Spurs at Atlanta Hawks: Win and They Are In (Game is at 8)
So the Hawks can clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Spurs tonight. Before you say “So what?” remember from whence the Hawks came.
“It wasn’t even pro basketball,” J.J. said of his early days with the Hawks.
Clearly the Hawks have higher aspirations than just making the playoffs. Still, making it official means something.
“It definitely does,” Josh Smith said. “When you go from the bottom up you appreciate the moments of winning.”
“That’s what makes it so special,” J.J. said, “knowing what you had to go through to get to this point.”
“It would be fantastic,” Woody said of clinching tonight. “It’s what we all push for. The first three years we wasn’t playing for nothing. Well, I can’t say that third year–we had a legit shot to make it but we had a lot of injuries. We finally made it in the fourth year, and now here we are.”
Then there is Jamal Crawford, whose losing goes back even further than the Hawks. Jamal asked Bibby how long he was in the league before he made the playoffs.
“Three,” Bibby said.
“Imagine 10,” Jamal said.
Jamal said he “always had faith” he’d make the postseason one day, if only because each season is a fresh start. He thought he had a chance in 2004-05 with the Knicks but they faltered in the final three months of the season and Crawford struggled with injuries. He also thought it might happen in 2006-07 but the Knicks were eliminated in the final week of the season.
Now (unless he’s really cursed or something) Jamal will finally make it.
“I’m going to reflect but not celebrate,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
– I took a look at East teams Nos. 5 through 8 for my Sunday notes and briefly examined why the Hawks may or may not want to face each opponent.
Smoove said he’s not doing the same because those teams are closely bunched in the standings. If the Hawks remain fourth behind Boston (which would get the tiebreak over the Hawks due to winning the Atlantic Division) it’s looking like they’d get Milwaukee in the first round. If they finish third and the Bucks stay hot, it could be Miami, Charlotte or Toronto.
“It’s so crazy down at five through eight, you don’t know who you are going to play,” he said. “So we’ll just see how it plays out. Everybody is right behind each other.”
– I also wrote a story about the Hawks raising premium season ticket prices by nearly 50 percent next year. Today I got the following email and it made me think back to this post from hawksdawgs at Peachtree Hoops.
Interesting article on the Hawks attendance. I want to tell you why I think they can’t draw with a decent team. First many people, like me, who can afford to go live north of the city and I went to a recent Hawks game with Cleveland and it took me over an hour to drive from Johns Creek. Traffic was horrible that time of day. Marta is no better. The trains don’t run often enough, you have to change trains and they are always dirty and crowded. And to top it all off , I went to a basketball game and a Rap concert broke out. Every time out, half time and in between all I heard was rap. And they even introduced all the Atl Rappers sitting in their prime seats during one timeout. Never Again. Horrible traffic and they cater to the Rap crowd. They can have it.
I won’t respond to the bulk of his comments, but I feel I must defend Marta. I ride it all the time because I hate driving and I’ve found it to be safe, reliable and clean. I’m still trying to figure out why some people in the city hate on it so much.
– Remember, the game is at 8 tonight. Apparently some fans missed the numerous notices from the Hawks about the time change for the Feb. 26 game vs. Dallas.
MC
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512 comments Add your comment
Black Ceasar
March 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
Somebody need to tell Buddy Atlanta is a Black City. Tell him his son likes Rap. He can wait on that All Lilly league then get dose of Charlie Daniels that he needs.
Blast
March 21st, 2010
7:33 pm
I use Martha anytime I make a Hawks game. The outlying surburbs have made it impossible for Martha to operate in their counties, hence it’s effect citywide is negligible, but it provides good service for Fulton county. And it is clean. Anytime I can take Martha, drops you right in Philips Plaza, or to the airport, it’s a nice break from driving.
Spurs whooped Hawks at home. Let’s see if Hawks can retailiate on their home court. Hawks have to be mentally tough to win tonight, especially since it’s on National TV.
I hope we get Hubie.
Go Hawks!
SWAT Native
March 21st, 2010
7:36 pm
I agree with Blast – I hope we get Hubie. It’s worth watching the game on TV to hear him analyze the Hawks.
BirdDawg
March 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
Listening to these Woody supporters are like listening to a guy who’s happy to take his hot cousin to the prom. True, you get to take a really hot girl to the prom, but…SHE’S YOUR COUSIN!!! Like the Hawks, true they have improved every year Woody has been here, but…1) they didn’t really have anywhere to go but up, and 2) they are still suffering from the same shortcomings they did when they were irrelevant. I was an avid Woodson supporter in a “wait and see” mode until I realized Woody wasn’t improving in areas where his coaching deficiencies were glaring (i.e. in-game substitutions and adjustments, rookie development, adequate use of the bench, offensive game-planning). Truth be told, almost any coach in the league could have done what Woodson did with that much time and that many lottery picks at their disposal. Oklahoma City is already better than the Hawks in less time with younger players so what Woodson has done has been no great feat. Woodson supporters are just happy to have a winning team without taking into account that, with the talent and experience available to them, this team should probably be well beyond where they are if they had adequate coaching to guide them. I’ve been a fan of this team for years and I’m very happy that they are competitive and relevant, but to look at the potential and talent on this team and see how it has been wasted on Woodson coaching is a travesty. This team shouldn’t be battling Boston for the 4th best record in the east, it should be batttling Cleveland for the best record in the NBA. The window of opportunity to win an NBA Championship doesn’t remain open long for most teams and without a decent coach, that window is going to slam shut on the Hawks before most of the Woodson supporters even realize it was open.
Sautee
March 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
I’m sick of losing to these guys. It’s been 5 years now. Let’s hope the players are as sick of it as I am.
drmaryb
March 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
Blue-Ray:
642 PM POST! Clear, Concise & on POINT! That’s why I call dude – “Blue Ray”!
Hawks Fans are Fantastic & Amazing! You can find them on this here Blog.
Blast
March 21st, 2010
7:49 pm
On attending Hawks games, when I do, I park at the train station and ride Martha. But I don’t attend too many games simply because I cannot afford to. I can easily pay $10 for nosebleed tickets, but I’d rather watch from home in comfort than be that far away.
Seats I like cost $55-80. Even though I have been exemplary on my job, my pay raise has been frozen for the last 3 years and my bonus has been cut the last two, along with other benefits that average $1500 a year. I have lost more than 8 grand so far every year just before the recession started. Glad I still have job!
As a result, I have been forced to trim my budget drastically. Partying, spending bread on girls, been too nice to people, giving pan handlers money, all that is gone, along with regular attendance to Hawks games. Life as I used to know it, is temporarily on hold. Only basic needs gets serviced. All the free loaders have been kicked to the curb. If that means making me a monk, so be it.
Until I start making more money, that’s just how it is, and I’m still a rabid Hawks fan! Shout it out to the world!!!!!!!
KevinA
March 21st, 2010
7:52 pm
Xavier wins – Jamals little brother played great. He does more than dunk over Labron.
Sautee
March 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Blast,
I feel ya’, man.
Unfortunately northcyde would say that you are just not making the Hawks an ENTERTAINMENT PRIORITY.
What’s wrong with you, anyway?
LOL, if YOU aren’t a real Hawks fan, then I’m not either.
O'Brien
March 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
I wish we could hire Hubie as our team consultant during training camp and preseason.
Sautee,
I’m sure the players are sick of losing to the Spurs. I just dont know if they are tough enough to beat them, or if Woody is good enough to make the necessary adjustments.
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
Hubie Brown, baby!!!!
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
Sautee,
Back at ya. Anyone got free tickets, let me know! With free tickets, I can nurse two beers for the night for ten bucks, buy a return Martha pass for $3.50, and I’ll be good!
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
Enter your comments herelets get revenge on tese punk spurs
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:13 pm
Al has got to stop fading away
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Josh stop gambling and play defense damn. Duncan isn’t an idiot.
Taylor
March 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Great showing so far
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Here we go again another quick PG
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Slow starts are never good for Hawks, especially against a good team.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
Duncan is so much better than anyone on the Hawks it’s incredible. The guy is phenomonal imo
O'Brien
March 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
I wonder how George Hill would have looked if he played for the Hawks?
Hawks have tried going inside, but its not working.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
They can’t go inside becuz Al (as much as I like him) is not a true center. If we had a real center and put Al at PF then things would be different.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Manu is schooling Josh.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Like I said.
Taylor
March 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
this is pathetic
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
switching
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Man Josh is getting picked on
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Hawks can’t buy a bucket, Spurs can’t buy a miss!
O'Brien
March 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
Switching is costing us again. Ginobli drives by Josh, and then RJ drives by Josh.
Great finish by Marvin. We need a double double from Marvin tonight.
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
The only matchup that you need to concern yourselves with whenever we play the Spurs is Papavich vs. Woody.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
March 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
man wdf? these guys gonna embarrass us again?
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
Then again, Pap is one of the best (if not the best) in the NBA.
Sautee
March 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
Gee, they sure do miss Parker.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
Man and this is all without Tony Parker torchin us as usual. Where are all the folks tellin me how great Woody has this team playing.
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
that time JJ went through the pick and Manu still burned us for a 3.
Taylor
March 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Woody for COY!
Clyde
March 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
What ever happened to defending the basket Horford? When someone gets beat off the dribble at least try and take a charge to help them out. Horford may be the worst defensive center in the NBA.
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Even Hubie notices how weird the Hawks play.
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Hawks have to watch out for Manu tonight more than Duncan.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
This is why we need a real center. U see teams drive on us constantly. FOR THE LAST DAMN TIME. AL IS NOT A CENTER.
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Seriously, Horford is to blame because J.Smith keeps winding up on Manu and Jefferson?
S Hawk Fan
March 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Let’s see…… young team against veteran team!! great coach against a clueless coach!! adds up to another defeat at home! I am telling you again… we will not move to the next level with this loser coach!!
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Some of yall crack me up.
Sleepy
March 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
lack of intensity again .
This is very disturbing you really have to wonder if this is gonna be the swan song for this group at seasons end.
O'Brien
March 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
Where is the defense Hawks? 10 points for Manu already.
Sautee,
If that was the Hawks without their starting PG, you would hear how our bench sucks and thats why we’re losing. But yet if George Hill played for the Hawks, I dont think he would be the player he is today.
The Hawks have been blessed to be so healthy all year.
Sautee
March 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
Wabe,
Don’t you know that it’s ALWAYS Horford’s fault?
Sautee
March 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
O’Brien,
co-sign
Wabe
March 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Manu killed us.
VenomSpitter
March 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
I never said it was Al’s fault. I said he should be playing PF. But he’s not making himself play C Woody is.
Blast
March 21st, 2010
8:30 pm
Woody bringing in more beef.
Jody
March 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
The size inside is CLEARLY bothering the Hawks. On offense everything is perimeter.