Do they have anything left?
Do Joe, Josh and the Hawks have anything left? We're going to find out in a few hours.
HAWKSVILLE - The clock is ticking on this once miraculous season for the Hawks.
How much time remains is hard to tell, could be a couple games or a couple days.
No one knows for sure.
But one question about these Hawks remains.
Do they have anything left?
Fresh off two straight blowout loss in Cleveland, it’s all come down to this one showing, tonight’s Game 3 against Cleveland at Philips Arena.
If the Hawks can dig down and find something that works long enough to hold off the Cavaliers, maybe, just perhaps maybe, they can stretch this series out a few days longer.
We all know there have been far too many injuries to contend with for the Hawks to actually dream about springing an upset.
But there is still time to save a little face and make the NBA, the city of Cleveland and even the Cavaliers sweat a little bit.
Win tonight and waking up Sunday morning in a 2-1 hole gives people hope. Go to bed tonight down 3-0, however, and Monday’s Game 4 becomes 48 minutes of survivor. And with LeBron James smelling blood and the Hawks smelling vacation … well, it could be just enough to shove the Hawks all the way over the playoff cliff.
I took a seat in my barber’s chair a little earlier today and before he could even get started, one of his fellow barbers stopped him so he could ask the question that I’ve been getting non-stop the past 48 hours.
“Them boys gettin’ swept or what man?”
I’ll tell you like I told him, it all comes down to tonight.
The Hawks have been holding on to the aura of their own home court advantage, and all the cosmic energy that comes with it, all season long.
It worked for them in Game 7 against Miami. But that was a series clincher. And they weren’t missing three injured starters (only Marvin Williams sat that one out, Al Horford and Joe Johnson did not).
Johnson, Horford and Williams might play tonight (all three are officially “game-time” decisions) and it still might not be enough to hold off the Cavs. They’re that good. And that focused. And that serious about doing whatever it takes, whenever they have to and wherever they have to in an effort to win a championship.
I loved Wally Szczerbiak’s quote after Game 2 when he was asked about the Cavs’ six, double-digit playoff wins this postseason – “You haven’t seen the hard work we’ve been putting in,” he said, insulted that anyone would dare to think the Cavs are just good enough to show up and blow teams away without doing any dirty work to make it happen. “There’s a lot of work that goes into playing as well as we’re playing. We definitely put the effort in on the practice floor, in the film room and in the weight room. We’ve done it all season long, so we are going to continue to do that and it’s paying off during game time.”
This from the team’s seventh, eighth or ninth man, depending on Mike Brown’s playing rotation on a given night. That’s what winning big is all about, that attitude, that mindset and that kind of sacrifice.
And while this looks like hard work from the Hawks’ perspective, James is smiling at the opportunity to play in “another hostile environment” – if an arena filled with fans wearing his jerseys and gasping at his every move, from the powder toss at the start of the game to his headband toss to the crowd at the end, and everything in between, can be considered hostile.
“We have a 2-0 lead,” James said. “A series is never won in two games or three games. But Game 3 is going to be really fun.”
We shall see shortly.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
845 comments Add your comment
Melvin
May 9th, 2009
10:57 pm
Ray,
Hopefully, BK told Sund to get Woody out of here.
Realist
May 9th, 2009
10:57 pm
Geez – you guys have been complaining about all the outside shots – then you complain the cavs/lbj has more free throws. explain THAT to me. well, nevermind. i won’t see the answer… you guys are frustrating… maybe 10% of the posts here are basketball/game related. The rest just complain.
Chris from Tampa
May 9th, 2009
10:57 pm
You know I have been a hawk fan since the late 70’s and I got out of it a liitle bit after we got rid of everyone in the late 90’s and after the Hawks are done I may never watch another NBA game again. and these refs arnt gambling on these games I tell you what NBA the ref they can go to hell.
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
10:57 pm
Kirk,
You got it. Should be fun to watch, eh? Refs won’t know who to call for what…
Ground fog,
It’s just not that simple. A team’s deficiencies rarely are. And I’m not picking sides on this, either. I’m just saying – it’s not that simple. If it was, such a decision would have been easy to make during last summer…
Chris from Tampa
May 9th, 2009
10:59 pm
I wish the ref would read this they are a scam a cheat how the hell zaza thrown out he did nothing! he yelled oh out the game you yelled at us
Don't Get Your Hopes Up
May 9th, 2009
10:59 pm
Don’t blame the coach or the team – they played a good game, but who can beat the refs when they are against you??? What can a coach do against that??? In my opinion, the GM and the representative in the NBA of the Hawks should be fired to allow this kind of disgusting performance by the referees!
vava74
May 9th, 2009
10:59 pm
Josh had 5 rebounds in 37 minutes.
He is 6′10” and weights 250lb people and jumps like a rocket.
He wants to win and is competitive but he doesn’t hustle and always loses his focus.
Hubie told already several times that with his physical hability he should get 10reb on a consistent basis.
With him at PF rebounding like a small forward, we are fried.
niremetal
May 9th, 2009
10:59 pm
I can almost understand the Hawks losing their motivation in the 4th of this one. There was no way to guard LeBron because any contact and the refs called a foul. What the hell do you do then? Dare the refs to foul you out? Because we already saw them eject Zaza even though he never made any contact with another player or an official, so clearly they have no gumption about booting Hawks from the game.
The Hawks outscored the Cavs in the paint, but the Cavs got to shoot almost three times the number of free throws the Hawks got to shoot. LeBron alone got to shoot almost 1.5 times as many as the whole Hawks team. So you can’t just say “The Hawks settled too much” as the reason for the disparity. I saw 4 plays where JJ (who by the way showed a HELL of a lot of heart playing like he did after turning his ankle less than 48 hours ago) got to the rim, got contact, but didn’t get a whistle.
I try not to be too much of a cynic about the NBA, but this game was absurd. And the sight of the players just so blatantly ignoring Woodson – taking jump shots seemingly for the sole purpose of spiting him – was almost chilling.
Chris from Tampa
May 9th, 2009
11:01 pm
Investigate these refs someone investigate! lets put everyone in laser tag outfits something!
ground_fog
May 9th, 2009
11:01 pm
Big ray,
Your right but let’s face it, Josh smith is not maturing. How long are we going to say he is a young player? till he is 30? He plays like a high schooler with no discipline. And as a Bobby Night guy, it hates me to knoock on woddson but the road losses are embarrasing and now even the home losses.
ground_fog
May 9th, 2009
11:02 pm
sorry for the spelling had a few lol
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:02 pm
I REFUSE TO JUST BLAME THIS LOSS OF REFS BUT,
ITS A SHAME THAT THE LEAGUE IS HURTING SO BAD WHERE THEY HAVE TO CREATE SUPERSTARS WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO EARN SHYT… BS… IVE SEEN THE OFFICIATING GET WORSE AND WORSE.. ALL YEAR..
IS THE SPORT THIS BAD WHERE THEY HAVE TO CREATE DREAM MATCHUPS.. GIVE FAVORABLE TREATMENT TO CERTAIN PLAYERS AND TEAMS…UNBELIEVABLE..
I SEE WHY FOOTBALL IS NOW AMERICAS PASTIME.. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN SPORTS.. PARITY…
TOO MUCH CHEATING IN BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL…
Footballastro
May 9th, 2009
11:02 pm
there goes the championship
Chris from Tampa
May 9th, 2009
11:03 pm
Baseball you performance inhancing drugs and basketball you performance inhancing refs. Im so tires of these sports that the ref always decides who wins!
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
11:03 pm
I love posts like this:
“Geez – you guys have been complaining about all the outside shots – then you complain the cavs/lbj has more free throws. explain THAT to me. well, nevermind. i won’t see the answer… you guys are frustrating… maybe 10% of the posts here are basketball/game related. The rest just complain.”
Thanks. I needed a good laugh after this game. Nothing beats a bunch of complainers like a complainer, complaining about them. Priceless….
Melvin,
Sund might wanna listen to what Billy has to say. Now if it has anything to do with the draft, all bets are off on BOTH guys, lol…
Harry Hawk
May 9th, 2009
11:04 pm
Our guys aren’t that young. They’re just not a top-drawer NBA team.
mykhalc
May 9th, 2009
11:05 pm
ok…i refused to watch the 2nd half. but here is the question SUND has to ask…what does this team get from WOODSON?? seriously, what does he actually bring?
le brown james THE KING OF ATLANTA
May 9th, 2009
11:05 pm
Worse officials ever. How about we just screw the playoffs and let Lebron and Kobe play the finals.
Harry Hawk
May 9th, 2009
11:08 pm
Woodson ought to bring blank checks and shove them in the pockets of the refs. That might be the best coaching move he could make.
payo2009
May 9th, 2009
11:08 pm
THE CAVS ARE NOT ONLY THE BETTER TEAM BUT THEY HAVE THE BEST PLAYER AND THE ONLY ALPHA MALE ON THE COURT TONITE LEBRON JAMES. HE WOULD NOT LET HIS TEAM LOOSE. LOVE THE HAWKS BUT JOE JOHNSON IS TOO SOFT THE HAWKS ARE SOFT. ZAZA IS NOT BUT HE IS DUMB TO THROW TANTRUMS AND GET EJECTED AND HE KNOWS HORFORD HAS A BAD ANKLE. AS FOR JOSH I LIKE JOSH HE HAS THE FIRE TO AN ALPHA MALE HE JUST HAS TO MATURE AND WORK ON HIS INSIDE GAME , SHOOT 500 SHOTS A DAY IN THE SUMMER SO WHEN THEY LEAVE HIM WIDE OPEN HE CAN KNOCK DOWN HIS JUMPERS. MIKE BIBBY IS OLD HE CANT GUARD WORTH A DARN!!! HE WILL WANT TOO MUCH MONEY SO HE IS GONE SINCE HIS DEAL IS UP. GIVE ACIE LAW THE TEAM TO RUN . WE HAVE A GOOD YOUNG TEAM THE LEADER CANT BE JJ AND THE COACH CANT BE MIKE WOODSON !!!BRING OUT THE BROOMS!!!!
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:08 pm
RAY, THANKS FOR ADDRESSING THAT CLOWN…
COMES ON AND READS ONE BLOG AND FEELS HE’S CREDIBLE TO MAKE SUCH AN ASSERTION…
HA.
kirkinga
May 9th, 2009
11:09 pm
We have no one to match up with Ilgauskas or LeBron. No amount of coaching is going to make up for that. We have to get bigger and better on the frontline.
Hubie made the point more than once, that the Hawks lost their composure. They simply had no answer for a bigger, deeper, more talented team. And yes, possibly, a better coached team as well.
There is still season remaining, so the season autopsies are a bit premature, if not understandable.
Go Hawks!!
DOYLE
May 9th, 2009
11:11 pm
HOW CAN U LET A TEAM COME IN YOUR HOUSE AND DOG U OUT.JOE DON’T HAVE THE FIRE.WOODSON MUST GO..IF THE HAWK DON’T RUN WE LOSE.MAN I LOVE THESE HAWK.COME GAME 4 IF THEY DOUBLE IN THE PAINT THEY R….
Chris from Tampa
May 9th, 2009
11:12 pm
Just prove to me these refs are not gambling on these games! They forced the miami series to 7 games and yes they had hook us up with calls to cover spreads against miami vice versa! Im done F****EM
Melvin
May 9th, 2009
11:12 pm
Ray,
Whats mind blogging to me is how Woody say he like veteran players but wont trust the veteran players (Acie,Solo,Salim,Boris) that came up in his system… He relied heavenly on vets (Bibby, Flip, Mo, ZaZa, Anthony Johnson, Tyrone Lue) that played in other systems before his. Is this an indictment of his coaching skills?????????
The Bullhorn
May 9th, 2009
11:12 pm
Josh Smith has the brains of a termite and Woody is dumber than a box of rocks for leaving him on the court.
hock
May 9th, 2009
11:14 pm
You can’t win championships paying $55 million to guys with IQ’s in the 80’s — no matter high they can jump. After game 4, Hot Dog Smith can work on his between the legs dunk shot and 30 foot jumpers while he watches the rest of the playoffs on TV. It’s hard to root for a team that has placed so much of its future on the back of an idiot.
mykhalc
May 9th, 2009
11:14 pm
far as i’m concerned, WOODSON has been on the autopsy table for 2yrs!!
The Bullhorn
May 9th, 2009
11:15 pm
The only way to get the refs to call a fair game is to make them fear for their lives.
Last year in the Celtics series, the Celtics were getting all the calls until the bu!!sh!t chant went on for about five minutes.
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:15 pm
AND FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY PSYCHOLOGIST AND DETERMINE WHO’S SOFT WHO’S NOT.. THATS HILARIOUS… IF JOE DIDNT ANSWER SOME OF YALL TODAY THEN YALL JUST LOOKING FOR SOME GIMMICK TYPE OF PERSONALITY TO COME BEAT HIS CHEST, THROW UP PIXY DUST, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT… THAT SHYT IS FOR THE KIDS.. DOES NOTHING FOR ME… THAT DOESNT MEAN SOMEONE HAS HEART CAUSE THEY BEAT THERE MEAT IN PUBLIC, THATS JUST THE TYPE OF PERSONALITY THEY HAVE.. OLE’ LOOK AT ME TYPE…
THE HAWKS NEED SOMEONE WHO BY DESIGN WILL GIVE HIS BEST PLAYERS MORE THAN 1 LOOK IN A QRT. WHO CAN SCHEME ON THE FLY… WHO PUTS THERE PLAYERS IN POSITIONS TO PLAY TO THERE STRENGTHS… U CANT JUST TELL A GROUP “WE’RE TAKING TOO MANY JUMP SHOTS, BUT HIT EM IF YOU’RE OPEN”.. WHAT ARE WE DOING SCHEME WISE TO ATTACK, TO TAKE US AWAY FROM THE PERIMETER…?
NOTHING.
hock
May 9th, 2009
11:18 pm
Turn off the caps, idiot
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
11:18 pm
Ground fog,
That’s why I said I’m not taking sides, nor do I think it’s that simple. I find fault in both guys. But I don’t find fault in ONLY those two guys. However, I recognize that they are also the two biggest lightning rods on the team.
True, Smith is not playing with maturity. And we can’t wait around forever for him to do so. I don’t have the answer, my friend. It’s a gamble either way. You trade him away, you better be getting something back that either makes you better, or at the very least, allows you to keep pace at the level you’re at. Why? Because Smith still has that dreaded “P” word- “potential.” Here’s the gamble, although we’re all very tired of hearing it- what if he matures next year? And completely blows up into a bonafide star on another team, while whomever you traded him for can’t help you tread water?
Again, I’m not taking Smith’s side, I’m just saying that this is the risk. For those that are convinced that Smith will never be any more than he is now, there’s no big risk. For those that think it’s possible that he matures and improves his game, the risk is incredible.
Unfortunately for coaches, it’s not quite the same. They are easier to replace than players. You look down the bench at the players, and you probably know right off the bat who is who, and why they’re on the bench. It’s been established.
You look down the bench at the coaching staff, and it’s not so clear. The guy at the very end of the row holding two clipboards and the head coach’s Sharpie might be a guy who can be a better coach than his boss. He might have better, brighter ideas. Or, he might just be a guy who specializes in one or maybe two things, and can’t handle all the responsibilities of the head coach (which includes managing your staff and using them effectively…as they ARE resources).
Coaches make less money, and you can just fire one, hire another, or promote one that’s already there on staff. You can’t do that with players. You have to trade, and things like that. You have to mess with agents and other things, far more than you have to with any coach. There are specific skill sets that you have to have (defender, rebounder, scorer, play-maker, etc), and no player comes with a staff that can help support him and break down the load and responsibility.
So yeah, it’s actually easier to say “fire the coach.” But even that’s not the end of the story. You still have to hire or promote another. And then what if you find out that the player you decided not to get rid of is still a problem?
It’s just not that simple. Glad I don’t have that job, either…
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:19 pm
THEIR..
mykhalc
May 9th, 2009
11:21 pm
bigdave, i agree but leaders HAVE TO show up EVERY game!!! i hope most of you cats got to see BILLUPS interview after their win. leaders go out on a mission…PERIOD!!!! i’m a JOE fan but he has to learn to be the man EVERY game, whether his game is on or not!! know what i’m sayin’…
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
11:21 pm
Kirk,
I agree. Coaching can’t replace size, speed, or any other tangible or intangible. No way, no how. I would say the Cavs are better coached, but that isn’t the issue in this series. Last series is a different story…
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
11:24 pm
Heh, heh. I love people that hate Josh Smith. I really do. I mean the REAL haters, not the guys who are just frustrated with him. The real haters always make such little sense, have no concept of the entire picture, and say the dumbest things.
The Bullhorn
May 9th, 2009
11:27 pm
Watching the Cavs defend Smith reminded me of a rec ball league when you let the worst player on the court have the ball so he’ll shoot it.
Big Ray
May 9th, 2009
11:30 pm
Myk,
Joe Dumars has to be kicking the crap out of himself (although everyone expects him to do some serious shake-ups in Detroit at this point), and will continue to do so if Stuckey doesn’t turn out to be as good as Billups. Somewhere, Larry Brown has got to be laughing his ass off….well, not SOMEWHERE..in Charlotte…
Billups is definitely a leader. No question. And a true point guard. And as frustrated as you are, let’s not continue to beat on Joe Johnson just because he isn’t either one of those. Hey, somebody thought he was…
But he’s a good player. Still, I can identify with your frustration.
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:31 pm
yea i feel you, and agree. i would like to see him take 25 shots a night, but u cant force it.. you cant beat the double teams every possession, i just think life would be a whole lot easier if team needs and scheme were addressed.
there is no doubt that his game is there and thats all thats needed. im just confuse when people feel that having a “big personality” makes you a better basketball player…
rms
May 9th, 2009
11:32 pm
Big Ray,
You mean BK was at the game. I thought he was banned from ever entering Phillips Arean let alone the city of Atlanta. Hope Sund is not getting any upcoming draft advice, please forbid we get another forward. But it does kinda make you wonder. Maybe he is showing him why he wanted to fire Woodson a long time ago. Now its on full display for the whole world to see.
TheAntiMe
May 9th, 2009
11:33 pm
I honestly don’t think that Josh can help himself. A couple of times it looked like he did want to do the right thing and went for the lay-in and the sure two but then 3 minutes later he blows another slam. He just can’t seem to stop listening to that devil who is sitting on his left shoulder.
cp
May 9th, 2009
11:33 pm
My post did not show up smh… Once again Woodpecker could not make adjustments…Bibby was getting torched on defense but instead of giving Law some minutes he continued to watch Bibby get burned on the defensive end…..Woodpecker has lost this team. Guys came out of one timeout and did the exact opposite of what he said to do……Evans is terrible…. Im on the Marvin for Gay bandwagon but I doubt Memphis gives up on Gay…..This team should not be blown up but some guys should probably be moved in the summer.
Harry Hawk
May 9th, 2009
11:34 pm
I gotta admit that the “rec league” comment by Bullhorn isn’t far off the mark. Josh is always open for long jumpers because other teams know that he can’t consistently hit that shot. He’s been playing the game long enough to know better. I know he’s “young,” but he’s not young in terms of NBA experience.
Sam from da Swats
May 9th, 2009
11:35 pm
Mike Tirico said no team in the NBA has come back from 3-0 deficit in the playoffs and that’s wrong. Denver Nuggets with Dikembe vs Seattle Supersonics, down 3-0, came back and won the series. These guys are concentrating so much to d*.k ride Lebron, they don’t have their information right.
ground_fog
May 9th, 2009
11:38 pm
Big Ray,
I appreciate your critique on the situation and I mostly agree with you. I do think Sund will make a decision either to trade Smith or fire Woodson. I just don’t see them both being back. Your right-too many times the coach takes the fall for the simple fact he does not make as much $$$ as the players.I guess that is why Sund makes the big bucks lol (at least compared to me anyway lol)
D.Ellis
May 9th, 2009
11:42 pm
Basically what we have is a second round playoff type team. No defense in the back court. A team built around big power forwards who don’t have range. If you resign Bibby…..and keep Joe and Marvin…..THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO SGIN A BIG THAT REQUIRES A DOUBLE TEAM N THE PAINT WHICH AT THE PRESENT MOMENT THERE IS NO SUCH THING.
This team is waht it is built for. Nothing More Nothing Less. The Hawks are a good team. The cavs are a Great team. Bottom Line….with the best player on the planet running the show.
Mike Bibby’s Defense has been FAR exposed in this series. They should put a tent around Bibby’s Defense and Josh Snith’s jump shots because it’s a circus in action to watch. I’m not downing my team.I love the Hawks. It’s just been tough to watch.
Here’s to our HAWKS having some pride and showing up in Game 4 and fighting.
mykhalc
May 9th, 2009
11:43 pm
BIG RAY, definitely not hatin’ on JOE brah. i know u know that tho. just my observations of how i see him. he’s really a PIPPEN if you know what i mean…even less vocal. all the skills except JJ wants his teammates to ‘be’ better. he’s not tryin’ to ‘make’ them better thru instruction or leadin’ IMHO. you can tell he doesn’t wanna have to carry the team. can’t blame him BUT it IS on him, whether he chooses or not. he and BIBBY need to swap places and bodies!!!LOL BIBBY is a natural leader, probably likes to lead. if JJ had a strong HC leadin’ the way then not as much would be required IMHO. with the BRAINLESS ONE as HC more is needed from JOE unfortunately.
i really do give the HAWKS credit for doin’ what they have done in spite of WOODSON. remove him, get a real HC, and this team finds out how to compete at the next level IMHO.
niremetal
May 9th, 2009
11:44 pm
RodSamRod,
That was a 5-game series, buddy.
bigdave
May 9th, 2009
11:45 pm
vava74…
that Gerald Wallace reference… wouldn’t that be nice… but nobody has homed his skill..
JoeBrave
May 9th, 2009
11:46 pm
Here is a simple approach to gane 4 !! The first time that sonofab1tch LBJ goes to the hole KNOCK THE LIVIN SHYT OUTTA THAT B@STARD!!!!!