Joe JohnsonIt’s not like Joe Johnson was guarding Kevin Garnett. After Joe Jeezy picked up his second foul steamrolling through Leon Powe less than eight minutes into the game, Mike Woodson put a seatbelt on him on the bench. Johnson warmed pine for more than nine minutes, and by the time that he came back in, the Celtics had grabbed a 41-28 lead.
As ESPN’s John Hollinger points out, Johnson has one of the lowest “foul rates” in basketball at 2.01 fouls per 40 minutes. Or, in English, he doesn’t ever get into foul trouble. It’s not like Acie Law was playing any defense on Sam Cassell anyway. Johnson could’ve easily played equally soft on Cassell.
“This is straight out of the Larry Brown school of foul-trouble conservatism — not surprising since Woodson was Brown’s assistant in Detroit and has been proudly wearing his championship ring all series,” writes Hollinger. “Indeed, Al Horford and Josh Smith also sat out the final minute of the first half with two fouls, just as they had done for the final three and a half minutes of the first half in Game 4.”
Even though Woodson justified JJ’s long rest during the first half by playing him for virtually the entire second half, his absence early on threw the Hawks offense out of sync. They already struggle to run their sets on the road, but Johnson’s vacancy punished them when they actually did move the ball well. How many open jumpers did you see Marvin Williams brick?
Josh Smith isn’t at his best when trying to take his man off the dribble, so during those important early stages, the Hawks’ stagnant offense looked to the next best option: Mike Bibby. Bibby went 1-5 from the field during the first quarter.
Lesson for game six: unless he’s bleeding or about to pick up his sixth foul, leave Joe Johnson in the game.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:42 am
YOUNGFED says:
“JOE JEEZY” WTF, thats almost as bad as “J-HO”
Yall better adopt K-HOVA real sound A-K (lol)
May 1st, 2008 at 7:46 am
YOUNGFED says:
Whats next Josh Smeezy or how bout Mike Beezy (lmao)
May 1st, 2008 at 7:50 am
fallinup says:
Mike Woodson is gone when this series ends anyway. Unless somehow he pulls off the impossible and Atlanta goes to round 2. But I agree, Joe only had 2 damn fouls. Their is absolutely no reason what so ever to leave your best player on the bench for that damn long.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:01 am
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Lot of coaches benching their stars to long this year.
So far AI -Denver gone, not that his would have made a diff.
B-Diddy - G.S. didn’t even make it in the playoffs
Now Mike sits JJ - Hope he doesn’t do that again.
All three coaches should hang it up.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:52 am
DaPro says:
JJ wasn’t going to get in a groove this game regardless if Woodson left him in or not.
But I agree he shouldn’t have been out for that long.
I’m still pushing for a Beantown vs H-Town finals.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
Chuck says:
I have stated all season that Mike woodson isn’t a great decision maker or much of a coach at all in my opinion.
He seems just as lost as his roster. Sitting Joe for that long when he is the primary scorer is just foolish. Especially sitting him for that long.
@Gee
Good comparisons with the Don Nelson and George karl honorable notables for foolish substitutions.
I don’t know what any of those coaches were thinking with these subs.
And If Mike was really under Larry browns tutelage and learned anything, the hawks would play way better D, than that crap they play now!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am
DaPro says:
I’m convinced that Mike Brown and Mike Woodson are the same person. He just changes his suit and puts on glasses cause neither one of “personalities” runs any damn plays.
Iso’s all day long, pick here and there, iso’s again.
Run a fu-king play.
People complain about the Spurs being boring but at least they run plays and maximize the most of their talents. I’m not saying fire the guy (I’m telling you it’s the same dude) but damn go buy a playbook. I’ve seen pee wee AAU teams run more plays than the Hawks and Cavs.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:27 am
Chuck says:
@DaPro
They say great minds think alike.
Welcome great mind!!
I hate watching Cleveland and the Hawks, because their coaches are so horrible, but when I talk to my people, they think I’m crazy.
They say: How can you call a coach that takes these teams to the playoffs bad?
I’m like easi folks, watch the freakin games!!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
DaPro says:
@ Chuck
They need to go to a Dean Smith coaching clinic. Damn these dudes have no clue how to operate on offense.
They lean on the one on one talents of JJ and King James. If only there was an offense coach available who maximizes sets and screens and backdoor cuts. (sigh)
May 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Chuck and DaPro put me in on it. I been saying for a minute if LeBron actually had a coach who could design some ish up and have a system, it would be less on him physically and otherwise.
I still think LeBron loves the green light, but I think he would enjoy winning and winning easier even more.
Hawks have enough talent where they should be doing way better.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:46 am
Chuck says:
@Gee and DaPro
I just don’t understand the hiring process for these coaches and what the criteria is.
I mean, I see the games, and with some teams, I see the greatness in the coach, like any phil Jackson team, I love Van Gundy, I love Jerry Sloan. It doesn’t matter who they have on their teams, they will make the post season. Then I see crappy coaches like Isiah Thomas, who did have some good seasons with the pacers, but dag look at the players he had? And Mike Brown, who you’d think have a better grasp on strategy seeing as how he sat under popovich, I just don’t understand. The owners need to get some people in their camp who has basketball knowledge to help them pick these coaches to stop this redundant recycling of bad coaches.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:51 am
DaPro says:
No doubt GEE. As physically gifted as LBJ is, the punishment he’s taking this series and from here on out will take its toll.
I agree it could be much easier for him.
Where’s my man Scottie? He needs a shot as an assistant somewhere!
The best coaches are usually the guys who directed the game from the court and rarely does the superstar work out as a coach. Scottie might be the exception.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am
Chuck says:
@Mister Sun
I may have said something offensive yesterday about my man Dirk Nowitzki, I said he was from sweden or something just trying to be funny. I know my man is from germany, my whole point was who cares, he’s soft and will never win a chip.
To call a grown man ignorant is a B*tch move unless you back that Sh*t up with basketball facts. I have no problems with correction and constructive criticism, but just talking Sh*t just to be doing it, now that’s ignorant.
My apologies to Dirk. I see you and I wish you would toughin up, especially after stealing the most coveted award from Kobe, then choking like a fat man on a chicken bone.
And Mister sun, you pulled a B*tch move yesterday, it’s okay though, just like I would expect Aids from a hooker, I expect B*tch moves from B*tches.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am
doc says:
Mike Woodson the black dude from Family Guy.Everytime he say something I can see him saying it real slow.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:23 am
Kobeef says:
@DaPro
That is Hilarious.
I think the Hawks/Cavs should have a Mike Brown/Woodson job swap day and see if the players notice. It’s safe to say there would not be much change in the coaching philosophy (?)
I can’t imagine Woodson wanted to lose this game but it seemed like it when he sat JJ. And it is very similar to the Nelson benching of BDiddy (and playing Kosta Perovic…who?…exactly)
May 1st, 2008 at 11:04 am
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Chuck who is Mister Sun lol???
Yo last line to dude was fiya!!!
Although all hookers don’t have AIDS at least (cough cough) I hope not. LOL.
DaPro yea not to mention he gets the 82 games up to the playoffs to get beat up too. Something has to change or else he gone be doing some McGrady stuff. Remember LeBron with the back stuff. One of Tracy’s first major injuries was ….the back. They better bring in a new coach quick and save LeBron.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:05 am
DaPro says:
I bet the players or fans would notice until the 4th quarter when Brown paces the sidelines and loses his glasses then everyone gasp as they release that it’s not Brown or Woodson it’s Coach BrownWood.
Has anyone noticed that Phoenix had JJ and Matrix and lost them because they wanted to be more of a focal point of the offense? Now Amare is basically saying the same thing has said for years, he wants to be the primary option and the man in Phoenix.
Is there something in water in Phoenix where everybody wants to be top dog?
May 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Chuck says:
@Gee
Mister Sun is some homo who responded to my message yesterday while we were discussing the Avery Johnson firing, and I was just being funny and saying Dirk was from Sweden and just talking crazy, and dude just ups and calls me ignorant and tells me I’m not a B-Ball fan, and I should watch figure skating.
Now anybody wit common sense knew I was just talking Sh*t
But this cat who I have never really seen posting anything on here before just starts talking crazy, that’s one thing I hate about the internet, you can’t just reach through the computer and slap some people in the mouth sometimes when they being stupid.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
turambur says:
DaPro, maybe I’m just too white to get this, but I thought that Amare WAS the primary option and the man in PHX. I know that Nash get all of the media love, but that’s because two of most sports writers favorite things in basketball are (1) gaurds & wing players (you can thank Magic and MJ for that) and (2) white guys who have the skills to be top shelf NBA players. Nash just happens to be both, but at the end of the day Nash’s job is basically to create open looks for……
(wait for it)……
Amare.
It sounds to me like STAT just wants to get paid. I think that more of these so-called superstars need to take a lesson from TD: take a pay cut and let your team get more good players around you. That alone is nearly half of why the Spurs have been so good for so long.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Chuck says:
@Gee and DaPro
If Lebron ever gets hurt I think I would just stop watching ball, I probably wouldn’t even play anymore. Or play live or 2k8. I just could’t see bron go out like Hill, Hardaway or play 40 to 50 games like Tracy. Bron is my favorite player even though I haven’t got a chance to watch him play yet.
When I move to Houston In August though the first thing I’m doing is buying a ticket to the Rockets and Cleveland game, and Rockets and Lakers game.
Gotta see kobe and Gotta see Bron and they will be floor seats!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Chuck naw I can’t stop watching ball lol. Granted he is one of the best but if I been sticking this through all of Tracy’s injuries I can stomach just about anyone else lol.
Yea I am planning on getting Hawks and Cleveland, Hawks and Houston and Hawks and Lakers/Boston tickets. You got to see the top dudes when they come to town.
Chuck you can’t leave the game if dude gets hurt though lol, just find a way to go after his coach.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Chuck says:
@turambur
Amari is capping out at 17.6 mil in 2010/11 and has a while before he even renews his contract.
Stat is the man in phoenix so I don’t know why he would say something so asinine as that.
One thing dude needs to do is rebound, learn to block out. Learn to play man to man defense, so he doesn’t get abused by TD EVERY time they face each other.
I know that’s why they picked up Shaq, but MAN come on, put a hand in Duncan’s face or something.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Chuck says:
@Gee
LOL!!!
I love the game to much to leave,, but I’d be hurt.
I see Wade having those injury problems though before I see Bron having em.
Dude been hurt all season. He just plays so freakin reckless.
But if Bron happens to go down in flames, I still got Kobe and Chris Paul, and my man Derron Williams to hold me over until Beasley starts beastin cats.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
DaPro says:
STAT wants to be the man but he hasn’t put it all together to be the “MAN” Nash is the engine that drives that team.
The offense doesn’t go through Amare like he wants it too. He’s talented but he has to devote himself to defense and a post game.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Yea Wade is just to reckless. Granted he is doing it all in the name of trying to win. It just sucks when your team isn’t putting all that the star player puts in.
Yea it’s funny that Kobe is like one of the older cats now. Time goes fast like a mofo.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
turambur says:
I hear that. Nothing makes me want to throw the remote quite like millionaires who only want to work half days. That’s another lesson STAT should take from TD: there are atually TWO ends of a basketball court, and you have to play on both of them to win big games.
Come to think of it, maybe Amare should just try and talk TD into working with him 1-on-1 this summer. Timmy seems like a generous fellow (after the final buzzer anyway), he might just go for it.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Chuck says:
@turambur
I would agree with you concerning the millionare work half days statement, but I’m at work right now chatting with ya’ll. LOL!!
The difference, I’m far, far, far from a millionare, I don’t even make 30 gs a year yet. LOLOL!!
But money never stops anyone from being lazy, actually it makes it worse. LOL!!!!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
turambur says:
I almost think that the best thing that could happen to LeBron right now is to break his leg in the Olympics this summer. That injury takes a long time to come back from, but usually heals 100% without a lot of lingering follow-up injuries; MJ missed 64 games of his second year with a broken foot and I hear he did okay after he came back.
So LeBron gets a year off, while the Cavs go 2-80 (this is only kind of a joke, I really don’t see them winning more than five or ten without him), exposing Brown as a complete hack who couldn’t coach his way out of this blog and virtually locking up a top 2 pick in the draft for a dominate big or true PG.
So with an up and coming star and a new coach, LeBron enters the meat of his prime years (at the ripe old age of 25) ready to start a new dynasty as Kobe and TD start to decline with age.
I know it sounds crazy to wish injury on the player that got me watching NBA again (living in Arkansas means no hometown teams, and everyone’s ape shit for the Razorbacks), but when the same thing happened to David Robinson it turned out to be the biggest break of his career.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
turambur says:
Man, I just realized how bad that “biggest break of Robinson’s career” pun was. I did not do that on purpose. I appologize for subjecting everyone to that, there is no exuse for a bad pun.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
nbaroundtable says:
Mike Woodson needs to be fired. Despite having one of the most athletic lineups in the league and a team full of quality open court players the Hawks don’t run. They were 19th in pace over the past season and were middle of the table in fast break points. How can he allow that to happen?
How can Al Horford’s post skills be consistently ignored also? He gets 8 shots a night, mostly garbage points. They never call any plays for him so they don’t get enough of a post presence so then their half court offense falls apart and becomes iso orientated and guard dominated. How he can let this happen? Horford had the best scoring post skills of any big man rookie coming into the league this year and routinely those moves have worked in the pros. The coach just never calls his number.
Mike Woodson has to be fired.
Bottom Line: He’s bad at his job.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
DaPro says:
@ nbaroundtable
Woodson doesn’t call any plays for anyone.
Hawks don’t have any plays to run!! If Hortford works on his handle then he can iso like JJ and Josh.
That’s the play ATL runs.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Lady Luck says:
While watching the Cavs play last night, I was thinking about Lebron’s career and what potentially could prevent him from being the best. And it’s simple…coaching. The second major difference between Kobe and Lebron is COACHING. (first being the killer instinct, you could see it last night) Kobe has been coached by one of the best in Phil and his coaching staff. They design actual plays, makes the team use movement and passing to find open shots. Actually penetrate and put player combinations on the floor that work well together. Brown literally gives Lebron the ball, top of the key, and lets him work it out best way he can. The Wiz entire defense was keyed in on him. How many jumpers did Lebron settle for? I was screaming at my TV for him to take the ball to the hole, but it’s like he is tired of getting hit, and definitely tired of going to the free throw line. Why don’t they put Lebron in the post? Who can handle him down there? Definitely not Stevenson, Butler, Daniels, maybe Jamison, but he would at least be able to work closer to the basket and still be able to run the offense through him. The other players could actually move and cut, and would get easier looks. No matter what happens in the playoffs…this team needs a makeover….starting with the coaching staff. The lack of coaching will be the main thing that holds Lebron back. Think about it…he’s had high school, a season or two of Paul Silas (who they should have never fired) and now Brown. Who is going to teach him the little details to get better? The coach should set him up in better positions to get the ball and let him work without the ball, which will be beneficial to Lebron throughout his career and his team.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
GEE...Get on the mic for the symphony! says:
Finally someone else who has seen the Paul Silas light!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Diego says:
Woodson has got to go (big majoriy of Hawks fans agree on this). Marvin is a klutz with no grip on the ball (lots of Hawks fans are not Marvin-lovers). J.Johnson, J.Smoove, Chills and Horford are keepers.
And free Salim Stoudamire!! He is ridiculously underused. (Somehow he got deep in Woodson’s doghouse and has only had short gasps out of there.)
May 1st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
nbaroundtable says:
Woodson’s offense is a joke
He does run one play I like. Where they pass the ball to Al Horford just off the left key, have Joe Johnson run baseline through a Josh Smith screen, curls up for catch and shoot or handoff. Bibby has Childress for a screen on the other wing for the exact same puproses if Horford can’t get Joe the ball. I like that. Gets people involved. Good movement. Helps Joe get the ball at around 15 feet instead of 25 feet and hopefully in some space.
But I hate Mike Woodson’s offense. He has not done enough with that team and he’s had a long time there. He should be canned.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
mavid says:
As a die-hard Hawks fan, it’s nice to see the rest of the world is catching on to just how horrific Mike Woodson is. We were better than a 37-win team. Woody is a baaaadddddd coach. Awful.
Hopefully that changes this summer and we get a new coach (Avery Johnson?).
I wanna start seeing us run the offense through Al Horford much more. The guy can pass and has a great feel for the game.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 am
chuck is ignorant says:
only a b*tch would complain like a p*ssy for being called ignorant.
saying dirk is from sweden instead of germany is just not funny, even if you meant it as a joke.
joke’s on you for looking like miss south carolina man.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 am
Chuck says:
@chuck is ignorant says:
Is this a forum of basketball facts. Or B*tch A*s p*ssy’s like you and Mister Sun taking shots at people.
I mean I’m confused. Comedy is relative. If dirk is soft, dirk is soft just like any chump like you and, obvisouly a proffesional homosexual, who is insecure in himself, and probably could care less about basketball.
The funny thing about this is, if we weren’t on computer screens and keyboards. You would get smacked in the mouth. But fate has been good to you I guess.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Tha God says:
y’all dudes wild! haha. but on some real, the celts got superstars, but they really aren’t that good after watching them struggle with my Hawks, they showed a lot of weaknesses. The boys can win if they stop bullsh*ttin and go to the rack. Boston is as soft as my wavebrush bristles games 3 and 4 showed it. they shoot madd jumpers, which run out in the 4th, and their bench just looks good bc the hawks defense is half-hearted and slow(other than josh smith glassin cats). if they win, wait until they run up against a charging Lebron or a lights out Kobe, it’s wraps!
oh yeah, and give Salim and AC shom shine with the rock, they can shoot for days and can handle! if players like rondo, farmar, gibson, and stuckey can hit a J and score, i KNOW AC and Salim can.