Another home blowout tells us the Hawks have quit on Drew
Kirk Hinrich arrives and the Hawks start stinking it up at home. Cause and effect? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
This is why you don’t promote the nice-guy assistant. Because the players who’ve known him only as the nice-guy assistant will quit on him. And if you think the Hawks are still playing hard for Larry Drew, how are we to explain the misdoings of the past three weeks?
The Hawks have lost six home games in 18 days. (By way of comparison, they lost seven home games all last season.) Only one of these six losses has been by fewer than 13 points. Average margin of the six losses — 17.2 points.
On Friday they trailed Miami by 29 points after three quarters. On Saturday Al Horford convened a players-only meeting, which apparently enabled the Hawks to subdue the awful Detroit Pistons by eight points the next day. But the shelf life on players-only meetings, at least for these Hawks, is only 48 hours. On Tuesday they trailed Chicago by 29 points after two quarters. (They would trail by 47 before it ended.)
Even if we stipulate that all six home losses have come against good opposition, that excuses nothing. The Hawks are, or at least were, supposed to be pretty good themselves. They won 53 games last season, and they’ve won 40 this time. But they’re not nearly the team they were a year ago, and the reason is clear:
The Hawks might not have loved Mike Woodson, but they played hard for him most nights. When they stopped playing hard against Orlando in Round 2 of the 2010 playoffs, it was time for Woodson to go. But it took the Hawks six seasons to tune out their previous coach; they stopped listening to his successor after 60-some games.
They’ve won 40 games because they still have talent; they’ve lost 15 home games because they don’t care enough to apply that talent when application requires effort. Stop shooting their beloved jump shots? Start guarding somebody? Why bother?
Say it again: Fifteen home losses for a team that boasts two All-Stars, a third player of All-Star caliber and the league’s reigning sixth man of the year. Fifteen home losses, nine of them by double figures. The NBA’s worst team shouldn’t be getting hammered like this at home on such a regular basis, let alone one that has been to the playoffs three years running and will get there again this spring. (The irony of Tuesday’s loss was that the Hawks could have clinched a postseason berth; instead they looked like a team in the running to be first in line for the draft lottery.)
Apart from the subtraction of Mike Bibby and the addition of Kirk Hinrich — that trade hasn’t exactly had a catalytic effect, has it?– these Hawks are essentially the same as they’ve been. What’s different is the coach. Like him or not, Mike Woodson was difficult to overlook. His former team has found Woody’s nice-guy assistant all too easy to ignore.
By Mark Bradley
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347 comments Add your comment
Are u kidding me?
March 23rd, 2011
1:13 am
Josh smith is one of the most talented in the league? Really! He has not developed who really fears him? No consistent outside shot can’t handle ball well enough to drive down the lane. No heart and bad attitude! We need to get a real coach in here that can get out his full potential or cut him loose! Or have we done that long enough? And Joe Johnson mr apathetic or zombie Joe! Who cares he obviously don’t! And Hindlick he is just awful I have not seen that many bricks since my masonry days
NorCalHawk
March 23rd, 2011
1:19 am
My hometown team, the awful Sacramento Kings, might even be playing a notch above the Hawks these days, and they’re likely headed to Anaheim next season. At least the Kings won’t have the opportunity to get shellacked in the playoffs.
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
1:23 am
@ Najeh…
Now you see why “us” old-timers just laugh when Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz keep trying to reinvent the wheel!
I knew Woodson was never going to make this team a champion; but you could see the problems were with the roster! He was in over his head…
Bibby for all his flaws was brought here for a reason. Instead of using the team that they got while he gave them a chance not to free fall in the 2 seasons he was serviceable; they blew it…
Teague is about as schizo as this team… Hopefully he’ll work around it, poor kid…
Then there is Marvin, destined to join Adam Keefe, Roy Marble, and Doug Edwards on the great Hawks draft pick funeral pyre… SMDH!
Larry
March 23rd, 2011
1:28 am
Being the Hawks, and owned by the committee of idiots, I would expect to read in the next few days an announced extension for Mr. Drew.
D-Man
March 23rd, 2011
1:34 am
This team simply has the wrong mix of players and no coach can fix that especially Woodson and now it seems Drew. Everyone always says- “well hey, they improved every year he was coach…” Well dam when you start with a 12-win season one year, you have nowhere but UP to go.. You win what, 20 the next season? Really? Wooowwww – still dead last. The next season, congrats now you what the first team in NBA history to make the playoffs and look if your only claim to fame is a 1st round playoff LOSS, you got issues. Now when the Hawk’s players finally got tired of the ole Milk Dud, a guy they played hard for seemingly out of spite, they went for the nice guy and now they’re just chilllllllling hard. This will not change with the Atlanta Hawks until the “culture” is changed from top to bottom like the Falcons starting with the Atlanta “Kills My” Spirit group. Until that happens, there might as well be no NBA in Atlanta…
S'paw_99
March 23rd, 2011
1:35 am
I know the NBA only cares about big market teams (LAL, Bos, & Knicks), but I also don’t think that they’d let the Hawks leave the Atl. What bigger market can they go to? The big reason being:
Who owns a lot of the TV rights for the NBA … TNT, & where is TNT headquartered: Atl.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
1:51 am
Atlanta is actually one of the bigger markets in the NBA. Unfortunately, being a big market doesn’t guarantee that the team will be managed well, as the Knicks proved over the last decade. And unlike the Knicks, the Hawks don’t have a fan base of sheep who will support the team even if they make terrible move after terrible move and fail to build a contender.
J.J.M.
March 23rd, 2011
2:12 am
damn that lil kid was crying at the hawks game
Hawk 4 Life
March 23rd, 2011
2:18 am
You can blame the coach all you want, winners don’t quit. They got embarrassed by 100 points total against the Magic last year so let’s not act like they didn’t quit on Woodson either. The fact that it took 6 years to do so against Woody is no excuse, to get beat by the margins we are losing is the fault of the players and a lack of pride.
The players didn’t like Woody, now Drew, players should play and coaches should coach and these guys are not playing.
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
2:20 am
And people still think it can’t get “worse” than that 12 win team. Ha ha ha ha, man you must have been a baby in 75? That 12 win season would have been 30 wins against the 75-76 Hawks! That team lost 23 out of 26 at one point!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
2:42 am
I never got the sense that the players didn’t like Woody. Some of y’all seem to think that just because Smoove got into it with Woody a few times that they didn’t like each other. Grown men who have to work together to get things done are going to disagree on things.
I did get the sense that Woody was stubborn as a mule and refused to make adjustments to his schemes even when it was plainly obvious that they weren’t working.
Buddy Grizzard
March 23rd, 2011
2:57 am
Quitting is what Larry Drew teaches… see Larry Drew II. Suggesting that the arrival of Hinrich is the reason for the Hawks’ season long woes at home is a little silly. Don’t you just love those commercials where they talk about the Hawks being one of the NBA’s “elite?” LOL.
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
2:58 am
@ Najeh…
That is true… Like switching all the time. He rarely seemed to trust the intelligence of his players in that light… Still, some of that lack of trust seems to be out there for the world to see now… This team has gone Phoenix Suns disinterested when it comes to caring… Very sad…
kaminari
March 23rd, 2011
3:00 am
I kind of feel bad for LD now. Watching him sit there on the bench, he look plain frightened. Completely clueless of what to do next. There wasn’t even that glazed look in his eye tonight. Just fear, plain and simple. How bad can it get? Lose out the season?
FACTS
March 23rd, 2011
3:02 am
Sorry bloggers, but hiring Drew was a step backwards! The little kid with the Hawks hat that was crying at tonight’s game sums up this whole franchise, from ASG to the players, just saddddd!
The Atlanta Hawks: Failure in Leadership | The Connoisseur of Couch Potato-ism
March 23rd, 2011
3:29 am
[...] Simply there is no excuse for it and that kind of performance isn’t just an isolated incident at this point. A lot of the time the Hawks can overcome listless starts and comeback. Mark Bradley of the Atlanta-Journal-Constitution says the Hawks have quit on first year head coach Larry Drew. http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/03/22/another-home-blowout-tells-us-the-hawks-have-quit-… [...]
Texas Hawk
March 23rd, 2011
3:35 am
Ok, I told most of you last year that you would sorely miss Woody and here we are playing like dead fish. This team had a chance to get a coach who would make the PG’s better and for the players to play defense, Avery Johnson. But no this dumb team goes and hires Woodys coaches for cheaper money………..SMH. As much as we disliked Woody’s coaching style we played HARD at home everynight last year but even thats gone. This team will get BOOTED out the playoffs in the first round by Orlando. Why? Because the Hawks have needed a big man for the last 3 or 4 years but Nooooooooo. These boys trade away the 7′2 project for cash and give away our 1st rd draft pick for an over-the-hill PG Hinrich who has clearly lost a step or two. Now we have a promising PG in Teague that for some unknown reason has been getting limited minutes or garbage time (while we are getting blown out). We have the 6th man of year playing in the last year of his contract and WILL BE LEAVING TOWN after this playoff loss. Why? Because the Spirit Group lied to him about his contract at the end of the year last year. Unless this team gets a better coach and a big man, they will step back even father nex year
Dr. Warren
March 23rd, 2011
3:51 am
Has anyone checked out JORDAN CRAWFORD in Washington. He’s scored several 20+ games already. We basically traded a 21-year-old version of Jamal Crawford for an old Hinrich.
ATLER (RAMBLIN WRECK)
March 23rd, 2011
3:57 am
The Hawks are making me sick. Every time they play a good team the act like little girls. They NEVER show up to play. And then they want to sit on the bench and look sand & depressed!!!!!!!!
ATLER (RAMBLIN WRECK)
March 23rd, 2011
3:58 am
sad I meant to say.
TLH404
March 23rd, 2011
4:20 am
Here’s a solution. Fire Larry Drew. He’s lost control of this team.
Slick Rick
March 23rd, 2011
4:56 am
Where is Joe Johnson?
FACTS
March 23rd, 2011
5:17 am
Almost time to head home. Drew is not the answer but who really knows what is the answer. If ASG goes the rebuilding route, ticket sales will plummet, all I have to say is thanks alot Sund. The only choice for the future of this team is to mortgage everything & make an all out run at Dwight Howard.
JAM PONY XPRESS
March 23rd, 2011
5:19 am
Garbage ***************************************************************Hawks**********************Garbage!
BlahBlahBlah
March 23rd, 2011
5:26 am
I’m getting tired of hearing about Josh Smith’s talent. 7 years in the league. Zero All-Star appearances. His game has peaked.
DcStan
March 23rd, 2011
5:36 am
I know it old news but you had Chris Paul and Darren Williams for the taking, who was the GM, and if he is still on the team he gots to go
Wrong
March 23rd, 2011
6:20 am
ASG are the root of all problems. These bumbling idiots couldn’t run anything. Their incompetence has been pervasive since taking over the two teams. In the end, they’ll end up as the example to NBA and NHL for new criteria for evaluating future owners.
Born2Buzz
March 23rd, 2011
6:35 am
Sadly this will only go downhill further until the ASG is bought out. Selling both the Hawks and Thrashers to this group was the worst thing that could have happened to this city.
Reggie
March 23rd, 2011
6:43 am
I thought i would never say this but we should not have made that Bibby trade…all we had to do was start Teague and bring Bibby off the bench.. also i think we may need to bring Josh Smith of the bench so he can be a Lamar Odom type player with a instant impact and able to sub for any of the three bigs that do start…Marvin,Al or Hilton
Paddy
March 23rd, 2011
6:48 am
Nunna….you got a change at the top last year with Drew. Now you want to change again??? Drew is what ASG can afford, he is not going anywhere. Joe Johnson is not going anywhere. The Hawks and the NBA is what it is. Not very entertaining and each year more fans move on to something else not so transparent.
Melvin Flowers
March 23rd, 2011
7:00 am
The Hawks Are Just Sorry This Group Is Done.Trades are Needed After The Season. Harford In My Book The Only Hawk Worth Staying On The Team. The Gm Need To Go Also. Atlanta Will Never Win With This Sorry Group Of Players. Teams Have Gotten Better And Rebuild Around The Hawks, The Bulls Are One of Those Teams. The Hawks Still The Same Old Sorry Group.
Im Not Spending Another Red Cent To See These Clowns We Call Pro Ball Players, Play Like An AAU Team. Also A New Coach is Needed Also.
JustAThought
March 23rd, 2011
7:01 am
If LA can survive without the NFL, the ATL can surely survive without the NBA. My vote is they pack this crap up and move!
John
March 23rd, 2011
7:04 am
Mark, you hit the nail on the head. Everybody’s worst nightmare has come true with regards to proomting from within. A different “nice guy” would work. There is no reason to fire Woodson if you are going to promote his top assistant who has no head coaching experience. Of course, the players are to blame too. However, this roster is set up to be a very good team. Maybe not a championship contender, but it should not be losing games like this. You are right. The Kings and Twolves should not lose at home like this. Heck, they should not lose on the road like this. It is one thing to lose by 20 slowly throughout a game, but to be down so much so quick is inexcusable. The Bulls were on absolute fire last night, hitting difficult shots, however, the loss is uncacceptable. The Hawks are playing so bad right now it is hard to determine what the real problem is. To me, other than letting the Bulls get in the lane so easily and shooting too many jumpers, there is not one player just playing awful. It is collective losing which shows they have tuned Drew out. I was at the game last night and it was embarassing to hear the MVP chants for Rose. Why did Drew not try Teague on his earlier, quick on quick, when Heinrich could obviously not stay with him. Why does Josh Smith hardly challenge any shots at the rim these days. (he wasn’t before he hurt his knee). Also, as Al has developed a better offensive game, why can he not do the little things that made him so good so early anymore. I know most think Al is the player that can do no wrong on this team, but he missed so many defensive rotations last night and did not even challenge guys for dunks. I hope they turn it around, but I feel like I was more positive in the Shareef, Antoine Walker, and Al Harrington days.
juice sourcer
March 23rd, 2011
7:05 am
So my question is…why don’t the fans of the Atlanta Hawks quit on them…they have quit on us…I don’t understand why people pay big money to go see them play. Please Atlanta fans….boycott the next home game..would it not be epic for no one to show up…totally epic…
City Heat
March 23rd, 2011
7:08 am
larry will have the hawks primed and ready for the playoffs—these games now mean nothing, so the hawk players don’t put much effort in. when the prime time starts, the hawks will be ready! Look for an upset in round 1—hawks beat orlando—mark it down!
Starrman
March 23rd, 2011
7:13 am
I was born and raised here and I,have been a Hawk,Brave and Falcon all my life,but this team should be in the NCAA Tournament.LD,SUND,JOSH SMITH,MARVIN WILLIIAMS and THE 7BROKE DWARFS all need to go.
flintrock70
March 23rd, 2011
7:18 am
Josh Smith is a punk with no heart. Stop crying, jerk, when stuff doesn’t go your way play harder and stop giving up.
ormewood
March 23rd, 2011
7:20 am
Karma. Drew II quit on UNC. How’s that working out for UNC?
Melvin Flowers
March 23rd, 2011
7:31 am
What Have The GM Done? FIRE HIM, GETTING RICH DONE NOTHIN.
NEW CONTRACT TIME? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Atticus
March 23rd, 2011
7:38 am
Call it what it is Mark, a failure of pathetic leadership, same as with the Thrashers. It’s a joke.
Rum Runner
March 23rd, 2011
7:41 am
The Hawks are heartless and gutless. Who cares if they move out of Atlanta? We won’t miss them at all. Bunch of overpaid primadonnas. Good riddance.
Fan
March 23rd, 2011
7:42 am
Get a new young gm from a winning team and let him turn this thing around he will hire the right coach I don’t enjoy watching the hawks they play with no heart or passion
john
March 23rd, 2011
7:44 am
Who cares. The team is absolute garbage. The only one that’s gonna be held responsible is LD. Granted, he’s over his head and is not doing a good job…but the team is nothing short of pathetic. Absolute garbage. We all used to wonder how come Atlanta is never on national TV…well…lol.
dap01
March 23rd, 2011
7:44 am
Billy Knight was the cheapest hire, Sund was the cheapest hire, Woody was the cheapest hire, LD was the cheapest hire. See a pattern?
tremaine cooper
March 23rd, 2011
7:45 am
“GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!”
DJK
March 23rd, 2011
7:50 am
The Hawks need to play Jeff Teague at least he wants to play. Kurt did not prepare to be in the playoffs on a good team in the off-season who can tell by his demanor. Teague went into last season expecting to be the starter he gives us a change of pace that we desparately need otherwise like last nite there are no fastbreak points and did we really expect D. Rose to have two bad games in a row against us. Before the last game when we beat them here the Bulls had not won in Atlanta in seven tries when Kurt was on their team. Now I will not say that he is not an upgrade from Bibby defensively but, there is some problem that is not here. Another reason to start Teague is because Crawford definitely has quit on us being unprofessional pouting because he did not get his contract extension, since we traded the other J Crawford he feels no pressure to perform knowing that he should get an offer but his play of recent leads me to believe he does not want to be here as if he feels disrespected. As far as Joe is concerned I feel he did not want to be here he should have left the money while I understand they did entice him with that out of control contract his inner mind and spirit should have convinced him otherwise. He could have been in Chicago or Miami playing his second tier to a real superstar instead of holding the city and franchise to his subpar, unexcuseable lack of an effort against the elite teams in the NBA. If I have to watch one more game were our starters are on the bench in the fourth because of getting blown out I will start the boycott the Hawks movement. Did anyone see the little kid on the highlights crying about the game, Hawks now that is a Damn shame!!!!!!
Sloan
March 23rd, 2011
7:50 am
Bradley is only half correct when he says this is the result of hiring the “nice guy assistant” to be the HC. Truth is this team was done last year when it completely tanked in the playoffs. Joe Johnson should not be in a Hawks uniform. Neither should Marvin Williams. The fact that both of those players are still in Atlanta has nothing to do with who is coaching the team. Granted, Larry Drew is getting much less effort out of the Hawks than Coach Woodson was, but the team should have been deconstructed after last year. The good pieces like Horford, Crawford, Smith should have been kept and built around with some new pieces even if it meant a step back this season to get better over the long term. Instead the Hawks have taken that step back without any real reason for anyone to believe they can improve this team in the near future.
Double Zero Eight
March 23rd, 2011
7:52 am
BOOM…….Blow the team up!
If it wasn’t for Teague, they would have lost by
50 mpoints.
I said at the beginning of the season that the team
would not listen to LD. Unfortunately, that has been
proven throughout the season.
To say the team quit is an understatement. They need a
veteran coach like Larry Brown. Is he still available? I doubt
he would want to come here as long as ASG owns the team.
In addition, ASG would not be willing to pay him what he is
worth.
The season is a FAILURE per Sund’s earlier assessment
that the team needed to improve its regular season record.
He made this statement before the all-star game when it
appeared the team was likely to do so.
Drew, Sund and ASG are “clueless in Atlanta”.
mike
March 23rd, 2011
7:58 am
That’s okay folks, baseball will also be losers just like the rest of the Atlanta sports team. BTW if you goobers think you can do better, how about trying out for your favorite team. Pick any of them here in this city since they are all in the same boat.
reebok
March 23rd, 2011
8:00 am
There is no reason any fan should waste their entertainment dollars on this piece of crap team or their sisters-in-misery the Thrashers. do something else with your money, don’t subsidize these lazy millionaires-employed-by-billionaires when they can’t be bothered to suit up, show up, and play hard.