Woodson and Knight Must Go

The Atlanta Hawks started out hot and it seemed possible that the Baby Birds were ready to turn the corner and contend for a playoff birth. The maintained their momentum and recorded an impressive home win streak over top-tier NBA teams and even showed signs of reversing their terrible road play. By Thanksgiving, the Hawks were one of the hottest teams in the league, playing a fun-to-watch up tempo run-and-gun style. Then December hit, and the Birds stumbled out the gate and now its 2008 and it hasn’t been great for my beloved Baby Birds. The Hawks are currently lost 11 of their last 15 games and their playoff hopes are falling faster than presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani campaign hopes.

What can the Hawks do to reverse their fortunes? First and foremost, the Hawks need a need coach who can motivate them and make them a better team. I had a six game season ticket last year and I’ve caught the Hawks when they visited Cream City this season. The Hawks don’t often lose because of talent, they lose because they either can’t closeout games or they look painfully unprepared. When a team loses like that, it’s a reflection of the coach. Mike Woodson has done some good during his tenure, such doubling win totals, but he’s lacked in developing players. Josh Smith still makes boneheaded decisions, Marvin Williams still doesn’t consistently play like the #2 pick in the NBA draft and the team has failed at developing a strong point guard, center, and companion player for Joe Johnson.

Coach Woodson doesn’t share all the blame because he didn’t pick the talent on the team. General Manager Billy Knight must go because he has failed to develop this team through free agency and the draft. For every good move, signing Joe Johnson, he’s done an even worst bad move – signing an injury prone Speedy Claxton to an expansive contract. For every good draft, picking Al Holford and Josh Smith, he’s passed on emerging superstars like Chris Paul and Devin Williams. Knight has opted to make the Hawks a team of forwards while refusing to address needs glaring needs at point guard and center.

If the Hawks want to turn the corner this season and make the playoffs, I think they need to part ways with Coach Woodson and then dumped General Manager Billy Knight at the end of the season. I think we have some talent, now we need someone to develop it and get us a solid point guard and center to enhance the forwards we already have.