Hawks are poised to take the next step, but will they blow it? (LINK)
May 5th 2008 03:08
The blowout loss on Sunday to the Boston Celtics should not over shadow just how successful this post season was for the Atlanta Hawks. The fans in Atlanta are excited about the Hawks for the first time in a long time. Three sellout crowds were there to cheer on the hometown team, not the opposing team. Season tickets sales for 2009 are reportedly going well and why not?
In the three games in Atlanta, the Hawks showed what they are capable of. When they run, play unselfishly and smart, these Hawks can play toe to toe with the NBA’s best. What they need to learn is how to transfer the high level of play they exhibited at home in this series to the road and learn how to play consistently well over the 82 game season. Things are certainly looking up for the Atlanta Hawks but danger lurks.
The fighting between Steve Belkin and the Atlanta Spirit must be resolved soon to allow the Hawks front office to function in a more orderly fashion. Given Joe Johnson’s emergence as a real live NBA star, Belkin was proven wrong and maybe the owners can work things out. The other concern I have is the status of Head Coach Mike Woodson.
Listening to local sports talk radio, I’m shocked at the number of callers who want Woodson fired. I think that would be a serious mistake. The Hawks have improved every year under Woodson and surely the team’s performance against the Celtics bought him another season. What the Hawks need is consistency. To change coaches now would cause a disruption and could blunt the momentum they currently have.
Hopefully the Hawks organization will keep Mike Woodson, add strength to the bench and have a great 2009.
In the three games in Atlanta, the Hawks showed what they are capable of. When they run, play unselfishly and smart, these Hawks can play toe to toe with the NBA’s best. What they need to learn is how to transfer the high level of play they exhibited at home in this series to the road and learn how to play consistently well over the 82 game season. Things are certainly looking up for the Atlanta Hawks but danger lurks.
The fighting between Steve Belkin and the Atlanta Spirit must be resolved soon to allow the Hawks front office to function in a more orderly fashion. Given Joe Johnson’s emergence as a real live NBA star, Belkin was proven wrong and maybe the owners can work things out. The other concern I have is the status of Head Coach Mike Woodson.
Listening to local sports talk radio, I’m shocked at the number of callers who want Woodson fired. I think that would be a serious mistake. The Hawks have improved every year under Woodson and surely the team’s performance against the Celtics bought him another season. What the Hawks need is consistency. To change coaches now would cause a disruption and could blunt the momentum they currently have.
Hopefully the Hawks organization will keep Mike Woodson, add strength to the bench and have a great 2009.
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