SportsLine.com Report
May 25, 2000

1999-2000 in review

No team was a bigger disappointment than the Hawks.

The Atlanta front office, in an effort to shake up a club that was aging and spinning its wheels in the Eastern Conference, took a gamble that completely blew up in their faces. And ended up costing coach Lenny Wilkens his job. Wilkens resigned on April 24, less than a week after the disastrous season.

The Hawks hired Lon Kruger on May 25 to succeed Wilkens. Kruger spent the past 18 years as a college coach, the past four at Illinois.

He's hoping to turn around what was a nightmare season for the Hawks in 1999-2000. The acquisition of noted troublemaker Isaiah Rider not only deep-sixed a season, but probably was the straw that broke the back of the NBA's winningest coach.

Rider, acquired in a deal that also brought Jim Jackson to Atlanta and sent Steve Smith to Portland in August 1999, arrived with considerable baggage. The Hawks figured they could deal with it.

They were wrong. Rider, whose immense talent is negated by a disruptive attitude, did not waste any time adding gray hairs to Wilkens head by showing up late to training camp.

Two suspensions and numerous infractions later, the Hawks admitted to their huge blunder by releasing Rider on March 17. Dealing Mookie Blaylock to Golden State, losing Grant Long to free agency and dumping Tyrone Corbin cost the Hawks veteran leadership.

Nothing, though, can match the fallout from the gamble they took on Rider.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: It occurred early on. The Hawks won a season-high five straight beginning in late November, knocking off Boston, Toronto, Sacramento, Detroit and the Clippers. They followed that up by losing five of six. Then again, the highlight of the season might have occurred on the day in March when they ridded themselves of Rider.

SEASON LOWLIGHT: A stretch in late March, when playing like they were anxious to make tee times, the Hawks lost nine in a row. The nine losses were by a total of 166 points.

KEY STAT: 11-31. The Hawks were 11-31 in games decided by 10 or more points. They regularly were blown out.

The Personnel File

MVP: Dikembe Mutombo. He was one of the lone bright spots in a dreadful season, leading the league in rebounding (14.2) and among the leaders in blocked shots (3.3).

BIGGEST SURPRISE: A stretch, but why not. Jackson, not noted for being able to stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting, shot a career-high 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. He nailed a team-high 115 3-pointers.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Rider, of course, tops the list. But, more was expected from Alan Henderson (13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds) and rookie point guard Jason Terry (8.1 points, 4.2 assists, 42 percent shooting from the field). p.COACH: Wilkens resigned with two years remaining on his contract.

Offseason tinkering

THE DRAFT The Hawks are looking at a lottery pick. They would like to come up with some frontcourt help, and could take a shot at someone like Utah's Hanno Mottola, a 6-9, 220-pounder.

FREE AGENT MARKET: The Hawks free agents are LaPhonso Ellis and Bimbo Coles. Ellis has already been told he won't be back. Coles is also a likely goner.