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
tremaine cooper
March 23rd, 2011
11:14 am
Mark, last night the guys from TNT said that the ASG is close to selling the hawks. Is that true?
Pete
March 23rd, 2011
11:15 am
Look, when will sports fans wake up and realize that the NBA is riddled with uneducated, undisciplined, LAZY clowns with the work ethic of a mannequin ???
Every year we read where this team or that team is “underachieving”.
Most of these over rated, overpaid dopes want nothing more than to play on a playground somewhere……………..like ALL children do.
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
11:16 am
“Smoove may be the most undisciplined athlete I have ever seen in Atl and that’s saying a lot over the last 45 yrs.”
You got to be kidding? Harmon Wages, Daniel Brouchard, Steve Bartkowski (before a bolt of Jesus hit him), Terry Furlow, Eddie Johnson, Chris Washburn, and Issiah Rider played in this town. It is not even close…
CazLand
March 23rd, 2011
11:18 am
IMO,it was only a matter of time before the players locked out Drew. He brought nothing new to the table cept for an “aww gosh guys play hard please,pretty please” attitude. The problem is that some of these players are spoiled brats.If we can get a legit big man and a competent one(or vice-versus) in a trade for JSmith then I say do it. KirkH and Teague are not the answer at starting point,both are serviceable backups and offer contrasting styles. And we have no #5 at all!!! I like Horford but he is a four all day long. Until they fix the SAME problems they’ve had for years and get rid of the babies,they will be stuck in the status quo.
Blue
March 23rd, 2011
11:22 am
I know Joe’s contract is arduous, but he CAN be moved. I would seriously try to move this guy in the off-season (possible suitors, Knicks, Mavericks, Cavaliers, New Jersey). All of these teams are always looking to add pieces, and are not afraid to go above the salary cap. Then I would certainly try to move Josh Smith. I’m sure there would be numerous suitors for his “talents”. We all fell in love with the high-flying, shot-blocking, nightly ESPN highlight-reel 19 year old with limitless potential. However, this kid has hit a wall here. I think a change of scenery would be helpful to him and this team.
Even if the Hawks get a bunch of stiffs in return, they have to go in another direction. Drew has to move on. Most on this blog knew his hire was going to be a disaster. Lastly, let Sund walk. He did not have a lot of resources at hand (money and/or expiring contracts). However, his moves, or moves he was forced to make by ownership, has been calamitous to say the least. Destroy and rebuild.
The Point Forward » Posts Some small steps could help Hawks improve «
March 23rd, 2011
11:24 am
[...] narrative going around today, best represented here, is that this Hawks bunch has quit on Larry Drew — that perhaps Drew’s long stint as an [...]
The Real JC
March 23rd, 2011
11:24 am
Woody was at the Naismith awards banquet Monday night. Probably there to chat up Austin Rivers to ask his dad for a job…
Short bus riders
March 23rd, 2011
11:30 am
Part of the problem is that this isn’t the brightest bunch in the NBA -in fact maybe one of the –hmm not sure what word to use here -lets just say they were as far away from the top of their class as you can get. BTW did you see AJ Green had one of the lowest Wonderlic scores ever in the NFL tryout camps! Yeah UGA is attracting the brightest student athletes in the country LOL explains a lot about the last few years i.e. discipline, penalties ,losses
David Stern
March 23rd, 2011
11:31 am
Atlanta Has an NBA team ?????????? since when?
Ar
March 23rd, 2011
11:34 am
What I found amazing is the 3 worst home losses in the nba this year are by the hawks. Thats usually something you see by a last place team. I fee sorry for horford. The rest of the lazy pos on this team suck
Daniel
March 23rd, 2011
11:35 am
Bradley- I hate to say it, but you are exactly right on this one.
schmeckdawg
March 23rd, 2011
11:35 am
@ Short bus riders,
BTW did you see AJ Green had one of the lowest Wonderlic scores ever in the NFL tryout camps! Yeah UGA is attracting the brightest student athletes
You don’t get 93,000 people in a stadium to watch a kid take a math test. Sad, but true!!!!
TM
March 23rd, 2011
11:35 am
Your article may be correct and the players very easily have quit on coach Drew.
The evidence sure points in that direction…
But, I also believe the talent on this team is not very good.
JJ is Waaaaaay overpaid. (because of it, it limits what the team can do with other talent)
J. Smith is uncoachable. He has all the talent in the world, but continues to revert to old bad habits.
M. Williams, don’t even get me started… ridiculous he is still on this team.
K. Hinrich is what he is and too early to judge.
A. Horford is awesome, but playing out of position. (which leads to other problems)
Not blaming AL at all, love him.
And worst of all, the players know they are not that good and as soon as a team that is superior plays with intensity… game over.
So you can change the coach and voice, but until the players change… not much is going to change.
SlimG
March 23rd, 2011
11:42 am
Told all u fools it was a mistake to let Woodson go…..What is it with this town and it’s reporters? All the guy did was take us from nowhere to playoffs in what 3 years…..Loserville lives on…….Hey Mark, guess u probably will not admit u were wrong about Mike…..
Orlando Magic and NBA News: Wednesday, March 23 | Ultimate Team Sports News
March 23rd, 2011
11:46 am
[...] 10. Another home blowout tells us the Hawks have quit on Drew, Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
MitchC
March 23rd, 2011
11:49 am
Mark, as I’ve stated before, I dont follow the Hawks as closely as I do the Braves.. but I know the Hawks have been playing terribly lately.
With 11 games left, looking at potential playoff matchups.
The Hawks are five games behind Orlando, in fifth place in the East, and three and a half games ahead of Philly. Unless they put on a furious challenge, and Orlando really falters, they wont get home court for the first round.
Also, the way things stand now, if the Hawks and Orlando coast over the next few weeks, and finish in the spots they are now, the teams will meet in the first round, with Orlando having home court. Considering how their playoff meeting went last season, and the way the Hawks have imploded the last few weeks, that series could very well be a four game and out Orlando sweep.
The Hawks need something to energize them. They will make the playoffs, simply because of the math.. but.. the prospects dont look promising once they get there.
gcs
March 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
You are right about Drew being a nice guy but that does not win you championships.
The Hawks were right to fire Mike Woodson but they replaced him with a worse option in Drew.
Time to stop the bleeding and cut Drew loose and hire a REAL coach. I suggest going after Rick Pitino.
.
Chill
March 23rd, 2011
11:51 am
Another problem I have with the Hawks is everyone believing that Josh Smith is really good player that is still developing. NEW FLASH…He’s 7 years into his NBA career and looks just as raw as the day he came out of high school. He’s a 6′8 small forward with the game of a Power Forward. He can’t shoot, He still can’t drive right and he’s uncomfortable playing with his back to the basket. However people are so enamored with him because he can jump really really high…Please. So could Harold Miner. That’s why getting a true point guard was so important to this team. Josh needs a true up tempo point guard that can push the ball and get the ball to him in transition. That’s where his game is suited best. IMO with the way the team is currently constructed he’s almost useless except for the occasional highlight dunk or block. Personally I need more than that from one of my “Stars”.
cooper
March 23rd, 2011
11:54 am
Enter your comments here
cooper
March 23rd, 2011
11:56 am
That’s why I don’t support Basketball. In
Hollywould
March 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
Chill, you are dead on. Smith is NOT a basketball player ( just a great athelete) Everybody on this blog wants him to post up. WHY? He can’t go to his right and he has nothing to his left. If he could not jump he would be at Grant Park now. Get rid of this cancer.
cooper
March 23rd, 2011
12:05 pm
In football and baseball you have a true team sport because if one or two players decide not to give it all they have, it want affect the team as bad and after a short time of under performing they will be replaced. But in Basketball the team on the court is so few when only one decides 2 or 5 million is not enough to warrant his full effort every second it can have devastating results for the team because there are only a few extra men to pick from to replace him.
JeJe
March 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
Drew is a competent head coach and it’s proven over and over and over this year.
^^Typo?
joey
March 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
hawks so much talent but so little heart or effort
joey
March 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
again,the hawks minus al horford play with no effort or heart when they get down 8 points they start to give up and thats a coaching problem . if the starters wont play with heart bench them and play the backups. i will tell you jeff teage and zaza play with more heart that any of the starters other than horford
BOBBY STRONG
March 23rd, 2011
12:15 pm
AL HORFORD AND JOSH SMITH CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE PERIOD!!!!!! Smoove may not be the best but hes one of the defensive game changers weve seen since MUTOMBO!!!!! H
BOBBY STRONG
March 23rd, 2011
12:18 pm
SMOOVE IS NOY ONLY AN ATLANTA NATIVE BUT HES THE BEST DEFENDER WEVE HAD SINCE MUTOMBO!!!!! ABSOLUTELY UNTRADEABLE
Mike
March 23rd, 2011
12:24 pm
@Boobby Strong
But with Joe and Horford contracts, he is looking like the odd man out, besides he can find go to a system that he can learn. Unless there is a way to send JJ contract to somebody else.
joey
March 23rd, 2011
12:25 pm
we need to trade joe johnson if its possible and teage for chris paul , im not sure they would accept it although it does sound good. joe has way too much talent to be so passive if he just put up 10 more shots he would always score 25 plus
JeJe
March 23rd, 2011
12:28 pm
JOSH SMITH ASKS LD WHAT IS A GOOD SHOT AND WHAT’S A BAD SHOT
allan in texas
March 23rd, 2011
12:29 pm
Joe Johnson’s contract can be moved. Gilbert Arenas got traded. The question is can the Hawks get something of value in return!
allan in texas
March 23rd, 2011
12:32 pm
The GM’S Contract is up at the end of the year.If the Hawks are bounced out of the first round,the Head Coach should be gone as well as the GM. Blow the whole thing up!
Mr. X
March 23rd, 2011
12:40 pm
Maybe Daddy Drew can quit just like his son Larry did. Birds of a feather indeed.
Bravo
March 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
How inept is this ownership? Can you imagine Arthur Blank doing/saying nothing as his boys give these kind of performances over and over again? Between all the bad decisions this ownership group has made, and a completely ill-equipped GM named BILLY KNIGHT, this franchise may actually be worse off than the Thrashers… because this needs to get blown up and rebuilt… whereas the Thrashers have already gone that route. Oh well… there’s always hope with the Braves and Falcons.
BoomBoom
March 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
The thing you guys are glossing over is the fact the Hawks ownership group is not interested in winning a title.
Being a fractured ownership group, they’re more interested in:
A) Making money…Which they continue to do so long as they contend.
B) Giving themselves personal cache. Which they acquire by being owners of the Hawks.
For the organization to compete at a high level, a few things have to happen.
1) The ownership logjam needs to give way to a majority owner…preferably the one with the most business sense and success.
2) The front office needs to make a commitment to selecting true talents. For too long, the Hawks have subsisted on drafting the wrong players. Players with limitless potential and questionable skill.
Marvin/Sheldon Williams were colossal mistakes. The Hawks could have picked up Chris Paul or Deron Williams in 2005 and followed that up by selecting Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy the next year.
Now, you can argue that the 2006 pick would have been different had the Hawks taken Williams or Paul…Fine.
In that case, heading into the 2005-2006 season, the Hawks could have had a nucleus of:
Chris Paul/Deron Williams
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
And if you tell me right now that a Hawks lineup featuring those 3 isnt a title contender…you’re crazy.
ZT
March 23rd, 2011
12:45 pm
I think its hilarious how much of a topic of discussion Marvin seems to be on these blogs. He has career averages of 12 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 45% FG and 80% FT’s. This is all while watching Joe, Josh, Al and Jamal take roughly 75% of the shots. He defends the premier position in this league (SF) very well and you’re hard pressed to find any instances of him complaining or being a distraction to the team. The Hawks didnt have to re-sign him, but they did because they didnt want anyone else to reap the benefits (selfless teammate, hard nosed defender,capable jump shooter) that he would bring to a team that isnt dysfunctional such as the Hawks. They also resigned him because while everyone thinks Josh Smith is a great defender and could play the SF, the reality is he cant stay in front of many PF in the league and most certainly not a Carmelo, Lebron or a Kevin Durant. Was his #2 draft status a little lofty? Maybe so but hindsight is 20/20. What I can tell you is that whether it be with the Hawks or hopefully another team in the very near future, he will have a long productive career in the league. Maybe you should starts asking questions like why is Joe Johnson going in for lay-ups at 6′7 or why Josh Smith after 6 yrs in the league still cant do anything with his right hand or to the right side of the floor. I promise you that Marvin is not the issue in Atlanta and he continues to play for a reason.I cant wait for the day when he can get out of a town with a bunch of fair weather fans who give more support to opposing teams rather than their own and respect players who do their job day in and day out on a team full of wanna be stars who love to bask in the limelight whether it be negative or positive.
bronkelliott
March 23rd, 2011
12:48 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. the hawks players would rather be clubbing and spending time with the ladies then playing basketball. Riley and other good coaches would never have tolerated the rich man’s club mentality of playing this way. This team should be booed from high heaven for their clubbing mentality. They would rather be the lady’s man than the team man.. Shame, I used to love watching this team play. Now I turn on other sports when they are on TV.
TROTTINGHOME
March 23rd, 2011
12:49 pm
fine their butts and start over…larry made a major mistake making josh a starter should have keep rotating till they played better…and i believe the players can be fined if they refuse to cooperate
tyger
March 23rd, 2011
12:49 pm
An oversimplification – ownership knew what they had after the Orlando massacre last year. They did nothing, it’s more than LD.
Why?
Because even if you fire LD alone, you still have a major problem. If you change your pieces, i.e personalities and find slashers/defenders; a true center and point guard – then you can fairly evaluate your coach.
This mismatched roster was Woody’s undoing and LD inherited it. Until it is fixed, this team is jinxed. They are average! Which was fine compared to the last 10 years, but not now.
Good to see Teague shoot so well during garbage time, but notice his line: 0 oreb, 0 stl, 0 pf – he’s just running up and down the court jacking up shots – he’s not impacting the game in a positive way, surely, its great when your’e hitting shots, but we know thats an aberration – you win stopping people. The guy you’re looking for has a few PFs, a couple steals, a hustle rebound or two.
Did like Hilton Armstrong however, he could be useful down the stretch. Hustling, rebounding and blocking shots – reminds me of Solomon Jones. Our starters used to play that way.
Forget LD – has it come to anyone’s realization that they are playing as well as they can? The East got stronger, we’ve been saying it all year!!! The Hawks did nothing until it was too late.
joey
March 23rd, 2011
12:50 pm
again the problem is joe has no killer instinct ,we need to trade joe johnson if its possible and teage for chris paul , im not sure they would accept it although it does sound good. joe has way too much talent to be so passive if he just put up 10 more shots he would always score 25 plus
yeahsure
March 23rd, 2011
12:56 pm
ASG needs to sell this team fast!!!
New ownership (hopefully a single majority owner) needs to clean house.
New GM, New Coach. Trade Josh, Williams, Zaza.
The entire franchise as it is right now is broken. There is no accountability. The culture needs to change.
Bravo
March 23rd, 2011
12:56 pm
Could not agree more with ZT . Marvin shouldn’t have been a second overall pick – but that’s not his fault. He’s a decent player and – along with Al Horford and Hinrich – are the only ones working their a**es off..
tremaine cooper
March 23rd, 2011
1:02 pm
Am I the only one that woke up this morning hoping that the hawks had fired LD? The guy looked like a wounded animal waiting on somebody to put him out of his misery lastnight.
wcj
March 23rd, 2011
1:03 pm
These moves will solve this mess.
1.Force these owners to sell the team by not showing up for games.
2.Trade Joe Johnson and Zaza for Nene from Denver.
3.Trade Malvin Williams from two backups: Shooting guard, Small forward.
4.Trade Josh Smith for the first pick in the draft along some backups.
5.Sign the best free agent available.( Any position will do)
6.Firer all the coaches and start over.
7.Do not resign Crawford.
Do all these moves or combine some, but this craziness has to end now.
Blue
March 23rd, 2011
1:04 pm
@ BoomBoom
Not to beat a dead horse, but the 2005 and 2006 draft picks still cuts deep to this day. But 2004 still hurts as well. Still on the board when we selected Josh Childress at 6 (LOUL DENG, who went next at 7, and Andre Igoudala, who went 9 to Philly). So in that three year period (2004 through 2006), we passed on Loul Deng, Andre Igoudala, Chris Paul, Derron Williams, Brandon Roy, and Rudy Gay.
And it’s not like these guys got lucky once they became pros. Every last one of these guys were BEAST in college. Silly Knight just thought he was smarter than everyone else and passed on them all. Shelden Williams over Brandon Roy, really.
dale in newnan
March 23rd, 2011
1:12 pm
Ain’t no way in Hell Dwight Howard is gonna come to Atlanta!!! This is about the most insane comment since that hack Terrence Moore floated the perception of Kobe coming here; in an aside, thank God Tm has gotten the complete F%^& out of Atlanta. Listen, the ugly truth is no elite player is gonna come here and play with this bunch of mutts, or for this Mickey Mouse wannabe orginization. Quit deluding yourselves. Just not gonna happen. This franchise is in serious trouble. Baring a Falcon-type intervention, I could see horrible scenarios where this team could leave. Sadly if they did, most people would not even care. Been a fan since ‘75, but this team is getting mighty painful to watch. What a bunch of Dogs.
Bravo
March 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
“Silly Knight”? Come on – you should use more forceful language than that! After this inept ownership, he is single-handedly responsible for the rotten state of affairs this franchise is in!
DC
March 23rd, 2011
1:22 pm
nothing significant will happen with the franchise till its sold… to owners who care…. we need a new GM and Coach…. time to revamp the team. Get rid of joe and josh…. build around al…there are centers like M.Gasol and d. Jordan of the clippers out there. keep teague and give him pt
dale in newnan
March 23rd, 2011
1:24 pm
Nuclear Winter Scenario #1. David Stern has all but promised there will be a hard salary cap when the next Union Contract is signed later this Summer, or next if there is a lock out. Like these players won’t fold like shirts in a Chinese Laundry when their make-it-rain money and multiple child support payment money starts to dry up. What this unfortunately means for the Hawks is that, barring finding a Oakland Raider-Washington Bullet like dupe, they will be perpetually stuck with these overpaid contracts.
Kaevanna James
March 23rd, 2011
1:25 pm
Drew probably plans to draft his son to play point. Ugh!