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
Big Ray
May 11th, 2010
10:43 pm
Dwayne Casey? I don’t know about that. He has experience, but if he can’t do Xs and Os, then forget it. We already know what that looks like.
Too much is made of “the team improved from year to year.” Yeah? Looks to me like natural progression and addition of talent. How much of this is Woody to be credited for? Did he bring Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford here?
We need a veteran coach, but we don’t need an ineffective one. Change for the sake of change is not really change…
Big Ray
May 11th, 2010
10:48 pm
Having a connection with a championship team does not make you a champion at what you do. Better to stay in a Holiday Inn at night and eat Mentos. Case in point: Adam Morrison has an NBA Championship ring. Does that make you want to go out and sign him right now?
I can appreciate people talking about getting rid of Josh Smith, when they think it all the way through. As in, they talk about who to trade him for, and how it could benefit the team.
I can’t abide the fools who want him gone because they don’t like a few things he did, and have no idea what he brought to this team.
Unfortunately the latter far outnumbers the former.
Buckhead Basketball
May 11th, 2010
10:59 pm
1. It IS obvious that Woodson has taken this team as far as HE can and it is time to pass the baton!
2. You cannot hire ANYONE who does not have HEAD coaching experience….this team needs some minor changes (and a few new pieces) and it could compete for an Eastern Conference Championship to start with!
3. Once a coach has lost his players in the locker room, they will tune him out and that seems to what has occurred.
4. Hiring a Re-Tread coach (Collins, Fratello, Jeff Van Gundy) is a mistake. Think about it? Van Gundy NEVER got Houston out of the first round- EVER! And yet his replacement Adelman did it in his 2nd year? BUT because Van Gundy is now on TV, he suddenly got smarter? Why would he be a good hire?
5. Casey might be the right hire for a multitude of reasons- Look at what happened in Minnesota after he left? He proved he can coach and dealt with an organization that had traded Sam Cassell for a first round pick and Marko Jaric? (Come on- the only thing Marko is known for is having married a super model!) and yet Casey had Minnesota in the TOP 10 Defensively in the league……and think where they are now??
He has to be someone to consider!
Wilsmi2000
May 11th, 2010
10:59 pm
First of all we don’t need to jump the gun. Has anybody ever thought that maybe the MAGIC are that good? What if they go on to win the title? Some of you guys don’t know anything about Pro Sports ..You don’t just drop your Coach for some guy that’s never been a Head Coach (Casey??) Sure Woodson’s team go swept in the second round, but he got them there. Don’t forget that this team has glaring weaknesses. Critically in need of a true center, PG..Teague still developing, Bibby over the hill. College Coach??? Guess you guys forgot about Kruger?? You guys criticize Woodson for playing 7 or 8 guys!!! Other than Jamal, Zaza, and Evans. Who else could be depended on to come through for them. Remember that Orlando hasn’t lost a game yet. Not a big fan of Josh and Marvin. Josh makes too many bonehead plays and marvin to inconsistent. So instead of making Woody a scapegoat why don’t we address the real issues. Well you don’t win 53 games and get to the second round of the playoffs without being able to coach. Also remember that Hawks are still progressing and not a title contender yet.
Big Ray
May 11th, 2010
11:02 pm
You’re crazy. We just set a record for how many points a team could lose by in a series. If the Magic are that good, how come they don’t have the best record in the league…by a wide margin?
Even our own team majority owner said we looked like a deer in the headlights.
Woodson has to go. Period.
Buckhead Basketball
May 11th, 2010
11:04 pm
Mark Jackson? No Coaching experience PERIOD! How did that experiment work with Vinny Del Negro?
shannon
May 11th, 2010
11:21 pm
Perfect example Mike Brown isn’t a coach,if he didn’t have Lebron he wouldn’t have lasted this long…. A team needs a coach, everyone wants to say Mike Woodson made this team better but I think they just ultimately got better..The bucks series showed coaching problems where the orlando series showed coaching and personal problems. Rondo sucked offensively when he first got in the league but Doc let him learn thru his mistakes and now even tho the Celtics are old he makes them work by his energy..Salim,Acie and hopefully not Teague never developed under Woodson because he was so concerned about losing that he mortgaged the team to JJ and will now be foreclosed lol… I hope we keep JJ and add a real PG that can create like Devin Harris or get a Real Center and Move Horford to power forward…Anybody disagree?
LEA
May 11th, 2010
11:22 pm
you’re an douche, Smoove’s defense was horrible but Al’s was great please. He barely attempted to guard dwight the entire game
rainman
May 11th, 2010
11:24 pm
Casey and Jeff Van Gundy are viable possibilities, and the sooner the Hawks sever ties with Woodson, – the better!
1. I’m down with fracticide — we need Jeff to kill his brother Stan.
2. Cleveland got Shaq to limit DH in the inevitable playoff showdown. How this proves out is yet to be determined.
3. Brendan Haywood would be our most attainable FA to give the size and defense we need to add to the 5 position. AH can still play 5 when the matchup dictates, but we obviously don’t have the answer for the Magic – yet. Haywood at 5 and Al at 4 should be able to hold their own.
4. JJ is a tough subject. He has been a major reason for the Hawks going from pitiful to respectable. The fact that he turned down the 4-year, 60 mil. extension, and the recent performance in the playoffs — plus, the dissing of the fans, not to mention we need the bread to fill other holes …. see ya!
5. I had several other points, like PG, perimeter scoring, trade possibilities, Josh Childress, etc. – … but I gotta go to bed.
I guess a good coach would be a good start.
An Adult
May 11th, 2010
11:47 pm
Jerry West and Labo… get a life. I know high school is boring but you could be doing something better with your time than waiting for a blog to open up to be ‘first’. It’s not quite jock sniffing but close.
glenn
May 12th, 2010
12:01 am
Why not go after someone like Tom Izzo if going after an unproven NBA commodity ? I could see that guy taking the job if he was offered a fair contract .
rusty
May 12th, 2010
12:09 am
woody has to go. he made horrible substitions,would not play his bench,refused to bench mavin or
bibby,let joe run the team amuck with his dribbling & ball hogging shutting down all ball movement &player movement,had no control of js.,had no offensive plays we never get easy shots,ran that horrible switching defense creating horrible mis matches for us & pulling our big men away from the boards.must have hated teague & joe smith,got beat by sorry teams like the nets,knicks & toronto.
after our great start our season went downward just like what happened last year,showed favoitism
to certain player & treated others like crap,never made changes or adjustments during games or between games,had to the stubborn coach in the nba,vever had any set plays,never seen a team who had a harder time getting the ball in bounds. he has to GO
The Coach
May 12th, 2010
12:24 am
Don’t hire dwayne casey—he can’t coach a lick. He was a loser in minnesota with better talent than the hawks have. Hire a superstar type coach like Pat Riley or Phil Jackson—pay whatever they want.
AG
May 12th, 2010
12:24 am
Wow, read some old post guys. Hortford is a top 10 center in this league!!!! He got manhandled by Superman. When the starting center for the Bobcats or Pacers, Minn, etc.. outdo him, then we have a problem. His numbers in the post season are only second to T. Duncan 19ppg 11 rebs and Dwight 15ppg 11 rebs. Hortford 15 ppg 9 rebs. The only player I would trade Josh for is Noah. Lastly, Van Gundy was horrible in Houston, and that team could not throw it in the ocean with T. Mc and Yao.
AG
May 12th, 2010
12:26 am
I could almost give Woody another shot, but he is to stubborn. A coach makes adjustments. Down 0-3,make a change, shake up the team, start Teague and Evans. I think that could have saved his job.
Joe
May 12th, 2010
1:01 am
Byron Scott should be the next hawks coach.
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
1:25 am
I’d take Byron Scott. Like, right now …
rhettt
May 12th, 2010
1:31 am
Lambeer did coach a WNBA team to three diferent league titles. Plus he has played on NBA championship teams. He knows what it takes to win. He would be my first choice to replace Woodson.
TK Williams
May 12th, 2010
1:33 am
Wow…some of you are so out of line with your dumb comments. Dwane Casey would be an awesome coach for the Hawks. Do some real homework on his stint in Minnesota. He was fired when his team was sitting in the 8th spot. Where do you think they should have been? McHale and Taylor had no clue what they were doing when they just up and made a ridiculous trade but inspite of that, DC pushed through and would have most likely held the 8th seed in the tough western conference. And did an idiot really bring up the UK issue that happened over 20 years ago? Shall I go through the plethora of coaches who have gone through scandals. And for the record, DC was cleared from that…do your homework!!! Of all the coaches out there, he should certainly be at the top of the list. He knows the game very very well, defense is his speciality, he has great relationships with players (he and Kevin Garnett had a great relationship in Minnesota, contrary to what you may think), he’s young and hungry!!! The Hawks need his energy and enthusiasm.
Doc
May 12th, 2010
1:46 am
Bring the Doc in.
hmmmm
May 12th, 2010
1:48 am
I hear Brown is ready to make another move. He is always looking.
Rusty
May 12th, 2010
2:26 am
How about Bobby Cox. Guys love playing for him.
babalouie
May 12th, 2010
5:13 am
Another stroke of genius from the expert who picked the Hawks to beat Orlando in 7. Why don’t you do something productive and suggest to Gearon that he package Josh and Bibby for Bosh in a sign and trade. Toronto would be happy to get some talent for Bosh, we get rid of Bibby’s salary and upgrade with a clutch player with some discipline who can score at will. The salaries about match. It’s a no brainer and you can even take the credit for dreaming it up.
The Coach
May 12th, 2010
7:22 am
How about Larry Bird—he’’s tired of living in indiana and would want some of the fast paced stuff in the Atlanta night scene—he’ll work for $10 mil which is chump change for the hawks. Get larry!
taudawg
May 12th, 2010
7:30 am
Josh Smith is like watching an 8 year old in a man’s body. He is extremely lazy for most of the game and will give you a highlight or two, then pout away. I just think a fan can only watch him getting a rebound, dribbling down the entire floor then backing in and throwing up a prayer only so many times. Joe Johnson slows the game down so much, you don’t have to defense the Hawks. Our basketball IQ is very poor. We don’t move and we don’t hustle for most of the game. I guess it is because we are “professionals”.
Hire Skiles and have a solid brand of offense. Milwaukee did a number on us and was vastly outnumbered talent wise. They moved the ball very well.
The Hawks are about as boring a pro team as you could want to watch. It is really hard to watch them game in and game out. Its like watching a pick up game with five guys that have never played together before.
Tell It Like It Is
May 12th, 2010
8:48 am
If making millions does not motivate you to produce, then how in the hell can Woodson or any coach make this team jell. Unfortunately, the only way that Josh Smith will listen is if he is traded. He is a ledgend in his own mind. Keep Woody; get a good point guard who can break down defenses like Rhondo, Williams and Paul; and get a Center who can control the lane. Talent and heart wins and not just x’s and o’s. The NBA is not “The Hoosiers”.
Chef Mentuer
May 12th, 2010
8:50 am
They need to hire Bob Thomas!
connor
May 12th, 2010
9:15 am
hire MARK PRICE, God knows GT isn’t going to
I Hate Lenny Wilkens, Stan Kasten, and Pete Babcock
May 12th, 2010
10:06 am
Why has no one even thought of Steve Smith? He’s got the personality, the basketball smarts, and was an expert at drawing a whistle. He’d have a tremendous amount to teach these guys and I believe would be able to take them over the top.
heartofdarkness
May 12th, 2010
10:08 am
I liked the suggestion that the Hawks bring in Dominique to coach this team next year. After listening to his analysis on TV during the course of the season, I think he could communicate on the same level as the players are willing to listen. Not only that, but he could remain the game analyst on the broadcast and maybe even take Rathbun on as an assistant. It would be a hire worthy of the Hawks organization.
htwo0rider
May 12th, 2010
10:44 am
Layne Kiffin might take the job…his pops could teach defense
ZEKE
May 12th, 2010
10:48 am
Ok folks its a day later come on make the call I am waiting!! , I will also be able to be contacted through my MYSPACE page when you are ready to get in touch.
htwo0rider
May 12th, 2010
10:54 am
In a perfect world Coach K would be a fine choice, or Doc. Who really wants to coach these fools? I hear a lot of squawking on here about the team not listening to Woody…and there is some truth to that, but I would think getting your ass kicked on national tv would be motivation not to lay down! They are NBA Players!!! I’ve seen highschool teams with play with more pride.
Keep Woody!
May 12th, 2010
11:05 am
The Hawks need Woody’s leadership next year, especially if they get Bosh and D-Wade. But, he’ll want a big raise for getting the hawks to the second round.
phoenixfalcon
May 12th, 2010
11:27 am
the hawks offense= iso joe, iso crawford, iso smith, iso horford……that’s woddy’s offense, they all stand around watching who ever has the ball, no movement at all, and the defense is the same thing over and over and over again, no zones, no triangle, no traps, this is by far the least complex team i have ever seen. the hawks won IN SPITE of woody, i have been saying this for 2 years, they are never going to win ANYTHING whit woddy as their coach. I live in Phoenix, and the suns have been a joy to watch, why? because THEY ( the players ) believe in the system, the hawks don’t, and i don’t blame them, i have seen HIGH SCHOOL teams more complex then the hawks. i hope ( for the good of the team ) Sund does what needs to be done…..they were put out of the playoffs on Sunday, woody should have been let go on monday.
betweenthehedges
May 12th, 2010
11:28 am
perhaps in an effort for a good offseason program, I say Jason Heyward plays for the Hawks from November to January, opting to stay fit and healthy after his first major league season
Spence
May 12th, 2010
11:49 am
How were you not immediately fired after you wrote this:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/05/03/how-the-hawks-just-might-make-some-magic-of-their-own/
????????????????????
Sav Fan
May 12th, 2010
11:53 am
Mike Woodson should stay another year and the Hawks need to get him the center and pieces he needs. You all seem to forget that the Hawks swept the Boston Celtics this season and Woody deserves credit for that.
Look in the mirror management and ask did we give Woody what he needed to compete with Orlando. You certainly knew you had to go through Cleveland and Orlando to win the championship. Casey would be another experiment so if you fire Woody then Byron Scott would have to be the answer. He has the rings to prove he knows how to win.
The Woodson Watch Begins | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
May 12th, 2010
12:23 pm
[...] people are already speculating about the next coach. Mark Bradley has a story up about Dwane Casey. I have ideas and wishes as well but am going to refrain until it is certain what the Hawks are [...]
3Klub
May 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
Mark-
What the Hawks need more than anything is a DOMINANT PERSONALITY. Assuming we keep Joe Johnson (and I think we should) this team is void of a dominant personality that can grab guys attention and keep the team focused. I would love it if we could trade for a Chris Paul, but if we cant get a guy like that on the floor we need one on the bench. We always here how this team was built in the mode of the Pistons team of a few years ago and they were the same way. Billups is a prove it on the court guy, no ra ra, much like Joe Johnson. Rasheed was a hot head much like Josh ect. They needed Larry Brown to keep guys realed in and focused, See that team before and after Larry Brown. That’s why I look at retreads like ; Avery, Byron Scott, Terry Porter and even Vinny Del Negro come to mind. If we go with a new guy, I’d like to see us take a look at Mario Elli (on the bench for Dallas, or Pat Ewing. What do you think.
AXE
May 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
Mike Brown??? What so he can bring his underachivements to the table too. Or maybe they can learn to act like a bunch of idiots on the bench like the do in Cleveland with the dancing, and scripted stunts. Come on Mark why would you even put his name in the running?
AXE
May 12th, 2010
12:54 pm
Oh yeah FIRE WOODY first. People that still support him have no idea what a coach is supposed to do. Instruct, Lead, Support, and Discipline. Does any of that sound like Woody. He did shave his eyebrows for a while. That was pretty cool I guess.
HarrytheHawkforHeadCoach
May 12th, 2010
12:57 pm
Here’s a thought: Maybe Woody could have played Teague a LOT more during the season. Sure we may have won 5 or so fewer games but we still would have finished 4th, had a better chance against the Cavs in the 2nd Round AND had a confident Teague that had gotten some REAL playoff experience and been ready to go for next season. Then all we would need is a legit Center and a new coach. The problem with Woody is he doesnt take the time to develop his young players, calls no plays to be run (e.g. iso Joe) and is a sub-par defense minded coach. If you’re gonna hang your hat on defense, shouldnt you have an effective offensive scheme when your defense doesnt work?
Decatur Native
May 12th, 2010
1:04 pm
i can still smell bibby getting burned
3Klub
May 12th, 2010
1:20 pm
As far as players go, I’d love to see Atlanta take a shot a Javaris Crittendon. He’s a free agent that we could get for the cheep that can push Teague in practice. Javaris hasn’t done much yet in the league but it usually takes pg’s about 3 yrs to get it and he can add some depth and talent. I also really like Javale McGee in Washington if we could trade for him.
hawkfan
May 12th, 2010
1:44 pm
“any team thatb has a big man inside that is active and plays strong gives the hawks problems”
@ cdog: OK, so how did the Hawks sweep Boston this season? Aren’t Glenn Davis and Kendrick Perkins considered big men? No one can guard Dwight Howard. He is ismply too big, too strong, and too atheletic … much like Shaq in his prime.
The problem is ball movement and inconsistent defense => The problem is their “current” coach.
Simple as that.
hawkfan
May 12th, 2010
1:46 pm
@ AXE:
Agree 1000%
governor404
May 12th, 2010
1:51 pm
Astute businessmen often become buyers when everyone else sells, so instead of dumping the one legit star we have (JJ) lets go for it and sign one of the other high profile guys, shoot for Lebron, after all he’s done for that city and they boo him after 1 bad game, he’s out of there and teamed with JJ and the nucleus here he’d make us instant championship material and able to stick it to the Cavs for turning their backs on him. If that fails, go get Bosh and let Larry Drew take over and groom Teague.
Gracias a Dios
May 12th, 2010
2:15 pm
You know, if the Hawks didn’t switch on every screen, then Bibby wouldn’t have been put in such horrible situations. Shouldn’t really be burning Bibby so bad, in my estimation, because most of it was the scheme. At least Bibby’s a playmaker.
dms
May 12th, 2010
2:54 pm
Hire Byron Scott, and pick up Chris Bosh and we are looking at the Eastern Conference Championship!!!!!!