Atlanta @ Miami April 16th - The Playoffs Are Waiting

atlsun · Post #41 » by **atlsun** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:07 am

If we cant beat the worst team then how are we supposed to beat the best team, hay guys i wont be able to do the game thread for game one too busy, got heaps of studies.

HoopsGuru25 · Post #42 » by **HoopsGuru25** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:10 am

The only thing good Woody did was remind us how pathetic we are. We played are starters in the 4th quarters and got owned in both by Chris Quinn and Maurice Evans. **** this team and the Atlanta Spirit if they retain him as the coach next year.

Jjforprez · Post #43 » by **Jjforprez** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:10 am

evildallas wrote:If I'm a member of the Spirit ownership group, Woodson sealed his fate these last 2 games. If he had committed to the bench the loses could be laughed off. He is playing the starters in the 4th quarter against the team with the worst record in basketball in a meaningless game and getting their butts kicked.

a) Someone could get hurt.
b) Confidence could get eroded.
c) If you are going to play the starters, play and coach them in preparation for the playoff effort.

If the last two games don't have you prepared to be swept nothing will. We have a roster with little playoff experience with a coaching staff with little playoff experience and they're going through the motions like they can turn it on at will or they've accomplished all they wanted for the year.

The only positive thing I can take from the last two games is that maybe Woodson is trying to lull Boston into a sense of security (notice I didn't say false sense of security). I'm still psyched that we're in the playoffs, but damn Woodson makes it hard. I hope this debacle has truly sealed his fate and we try to land a coach with a clue to move the club forward.

Very well said, especially the point about confidence eroding. No difference if the game matters or not, the emotions of a young team like this can go as quick as it comes...

And I love your comment about them going through the motions like they can suddenly turn it on for the playoffs. It's exactly how I've felt about these last two games. The guys look like they're resting on their laurels. Like they're in any position to relax... they're not. I sincerely hope they can turn it on, but I'm not convinced. The only thing I'm convinced of is Woodson is an idiot!!

CAM · Post #44 » by **CAM** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:11 am

This is the first time I have ever voiced my opinion negatively about Woodson, but tonight he really deserves it.

Woody, What the heck were you thinking?

tontoz · Post #45 » by **tontoz** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:22 am

Just in case some here had any doubts about Woody's incompetence i give you tonights display. This should remove any lingering doubts, if there are any Woody defenders left.

Master8492 · Post #46 » by **Master8492** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:22 am

Trying to win against the worst team in NBA and lost before going to the playoffs!? Man... they need to win at least 1 game against Boston to regain some respect.

Rip2137 · Post #47 » by **Rip2137** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:36 am

the lost itself means nothing to me. Obviously they weren't trying their hardest, Bibby and Joe were ready to shut it down in the second quarter and looked legit suprised to still be playing, Miami was just taking shots that they would have otherwise been pulled from the game for taking.

I mean Jason Williams was taking threes from 5 feet behind the three point line(so was Joe). Guys were just really clowning around. To the people saying the heat were laughing in our faces, our players were laughing with them. There was no seriousness taken in this game.

Maybe thats why Woody kept playing his starters because they weren't trying as hard as they should have...or some crap.

But that was ridiculous. He had a opportunity to play some bench guys 30+ minutes to see what they could give you in extended minutes, instead he plays starters until they are bent over tugging at their shorts. Mindnumbingly stupid thing for him to do.

fo_o_fo_404 · Post #48 » by **fo_o_fo_404** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:39 am

Woody lost my confidence tonight.

Yes, he's an idiot....and no new hairstyle will offset his coaching incompetence. He essentially, in my honest opinion, just lost his job tonight.

If this is how we are approaching the playoffs....and if this is the way we 'take care of business,' we are in trouble...and yes, we will get swept by Boston.

Our players had this lackadasical vibe....like we aren't playing for something....something I've NEVER seen Boston do ONE SINGLE TIME this season. When the put you to bed....they put you to bed! No way thes starters should have been playing after halftime. How in the hell do you make sense of losing to the league's worst...and thinking through some force of osmosis that you'll be able to turn it on against the league's best?

Speaks to our inexperience, but it also speakings to the coaching.

FIRE WOODSON after the playoffs! :pray:

JoshB914 · Post #49 » by **JoshB914** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:50 am

HMFFL wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Do you really expect Salim to come off the bench against Boston?

Yes. There is no way we can play Bibby all of those games for 42+ minutes. He will get 3-5 minutes in one or two games, and if he hits his shot he will be able to play more.

Rip2137 · Post #50 » by **Rip2137** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:54 am

He will play Childress as the back up point, making him completely irrelevant in the series and averaging 3 points and leave Salim on the bench.

Hawks · Post #51 » by **Hawks** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:56 am

Only 3 mins tonight for Acie? After the way he played last night. Woodson just continue to prove he is one of the worst coaches in NBA History. He did nothing these last two games to get anyone on the bench any confidence beyond Zaza and Salim.

High 5 · Post #52 » by **High 5** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:15 am

The most meaningless game of the season has probably made me the most furious over Mike Woodson. He is a complete idiot. Our starters are just dogging in out there and he plays them the majority of the game for no reason. I hope they just shave "dumbass" in the back of his head.

I honestly can't express enough how much I want him fired. He has wasted away four season here and I would gladly take 4 blowouts losses the Celtics if it meant Woodson is gone next year.

Brazilian_Hawk · Post #53 » by **Brazilian_Hawk** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:07 pm

^ Agreed. We won't make the secound round anyway, so it's better to secure Woody's not coming back next season.

AU hawksfan · Post #54 » by **AU hawksfan** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:45 pm

Yes. There is no way we can play Bibby all of those games for 42+ minutes. He will get 3-5 minutes in one or two games, and if he hits his shot he will be able to play more.

Are you sure he'll get more minutes if he hits his shot? Do you know who our coach is?!? The opposite will probably happen. You saw what happened to Law.

I hope they just shave "dumbass" in the back of his head.

Haha, priceless! I may have to steal this.

Jjforprez · Post #55 » by **Jjforprez** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:02 pm

Rip2137 wrote:the lost itself means nothing to me. Obviously they weren't trying their hardest, Bibby and Joe were ready to shut it down in the second quarter and looked legit suprised to still be playing, Miami was just taking shots that they would have otherwise been pulled from the game for taking.

I mean Jason Williams was taking threes from 5 feet behind the three point line(so was Joe). Guys were just really clowning around. To the people saying the heat were laughing in our faces, our players were laughing with them. There was no seriousness taken in this game.

Maybe thats why Woody kept playing his starters because they weren't trying as hard as they should have...or some crap.

But that was ridiculous. He had a opportunity to play some bench guys 30+ minutes to see what they could give you in extended minutes, instead he plays starters until they are bent over tugging at their shorts. Mindnumbingly stupid thing for him to do.

Even in a joking around game, you should beat the Heat if you call yourself a playoff team. But in any case, it should never be this way... especially with a young team like the Hawks.

You don't see Boston losing the meaningless last game of the season do you? They won last night and every other night leading into the playoffs, including against us. A prepared team always wants to win. I know they're young, and comparing them to Boston might not be fair, but I do think they were trying in that game, and Woodson bringing back the starters in the 4Q of a blowout is not good for a young teams confidence.

Rip2137 · Post #56 » by **Rip2137** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:56 pm

Difference is, Boston was playing their bench, who all have sometihng to prove to their coach and wanted to make a good impression and was enjoying their additional minutes.

Atlanta was playing starters who first and foremost were worried about getting too tired and not getting hurt while thinking they were going to get pulled early.

I actually think we would have won the game if we played our bench last night because they would have played with passion and a want to win. I am not completely blaming the starters, seeing as they should be trying to get hurt, but honestly, Salim, Acie, Jeremy, Zaza, Solo and Mario all would have played balls to the wall last night if nothing else but for playoff minutes.

The looks on Bibby, Joe, and Josh's faces when they were being put back in the game spoke the whole story. They didn't feel like they should be playing and they shouldn't have.

JoshB914 · Post #57 » by **JoshB914** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:27 pm

Boston have still been winning for two reasons: the first and most obvious is one is that they are very, very good, a lot better than us. The other is that they have been giving their bench guys big minutes, and they have an excellent bench.

And I agree with Rip that we would have won if we played the bench. Our bench is better than that team the Heat threw out there and they would have actually played with energy. It also would have given those guys great confidence if they could go out there and beat an NBA team (even if it was just the Heat).

Last night was a PERFECT opportunity for Woody to play our bench guys. Not only would they have gotten some minutes, but we were playing a team that was bad enough for them to get some confidence and play well.

Before the game I was looking forward to seeing Smoove/JJ/Bibby/Horford cheering on J-Rich/Solo/Law/Salim, but Woody was too stupid to figure that out.

Oh well, it's over now. On to the playoffs, baby!