John Hollinger: Atlanta under Larry Drew

[HawkItus]

Atlanta under Larry Drew

Remember Larry Drew's first season in Atlanta? Here, I'll help you out: The Hawks gave up more points than they scored, openly mailed in several games -- especially late in the season -- and generally looked like they were trying to get him fired. Given Drew's low-key presence, it wasn't clear whether he could reach his players and coax maximum effort from them.

Well, apparently he reached them, because Drew quietly has been among the league's most effective coaches since. Atlanta managed to win a playoff series with Orlando that first year, and since then Drew's team has overachieved on defense in consecutive seasons. The Hawks were just 15th in Defensive Efficiency in 2010-11, but moved up to sixth a year ago despite missing Al Horford for nearly the entire season.

In 2012-13 Atlanta is even better, both nominally (fifth) and relative to the league (just 1.5 points behind first-place Memphis). Drew has done this despite having a lineup full of tiny guards that presents size mismatches on the wing on a nearly nightly basis. He also has only one true small forward, Kyle Korver, who isn't exactly renowned as a defensive specialist. Also, Drew has taught his players how to do this.

Somehow, he's making it all work, and as a result the Hawks are in prime position for a 16th consecutive Eastern Conference semifinals defeat. Wait, I was trying to keep this positive … let's move on.

What do we do about Drew?

[macdaddy]

Nothing. By the end of the season it will be clearer what to do. I think he's a good coach and we are looking great so far but it is a long season. My expectation is it will be a good one for the Hawks and if so why would you fire a guy who has exceeded your expectations.

[Admin]

What do we do about Drew?

Start giving him the respect that he deserves? Nah I know Hawksquawk won't be able to do that...

[Admin]

Nothing. By the end of the season it will be clearer what to do. I think he's a good coach and we are looking great so far but it is a long season. My expectation is it will be a good one for the Hawks and if so why would you fire a guy who has exceeded your expectations.

Problem is that even though there shouldn't have been ANY expectations for this season going in, we've now played well enough that people are expecting a 3-6 seed and maybe even a good 2nd round showing. Sounds like a lot to ask of a coach with a flawed roster and 75% new players who are on one year contracts. But here LD and the Hawks are, among the East elite in the standings and yet people still complain about him.

[HawkItus]

Start giving him the respect that he deserves? Nah I know Hawksquawk won't be able to do that...

He does deserve respect, but is he the guy to lead us to a title? Is he a championship coach? I'm not so sure. I hope so, but he is up for a renewal and we will either have to invest in him completely or move on. No half measures.

[NineOhTheRino]

John Hollinger and the media in general are "what have you done lately" whores. Is Woody the best coach in the NBA? No. So is LD one of the best coaches in the NBA? No, but he's probably the best coach for this group of talent. I'm no LD fan, but I have enough sense to stick with what's working.

Edited December 13, 2012 by NineOhTheRino

[Admin]

He does deserve respect, but is he the guy to lead us to a title? Is he a championship coach? I'm not so sure. I hope so, but he is up for a renewal and we will either have to invest in him completely or move on. No half measures.

I'm more than sure that he's as good as 95% of the coaches in the league. If one of those top 5% coaches comes available and we've got a roster that can compete for a championship then I'm all for making the move. Until that times or until the time comes when LD proves he can't lead this squad them I'm riding with him.

[TheTruth]

I have to say something. I have railed and railed on LD ever since he became head coach. I have hated his player management and development, substitution patterns, and cavalier demeanor. Coming into this season, I expected this team to hover around .500 all year, sneak into the playoffs, and then get blasted in the first round. Could that still happen, yeah. But I have to confess, he has pleasantly surprised me so far.

He has his share of head-scratchers, such as IVAN's playing time, not playing a big lineup enough, and still-too-often-weird substitution patterns, but he is slowly, slowly proving to me that if can keep up the winning ways (and not necessarily at this torrid clip), then he deserves a chance to stay. He did well to keep us in it last year when Horf went down after just 11 games, and he has this team overachieving once again this year.

There is no guarantee that if you let him go his replacement will be an upgrade. And with the way our team has been incrementally improving, I'd be less inclined to roll the dice with someone new.

To put it another way: It is clear to me, at least at this moment in time, that we no longer need an upgrade in player personnel and head coach....just player personnel.

[AHawks89]

I've always liked Larry Drew as a coach. I think he has done very well with this team; especially this year. We couldn't get past Orlando for years, but LD figured out the blue print to break down the Magic. I think players are buying into his plans, and starting to earn his respect. He has done nothing, but good for this team. Yeah, he may be the cheapest coach - go figure. I think people see the paycheck that he gets and judges him by that, as well as people did to Joe Johnson. I blame the owners.

I question his sub patterns, but other than that, I think he has done very well with this team. What to do with him? I'm not sure. I wouldn't mind keeping him if there wasn't a coach out there that is hands down better and proved.

[coachx]

This will be Hollinger's last Hawks article............he has left ESPN to join the Memphis Grizzlies front office. Note..........person is pic is not him, I think its the team owner or GM. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/224998/Hollinger_Leaves_ESPN_To_Join_Grizzlies_Front_Office

Edited December 14, 2012 by coachx

[TheFuzz]

He does deserve respect, but is he the guy to lead us to a title? Is he a championship coach? I'm not so sure. I hope so, but he is up for a renewal and we will either have to invest in him completely or move on. No half measures.

With the right talent, sure Drew can. He's probably in the top 10 or so coaches in the league, and that's not an exaggeration. There're a lot of bad coaches in the league. Unless there's a clear upgrade available (like SVG or Blatt), Drew can get the job done. Plus he has a nice set of assistant coaches right now.

[lethalweapon3]

Way to go out!

~lw3

[DrReality]

Start giving him the respect that he deserves? Nah I know Hawksquawk won't be able to do that...

He's got a Gm that has some backbone and no longer has JJ who had no interest in being coached

[itsslomotionbaby]

coaching is so overated sometime, it all comes down to whether you got the horses or not. all of a sudden woodson is a genius really. he also has five guys that can hit a three & the best scorer in the league (cormello).so he can iso to his soul desires.the team needed some defense & he gave them that.i remeber going to the first game & i sadi to myself, " man we got some fast guards, if drew could ever draw this up right, we might have something". looks like he has found out what his team is all about.

[Q45T]

Looks like I might have to eat my words...

[itsslomotionbaby]

well it looks like drew is getting some play from inside the NBA (kenny,webber & shack). just congratulate him for a good job. they finally spent a paragraph on the hawks ( kenny actually sees us winning 50 games).

their was also a disgruntled laker fan that called in and said," i am disappointed in dantonio b/c a team is a reflection of their coaches demenor, look at chris jackson, look at larry drew with the atlanta hawks, those teams are going to the playoffs."so we are establishing a stage for ourselves, i beleive this is the first step in encourageing stars to want to come here.