11th, 2010
4:39 pm
Patrick Ewing might be the most effective if the Goldclub is back in full swing. If not then I like Mark’s choice of Kasey.
Hawker Jet
May 11th, 2010
4:40 pm
I too vote for Doc Rivers, he has done a good job in Boston, and I believe he would put a spark in the players. I think the Hawks do need a big man in the middle and let Horford and Smith play the forward positions.
cdog
May 11th, 2010
4:51 pm
mike woodson should remain the hawks coach.i don’t care who you bring in.unless the hawks get a quality big man.they too will have an early exit from the playoffs next season.
HawksFanSince82
May 11th, 2010
4:51 pm
I just feel that its time for the Hawks to show the rest of the NBA that we are serious about contending for a NBA championship and the first step in doing so for the Hawks is to hire a serious, big name coach like Van Gundy, Avery Johnson, witch should be the# 1 and 2 options.
Mitch
May 11th, 2010
4:54 pm
Tom Thibodeau, Celtics Defensive Genius.
Want to finally slow down the Magic? We need Thibodeau.
Acquire a center (Al Jefferson for Josh Smith…no brainer there).
Bring back Childress…a guy who will actually crowd and pester Lewis and Pietrus…no more easy threes.
Thibodeau would develop Jeff Teague as a defender and slasher a la Rondo.
He’s the right guy. Defense wins championships and he’s already helped to win the Celtics a ring and right now has incredibly found a way to slow down LeBron, Mo and Co. with a lineup as anceint at the Rolling Stones.
Give Thibodeau these young Hawks and he will have them soaring.
The Hawks have to act fast, for this guy is the hot name out there right now.
jwilli120
May 11th, 2010
4:56 pm
MARK JACKSON,,,MARK JACKSON,,,MARK JACKSON,,, NO EXPLATION NEEDED
Maintain
May 11th, 2010
4:56 pm
Like Woody and Hewitt, the next coach should be African-American to better relate to the roster of players and get more fans to the games!
Fundamentals
May 11th, 2010
5:04 pm
Thank you for answering my call for options and suggestions.
TROTTINGHOME
May 11th, 2010
5:04 pm
Saw an article on yahoo sports (hawks team page ) quoting hordford about team chemistry. No one hear did any article about htat. Shame on you bum writers.
where’s SEKO
guesswhosthis
May 11th, 2010
5:12 pm
I don’t know who the next head coach should be but it clearly isn’t Woodson. People keep complaining about how he can’t get his players to play hard but i don’t think that is the reason they were so bad. Put simply, the hawks were bad because of Woodsons switching defensive philosophy. The players could have gave a 200% effort and they still would have lost because the switching defense causes matchup problems all over the floor. Do you ever see Dwight Howard playing defense out on the wings or at the top of the key trying to guard point guards? No. He is always around the basket where he is most effective. Woodsons defense always had players where they were least effective, which is exactly what the opposing team wanted. Defense is simple. Instill in each player on your team a sense of pride. Then before every game matchup each player to who they will defend. The rest is about having pride as a player. Ask them, do you want this player to beat you? Now the task is simple. Don’t let your man beat you.
JCToo
May 11th, 2010
5:26 pm
What about Lawrence Frank? He had some decent runs in NJ