Who's going to lead? Joe?

[LL Cool Scott]

Since defensive specialist, point guard and 3-point ace weren't enough hats, Wade also took a turn as the team's motivator. A pregame talk with retired Heat star Alonzo Mourning got him pumped up, and he set the tone in the locker room beforehand by shushing some chatty teammates and getting them to focus on the game plan.

"Right before I left the hotel [he] met with me and talked with me about leadership, and [the Heat's 2006 championship], and a lot of things. Before the game I heard too much chatter, and it was time to focus on what we had to do to win a ballgame. For him to leave the golf course and fly to Atlanta just to meet with me made me feel good."

"In the film sessions the last two days, he was extremely focused," said Spoelstra. "We had a long video session on Monday; nobody really enjoys that, but if your captain sets the tone, everybody falls into line."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090423

Don't remember ever reading ANYTHING remotely similar to this about Joe Johnson.

[JoshB914]

Joe never has done anything like that and he never will. Who knows where this team would be if he had tried to lead the way. But he refused to do so because he didn't want to leave his comfort zone.

[ATL DirtyBird]

You think he will ever realize that he is the best player on this team and as he goes we go?? If he would take on some sort of leadership role it would make all the difference.

[LL Cool Scott]

You think he will ever realize that he is the best player on this team and as he goes we go?? If he would take on some sort of leadership role it would make all the difference.

Absolutely not. He always shrinks from what his role should be. It's just not in his nature to lead a team. I can't wait until Al gets older and better and takes control of this team. Joe's not a bad person, or a bad player, but he's a clear second banana. We need a leader desperately.

[parson]

Bah. Joe definitely tried to lead the other night. Problem is, the approved method of leading in our offense is to pound the ball into the floor and go one-on-one against the world.

[JoshB914]

Bah. Joe definitely tried to lead the other night. Problem is, the approved method of leading in our offense is to pound the ball into the floor and go one-on-one against the world.

Airballing a three pointer, missing several shots from close range, and blowing two crucial free throws in the fourth quarter has nothing to do with our offense.

[parson]

1st you say he disappeared, now you say he tried but played badly. Pick one.

And bad play comes directly from a bad offensive scheme.

[JoshB914]

Was Woody's offensive scheme the reason Joe was terrible yet again tonight?

[parson]

Was Woody's offensive scheme the reason Joe was terrible yet again tonight?

Let me answer that with another question: did you see ONE of our players who looked NOT-terrible tonight? Miami turns the screws on defense and we have no answer. Why aren't we trying to run picks for Joe to get him open?

We have no offense. We don't run a screen-and-backscreen offense (like Utah) to free up Joe and Bibby and Marvin (and pop Smoove and Horford open for pick-and-rolls). We don't run a Bobby Knight-style motion offense to get an open shot as Woodson said he would when he took the job. We don't try to get out and run.

I'm sure we have an official offense. I'm sure our players can tell you what their duties are in that offense. I'm sure Woodson could tell us about spacing and ball movement and such.

But we're not doing anything. And for 5 years, Woodson has just sat there and claimed it wasn't his fault because it's not his job (he "just needs better players"). 5 years, talent at each position, good outside shooters, speed, length ... and still we have no offense in the playoffs when the defense tightens up.

[JoshB914]

That's a separate issue regarding Woody. The specifics of his offense are annoying and you probably understand it better than I to be honest, but in the end it is the players' responsibility to show up. And the onus is on Joe to do that more than anyone.

There are plenty of All Stars who have excelled under bad coaches. Everyone complains about our iso based offense, but why cant our best player put the ball in the basket consistently from a one-on-one situation? Why can't he pass out of the double teams effectively enough to give us an open shot? Like I said, I don't like Woody either, but if your point is that he is the principle reason for Joe's poor play then I have to strongly disagree.

[parson]

That's a separate issue regarding Woody. The specifics of his offense are annoying and you probably understand it better than I to be honest,

To be just as honest, I only know some basics.

but in the end it is the players' responsibility to show up. And the onus is on Joe to do that more than anyone.

Fine, just what is Woodson's responsibility? 'Cuz I can't tell anything he IS doing.

There are plenty of All Stars who have excelled under bad coaches. Everyone complains about our iso based offense, but why cant our best player put the ball in the basket consistently from a one-on-one situation?

Because it's the playoffs, where holding and pushing on defense are allowed. Did you hear DAL promising to put Tony Parker "on his head" if he tried to come inside? Let me turn the question around on you again, what did Woodson do to get Joe open to do what you want him to do?

[spudwebb]

Yeah your coach sucks but the fact still is that the Hawks don't have a alpha dog star. There is about a 3 tier difference between Joe Johnson and Wade. Despite the fact that Hortford should improve, neither he or Smith have to potential to be a alpha dog.

[realfung]

i think joe can lead

[conleyorbust]

Yeah your coach sucks but the fact still is that the Hawks don't have a alpha dog star. There is about a 3 tier difference between Joe Johnson and Wade. Despite the fact that Hortford should improve, neither he or Smith have to potential to be a alpha dog.

Agreed, its tough to be the kind of leader they are talking about when you aren't the best player or at least an obvious focal point on either side of the ball. Joe is the obvious focal point on offense and Josh is the obvious focal point on D and I don't see Al having the ability to be the type of on-court force you have to be to really impose your will on the rest of the team. Joe is too passive, Josh is too emotional. I actually like it when Bibby takes charge.

That being said, our issue isn't a lack of leadership. For as much talk as you wanna give Wade's leadership ability, we still came out to play harder then them last night on their own floor. Obviously we are going to hold the Hawks' to a higher standard than we are gonna hold the Heat, but look at it objectively. Is Chris Paul a poor leader? No, no one would have said that before this series. Each guy should be responsible for his head and the coach should be able to keep his guys in check. Great teams have great players and great players make great leaders. Not having a great player makes it tough unless you have a Billups/Ben Wallace sort of combo to build around.

[JoshB914]

^^^ Chris Paul's teams haven't consistently folded under pressure during his career. I don't think that's a fair comparison.

As for these Hawks, they have continually lost focus under adversity. I'm not just talking about this season either. Losing on the road is an example of a lack of leadership and accountability, so is letting teams back into games time and time again, so is losing focus on defense for long stretches of time. If you ask me, a lack of leadership is one of our most pressing issues, and it directly translates into some our most gaping weaknesses.

Last night was the first time I saw us come out fighting with our backs up against the wall. I was proud of the team for doing that. But the fact that it took so long speaks volumes about who steps up in the locker room.

When Cheryl Miller asked Mo Evans who was going to step up and hold the players accountable at the half he couldn't even muster up any semblance of a legit answer, instead saying that he would be that guy. If freaking Mo Evans is the person to step up in the locker room like that then I think we can see a big part of the leadership problem right there.