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
MistaGamer
March 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
This might be one the best aricles written on the Hawks current state:
http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/03/23/some-small-steps-could-help-hawks-improve/
The best line is this:
“Trading Smith — or Horford in a more dramatic move — amounts to shaking things up for the sake of shaking things up, since both young bigs are more valuable long-term assets than Johnson. Trading one of them because you overpaid Johnson would be a sad scenario.”
And that sums what I wrote in a previouse blog. It’s just so unfortunate that we are so unfortunate. Most of this has been created from those at the top of the decision making process.
Ted M
March 23rd, 2011
2:06 pm
Thanks for telling it like it is…but you were wrong when you said this offseason that the Hawks had no other choice but to give JJ a max contract.
The Hawks will be out in the first round of the playoff for the life of that contract.
The Spirit suck…nothing profound there.
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2011
2:15 pm
Here was my thinking, Ted M: If the Hawks let Joe Johnson leave, they might never sign another big-name free agent because those guys would say, “Why should I go there if Joe didn’t want to stay?” And if they’d lost Johnson, they’d have needed a big-name free agent to make up the talent drain.
But now they’re stuck the other way: Can’t afford a big-name free agent because they overspent on Joe.
It was a tough choice, and I wasn’t sure there was a right answer then. Still not sure.
wcj
March 23rd, 2011
2:22 pm
Mark, The Hawks are going have to make changes after the season is over. Who do you feel is more likely to be moved?
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2011
2:23 pm
I’d say Josh Smith, wcj.
Dee
March 23rd, 2011
2:27 pm
WHERE YOUR PRIDE, HAWKS!?! God, I hate the Atlanta Spirit Group. Please someone buy the team from these idiots.
joey
March 23rd, 2011
2:46 pm
56+5
JJ acts like a va-jay-jay
March 23rd, 2011
3:28 pm
@chill
dead on with the development of josh smith. truth is, he hasnt. he is the same malcontent player with tons of athleticism but no smarts on the court. think about it………….where has he improved since his rookie year? im still waiting…………………
HeelsFan
March 23rd, 2011
3:45 pm
Coach Drew should be ok with his team quitting. Isn’t that what his son did with his approval?
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
4:06 pm
Bravo
March 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
“Can you imagine Arthur Blank doing/saying nothing as his boys give these kind of performances over and over again?”
Did you forget 2003? Arthur sitting in sky box crying, sending open letters to the NFL apologizing for the team laying down on National TV… Well, somethings never change!
JSS
March 23rd, 2011
4:10 pm
The Hawks have no luck, when they were the team in history, they can’t even win the Draft lottery! A Hawk GM with a choice is a dangerous thing!
Coolio
March 23rd, 2011
4:20 pm
Mike Bibby couldnt have did worst than Hinrich last night.Damn why do everyone hate on him so much?Obviously he ran this team good and now they don’t have a vocal player on the damn court and thats a good thing.Bibby could give you what Hinrich gives you on offense which is 10 points so wtf is everyone hating.Yeah he slowed down but he still shoots like no ones business.He is a top 10 3 point shooter and he sucks?Really?Because his Defense sucks,you degrate him as a bad player but damn the other day he went 5 for 5 from 3 point for Miami off the bench.But Joke Johnson is making Lebron money and cannot do nothing Lebron does.He can’t come down and pull up u know y because he wants to hold the ball.And everyone talks about Smoove but don’t point out HORFORD inability to Block shots or come up on help defense.Damn don’t degrate 1 player degrate them all
bill
March 23rd, 2011
4:25 pm
heck, he thought his son was better than Kendall Marshall–that proves the guys is either an idiot or in over his head. Maybe he’ll quit mid season–it does run in the family!
J.J.M.
March 23rd, 2011
4:38 pm
If im josh I would want to leave this team. Josh would be perfect for the knicks or thunder
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
4:54 pm
“I don’t understand how u can contradict yourself and, I guess, not realize it. You stated to MB, correctly, about Smoove that athleticism doesn’t equal ball skills but then you say that you wouldn’t trade him. ”
First of all, I was responding to Bradley’s contention that Smoove is one of the most talented players in the league. He’s far from it, but that doesn’t mean he has no talent either.
Secondly, my post was meant to illustrate what I would do if given the chance to rebuild the Hawks. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t envision alternate scenarios in which Smoove would get traded. I would prefer to deal Smoove for a player or players who have his level of impact on a game, as opposed to simply dumping him for the sake of dumping him like some want to do.
joey
March 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
the problem is joe. he has the talent to be a top 10 player but he is to passive,and he has no killer instincts, he needs to take the team on his shoulders and carry them like he did in 2007 against boston if he does that the hawks have the talent to contend but the problems is he lacks killer instinct that d rose d wade l james, k bryant have, when he starts becoming more aggresive this team the hawks will drastically become better
joey
March 23rd, 2011
5:03 pm
12
joey
March 23rd, 2011
5:09 pm
??
RustyDanielson
March 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
Of course the Hawks QUIT ON DREW. They should. The Hawks players are not stupid. They know the history of the NBA. The Hawks players realize there is a future hall of fame coach available who is unemployed and they decided collectively to QUIT ON DREW so that the powers that be upstairs will set their navigation systems on finding JERRY SLOAN. Sloan is arguably the greatest coach in the history of the NBA. Sloan has no peers and there is no coach better than him. Sloan had the privilege of coaching TWO HALL OF FAMERS Karl Malone and John Stockton who were among the best to play ever at their respective positions. The Hawks players KNOW THIS AND THEY ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT WAITING FOR SLOAN TO COME AND RESCUE THEIR SEASON. Trust me; the Hawks players want Jerry Sloan as their next head coach. Hopefully Sloan will be interviewing soon for the Hawks upcoming vacancy. Should Drew lose a few more games by 50 points Drew will be shortly in the unemployment line.
GW
March 23rd, 2011
5:14 pm
Seems like they played better with Teague in the starting lineup and Marvin coming off the bench. Drew seems clueless going back to the old lineup. How is Teague ever going to get better by not playing? Marvin is worthless and has had too many opportunities and just needs to ride the pine.
dub366
March 23rd, 2011
5:16 pm
You can say whatever you want, this is not Larry Drew’s fault. These players are getting paid a lot of money to play this game; if they want to continue to go out and play like they are doing, this is total embarrassing. A lot of this is Joe Johnson’s fault. He is supposed to be your leader and he is no where close to being one. The Hawks have wasted money on this contract. The team has not quit on Larry Drew, they just don’t have a clue on what they are doing out there. Someone needs to tell Josh to get his butt in the paint. Al is the only player who plays within his game. You can say what you want about Marvin, at least he tries. The court is still out on Hinrich. Joe needs to start earning his money, Teague needs more playing time; the rest is up for grabs.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 23rd, 2011
5:26 pm
STAR-TIME Drive Thru Theatre
(No Shirt and Shoes Required)
$5.99 per person (kids under 8 FREE)
__________________
Please select your feature film from the Movie Menu below:
The Titanic (Atlanta Spirit Group) crowd scenes: The Fans
Dumb an Dumber (Starring: Larry Drew & Rick Sund)
Training Day (Starring: Jeff Teague)
Mrs. Doubtfire (Starring: Josh Smith)
Disappearing Act (Starring: Marvin Williams)
Daddy Daycare (Starring: Mike Woodson & Josh Smith)
Money Train (Starring: Joe Johnson)
Jerry McGuire (Starring: Jamal Crawford)
Ghost (Starring: Marvin Gaye Williams & Co-Star: Joe Johnson)
Madea Goes To Jail (Starring: Josh Powell)
Eight Mile Road (Starring: kirk Hinrich)
Twins (Starring: Jason Collins & Co-Stars: Danny Devito &
Arnold Schwarzenaeger)
Free Willy (Starring: Jordan Crawford)
Coming To America (Starring: Pape Sy)
Thelma & Louise (Starring: Lester Connor & Jonathan Bender)
Malcolm X (Starring: Etan Thomas)
The Alien (Starring: Tyrone Hill)
Pet Cemetery (Starring: Nick Van Exel)
Ground Hog Day (The Play Offs: Coming Soon!)
________________________
That’s My Hawks!
joey
March 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
21again,the problem is joe. he has the talent to be a top 10 player but he is to passive,and he has no killer instincts, he needs to take the team on his shoulders and carry them like he did in 2007 against boston if he does that the hawks have the talent to contend but the problems is he lacks killer instinct that d rose d wade l james, k bryant have, when he starts becoming more aggresive this team the hawks will drastically become better
mmixon
March 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
Mark … I think it’s the front office period. And it STARTED with hiring Larry Drew. Here are the moves they’ve made:
- Thibobeau and Drew available … they Hired Drew
- Joe Johnson made a feeble threat to leave, they max him out when 5 million people in Atlanta knew that was a bad idea
- Derron Williams was on the trading block and they either didn’t know it, or didn’t want to do what it took to get him here. (obviously Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, Jeff Teague, and a couple of draft picks would have done the job)
- They let Josh Smith test the market to gain his worth … they didn’t do the same.
- They didn’t resign or trade Jamal Crawford … now he’s unhappy and playing like it.
The FRONT OFFICE needs to be blown up. Their inept ability to run the franchise has trickled down. Starting with ownership.
The U
March 23rd, 2011
5:42 pm
Quitting is a character issue of the individual. If the players have quit it’s on them and not the coach. Obviously the Bulls are better than Atlanta this year, are they that much better who knows. Chris Webber made a statement about the teams management saying “insanity is doing the same thing over and again and expecting different results”. Couldn’t agree more with him.
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
5:48 pm
@Coolio-You are 100% right about Bibby. Everyone was so glad to see him gone. And Im saying to myself what did he do so bad. He ran a team for the last three years that did well. We lost in the second round two years in a row. Now it may be ten years before we make the playoffs again. (after this year) Now they want to see LD gone. These cry babies need to give the man a chance. He is a new coach and it may take him a minute to feel his way through this thing.
Joehawk
March 23rd, 2011
6:12 pm
I really think it’s time to cut bait with Josh “I love to shoot the long jumpshot” Smith and Marvin “bust as a 1st round draft pick” Williams. Josh doesn’t learn and Marvin is just not that good. Josh is best when he plays the inside game but he continues to hang back and hoist up the bombs. Marvin on the other hand (who was billed as another “Nique”) just doesn’t have the moves to the basket. He’s too awkward and as one fan pointed out “walks like a gas station attendant”. Both looked like crap last night against the Bulls.
cdog
March 23rd, 2011
6:19 pm
you reap what you sow.rick sund and management was wrong for firing mike woodson.now its coming back to bite them now.serve them right.too much underhand things was done to woodson now GOD is punishing them for doing woodson wrong.until sund is gone from the organization, the franchise will suffer.look for another drubbing tonight at the hands of the 76ers
Alex
March 23rd, 2011
6:20 pm
Joe’s nickname is now Vanishman , Josh’s is brick mason, and Marvin’s is Ghostman.
Long story short…blow the team up. Build around a future hall of famer( Al H.). I get so tired of media people saying that fans in the A are sorry. This coming from a lot of people who live in cities that have multiple All-stars, playoff births, championships, and do go through embrassing blowouts like only we see on the norm. People rally athletes that have pride and are tough.
JIm
March 23rd, 2011
6:48 pm
The problem obviously is the owners of the team. They hired the cheapest coach. If you don’t have the funds to hire a quality NBA coach, get out of the business.
windu
March 23rd, 2011
7:02 pm
“If the team stops listening to the coach, they will play bvery poorly.”
The premise of this article is a non sequitur.
” A helper of the coach you fired is probably not better than the coach you fired.” Now that’s a premise.
Put Me In Coach
March 23rd, 2011
7:35 pm
Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!Play Jeff Teague!!!
nono
March 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
Hawks 4 Life how do you know the players did not like Woody, did they tell you NO you just running off at the mouth.
Blake
March 23rd, 2011
11:26 pm
This team stunk before Hinrich…this team sucks and their pathetic!
Mike Woodson
March 24th, 2011
8:27 am
FIRE LARRY Drew
jeremy
March 24th, 2011
10:11 am
why in the WORLD is coach drew not starting OR EVEN PLAYING teague. it makes absolutely no sense. can you give us fans some insight as to what is up with coach and his lack of use of the super speedy and lightning fast assist/block machine jeff teague?
David
March 24th, 2011
11:25 am
The Hawks are the perfect example of how not to run an organization and how to get players who quit halfway through the season. I have always been a die hard hawks fan but watching them this year makes me sick to my stomach. The only player who we should keep is Horford. Get rid of everyone else including personnel. It’s sad to think were we might be if we had drafted Chris Paul or Deron Williams. What could of been. Thank God for the Braves
June
March 24th, 2011
12:22 pm
One again the regular season is winding down and Larry Drews philosophy is to work on the things that are difficult …If you are watching the games you clearly see the Hawks are either winning or right in every game early..They won just enough games to make the playoffs ..They are not trying to get hurt b4 the playoffs …I put $$$ they bump Orlando in round one and maybe even get out of round 2…They are in a great position next year with Being able 2 sign a couple of decent centers and the ability to deal Josh Smith ..They will never win the championship …Small Market NBA teams don’t win Championships it’s the politricks of sports but best know the Hawks are a top 5 Team as long as they Have Joe and Al
big o
March 24th, 2011
1:37 pm
Great article MB !!! I think you are right on point. I have said the same thing from the begining. We need a new direction. We should not panic and blow up this team. We need to do whatever it takes to bring D. Howard home. He will come !!! I would give up our 1st and 2nd pick for the next three years. If you put Dewight on this team and move marvin to bench put Josh at the 3 and resign Jamal and get a tough coach maybe Larry Brown we win the title.
eddie mcdonald
March 24th, 2011
3:38 pm
how about alot of this started when larry Sr. encouraged his son to quit on the tarheel basketball team with no explaination whatsoever. Sr. even made the phone call himself to protect his immature son. Hard to respect someone with such little respect for other professionals.
E
March 24th, 2011
4:03 pm
When you are sorry you can’t quit on the coach. Even Phil Jackson nor Dr. Phil could help those so call pro-basketball players. They look just like the same team to me and again they will be out of the playoffs in the first round. I have not seen so many teams that sorry in once city like Atlanta… WOW!
sam'l
March 25th, 2011
1:47 pm
Most of the stuff you said is obvious Mark…..what I would like from someone who has the resources and the backing of the major newspaper in the South is to find out who is trying to buy the team and whether they will move it within two years..
The players are lost…..they refuse to play together in organized fashion. Then, they say nonsensical things after the game. They are a gigantic part of the problem.
Fire Drew now. (Unfortunate but necessary).. Bring in a highly paid genius (and none of the names I see make any sense either, Mark Jackson yuck, Christ I’d take don nelson in this situation). Spend the last ten games or so experimenting…..seed makes no difference. or plan to face the top seed and come up with a game plan and practice against that team.
Use the remaining games to perfect a scheme.
Mr. Bradley…who is buying this team? Put out your operatives and bring us some news. .
Thanks.
BB Genie
March 25th, 2011
4:04 pm
Damm! Hawks Fans HDI!!!!! Hurt Don’t It????? I’m Burning my Hawks Flag Tonight. I’m Officially Quitting on the Hawks like they Quit on us. Go Bulls!!!!!!!!!!
BB Genie
March 25th, 2011
4:10 pm
I’m Officially Quitting on the Hawks. Like they quit on US!!!! I’m Burning my Hawks Flag Tonight!!!! HDI!!!!!!! Hurt Don’t It!! Stop the pain NOW.. Burn your Hawks Gear!!!!!
RB
March 26th, 2011
9:20 am
I would blast this team but the bloggers have done a good job of it. I’ll just say, DITTO!!!!!!
RB
March 26th, 2011
9:29 am
I Just saw a guy being arrested for stealing donation jars for homeless cats. He was wearing a Hawks sweatshirt!! That news story says it all!!
ClownStephenson
March 28th, 2011
5:20 pm
The only thing I can say about the Hawks is WATCH OUT! I know the Hawks players are excited about the prospects of having another 50-win season should the Hawks round out the season by winning the last 8 games. Its doubtful, but the biggest problem of running the table in the last 8 games is that it is a murderous row of games coming up with Orlando, San Antonio, Boston and Miami. I doubt seriously that the Hawks can run through those four teams undefeated. If the Hawks finish the season 50-32, it will be an incredible job and I know the fans will be proud of them despite if they get kicked out of the playoffs in the first round. MY HAT IS OFF TO ANY TEAM THAT CAN GO THROUGH, BOSTON, SAN ANTONE, ORLANDO AND MIAMI UNSCATHED AND UNDEFEATED. THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE FOUR BEST TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE. Good luck Hawks as you get plastered again.