Woodson likes the team's blend of elements By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 10/10/06 Mike Woodson's first Hawks team was a mixed cast of characters, including veterans and four rookies, a group of players who had been assembled on the fly in the months just before the season began. Last year, the Hawks added numerous new faces and even more youngsters to comprise what ended up being one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in league history. With so much change, there was little time to develop the chemistry that they've tried to cultivate since the end of last season. That's what has made the third edition so pleasantly surprising for the Hawks' third-year coach. Sure, there are four new faces. But Speedy Claxton and Lorenzen Wright are seasoned veterans. And rookies Shelden Williams and Solomon Jones played four years of college basketball. Melding the personalities this time around has been much easier than in the two seasons past, Woodson said. "I think chemistry plays a major role when you're building a team. That's with anything you do," he said. "You've got to have good chemistry. My first year, we just didn't have the chemistry. Last year we had pretty good chemistry, but we got off to a rocky start, and it just shattered whatever life we had. "This year has been different because those same young guys, from a mental standpoint, their approach to the game is totally different. Their skills are developed as well, and that can't do anything but help you. And then with these veteran guys in Speedy and Lorenzen along with Shelden and Solomon, that can only help us." New team, new look After Monday's practice, the Hawks continued working on a video shoot that began Sunday. They're shooting a sleek new introduction video for home games that includes the players dressed in suits, emerging from jets at an airport and entering Escalades that bring them to the loading dock at Philips Arena. "You missed the jets [Sunday]," Wright said during Monday afternoon's shoot. "You should have seen that." This flashy new introduction video is the brainchild of the Hawks' marketing department, and a look that veteran point guard Tyronn Lue said is only fitting. "Even though most of the guys are back, we have a new team and really a new look," Lue said. "So we needed to switch things up a little bit this year." Front office changes Hawks general manager Billy Knight has restructured his basketball staff, promoting Gary Fitzsimmons to assistant general manager from director of basketball operations. He also added Scott Wilkinson, Atlanta Spirit's chief legal officer, as an assistant general manager for basketball. Knight also elevated former director of pro personnel Mike McNeive to Fitzsimmons' old position as director of basketball operations. Exhibition opener The Hawks will conduct a morning practice today before departing for Memphis this afternoon in preparation for Wednesday's exhibition opener against the Grizzlies. 資料來源 http://0rz.tw/971VM --

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