feelings on Coach Woodson this season

AU hawksfan · Post #1 » by **AU hawksfan** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 2:34 pm

Just thought I'd gauge everybody's opinion on how they think Woody will do this season. I will say I have been one of the people strongly against him and his coaching style but for some reason I feel a lot more confident this season.

I think he'll do a much better job with subs now that he has more guys on the bench to work with. Also just from some of the quotes I've seen by him he seems a little more willing to go with the run and gun this time around, especially with a viable point guard. I've also heard he has a few wrinkles up his sleeve this season which would be nice considering he hasn't shown much creativity since he's been here.

All in all, I don't expect a whole lot but I think some of us that have been dissing him will be a little more pleased with this season compared to what he has given us in the past. I think having a new GM in also helps compared to the stubborn BK.

killbuckner · Post #2 » by **killbuckner** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 4:20 pm

I think that Woodson is a traditional (as opposed to innovative) coach and with Bibby on the team he has a more traditional roster. BK thought that PG's were afterthoughts and I think that it will really help Woodson to have a PG that he trusts. I think that much of what people hated about Woodson will go away with him having a legitimate starting PG.

Though I don't think the people wanting more consistent minutes from the bench guys are going to be happy. Woodson still has just one useful bench player in my opinion. (2 if Speedy plays) I am still a little in shock that people here are excited about Flip Murray.

JoshB914 · Post #3 » by **JoshB914** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 4:55 pm

Woody isn't supposed to be fighting for his job this season. So I fully expect him to extend his bench, especially early in the season. Acie should get consistent minutes over the first part of the season and I'd look for him to give Solo more run too (especially if he's looking so much better).

I'm not a fan of Woody. But I think he'll be much less conservative this season after we had the playoff experience last year. As for running more, we already did that with Bibby at the helm. We were a running team after we got him and I think we will continue to run.

That being said, I think we will be very dissapointed when we get a look at who is coming off the bench, and it might give us a little insight as to why he was only playing 7 guys down the stretch last year.

Harry10 · Post #4 » by **Harry10** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 6:24 pm

i am HOPING that Woodson learn something from the Celtic series and will finally let these guys use their athletism and run

killbuckner · Post #5 » by **killbuckner** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 6:26 pm

The biggest problem with running is rebounding. Its tough to run when the other team is killing you on the offensive boards. All those guys trying to break out on the wings just is inviting the other team to pick up those missed shots instead. Horford is the only above average rebounder the Hawks have- in order to run I think Smith and Marvin will have to concentrate on hitting the boards a little harder than they have.

Harry10 · Post #6 » by **Harry10** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 6:55 pm

^ Hawks last year were 9th in rebounding differential...... Suns and Warriors were 25th and 29th.

http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable2.html?cnf=1&prd=1#top
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=teamstatreb&season=2008&seasontype=2

killbuckner · Post #7 » by **killbuckner** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 7:24 pm

Harry- the ESPN link isn't letting me see the stats at all. Where do the Hawks rank as far as offensive rebounding percentage allowed? I think the Hawks are a good offensive rebounding team but a poor defensive rebounding team but I will admit that this is just my perception and I am not looking at the stats to back it up.

Master8492 · Post #8 » by **Master8492** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 5:57 am

I feel the playoffs experience will help him a bit coaching wise (like when to use the fouls effectively). I just hope he can instill some confidence in another bench player or two to go with Evans by playing them more (Acie, Solo).

JoshB914 · Post #9 » by **JoshB914** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 7:43 am

We ran when Bibby was here. After we got him our pace picked up considerably. Didn't we shoot up like ten spots in "pace factor" after we traded for him?

killbuckner · Post #10 » by **killbuckner** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 11:24 am

ESPN's stats finally came up for me. Last season the Hawks were already 25th in the league in giving up offensive rebounds. Just be aware that if there is a commitment to run more the team is going to give up even more offensive rebounds. Several teams try and make up for the offensive rebounds with the increased 3 point shooting- we shall see how the Hawks fare in that area this season.

swaff126 · Post #11 » by **swaff126** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 12:44 pm

Overall team shooting is much improved with Mo instead of chil and marvin's new range ( we shall see ) . A year of bibby instead of AJ helps as well.

If woodson plays a 9-10 man rotation , then I think the team is massively improved, but I will reserve judgement until I see it. To be fair, what little bench he had last year he used in the playoffs ( Zaza, Acie and Chill) I mean there really was not another full time NBA player on the bench.

Joe with more rest during hte season without worrying about a scoring drop off will be the test. How many games did the hawks lose last year do to nothing more than 3rd quarter scoring lapses ( most caused by a tired joe who had not got his second wind. )