The NBA playoffs, King James version!
Welcome to LeBron's world Hawks!
HAWKSVILLE - If the Hawks felt like there was some cosmic [Dwyane Wade-fueled] wave of energy trying to keep them from reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals, wait until they get on the floor Tuesday night in Cleveland.
That’s where they’ll get their first taste of the NBA playoffs, King James version.
In short, if they thought Wade was an issue – the so-called one-man team that they couldn’t get past in anything but seven games – wait until they face LeBron James and his crew.
Not only have the Cavaliers rolled to the best record in the league, boast the NBA Coach of the Year in Mike Brown and the league’s probably MVP in James, they’ve also had nine days to rest and load up for the Hawks on their way to what all of the basketball-loving world assumes is a table for two in the NBA Finals with Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers.
I can’t think of a better time to be the Hawks.
No one thinks you have a chance. No one is expecting you to be anything more than a speed bump on the Cav’s road to the NBA Finals.
“We’re the team that wasn’t even supposed to make the playoffs right?” Hawks forward Josh Smith said. “If you let [the media] tell it, we didn’t even belong here. And we were supposed to lose to Miami. And here we are. We just keep showing up where we’re not supposed to be.”
The Cavs have lost twice on their home floor all season, so Tuesday night’s series opener should be interesting. The Hawks should still be in a groove and the Cavs have been off for so long … it should be interesting.
MIKE BIBBY’S BEST SHOT of the entire first round of the playoffs came before halftime of Sunday in Game 7 and it had nothing to do with his 3-point stroke.
Hawks coach Mike Woodson roasted him for passing the ball to Smith in the corner on in the final seconds. As Smith’s 24-footer bounced off the rim with 10.9 seconds left, Woodson jumped Bibby’s case for making the pass.
The surprise was Bibby’s response. He jumped Woodson right back, much to the delight of those of us sitting close enough to hear the entire exchange.
“If you don’t want me to throw to him put him somewhere else,” Bibby shouted. “He’s wide [@*&$%] open. Wide open. What do you want me to do? If you don’t want him shooting that then put him somewhere else. You tell him.”
After getting it back as good as he gave it, Woodson crossed his arms, did a pirouette and smiled at everyone watching as he strolled back toward the Hawks’ bench.
Woodson said later it was the first time Bibby’s “really lit into” him. And that’s why he was smiling about it. He loved seeing that kind of fire and emotion from his veteran point guard.
"NO! Wait a minute coach, let me tell you something!"
It was by far Bibby’s best shot of the night. And his reaction was right on the money in so many different ways. Because it’s clear that Smith has to curb his own enthusiasm for long distance shots (did you see him working in the paint early? The up and under moves, the ball-fake and step back and then lefty kiss off the glass. It was stick stuff. The Heat didn’t know what to do with him). And since he’s struggling in that department, it’s up to Woodson to find ways to help him curb it.
THE HEAT LEARNED A LESSON MANY TEAMS have this season about the Hawks when they play on their home floor. Forget what you thought about them away from Philips Arena, because for whatever reason, once they got on their own floor they’re a totally different team.
“They’re just terrific at home,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra Sunday after the Hawks had finished using his team as a dust mop. “They play with a great deal of confidence and energy here at home. We’ve struggled against them here in this building all year long, but it’s not just us. Everybody has struggled here as well. And it’s because they’ve built a pretty tough home court advantage.”
By Sunday night Spoelstra’s rage about the Hawks trying to embarrass his team a couple games ago had morphed into sincere praise.
“They’re a tough team,” he said of the Hawks. “They’ve really gotten a lot better. We’ve seen them mature over the years. They’re a team similar to us two or three years ago. They’ve developed their young guys, and more importantly they’ve kept the same coaching staff to help develop those players and have a consistent system.”
Wade might have summed it up best, though, after the game when he highlighted the difference between his team and the Hawks.
”They got more than one guy,” Wade said. ‘They’ve got four or five different guys they give the ball to and say, `Go make a play, either for yourself or somebody else.’ That makes it tough to guard.”
YOU WON’T SEE JOE JOHNSON BEATING HIS CHEST or poppin’ his jersey after big plays the way some other NBA stars do. It’s just not his style.
He drained two of the most wicked shots of the entire series Sunday, two 3-point bombs in Wade’s face, and didn’t do anything more than ball up his fists at himself. He glanced over at his family and friends that sit along the front row across from the Hawks’ bench, making sure they understood that whatever was ailing him early on in this series was no longer an issue.
Joe Johnson during a rare celebratory moment ... from another time. He barely cracked a smile in Sunday's Game 7 thumping of the Miami Heat.
The first smile he cracked was with five minutes left, when he headed to the bench to a rousing ovation from the crowd after his 27-point, five-steal explosion.
“I had to wait until it was late in the lock when I pretty much knew it was over,” he said of why he didn’t hop on a scorer’s table or call any attention to himself beyond his monster performance. “We’ve blown big leads before, so I had to make sure. If we win a championship you’ll see a whole lot [of emotion from me]. Other than that, it’s just competing, going out and having fun and trying to win ball games.”
And if you wondered if he felt any relief after finally playing like the All-Star folks around here have become accustomed to seeing, don’t.
“The only relief was that we won,” he said. “I’m putting this Miami series behind me and moving forward to Cleveland. And hopefully, we’ll make it an even better series.”
All THE TOP SEEDS IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE MADE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR. Boston and Orlando are set to scrap on one side of the bracket and the Hawks and Cavs are set to duke it out on the other side of the bracket. That’s actually the way it was supposed to work out.
They basically went wire to wire as the top four teams in the East, with some momentary shifting along the way. Dallas and Houston crashed the Final Four in the Western Conference. Houston won the 4-5 matchup with Portland while Dallas knocked off the depleted Spurs in the 3-6.
There’s something to be said for the Hawks making sure things held form in the East, though. It validates their 47-win season and legitimizes all the talking they’ve done the last six months about being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Knock ‘em all you want, but they said they were headed to this point and here they are.
And they’ve yet to play their best. When you consider the injuries to both Al Horford and Marvin Williams and the fact that neither guy has played up to his own standard this postseason, the Hawks actually have quite a bit of room to improve upon their performance against the Heat.
And both Horford and Williams will return to action in this series. Williams could play a huge role, if healthy enough, defensively. Because the Hawks are going to need an active defender with the size, agility and athleticism to at least keep James occupied for long stretches.
Williams worked well against James during the regular season matchups (the Cavs took the season series 3-1 but the Hawks actually had one of those wins snatched from their grasp on a questionable late foul call) and again, if healthy enough, could potentially do similar work now.
Time will tell.
But admit it, you like talking Hawks this late in the season don’t you?
I know I do.
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657 comments Add your comment
doc
May 6th, 2009
2:00 pm
samuel, bottpm line, i guess i am just saying you are disagreeing with your coy.
in the mean time … truth:
JOSH = MVP!
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
kwooden1,
I understand you point. I am not saying Joe should shoot 30 times a game, but he has to be aggressive, and not be passive. When they don’t double right away, he should attack. Stop dribbling and waiting for the double team to come. Most of it is coaching, but we won’t even get started with that. Were you aware that Joe Johnson, makes a couple of hundred dollars less that D. Wade, and Lebron? No excuses.
RAD
May 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Here are my observations on some of the Hawks players (and coach Woodson) from last night’s game and throughout the playoffs thus far:
Marvin Williams – Woody should just leave Marvin out of the rotation. I question the extent of Marvin’s injury versus just how much he wants to be out there contributing.
Joe Johnson – Since Joe Johnson has been in Atlanta he has proven over and over that he is a very good player and not a great player. Joe is not the “team leader” that everyone wants him to be. Joe is content in playing his role and having big games from time to time. Joe’s performance in game 7 verses Miami is the exception and not the rule. The Hawks call ill-afford to wait on Joe to carry them thru round 2 of the playoffs.
Mo Evans – Mo seems to be a little up tight during the playoffs. He doesn’t seem to have the confidence in shooting his jump-shot like he did during the regular season.
Flip Murray – Flip is thinking too much on the court thus he seems to be a half of step slow. He has passed up several open jumpers in favor of taking a couple of extra dribbles allowing the defense to collapse on him.
Josh Smith – Josh is playing the best of any Hawk player. His overall performance certainly is worth overlooking a couple of ill-advised jump shots during the game.
Mike Bibby – Mike is playing solid basketball. He is agressive on the offensive end and showing good leadership as a floor general. We all know that Mike is not a great defensive player. Because he is so smart, he will make some good defensive plays (steals) from time to time.
Za Za Pachulia – Za Za had a great series against Miami. His intensity and hustle inspired the fans and his teammates. Cleveland’s frontline could cause Za Za matchup problems as we witnessed in game 1.
Al Horford – Al is at his best when he can get out on the break. In the half court offense, Al struggles and the other teams recognize that. When Al’s back is to the basket, he needs to look more to kick the ball out to JJ or Bibby. On defense, Al is going to have to get in better position to rebound against Cleveland.
Mike Woodson – Last night Cleveland made adjustments at halftime to limit Josh Smith’s drives to the basket. The results showed Josh with no field goals and 5 free throws made in the second half. Woody needs to anticipate the adjustments other teams could make so he can better prepare his team going into the 3rd quarter. Woody also needs to make those same type adjustments to stop or limit the other team as well.
le brown james THE KING OF ATLANTA
May 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
cry me a river hawks fans , your sisi team is facing king james now .the 2009 nba mvp and 2009 playoff mvp.
LeBlow Job aka LBJ of Cleveland
May 6th, 2009
3:43 pm
I use HGH.
Samuel
May 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
Doc,
JJ is our best all around player. Josh is our most talented and most competitive.
I’ve never really heard Woody, JJ or any player say that JJ was our leader nor do I believe that he is. It’s pretty evident right now who our leader is, Mike Bibby. Furthermore, I don’t really expect JJ to “elevate” his game, just play the way he’s capable of playing and not “SUCK”. That would be good enough in most cases, even against the might Cavs, IMO.
On Josh:
I have said countless times that Josh can be a Hall of Famer if he realizes where his talents are and are not. No other Hawk is HOF material. You and others seem to think he can develop into a shooter. I say, stay on the block and become a Hall of Famer. These playoffs are proving that.
When you get to the second round, everybody has to play well. Not necessarily above their level, just well. Right now, we got basically 2 and that won’t get it done. Agreed?
Leon Janes
May 6th, 2009
3:50 pm
I be on that crackpipe Shawdy!
90 tattoos?
2 kids out of wedlock?
Refusing to sign a Darfur petition!
I is a good human being!
Dante Fitzgerald
May 6th, 2009
3:53 pm
I don’t know what to say… yesterday, jus wasn’t a gooood day
EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN
May 6th, 2009
3:57 pm
YOU ARE ALL RACISTS.
WOODSON COACHED A GREAT GAME LAST NIGHT AND NOW PEOPLE WANT HIM FIRED?
YOU ALL WANTED HENRY AARON DEAD 9024 YEARS AGO.
JOE IS PLAYING LIKE THE MVP OF THE NBA NOW AND U WANT HIM TRADED?
Blast
May 6th, 2009
4:07 pm
I know all Cleveland fans are not as ignorant as the ones on our blog. They are even more illiterate and stupid than Heat fans.
doc
May 6th, 2009
4:34 pm
samuel, only jj says he is tired didnt he or did i read it wrong? excellent points by the way and agree with everything you said only you havent addressed his excuse not mine for his play. bibby is the leader in the playoffs but the iso joe got us here as bibby often took a back seat getting here is my problem with him as the leader. woody has often and recently pointed out how dependent they were on “our all star” with an emphasis and not talking of bibby. it implies the leader to me is jj as he rarely speaks in such glowing comments about josh.
as far as josh, he will need to continue to develop confidence and touch from the outside just as lebron has and nique did if he is to get there to the HOF which i agree he can. he will lose that athleticism in the next four to five years and will need to keep folks honest to improve his inside game as the career of an HOF candidate lasts into his thirties. anyway bradley pointed out and i agree josh will be the leader in two years jj or no jj.
does josh use the jumper too often? yes, only i see it as much a confidence issue like it was with his foul shooting dropping as it did the mid season to improve later in the season. he feels the pressure to make it as he thinks about it too much as he shoots the wide open shot. that also explains why even as a 25 % shooter from three land he has dropped even further in the playoffs, um just as jj has dropped during the same period and jj is even worse at the stripe than josh during this seasons playoffs. remember jj was an 80% shooter at times in his career, not now. pressure on jj? maybe. yup, sometimes it is ego for josh, sometimes laziness in my opinion as reasons for taking the open shot. that drives me crazy a bit but at the same time i respect the need he has to do it. doesnt matter why. ultimately, he has to have a jumper or he will fail as his body deteriorates with time naturally. i also think, just as many bigs have done it, josh will be successful as well because he is such an athlete. .
ignition
May 6th, 2009
4:45 pm
Someone check to see if Joe is actually a woman..
I don’t know if he is actually has passion for the game..
He doesn’t play like it.. 6′8 225-230lb and he goes in the lane and shoots floaters, rather shoot jump shots, no attacking the paint, no aggressive play..
And it’s contagious look at how they quit last night a “leader:” doesn’t allow his team to quit. He damn sure doesn’t give an 11pt 5 turnover effort.. His cancer has spread to Marvin (his game is unmanly as well), he allows Josh to be tempermental on the court ..
I don’t like Joe, never willy have, and don’t like punks on the court, and thats what we have with Joe..
(I don’t know Joe, I’m strickly talking about his game on the court)
kwooden1
May 6th, 2009
5:01 pm
Rod,
Wade and Lebron will be paid more next summer but that is then and this is now and we need JJ to step up!! I agree that he’s waiting to long to make a decision, problem is he definitely hears the comparisons to Wade/Kobe/Lebron and is feeling the pressure. Either way he needs to be more assertive!
Samuel,
JJ said in an interview with John Thompson that the coach wants him to be the leader of the team and basically that he wants to be the leader and is the leader. Right now he and Bibby are the leaders because even though Smoove is playing better right now, JJ and Bibby are the reasons they’re here. Everyone knows that. Cleveland also knows it and their going to do their best to make sure Bibby and JJ don’t beat them. Come Thursday, they’re going to back off Smoove and beg him to shoot the jumper, double JJ and stay with Bibby.
I feel good about Thursday, just because I don’t think the HAWKS will turn the ball over nearly as much. Many of the turnovers where just rushed passes and over aggressiveness.
GO HAWKS!!!
Sean O'Shaughnessy
May 6th, 2009
5:15 pm
CLEVELAND (Reuters) – The Atlanta Hawks lost Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs last night 99-72 at the Quicken Loans Arena. When asked why the Hawks’ first second-round effort in years fell short of victory, Atlanta captain Joe Johnson explained “I’m tired.”
le brown james THE KING OF ATLANTA
May 6th, 2009
5:26 pm
4-0 and there’s nothing your girls can do.LONG LIVE THE KING.
doc
May 6th, 2009
6:04 pm
samuel, i only go by one name not like others here so the reports by sean and k woooden are in addition to what i said not a pseudonym as i have no reason to hide nor make up anything. there appears to be support to both of my assertions, one, jj says he is tired his words not my”excuse” for him and two, the notion, jj is the leader with appointment by woody.
Samuel
May 6th, 2009
7:23 pm
Doc,
I’m not saying that he’s not tired i’m saying that’s no excuse for him playing so poorly. You keep insinuating that it’s Woody’s fault for playing him all those “meaningless minutes”.
Hell, how tired is Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rondo. They’ve each averaged dam near 50 minutes a game over the past 5. Do you hear them complaining and making excuses?
Of course Woody is gonna say that JJ is the leader because he’s our best player and face of the franchise but he knows better. He’s trying to make him into one.
doc
May 6th, 2009
7:33 pm
samuel, thanks for the clarification. i am somewhat perplexed now, as aj says, a coach cant make a leader, you say it is part of his hidden plan. also woody has now had how many years to mold this guy? i would say that is not too good a record, even for a coy.how long a time should we as fans wait for this transformation infold? i dont know about you, it seems that it is time to pass the harness to a different horse. maybe the esteemed coach woody will see that as well and begin to look for someone to psss it to this summer. of course, since it will be done in such a surreptitious manner we will never know, only you. tongue in cheek, please let us know when it happens.
Samuel
May 6th, 2009
8:19 pm
I don’t necessarily agree with AJ’s philosophy. Pople are doing it every day.
JJ is learning to be a leader. This really is the first year that the Hawks have been expected to win. He has been the leader for a losing team. He’s handled that pretty well. It’s different when the anny is a little higher.
This summer will be very interesting indeed. Te Hawks, win or lose, moved to another level this year. Where do we go from here. Do we keep JJ and stay status quo and hope to move up another notch or do we trade him for a similar scorer and big.
I think that Josh and Bibby have made the decisions easier on their parts. Marvin is very valuable but get’s hurt a lot. Same with Horford and Acie.
Ando has been saying that they all can’t coexist forever. I kinda think it should be Marvin, JJ or even Horford. I know that seems like blasphamy but he(Horford)will he ever be as good as Josh and Josh will never be a 3 so that leaves somebody out.
We are better off with Al and Marvin not even suiting up if they can’t bring any more than they did the first game. We’re better off with Solo and whoever else. Hopefully, they can be ready for our home games.
Melvin
May 6th, 2009
8:41 pm
Doc, look like me may get a chance to see the popcorn maker in uniform this series on the bench. Sasha Pavlovic broke his nose during last night game…
richbrave
May 6th, 2009
8:50 pm
You CAVS sycophants better enjoy playing with yourselves, because after LBJ leaves you, holding your own won’t be easy.
Samuel
May 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
Rajon Rondo might be the best point guard in the league right now.
David Stern
May 6th, 2009
9:00 pm
Based on what I witnessed first hand during a recent Atlanta Hawks home playoff game, I’ve decided to meet with the NBA Board of Governors to explore new rules for the 2009-2010 season. We hope that shortening the length of games, shortening the regular season, and making each round of the playoffs a best-of-three games series will prevent players, such as Joe Johnson, from getting tired.
doc
May 6th, 2009
9:03 pm
yeah samuel i agree as i discussed it a bit with aj when i suggested that josh could learn to be the leader guven time. nique certainly wasnt ready for the mantle at such a precocious age. in fact that term describes josh well. it is the seven year old kid who calls it exactly as it is but because of the age it is ignored or suppressed. the point about learning to lead a winner and loser is valid as well. it is going to be a difficult shuffle to get the team reassembled at a more manageable salary total for management is my take. they all cant stay and unfortunately there are some major weaknesses that organic growth may not correct. 5 members of the top ten are going to go for renegotiation, one of the ten doesnt have a future here in acie is my take. that is a huge turnover potential and will test woody and his coaches to the max, this time there can be no excuses for him either. all the free passes are gone.
samuel, whether you believe it or not go back and see i gave woody a lot of free passes the first two years here and was shouted down the way you have been. heh heh i dont remember you getting my back on that one, only ASTRO before he went anakin. my patience wore out i admit, only not to ever call for his head, only for some signals he got it beyond three emotional wins in the post season against a team that hadnt quite settled on roles going into the playoffs in spite of their records. just look now and rondo is the man, last year rivers was yelling at him on every play and finally shut up and the kid got it right to help be a major contributor in the finals but not the first round because the coach kept yelling for him not to shoot, uh, sound familiar anyone? i agree woody is definitely a top eight coach and have said for the record, no matter what here he has earned another job elsewhere and could end up like torre or cox, first time failures second and third time winners.
doc
May 6th, 2009
9:06 pm
samuel, funny i just read your remark on rondo after i posted that last remark on rondo’s development. can you see josh there next year? i can, shooting up thise treys man like the guy we both like ..sheed. it is all he needs, heh heh.
JOSH = MVP!
Melvin
May 6th, 2009
9:10 pm
Stumble over to Mark Bradley’s page earlier. As I ponder the same thoughts myself last nite, I was wondering when someone was going to call out Big AL lack of production. Look like AL is on Mark’s radar. I know he’s been playing hurt the past few games but he hasn’t done much prior to his injury. Sam, you raise the same view as I did awhile back. Would Horford be more productive than Josh at the 4? I like both players but I think Josh is the better 4 now and going forward…
Joe Johnson
May 6th, 2009
9:14 pm
Don’t worry about Al’s production in Game 1, he was just tired.
I expect that he’ll have a break-out performance in Game 7.
doc
May 6th, 2009
9:16 pm
samuel, only jj says he is tired didnt he or did i read it wrong? excellent points by the way and agree with everything you said only you havent addressed his excuse not mine for his play. bibby is the leader in the playoffs but the iso joe got us here as bibby often took a back seat getting here is my problem with him as the leader. woody has often and recently pointed out how dependent they were on “our all star” with an emphasis and not talking of bibby. it implies the leader to me is jj as he rarely speaks in such glowing comments about josh.
as far as josh, he will need to continue i am gay to develop confidence and touch from the outside just as lebron has and nique did if he is to get there to the HOF which i agree he can. he will lose that athleticism in the next four to five years i am gay and will need to keep folks honest to improve his inside game as the career of an HOF candidate lasts into his thirties. anyway bradley pointed out and i agree josh will be the leader in two years jj or no jj.
Reading between the lines
May 6th, 2009
9:26 pm
LOL, wtf doc?
doc
May 6th, 2009
9:46 pm
One pass and won’t shot on offense for the Hawks won’t get the job done against Cleveland.
Good writing, Sekou
Melvin
May 6th, 2009
9:49 pm
My gosh. Reading Sekou latest article, I couldn’t do nothing but laugh. Two of the main culprits are complaining about the offense. What a Joke. One does nothing while he’s in the game except for committing dumb fouls and the other complaining about not getting the ball enough. They need to look in the mirror and at a previous game stat sheet b/c both of them are playing poorly….
niremetal
May 6th, 2009
9:53 pm
kwooden,
Where you live at in DC? I live in Silver Spring (well, I do for now…moving in 10 days). Crazy. I think richbrave is a DC native too, although he doesn’t live ’round here anymore if memory serves.
niremetal
May 6th, 2009
10:03 pm
doc,
The typo isn’t in the article itself – it obviously was the doing of whatever orderly posted the article online
.
In other news, I really marvel at the people who actually are slamming JJ for admitting that he’s tired. In the past two years, he has played more minutes than any player in the league, and he was leading the league in minutes played the year before that until he got hurt. He never, ever even once complained. And then a reporter asked him “Are you tired?” and he didn’t lie. Give me a fracking break.
ignition
May 6th, 2009
10:06 pm
I don’t care if you tired.. You don’t say it and you damn sure don’t give up in game. A 6′8 230lb guard that shoots floater in the paint, doesn’t ever attack the basket, and sulks on the court and about his teammates is a BI&TCH..
It was masked when we were a bad team but now it’s being exposed..
niremetal
May 6th, 2009
10:11 pm
Got cut off there, but you get the gist.
We HAVE to move the ball around better than we have been. That was the most obvious difference between Game 1 last night and Game 7 against the Heat last week. You’re never going to break down as good a defensive team as Cleveland by dribbling in place, slowly backing them down, and hoping someone can get open behind the defense. It’s on everyone – JJ, Josh, Flip, and Bibby. Keep passing until someone gets a good look – and make sure Josh knows that for him, an open 22-footer is NOT a “good look,” and make sure JJ knows that he has to drive as soon as he gets the ball or else pass…dribbling in place until the double team closes in is a recipe for disaster.
In 14 hours, I’ll be done with law school. It’d be a kick-@ss graduation gift if the Hawks could give Cleveland a real run for their money.
niremetal
May 6th, 2009
10:16 pm
Doc,
I’ll put down $50 that Josh Smith will not be leader of this team in 2 years. JJ or no JJ.
kgbsfinst
May 6th, 2009
10:40 pm
“SISI?” is that Spanish for “yesyes?” I don’t mind all the Cavs $hit talkers, maybe the basketball gods (or karma) will rear its ugly head.
The frustrating thing for me is that we played really well against them in the regular season, if we play that well this series we will at least have a chance. I cant add anymore insite that most have already said. Drive more, be more physical against James, keep the intensity, etc. The only new thing I can add, and it might have already been said, is that our defensive rotation sucks. Fratello points it out about 4 times a game.
Help me out with this. Is it just me, or does James travel at least 25 percent of the time he touches the ball? I swear he changes his pivot foot almost every time he gets it in the post. I know hes a star and hes going to get a lot of calls, but the ones that drive me nuts are the no calls. Not just the travels, but on the defensive end as well. Then again, maybe its just me.
darrell starks
May 6th, 2009
10:58 pm
Horford game is diminishing bad in the off season he realy need work on his offensive skills.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 6th, 2009
11:04 pm
THE only way we can win this series is that WOODY is going to have to try something new and go deep in his rotation period if continue the same routine series is over in 5.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike Woodson
May 6th, 2009
11:09 pm
Don’t count on us commemorating GSU Law graduation with a Game 3 win. Chances are Joe will still be tired by Saturday night.
Ward Reeves
May 6th, 2009
11:10 pm
Could it be that Al Horford *gasp*…is tired?
darrell starks
May 6th, 2009
11:14 pm
Horford is hurt so i say lets do this starting five BIBBY, JOE, MARVIN, JOSH, SOLOMON
bench ACIE, FLIP, MO, ZAZA, bring them in with 2min left in 1st quarter and play in till 7min left in the 2nd that way your starter are fresh and they can push the ball after every rebound i guarantee you will see the difference in this team performance.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
doc
May 6th, 2009
11:17 pm
nire first of all have you become the second coming of ando to challenge folks by wagering when there is a disagreement like that is going to solve the issue?
second of all i have said many times that i dont wager on things that i have absolutly no control over. about the only thing i wagered on was my golf game as i controlled how i managed my game. i dont control many things that go into the idea of josh being the leader. the first thing that comes to mind that i will be wrong in repeating mark bradley is that he is usually wrong on just about anything once he commits to it.
congrats on finishing law school, i know how exciting it is. yesterday was my 25th anniversary of graduating form emory med school. it goes fast dude is all i got to say. my youngest graduates from high school later this month, honors night tomorrow night. enjoy every moment. as you head to hear someone else say something more profound on graduation day.
Wally Blase
May 6th, 2009
11:20 pm
Did all the turnovers yesterday have anything to do with Joe Johnson…being tired?
kwooden1
May 6th, 2009
11:20 pm
niremetal,
I grew up in Silver Spring, but right now I live in Gaithersburg, MD. I’m glad to see you’re finishing off the schooling, Law seems like a very tough career, but rewarding. (Financially!)
Doc, I have to disagree with you on JJ, he can be as good a leader as most. I always like’n his style to Duncan, “Shut-up and Just Play”. I think what everyone is asking for is the Game 7 JJ every night! Cleveland understands this and is not going to let it happen. Unless I’m misstaken every time JJ scored 1 on 1, the next time he got the ball another player was coming. What that really says is Clev does respect Bibby, Smoove, Evans or Horford. I would say the entire NBA knows the best way to slow down the HAWKS is get the ball out of JJ hands! I remember the Lakers 2 or 3 years ago, when Kobe was scoring in the playoffs against Phoenix and Game 6 or 7 he started passing the ball because everyone complained he was shoot to much!! Be careful what you wish for! (30 jumpshots a night from JJ) Let the HAWKS get better as a team. This last game came down to turnovers at poor times and poor ball movement. The HAWKS should be able to pass out of double teams and find JJ open at the end of the shot clock.
Cleveland really limits the posessions and makes you play half court. We’ve got to limit the turnovers and clean-up the defensive boards. I believe that will be winning basketball, especially if Smoove really brings it like he did last night.
GO HAWKS!!!
darrell starks
May 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
Woody must tell his player play good defense box out rebound the ball and push it up court do not walk it up at all and look for easy basket at every opportunity.
GAME ONE CAVS 41 REBOUNDS 15 OFFENSIVE HAWKS 33 REBOUNDS 6 OFFENSIVE THIS MUST CHANGE.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 6th, 2009
11:34 pm
ACIE MUST PLAY AND CHANGE THE TEMPO AND PUSH THE BALL UP COURT AND PENATRATE TO CREATE EASY BASKET ON EVERY PLAY DONT WALK AT ALL.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melvin
May 6th, 2009
11:40 pm
kwooden1, i disagree with you on Duncan. There have been plenty of times Duncan has shown so emotion on the court. Remember he went eye to eye, elbow to elbow with KG. When has Joe got in a mixup with another player. There’s been several times he’s shown some nastiness on the court unlike Joe. Joe never gets emotional on the court. Never see him barking at the refs unlike Duncan (he even got Joe Crawford suspended). Joe is a good player but he doesn’t show the on court leadership like Duncan.
doc
May 6th, 2009
11:40 pm
kwooden 1, poor example because tim duncan one of my fave five delivers in the big game every time. he has done it from day one. he has never been doubted loud or quiet. one can be a quiet leader if he truly leads by example. if not it looks like brooding or pouting if there is no emotion. the way to avoid it is by getting the job done. no matter if it is by fire or ice you have to perform on the big stage. it may be a while for him to do it. didnt ray allen have a bit of a collar to wear until he finally shook it mid way through the playoffs? with josh he just gets it done and challenges the order as he ascends is my guess. wasnt jj in a similar position about five years ago wanting to be the man and relegated to the fourth wheel? now that he has it, go do it. precocious youth, how to direct it in the way it needs to go?
A Tribe Called Quest
May 6th, 2009
11:55 pm
Horford only shoots fadeaways–that’s it