Wednesday, September 29, 2010

ESPN.com: Hollinger: 2010-11 Atlanta Hawks Forecast

John Hollinger projects the Atlanta Hawks to win 46 games, sixth-best in the Eastern Conference. To my mind, the key excerpt from the fine preview concerns a relatively open secret published for the first time:
Atlanta's max-out season was both the best and worst thing that could have happened to Woodson. On the one hand, he received a lot of credit for winning 53 games and improving the team's record for the fifth straight season. On the other hand, the resounding feeling that the team had reached its ceiling with the Iso-Joe show provided an impetus to seek change.

What the Hawks did next was bizarre, hiring assistant Larry Drew mainly because he would come cheaper than any of the other candidates. Spies in Hotlanta say that ownership made this call despite general manager Rick Sund's preference for Mavs assistant Dwane Casey, adding another layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
Emphasis mine.

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