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
Al
February 13th, 2012
12:53 pm
tchapman86
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
———————————————————————————————————————-
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
12:54 pm
Section 303
February 13th, 2012
12:42 pm
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.
__________________________________________
What positive word would you have about the Hawks right now?
joey1
February 13th, 2012
12:55 pm
mark bradley,
why do you only write a column about the hawks after they lose???
yes they got their butts kicked by miami( being severly shorthanded)
the hawks have done very well this year so far.
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
12:55 pm
Rufus 1 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.”
Excellent point… People want to paint the HAwks as a team that’s failing unlike other teams here and that’s not the case. I can’t point to many errrors of ALL of our teams. it’s unfortunate, the Hawks players don’t have a likeable owner where fans are willing to brush aside their mistakes.
TN Jeff
February 13th, 2012
12:57 pm
Can’t help wondering where’s this Bravado during the last decade plus of underachieving, poorly managed Braves baseball?
B
February 13th, 2012
12:59 pm
I think you should have mentioned the Hawks give you such fertile writing material. Another great article, you are one of the best sports writers around.
Josh Smith for 3
February 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
Just hearing the names Josh Childress and Marvin Williams makes me upset
GT
February 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
It is like Moneyball only they didn’t overspend for players like the Hawks did. Basketball is definitely a game played better when you are enjoying yourself. In the middle of the week heading downtown to watch pro basketball is not vogue anymore. Half empty area with half of that pulling for the opponent. The thrill of having a pro basketball team has left the building. I can’t watch a whole game even on television, boring stuff. I was there the night Nique went against Bird, had floor seats. You could feel the floor vibrating it was so loud. This stuff today is like wrestling, it even looks fake, boring athletes. Give me that Duke, North Carolina game for excitement and I didn’t even have a dog in the hunt.
ZACK
February 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
GREAT STORY MARK! WATCHED SOME OF THAT CRAP LAST NIGHT AND COULD NOT HELP BUT FEEL PISSED AT ANOTHER ATLANTA TEAM GETTING WHIPPED ON NATIONAL TV BY A QUALITY TEAM! SO SAD!!!
GT
February 13th, 2012
1:02 pm
If boring were a crime the NBA would get a life sentence. Looks fake like pro wrestling, a pain to watch even on television.
Angus
February 13th, 2012
1:02 pm
I don’t think the Hawks’ problem is being labeled “failing.” I’d go with “hopeless.”
O'Brien
February 13th, 2012
1:04 pm
Mark,
It’s much worse. After passing on CP3 in the draft, they gave big money to CP3’s backup.
We have changed coaches, we have changed GM’s, but the one constant is the ASG. They gots to go.
falCANS
February 13th, 2012
1:07 pm
Trade Horford a 2nd Rounder and Marvin too orlando for Dwight!!!
Lil Fawkers
February 13th, 2012
1:08 pm
I would love to see the Hawks leave Atlanta like the Thrashers. That way we only have Falcons and Braves to let us down each year.
Section 303
February 13th, 2012
1:09 pm
flagboy, it’s not hard….how about still in the race for a top 4 seed, despite losing Horford for the season.
I could already see Bradley go into full “apologist mode” if a similar injury struck the Falcons or Braves. The excuses would rain down from the sky.
Ernest T. Bass
February 13th, 2012
1:10 pm
I’m not sure if what tchapman is posting is English or not.
Very hard to read or understand.
No the Falcons or Braves haven’t won anymore titles than the Hawks have.
But they are better run organizations to anyone who is unbiased about the situation, and not trying to turn this into a racial thing and make it about black vs white.
Ernest T. Bass
February 13th, 2012
1:12 pm
Can’t help wondering where’s this Bravado during the last decade plus of underachieving, poorly managed Braves baseball?
Its been there. The Braves have been ripped too.
But the Braves aren’t nearly as poorly run as the Hawks.
bill
February 13th, 2012
1:17 pm
You said it, Mark!
Robert Barron
February 13th, 2012
1:21 pm
Atlanta is not a city of crummy sports fans. We are a city of smart consumers. The product has seldom deserved support. We do not believe that our owners will hire a good GM even if their lives depended upon it.
Robert Barron
February 13th, 2012
1:26 pm
Think of the Hawks competing for the championship if only we drafted Chris Paul.
And it wasn’t like he played for a west coast college.
He had a great game in AMC vs GT playing 4 Wake.
W.R. Terrell
February 13th, 2012
1:28 pm
Last week LD spoke of changes in the lineup, this week coming should be interesting. TMAC needs to start, so Marvin may as well sit. TMAC will be more productive in points and assists and just as effectively defensively as Marvin, also, he may be able to temper some of Josh Smiths craziness on the floor along with forcing Joe to move the ball because of TMACS ability to cut to the basket and continual movement. A change has to be made and may as well be now.
Moobs Johnson
February 13th, 2012
1:34 pm
It all boils down to the poor ownership for the ATL teams. Other cities can bash the fans all they want but there is too much to do in this city to continually support deadbeat owners and teams.
pointguardslim
February 13th, 2012
1:34 pm
Jeff Teague + Joe Johnson + Josh Smith +
(insert Ryan anderson, or Jon Leuer a rim finishing and spacing big with post up game)
+
(insert Tyson Chandler/Dam Dalembert a rim protecting and finishing free agent role-playing C here)
When you have an athletic Power-3, a PF/SF like Josh Smith you should exploit that. The answer is clearly a bigger guy who can stretch the floor. However Marvin Williams is not that guy, and neither is Vlad Radmanovic. You can stick a bad or small defender on him and then Josh Smith will get defended by guys he cant post up, like Chris Bosh.
Ryan Anderson is big enough to dictate matchups and was drafted 21st overall (we didnt have a pick that year) but was traded as a throw in for Rashard Lewis.
Jon Leuer is even bigger and the perfect counter to force smaller guys to defend Josh Smith and help on the boards and he is stuck on Milwaukee’s bench.
Make a trade ASG. Power Forward/Centers with 3 point range dont grow on trees. And Vlad Radmanovic has no power in his game. Soft/small forward whatever.
Marvin Williams is too soft/small to draw the tougher defenders. So just stick Mike Miller or Lebron on Marvin and let them rest and put Bosh’s length on Josh. We lose.
Look at Smith’s shooting and undersized weaknesses and then you cant have Marvin in there useless. Look at matchups against the Heat and the Lakers as well.
Get Jon Leuer ASG. YESTERDAY.
Silky
February 13th, 2012
1:36 pm
Am I the only one tired of hearing the Hawks being bashed by our own Local News. This is part of the reason why our home games seem like away games. For once lets root for the Home Team instead of picking them apart…I see why NBA stars don’t want to come here, most so-called fans(and writers) have more fun booing them than, cheering them on!
Stop the Negativity
February 13th, 2012
1:39 pm
“Mark – It’s kind of frustrating to see you write these BS stories after the Hawks had a bad game.. where were your columns when the Hawks went 4-1 on their 5 game road trip? Where was your article when they beat Miami back in January? You only focus on the negative.
It’s stories like this why Atlanta gets such a bad rap as a sports town.”
Totally agree with GSmooth here, I sometimes think its columns like these that give Atlanta a bad rep for having horrible fans. This is what Atlanta wakes up to everyday of course they are gonna have the same sentiment every time the team has a bad game. For what its worth – they are currently best sports team in Atlanta.
Chris Crawford
February 13th, 2012
1:41 pm
Silky
What wasn’t true in anything he wrote? If the truth comes off as “bashing” than so be it.
tjhook
February 13th, 2012
1:44 pm
The truth is the Atlanta Hawks roster (particularly the starting unit) needs a player who can and will provide a kick in the pants to everyone who is a starting player for the team. Crawford almost provided that because he could provide his own offense; unfortunately, that was too few times.
The Hawks need a player with championship pedigree (rings) who can dictate what are the on-the-court priorities to players (Smith, Johnson) during game action and in preparation for the next one. I have two people I want to recommend in separate trade suggestions.
1) Marvin Williams to Milwaukee for Stephen Jackson. Jackson provide us the secondary scoring option in late contests that by default seems to be an issue when Joe gets doubled. Smith does not provide the necessary scoring and he is currently seen as the 2nd option- witness the sketchy shot efforts. Jackson knows how to move without the ball and can get his own shot off. Milwaukee is prepared to let him go and he is motivated to be productive for a contender. We are the best option for him and I believe he would be the best option for the Hawks. Joe draws two defenders, Captain Jack gets an one-on-one opportunity, Zaza and JSmoove clean up.
In addition, Jackson will provide the mental toughness in games to help steady the team on the court when we are being outhustled or pushed around. He is a strong defender and vocal in a way that people respond.
2) If we play this thing out (a mistake, in my personal opinion), the Hawks should make a trade in the offseason. My target: Tony Parker of the Spurs.
San Antonio will be in rebuilding mode by then because Ginobelli and Duncan will probrably have two years at the most. The younger player will be Popovich’s focus and players like Jefferson and Parker will be seen as expendable. Only sentimentality keeps Parker in a Spurs uniform. I am suggesting we trade Horford, Marvin, and Teague for TP, Jefferson, Matt Bonner and a pick. We can debate the spare parts but we need a personality that can make Joe Johnson and Smith more effective on the court emotionally and through performance. These two players are the ones i am suggesting.
Big Crimson 75
February 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
All we had to do was draft CP3……Billy Knight was on TV after both he & Deron Williams worked out for the Hawks & he glowed about what both could bring to the NBA.
It never made any sense whatsoever. The Hawks just drafted Childress & Smooth the year before, but took Marvin Williams anyway!! on a team that had NO POINT GUARD!!!
Whopper Dawg
February 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
Really is tragic that the management can be that bad.
My current favorite is Teague, whom they thought good enough to draft but not good enough to play, and traded for an upgrade who then got hurt, and when they HAD to play Teague found out indeed he is good, maybe real good. Now that is ineptness at its finest.
Andy
February 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
You crushed them Mark but it’s the truth. They look to be on pace for another round 2 exit. Then they will possibly be the only team to make it to the second round of the playoffs in four straight years especially if the Lakes and Celtics continue to fade. Consistent mediocrity.
Big Crimson 75
February 13th, 2012
1:51 pm
All we had to do was pull the trigger on Chris Paul, or Deron Williams for that matter.
The previous year, the Hawks drafted Childress & Josh in the 1st round — but still took Marvin Williams, who played the same position, over both guards!
It never made any sense.
I know Billy loved the long, wing type players, but the Hawks @ the time needed a point guard more than any-thing.
He even said after working both players out before the draft that each would be all-star point guards in the NBA.
Drafting Paul would have changed EVERYTHING.
dawg tired
February 13th, 2012
1:52 pm
Calling the Atlanta Spirit group a bunch of brainless turds would be an insult to turds the world over.
WELP
February 13th, 2012
1:54 pm
Nothing but the truth.
Uganda Man-Woman
February 13th, 2012
1:54 pm
The Hawks managements drafts have been laughable. They needed a point guard then drafted Marvin Williams (forward) over CP3. Dumbest draft pick ever.
oldmike
February 13th, 2012
2:00 pm
I still have to believe that better coaching (or any for that matter) would have gotten this team farther along than they have gotten. Imaginative ownership migth have brought in better players. And if JJ was truly an elite player we might very well win while short roster wise. We hit the crap trifecta. Bad drafting, bad coaching, bad ownership.
beone
February 13th, 2012
2:12 pm
Bravo Mark. Wish your thoughts and the fans opinions would make a difference but sadly I suspect they will not move the ASG at all.
Gwinnett Fred
February 13th, 2012
2:18 pm
I have to agre with the folks that point out Bradley’s tendency to drill the Hawks with a negative article following a loss. And that is indeed pretty lame Mark. As they say “go to the tape” – facts are facts, your negative Hawks articles follow a loss, especially a blowout loss.
That said, our brave columnist might have plenty of opportunities the rest of the month as looking at the schedule, a 1-6 record to finish the month is a real possibility.
The Grinch
February 13th, 2012
2:21 pm
Big Crimson 75
February 13th, 2012
1:51 pm
Harumph, harumph!!
Bob Weiss
February 13th, 2012
2:23 pm
Is Danny Manning available?
Reality
February 13th, 2012
2:25 pm
I stopped floowing the team long ago. Worst ownership, worst management, worst coaching and worst players in the league. I really wish they would move! The franchise is an embarassment.
KevinM
February 13th, 2012
2:26 pm
Mark, tough to be a Hawks fan year after year. Why should we complain when this team is in the playoffs regularly? Because 16 out of 30 teams appear in the playoffs each year, so if you don’t get in, you know how bad your team is.
The problem here in this setup is the ASG refuses to see the oportunity we have to advance in the playoffs. We have lost to Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, and Chicago in consecutive years. We have beaten average Miami in 7, lower than average Milwaukee in 7, and Orlando in 6. With the roster that has been put together over the years, you would think that it was obvious that this roster isn’t good enough to win….the question to ask the ASG is why are you even in this business if your agenda is not about bringing a championship type team here.
They are satisfied with Al, Joe and Josh as their captains. I personally have always been a fan of Josh, but I don’t ike the way he goes about his business as a captain. He isn’t leading; he too busy ignoring his strengths as a player. LIke someone said about Tiger and his attempt to come back to eliteness, there’s a reason Josh isn’t an all-star. The league is aware of his personality and how it doesn’t help this team.
Mark, I would like to see you write on how to improve the Hawks instead of how to tell us their history. We all know their history and being at the bottom of the league in team value. I would like for you to tell us:
- what Josh is worth in the market.
- what centers are a realistic option for us
- what Drew and his staff brings to this team
Those are the things I am looking for as I know we need improvement, and we need someone out there to campaign publicly for improvements.
For current circumstances, we as fans all know what to expect from this franchise; more of the same…that can be sumrised in a paragraph.
I have no problem with you criticizing the Hawks as long as you let folks know the limitiations that ownership puts on this city. Sund is not the answer to building a winner, and neither is the ASG.
They want respect, but respect is earned. The ASG continues to prove they don’t deserver accolades.
And since you are a college guy as well, could you envision the Hawks no matter who is the GM next year (it will be Sund, because the ASG has no vision) the staff to taking a PG with the 1st pick of next years’ draft, namely UK’s Marquis Teague? That would be an interesting scenario IMO. Being a UK fan, this Hawks keep my perspective in check.
The Grinch
February 13th, 2012
2:30 pm
BRING BACK THE OMNI!!!
AtlantaDude
February 13th, 2012
2:35 pm
I am still waiting to see the exploits of the guy that Billy Knight kept trading for, Maury CapSpace. Is he playing in Europe somewhere?
flagboy?
February 13th, 2012
2:36 pm
Section 303
February 13th, 2012
1:09 pm
flagboy, it’s not hard….how about still in the race for a top 4 seed, despite losing Horford for the season.
___________________________________
In the race to be in the top 4. Ok. Do you think they have any legit shot at winning the East?
The answer has to be no. And that answer has been no for nearly 25 years.
Bob Weiss
February 13th, 2012
2:36 pm
Enter your comments here
Rufus1
February 13th, 2012
2:36 pm
The Real problem…
This city cares more about having a STAR PLAYER, than they do about winning. PPL want to trade our entire roster to sign D12 for 1/2 year….and when D12 leaves because the team would be TERRIBLE, you would blame ASG and STILL NOT BUY A TICKET.
You listen to these BARELY high school educated NBA analyst try tell you how to build a team, when they can barely manage their checking accounts….IT IS HARD TO WIN IN THE NBA, and to get NO RESPECT for doing consistantly for 4 years is CRAZY!
Bob Weiss
February 13th, 2012
2:37 pm
have yoe seen my wife!!!
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
2:38 pm
Preach Rufus1 Preach
JSS
February 13th, 2012
2:41 pm
“The Hawks are the greatest team ever to have drafted so badly.”
The 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons would disagree with you… Look at that roster, and then look at who actually contributed, only Prince was a draft pick that panned out for them…
tchapman86
February 13th, 2012
2:44 pm
Ernest T. Bass
Blank posting an apology letter in AJC for last years performance, then score 2 points this year in a playoff game is not a better run organization.. O-Line traded away for forse.. People are still livid about the Ray Edwards signing. By the way, I speak English since you decided to respond to me