Lon Kruger's good idea had a bad ending  By Michael Baldwin
Published: July 14, 2011  Lon Kruger went to Atlanta Hawks
management before the 2002-03 NBA season with a radical
proposal.  Kruger's idea was to build a marketing plan around
the Hawks making the playoffs. If the Hawks reached postseason,
all season ticket holders would be given free first-round
tickets.  "Crowd interest was very low," Kruger said. "The
enthusiasm for the Hawks was low. We were just trying to do
something to pique interest."  The final marketing plan was
different from the plan pitched by Kruger. Team officials
decided it wasn't sexy enough.  Before that season, team
officials did make a guarantee, though. If the Hawks didn't make
the playoffs, every season ticket holder would be refunded $125.
“The team thought it would play better, read better, if they did
it the other way, which I was fine with,” Kruger said. “We just
wanted to create a little interest.”  Kruger said he believed
making the playoffs that season was a realistic g