Woodson a keeper or Hawks high

[tbhawksfan]

Seems like JJ really llikes Woodson.




http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sport ... _0505.html




Does JJ and I guess other Hawks really support Woodson or, is it a case of play-off high.

I was surprised by this indorsement.

[conleyorbust]

Man, sometimes I don't like the way Joe talks.

"We need more veteran leadership," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of young guys that are just running wild [on offense] and we need more veteran leadership. Hopefully we can get that."

Granted its true, but somehow he manages to gush about keeping Woody but not give the same endorsement to his young teamates...

Look, for all JJ has done for us he has his flaws too.

I'd love to see him as a long term part of this team, I just wish he was a little more of a leader.

[GreenGrizz]

Who could you replace him? He just got the playoff experience.

[Hawks]

There are some good choices out there to replace him. I am hoping he doesn't comeback. When we see ownership go out of their way to save his job. It must mean they like him to a certain extent.

While he led the Hawks to 3 wins against the Celtics. He also led the Hawks to get the crap beat out of them in 4 games. Pretty much sums up Woodson this year. He was hit or miss with this team all year. He underachieve with this roster as well.

[Master8492]

There are some good choices out there to replace him. I am hoping he doesn't comeback. When we see ownership go out of their way to save his job. It must mean they like him to a certain extent.

While he led the Hawks to 3 wins against the Celtics. He also led the Hawks to get the crap beat out of them in 4 games. Pretty much sums up Woodson this year. He was hit or miss with this team all year. He underachieve with this roster as well.

Or it could mean they're cheap.

[tontoz]

We've got a lot of young guys that are just running wild [on offense]

A big reason for that is poor coaching. Just as an example Smith took 18 three pointers in the series.

Remember when Woody was interviewed in game 2 and said Acie was a better matchup for Rondo? Acie played 21 minutes in that game scoring 12 pts without missing a shot. Then Acie played only 21 minutes in the next 4 games.

[playa_lev]

There are some good choices out there to replace him. I am hoping he doesn't comeback. When we see ownership go out of their way to save his job. It must mean they like him to a certain extent.

While he led the Hawks to 3 wins against the Celtics. He also led the Hawks to get the crap beat out of them in 4 games. Pretty much sums up Woodson this year. He was hit or miss with this team all year. He underachieve with this roster as well.

To many ups and downs. He has to go, he isn

[evildallas]

I'm taking everything Joe Johnson said as lobbying against Billy Knight. It seems he's been on the outs with GM for a while based on his interview comments throughout the year. I think he blames him for some broken promises concerning acquiring veterans.

His endorsement of the coaching staff doesn't hold much weight in my opinion. Some of the staff wanted to leave before their contracts are up and I would expect them to be gone now regardless. The only way to stock a decent staff is to make another 4 year commitment to the head coach. Half a good playoff series isn't enough to earn a big commitment like that. Also the exuberance of being in a series is fresh right now and it surely clouds his thoughts a bit. If he reflects on the totality of the Mike Woodson tenure, I think he'll be a little less glowing. Similarly I would discount most of the young guys comments about Woodson. He's the only coach they've really known so they don't have anything to compare him to and you expect some bonding in the trenches.

Take the time to identify which coach can get your team where you want it to be. If that happens to be Woodson, well then I guess they offer him a deal, if not let's move on with the process.

[Rip2137]

Man, sometimes I don't like the way Joe talks.

"We need more veteran leadership," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of young guys that are just running wild [on offense] and we need more veteran leadership. Hopefully we can get that."

Granted its true, but somehow he manages to gush about keeping Woody but not give the same endorsement to his young teamates...

Look, for all JJ has done for us he has his flaws too.

I'd love to see him as a long term part of this team, I just wish he was a little more of a leader.

I wish I could say it was heat of the moment, but that JJ.

Once again, he showed for the season in March. running down the others is just bullcrap. We should have been playing Orlando or Cleveland in the first round instead we were playing the Celtics because:

A: Joe spent a majority of the season sucking

B: Woodson kept giving him the ball exclusively while he was sucking despite everyone else on the court outplaying him.

And not to point out the obvious, but it was the "vet" that let down the team in this series. I honestly believe that we would have been better off in some of these Boston games with Salim and Acie getting the bulk of the minutes at the point.

[Skyhawk1]

I agree with Dallas on JJ's comments. It won't impact wether we'll fire woodson or not. I think he was just trying to be nice and cool, as he usually is. Now, when you think about a coach who has the ability to get the best out of their players, we all know Woodson isn't that kind of guy. He's got to go.

[joe.linnen]

If he gets fired what about going after Mike D'Antoni. I would love to see the Hawks play as fast as the old Suns

[conleyorbust]

I guess my biggest concern would be about the inactivity of ownership. Chances are that BK is done here, ownership would let the new GM decide on the next coach. Since Woody's contract isn't up for a month or two they don't have to say anything about his job. I just worry that by the time we have a new GM in place and he's ready to rock and roll, all the coaches we'd want would be gone.

[tontoz]

Once again, he showed for the season in March. running down the others is just bullcrap. We should have been playing Orlando or Cleveland in the first round instead we were playing the Celtics because:

A: Joe spent a majority of the season sucking

B: Woodson kept giving him the ball exclusively while he was sucking despite everyone else on the court outplaying him.

Winning NBA player of the month is more than just showing up. And @ everyone outplaying JJ.

In November Smith shot 37% which is pathetic for a PF that gets a lot of easy baskets due to his athleticism.

Horford started off the season poorly on offense. In two months he didn't even average 9 ppg.

Marvins game fell of badly in January and was even worse in February.

Zaza sucked all season.

Of course i don't have to mention our pg situation.

As far as JJ sucking here are his monthly splits

Nov 22 ppg/5.7 assists shooting 41.5% , 32% from 3
Dec 22/5.5 shooting 41%, 31% from 3
Jan 20/4.9 shooting 39.8%, 39% from 3
Feb 18.5/5.2 shooting 41.4%, 46% from 3

That might not be up to his normal standards but it is a long way from sucking considering the defensive attention he gets. Nobody on the team was as good as JJ while he was "sucking".

His long range shots were just off. It happens.

[JoshB914]

JJ was subpar until the All Star Break. I will forgive him because he played like a man posessed when it mattered most, but that was a big reason that we struggled so much.

I'm not surprised JJ endorsed Woody. He's a veteran now that wants to win at any costs. But our young guys need someone different to assist with their development, they just aren't responding to Woody.

JJ is a very good player, but he isn't Kobe, we can't go around making personnel decisions based on what he says.

[Rip2137]

Once again, he showed for the season in March. running down the others is just bullcrap. We should have been playing Orlando or Cleveland in the first round instead we were playing the Celtics because:

A: Joe spent a majority of the season sucking

B: Woodson kept giving him the ball exclusively while he was sucking despite everyone else on the court outplaying him.

Winning NBA player of the month is more than just showing up. And @ everyone outplaying JJ.

In November Smith shot 37% which is pathetic for a PF that gets a lot of easy baskets due to his athleticism.

Horford started off the season poorly on offense. In two months he didn't even average 9 ppg.

Marvins game fell of badly in January and was even worse in February.

Zaza sucked all season.

Of course i don't have to mention our pg situation.

As far as JJ sucking here are his monthly splits

Nov 22 ppg/5.7 assists shooting 41.5% , 32% from 3
Dec 22/5.5 shooting 41%, 31% from 3
Jan 20/4.9 shooting 39.8%, 39% from 3
Feb 18.5/5.2 shooting 41.4%, 46% from 3

That might not be up to his normal standards but it is a long way from sucking considering the defensive attention he gets. Nobody on the team was as good as JJ while he was "sucking".

His long range shots were just off. It happens.

I am sorry, but that didn't support your point at all.

So are you saying JJ played better in Dec and Jan and February than Josh Smith?

Are you saying that Marvin had a big falloff in Jan when he was putting up 16 and 6 on 44 percent shooting, but JJ was playing better with 20 and 5 at 39 percent shooting?

Up until Jan, Joe Johnson was our 3rd best player on offense for this team but was no doubt getting the most shots. in February, he moved to number two because of how horrible that Marvin played in Feb.

so maybe saying everyone was outplaying him was a huge overstatement, but at the same time, he went on this rant about wanting to get HIM some veteren help when he was clearly being out played by Josh Smith and for most of the season, Marvin Williams. He is supposed to be THE guy, and for him to make the statment at the end of the year again when he only played well for half of a season is ridiculous.

He was putting up Kevin Durant numbers for most of the season and people were making legit arguments that he wasn't the best rookie in the NBA this year. that a guy on the Hawks was a better rookie. How can you argue that a guy putting up pretty much the same bad numbers wasn't sucking? 20 points per game at 40% shooting is NOT good dude. No way to cut it.

Yes, he had a AMAZING March, but like I said, he didn't show up until then. He sulked the first half of the year, wasn't playing the same defense that we know he can play, and was just playing horribly. For him to make comments about the personel now is just disrespectful to the guys that carried this team while he worked his way out of a 5 month funk in this 7 month NBA season.

[tontoz]

So are you saying JJ played better in Dec and Jan and February than Josh Smith?

Did you even read your own post? You said EVERYONE was outplaying JJ.

Smith doesn't have to deal with the defensive attention JJ does. If he did he would probably average 10 pts and 7 turnovers per game.

JJ is always the focal point of the other teams defense. Smith has it easy by comparison.

Are you saying that Marvin had a big falloff in Jan when he was putting up 16 and 6 on 44 percent shooting, but JJ was playing better with 20 and 5 at 39 percent shooting?

Of course because Marvin has no defensive pressure on him. All he has to do is make wide open jumpers and drive when a lane is open. He doesn't have to be the playmaker in the half court set fighting double teams.

if teams ignored JJ like they ignore Marvin JJ could average 30. You don't seem to understand that the defense isn't focused on anyone but JJ.

so maybe saying everyone was outplaying him was a huge overstatement, but at the same time, he went on this rant about wanting to get HIM some veteren help when he was clearly being out played by Josh Smith and for most of the season, Marvin Williams.

That is just plain nuts. If Marvin and Smith had to deal with the defensive pressure that JJ gets they would be lucky to average double figures.

Yes, he had a AMAZING March, but like I said, he didn't show up until then.

Do you even remember that he had a season ending injury last year? Even if he was completely healthy (which he probably wasn't judging from the wrap on his calf) he probably wasn't in the condition that he usually is in.

All shooters go through slumps. You won't find any who don't.

[Rip2137]

How is "He gets defensive pressure" an excuse? Name one superstar that doesn't get 2-3 guys all floating to him or covering him hard during the season.

Not even superstars, just guys who score alot still get plenty of attention and still outperform everyone else on the team becauase that is what they do. they are superstars...its their jobs.

Yes, he went through a LONG slump. He is allowed that. I am not knocking him for the slump. I am knocking him for insulting teammates when HE was the one in the slump for 5 freakin months. Yes you can slump. But a slump that long takes away your ability to "call out" others for their play when you weren't playing well. That is my problem.

Just like I said during the slump, players go through slumps. Thats the NBA. But there is no excuse for sulking around, not playing tough D and doing the other things you should be doing on the court because you aren't scoring well. Thats what Joe did. Slump, but slump with some effort and pride, and throwing teammates under the bus and saying "we just need more vets" is BS.

[tontoz]

How is "He gets defensive pressure" an excuse? Name one superstar that doesn't get 2-3 guys all floating to him or covering him hard during the season.

You weren't comparing him to other stars. You were comparing him to the other guys on the team.

Averaging 20/5 is not sucking, period.

[Rip2137]

You can't say that the guy is being outplayed by teammates because of the defensive pressure on him when it doesn't occur anywhere else in the league. Either way, thats on JJ. And besides, he was seeing the same pressure at the end of the year he saw the first 5 months. What happened there? He played better, simple as that. Lebron see 3-4 guys on him everynight, but Delonte West isn't exactly out playing him because of it. It is a weak excuse. He was, like you said, in a slump and was being clearly outplayed by guys not in a slump.
He got out of said slump and has once again decided it was okay for him to bash the guys that carried the team for the majority of the season. The reason we were in striking distance of the playoffs was because of what happened in the first 5 months of the season, when JJ was hurt/slumping/sulking....whatever it was.
When you are shooting right at or below 40 percent, yes, it is. that is sucking. 20 points on 39 percent shooting is not great.

[tontoz]

And besides, he was seeing the same pressure at the end of the year he saw the first 5 months. What happened there?

You do remember the Bibby trade right? Bibby is actually a threat to make an outside shot. That alone made things easier for JJ.

He got out of said slump and has once again decided it was okay for him to bash the guys that carried the team for the majority of the season.

When Marvin or Smith averages 20 ppg for several months then you can talk about them carrying JJ.

that is sucking. 20 points on 39 percent shooting is not great.

First of all he didn't shoot 39% in any month this season. Obviously math isn't your strong suit.

20/5 shooting 40-41% isn't great but it is far from sucking.