Better pack some swagger Hawks!
The Hawks have played well in Florida this season, including a season opening win in Orlando. They'll need to dial up another one, or two, in Miami.
HAWKSVILLE - The Hawks’ epic struggles on the road have been well documented this season.
From a fantastic start early in the season with wins over both Orlando and New Orleans to the end of the season, when the Hawks strung together gritty back-to-back wins (in Toronto and Milwaukee) to save their home court advantage fortunes, the Haws big hits on the road were few and extremely far between.
But if they’re serious about taking this first round playoff series over the Miami Heat, the Hawks better make sure they’ve packed some serious swagger for Games 3 and 4 in the house that Dwyane Wade built.
Play like the fragile, shell-shocked crew that got trounced in four games in Boston during last year’s series against the Celtics, and this series might end prematurely.
Show up like the supremely confident bunch that smoked the Magic and Hornets at the start of this season, and the control the Heat feel they have right now will disintegrate before the sun comes up Sunday morning.
I’ve heard nothing of from Hawks captain Joe Johnson or anyone else about a no-nightlife policy in Miami similar to the one the Wade and Udonis Haslem enacted for their teammates while in our fair city for Games 1 and 2 (granted, no one is certain the Heat lived up to that edict. But it sounded like the right thing to do at the time).
But if the Hawks need any reminders of how truly important this business trip is to their postseason fortunes … surely they don’t.
Spirit The Hawk hanging with Hawks Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins during one of the dirty bird's better days. Spirit's free flying days at Philips Arena are officially over, per a statement from the Hawks.
ENOUGH ABOUT BASKETBALL, for a minute at least. And we are allowed to discuss other things, briefly, when they make us laugh or are ridiculous enough that we just can’t ignore them.
This item qualifies in both categories.
As if things couldn’t get any more ridiculous after the Spirit the Hawk fiasco from Game 2, that blasted bird is back in the news again.
He had his wings clipped by the organization Thursday evening. And this morning I get the news that Spirit is already “Tweetin” or whatever you call it when you spend too much time on Twitter.
In the pantheon of sports mascot disasters, Spirit’s unauthorized in-game flight and the resulting public relations nightmare (seriously, Spirit rivaled the Miss California-Perez Hilton flap for the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen on the air the past few days) could only have happened here.
Honestly, can you see this stuff happening anywhere else but Philips Arena?
It’s as tragic as it is comical.
WHILE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT of tragic.
Has anyone seen the Hawks’ bench lately?
Flip Murray scored 15 points on 4-for-15 shooting in Game 2 and the Hawks’ reserves were still outscored 37-20 in that loss.
Both teams went four players deep into the bench in Game 2, but with far different results. Murray and his bench mates shot a combined 6-for-20 from the floor and managed just six rebounds between them. The Heat bench, led by Daequan Cook, shot a nasty 14-for-26 from the floor, including an insane 8-for-11 from beyond the 3-point line, and also grabbed 19 rebounds.
While studying the anatomy of the Hawks’ defeat, make sure to include the disparity in bench production up high on the talking points list.
In today’s edition of the SOUTH FLORIDA REPORT we have several items worthy of your time.
According to my man Mike Wallace of the Miami Herald the Heat is stealing a page from the Hawks’ playoff book and trying to stay humble after a big win in the series. We’ll see if they have better luck with that than the Hawks.
Wade apparently has more going on that just basketball, per the Herald. Of all the times to bring this stuff up … is there ever a good time for this stuff? Probably not.
My guy Ira Winderman from the Sun-Sentinel had some interesting statistical minutiae on his blog. In fact, he made several points that make even more sense a couple days after the game than they might have immediately after the game.
Former AJC staff writer Carlos Frias of the Palm Beach Post snapped me back from the silliness with this sobering story about Udonis Haslem and the tough time he and his family have endured and continue to deal with during this series.
THE LAST WORD today goes to blog regular niremetal, via Big Ray, who keeps the party jumping along with HB Ando on the Hawks Hack blog. When it comes to keen observations, no one does it better than you all (and I know it’s time to move on to Game 3 but for a rehash of Game 2, this is it):
Since they were easy to miss, here’s a compilation of my 4 comments about tonight’s game -
1) Where’s Mario?
2) Man. JJ bricks two free throws and Josh throws the ball into the seats on a breakaway. Clearly, clearly, clearly the focus wasn’t there tonight.
3) That being said, if the Heat can only win if they shoot 58% from deep and have JJ on the bench with foul trouble for the entire third quarter (and he had NO rhythm when he came back from that), then the Hawks definitely can bounce back.
4) And finally…Marvin goes on a tear in the 3rd and Woodson decides to bench him for the rest of the game? WTF??
To respond to your bit about JJ…this was the ultimate in Woody asking him to do too much and him breaking down. He actually guarded Wade pretty [dang] well in the first half. Most of Wade’s points when JJ was in the game came when either Flip or Mo was covering him; most of the rest came when Bibby switched onto him off a screen. But JJ eventually got into foul trouble. And Woody is so [darn] terrified of leaving a player with foul trouble in the game that he benched JJ for almost the entire third quarter. What the [HECK] is that about? Like most shooters, JJ needs a rhythm to be at his best. Benching him for a good 25 minutes of real time (even though it was just 9 minutes of game time) just iced him for the rest of the game. And then when JJ finally came back, it looked like Woody put him on Wade again while Flip guarded Cook (?!?).
He never tried putting Mario in to hassle Wade, even after it was clear that Mo and Flip were getting shredded and JJ was toiling and getting into foul trouble from having to chase Wade around screens.
And he benched Zaza right after he made a tough shot on one end and drew a charge on the other.
And here’s the worst one. The one that makes the absolute least amount of sense. He benched Marvin after Marvin scored 7 points in the quarter on 3-4 shooting and didn’t allow his man to score a single point for the entire quarter. Jones scored less than 1 minute after Marvin went to the bench, after Jones/Cook/Beasley had been held scoreless for the entire third period while Marvin was in. And Marvin was never seen for the rest of the game.
It makes no sense. None. NONE.
Pardon my French, but we are royally [screwed] if he can’t show the ability to make in-game adjustments, because the Heat WILL go on at least 1-2 runs every single game.
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278 comments Add your comment
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Hawks Over Heat In Five
April 24th, 2009
2:16 pm
Wade, Lebron, Kobe, and them other cats are not stars. They are who the NBA and the media decides to pay attention to and heap all the praise on. Let me ask you this, WHO DIED, did D Wade look like a so called superstar after game 1? I got a problem with refs being able to influence the outcome of a game anyway. Especially if the calls favor one team over another and are not fair. I’m having trouble with what constitutes a foul these days particularly in the NBA.
Hawks Over Heat (In Five) HOW EVER MANY GAMES IT TAKES
April 24th, 2009
2:23 pm
I say since the refs are gonna called bogus fouls then you might as well foul the guy as hard as you can without getting called for a flagrant. The Heat just changed the dynamics of the game by stealing that homecourt advantage. This series just went from a battle to war. My vision of the second round of the playoffs includes the Hawks. So fudge D Wade and the Heat. It’s time for the ATL Hawks to turn that swag on to the max. HAWKS OVER HEAT IN HOW EVER MANY GAMES IT TAKES. IF IT TAKES SEVEN SO BE IT!
Reality
April 24th, 2009
2:23 pm
Hawks Over Heat In Five, the Olympics throws your argument out the door.
You just sound irrantional and bitter. Lebron, Kobe, and certainly Wade have earned all their hype. They’re on a completely different level than other NBA players…cause the got the talent, skills, BRAINS, and killer instinct. The complete package.
If one of those guys wasn’t on my team, I would probably hate them all to. But I would hate them because they’re so good and almost always win.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
and to prove my point even further,sometime you have to let ppl stick their own foot in their mouth to prove a point,wade scored 19 in game 1 how many in 1st half, the whole 3rd qtr was trying to get everybody involved but it didnt work,by 4qtr it was over,now game 2 it back to being wade/with help.Now take joe johnson what are his number 20 21 points i can give you 25 players in league who can do that heck beasley can do that with more minutes
Hawks Over Heat (In Five) HOW EVER MANY GAMES IT TAKES
April 24th, 2009
2:31 pm
First of all I don’t hate either one of those guys. As a matter of fact, I pick D Wade out of the three for MVP but not at the expense of a first round lost to my ATL Hawks. And I am a NBA fan too. So if I had to choose a second team, my second team is the CAVS. So no, I’m not bitter or irrational. I’m quite logical and I don’t believe everything I see and hear.
mykhalc
April 24th, 2009
2:32 pm
WOODSON is the coach so we ARE royally screwed…PERIOD!!!
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:33 pm
Don’t try to give excuses for Wade’s Game 1 performance. He was off; pure and simple. One day Beasley will do that. When he is a more complete player (not lazy on defense), he’ll get a chance to prove it.
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:34 pm
I meant Beasley will get a chance to match Joe Johnson’s numbers.
Reality
April 24th, 2009
2:35 pm
“Wade, Lebron, Kobe, and them other cats are not stars. They are who the NBA and the media decides to pay attention to and heap all the praise on.”
That statement is anything but logical, and screams bitterness.
But ok, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:35 pm
and if your so-called superstar average 5pts a qtr over a game to get 20-21 pts then of course he’s not a superstar,stud yes,superstar no,and stop blaming heat for having one not his fault #3,s be’n wore in the highlight factory , was that mvp chants i heard in game 2 for #3,not our fault, that sh*t happens in every arena
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:37 pm
Those MVP chants were for Joey Crawford. Wade is 3rd best player in the league.
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:41 pm
Did I hear Dan Lebatard say that Wade took 200 more shots this year than LeBron? With numbers like that, he BETTER lead the league in scoring.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:41 pm
im a bro so i can understand frustration with hawk fans at game, y’all no we dont cheer at game unless a family member plays for team or something exciting happens,we to busy checking out other stuff going on around us plus we’re never on time.Your arena only one i see camera lens able to catch whole shot of brother at a game sitting lower bowl or courtside, i like that
Reality
April 24th, 2009
2:41 pm
Baba O’Riley, any truth to the rumor that a 2nd round parade was already planned in Atlanta after game 1?
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:42 pm
MVP= Most Visibly Protected
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:45 pm
baba we watch different game 1 cuz wade was wade in first half 17pts,3rd qtr he did more setting up than looking for his own shot, and the 4qtr was gameover,
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:46 pm
No Reality, we expect 2nd round and heads will roll if we don’t. The team that will hold a blackout (we know how that works in UGA) already has a built-in excuse-”Nobody expected us to make the playoffs anyway”. They consider themselves playing with house money.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
wade never thought he would lead league in scoring, real bball head knows lebron sat out a lot of 4qtrs, damn the hate for wade is unreal, true be told kobe took back seat to let his supporting cast step-up and if u think king james is better than kobe then you really dont know sh*t
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
Who Died? Superstars (and he is one) look to take the game over when it’s going badly. The players on the floor for ATL said he was frustrated and his effort wasn’t there.
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:50 pm
Who Died? The end of your last statement is true. I don’t know you. Kobe can let his supporting cast take over…James can’t.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:50 pm
and to all u lebron lovers take mo williams off cav and they fighting for 4 or 5 seed
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:52 pm
but if u put wade on cav they are jus as good
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:52 pm
4 or 5 seed in East? They are 3 AT WORST without Mo
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:53 pm
Get off of Wade’s sac.
Baba O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
2:55 pm
LeBron made Mo.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
2:56 pm
sure way to find out you a superstar in league, if shaq play on your team and abruptly leave bashing franchise and player i.e penny,kobe,and d-wade lol
doc
April 24th, 2009
2:57 pm
myk wassup?
Reality
April 24th, 2009
3:00 pm
Baba O’Riley, Wade also shot a better FG% while taking 200 shots more, so come back with some better stuff. You sh!t is weak.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:00 pm
see u dont no sh*L baba riley tried to get mo williams the year early but he re-up with bucks mo is doing the same thing he’s been doing last 3 years 17-20 pts now he gets all-star nod b/c of lebron but after how many players go down was boobie giving cavs even 13pts per game big upgrade with mo
RickNole
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
Gotta say it
FIRE WOOODROW!!!
this team was not prepared to play itw as evident from the start of the game, they had no edge whatsoever. Lack of game time adjustments, lack of offensive imagination. (I mean how many times do we have to see Joe drive to the paint with his head down??)
Dan
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
Who Died…? I like how you try and question Joe Johnson, but then turn around and talk about Beasley like he is the 2nd coming of Karl Malone. Let me help you with this one….he wouldn’t even start on our team…
By the way, if I remember correctly, DEBO got his a$$ kicked…
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
why is T.I. sit courtside with that ugly a$$ red-bone, i know ATL got better, i know this, that mutha fvcker messing up my HD
Bitter O'Riley
April 24th, 2009
3:03 pm
Did you see Wade in the olympics? He was horrible! He almost made the USA lose against Spain!
Wade got all this hype coming into league from power school Marquette. He was hyped as the next big thing before he even got to the NBA!
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
see wut im talking bout let’em talk they get dumber by the day,no one on hawks teams can stop him and he wouldnt start another case of bad coaching from stand and the d hawks play sh*it’d start he would be star b/c i bet he want bitch up to take over,heat believe in defense 1st offense 2nd, that only reason he didnt start for us would sit williams and smith on bench for his jumper alone
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
its funny rather be compared to karl malone than steve smith with better knees
Al
April 24th, 2009
3:10 pm
Whatever. I have some hopes that both Lebron and D-Wade will be in Miami come 2010, a very real possibility.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:10 pm
and i love steve tiki smith played for heat
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:14 pm
wow dan last i check the way u talk hawks are debo jus big athletic and the heat jus lil ole wade
Dan
April 24th, 2009
3:14 pm
Beasley couldn’t hold Steve Smith’s jock.
Who Died….? Will you translate your recent post (the one made at 3:07) into English, please?
Reality
April 24th, 2009
3:15 pm
Yo Al, what up? I told you the Heat would bounce back in game 2! Even more than I hoped for!
Are you going to the game tomorrow? My buddy just got 2 tickets yesterday and invited me. I’M SO EFFIN PUMPED!
Dan
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
Isn’t it the other way around, though, Who Died…? You’re the one beating your chest about the NBA Finals. I’m just talking 2nd round. So, little ol’ Hawks. You got the media’s favorite son, not us.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
if you was smart you would break it down dont read it as a run-on sentence didnt know i was still in school and the player is beasley
GOHAWKS
April 24th, 2009
3:23 pm
WHO DIED…………..??? NO ONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IN THE HELL YOU ARE SAYING, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET AN 8 YEAR OLD TO WRITE/SPEAK FOR YOU, IT IS QUITE APPARENT HE WOULD BE MORE INTELLIGENT. YOU ARE AN IDIOT. HAWKS WIN
Al
April 24th, 2009
3:24 pm
Hell yeah I’m going to the game Reality!
Al
April 24th, 2009
3:26 pm
GOHAWKS, if you hit the key that says “Caps Lock,” cool things will happen.
WHO DIED ......?
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
and no my point is this, im thinking second round with hope to win b/c of wade, now that a great season for heat, now hawks on other hand second round is slap in face,2+yrs to get game right and you telling me in couple more yrs, hell why all this fuse if you know u two yrs away,
atlrayzd
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
I’ve never seen a so called captain and all star (Joe Johnson) have so many excuses made for him when he does not perform to the level expected of an all star and team captain. It’s excuses made by posters here that he plays to many minutes or he had to guard the other teams best player, Woody did not get him open looks. Lets be clear true stars, ballers, players, however you classify them make sure there presence is felt by the officials and the oppossing team when they step in the building. Joe has to become the guy and stop being one of the guys and exhibit that in his play(no excuses). He says he came here to lead and show he could be the guy to build around but truth be told his play and leadership is suspect. Seems alot of folks are lowering there expectations for Joe rather than holding him accountable to maintain high standards of play. It’s tough for me a fan of Joe Johnson to watch a guy with this much talent not have that edge and savy needed for his team reach that next plateau but it’s not to late hopefully he ‘ll figure it out or someone respected in the organization or league will feed him some food for thought. This is a team sport and he can not win by himself but the Hawks success starts with him. If your star can’t get calls at the end of the game, if he seems to waver when the lights are bright is he really a star?
GOHAWKS
April 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
I JUST FOUND THE DUMBEST PERSON RESIDING IN AMERICA….. WHO DIED…..?
Can't Stand the Heat
April 24th, 2009
3:33 pm
The Hawks will win the series…don’t count on the shooting the Heap got the other night…and in a slow down game, if you haven’t seen JJ, Bibby and Smooth rotate then you weren’t paying attention when we took 3 out of 4 from you in the regular season…prediction O’Neal goes down in Game 3…Starr Jones takes his place and Wade is too distracted to play.