First blood?
The Heat have to be tired of seeing Josh Smith strike this pose!
HAWKSVILLE - We haven’t seen any in this Hawks-Heat series yet, but I can’t imagine we’ll make it another four quarters without it.
Someone has to draw first blood.
And I don’t mean the kind that comes from an accidental scratch on someone’s arm or a stray pass that cracks a guy in the mouth and causes a trickle off the side of mouth, Dracula style.
I’m talking about blood produced by a good ol’ fashioned, wicked “hard foul” served up playoff style (I keep seeing Heat backup center and wrestling superstar in waiting Jamaal Magloire in the middle of the scrum). My gut tells me we’re going to see one tonight in Game 2 at Philips Arena.
That said, no one is interested in cheap shots. That’s not at all what I’m talking about. But sooner or later you figure someone is going to catch someone else with a clean blow that draws blood (the Hawks have already handled that, figuratively, by dotting the Heat’s eye with that 26-point whippin’ Sunday night in Game 1) and the sight of that plasma will serve to inspire someone to play above and beyond their pay grade.
Forget that yarn about a series not really starting until the home team loses on its own floor. A good playoff series doesn’t start until someone gets clocked upside the head and the blood boils on both sides
There has to be some genuine disdain for each other for teams to compete at the required level to win in the postseason (the Hawks had to get their noses bloodied, figuratively, in Boston twice last year before standing up to the schoolyard bully of the league. I’m sure you remember Zaza Pachulia’s nose-to-nose with Kevin Garnett).
A slower, more physical and much more deliberate style in this series would certainly benefit the Heat, even with the great Dwyane Wade on their side. Because they showed Sunday night that allowing the Hawks, namely Josh Smith, to get to the rim unabated is bad business.
The Hawks are prepared for the increase in hand-to-hand combat. They noticed a spike in Game 1, after their lead reached 20 points and kept climbing after halftime. But that was just an appetizer for a Pat Riley-run production.
“We’re going to be ready for whatever comes our way,” Smith said. “We’re certainly not going to back down to anybody. We never have. And we’re a physical team, too.”
We’ll find out just how physical tonight, because the Heat’s goon squad will be deployed before they allow the Hawks to run wild again.
SOUTH FLORIDA REPORT
Our friends from greater Miami have been hard at work digging into the psyche of the Heat since their Game 1 meltdown and the results have been interesting (fingers have been pointed at everyone).
Miami Herald columnist Israel Gutierrez spotlighted two guys I think could sway the Heat’s fortunes in this series if they find a groove.
Palm Beach Post columnist Greg Stoda touched on Wade’s strange, second-half disappearance in Game 1, a complete departure for the league’s leading scorer. Don’t expect an encore.
Sun-Sentinel columnist Dave Hyde has two nice hits, one on “Udonis Beasley” and another on the unique connection between Al Horford and his father Tito Horford.
LAY OFF THE YOUNG FELLA
Being the keen observer of player development that I am, I’ve noticed the similarity in the way Michael Beasley is viewed, treated and examined by folks in Miami and the way Josh Smith was, is and continues to be viewed, treated and examined around here.
And it’s the same foolishness being mistaken for true player development around the league. The last time I checked, the Heat picked Beasley because they were in the lottery and not the other way around.
The fact is, when you spend all your time focusing on what a guy does that you don’t like, you conveniently ignore all the things they do well. And Beasley’s a marvelous offensive talent with an ability to both score and rebound at an incredibly high rate when he’s allowed to just play. But judging from his season stats and all the stuff written about his up and down rookie year, you’d think he was some project instead of one of the best pure talents to come out of the draft in recent years.
All this hand-wringing being done over Beasley’s immaturity, supposedly on and off the floor, is a colossal waste of time. The Heat would be better off letting the young fella play a little bit and correcting his mistakes constructively while also benefiting from the unique blend of skills he brings to their team (a team, mind you, that was in dire need of all of the above this time a year ago).
But instead, in true NBA fashion, folks are busy trashing the kid’s name, game and reputation in the name of “breaking him down to build him back up.” I know that routine and the dues-paying system that is supposed to be in place. And like I always have, I think it stinks.
That’s also why I love what Thunder general manager Sam Presti is doing with his youngsters in Oklahoma City. Sure, there’s plenty Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook have to to learn. Allowing them to do it in an environment where they can play to their potential and through their mistakes is much more sound in the long run than that “old school” approach. The Thunder’s method should be the blueprint and the rule rather than the exception.
SELLOUT BLUES …
Much has been made about the Hawks’ spirited campaign to sell out tonight’s game, and for good reason. The Hawks rarely get the national stage to themselves, so when they do, they want to make a good impression.
And for the record, Sunday’s crowd in Game 1 was fantastic. But there’s cache with a packed-to-the-rafters arena that the Hawks simply cannot claim on a consistent basis. Our esteemed friend and blog regular Stoned Mountain (he doesn’t post as much but he emails me with his thoughts regularly) offered up his own view of the Hawks’ predicament a few minutes ago. I’ll leave you with his thoughts (which are sure to be controversial to some):
Interesting that the Hawks don’t sell out, and in fact don’t get talked about much. The reason is pretty straight forward, I think.
What the Hawks do best is not crowd pleasing here.
At the game Sunday I found myself the only person around me applauding defense – grabbing rebounds, steals, forcing the opponent to exhaust the shot clock. Team work ain’t a big hit here. The only thing that interrupted their chatter was the occasional Josh dunk. Hitting 3’s gets polite applause but not ovations. They get a little excited at a steal and break away, mostly because they think a dunk is coming.
Not ’til late in the game, when the verdict is in doubt, do they get animated.
Certain teams get them excited – the Celtics and Kobe and LeBron.
But DWade and his sidekicks don’t do it.
Not a basketball town.
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504 comments Add your comment
Ed
April 22nd, 2009
10:46 pm
I pointed this out a week ago that when Pachulia plays the Hawks usually show +pts. Once again in this game the Hawks were +5 with him on the floor. It’s not the Pachulia is that good or necessarily playing that well. What it does is put Josh & Al (or Marvin when he’s in) in their natural positions & creates a better overall balance.
kentrell
April 22nd, 2009
10:47 pm
wtf marvin wasnt in the game for? he was hoopin
keepin it real
April 22nd, 2009
10:47 pm
C-YA SATURDAY LET U CRY IN PEACE
otrhawksfan
April 22nd, 2009
10:47 pm
you know kenny going to kiss up to their boy
cp
April 22nd, 2009
10:47 pm
Sautee what I should have said was Flip was taking bad shots that might as well had been turnovers. He was forcing it and trying to get bailed out by the refs and they didn’t save him. He had at least 3 plays where he drove to the basket against a few Heat defenders and no Hawks were back to at least try and get a rebound. He either got blocked or missed the shot which really hurt us…. Joe was terrible out there. It was a few plays where he was doubled and had a wide open Bibby but he took it to the basket for a tougher shot…. I have no idea where Marvin was… We missed way too many free throws…. I saw no adjustments but that is not shocking…Our inability to defend the 3pointer also hurt. Just a flat out terrible game.
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
10:48 pm
Mark: How old are you 10? To say the series is suddenly over is dumb. The Heat shot and played over their head tonight. The hawks should pull at least 1 out of Miami. We are still deeper and more athletic than the Heat. But that doesn’t matter because we lost 1 game and suddenly are the worst team in the NBA. Saying stupid stuff like we shouldn’t even show up in Miami is why you are on the scroll list to most of us.
Bobby: We have to come back to Atlanta. It’s the best of 7 not 5 buddy.
kirkinga
April 22nd, 2009
10:49 pm
Well it’s still no time to get squishy folks!
I’m not sure of all the adjustments that the Hawks must make, but one of them has to be not to let the Heat shoot over 50% from the field..including 3’s!
If you look at the box score, it’s not that the Hawks played a bad game so much as they didn’t play well enough. There is a difference I believe.
Missed too many free throws and got out rebounded as well. Out shout and out rebounded suggests to me that the defensive effort was not what it was in Game 1. Perhaps blowing these guys out was actually not so great?
My suggestion would be to understand Wade is going to get his points but to not allow him to get the rest of the team involved.
Percentages still say the Game 1 winner wins the series 70%+ times, so there is hope!!
Go Hawks!!
freshd
April 22nd, 2009
10:49 pm
Griffey
Bobby
April 22nd, 2009
10:50 pm
I am sorry guys you are right we will come back to Atlanta down 3 games to 1. Sorry Guys, it will be over then.
Blast
April 22nd, 2009
10:52 pm
Heat shot the three extremely well, breaking franchise and league records in the playoffs. Can they keep that up? Hawks played quite bad, missed jumpers, at home, missed free throws, missed layups, missed defensive plays, turned the ball over, so they lost. Hawks would have had a chance if they’d made free throws.
Entire Heat team played well, not just Wade. They need that kind of effort to win this series. Nice to see Jermaine get a good game in. Wade was Wade when he’s on.
Now Hawks have to win one in Miami.
Mark
April 22nd, 2009
10:53 pm
These hawks are soft as cotton. There is only a few guys on this team that I will take to war with me. Josh, Al, Flip, and Bibby. That is probably it. I have been on Josh all season, but I have to admit that he has stepped up in the playoffs. I saw that when he pushed Magloire down. Mo Evans gots to go. Bring back CHILDRESS, PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSEEE!!!!!!!!!!.
Joe is good player, but not a great one. He is basically Steve Smith with good knees.
Bobby
April 22nd, 2009
10:53 pm
LOL!!!!!!!!! Hawks win a game in Miami!!! HA HA!!!!!!
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
10:55 pm
i concur kirknga…
and your boy Bibby is having a great series thus far…
Mark
April 22nd, 2009
10:55 pm
Reggie if you were a little bit smarter, you would realize how STUPID YOU ARE. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the hawks are playing over their heads. You know what never mind.
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
10:55 pm
i still think we’re okay… we were beat by a driving team at jumpers… we are defensing well… the bench killed…
Sam from da Swats
April 22nd, 2009
10:56 pm
Also Scott braves fan, you must not be from Atlanta. You must be a transplant. I’m from Atlanta and I will promise you, I don’t give a dam what’s going on, I won’t sit in traffic for no 2 hours. As fresh d said though, there is a Braves blog. Go over and talk about Chipper Jones and his $15 million a year to play 100 out of 162 games. What a loser, but they want to continue trading everybody else except this guy. You get rid of Smoltz like it was nothing and you continue to keep this guy. Anyway, sorry fellas, but Joe has to step up better than he did tonight. That was awful!!
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
10:56 pm
Bobby: Of course it will. The Hawks are just horrible. We lost 1 game. That’s the end of the world. After this Mike Bibby will not sign with the Hawks. Joe Johnson will demand a trade and we will get Stephon Marbury in return. Josh Smith will get in a fist fight with Woody and will then be released as a result. Al Horford will then have a talk Joakim Noah about going to Chicago after their upset over Boston and will demand a trade to Chicago or release. We will get Tim Thomas in return.
starting lineup next year: Law, Marbury, Williams, Thomas, Zaza.
The world is over.
Sautee
April 22nd, 2009
10:57 pm
I’m certain that Kirk will let us all know when it’s “time to get squishy”.
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
10:57 pm
like what i heard from Coach but i still question his sub method… i woulda got deeper in the bench and brought Joe back earlier in the 3rd…
Blast
April 22nd, 2009
10:58 pm
Now that Hawks have squandered home court, it’s time to see what they are really made off!
They are now in the same boat as Boston, Orlando, Portland, and San Antonio. 1-1 at home.
Atlanta Hawks, show me what you are made off.
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
10:59 pm
Woody the refs sure did do the best they could do to keep Wade in the series…
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
10:59 pm
Sam: Chipper is the only guy other than Mccann that can hit the ball on our team though. I’ll take his 360 average last year at any time.
Da Real Real
April 22nd, 2009
10:59 pm
This is what happens when you get bandwagon fans to hop on a blog. Seriously, no honest fan could look at this one game and say the series is over. Miami threw everything at us and more and if not for a few blown layups and 10+ missed free throws we were right there. I expect us to take one in Miami and I wouldn’t be shocked if its game 3. I don’t expect O’Neal to be better than Horford like he was tonight. I don’t think our defense will be as loose and that it’ll be tightened up. I don’t think there bench will score 2 times more than our bench. AND I don’t think the officiating will be as poor as it was tonight……………..
I still believe this team is better than there’s and that’s not bias talking there. If you want bias you listen to Chuck and Co. on TNT. The thing about this series is that both of these teams no each other so well and when you get two days between a game you expect teams to make adjustments. I think we’ll make ours and I think these will be very close games in Miami (blackout or not) I think we have a really good chance of winning one down there.
DecDawg
April 22nd, 2009
11:01 pm
Too much perimeter play tonight. We have an advantage in the post but we played the game from the perimeter. The offense needed to be played through Al and Josh but it wasn’t and we paid for it. The hot team always wins a jump shooting contest…point proven tonight.
Our coach can’t seem to spell “adjustment” so we continued to play one-on-one all night. Not only is it not smart considering our obvious advantage against the Heat, it’s just dumb basketball. And we just kept forcing the perimeter play even with JJ and Flip struggling.
keepin it real
April 22nd, 2009
11:01 pm
cook might not be as hot next gm but somebody else gonna step up to run with wade and j oneal gonna give us same points but will he be as aggressive as in game 2 thats the question but dont be surprised if they shoot 15 or more 3 at home if u look over last 8 games we were hitting 3’s at about 12 to 15 pg! plus it’s a BLACK-OUT we’ll show hawks what a home crowd IS,y cant they sell-out highlight factory
Sam from da Swats
April 22nd, 2009
11:01 pm
Fellas, really we know what it is all about. This is the NBA. Joe gets into foul trouble on some horrible foul calls. I don’t care if you’re the greatest player in the world, if you sit for a long period of time, its hard to get a flow. Knowing that, the NBA did a good job to continue the ratings. You couldn’t even come close to Wade tonight, so you couldn’t play any defense. Perfect recipe for a longer series. Might as well watch wrestling…
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
11:02 pm
Da Real Real: That post was Da Real Real.
KevinA
April 22nd, 2009
11:02 pm
Look, were are a jump shooting team. Our big’s did great, when we get away from our front court we have to shoot well. Fact is Miami shot better. We still are not a mature enough team to think front court first as we have blogged about all year. Of course when two out of our three gunners play well we win. Tonight JJ and Flip had an off night. We lost, no big deal. If we go low and drive to the basket the wins will come. Marvin is the x factor. Another take it to the hole asset. The reason his minutes are limited and we don’t see his signature drives are because of his injury. By the fifth, sixth game he will become a bigger factor. We are not as good as we looked in the first game. Miami is not as good as they looked in the second game. Look for an intense, very competitive series. Good fun
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
11:03 pm
Sam: Second that. I guess we agree as long as it’s not about Marvin
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
11:04 pm
Exactly Sam…
freshd
April 22nd, 2009
11:04 pm
I am a hawks fan, but I am anti-WOODY, and tonight was the reason why. I”ve seen this too many times where there are no adjustments by him. I don”t know who in the hell was coaching Sunday, because it could not have been WOODY. Where was that coach tonight? He needs to step his game up too!!!
bigdave
April 22nd, 2009
11:07 pm
get that one Sat… get that first one…
Sam from da Swats
April 22nd, 2009
11:08 pm
Reggie, didn’t mean to do the Braves talk on here, but you know what the money maker stat is in baseball? Runners in scoring position with 2 outs….Chipper is batting .240 on average with runners in scoring position with 2 outs. Look up all the other big money clutch players, Manny, Papi, Jeter and see what they average with runners in scoring position with 2 outs. Its not even close. Dude gets all his hits when the game is not on the line. Not saying he’s not good, but its like he’s untouchable but you let Smoltz go? I’m cool, anyway back to the Hawks, Woody needs to straighten up or he may be gone if we lose in the first round. .
Big Ray
April 22nd, 2009
11:08 pm
This is what I meant about our offense.
When things get tough, we revert to what we know, which is….nothing stable. It’s never been established or enforced. The first thing we do is revert back to jump shooting. Everytime. And that is when we cease to run things through the frontcourt, and the backcourt stops sharing the ball. The guiltiest parties? Just read the box score, if you weren’t able to watch the game. Joe Johnson and Flip Murray. No more offensive cohestion.
And by the way, Wade came back with a huge chip on his shoulder. He even broke off a piece or two for O’Neal and the streaky Cook to wear, as well.
And before anybody starts screaming defense and rebounding….Wade is the kind of superstar who CAN’T be stopped once he’s on a roll. And when he’s determined to get on a roll, he can’t be stopped from doing so. Then all you can do is hope to contain him, and stop his teammates. We weren’t able to do either.
Our starting backcourt registered 4 assists, and 6 turnovers. Our starting frontcourt registered 9 assists and 3 turnovers.
Our team defense wasn’t great, but Josh and Al played the best of anybody, aside from Bibby, who shot well. The only knock on these two guys was a few missed free throws.
Hmmm. J’Oneal didn’t look so broken down this time around. Hawks need to maintain their workman-like attitude. Things will be tough down in South Beach.
keepin it real
April 22nd, 2009
11:09 pm
like CHUCK AND CO. say hawks better fast break team than half court no one player will jus take-over for hawks and thats what they are missing way to friendly in half court set
Da Real Real
April 22nd, 2009
11:11 pm
Yeah I agree Sam….I couldn’t help but thinking about how poor our defense was but I realized that it’s going to be poor IF THE REFS WONT LET YOU PLAY DEFENSE. Woody can’t say anything about it but us fans sure can…but hey, its all politics in the NBA.
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
11:11 pm
keepin it real: Joe can take over. He hasn’t yet but after his interview he looks like he is ready too. If you have never seen him take over check you tube for Joe Johnson vs. Celtics in the playoffs.
Reggie
April 22nd, 2009
11:13 pm
Alright Sam I got you. I’m not a huge Braves fan since Wren came in just more of a MLB fan. Anyways what is the big deal about BLACKOUT! who cares. It’s fans wearing the same color shirt. How did it work out for the Dawgs this year vs. Bama?
keepin it real
April 22nd, 2009
11:14 pm
everybody with bball iq no he can but his make-up is to share but it do seem like on 5 possession 5 different player take shot no killer on the team bibby use to be but he’s older now
Sam from da Swats
April 22nd, 2009
11:16 pm
All the guys on here including me knows Joe had a bad game and he can take over a game. The problem is Woody doesn’t run the right sets to get Joe the ball in the perfect position to score. Some people may think I’m crazy, but if Phil Jackson was coaching us with the way they run their offense, Joe would first of all average 28 per game, plus we would win 50 plus easy. I’ve always thought Phil benefited from coaching the league’s best player. But I watch how they run they’re offense and he puts each player in a better scoring position when they get the ball.
D.Carter
April 22nd, 2009
11:16 pm
Woody needs a lesson in defensive strategy to CREATE tempo….. Double teams and rotations… I have been saying all year our half court offensive strategy is horrible and i just heard Kenny Smith second my opinion….. When the offense bogs down we are just letting joe dribble for 20 seconds and heave up an awful shot…. What really pisses me off about Joe is that he doesnt draw enuff fouls to be a superstar…. say what you want about Josh Smith but for all of hs faults he doesnt shy away in the big games……
Please give marvin the ball on the block at least 10x a game!!!! Not a lick o helpside defense and joe is real lazy on the boards and loose balls…. Solomen Jones maybe your best helpside defender and he might as well by a ticket because he will never see the floor in the playoffs……. I still think we wont get any better until we get a new coach…….. mark my words WHEN YOU SEE WOODY FOLD HIS ARMS THE GAMES IS OVER HE IS A BIGGER FAN THAN YOU ARE!!!
kirkinga
April 22nd, 2009
11:24 pm
Sautee..No squishy during the season! Hold firm until the last second ticks off the clock for the season.Although I did get a bad feeling when people on the Braves started talking about the Hawks.
Wade is the kind of superstar who CAN’T be stopped once he’s on a roll. And when he’s determined to get on a roll, he can’t be stopped from doing so. Then all you can do is hope to contain him, and stop his teammates Right on Ray
I still look at the box score and see things like only 11 TO’s, and descent shooting from the field. There just aren’t any huge adjustments that need to be made I think.
Go Hawks!!
Sam from da Swats
April 22nd, 2009
11:24 pm
D Carter, the problem with Joe may be he doesn’t complain enough to get calls. I just know I would be thrown out of the league with how he gets chopped and bodied and no calls. He may have the most non called fouls I’ve ever seen for an All Star.
KevinA
April 22nd, 2009
11:26 pm
Go look at the Hawks shot attempts frome game one to game two. Look at the volume of shots by the back court and the front court. Then go back and look at our past games, the same applies. You can’t win as a jump shooting team. It’s to late to change today and we will shoot better than this game. But when we play our best is when we go front court first. When we play smash mouth offense.
Big Ray
April 22nd, 2009
11:30 pm
Al and Josh were also had double figures in rebounds, so I would not blame them for the rebounding deficit. The problem is that the TEAM as a whole didn’t get into the act, like they did in the first game.
Conversely, the Heat rebounded as a TEAM, which they did NOT do in the first game.
Lacsho is correct, we aren’t very good in the halfcourt, especially when we spend too much time dribbling around the perimeter.
Missing free throws always hurts. Especially when one of your best free throw shooters is doing his portion of the missing….
By the way, here’s another clue: We could have hit all of our free throws, and we still would have lost. So you know the problem, at least in part, was elsewhere.
And of course, it comes to defense. It was all too easy for some people to say that guys like Josh Smith only looked good in the first game because his teammates picked up their performance. There is a modicum of truth to that, as all players tend to look good when the entire team plays well.
However, I watched the game and saw Josh doing the same things he did last game, getting steals and blocking shots. Box score even confirms it. Yet we got burned from 3-point land by Wade and Cook. I wonder how the usual yokels are going to avoid the obvious: our perimeter defense is inconsistent.
Having said that, I watched JJ play some terrific defense on Wade from time-to-time. But I also watched some serious miscommunications and lack of close-out when Bibby and Flip were in the game. Ouch. So much for the killa defense. It all starts in the perimeter.
As for Jermaine O’Neal…when he’s motivated and fairly healthy, he’s a dose for anyone, and has a versatile game. Surprise….
KevinA
April 22nd, 2009
11:31 pm
Sam, JJ is a finess driver of the ball ,Marvin is a contact first type of driver. Foaters don’t get fouls called. Bibby is not a drive and kick pg.
Eric
April 22nd, 2009
11:32 pm
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, which is the Hawks inability to win on the road. They haven’t beaten a winning team on the road since December 12th. DECEMBER 12TH!!!! And that was vs. Miami. I guess that’s the positive. But they are going to have their work cut out for them. AA Arena is going to be popping, and its going to take a much better effort from the whole team (not just Joe) for this thing to turn back in the Hawks favor. The Heat aren’t going to hit another 15 3’s, and they aren’t going to repeat their performance, but the Hawks are going to have to man up on the road.
As an aside, the officiating on Wade is horrendous and lopsided. It’s borderline disgusting. Enough with the touch fouls already.
Big Ray
April 22nd, 2009
11:32 pm
Heat have already done one of the hardest things to do in a playoff series: win on the road. That’s a major confidence builder. Now the Hawks have to do the same. We didn’t do a good job of that in the regular season. Time to turn it up a notch and show that we’re real winners.
The series has more or less started from scratch…
Volman
April 22nd, 2009
11:34 pm
Guys, it is simple… Miami played completely over their heads and probably one of the best games they have had all season, and the Hawks played terrible… but STILL had a chance to come back.
Udonis Haslem making two jumpers in the 4th quarter? Pretty unreal. I have a better shot than he does.
Don’t even get me started on the three pointers and the phantom calls that went D-Wade’s way.
I’m going to try to get some sleep…let this blow over a little bit.
The Hawks will find a way to win in Miami. I’m sure of it.
KevinA
April 22nd, 2009
11:35 pm
Woody is keeping Mario fresh for future games aginst Wade. Bibby, Evans, and Flip got toasted. Our maybe best defender, (Mario) is resting for the important games I guess.