'I'm still the coach here'

[HMFFL]

Woodson remains focused despite furor

Critics call for coach to be replaced


"Winning cures everything," said Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson. "We've just got to get back on track and get off this [three-game] losing streak. We've just got to keep ourselves right there on that playoff race. That's the main thing.

"Because with everything that's going on we're right there in that seventh spot, the same as we were before we left for the trip. And that's crazy for us. But we just have to put all this other stuff behind us. The thing is, we know all that talk is out there. But we won with [Woodson] before and we can win now. We just have to get back to it."

With each loss the criticism of Woodson has gotten stronger and stronger, criticism his players insist isn't necessarily fair.

"When we were winning games everybody got their fair share of the credit," Josh Smith said. "We all enjoyed the love from the fans and everybody else when things were good, so it's probably only fair that share in some of the heat when things aren't going as well as might have hoped."

Woodson's focus remains on the task at hand. He was back on the practice floor Friday morning, preparing for a Nets team that sits behind the Hawks at the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I'm not thinking about anything else but the New Jersey Nets," Woodson said. "People can talk about my job and do whatever they need to do there, but that's not my concern. I'm still the coach here and my job is to get these guys ready to play against the Nets. And every game that we play, we have a four game stretch we've got to take care of here, becomes an opportunity for us to turn things around."

"All that stuff is out of anybody's control in that locker room," guard Anthony Johnson said. "And with the stuff you can't control you can't worry about. All we can do is prepare individually and collectively as a team and go out there and handle business the next night out.

"It's nothing that two or three wins can' cure. But you've got to get that first one out of the way before you worry about anything else."

Link

[smabie]

Famous last words.

[mr_grabb]

10$ that if we lose to the Nets, the deadWood is out.

[Jjforprez]

While it's true that everything was good when they were winning, I can't help but think they weren't winning because of Woodson. You've got good talent that's improving with time, so they're going to win some games on that alone. But when I look at other teams around the league, there's a distinct difference.... there's an offense on those teams.

I watched Portland last night come back to tie the game against the Knicks... the way they did it, showed a real offensive scheme. On the play that tied the game, Roy gets into the lane, Outlaw pops out to the open spot on the floor to receive the game tying pass... this was no fluke, it was by design people. The way these guys know how to create open lanes, to get to the spot... I don't see Woodson teaching the Hawks this stuff.

I watched Utah the other night playing with the lead in the 4th, trying to hold off a run by the Spurs... (very similar to many of the Hawks scenarios recently). And I watched how they handled this situation.... first of all, they put the ball in their PGs hands, not their 2 guard (I know Joe's our best player, but so far he hasn't shown his decision making to be too good in those situations). Anyway, Deron Williams slowed the game down, got the team under control, and very methodically got the play he wanted... One play in particular, he got into the lane, collapsed the defense, and got the ball to his guy posted up in the corner.

Now I know, this points out that we probably don't have a PG capable of running the team in this manner, but even if we're using JJ in this situation, it's the lack of design to get the kind of play we need that I question. There is no play drawn up to get into the lane, have Marvin or somebody pop to the open spot on the floor... I don't see these guys spotting up in the corners to receive the pass out of penetration.... no, all I see is get the ball to JJ and watch him fumble the ball a few times, then throw up a 20ft fadeaway.

I don't know if Woodson is calling a different play and these guys just don't execute? (I doubt it)... But even if that's the case, I still blame him for not being able to get better execution out of these guys after 4yrs of coaching them.

[tbhawksfan]

[quote="Jjforprez"]While it's true that everything was good when they were winning, I can't help but think they weren't winning because of Woodson. You've got good talent that's improving with time, so they're going to win some games on that alone. But when I look at other teams around the league, there's a distinct difference.... there's an offense on those teams.

I watched Portland last night come back to tie the game against the Knicks... the way they did it, showed a real offensive scheme. On the play that tied the game, Roy gets into the lane, Outlaw pops out to the open spot on the floor to receive the game tying pass... this was no fluke, it was by design people. The way these guys know how to create open lanes, to get to the spot... I don't see Woodson teaching the Hawks this stuff.




You need a plan to succeed. Luck or athleticism works once in a while

[HMFFL]

10$ that if we lose to the Nets, the deadWood is out.

If we lose Woody continues to coach this team another game. I'm willing to take that bet!

I accept paypal!

[will]

I'll miss Woody.

[evildallas]

Time to find out if the players will respond to Larry Drew's voice.

[Hawks]

-'I'm still the coach here'

[conleyorbust]

You know you have no job security when...

[SouthernBred]

"I'll keep coaching and coaching..."