Fourteen games in, the Hawks have already stopped trying
Pretty much sums this one up, wouldn't you say? (AP photo)
Let’s see. Who else have they got on that bench? Bob Bender? He’s been a Hawks’ assistant since 2004 — hey, that pitch worked for Larry Drew — and Bender played under Bobby Knight. Why not give him a shot? Or maybe Lester Conner. At least he played D in his playing days. Or maybe Wally Blase, who’s technically the trainer, but at this point who really cares?
It took the Hawks six years to stop listening to Mike Woodson. It has taken one month for them to tune out his successor. To say the effort the Hawks gave against the Boston Celtics on Monday night was amateurish is to discredit the concept of amateurism and to distort the meaning of “effort.”
Said Larry Drew, the head coach: “Very embarrassing. Very, very embarrassing. Very embarrassing. If I had to sum it up in one word: Embarrassing.”
Drew’s team trailed by 26 points after one quarter. The Celtics, who played Sunday in a different country and who started four men who’d been in the NBA for at least a dozen years, scored 39 points in 12 minutes and made 18 of 25 shots. If you’ve ever wondered how a basketball game would look if one team was prohibited from guarding the other, here it was.
“Embarrassing,” said Josh Smith, invoking the word of the night. Then: “It was like they hit us with one knockout punch and we had the glass jaw in the fight.”
The Hawks are 8-6 after starting 6-0. They’ve lost five home games. (Since you asked, their first home loss of last season came on Thanksgiving night.) Of those eight victories, none have come against a team that holds a winning record. Once the Hawks started playing somebody capable of beating them, they pretty much stopped playing. On Monday they stopped trying.
The team that won 53 games and took the No. 3 seed in the NBA East last season managed 10 first-half rebounds and zero steals. That’s one rebound every two minutes and 24 seconds and no steals over 24 minutes. As any coach will tell you, rebounds and steals reflect effort. Or, in this case, the absence thereof.
Written in blue letters on a whiteboard adjacent to the Hawks’ practice court were these words: “Hustle will dominate.” It did. The older team ran the younger one off the younger team’s court. In spring 2008 the Hawks took Boston to seven games in Round 1 of the playoffs, and in 2009-2010 they swept the Celtics 4-0 in the regular season. On this night the older team scored its 77th point with 5:04 left in the third quarter; if Boston hadn’t scored again, it still would have won.
Oh, yes. Almost forgot. The Celtics were missing two starters, including the Hawk-killer Rajon Rondo.
Said Drew: “What I see with our team right now, I don’t feel good about.”
Then: “I’ve got to find out what’s going on with our players.”
Here’s what: The Hawks succeeded in getting the nice-guy assistant promoted to head coach, but there’s a reason players always lobby for the nice-guy assistant. Because they figure they won’t have to work as hard. And they aren’t. This marked the third time in a season not four full weeks old that the Hawks have lost at home to an opponent coming in off a game the previous day.
Woodson might have been a bit of a curmudgeon, but he tended to get guys’ attention. Drew was considered — at least by some in ownership — the kinder, gentler alternative with a better grasp of tactics, but it doesn’t matter what X’s and O’s you sketch if nobody pays attention.
Said Al Horford: “I feel like all the pieces are there. We’ve got good game plans. We’ve just got to play harder.”
And that’s frightening. The most professional player among Hawks already sees a team not trying hard enough. After 14 games under a new coach. Even if you believe the promotion of Drew was a wrong-headed move (and it was), he deserves better than this.
When Monday’s game began, a seat at center court was occupied by an increasingly infrequent patron. Ted Turner left at halftime. The team he used to own didn’t bother showing up.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
148 comments Add your comment
Freshmaker
November 22nd, 2010
10:32 pm
Wow, this season is unraveling in a fat hurry. Just a pathetic performance. They’d better get this turned around quick.
SEC Watch
November 22nd, 2010
10:33 pm
Embarassing!
juice sourcer
November 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
This is a complete joke. I went to one game..against the Bucks…a few weeks ago and they completely quit…it was unbelievable..this team..lead by Joe Johnson and his 120M simply does not care…there is no passion…this team should play in front of 100 people a night…max…it’s pathetic…bust them Mark…
pat
November 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
yep
SWAT Native
November 22nd, 2010
10:39 pm
I tweeted to MC as I was leaving the arena: I don’t like the trajectory of this team, and I’ve been a Hawks fan since Hubie Brown was coaching them. They haven’t beaten a good team yet, and I don’t see any reason for optimism. I think the core has gotten too comfortable. It’s time for a shakeup.
Harry the Hat
November 22nd, 2010
10:40 pm
When you give lazy, illiterate thugs millions of dollars, you get wealthy lazy, illiterate thugs.
juice sourcer
November 22nd, 2010
10:41 pm
Pathetic…just pathetic..call them out Mark…or maybe everyone should just not care like the Hawks guttless millionaires…they sure don’t care…why should anyone else…I went to the Bucks game…corporate deal and it was a joke….they quit…will never go back.
juice sourcer
November 22nd, 2010
10:42 pm
harry the hat nailed it…end of story
Sandoval
November 22nd, 2010
10:43 pm
“They’d better get this turned around quick.”
It won’t happen with this bunch of jerkoffs.
El Bravo
November 22nd, 2010
10:45 pm
Something has to change. More playing time for younger guys. New starter at the point (maybe even shooting guard). A message needs to be sent….
The Sham
November 22nd, 2010
10:46 pm
The Hatchet man is back at it… But in this case, I can’t take exception to his comments. I didn’t get to see the much of the game, but it sounds like I caught it all… not much!
I’d like to not blame the GM in this case, but didn’t Sund overpay for JJ, and Marvin? $1 million per point per night for these guys! Unbelievable! Is it too late to package the 2 bumbs and send them to Denver for Melo?
P. Bull Terrier
November 22nd, 2010
10:47 pm
I’m glad I haven’t bothered to get interested in the Hawks again since JJ said he didn’t care if I showed up. It saves a lot of time and disappointment.
With the NBA salary cap rules the way they are, it will be a long time before anyone is able to fix what’s wrong with the Hawks.
TruthSeeker
November 22nd, 2010
10:50 pm
I personally never thought Woody was that bad. He averaged 50 wins over the last two years without a superstar on his roster. That’s not easy to do.
That said, I was okay with letting him go because the performance against the playoffs against Orlando was an abomination. But clearly Drew was an uninspiring hire. This team needed a butt-kicker along the lines of Jeff Van Gundy, not someone like Drew who they can walk all over. I’m sure Drew is a nice man, but this team looks dramatically worse than they did a year ago.
Jim
November 22nd, 2010
10:53 pm
Max contract for JJ? What a joke. This team sucks.
Astro Joe
November 22nd, 2010
10:53 pm
This players did not achieve enough to select their own head coach. But ultimately, Gearon and the ASG made the hire, not the players (nor seemingly Sund). If the sacred core wasn’t going to change, an outsider was required to change the culture.
The Sham
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 pm
I didn’t get to see the much of the game, but it sounds like I caught it all… not much!
I’d like to not blame the GM in this case, but didn’t Sund overpay for JJ, and Marvin? $1 million per point per night for these guys! Unbelievable! Is it too late to package the 2 bumbs and send them to Denver for Melo?
IlliniDawg
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 pm
Just got my copy of ESPN mag and they did a retrospective of “Hoosiers”.
I think that team from Hickory could take the Hawks. And even if they couldn’t, Jimmy Chitwood would be more fun to watch than Iso-Joe.
yearofthedawg
November 22nd, 2010
11:00 pm
Congrats to Paul Hewitt and Mark Richt. Looks like Bradley’s attention will soon be diverted from trying to get you fired by starting to try and get Drew fired.
What a journalist….
Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) at Satellite Broadband Internet
November 22nd, 2010
11:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
juice sourcer
November 22nd, 2010
11:01 pm
“As a head coach, I’ve got to find out what it is.” This is a quote from the head coach after the game….coach…we all know the answer…they are a bunch of high paid millionaires who dont give a crap…that’s the answer…you don’t have to pay me any consulting money for this free advice.
cp8
November 22nd, 2010
11:05 pm
When I walked out of the Milwaukee game, I thought that game was an isolated experience. A week and half later it has become the norm. I guess I we’ll see a lot more free facebook tickets….
Gary O
November 22nd, 2010
11:05 pm
If I was LD, I would start tomorrow’s game with all bench players:
teague, Jordan,Mo,Powell, and Etan.
I would let them play the first 5 minutes to send a message to the starters that their lack of energy, lack of focus etc., will not be tolerated.
DAWG A
November 22nd, 2010
11:07 pm
I was and still am glad the Hawks got rid of Woody! But this guy is not the answer! Another boneheaded move by the cluless ownership group! The legacy of Rankin Smith has poured over to the Hawks! Proves just because you have money…….. doesn’t make you smart!
SWAT Native
November 22nd, 2010
11:16 pm
I miss Woody…
eric
November 22nd, 2010
11:19 pm
Harry the Hat you are a racist little girl who would never say that to any of the player faces. Curious, what makes them thugs? Oh i know they’re black!!
t
November 22nd, 2010
11:22 pm
Seriously, who cares. What time do the Dawgs kick off Saturday night?
D-day
November 22nd, 2010
11:23 pm
The sour taste from last year’s playoff debacle hasn’t gone away. Thought things were better in the first couple of weeks this season, but that was apparently just a head fake. My guess is Red Auerbach would have struggled with this lackadasical bunch.
Paul Hewitt, Mark Richt, and Bobby Cox's Agent
November 22nd, 2010
11:25 pm
Thanks Mark, I just might sign Larry Drew also.
Jimmy
November 22nd, 2010
11:26 pm
I’ve seen three Hawks games…2 losses and 1 win.
The players looked uninspired.
They looked lazy.
This team is definitely not playing up to potential.
With Larry Drew as coach…they won’t without player changes..
A trade of a player or two is needed.
Ron
November 22nd, 2010
11:31 pm
Eric, your point? Everything he said is true. All they are about are themselves.
Next Year....
November 22nd, 2010
11:38 pm
Sell this freaking team to somebody (Arthur Blank) that gives a damn!!!!!! JJ, Marvin, Teague, and possibly Crawford for Carmelo!!!! We all need to protest!!!! Put a big azz billboard in the middle of Downtown protesting that this trade be done immediately!!!!!!!
Next Year....
November 22nd, 2010
11:38 pm
or I guess I should change my name to ‘This Year’ or ‘NOW’!!!!!
Bernie Matt
November 22nd, 2010
11:39 pm
Somewhere Billy Knight and Mike Woodson are laughing their ass off! Spirit Group is a joke. Maybe now some of ya’ll folks that don’t want to see a brother succeed in the front offie will admit it. Who am I kidding, you’ll find a reason to blame Knight for Sund giving Joe that contract!
Bernie Matt
November 22nd, 2010
11:40 pm
Boo!
gcs
November 22nd, 2010
11:42 pm
You wanna save the Hawks? Fire this bum of a head coach and find somebody who is going to kick tail!
Pat Riley comes to mind.
.
buckhead benny
November 22nd, 2010
11:42 pm
Its obvious that Jamal Crawford is not playing hard and playing careless. He wont admit it but he has laid down and I believe it has got the team off guard. He was the spark plug that kept the team lit now he is the one putting out the flame. He should be traded asap along with Marvin Williams- Marvin isnt worth that type of money and has never lived up to hype.
I would put Jordan Crawford at point guard and start him. Bibby should come off the bench and use Teague as a reserve. Crawford could help open the floor and add a new dynamic.
Bernie Matt
November 22nd, 2010
11:43 pm
Somewhere Billy Knight and Mike Woodson are laughing their butts off! Spirit Group is a joke! Maybe now some of you folks that don’t want to see a brother succeed in the front office will admit it! Who am I kidding,… you’ll find a way to blame Knight for Sund signing Joe for the max!
king
November 22nd, 2010
11:43 pm
This game reminds me of the fight saturday night when middleweight fight Paul Williams got knocked out cold in the 2nd round. The only difference is that the Hawks got knockout cold in the 1st quarter by a lft hook by nate robinson and never got up after that. That is how soft they are. IT starts with ownerhip and management. That is why that fans in Atlanta will never support this garbage team.
Bernie Matt
November 22nd, 2010
11:44 pm
Rick Sund is no Billy Knight!
Bernie Matt
November 22nd, 2010
11:45 pm
I’m no longer reading the AJC
buckhead benny
November 22nd, 2010
11:45 pm
Only thing that makes me feel better is watching the Miami Heat get their ass handed to them. This could be the most entertaining hype gone bad. Lebron could go down as the biggest bum ever for leaving Cleveland if Miami continues at this pace.
Ben pines
November 22nd, 2010
11:45 pm
We will all be lucky when they go on strike.
SQUAWKER
November 22nd, 2010
11:48 pm
I like how you get to just make up facts to support your assertions, Mark. Woodson “tended to get guys attention”? Have you even been following the Hawks for the last few years? How many times did we see guys zoned out during time outs with Woodson? There is absolutely no merit to your statement.
Then there’s the “The Hawks succeeded in getting the nice-guy assistant promoted to head coach, but there’s a reason players always lobby for the nice-guy assistant. Because they figure they won’t have to work as hard. And they aren’t. ” Sounds well and good. I mean the “they figure they wouldn’t have to work as hard” part would logically follow….if the first statement held any truth. First off, Drew is a disciplinarian in addition to being an Xs and Os guy. Second, he got the job because the owners could hire him cheaply, not because players lobbied for him.
I agree with you that there are problems with this team. Good thing you aren’t the one in charge of fixing them because if you were, I’m sure the team would keep phoning in games like you did this column. Where’s the accountability? What a joke.
Sekou, where art thou??!!?!??!
AG
November 22nd, 2010
11:50 pm
I am a die hard Hawks fan, but to lose like this shows no heart. The heart starts with the coach. If a player or players are not giving effort, sit them on the bench. Curse them out at halftime and make the rest of us wonder why Joe is sitting on the bench. Just like Washington did McNabb, send a message!
PMC
November 22nd, 2010
11:54 pm
Why is this surprising? They didn’t care last year in the playoffs either. This team is mentally soft. They don’t play hard. They paid Joe to be one of the best players in the league and he is not that. Josh Smith only plays well when he decides to.
Virtually nothing changed off a team that got absolutely smoked in the playoffs, doing virtually the same thing + window dressing and expecting better is lunacy.
The Hawks weren’t good enough last year, so they paid them more money to continue to be….wait for it…. not good enough.
AG
November 22nd, 2010
11:54 pm
The team does need a shake up. If you don’t make a trade. start Evans instead of Marvin.m I really doubt starting twin will help anything, but hell start the rookie at the 2 and move Joe to the three. We have to do something!
misterwax
November 22nd, 2010
11:57 pm
this is how Democrats react when most of their customers vote Republican in the elections….. expect more of the same until 2016, at least!
PMC
November 22nd, 2010
11:58 pm
The Hawks simply don’t care if they are a good team or not so why should anyone else?
Pro sports should start tying all pay to performance like the rest of the world.
Get hurt and miss work? Go call Aflac.
WHUTAJOKE
November 23rd, 2010
12:03 am
Mark, Your column is about as bad as the Hawks recent play. Not quite, but almost. Do you have any facts that indicate that the players wanted Drew as the HC? If they said that after he was hired, guess what, it holds No Credibility. The current crop has no pride. They don’t care. They’ve got their $.
Sund needs to trade not one or two but several players and bring in a Scott Skiles type hard ass as HC. If they regress for awhile, so what. They’re not going anywhere as currently constituted. Blow it up and start fresh. Better yet, sell the team and move it to another city!
Tweets that mention Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 23rd, 2010
12:07 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Daniel Stern, Josh Kinsey, Mikael, Picasso Kat and others. Picasso Kat said: 1st 6 gms against nobodies so masked problems RT@MarkBradleyAJC: Fourteen games in, #Hawks have stopped even trying. http://bit.ly/dNBOnU [...]
Tweets that mention Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 23rd, 2010
12:08 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by abe, Fun Games and kevin bryant, Sonja. Sonja said: Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying: If you've ever wondered how a basketball game would look … http://bit.ly/gPhPiu [...]
MannyT
November 23rd, 2010
12:15 am
@Melvin–Jamal needs to ball. He plays well & his value goes up. He plays like the Home Depot free throw fan & he will leave town with a leaf blower & a ladder. Mike Vick seems to understand this in Philly and he’s got more pressure to perform.
Philips was an embarrassing place to be tonight. More Celtic fans than Hawks fans. It would have been nice if some Hawks players had shown up to play. Maybe they will do better on the road vs NJ.
Whopper Dawg
November 23rd, 2010
12:19 am
Funny really that people get paid a lot of money to make these bad decisions involving millions and millions of dollars. Let’s see, sign a minor star to major star money because we had to, keep all of the rest of the players, promote the assistant coach, and then shake and mix well. What do you get?
The same team as last year with no point guard and no true center that should have been beaten in the first round of the playoffs and were beaten so badly in the second round that it made NBA history.
I mean really, what do you think you have here???? They should give Horford a break and trade him to a professional basketball team.
Not Don Waddell
November 23rd, 2010
12:22 am
Should have traded Josh Smith when he was still worth something…and paying Joe what they did, sheer lunacy….trainwreck….time to trade the malcontents (Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith) as soon as possible and begin looking toward the future, and that albatross that Joe’s contract will be for the next 5 years…
Greg
November 23rd, 2010
12:49 am
Joe Johnson gets rewarded with a huge(and unwarrranted) contract and what does he do? He comes out and plays worse than he’s ever played. The guy is not a leader and he is not a wiinner. Don’t give me this lead by example crap. Be a PRO. Be a MAN. Step up and LEAD this team.
Not putting up numbers this season is just a part of Joe’s problem, but his numbers were pathetic tonight. 23 minutes, 2-10 from the field, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Are you serious? Give some of the money back, Joe, or give it to charity. You certainly aren’t doing anything to earn it.
Ross
November 23rd, 2010
12:49 am
It’s damn sad but the NBA has joined NASCAR on my list of dead sports. It’s not really basketball as we knew it. I can’t understand how anyone can watch it for 10 minutes. It’s hard to believe that this is the same game they played in the 70s and 80s.
Legend of Len Barker
November 23rd, 2010
1:03 am
Is Charlie Criss available?
Blow the team up and start over.
I knew there wasn’t going to be any improvement from the get-go. Jeff Teague, drafted to the be the next point guard, barely plays. I bet Jordan Crawford sees about the same.
Josh Smith will never meet one half of his potential. Marvin Williams hasn’t met any of his. Bibby’s too old. Jamal Crawford doesn’t care. Everybody in the league knows are only real option is Joe Johnson.
Jason Collins is on payroll. Josh Powell has hung around forever and done nothing.
Wait. Keep Al Horford. Dump the rest of them.
Pull a Ted Turner if necessary and sign guys off the street. I know Ted’s real intent was to move to Charlotte with the crew after they stunk up the joint, but the kids off the streets actually wanted to earn their checks.
renegade#1
November 23rd, 2010
1:20 am
If they weren’t playing basketball they wouldn’t have a job; they are too lazy to work and to sorry to apply for welfare all they would be are tall and hungry.
Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley | To Share
November 23rd, 2010
1:37 am
[...] here to see the original: Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley Author: lixdo Comments: 0 comments Date: 23 Nov 2010 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: [...]
crosby
November 23rd, 2010
1:47 am
Please everybody boo Joe Johnson every chance you get. That signing will has put the Hawks in a downward spiral that will last at least five seasons. I’ll start…booooooooo
tckr83
November 23rd, 2010
2:01 am
Man! I am so glad I drove from Augusta to see this game! On top of that it was my fiancee’s first NBA game, she’s not a basketball fan at all and couldn’t tell you the first thing about it besides the ball going through the hoop is a good thing…
She did however ask me a few times, “how much money do these guys get paid to do this again? This is pathetic, even i can see that.”
A ho-hum offseason starting with a “coaching search”, the worst contract ever in NBA history, adressing exactly zero problems with “roster additions” and saving money in the 2nd round of the draft that never was going to be spent on improving the team in the first place… gives you the product we saw tonight. If the Hawks had half the heart/determination/fight that the geriatric Celtics do… they’d be world champions with as young and athletic as they are.
The name Joe Johnson is getting more and more sour in the mouths of Hawksnation fans. What happened to the ASG’s earlier stance on the luxury tax? I thought they didn’t mind going over that, if it made the team better…
ASG needs to put a for sale sign up in front of Phillips tomorrow, for anyone who wants to run the franchise with a winning mentality and half a brain.
JTH
November 23rd, 2010
2:34 am
Before the season started I said the Hawks had already peaked. Unfortunately they’re proving me right. This is a team of cowards. No guts, no heart, and ownership isn’t interested in doing what it takes to build a winner.
saml'l
November 23rd, 2010
2:42 am
New coach in 10 games…….Count on it.
Brooklyn Hawks? Maybe.
Miles D
November 23rd, 2010
3:10 am
THIS IS MORE THAN PATHETIC!!! THIS IS A TRAGEDY!!! These guys should be ashamed to call themselves PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS!!! These “people,” cause they are not a “team” are just atheletic and don’t know how to play the game of basketball! To play u have to be able to do more than just run (or walk in their case), jump, and occassionally hit a shot to be a PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER!!! They clearly don’t understand that basketball is played without the ball as much as it is with it! We should trade EVERYONE and build around Al Horford (Mo Evans, JC2, and Powell can stay too)! But Al is our man! He is our future! Everyone else should be out ASAP!!! Al is the only constant and REAL professional we have! If we would play our offense through him we would be competing, but too many guys with incredulous egoes and not enough heart to go with it!
Not Sund
November 23rd, 2010
3:24 am
To borrow a phrase from W.;
Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me, can’t get fooled again.
This bunch laid down on Woody and now they’ve laid down on LD. This roster will NOT finish out the season.
h. simpson
November 23rd, 2010
3:43 am
Doh!
Hot games! » Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley
November 23rd, 2010
4:23 am
[...] View original post here: Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying | Mark Bradley [...]
jim
November 23rd, 2010
4:33 am
Relax people – its a long season. I did not hear all the negatives when we got off to a hot start. Its the NBA, not the NFL. Players don’t always play their best? I am shocked!!:) If the Hawks are playing the way they played this game on a consistant basis in January, then push the panic “fire” button. Until then, chill. Its a long season in the NBA.
Carpetbagger
November 23rd, 2010
4:34 am
Why should I pay hard earned money, and watch a bunch of tattooed-womanizing-non-educated millionaires, play a GAME (and call it work) and then not give a 100%? Don’t blame the coach, the players or the owners… blame the fans for being stupid enough to waste their time and money!
the don of realism
November 23rd, 2010
4:53 am
You can’t win ‘em all.
59bulldawg
November 23rd, 2010
4:55 am
Too much talent on the team to play like this. I’m beginning to question why I even care anymore.
Grow up
November 23rd, 2010
5:46 am
Josh Smith has a lot of nerve even commenting on the game – he is a petulant teenager masquerading as an NBA baller – during timeouts he abandoned the huddle and sat down on the end of the bench and sulked – he needs to cling to every word Drew says – he went straight from HS to the pros and his game is as immature as he is – talk about a COACH KILLER !!
Dr. Warren
November 23rd, 2010
5:48 am
MB–Nice to see a column NOT about GA or GA Tech or Auburn football. Despite what the page hits must indicate, most of us Atlantans and Atlantans living elsewhere did not go to those schools and depend on you and Jeff Schultz for local insights about the Hawks and Falcons…
NCBravesFan
November 23rd, 2010
6:19 am
Astro Joe nailed it at 10:53. The Orlando series was a mandate for a major change.
If the Hawks weren’t willing to spend money to upgrade their personnel and change the culture after the Orlando series, they had no business giving Joe a max contract.
ASP
November 23rd, 2010
6:26 am
Atlanta Spirit Group what do you expect they hire a general manager who failed with the bucks and sonics. They hire a coach with no head coaching experience. Sign a player who said who cares about the fans and sign him a max contract you got to be kidding. Atlanta Spirit Group needs to sell the team and get players who have passion for the game.
BlackMoses
November 23rd, 2010
6:27 am
Pitiful column Mark. The Hawks swept the celtics last year during the regular season. Now you are calling for the coach’s head this early in the season. If the Falcons get slaughtered by Green Bay this week are you jumping off the Mike Smith bandwagon.
Just stop it Mark. The coack killing/firing columns you’ve been writing are not a good look.
Ventura Boulevard
November 23rd, 2010
6:29 am
The only thing I can say about this franchise over the past thirty five years is that St. Louis was fortunate to get rid of it. They are an irrelevant team in what should be a premier NBA city. Thanks owners, coaches, and players…for nothing.
Paul Hewitt
November 23rd, 2010
6:40 am
I might be available after my never ending contract runs out at GT. My availability to the Hawks would depend on my getting another lifetime contact and a big raise.
Keep me in mind, I can coach anyone.
Will
November 23rd, 2010
6:42 am
There you go again Mark, writing to the moment rather than to the whole.
You spent the last 3-4 years writing about how bad Coach Woodson was and now, after just a few games, you have decided the new coach is not working out!!
You and I both know that Coach Woodson was an ill-mannered, hot tempered individual when dealing with the media. Because of your constant harping relating to him, many times his ill manners were directed at you. You obviously took this personally and allowed your personal feelings to dictate your feeling relating to his coaching ability.
Please, just calm down and let a little more of the season play out before jumping to such rapid conclusions. You may be right about the new coach – you probably are – but let’s wait and see.
The one thing I bet we both will agree on now is that Coach Woodson appears to be a better fit. How ironic!
tony
November 23rd, 2010
6:44 am
You people just don’t get it do you? Why would anyone want the ASG/GM to make decisions for this team? You people should know by now that the ASG don’t give a hoop about the people in Atlanta. Do I have to explain why? Why do you think they signed JJ to a max contract after he said he could careless if the fans showed up or not? You still don’t understand what’s going on? If you don’t God help you..
the real Old Gold
November 23rd, 2010
6:46 am
The town will never support the Hawks!
Atticus
November 23rd, 2010
6:58 am
As long as the ASG owns the Hawks and Thrashers, I will not spend one dime or one minute on either. I love hoops, I love hockey and I have lived in Atlanta my whole life. Sad but a complete failure of a competant leadership model (see Atlanta Falcons).
Sope Creek
November 23rd, 2010
7:13 am
You nailed it, Mark – and you know I don’t like to agree with you about Woody much. I was defending him last few years when you were ripping on him pretty hard about his win/loss record since he was hired.
Another indicator that the Hawks quit is the number of fouls each team had. The Hawks only had 13, and this against a bigger, deeper team. There’s no way the Hawks can play with Boston if they’re not challenging the Celtics enough to draw foul calls in reasonable volume. Zaza with 1 foul in 10 minutes? Really? If he was playing well and only drawing one foul that’d be one thing . . . but Zaza’s effort game results in, well, fouls.
And the Celtics only had 14 fouls . . . apparently the Hawks didn’t do anything to draw defensive mistakes from them.
Prior to the beginning of this season I predicted on one of the blogs here that this team would be at 40-42 for the year because they already were satisfied with what they’ve done over the last 3 years. It’ll take at least a year of wandering in the wilderness before they figure out that being really good at this game at this level is hard, but it’s also worth it to expend the effort required. Whether Larry Drew is the Moses who can lead them to the Promised Land is open for discussion . . .
as is whether Rick Sund is the guy to tinker with this roster if Drew doesn’t lead them there. For better of for worse, Joe Johnson is completely untradeable, healthy or not. And as long as he is the cornerstone of this team, there will be limits on how far this team can go . . . I doubt that the Hawks ever see the conference championship game again while Joe’s here. Remember when the Braves got good in 1991? Well, sure they added Pendleton, Bream and Belliard. But the Braves started getting better when they traded Dale Murphy the previous August . . . to many of the young guys were deferring to Murph and they no longer needed to do that with him no longer on the roster. Joe’s been the dominant player on the Hawks from when they needed him to dominate . . . but now that type of dominance is in the way. I think Larry Drew understands that, but I’m not sure that he’ll ever get Joe and the rest of the guys to give up looking to Joe when things get tough so long as Joe is around . . . . . . .
TROTTINGHOME
November 23rd, 2010
7:31 am
when does spring training begin again?
Basketball Historian
November 23rd, 2010
7:34 am
Went to my first Hawks game in a couple of years as my kid wanted to see the Celtics especially Rondo. After the disappointment of Rondo not playing, it was striking to see the difference in the 2 teams. The C’s were confident, poised, and seemed to know exactly what their plan was. All just balled without theatrics except for Robinson who thrives off of emotion.
The Hawks on the other hand, tried to run a motion offense that relies too much on jump shots. They have no inside game and no one who could match up with Shaq or KG. Once their jumpers stopped falling, they did not have a backup plan and seemed to accept that they were the lesser team.
GT
November 23rd, 2010
7:37 am
I wonder if Georgia Tech’s basketball team and the Hawks meet in some secret society around town that encourages sorriness. Neither team gets it. At least Drew calls em out on it. When you play in Boston and act like the Hawks you are liable to get hurt. My prediction is the Hawks will be ok, Georgia Tech will continue to be clueless. It is a matter of coaching after a while, and the first thing is to embarrass the team and the next is to start trading.
Is Sund still here ?
November 23rd, 2010
7:40 am
HAHA Everyone was so optimistic at the start of the season we are just as overrated as the Heat, but the will make the dance, we won’t. Joe Johnson is not any type of leader thats why he was not able to help lure any big names over the summer, he just took the cash. Now the writing is on the wall Drew, is no better than Woodson. Where do you start with the defense, offense, or effort.
Sund does not have a single clue on how to build a winner !!!!!!!!! Do your history on Sund folks he has always built the core of the team on Guards & Swingmen, the best trade he ever made was bringing Ben Wallace to Detroit, but he got the boot & Joe Dumars took over & the rest is history .
CJ
November 23rd, 2010
7:42 am
I did not take time to read everything available because it is repetitive, true but repetitive. I saw no one able to even move mount shaq in the middle. With no size, sorry Jason you’re no competition for Shaq, Dwight, or most other bigs in the league, we will not improve. However tonght was a different issue, not only were they outsized, they were out manned, out classed, out hustled, and pretty much showed up on their home court. You are now, with the contracts you have, in a position that makes it hard to trade people, especially ones that are not being productive. JJ, Marvin, even Bibby, but at least he is scoring when he gets the opportunity.
I saw JJ in so many iso’s that I thought it was 1 on 3, 4 or 5. PASS THE BALL. $120M does not mean control the ball too, not just the hawks future with your paychecks.
Daisy
November 23rd, 2010
7:55 am
All the Hawks goons care about is picking up their fat paychecks.
Scotto
November 23rd, 2010
7:56 am
So let’s see. Even in a 23 point blowout Jeff Teague still only gets 10 minutes of playing time and a measley 6 points. This guy doesn’t even get ‘mop up’ duty. Geez what a wasted draft pick!!
Veteran Fan
November 23rd, 2010
7:57 am
There is no excuse for a lack of effort if you are trully a professional! This starts with Joe and Josh as they are the highest paid players! This team needs leadership and they are not leaders but petulant bench players masquerading as “stars”! Sund should be on the phone to Denver with a three way deal with the Knicks to move both out of town and pick up two first round picks, free up some money, and pay Jamal his money! Sign the 7 footer ruled out at Kentucky or pay the Spanish team whatever they want to get the big guy we drafted in here. We need a center and go out and get the best one available wherever thay are! The Knicks get JJ and Carmelo and the Nuggets get Josh and we have 3 first round picks to trade or use! The team is energized and the fans get a real team to root for! Maybe even a four team trade for Varajao in Cleveland with a first round pick and Marvin for him! Starting line up Varajao, Horford, Crawford, Crawford, Teague. Fast and tough on the boards with quick defenders.
jokurone
November 23rd, 2010
7:59 am
Excerpt from the next Hawks’ next players-only meeting:
*** By the way, keep in mind that this is all in good humor and not meant to offend anyone. It’s just fictional speculation for some fun.***
Al Horford: Come on, guys, we can’t keep getting blown out like this. It’s an embarrassment. Where’s the effort? This isn’t how we did it back in Gainesville. We need to keep the ball moving. That’s when we’re at our best.
Joe Johnson: Listen, man. Don’t be worryin’ ’bout dat. Y’all just need to give me more room to operate out there. Git me da ball and clear out, man. Ain’t nobody else need to be taking shots out there.
Jamal: Joe, I think I need some shots too. I need to get my averages up to get a new contract. It’s tough to play out there, always thinking about what’s going to happen in my future. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that.
Joe: Na, man. You strugglin’ out there. Just get me da ball, man. I’m an All-star.
Teague: Guys, who should I pass the ball to tomorrow night? Do I pass to Joe or Jamal first? Do you think maybe I could take a shot tomorrow night?
Joe: Na, man. Ain’t nobody pay no attention to you out there, man. Just defer to me when I’m out there and make sure my gatorade is cold when I’m on the bench. Don’t be passing the ball to Josh out there either. He trippin, lately.
Josh Smith: I ain’t trippin, brotha. These refs are hatin’ on me, man. I was fouled on every play last night and didn’t even get one call. Why don’t y’all pass me the ball more when I’m open on the wing, man? Y’all know I be drainin’ threes out there to get us back in it.
Zaza: Hey, guys, how do you like my new scarf? Does anyone want to go shopping after the meeting? You need to dress better for the post-game interviews, guys.
Jeff: I voted for you as best dressed, Zaza.
Zaza: Thanks, Jeff. I’ll pass you the ball tomorrow.
Mo: Seriously, guys, what’s going on? What the hell were you all doing out there tonight?
Al: We’re playing selfish basketball and not executing on the offensive end. We’re not playing with intensity out there on defense either. Guys, this is getting embarrassing. We need to play with a sense of pride out there. We need to tighten up on defense and help each other out as a team. Hey, Mike? How about running some more pick and roll and pick and pop for me?
Mike: Yeah, Al. I’m down with that. Stop moving so fast out there though. Give me a few minutes to get down the court before setting that screen. You know I can’t keep up with you youngins out there.
Josh: Yeah, man. Y’all need to let me post up more too, man. Ain’t nobody can stop my pump fakes and up-and-unders on that low box. When you can’t find me in the post, just work the ball around the perimeter and find me on the wing for a three. Man, I’ve been wide open out there a lot lately. I’m gone make it rain, man.
Zaza: Smoove, can you help me work on my pump fake? Guys don’t ever seem to go for it when I try to pump fake.
Josh: That’s because you suck, bruh. By the way, did y’all see my highlights on Sportscenter the other night? That shi* was off the hook, man. I’m going be an All-Star this year. Y’all need to throw me some more lobs.
Al: Josh, stop throwing me those crazy lob passes from half court. You’re wasting our possessions. Don’t try and make something that isn’t there. Just follow the game plan and stick to the offense. We need to stop running so much isolation out there and making lazy, bailout passes.
Jordan Crawford: Guys, I think I can help too. Coach won’t give me any minutes though. I can’t wait to get out there and take a shot one of these days. The first chance I get, I’m going to chuck one up there.
Joe: Pipe down, rook’. Ain’t nobody paying no attention to you. Where’s my Gatorade, man?
Mo: Guys, I’m with Al on this one. We need to play more team defense and share the ball. Find the open man, and make those open looks. My knee is feeling a lot better now, I think I can really help out with the bench play too.
Jamal: Don’t worry about playing time, Mo. Just let your knee heal up. Coach doesn’t want your defense out there anyway. He’s going to give me all of your minutes so that I feel more comfortable and get into a rhythm shooting the ball. Besides, Marvin is really going to step it up this year. He knows where all of his shots are coming from.
Joe: Who? Man, who’s this Marvin y’all are talking about?
Zaza: I think that’s the guy who comes late to practice in that ugly Jacket and his PJs. He looks like a bum. I really need to give him a makeover.
Marvin: *snore* (in the corner)
Al: Come on guys. You perimeter players need to really start playing with more aggression out there. Jamal, you need to pick up your energy level on defense and recovery to the open man when he’s right next to you, even if it isn’t your man.
Jamal: What’s defense?
Al: And Mike, try to fight through those screens when teams are setting picks out there. I’m having to switch onto your man too much. I get tired of chasing little guards around the perimeter.
Mike: No prob, Al. But I need to take it easy. I want to play in the league for another ten years, so I need to pace myself. Besides, you’re a better perimeter defender than me anyway, and when my man blows by me Josh will be there to get another highlight block.
Josh: Yeah! You know how I do, bruh. Oh, and don’t be so selfish with the ball out there either, man. Don’t worry about setting up the offense out there, Mike. You know, I can play point too. I’m such a great passer. I can do everything. Just let me handle the ball more and I’ll run the offense.
Joe: Hey, man. Let’s not get carried away with all of this motion offense nonsense and sharing the ball. Everbody knows that ain’t none of that stuff works, man. That just gets us into playing all helter-skelter out there, man. Look, man, y’all don’t need to worry bout offense out there. Just get me da ball, man.
Al: But Joe, what if you get double or triple-teamed out there while you isolate?
Joe: Don’t worry, man, I’ll just pass da ball to you or Josh at the last second.
Mo: Coach wants us to trust the motion system, guys, not just isolate all the time. You guys need to stop ball-hogging out there and play the right way.
Josh: Yeah, man. Why’s Joe and Jamal taking 20 shots a game out there and I’m only getting’ 15, brotha? I need at least 20 jumpers each night too, and some dunks too. How’s a brotha supposed to make sportscenter without some lobs?
Joe: C’mon, man. Y’all need to stop listenin’ to coach out there. Y’all act like he know sumtin. He don’t know nothin’, man. That scrub barely played when he was in the league.
Zaza: Yeah, I don’t like coach either. He always wears those ugly suits. He doesn’t understand fashion at all and he takes me out of the game right away when I get my shot blocked by a point guard. I’m not going to let him eat at my restaurant anymore.
Al: Guys, I like how we’ve progressed as a team, but we just aren’t getting it done out there anymore. This team has some serious problems. You bench players need to step it up out there. We all need to step it up. It has to be a total team effort.
Joe: Chill, Al. We know what to do, man. I’ve been runnin’ this team for a long time, man. Listen’, man, I just had an off night and didn’t shoot enough last game. I’ll be better next time. Just give me about 10 more shots tomorrow and don’t be worryin’ bout what coach says. Just defer to me.
Jeff: Ok, that sounds good, Joe. I’ll be really aggressive passing you the ball tomorrow night.
Josh: Aight, man. This meetin’ is too long, when we goin’ to the club? Don’t worry about basketball man, we’ll just win the next one. Our next opponents are scrubs anyway.
Joe: Yeah, man. Y’all know how I roll. Let’s hit up the club scene now, man.
Marvin: Guys, can I come too? Oh, and we’re not going to an expensive club are we? You know I don’t like to overspend.
Joe: It’s all good, Duck. You can come wit us. Don’t even trip bout da bills either, man. I could buy these clubs with my pocket change, man. Yo, Jeff. You can come too, man. You can hold my coat.
Jeff: Sure, Joe. I won’t get it dirty. I promise.
Zaza: Guys, hang on a sec. I want to come too. I need to change my clothes first though. This shirt is ugly and doesn’t match my suede boots.
Mo: Al, our team is a joke. *sigh*
Timbo
November 23rd, 2010
7:59 am
and this is why the NBA is tanking. A large majority of America(especially white America) has turned the channel. I grew up a huge Hawks fan as a boy in Atlanta growing up, and have become indifferent to the Hawks and the NBA as a whole. The occasional high flying dunk just isn’t enough anymore. The NBA is in serious trouble.
Heat Girl
November 23rd, 2010
8:02 am
I am NOT a Hawk fan, however it bothers me that YOU PEOPLE who are probably lazy yourselves have the nerve to call these young men out of their names like a bunch of school age kids. You all have the right to list your displeasure but the name calling “lazy thugs” is not called for. I don’t know any of these players but as a former athlete I find it hard to believe that any athlete would be content with losing. That makes no sense. So PLEASE think about what you are saying before you post it. For those of you who have so many complaints about the Hawks STAY HOME and watch another team on television.
Snowman
November 23rd, 2010
8:05 am
I can’t stop laughing (give me a second)…I really can’t!!!…You ALL should be ashamed of yourself especially that knucklehead Schultz (does he still work for the sports section?) and I have been a little surprised at you as well Mark (I thought you had come around on Woody and then took shots at him early in the season).
Mark, you said it right in your column, Woody was 11-2 at this point last year!!! The Hawks swept the Celtics last season and who could ever forget the 7 game series we had with the Celtics under coach Woodson 2 years ago!!! Look the fans, the writers, and apparently the owners wanted a change and Larry is who was hired to replace Woody, thus be careful what you ask for Atlanta fans because you just might get it (by the way, Woody is still available and lives in Atlanta, it might not be too late to go to his house and ask him to save the season before it is too late however bring an attractive offer with you and an apology, hell he has feelings too…smile).
The real truth is Atlanta had taken what Woody had done for granted for the last 5 or 6 years. Given the ownership, the absolute below average general managing (and I mean the bottom 2 or 3 GM’s in the league…the new Elgin Baylor or Wes Unseld of GM’s) that has gone on throughout Woodys tenure and the complete debacle of player acquisition from the draft to free agent signing (and I know for a fact, if Shaq was offered a 1 year, 5 Million deal, he would be the starting center for the Hawks this year!!!) it’s amazing what Woody had done. Hell, it had not been done previous and he owns the NBA record for improving the team record for 5 consecutive seasons!!!
In closing, the Hawks were 53-29 and finished third in the East ahead of Boston and swept them 4 times last season. In the playoffs, the other 3 teams in the east (Boston, Orlando and Cleveland) just had better personnel, period!!! I think we beat the Celtics in the playoffs however we had to play Orlando and Red Auerbach could not have coached the Hawks over the Magic (smile)!!! Go get coach Woodson before it is too late and Philly, Charlotte, Detroit or the Wizards have grabbed him up!!!
I hate to say I told you so, however I told you so!!! (I know, know, I have no sense)…I know it’s early and I know Woody did not need vindication however…NUFF SAID!!!
Sage of Bluesland
November 23rd, 2010
8:10 am
Our esteemed and master-of-the-obvious writer (clownish Bradley) will find a way to blame Billy Knight, I’m sure….It seems even the clown Bradley stated in his blog last night that the Hawks are a “4th quarter team”–as if there was any hope at all?!
What a joke. I don’t know which is the bigger joke, the Hawks, the ASG, or Mark Bradley….See, it’s a tough call.
(At least our buffoonish writer isn’t gushing over Pete Babcock and how ‘nice’ a guy he is anymore…he’s doing it about Don Waddell now….I’ve never seen such incompetence for so long–both with the Hawks, Thrashers, and Mark Bradley….very tough choice there….)
Oh, and don’t be a coward, Mark–please ‘keep’ my comments this time? Coward. The payola has a vote, doesn’t it?
Joycee Banicheck
November 23rd, 2010
8:12 am
After witnessing the Hawks resign JJ for a sick amount of money after he layed down in the playoffs not to mention showing up the entire city with his post game garbage rant about “not caring” what Atlantans think I sit back and laugh at this. Although I know my dream of them losing every game won’t come to light, this is what you get Hawks. Not to mention the Hawks havent figured out they’ll never go anywhere with either JJ or JS as the #1 guy on the team. One with no heart and the other with the pipe dream that he owns Atlanta just because he went to high school down the road and won the dunk contest.
Hawks best bet would be to get rid of Smith ASAP, if you dispute it you’re an idiot.
And to you “Heat Girl”, ever make millions playing a sport? I’d imagine it’d be a good substitute for winning or showing heart for a lot of the guys in the NBA. I mean, why do you think the NBA is 3rd in this country in viewership behind football and baseball?
Tim
November 23rd, 2010
8:14 am
The Hawks suck. Period. Atlanta would be better off without them. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see them play for free. They suck. F the Hawks.
Bill Stanfill
November 23rd, 2010
8:16 am
I feared during last year’s play-offs that the Hawks had peaked in the regular season. These last couple of weeks seem to add further confirmation to that fear.
The performance the Hawks gave in last year’s play-offs wasn’t acceptable–but, in essence, it WAS accepted tacitly by the Hawks GM and owners. The only change was the head coaching position, and no one can say that they made a daring move by hiring Drew.
I got a sharp reaction from Mark Bradley last year because of my rather dismal assessment of the Hawks future but . . . .
What to do now? The Hawks need to be in the market for a bockbuster trade.
Double Zero Eight
November 23rd, 2010
8:21 am
Before the season started, I said that Larry Drew was a nice guy, but the team needed a veteran and proven NBA coach. I am afarid that I was correct in my analysis.
Is Sund still here ?
November 23rd, 2010
8:22 am
@ Mark Bradley please look below the surface for the truth. Sund is a disease in the front office, he needs to go. Pat Riley may have sold those guy on belief, but it is dumb to actually think anybody wants to be on a directionless team. I mean guys could go to New York for that or even New Jersey & be an idol. It seems this team is always missing something, but nobody out there wants to be that final ingredient, what are players really saying about this team around the NBA ???? Now if you want to write a real article Mark Bradley, why don’t you ask some of the visiting players, off the record, why this young squad is not worth joining !
dtanner
November 23rd, 2010
8:26 am
hate the hawks,hate the n.b.a., to dark for me, wish the hawks would move somewhere else
Is Sund still here ?
November 23rd, 2010
8:30 am
Hey Mark never mind, because as long as people like dtanner still live in ATL, the answer is right in front of me !
why try?
November 23rd, 2010
8:37 am
Are any of the hawks “studs” in the final year of their contract? Didn’t think so, now you see the results.
Reggie Rooker
November 23rd, 2010
8:45 am
3 game stat: Jamal Crawford-30 points (10 points per game), Joe Johnson-28 points (9.3 points per game), and Marvin Williams-19 points (6.3 points per game). The Hawks are looking more like the LA Clippers every game, they don’t look like a playoff team and maybe they should package a deal with Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams because this just is not working out.
Westurd
November 23rd, 2010
8:48 am
ASG I want a refund on my tickets. You’re product is broken and you have no plans on fixing it!
Last nights game ended with the jump ball. I am still disgusted. DISGUSTED. It was like watching the girls JV team play the means Varsity team!
FIRE LARRY DREW
November 23rd, 2010
8:54 am
FIRE LARRY DREW
Bell
November 23rd, 2010
8:58 am
The Hawks are a bunch of boys not men. Their problems deal with their character. The talent is there. Not trying is character.
dirty
November 23rd, 2010
9:00 am
i WAS AT THE GAME LAST NIGHT AND REALLY REALIZED HOW FOOLISH THE JOE JOHNSON DEAL WAS. THIS IS A UNIQUE TOWN. i HAVE BEEN TO AT LEAST 11 NBA ARENAS AND ATLANTA IS INDEED UNIQUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNERS AND GM ARE CLUELESS. THEY RUN THIS TEAM WITH THE SAME MODEL THEY WOULD USE IN MILWAUKEE, MEMPHIS AND MINNESOTA. ATLANTA NEEDS A ENTERTAINING PRESENCE ON THE FLOOR. THIS COULD BE A PACKED HOUSE WITH STARS LINING THE COURT NIGHTLY IF THE HAD SOMEONE TO SEE, ALA LABRON, DWADE, KOBBY, MELO (HINT,HINT). PEOPLE JUST DON’T COME TO SEE THE HAWKS. AT THIS POINT IF YOU ARE GOING TO LOSS DO IT WITH SOME PAZZAZZ.
yodaddy
November 23rd, 2010
9:00 am
Jeff Teague, Jordan Crawford, Mo Evans, Josh and Al should be the starters from now on. I’m tired of these overpaid players not worth the name on the back of their jerseys. Trade Joe Johnson for some draft picks…we need to start over and get some young boys in here that want to play. The type on the rookie scale contracts not the hard headed type.
I’d rather lose with a team that’s actually playing some basketball than to see people jog up and down the court and leave players on the best team in basketball wide open. Deviate from running the play constantly and show no effort to defend or rebound. It’s disgusting.
They have bought in to the offensive philosophy but the defensive philosophy they don’t even care about (in general and as a collective).
Jamal Crawford for Tayshaun Prince
Marvin Williams for a bag of Doritos, Season 4 of Sister Sister and a stack of envelopes
Joe Johnson for some draft picks
As a matter of fact just to get Joe outta here I would accept Eddy Curry or Peja’s expiring contracts since they play for teams not going anywhere anyway. At least we know eddy won’t give the facade of showing up to play for his money. We’ll have them off the books in the offseason. Lose enough games to get a lottery pick…hopefully get a high enough pick to get Kyrie Irving or Terrence Jones or really anyone with some heart and emotion to their games.
Mike Bibby & Zaza for anybody
Let Pape Sy (the most useless roster spot EVER), Etan, Powell and Collins expire.
Permanent trading block should be
Joe Johnson
Zaza Pachulia
Marvin Williams
Mike Bibby
Jamal Crawford
Jason Collins
Etan Thomas
Pape Sy
D Hawks
November 23rd, 2010
9:00 am
As pathetic as this team looks right now, the Hawks still have the fourth best record in the conference, they’re tied with mega-payroll Miami and only 2 games out of the East lead. So there is no need to panic yet, but it’s obvious that this team is a long way from being what they need to be to move further in the playoffs. I think some kind of personnel move is needed, because these guys seem to be too comfortable with themselves and their coach right now. They are learning a new system, and time will tell if this coach has the you-know-what’s to rip somebody a new one every now and then. I picked them sixth in the conference preseason and I still see them being that team, but I was hoping that they would surprise me. If they are still playing this way after 25 games, then it’s time to panic.
Reid Adair
November 23rd, 2010
9:08 am
Of course they’ve stopped trying. Ownership stopped trying when their only free-agency move was the mistake of giving Joe Johnson a max contract. Despite their claims that they weren’t finished in free agency, which were reported repeatedly by Michael Cunningham, they were finished – and so is this team for 2010-11.
shannon
November 23rd, 2010
9:09 am
Arthur Blank ,if your listening please buy this team.. It has potential it justs needs someone wit ha brain to operate it. ASG does not know how to do that.. Hiring Larry Drew was the funniest thing they did all season.. It took them the whole season almost to hire Larry drew really? lol
Please Trade Marvin Williams or at least sit him down..HE IS NOT A STARTER BY ANY MEANS
newkid
November 23rd, 2010
9:11 am
If it’s even the slightest inkling of a prospect of brighter ownership days ahead, hands down the absolute best news out of the Hawks organization I’ve heard in six years is that Ted Turner attended last night’s game. Now if David McDavid does a cameo over the next couple weeks, maybe we’ll have a scoup.
Next stop: let’s get rid of that atrocious talent evaluation department.
bascogcjs
November 23rd, 2010
9:11 am
Marvin Williams and Nate McLouth, the carnival act are two peas in a pod. They seriously lack it upstairs. They should both be shipped out today. How in the h— can they justify receiving a pay check?
Do you think they feel a little weird when they make a bank deposit?
Hawks73
November 23rd, 2010
9:14 am
The hiring of L.D. was a complete joke by this inept excuse for an ownership group. They have done nothing to improve the foundation of this roster (by adding much needed pieces) and hired the path of least resistance in Drew (because he was cheap and would comply with the idiocy up top).
We were all screaming for a “proven coach” that would have the ability to light a fire under this team and get them to compete at a championship level, and we get a guy who is clearly not the right voice. Drew while being a true professional, does not command the respect/voice needed to compel these overpaid idiots to work for something greater than “getting paid”.
Terence
November 23rd, 2010
9:15 am
I gave up on the Hawks years ago, and haven’t paid a penny to see them. There are many many better ways to spend my entertainment dollars.
Let these sorry good-for-nothing millionaires make their bucks off someone else, but not me.
SECWasteManagement
November 23rd, 2010
9:18 am
Went to the game last night with some friends and we just happened to be sitting next to Josh Smiths mom. She lays into Zaza harder than any Hawks fan I have ever heard!
ken
November 23rd, 2010
9:20 am
I say again, JJ is a nice # 2 player but not a leader on the floor. If he was serious about winning it all , he would have taken less money like LJ , Wade, Bosh did to give them the best chance to sign quality players. This team has serious internal problems with petty jealosy as the number one issue and this starts with JJ. Shaq was able to see this and went to Boston and his choice has proven his wisdom. We could have easily signed Dampier who now goes to make Maimi better. This ownership group is just not serious about championship basketball and is content with mediocrity. This shows in what they did during the offseason which is next to nothing while everyone else passed them by.
richcat
November 23rd, 2010
9:20 am
werunthisstate… Hewitt needs to be fired and you damn well know it. Mark didn’t call for Richt’s head just stated the facts and you make your own opinion fair and balanced.
Now Drew has been thrown in the same hot seat. The Spirit( stupid owners) knew what they were doing when they hire him against the fans wishes. Now my Lord let them lose..I’m tired of this BS. You pay these guys millions and they play like kids street ball . I hope they lose every game till they sell the team.
FIRE PAUL HEWITT……hell yes! …. Give’em hell Mark!
JB
November 23rd, 2010
9:25 am
Who really cares about the Hawks ?? Why waste your time & money. Last time I went to a Hawks game was about 40 years ago when I had season tickets (primarily because of Pete Maravich). As soon as the Hawks traded away the ‘Pistol’, I wrote Pat Williams (then the General Manager) and told him that I would never again support the Hawks by attending games (or for that matter watch a Hawks game on TV). I have kept my word all these years.
SilentCC
November 23rd, 2010
9:26 am
Sure is nice to read stuff like this on a sport I don’t care about. Give me college ball any day.
Stoney
November 23rd, 2010
9:29 am
I think people should boycott Hawks games because it’s not fair what management and the players are giving the fans (nothing)…I mean all the real superstars took paycuts in order to bring in better players to try win championships. On the other hand, Hawks management is not trying to win a championship. They just want to put a competitive team on the court and that’s not fair to the fans. I don’t blame JJ for taking the money. If they were willing to pay me that amount, hell I would take it to. However, I do blame JJ for not suggesting he take a paycut so we can bring in some much needed help at center,point guard and a proven coach. I guess JJ is not playing to win championships either.
VolGuy
November 23rd, 2010
9:34 am
The Atlanta Spirit Group is a bad joke. How many years have they been dragging their ownership dispute through the courts. I suppose they don’t have any more to spend on a proven coach since they are spending so much on attorney fees. I have to admit that I wouldn’t go to a Hawks game if they were playing in my front yard, but I find it hard to believe that fans pay their hard earned money to watch a bunch of overpaid, mediocre players just going through the motions.
P.S. that other ASG team, the Thrashers is also a patchwork bunch who don’t stand a snowball’s chance of ever winning the Stanley Cup.
PMC
November 23rd, 2010
9:46 am
They look like they have taken their talents… to south beach.
Andy
November 23rd, 2010
9:52 am
This team was DOA before the season began. I really don’t care. The only thing interesting about the NBA is seeing how bad Miami is playing. Now THAT is embarrasing.
Bobby O
November 23rd, 2010
9:55 am
Wow, what a pitiful performance. Felt like we were back in the days of the 20-win season. Either fire the coach or fire the players. This team is going nowhere but in reverse really fast.
Time
November 23rd, 2010
10:13 am
It’s WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too early to talk about the team quitting or trying to get the coach fired. Rational and intelligent hoops fans knew there would be some growing pains in trying to go from years of a one on one offense to running the motion. Combine that with a couple early season shooting slumps and you get a middling 8-6 start. Which is still winning basketball. Same record as the vaunted Heat have. Give it some time people. By the time March rolls around they’ll be playing well and that’s all that really matters.
Craig
November 23rd, 2010
10:23 am
For those of you that want to go spend $$$ to watch this team, I would do the Dave Pamsey rule and put the $$$ you would spend into an emergency fund. Save it for the day when this organization gives a rats a** about winning the East. What a joke.
the murf
November 23rd, 2010
10:30 am
THWG
Ted M
November 23rd, 2010
10:35 am
Joe Johnson has only had 1 good game this year. Ugh oh…the Hawks may be 5 years away before they can even begin to assemble a championship team. Lets hope not…maybe its the hand… D’oh.
Ted M
November 23rd, 2010
10:41 am
Time – The Hawks have had the same core of players for a long time, they should be better even this early. 0-6 against viable teams is pathetic. Miami has at least beat Orlando & Phoenix.
After further review ... the Hawks are in really big trouble | Mark Bradley
November 23rd, 2010
10:44 am
[...] belief, but in the interest of fairness I’ve spent some of the subsequent hours reflecting on what I saw/wrote. (Other hours were invested in sleeping.) And in my reflection, I have asked myself: “Marky [...]
chris
November 23rd, 2010
10:48 am
Larry Drew was hired because the Hawks ownership won’t spend money. Sund said earlier this week that he didn’t make changes to this team because he felt it was too early. This group has hit its peak, and why won’t somebody just say “Look, we aren’t going to spend Money to make it any better. This is as good as we will get.”
When you can’t win at home its going to be a long year. This team won’t be as good as they were last year. When does the Grapefruit league start??? I dread football ending when NBA is all we have.
FedUp
November 23rd, 2010
10:48 am
I tried to watch some of the Hawks game last night and after they got down by about 30 points I looked at my wife and said No one on the team is trying and hustling with the exception of Hofford. It is amazing watching this team, talented yes, lazy yes, don’t care yes. Horrible to believe.
Of course NBA basketball as a whole has totally gone down hill the past decade any way. Yes there are the Bryants of the world, but that’s about it.
I wish we could go back to the days of Bird, Magic, Wilkens, Barkley, Malone, Malone, Jordan and the likes. They were true to the sport, not a bunch of LeBron’s running around for self gratification.
Is it Sunday yet so I can watch a real team play? Go FALCONS!
FedUp
November 23rd, 2010
10:51 am
BTW,
Does anyone care if there is an NBA lock out?
Does anyone care if there is a NFL lock out?
I doubt anyone except a small percentage would say yes on the NBA. I would say a LARGE majority would say yes on the NFL. Heck for that purpose MLB would win out over the National Bully League.
OKSEE
November 23rd, 2010
10:58 am
“Congrats to Paul Hewitt and Mark Richt. Looks like Bradley’s attention will soon be diverted from trying to get you fired by starting to try and get Drew fired.”
FIRE ALL 3!!!!…and if PJ dont win on sat…kick his butt to the curb as well.
THIS IS ATLANTA…WE DESERVE BETTER.
just facts
November 23rd, 2010
11:09 am
it would be so discouraging to “start over” again. at least when the marlins blew up their teams they had championship rings to get them through until they were competitive again. this group of hawks has nothing to hang their hats on. i have followed the hawks since they played their games at GT so i have seen a lot of basketball. “players coaches” generally dont win championships. bobby cox is a prime example but look at bill belechik, vince lombardi, bobby knight, and phil jackson. lombardi was from a totally different era, knight from a kind of different era, but belechik and jackson are doing it right now and they are definitely not players coaches. i am not saying that what people refer to as “players coach” never wins, i am saying that the odds are against it and the facts prove it.
so many people will say that these are grown men and professional athletes and they should perform. what they are is a group of very wealthy young men who have never been told no by anybody. they were always the best of the team and have been treated as prima donnas and the majority of them cant handle what they have. if you think kobe bryant would be as great as he is if he had played for the succession of hawk coaches we have seen then you are crazy. it has always been said that a great coach could take his players and beat you and take your players and beat his. i know that is not always totally true but when you get the talent level that is in the NBA it is close. i think the current coaching staff of the hawks could takes their talent and lose to you and take your talent and lose to the hawks. it is gonna be a long winter.
Roundfield on Roundball
November 23rd, 2010
11:21 am
Trades have to be made … Josh Smith is all smoove and no smarts – he gone. ahright. ahright. ahright. Get a 1st round pick for him. Marvin Williams bustapotamus. He gone. ahright. ahright. ahright. Turning the franchise around and building to a series of 50 win seasons was nice. Now, the team is stale and selfish. The coach is on the cheap. The highlight factory is for let.
WHATTA SURPRIZE!!!
November 23rd, 2010
11:57 am
NOOOOBODY CARES!!!!!!!!!!! THE ASG (ALLTIME STUPID GROUP) DON’T SO WHY SHOULD WE!!!!!!
Drez
November 23rd, 2010
12:46 pm
I don’t think Drew is to blame. I think we have a group of players who are uninspired and play lazy defense. It’s obvious that they have no team chemistry and no leadership. If this team doesn’t show any improvement by January, Sund should break it up and trade whomever he can and start over. It’s one thing to lose and give it 100%, but it’s totally unacceptable to lose and not give any effort!
Dream On
November 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
Here’s the deal! If the Falcons can go deep into the playoffs, or even the Super Bowl, that will get us to Late January or early February. Which will give us only a month before the Braves start spring training in March. Screw the Hawks!
tyger
November 23rd, 2010
4:41 pm
Bring Back Billy Knight!!!
1. All Hawks success is attributable to Billy Knight!!!
2. BK drafted Smoove, Horford, Marvin.
3. Traded for Bibby, JJ, ZaZa.
4. Hired Mike Woodson and Larry Drew.
5. Ended a 10yr. playoff drought.
6. Without him, Hawks imploding.
7. Sund has no vision or swagger.
8. Spirit stupid and broke.
9. Billy Knight is the Answer!
Fiddlin’ and Diddlin’ – Daily Links 11/23 | Basketball Online
November 24th, 2010
12:04 am
[...] in the Celtics Model? Rhymes with Hondo Boston 99, Atlanta 76 AJC Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying Shaq picked Celtics over Hawks for better title shot Hawks no match for Celtics, lose 99-76 [...]
Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/23 | NBA Rock
November 24th, 2010
2:52 am
[...] 99, Hawks 76Hawks Cast in the Celtics Model? Rhymes with Hondo Boston 99, Atlanta 76AJC Fourteen games in, the Hawks have stopped even trying Shaq picked Celtics over Hawks for better title shot Hawks no match for Celtics, lose 99-76 Boston [...]
Igotitndallas
November 24th, 2010
2:02 pm
Watching the Dallas Cowboys during the Wade era and witnessing what happen to Woody in the ATL, it has become painfully clear that these ownerships cannot tell the difference between “over-achieving” and “under-achieving”. I’ll let you and your readers figure out which is which!
Atlanta Hawks - Page 54 - iSTORYA.NET
November 25th, 2010
8:51 am
[...] [...]
marquis james
November 25th, 2010
11:31 pm
why are they considered thugs????