B.K. or Woody?

by Jesse28 on Dec 23, 2008 3:50 PM EST

I'm sure we have all had this discussion before, but recently it crossed my mind again and I thought it might be something to look at again now that we have had time to look at the results.

Billy Knight resigned last year and many, if not all, fans were ready for him to go. I was one of those fans. I recognize and fully agree that the guy made some major mistakes when it came to drafting players (skipping on Paul and Harris might be everyone's pick for the worst decision by Knight).

Lately, however, I am wondering if maybe it was a little soon. The team we watched take Boston to seven in the first round last year and the team that's winning this season, was put together by Billy Knight. To me, what's even more important is how the current team came together. Trading away those same bad picks to get Bibby last year showed that he recognized his mistakes and acted to correct them in the best way he could. He also drafted Horford and Acie Law, which I think most would agree were solid picks.

If I had to chose Knight's biggest mistake of all, it would have to be the hiring of Woodson to begin with. And even then, there were rumors that he was trying to correct that mistake, attempting to fire Woodson three separate times during last season, only to be snubbed by a greedy ownership group that didn't want to spend money on a better coach. So instead, Knight resigned fully aware that if the ownership wasn't going to get rid of Woody, then it was probably he who would be the one getting fired at the end of the season.

I am of the opinion that Knight deserves the blame for his mistakes, but should also get the credit for attempting, and in some cases succeeding, to correct those same mistakes. I also believe that Woodson shoulder most of the blame in regards to the Hawks lack of success over the years and that the recent success is not a by-product of anything Woodson related, but instead a direct reflection of the talent and drive of the players drafted and assembled by Knight.

So, if given the option toward the end of the last year to decide between Billy Knight and Mike Woodson, who ya got?

A FanPost expresses the opinion of the community member who wrote it and not that of the blog management.

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Comments

I don't agree

that hiring Woodson in the first place was one of Knight’s mistakes. He was the top assistant on a good team and I don’t recall a lot of talented, experienced coaches banging down the door to take over a team that was designed to undertake a multi-year journey toward winning 30 games.

by Hoopinion on Dec 23, 2008 8:19 PM EST reply actions

Ok

Sure, no one was banging down the door to coach the Hawks, and if the question was “at the time”, then yeah maybe the Woody hire wasn’t his biggest mistake. “At the time” would still go to him drafting Marvin over Chris Paul. But, given Woody’s body of work since being hired and the fact that Marvin has improved since being drafted (still no CP3 obviously, but he’s not a hindrence on the court either), I still say, looking back, hiring Woody was one of Knight’s bigger mistakes.

Either way, that’s all moot. At the end of last season, with the decision in your hands, who you keeping, Woody or Knight?

by Jesse28 on Dec 29, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

I think this year will go a long way to finding out.

If they win a couple playoff series’ this year then Woodson has to get some love. If they are one and done, then he should be gone. The kids have grown up a bit. It’s time for results.

by BabyGoatEater on Dec 24, 2008 3:38 AM EST reply actions

hmmmm......

Since I think Woody is the worst coach ever I would have to go with BK. BK made some bad moves, and they outweighed the good, but anything is better than Pete Babcock. That guy is TURRIBLE.

by bigmanharris on Jan 1, 2009 1:01 AM EST reply actions