Hawks soar higher and higher, but: “We’re not there yet”
Hawks general manager Rick Sund is so old school as an NBA general manager that he rarely travels with his team. He wants to scare players and coaches into thinking that something is up when he does. In fact, Sund said on Monday, “I’m Jerry West. I’m Wayne Embry. I’m that era in the sense that we all kind of hung together and shared philosophies and thoughts.”
This is splendid news for the Harry The Hawk Nation.
So is this: The more you listen to Sund in his first year with the Hawks, the more you hear Thomas Dimitroff, who spent last NFL season as a first-year general manager of the Falcons. You also hear Mike Smith, who was in his first year as an NFL head coach with the Falcons.
Remember? Dimitroff and Smith rarely finished a breath without saying “process’” to describe their moves. In the end, the Falcons flourished. They won 11 times compared to just four the previous season, and they reached the playoffs.
So you know where I’m going. With Sund talking “process” after he brought his 30 years of NBA management experience to town, the Hawks flew from 37 victories after the 2007-2008 regular season to 46 and counting. More important, Sund has it right regarding what will be the youngest team in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
“We’re not there yet,” said Sund of a Hawks bunch that, among other things, is road kill away from Philips Arena.
According to Sund, the elite win 20 or more road games each season, so the Hawks clearly aren’t elite. After Tuesday night’s home game against Miami, they will close their regular season on Wednesday night in Memphis searching for their 17th road victory. That means they are fortunate to open the first round of the playoffs against Miami with home-court advantage.
Which means, what, especially when it comes to the expectations of an old-school guy for his new-school bunch?
“If we win the first round, we’re satisfied with that, but it doesn’t mean that if we lose the first round that, well, it’s a total disappointment,” said Sund, who helped build consistent playoff teams in Milwaukee and Dallas before mixed success during his seven seasons in Seattle.
The Hawks are more like the Mavericks during Sund’s stay in Dallas from 1979 through 1995. During one stretch, the Mavericks improved their record each year for eight straight seasons. The Hawks have done so for five straight seasons.
Added Sund, “Again, if we’re really and truly honest about it, we’re not there yet, but if we do win, who says we can’t get into a Cinderella role like we did last season with Boston (by taking the eventual world champion Celtics to a seventh game)? Or like the New York Giants did in football a couple of years ago?”
It’s unlikely these Hawks are those Giants, and Sund knows it. Being that old-school guy, he just wants to see effort and improvement — with as many victories as possible, of course.
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61 comments Add your comment
Ariose
April 13th, 2009
2:50 pm
O Boyy there you go hatin’ AGAIN. Why can’t you just say somehing positive and move on? Theres always a little dash of negative in your posts…….except when it comes to Mike Woodson(Clearly the masses are not wrong in that regard…..but the guy IS growing on me).
Finding negative quotes about the home team won’t net you more fans Moore. If we loose in the first round to the heat the season IS a failure. But I know the guys in thst Hawks locker room won’t let that happen. I’m predicting that we will STOMP the heat. They’ll be lucky to get one game. Mark my words.
LizDawg
April 13th, 2009
3:24 pm
Bye-bye Terence, saw you are on the AJC’s buy-out list published today all over these internets. We sure will miss your racism and pot-stirring on here – NOT! Good riddance.
jwilli120
April 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
you know there are alot of cities that wish they are where we are(IN THE FREAKING PLAYOFFS). So why be so negative about this squad they are pretty good (not as good as LA, BOS or ORL) we are young and upcoming,
tthis team will be alot better next year and i believe they will be ready for the next level next year, so lets enjiy the success of this year and look forward to next year and becoming A REAL THREAT IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE, at least we are not saying PLAYOFFS…PLAYOFFS…this team isn’t going to do dittley squat LOL!!!
Wink from Lithonia
April 13th, 2009
4:10 pm
Basically, Sund took the year off. He added Flip Mo to replace Chills and that was it. I can’t wait til season end to see all his experience come to light. There is a reason why he was looking for a job. Anyone, in our fan base could state “we’re not there yet”! I believe we will get past Miami, in 5 game series. As a result of not playing our bigs & obtaining no interior help via trade or available free agents, we not go any further this season. The team has grown but not from any help from management, specifically Sund!!
Steve
April 13th, 2009
4:23 pm
I don’t know – getting Flip and Moe after losing Josh Childress were pretty good moves. This draft should be stocked because of all the underclassmen declaring. Hope we get a PG or Mullen at Center. We need another point and a legit big man, then we may be elite. Bibby would be great coming off the bench the next 3 or 4 years, and I’m not sure Acie’s the answer. Horford’s a beast, but I’m not sure he’s not more of a PF. Hope Marvin stays healthy – he’s a big key as well.
Gary
April 13th, 2009
4:27 pm
Are you really leaving Terence? Thanks for all the years.
Jfreak
April 13th, 2009
4:37 pm
Being no “fan” of terence I say this cautiously, He’s right! The Hawks lack inside toughness, free maturity, and coaching viability. However, they are a pretty good team and very capable of beating ANY team on any giving night. I think their shortcomings will be exposed in the first round by Miami that will lead to a first round knock out, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t progressing. The team has proven to have a solid core and changing coaches probably wouldn’t help attract any “real” free agents. So let’s see the season play out and keep our coaching staff in tact for at least another season. Maybe we’ve proven ourselves as a team enough to entice some free agents? We have a couple of stars. Now we need professionals. By the way, I’d trade Josh Smith. Love ya Josh but you are the weakest link.
Jfreak
April 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
Freethrow maturity, sorry!
newkid
April 13th, 2009
4:41 pm
Did he actually say “If we win the first round, we’re satisfied with that…”? Evidently mediocrity is inbred at the ASG. Ole man Henry Grady, may he rest in peace, is probably rolling over in his grave at the mere thought that an outfit such as the ASG with a GM who’s apparently so reconcilled to mediocrity, would appropriate the expression ‘the Atlanta spirt’. Have you guys no sense of the historical significance of the phrase? If Mr. Grady and others of his era who did so much to give life to ‘the Atlanta spirit’ phrase – and this great city – came even moderately close to being as willing as the ASG ‘to settle’, then the spirit that gave rise to this great city in the South would have been extinguished before it had a change to flourish.
A Real Fan
April 13th, 2009
4:53 pm
I like reading your viewpoints Terence even when I don’t agree. I hope your not going anywhere!
Diego
April 13th, 2009
5:22 pm
Basically, Sund inherited Billy Knight’s team. Okay, he did sign Flip and Mo, which were great moves. Billy K. did some good things in signing JJ and Zaza; drafting Chill, J.Smoove and–against a lot of opposition–Horford (Hey Terence, can you FINALLY admit that was a better move than taking the little Ohio State point guard, Conley?!?); and trading for Bibby. Okay, he missed on C.Paul, but NOBODY really thought Paul would be that good, and Speedy was a big mistake.
MacArthur O. Means
April 13th, 2009
5:35 pm
Please, please, please tell us you are not staying on as a contract columnist, aka the worthy Bisher and Barnhart.
J.D.
April 13th, 2009
5:36 pm
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/04/13/ajc-buyout-list-official/
check the list….
Joeladamus
April 13th, 2009
5:46 pm
Heat in 6!!!
Brock D
April 13th, 2009
5:48 pm
Good Riddance T.M. Maybe you can go to Cleveland and write articles on how overrated Lebron James is. And, oh yeah, most of the posters on here bashing Gund, you’re not much better than Moore. How quickly we forget where we’ve come from. This team is one quality Big Man away from a legit shot at the title.
rickyt
April 13th, 2009
6:33 pm
If they fire Terrance, I will get a subscription.
calico
April 13th, 2009
6:35 pm
Satisfied with just a 1st round win WTF.
Jose
April 13th, 2009
6:48 pm
How can we blame our players or the coach if the GM sets the bar that low? A manager or any leader should never aim that low. It’s completely evident that the Hawks lack leadership all the way from ownership, management to coaches. Hey Mr. GM, we the fans are not satisfied by just winning the first round. We want to go beyond. And if first round is all you can see, then we need a GM who can see further. You may be the GM but we the fans own the team. Mr GM,some are only thoughts and are not meant to be spoken. Next time, please keep them to yourself.
GO HAWKS AND AIM HIGHER!!!!
Green Tea
April 13th, 2009
6:58 pm
I hope to god you are taking the buyout you sorry sack of racist crap. Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out you POS
Boss Dawg1
April 13th, 2009
7:19 pm
T.M., It’s like you’re trying to win some type of “I told them first” award by using such lowly citicism and expectations about this Hawks club. But if that’s all you want before you bounce off the AJC is a trophy, then it will be a last place trophy because you lack game and the Hawks got game. Now that’s Game!
Baracked the vote!
April 13th, 2009
7:29 pm
Terrie,
glad you took the buy out before the AJC work up from their drug induced stupor and fired you. I am amazed that you were ever paid in the first place. I clicked on the creative loafing link to confirm. The best part was, “We’ve matched them with an inexact description of their current job in cases where we know it.” you were listed as a columnist, at least they didn’t describe what you do as journalism. Maybe you can go hold hands and swap spit with Jim Rome on a full time basis now.
Scott
April 13th, 2009
7:46 pm
Terry, I’m constantly astounded by the racist drivel that invariably pop up in the comments of every column you write. It shows how far we still have to go. I haven’t always agreed with you, but you’ve always given me a good read. As a sports fan, that’s much appreciated. It saddens me that you and 73 other journalists at the AJC will no longer be there. Wishing you and the others the best of luck. Will you continue to write, or is this lights out?
Ryder
April 13th, 2009
7:48 pm
It won’t be the same if TM leaves…who else can create such venom among the AJC faithful lol? That said, I think the majority of comments on this blog are missing the point. It’s not to be negative, but TM’s simply stating that the Hawks cannot be happy with just making the second round, but they must also be realistic to know they aren’t ready to win the O’Brien trophy yet.
Sund’s work will really come in the summer of 2010, when Marvin and JJ are unrestricted free agents. I think that Sund did a great job of bringing in guys like Evans and Murray to give a young team veteran help that went a long way when Marvin went down for a while.
This team still needs to develop that killer instinct that separates them from teams like the Cavs and Celtics. Also, Atlanta must play with more poise on the road in order to ever be deemed a championship threat.
JMar
April 13th, 2009
8:12 pm
Next move that would take us to the next level – a real head coach!
Baracked the vote!
April 13th, 2009
8:15 pm
Terrie has gone out of his way in the past to make race an issue in his columns. yes, we have far to go..but we can get there w/o this sanctimonious, pompous jerk
falcon21
April 13th, 2009
8:24 pm
It will always be the same until we hire a coach. First round and done. Live with it.
The Truth
April 13th, 2009
8:44 pm
Quick, Terry, apologize for the Chipper/Klesko “golden boys” article before you fade into oblivion. Say hello to your old friend (and much better player) Tony Tarasco.
patrocket
April 13th, 2009
9:12 pm
Terrence, I haven’t always agreed with you, but you strike me as fair-minded and a class guy. Good luck to you.
patrocket
April 13th, 2009
9:13 pm
Oh, and despite what he might think, Rick Sund is no Jerry West.
David Justice
April 13th, 2009
9:32 pm
To my buddy Terence, sad to see you taking the bailout money and leaving the AJC – you and Cynthia Tucker have always represented reverse racism well. You always stuck up for me.
Goodbye TM.
Ed
April 13th, 2009
10:21 pm
I cannot believe that you are comparing Sund / Hawks to Dimitroff & the Falcons. The Hawks are still one big dysfunctional mess that will never go deep in the playoffs as long Woodson is the coach.
MBZ
April 13th, 2009
11:17 pm
Because if the hawks make it past the first round, they are going to play the Cavs. Do you honestly think that this team can beat the Cavs? He’s not mediocre…..he’s a realist.
Art Vandelay
April 13th, 2009
11:47 pm
I, for one, don’t blame Terence at all for accepting the buyout. I sure as —- couldn’t put up with all the morons who jump on this board for no reason other than to bash him for doing his job. When the next round of AJC cuts comes (and be assured, it IS coming), I hope you guys are happy reading nothing but syndicated 4-paragraph AP stories, rather than editorials from professional journalists. Terence, happy trails and thanks for all the work you’ve put in here.
Ariose
April 13th, 2009
11:49 pm
Jfreak, josh is the human eraser. Whenver Bibby or JJ get worked off the dribble, who cleans up their mess? That’s right, J-Smoove…..overall he’s our best defensive player and he’s starting to figure it out on the offensive end.
Show me state
April 13th, 2009
11:54 pm
Terrence, I just wanted to know do you get a paid alot of money to rain on the Hawks and their fans parade? Everytime the Hawks do well there’s always negativity from your direction. The Hawks are a very good team when they want to be. So let’s just let them play without the negativity.
freshd
April 14th, 2009
12:46 am
THANKS T-MOORE FOR PISSING OFF THESE HICKS IN THE STICKS. THESE FANS IN THE STATE OF GA ARE THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF BANDWAGON, KOOL AID DRINKING IDIOTS ON EARTH. THEY HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO SAYS THE THINGS THEIR, SPINELESS ASSES ARE TOO SCARED TO SAY. AND I HOPE YOU LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK WHEN YOU THINK OF THESE IDIOTS.
griffdawg1
April 14th, 2009
7:01 am
TM, i’ve been pretty rough on you at times and now i have to say you are spot on. i’ve heard sund speak and he seems to really have a direction and a plan. Look for a coaching change in the future.
NCBravesFan
April 14th, 2009
7:04 am
Why do so many take Sund’s comments and TM’s column so negatively? The Hawks were a 13-win squad not too long ago. I find Sund’s comments refreshingly honest and frankly, he’s implying that it’s not so much up to this group of players to “take that next step” – but for the front office to add to the team to help it get to the elite level.
Because this team as constituted “is what it is” – a very talented, exciting group of players that’s a player or two short of having a serious title shot.
Given where they were not so long ago, I can live with that for now. I just hope that Sund and the ASG are capable of making the right moves to get them where they need to go.
griffdawg1
April 14th, 2009
7:06 am
Hey freshd , you are a hood rat without a clue of anything that goes on outside your 2 block square piece of sh#t hole in the inner city. I bet you voted for obama cause he’s black!!
dstdeelite
April 14th, 2009
7:51 am
This is what pisses me off about Atlanta sports reporters. Negativity!! Who would know better than the guys on the court the uphill battle they’re facing. Jeez! We get enough hating from the national media.
MacArthur O. Means
April 14th, 2009
8:37 am
Meant to write a la the worth Bisher and Barnhart. They are worth keeping around on a contract basis, while Moore is not.
Herm A. Phrodite
April 14th, 2009
8:56 am
Now it is clear!
Cynthia Tucker and Terence Moore are actually the same transgendered person!
I just KNEW there could not possibly be TWO separate human beings that ignorant, racist and hate-filled.
Cynthia moving to Washington as a “political correspondent” at the same time Terence leaves to pursue “other opportunities?”
YEAH.
SURE.
Mr. Blanco
April 14th, 2009
9:08 am
What does Smoove mean?
Nope
April 14th, 2009
9:13 am
Scott, it’s not 74 people the AJC is losing … that’s the number who took the voluntary buyout. They $%&#canned another 16. That follows other massive layoffs. The best (of which Moore isn’t one) has left the AJC.
The Alpha Male
April 14th, 2009
10:19 am
Dear Terrence:
BYE!!!!
Snowman
April 14th, 2009
10:42 am
First of all what a great year for the Hawks!!!!…Congrats to the players and coach Woodson for holding this crew together while advancing their play and making us extremely proud of the unit that gives their all night in and night out. They also represent the ATL in a very “Classy” way.
Too bad Jeff Schultz does not appreciate them and I wonder have they moved him to the gardening section yet?…Has anyone seen or heard form Jeff in two weeks. I hope he’s ok. It must kill him to see the Hawks and coach do well. By the way, I think Woody deserves some coach of the year “shout outs”. They could finish 48-34 and that is remarketable given the hand they were dealt since the end of the Celtics playoff series a year ago. GO HAWKS!!!…Let’s show our love tonight!!!
D ole Hoops Coach
April 14th, 2009
12:41 pm
The Hawks, all and all, have had a good season thus far. I expect that they will win the series with Miami and getting to the second round was a very reasonable goal to call this year a success. For those of you who won’t be satisfied with just a 1st round victory, consider this. The opponenet in Round 2 will almost certainly be the Cavs. The Cavs will have 4 games at home. The Hawks are still young and still not a good team on the road. To beat the Cavs they have to take one game there plus sweep them at Phillips. Unless something happens to prevent LeBron from playing, this is not the least bit likely to happen. In that series, assuming it happens, I would be happy to see this team battle, share the ball and make each game competitive.
I have enjoyed the ride watching the Hawks develop from the league’s worst team to becoming the solid playoff level team they are today. If they can add a quality big man to help match up with bigger teams and keep the core of this team together, maybe add another solid vet for the bench, next year could be the year they mature into one of the elite teams in the NBA. For this year, let’s just sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride.
minime
April 14th, 2009
1:53 pm
Go HAWKS!!!!! thanks for a fun season, so far. You folks can be SPOILER so rock their world…., keep healthy and we appreciate the effort from all.
Joel in ATL
April 14th, 2009
2:04 pm
No the HAwks are not an elite team but to all of those complaining about it your not watching the NBA day in and day out. On this same website back in early october I satated that the Hawks were a second round team and that is exactly what they are and there is nothing worng with that coming from where they have come from. The can’t beat the teams in front of them in a seven game series but they can beat everybody below them. If it’s Cleveland in the second round, it may have a life span of 6 games but all in all I’m ready for the offseason becasue this is where Sund will have to flex his GM muscles by keeping the nucleus together while adding some interior depth. Coach Woodson will have one more year on the contract after this year and if the rightr roster moves ar emade he should have the opportunity to re-up and continue to show that defense, experience and patience will result in mre success. The only pitfall this hawks team has outside o fthe presence in the paint is the lack of focs at times, get that corrected and the sky is the limit.
freshd
April 14th, 2009
2:35 pm
hey griffdawg, i live in athens, ga. in a middle class neighhood in a house that i worked and paid for you idiot. and your mamma was hood rat before i was , you spineless idiot . and yeah i voted for obama and i hope you catch hell for the next 4 years. you turd. there is an old saying that if you throw a rock at a pack of dogs, you will always know when you hit one, because a hit dawg will holla everytime, and thats you griffdawg and stay your ass in the sticks you country hick.
Green Tea
April 14th, 2009
3:08 pm
seriously freshd, not sure why anyone would blow Terence Moore like you are…
Terence Moore
April 14th, 2009
3:54 pm
To Art Vandelay, Scott,Freshd and others: Thanks for the kind words.
Green Tea
April 14th, 2009
4:38 pm
To Art Vandelay, Scott, Freshd and others: Thanks for being complete morons. Terence sucks
Bill
April 14th, 2009
7:38 pm
TM, I have not always agreed with you but always like to read your opinion. Thanks for your hard work and God Bless you where ever you go.
Mike
April 14th, 2009
8:30 pm
So long, you idiot. The only thing worse than your column is Notre Dame football.
Tyger
April 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
Billy Knight’s team – Sund had nothing to do with it – He sits back and rests on BK’s laurels. What a sham! If he had kept Chills, signed Flip we’d have the 50 wins easily and be a force rather than backing into the playoffs once again.
How about no GM at all? Between the 6-9 owners I’m sure one of them could fill that role.
wxwax
April 15th, 2009
1:11 am
Terence, I’m sorry to see you go.
Tough times. I sure hope you’ll find an opportunity that’s fulfilling.
Best wishes, mate.
scottbravesfan
April 15th, 2009
3:13 am
Man I can’t believe Terrence Moore is leaving the AJC. That’s crazy. Best of luck to you Terrence, hopefully I’ll see you on ESPN. I’ve not always agreed with you but I have enjoyed reading your columns the last few years. Best wishes to you are your family.
Scott
championshipnow
April 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Sund needs to go after a trade with Phoenix, giving up Zaza And Solomon for Shaq!!! Shaq and Joe will be one of the top duo’s in the league. Al can become one of the top PF’s in the game. The Hawks instantly become an elite team. Joe will have his name in the MVP race if this could happen!!! Rick text Kerr!!! We will win in Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando next year tyhe Big Dirty South(a New name for Shaq)!!! Make it happen Rick Sund and you can be the GM of the Year!!! T.m. you will be remembered for saying we needed a big man!!!
The Money Ball From Money Town!!
April 22nd, 2009
4:00 pm
championshipnow: I like where your head’s at.
Bruce Levenson
April 22nd, 2009
4:02 pm
I’m relieved to see this fish wrapper is moving in the right direction!