An appreciation of the greatness that is the Atlanta Hawks
You could read this post. Or you could just admire Curtis Compton's photo, which says it all.
Michael Gearon Jr., one of the Hawks’ many charming owners, believes that print media folks in this town have failed to appreciate the splendor that is his remarkable organization. And I must confess that the achievements of this special team sometimes have had a numbing effect on this jaded correspondent. So here’s where I pay homage and bestow overdue superlatives.
• The Hawks are the greatest team ever to have drafted so badly. In my glass-half-empty moments, I wonder, “Why aren’t the Hawks any better?” With age and perspective, however, I realize I should have seen said glass as more than half-full. Positively brimming, truth to tell.
From 2004 through 2007, the Hawks had five lottery picks. They whiffed on four. They took Josh Childress instead of Luol Deng/Andre Iguodala in 2004; Marvin Williams instead of Chris Paul/Deron Williams in 2005; Shelden Williams instead of Brandon Roy/Rudy Gay in 2006, and Acie Law IV instead of Thaddeus Young/Rodney Stuckey in 2007. The only one they got right was Al Horford, also in 2007.
They batted .200 on the picks that are supposed to make or break an organization — and they not only became a winning team but have remained one. Amazing!
• They’re also the greatest team ever to have negotiated so many onerous contracts. We’re not talking Jon Koncak ancient history. In the 21st Century, the Hawks bestowed $25 million over four years on Speedy Claxton, who worked 44 games, and re-upped Marvin Williams for $37 million over five seasons at a time when nobody else in the NBA seemed to think he was more than just another guy. (On cue, seize-the-day Marvin took the money and saw his stats descend to utter mediocrity.)
But the capper, as we know, was spending $120 million to keep Joe Johnson, which made some measure of sense in that he was their leading scorer. Being the Hawks, they managed to work this windfall contract at cross-purposes. They overspent to keep the guy whom new coach Larry Drew — who wasn’t really new, having been Mike Woodson’s assistant for six seasons — had declared he wanted to de-emphasize. Sure enough, Johnson saw his bank account swell at the same time his on-court numbers declined across the board.
The effect has left the Hawks with no wiggle room under the cap, which is just another example of their tough-love corporate strategy. Cap space is for wimps!
• They’re the greatest team ever to get blown out on such a consistent basis. Gearon Jr. makes the point that only three NBA clubs — the Lakers, the Celtics and guess who — have reached Round 2 of the NBA playoffs over the past three seasons. Obscured by the glare of this awesome achievement is this factoid: The Hawks’ record in Round 2 games those three seasons was 2-12, and not one of those 12 losses came by fewer than 10 points. (Isn’t the NBA supposed to come down to the last shot? Never mind.)
In those 14 Round 2 games, the Hawks’ average margin of defeat is 15.3 points. Kobe and K.G. can’t touch that!
Because they’re such good sports, the Hawks don’t save all their collapses until late spring. They offer them up during the winter, too! Last season they managed five home losses by at least 20 points. Over the 10-day span that ended with the 20-point flop against Miami on Sunday, they lost four home games and trailed by 20 in each (and by 30 in the first and last).
Drew expressed disappointment after the Miami game that his players grew so dispirited so early, but can you blame them? For the Hawks, this is standard operating procedure: Win a few games and get people interested, then face a test on national TV and spit the bit. Nobody in the crowd seemed one bit surprised. Nobody even bothered to boo.
But here’s the thing: By rights, these Hawks should never have been good enough to get anyone to care at all. They’ve been mismanaged almost every step of the way, and still they keep breaking .500 and showing up in Round 2. And that prompts this final superlative:
• The Hawks are the greatest team ever to have been subjected to such amateurish oversight.
The way I see it, anybody can draft good players and work the salary cap and win a slew of games. Only real men of genius could get it so wrong and still have it come out half-right. Full credit to this intrepid organization for showing us how it’s half-done.
By Mark Bradley
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273 comments Add your comment
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:24 am
mark
I don’t work for Gearon, but I can tell you this. I just don’t like to see favoritism in criticism because you don’t like the bosses. Your comment proves my point. He’s not playing on the court, yet you attacking him. 14 division titles w/ 1 World Series ring having these players: Justice Sheffield, Pendleton, Gant, Nixon, Maddux, Smoltz, Lopez, C.Jones, Glavine, Lemke, Avery,McGriff etc.. Top of the line from top to bottom. Way more talent than Joe, Josh, and Al.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:32 am
When the Braves had their Big 3 (pitchers) and the FAlcons had Primetime and the dirty Bird, noone griped about how all they ever was were a dancing team or a team that’s only good for making the playoffs. In fact, this team wasn’t even livid at the 1998 Falcons squad that went to the Superbowl and partied with strippers and prostitutes, but you guys remember the DRAFT picks, hunh? I despise likeability contest in criticism. Be fair in your critiques
Glenn
February 13th, 2012
11:34 am
You have to be able to call a spade a spade . The some of the contracts are very suspect …REALLY suspect if you don’t have any desire to go into the luxury tax . Thats the kicker . As far as the draft debacles , that seems to fall on Billy Knight .
Drunkinmoron1
February 13th, 2012
11:35 am
@tchapman86 Just give up your point is invalid, your comparing apples and oranges, but I’ll give you an A for effort and passion for your team
mark
February 13th, 2012
11:39 am
tchapman86
Wow for someone who doesn’t work for him you sure are getting butt hurt!! I didn’t attack Gearon at all just you!!!
Mark (another one)
February 13th, 2012
11:42 am
I moved here in 1984 and immediately adopted the local teams. The Hawks have faded from my view.
When Braves attendance dropped, they didn’t complain. They asked what they could do to get fans to return and they tried things. They also adjusted their business plan.
The Falcons have made great improvements with the new management and frankly, the owner isn’t willing to sit still.
I prefer UGA, but neither UGA or Tech are willing to settle for occasionally competing for a conference title. Both have changed defensive coordinators and schemes in an attempt to get better.
The Hawks aren’t progressing. The ownership is a joke, and the NBA as a whole as ceded basketball to the colleges. There is very little team play, especially on offense. The Hawks are tied to long term contracts that will weigh them down for a long time.
Watch an NFL team work its salary cap. Most salaries are no guaranteed. The NBA needs to get out of the guarantee business and start paying for performance, and cutting those that don’t. As long as they continue to pay guys that go through the motions, this fan will find somewhere else to use his entertainment dollar like UGA Gymnastics. Those girls compete and they do it hurt.
The Hawks
mark
February 13th, 2012
11:43 am
But they were entertaining tchapman86, and that’s what you are not getting!! These Atlanta Hawks teams have not been entertaining since Wlikins and Rivers left. We as fans are tired of the mediocrity is what this is all about!!
The Grinch
February 13th, 2012
11:44 am
Mark, why use just recent history? You must include the previous decade to fully appreciate the brilliance of the Hawks at draft time:
1991 – Stacey Augmon (9th)
1992 – Adam Keefe (10th)
1993 – Doug Edawrds (15th)
1994 – Galon Nickerson (31st)
1995 – Alan Henderson (16th)
1996 – Priest Lauderdale (28th)
1997 – Ed Gray (22nd)
1998 – Roshown McLeoad (20th)
1999 – Jason Terry (10th)
2000 – DerMarr Johnson (6th)
I’m sure their trading cards have appreciated nicely in value over time….
NOW YOU SEE EM NOW THE BURNT OFF
February 13th, 2012
11:45 am
I think the highpoint of the franchise was when Mike Woodson SHAVED OFF HIS EYEBROWS
DePort
February 13th, 2012
11:49 am
Funny… and to think .. the Hawks are the only major sports team in Atlanta to have made it out of the first round in the last 10 years ….
mark
February 13th, 2012
11:49 am
Grinch
I love the sarcasm man!!! You just proved our point with some humor mixed in… Love it..
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:50 am
Drunkinmoron1
*mute* you alone b/c of your name
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:52 am
Mark (another one)
You’re typing with blinders on. Take your “fan” glasses off and dig deep for the truth. What you’re tryping is really far from it when you say the other teams have taken a step towards progress.
Gwinnett Fred
February 13th, 2012
11:53 am
Yea, but you aren’t giving them credit for such fantastic free agent signings like…… Mutumbo!
Hey – one every 15 years ain’t so bad!
STRETCH
February 13th, 2012
11:54 am
I dont feel so bad after looking at this:
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks
2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers
2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers
2007-08 Boston Celtics
2006-07 San Antonio Spurs
2005-06 Miami Heat
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs
2003-04 Detroit Pistons
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs
1997-98 Chicago Bulls
1996-97 Chicago Bulls
1995-96 Chicago Bulls
1994-95 Houston Rockets
1993-94 Houston Rockets
1992-93 Chicago Bulls
1991-92 Chicago Bulls
1990-91 Chicago Bulls
1989-90 Detroit
1988-89 Detroit
1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86 Boston Celtics
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers
1983-84 Boston Celtics
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers
1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers
1980-81 Boston Celtics
1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers
What that tells me is, not many other teams have had a chance to win the title over the past 30 years.
Glenn
February 13th, 2012
11:55 am
tchapman86
Some of those contracts are silly . Especially JJ’s . What makes it so bad is ownership isn’t willing to go over the luxury tax . That combination of not spending responsibly and being on a budget is a killer. Look at how much Dallas and Miami paid in luxury tax last year ? If you are not will to overspend you had better me smart with your coin . As far as draft picks , that seems to fall on Billy Knight . Gees, Pete Babcock was horrible as well .
Jose
February 13th, 2012
11:56 am
One can tell the type of ownership/leadership by just observing the players. What about the fact that we gave Joe 70 million, never got anywhere, then made it 120 Million and expected to get somewhere. I remember the old saying, “As the leading(leader) cow goes, so goes the flock(followers). As other teams in the East improved, we looked around for left overs. Was our coach the best available?? May be the cheapest available.
Hawks suprise us when they win because even the owners do not expect much from them. We have defended our Hawks for many years. It’s not enough to go to the second round!!! We want to win it all. But the owners have to want it first. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:56 am
Hawks never drafted” your ideal” picks but the Braves and Falcons had the ideal players and got what? 1 ring between the 2 and a “few” playoffs and dance moves out of it. Okay, you guys are very biased. I know you love you Matty Ice and Chipper Jones. Probably blame them less than Roddy White and Jason Heyward just because…..Chipper is locking up salary that could go to the futire. Matty Ice can’t locate the 1st down marker to throw or run to it. Can’t throw deep balls. Can’t win a playoff game and he’s been here how long???
mark
February 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Ok I gotta get back to the reality of Afghanistan. Gotta a patrol to do. It was nice debating and reading all your opinions. tchapman86, no hard feelings man, it’s just sports. Take care all.
rollo lawson
February 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Davenpoop is 100% correct. You only right Hawks articles when they have a bad loss. When they whipped the Heat in Miami. Nobody heard a peep out of you. You rag on Joe Johson and Josh, but you never criticize the Golden Boy Matt Ryan for his lack of play making ability. Why is that? Always ignoring the pink elephant in the room when it comes to what really ails the Falcons. You give him two stud receivers, a HOF TE, and a 1300 yard running back and we get 2 points from James Sanders in the playoff. Where they do that at? The drafting of Marvin Williams over Chris Paul has set this franchise back. Nothing more, nothing less.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Thanks Stretch for pointing out the obvious truth…
Drunkinmoron1
February 13th, 2012
11:57 am
@tchapman86 Do you go to Hawks games??
rollo lawson
February 13th, 2012
11:58 am
I meant “write” not “right”.
Mick
February 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
Good article Mark. I’m a big NBA fan but I made a decision several years ago not to attend any more games until the ASG sells this team. I haven’t attended a game since the Hawks beat Boston here in game 6. The ASG are defintely among the dumbest owners in pro sports history. I refuse to spend my money watching this crap.
rob
February 13th, 2012
12:03 pm
Mark forgot about the albotross Alan Henderson contact too. Billy Knight set us back with his “Forward” thinking and drafting.
Gwinnett Fred
February 13th, 2012
12:04 pm
Grinch:
Nice list, but you went back one year too far. Stacey “The Plastic Man” Augmon was actually pretty good and was a serious ROY candidate (13p/5reb/3ast a game). Additionally rare, in a 15 year career, his 5 with the Hawks were easily the best of his career.
My favorite 1st round bust is Keith Edmonson. 10th overall pick in 1982, he held out, then sucked, then went on to an illustrius 87 game NBA career! Of course the next pick @ #11 was Fat Lever, who only went on to be a 2 time AllStar PG (the Hawks seems to always pass on point guards, don’t they?)
Reggie Ball
February 13th, 2012
12:06 pm
@tchapman86 just say what you realy feel that anytime a white guy criticizes a black guy its racist.I.E your Matty ice, Roddy White/ Chipper, Heyward comment
Mike
February 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
HAHAHA, great column, Mark! This sums it up perfectly. This team may be making the playoffs, but they in no way resemble the teams of the 80’s and 90’s. Those teams were more well-rounded and far better coached than the teams of the past several years. There is only one reason the Hawks are making it to the second round of the playoffs – they play in the Eastern conference where a couple of teams seem to make the playoffs every year without a winning record. Put them in the West, and I dont think they make the playoffs.
John
February 13th, 2012
12:09 pm
The Hawks were embarassing last night, but Bradley’s two articles, though possibly accurate, are extremely annoying. There are never any positive articles about a team that, though they can be maddening, is as good as the other two teams in town. Honestly barring a hot pitching streak by the Braves, I think the Hawks are as close to a championship as the Braves or Falcons. The truth is none are that close, but for some reason the Hawks get ripped while the others get a pass for the most part.
STRETCH
February 13th, 2012
12:11 pm
And the way things are going its looking more and more like the next 5 to 10 years will belong to the Heat, Thunder and Clippers.
Angus
February 13th, 2012
12:12 pm
Odds on Falcons winning 2013 Superbowl: 18-1 (12th best)
Odds on Braves winning 2012 World Series: 22-1 (11th)
Odds on Hawks winning 2012 NBA championship: 60-1 (tied 13th)
I included the rankings to illustrate a big time problem that the NBA has – very few teams actually have a shot a title.
Jim 70
February 13th, 2012
12:15 pm
A hawk fan (gatech alum) I live near the Washington dc area, and it’s organization, if you can call it that, definitely gives the hawks a run for their money with their draft picks, trades, and salary offerings.
Rufus1
February 13th, 2012
12:16 pm
“What that tells me is, not many other teams have had a chance to win the title over the past 30 years.”-STRETCH
Co-sign….That makes too much sense for some ppl to understand. Maybe the Hawks weren’t broken, maybe it was the NBA…When 9 teams win a title over a 30yr period.
Braves- Go to the playoffs for 15 straight years and 1 Title(With the best team 8 of the 15 years) …The Hawks still have a couple of year of tryng before they become the Braves and the Falcons have to win a playoffs game before Blank can look eye-to-eye with GEARSON.
NekiEcko
February 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
@tchapman86
I got a 3 questions for you, and be honest because you might learn something today.
1. Do you think that the Hawks will get to ECF without one of the best players in the NBA right now?
2. Even if Al was back, do you think they will get better in a short season like this?
3. Do you think with the lack of funds and cap space, you think that the Hawks will have what it takes to get better out there?
The roster is very flawed, even know that they are above .500, most of those wins comes from teams that is playing for the lottery this year and teams that had back to back games. That doesnt excuse them of being beat so badly, every loss this year except for 2 of them was over 10 points and higher.
Changes need to happen if they want to go far, hoping that JJ or Josh gets on fire and scoring alot isnt always the sure thing.
Rufus1
February 13th, 2012
12:27 pm
Mchale and West changed the landscape of the NBA…
By giving their former teams FRANCHISE changing players for GARBAGE
For 30yrs the NBA had legalized cheating and some how the Hawks are the bad guys… Tryng to win against a stacked deck…
This is the 1st year the NBA a may act like a real sports league and not a farm system for the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and Knicks.
Heisenberg
February 13th, 2012
12:27 pm
If Hawks would have taken Chris Paul or Deron Williams in 2005 instead of Marvin Williams, then this year they could have resembled New Orleans or Utah depending on how management handled pending free agency of soon-to-be departed point guard. My guess with this management team is New Orleans.
LT
February 13th, 2012
12:31 pm
“Years of mismanagement is the reason why ATL gets a bad rap as a sports town”
I have been saying this for a while. They need a caring Coach and caring Management. LD rarely gets at the refs! Last night is one of those nights where he should have been all over the refs.
Brandon
February 13th, 2012
12:31 pm
Great article Mark. Still, the most amazing point about the article is that Michael Gearon, Jr. ACTUALLY believes that his organization is great and that the Hawks are underappreciated. This is the same organization that LOST a franchise in a sport for the 2nd time, with underappreciated ineptitude–not only did they not locate a stadium outside of downtown Atlanta for hockey, but they kept a guy (Don Waddell) in place despite his inability to grasp the importance of defensemen and goaltending to winning hockey games, never mind that the Thrashers never won a SINGLE playoff game in their existence. Then, the team is lost to Winnipeg, Manitoba of all places. IMHO, this incompetency is underappreciated. As for the Hawks, drafting Marvin Williams over Deron Williams and CP3 takes the cake, but I will say this–I was at the Hawks draft party that night and I swear the fans went nuts and LOVED the pick–check the tape. They cheered wildly. The fans loved the supposed “athleticism” of Marvin and Billy Knight and brass had convinced the sheep…er…I mean the majority of Hawks fans that “long” was the way to win, just like the Pistons. So, it’s a combo–yes, management is horrible, but many of the fans of ATL sports–all teams–check their sports IQ at the door. Dumb management + dumb fans = ATL’s status as a bottom 3 sports town along with Seattle and Cleveland based on # of teams, potential resources, and blown opportunities when nearing the trophy. These are the bottom 3.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
12:33 pm
Rufus1 is spot on: “This is the 1st year the NBA a may act like a real sports league and not a farm system for the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and Knicks.”
hawker
February 13th, 2012
12:33 pm
puker up and stick that nose in a little deeper.
Hollywould
February 13th, 2012
12:38 pm
This play said it all. Josh took the ball out of bounds after a made shot and just dropped the ball toward Teague who was 15 feet away. You could see the disgust on Teague’s face and body language as he had to go back and get the ball..
This came after Teague said something to Smith after they blew the defense on a 3 on 2 in the first quarter and Teague said something again at the T.O. and Smith waved him off.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
12:38 pm
Reggie Ball You brought race into it.. I didn’t. I was point out how we’ve deflected the blame away from the ;eaders of the Braves and Falcons and blame other players for their lack of leadership, but are wuick to blamc Joe and Al. That’s a fact. All season is was about Roddy dropping passes, but he didn’t thros those passes to himself or Heyward’s thumb injury, but not Chipper’s injury that had him out of the lineup alot last year… Those are facts…If it points to race then blame yourself.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
12:40 pm
Improved response:
Reggie Ball You brought race into it.. I didn’t. I was pointing out how we’ve deflected the blame away from the leaders of the Braves and Falcons only to blame other players for their lack of leadership, We’re quick to blame Joe and Josh. That’s a fact. All season long, fans were talking about Roddy dropping passes, but he didn’t throw those passes to himself. We heard about Heyward’s thumb injury and wanted to trade him, but not Chipper’s injury that had him out of the lineup a lot last year… Those are facts…If it points to race then blame yourself.
WhoCares?
February 13th, 2012
12:41 pm
Wow, what a boatload of excuses for this sad-a** franchise. most of the players are serious about their game, no doubt, but management has proved inept and incapable time after time after time. This team is playing about as well as we might expect; it is not a championship team, nor is there evidence that management aims for that. The Hawks will remain a “farm team” until there are better funded, more knowledgeable people running the franchise.
Section 303
February 13th, 2012
12:42 pm
Mark, you will just bash the Hawks at every turn, regardless of what they do.
You rip them for re-signing Joe Johnson, but would have ripped them for letting him walk (I know there would have been plenty of “See the Hawks can’t keep their stars” articles by Mark Bradley). You praise Otis Smith for blowing up the Magic, but you would rip the Hawks nonstop had they tried the same move and had it totally fail. Meanwhile, you never give the Braves or Falcons any grief, despite their continued postseason debacles.
You clearly have something against the Hawks. You either are just out to get the ASG or you just don’t like basketball. But, the fact that you never have a positive word to write makes you very transparent.
Can’t wait to read your columns stroking the Braves and pumping them up as a World Series team (if that sounds familiar, you wrote that all of last season). Soon, you will be able to stroke the Falcons and their great GM that has never won a postseason game.
I have never seen a writer rooting against a hometown team as much as you do. You literally want them to lose. If they broke through and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, it would make you looks so bad that you would have to write an apology.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
Scoring 2 points in a playoff ( Falcons) / messing up the 1998 Superbowl chance to party with strippers is worse than any move the Hawks have made, but it doesn’t get the criticism that the Hawks get. I just ask for fairness and honesty.
mountain_jim
February 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
great column – and what is the great Billy Knight doing these days? Still spending Hawks money for such a crappy draft record?
It’s not just the lottery picks that the fans here, at Hawkssquawk, and elsewhere would have drafted much better – some great 2nd rounders were identified as the right picks from these sources, such as Monta Ellis, who was available while Knight picked Salim Stoudamire. So 2005 was bad in both rounds – a killer really.
Rufus1
February 13th, 2012
12:45 pm
How many TITLES for Paul and DWill?
PPl act like Paul and DWill have won a TITLE….Life doesn’t happen in a Vacuum or NBA2K….With a different team and minus Woody’s coaching, we maybe wishing for Marvin…Because Woody did such a WONDERFUL job developing PG’s when he was our coach.
Al
February 13th, 2012
12:50 pm
People act like the Falcons and Braves are performing will.. How many penant races have the Braves been to with the star caliber players they’ve had? How many rings do they have to show for it? 1. They undeperformed in a major way. People overlooked that b/c they liked Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. Same with the 2 point Falcons. They have yet to even win a playoff game with Arthur Blank as an owner. the Hawks advanced to the second round. They finally beat Orlando, but as the season change so do the teams. Before Hawks were beating the Heat, Knicks, and Celtics. They just have to go back to the drawing board. BUT WHAT DO PEOPLE EXPECT IN A 66 GAMES SEASON WHERE YOU HAVE LESS TIME TO PREPARE?? You guys act like rings are won in the regular season… whiny people
Hey tchapman86. Was Arthur Blank not the owner in 2002 when the Falcons beat the Packers in Lambeau and how about 2004 when the Falcons beat the Rams in the playoffs?
flagboy?
February 13th, 2012
12:51 pm
tchapman – The Braves have made it to a World Series. The Falcons have made it to the Super Bowl. The Braves made an EFFORT to get better. The Falcons have recently been the one of the top teams in the NFC. Two franchises that have at least looked at what they were doing and decided what they had been doing wasn’t working. . .and changed.
The Hawks have nothing to show for the past 20 years. Nothing. And from the looks of things, are happy to stay that way for some time. It isn’t Joe Johnson’s fault he’s getting paid more than he deserves. It isn’t the players fault for the terrible drafts. . .it’s the people up top. . . and those are the people called out in this article.