April’s Fools
Mike Woodson, Joe Johnson and the Hawks are scrambling to finish with a bang.
HAWKSVILLE - If this is some sort of sick belated April Fools’ prank Hawks, it’s not funny.
Three straight losses, now?
I know, it was three straight to playoff bound teams playing at a much higher level than the Hawks could as presently constituted (despite all the chatter to the contrary a healthy Marvin Williams would help).
But not now.
Not with everything (namely the fourth spot and the home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs that come with it) on the line.
It’s one of the more deflating stretches I’ve seen out of these Hawks this season. And there have been others.
Check the standings, though, and you’ll realize that now is hardly the time to start a tailspin.
Not even a glorious late Sunday morning brunch with the fam and neighbors at Highland Bakery could erase the stain of what I’ve seen from these Hawks the past week.
After a big time effort against the Los Angeles Lakers in a home win last Sunday, they’ve basically fallen apart before our eyes.
They couldn’t keep pace with 76ers late Tuesday night in Philadelphia (a team and city the Hawks could see a whole lot more of in the coming weeks). They suffered a similar fate Friday night in Boston in yet another loss to the Celtics.
For a while it appeared that they would use their home court mojo to end their slide Saturday night against Orlando … then they suddenly went cold and suffered the exact same sort of power failure in the second half against the Magic.
It’s a nasty trend that should worry you. Because no playoff team should be suffering these sorts of lapses with the postseason just days away.
Naturally, the Hawks aren’t ready to call this a code red just yet.
“You can’t go into panic mode,” Josh Smith said. “You just have to bounce back and try to get these games on the road and win out the rest of the season.”
Sure, it sounds good in theory.
But panic mode might be exactly the place the Hawks need to go to find refuge or at least some answers.
Josh Smith insists now is not the time to panic!
They haven’t met the physical or mental challenge of their opponents in a week, which is a clear indictment of not only the performance on the floor but also of the preparation that goes into every game.
The Hawks’ history of struggles on the road make this week’s road tests in Toronto and Milwaukee, on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, even more critical.
I’m going to close with a little ditty from one of our regulars (you probably know him as RA) who sends me regular emails throughout every game.
He made some interesting points about what he sees as some alarming developments after the Magic game:
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353 comments Add your comment
#21=Top50,1stBallot
April 7th, 2009
8:51 pm
To follow it up, every time Smoov does ANYTHING they either say his name with palpable condescention or pan over to Woody or mention what his face does or does not express. This is completely unproffessional. Sekou if you have the opportunity, please listen to the Raptor broadcast of the 3rd qtr. They too are “journalists” and are besmerching your entire proffesion.
RISE UP
doc
April 7th, 2009
8:52 pm
josh for three again, durn that is going to pizz some folks off. hatas. they hate it hen he does good and hate it when he does bad. heh heh it seemed like it was a set up that bibby passed it to him to do. yup always just about josh being josh, no concept of team play.
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
8:54 pm
Hey! Bibby hits another 3! If he keeps this up, he might score as much as he gives up.
Hawks Scouting Report: On offense, give the ball to whoever Bibby is guarding…
The good news is, THIS time he’s got 8 assists. Can’t sniff too hard at 13 and 8.
…. uhhhh, except the fact that Calderon AVERAGES that, and has 16 and 9 tonight….
#21=Top50,1stBallot
April 7th, 2009
8:54 pm
Doc,
You forgot: JOSH FOR MVP
RISE UP
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
8:54 pm
Mike Woodson would get out coached by any inner city “volunteer parent” coach of a 13-15 Boys Teams at the rec center of your choice.
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
8:55 pm
Doc,
You rascal!
Good to see Acie back.
Sekou Smith
April 7th, 2009
8:56 pm
Raps announcers? Wouldn’t know who they were if they came over here swingin’ (which would result in a major international problem for those cats). At least the Hawks are acting like they want to be here tonight. And Bibby heated up in the third (11 points on 4-for-8 shooting), but they are right, it’s clear that the Raptors are attacking with whoever Bibby is guarding. And Quincy Douby … you cannot be serious.
Sekou Smith
April 7th, 2009
8:57 pm
Don’t hate on the burbs Mac-Town. Don’t hate on the burbs!
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
8:59 pm
Sekou they (Raps announcers) must be seated near the Hawks bench b/c they are acting like they can hear everything Woody is saying (or thinking) to Josh…
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
8:59 pm
THIS FOOL JUST REFUSES TO LEAVE ACIE OUT THERE…!!!
WHY NOT BRING IN JOE FOR MO INSTEAD…?
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
8:59 pm
Another scrub having a career night against the hawks.
Depending on who we play in the playoffs…..undoubtedly the “series changers” for the other team will be former Hawk “Royal Ivey’s” offensive explosion off the bench for the Sixers……or “Chris
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:00 pm
Flip vs Douby in the 4th… Who will prevail….
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:00 pm
Another scrub having a career night against the hawks.
Depending on who we play in the playoffs…..undoubtedly the “series changers” for the other team will be former Hawk “Royal Ivey’s” offensive explosion off the bench for the Sixers……or “Chris Quinn” will magically turn into “Chris Paul” for a crucial game in the series.
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:02 pm
my man with the turban has been at the Raptors game since they got there…
and i think its the same cat from the “Welcome to Atlanta” music video…
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:02 pm
lmfao
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:03 pm
Seriously…we can’t lose this game though
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:04 pm
MVP Voting
Douby edges Lebron
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:06 pm
You know, as much as we don’t like to see Josh line up for 3s, he couldn’t possibly look any worse than Joe Johnson right about now.
Dude barely drew iron on the last shot, and everytime he does this, it’s one shot and then we’re hauling butt to the other end to get back on defense. Enough already.
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:06 pm
Why not leave Acie in the game a few extra mins to guard Douby and allow Joe to rest. Nope, Woody prefer to play Joe extended mins and the offense comes to a halt b/c of ISO JOE…
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:06 pm
I’m certainly about to trade for Douby on Live ‘09
ATLRAYzD
April 7th, 2009
9:07 pm
Like Nique stated Flip is hot and Joe comes in and throws up a frozen turkey.
#21=Top50,1stBallot
April 7th, 2009
9:08 pm
Smooooov. And cue the hating……
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:08 pm
Sekou,
Let them Raps boys go to swingin’. I have some very good pals that I work with that U.S. Customs SAs….lemme know, I gotcha back…
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:09 pm
These Raps announcers are going to have a heart attack if Josh hits another 3ptr…..lol
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:09 pm
I really like how hard Flip and Evans take it to the hole on breaks, I think they are great pickups.
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:09 pm
#21=Top50,
Exactly. Smoove hater alerts….
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:10 pm
I wonder if somebody bet Josh Smith he would hit more 3 pointers than Mike Bibby tonight.
Josh is 3-5. Bibby is 1-5
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:11 pm
They are riding Josh now b/c he committed a foul… this is crazy..
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:11 pm
Derrick Stafford came to my career day at Sarah Smith Elem. back in 1996
we should get out and run every possession…
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:11 pm
Another Hawks fast break, brought to you by a Josh Smith blocked shot. OH yeahhhh….
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:12 pm
Terrible no call. Flip was foul….
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:12 pm
Stafford hates the Hawks…
Big Ray
April 7th, 2009
9:13 pm
Woody with another timeout. Who wants to bet on whether or not a good or bad play follows it?
Man, Mo Evans is having a very good game. It’s about time, because we’ve been missing Marvin’s production, and we need it tonight (and we have lately) since Bibby/JJ aren’t shooting well lately.
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:15 pm
No bet Ray, he put Bibby back in the game….lol
MAC-TOWN
April 7th, 2009
9:16 pm
Dominique studies tapes of old Hawk’s broadcasts…..with pen and pad ready..taking notes…tryin gto ooze in as much “Steve Smith” as he can……such a student of the booth
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:16 pm
Good Nite sweetheart…
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:16 pm
Two big shots by Joe… Way to go JOE….
Sekou Smith
April 7th, 2009
9:16 pm
Thanks Ray. And hate Josh all you want, but dude’s a game changer. And when the ball moves, this team looks totally different. Great basketball the last couple of possessions. I don’t know why that’s so hard to do all the time.
Blast
April 7th, 2009
9:18 pm
Hawks are gonna take this game. Everybody played well. Now let’s go to Milwaukee and win that one. I mean it. Hawks can win every game left if they really want to.
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:18 pm
i would bring in West and Law… Solo too… they need game time…
TheHawksFan
April 7th, 2009
9:18 pm
Hawks smoke a Douby and still pull out a ROAD victory. Damn thats all right. Just win Baby. Just Win. Goooo Hawks!!!!!
doc
April 7th, 2009
9:19 pm
josh player of the game. woody coach of the game.
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:19 pm
Stafford… Stafford…
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:20 pm
now u know thats cheating…
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:20 pm
Teh Raps announcers has finally learned. They didn’t have a comment on Josh last bucket…
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:21 pm
Yes Bigdave. Badd call…
doc
April 7th, 2009
9:24 pm
okay we win!
JOSH = MVP!
Melvin
April 7th, 2009
9:24 pm
Yes sir, Good win by the Hawks… And the RAPS announcers are stun…lol.. On to Milwaukee..
bigdave
April 7th, 2009
9:29 pm
good road win…
later on guys…
Sautee
April 7th, 2009
9:31 pm
Road wins are like GOLD!