Woodson Throwing BK Under the Bus on 680/790

[AHF]

Don't know if anyone else heard Woodson on the radio this morning. He did back-to-back interviews with 790 and 680. The 680 interview was non-descript - pretty much just talking about how far the team has come and how happy everyone is that they are in the playoffs. The 790 interview was more antagonistic. While saying they were rooting for the Hawks to do well, they told Woodson they expected the Hawks would lose to the Celtics and openly questioned whether he had done his job. Woodson told them he had done a fantastic job as coach. When asked if he could understand why some fans felt the team underacheived given their talent, Woodson said he couldn't understand that. He said something like, "Who thinks this team has so much talent? We don't. We have some good young players but they are just learning how to win." They compared the team to New Orleans and Woody basically said he doesn't have the talent that NO does so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they don't win like the Hornets.

It was the most open throwing of BK under the bus to save his job that I have heard from Woodson. He came off like he was blaming BK for not giving him the pieces and went out of his way to praise the acquisition of Bibby in contrast to the younger players (saying something like he kisses Bibby every day). He also praised Horford and talked about how well he has done playing out of position at C.

Needless to say, the 790 interview was more interesting.

[exodus]

BK sucks, but BK isn't the reason that Woodson benches guys for the rest of the half when they pick up 2 fouls early. BK isn't the reason Toronto was able to get an uncontested layup with .05 left in the game.

I could go on but the bottom line is that they both need to hit the road.

[Peoriabird]

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"Who thinks this team has so much talent? .

Well tell Woodson that most of the media thinks so. Most of the Fans think so! Every time you listen to a telecast of the Hawks games by known homers for the other team and known Hawk Hater announcers, they admit the same thing!!!!

[coachx]

Sounds like he told the truth to me.

Some times the truth hurts.

[WraithSentinel]

The last words of a coach knowing he will be fired is when he compliment himself. Woodson must have already been told he is gone. That is what I am reading into.

[AHF]

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Sounds like he told the truth to me.

Some times the truth hurts.

I think he is using a partial truth to cover for the fact that this team still underacheived under his guidance. The talent on this team is not so far from what the Wizards have(particularly with Arenas gone for most of the year) but the record wasn't close. Likewise, we had better talent than Philly and were certainly in position to surpass Toronto's lineup of Chris Bosh + Ford/Calderon + role players.

I don't think it is the truth that Woodson did a fantastic job maximizing this team's record this season.

[coachx]

I don't think it is the truth that Woodson did a fantastic job maximizing this team's record this season.

I agree with that part.

Your right, partial truth.

[frosgrim]

Those comments from Woodson show that once long-time buddies are now enemies. What is really interesting to me is that this rift between BK and Woody only reflects the larger culture of the Hawks/Thrashers organization. The internal bickering amongst the owners has spilled out into their management. Woodson probably has supporters in the ASG as does BK. Each man believes he has the backing of ownership.

More distasteful is that these statements demonstrates that Woodson has no faith in any of his players outside of Bibby and Johnson. How can Woodson not agree that there is talent on the team? That is absurd- especially on the eve of a playoff appearence! Seriously, nice way to throw your entire team under the bus.

I hope Woodson keeps doing interviews like these as it should get him out the door immediately.

[AHF]

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More distasteful is that these statements demonstrates that Woodson has no faith in any of his players outside of Bibby and Johnson. How can Woodson not agree that there is talent on the team? That is absurd- especially on the eve of a playoff appearence! Seriously, nice way to throw your entire team under the bus.

I hope Woodson keeps doing interviews like these as it should get him out the door immediately.

In the 680 interview he was all positive about the team (talking about how well Chillz and Smoove have developed and how rewarding it is to see them in the playoffs, etc.) It was during the 790 interview where his success as a coach was being questioned that he basically said the team couldn't have done any better than what they did. It wasn't so much him saying that the roster had no talent as his saying he couldn't believe anyone would think the talent on the roster could have done better than what they did. The tone clearly became more hostile at that part of the interview.

[frosgrim]

My mistake for the misunderstanding.

It still sounds like he's hedging his record.

We'll never really know if the Hawks could have done better with different coaching. IMO, they could have done 5-6 games better with a competant coach.

[Packfill]

To me, this further shows why a total house cleaning is needed. If the GM and coach are not on the same page it will have a negative effect on the teams performance. Both BK and Woodson need to be fired promptly.

[jhay610]

Between that and his "we made a hell of a run to the playoffs" comment in the AP writeup of last night's game it definitely sounds like he is doing some positioning for the offseason.

Not only is that a swipe at the GM, it's a swipe at his players, and on the cusp of our first playoff berth in nearly a decade.

How about taking some accountability for your own actions? How about talking about how you can do your job better instead of how everyone else can do their's? Deflecting criticism, making excuses and assigning blame are the earmarks of a loser.

I would much rather have a guy that would unduly take it on the chin and step up for his players than a snake in the grass, which is what this guy is looking like the more he gets the heat.

Fact is, Woody, this was your make or break year, and you've proven time and again that you just don't get it. You played career NBA also-rans (Lue and AJ) in front of promising young prospects (and early on had Zaza playing extended minutes and keeping Horf off the court for long stretches, when it was obvious who was the better player after the first game), and when BK took the keys to the car out of your hands (Bibby trade), you devised new ways to keep our first round pick off the floor (running Chillz at the point). Law is a worse player today than when he was a senior in college. Is that all his fault too?

When every coach in the league was playing starters for 20 min or less last night u had our guys playing 30, and playing in the 4th qtr in a meaningless game against a meaningless team.

It's all about results, and in this league during this year with this roster 8th isn't good enough.

And F8ck you and your 2 foul rule. And your soon-to-be bald head, and your Steve Harvey lookin' @$$.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

That's just wrong to be talking like that just days before the playoffs. That's the stuff that a coach let out before getting fired.

[pimp]

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"Who thinks this team has so much talent? .

Well tell Woodson that most of the media thinks so. Most of the Fans think so! Every time you listen to a telecast of the Hawks games by known homers for the other team and known Hawk Hater announcers, they admit the same thing!!!!

The team IS lacking talent!

Lacking talent in the coaching department.

Woody is gonna get exposed on national tv in the playoffs.

The playoffs are all about making ajustments, and that's something Woody struggles with.

[Guest Walter]

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He said something like, "Who thinks this team has so much talent? We don't. We have some good young players but they are just learning how to win." They compared the team to New Orleans and Woody basically said he doesn't have the talent that NO does so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they don't win like the Hornets.

It's clear that we do not have as much talent as NO. Say what you want but in the NBA having 1 or 2 superstars particularly at the Pg or center positions is better and = more talent than having the JJ and the "potentials" we have.

However, we have more talent than Philly IMO.

Simply, BK and Woody are both responsible. While BK's drafting errors probably cost us 10-15 games a year already, Woody probably costs us 3-5 games a year both relative to a competent GM or coach. That's just the nature of things during a rebuild, the GM has the greater responsibility with a single decision than a coach has over a year's worth of decision making.

W

[HawksHope]

I like to use Portland as the measuring stick for the Hawks. Nate McMillan has gotten so much more out of that team. Some might say they are more talented, but IMO the Hawks way underachieved, not just this year, but last year as well.

[Hawk88]

They both belong under a bus. Woody is the worst coach in the NBA and Knight has done a piss poor job overall.

Mavin Williams over Paul and D. Williams.

COME ONE!!!!!!!!!!

Hawk88

[Hawk88]

This team just isn't that talented. The talent with these guys died after the draft under Woodys coaching.

Think about Marvin. Is he still a great talent. Looks more like an uncoordinated clod to me.

Josh Smith, so inconsistent how can you coach the guy.

Acie?

Childress inconsistent and an underachiever

Joe, Bibby and Horford are talented.

Zaza, Salim and Solomon are all marginal players.

But Woody's coaching isn't making anyone better.

Hawk88

[TheDude]

what a freakin mess....gm doesnt like work of coach...coach doesnt like work of gm....ownership loves and hates both...ownership loves and hates itself...players hate them all.

[Plainview1981]

The Hawks have the ability to play better defense than what they have. Just that alone makes him wrong.