Sund-Woodson

[JoshB914]

Hawks general manager Rick Sund and coach Mike Woodson are still in the formative stages of their relationship. They

[JoshB914]

Sounds like Woody is staying. Hopefully part of that "agreement" will include Woody agreeing to use his bench more and play at a faster tempo.

[mattlanta]

The more days you spend with Woodson, the more days he'll smooch up to ya hoping for brownie points! Don't let him get to ya!

[NWO4Life]

The story makes me more comfortable or at least I find the hiring of Sund encouraging.

[HMFFL]

The Pistons go with Michael Curry as their head coach. Leaves me to believe that Coach Woodson being mentioned was only leverage.

I like how Rick Sund is discussing thing with the Atlanta players. It makes me feel better about him, but he needs to be sure about Coach Woodson, or things will turn bad for Sund fast.

[HoopsGuru25]

The Pistons go with Michael Curry as their head coach. Leaves me to believe that Coach Woodson being mentioned was only leverage.

I like how Rick Sund is discussing thing with the Atlanta players. It makes me feel better about him, but he needs to be sure about Coach Woodson, or things will turn bad for Sund fast.

I agree. Does Sund really think Woodson is the best coach available for this team or does he just want to keep things status quo aka "stay with the plan"(which is what he was quoted as saying when he took over)? The Hawks haven't even interviewed any other candidates which does scare me a little.

[Retrovision]

Terry Porter is going to Phoenix, he was a on the detroit staff. How come Woodson is the only nut case from those atlanta braves like pistons teams?

[HMFFL]

If Sund could have Woodson just for another year to observe him live I believe a contract would be one the table. On the other hand we all know Coach Woodson won't agree to a one year contract and is most likely seeking three or more years.

Since Sund can't watch Woodson live right now, if I was Sund, I would be watching as many games as possible since Woodson has been a Hawk. Sund needs to really have a good understand of how Woodson coaches youth and how he worked the veterans into the game.

Contenders appear to be staying away from adding the high dollar coaches. I don't expect the ASG to pay the big bucks for a proven winner. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I can handle Woodson on our sidelines for another three years, and see numerous of other proven coaches get passed on.

The least the ASG could do is start an interview process so Coach Woodson knows his job is far from being secure. If Coach Woodson decides to move on, so be it, and will be forced to do the same. If the ASG can't handle that they need to get out of sports all together. If I'm the ASG, I would like to know what other coaches (young and old) around the league would do if they had the talent and youth that we have. Also to know how serious other coaches are about coming to Atlanta.

[Master8492]

^Yep. My sentiments exactly... from watching earlier games in the season coached by Woody to the interviewing other candidates. Hopefully we hear something about the latter in upcoming days/weeks.

[evildallas]

I wouldn't be opposed to the concept of opening the job to interviewing including interviewing Woodson (on the basis of having a new GM). If after interviewing several candidates they believe that Woodson is the right man for the job that's their prerogative. I have to think one of the other candidates has a better vision for getting the Hawks to another level.

It is interesting that Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit have gone with 1st time head coaches, while Dallas, New York, and Charlotte have gone with experienced coaches. I think we'd benefit from a more experienced coach who commands the attention of the still youthful team. How many times have we questioned if Woodson's voice and habits had gotten tired to the team? The only ways that improves is a big contract commitment (which he hasn't earned) to show the players that he's in control or a new coach with a rep that demands attention.

[HMFFL]

It is interesting that Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit have gone with 1st time head coaches, while Dallas, New York, and Charlotte have gone with experienced coaches. I think we'd benefit from a more experienced coach who commands the attention of the still youthful team. How many times have we questioned if Woodson's voice and habits had gotten tired to the team? The only ways that improves is a big contract commitment (which he hasn't earned) to show the players that he's in control or a new coach with a rep that demands attention.

The teams with more depth like Phoenix and Detroit don't need to pay as much as teams like Dallas and the New York. Dallas doesn't have much depth on their bench and we all know the New York situation. I like what Detroit did by keeping it within the organization and Joe must not Curry is well respected by the Detroit players. The Phoenix ownership is rather cheap considering they sell nearly every game out and only do what it takes to get by. I doubt the franchise ever wins a title during the Steve Nash era.

[CWell]

PHX didn't hire a first time head coach.Terry Porter coached the Bucks a few years back.

[td00]

I dont understand what Chicago is going. They bring in a first year non-experienced coach like Del Negro where what they needed was experience and someone who knows how to get to the conference finals.
I don't see the advantage that Del Negro has over other candidates. It appears to be to be like and buddy/buddy relationship more than what that coach's fundamentals are.
How can you ignore Avery Johnson? IMO, Dwayne Casey had this job down to the wire until Steve Kerr must have mentioned something that Vinnie 'might' have what it takes. Good luck with that.
Young teams need leaders to show them how to get to the next level.
Chicago will probably struggle all year not having an identity.
I harp on experience as a player. There are plenty of candidates to choose from if you don't want much experience.

I hope the Hawks ignore what Woody tries to sell, because he himself says he is unsure how talented this team is. We need to break away from what was being developed here and bring in a leader. A leader who has been there before IMO as a player. To me, it is much harder for coaches to just come in there and earn the respect, like Saunders had trouble with in Detroit.
Give me a vet who has been there many times, who knows about the playoff battles, and can teach by example.

IMO, I would take Kareem over any of these first or 2nd run coaches with Avery Johnson probably being the exception. But Avery has a sweet deal, so he probably isn't in a hurry to take just any offer.
I would like to see what respect Kareem could bring to an organization other than the Lakers. Would today's player listen to him? I think so. He is still an imposing figure and possesses Bird-like experience for many years. How worse off could we be if he came in here?
Having Woody hear just tells me that the ASG is not serious about the basketball business.

[JoshB914]

Why Kareem? His coaching experience is basically limited to mentoring Andrew Bynum.

[td00]

I think Kareem could do just fine in the NBA as a head coach. He took his only pro team to the championship the USBL Oklahoma Storm in '02)and I just think he has been around enough coaches and players to formulate a winning plan.
Would he come to Atlanta? He has to be asked to come here and interview, but that would be a publicity notch for this city. Bringing in one of the all-timers to come in and teach these young guys. Yes, he has been successful with Bynum, but I believe he has more to offer at this stage in his life.
He brings instant notoriety to the Hawks; they finally get on the national map, and Kareem would have to improve the roster and bring in assistants to help him grow this thing.
We don't have any tradition right now, do we? Its time we stepped outside of what the norm is in the NBA, and that is hire a hot assistant. Kareem would hold his own just fine. And Sund would have a name hire in his first year. I know Sund isn't known for the big splash, but Kareem's success speaks for itself.
If someone can hire a Del Negro. or a Curry, or a Woodson, than Kareem is not a reach by any means.

[conleyorbust]

From Hollinger's chat:

Beak Head (Atlanta): Is there any logical reason for Rick Sund to give Mike Woodson a contract extension (other than he once hired Bob Weiss)?

John Hollinger: (3:14 PM ET ) Can't really think of one. But the owners appear to be big Woodson fans and that may save him.

[mattlanta]

Going at it for seven games in the playoffs with the best regular season team in the NBA will surely help Woodson. I don't really want him back, but it's about time Atlanta fans accept it that he will be back. Joe Johnson and Al Horford have spoken up publicly about wanting him back, and that will only help him return.

I don't know why people put Woody down like this though. It's not like he did nothing for the team for the past three years that he's been here. Sure, he's certainly had some problems with playing his bench (if he's ever even been provided with a legit bench that is) and his coaching of the team that would fail to get over the .500 bench mark, but it ain't like he's just been sitting at practice watching every one run sprints and do lay up lines. The guy's brought us to the playoffs where we haven't been in nine years. Give the man the credit that he deserves.

[conleyorbust]

Going at it for seven games in the playoffs with the best regular season team in the NBA will surely help Woodson. I don't really want him back, but it's about time Atlanta fans accept it that he will be back. Joe Johnson and Al Horford have spoken up publicly about wanting him back, and that will only help him return.

I don't know why people put Woody down like this though. It's not like he did nothing for the team for the past three years that he's been here. Sure, he's certainly had some problems with playing his bench (if he's ever even been provided with a legit bench that is) and his coaching of the team that would fail to get over the .500 bench mark, but it ain't like he's just been sitting at practice watching every one run sprints and do lay up lines. The guy's brought us to the playoffs where we haven't been in nine years. Give the man the credit that he deserves.

What are you asking people to do? Admit that Woody had sub-optimal conditions? Sure, I can do that easy. He still isn't a good coach, he still makes a lot of mistakes, and he still doesn't get along with the majority of his players.

I'm tired of hearing that Woody should get another shot because the team didn't get worse as the talent got better. The fact that he had to put up with BK's terrible roster choices shouldn't be a reason for him to come back even if it does suck for him.

[td00]

Libid21 is the first that I can recall that is actually defending Woody for what he has accomplished.
For someone to have a 4-5 year contract, do you really think that going from 13 wins in Year 1 to 37 wins in Year 4? is something to celebrate?

Woody's style of coaching didn't change from Philips to TD Bank North. The players responded to the backing of the fans and that is where the credit should be, not with Woody knowing how to coach his team at home.

They were blown out of every game in Boston and it should be acknowledged that this should not continue. Regular season wins don't matter at that point, and whether we lost in 4 straight or best of 7 really doesn't matter that much does it? It only serves the owners who get revenue from the home games and can present a false pretense to the fans when looking at tickets for next season.

Everyone will be saying, well, as long as we get home court advantage next year, we will be good. That isn't going to happen with Woody at the helm. He does not make us better to that extent. While his efforts are appreciated by probably everyone in this city, and it gave us a feel-good story, he will not be the one to 'rise-up' this team to a top tier playoff contender. His 24 game improvement isn't that impressive. You would think that 4 years, your team would improve an average of 6 wins/year.

[JoshB914]

Woody has accomplished some things TD. He hasn't accomplished nearly enough but you can't say he hasn't accomplished one thing. And I like how you give Woody zero credit for our wins and all the blame for the losses in the playoffs.