Atlanta Hawks: Game Matters (Update: Hawks Clinch Third Seed)
Shaq is back just in time for the Hawks. Well, maybe. (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)
(Edit: The Celtics lost at Chicago Tuesday, so the Hawks clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference. If the Heat beats New Jersey at home tonight, then the Hawks would face the Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. If the Heat loses and the Bucks win at Boston tonight, then the Hawks would face the Heat. If both the Heat and Bucks lose, then the Hawks would face the Bucks.)
So Shaq is cleared to play for the first time since Feb. 25 but that doesn’t mean he will return against the Hawks. Coach Mike Brown is tempted to play LeBron James, too, but that doesn’t mean he will give in:
“They probably wouldn’t play the whole game on Wednesday, so are we going to be that much better because they played 20 minutes together?” Brown said. “Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. I keep going back and forth.”
If you’re wondering why Brown would even consider sending out either guy when the Cavs long ago clinched homecourt for eternity, the AP story sums it up nicely:
The Cavaliers have made major adjustments to their starting lineup twice this season—both spawned losing streaks. They lost their first two games of the season while working in newcomers O’Neal, (Jamario) Moon and Anthony Parker. They lost their first two with Antawn Jamison after he was acquired from Washington at the trade deadline.
Cleveland doesn’t have time for extended losing streaks in the playoffs while working O’Neal back into the rotation. The starting lineup Cleveland plans to use for the playoffs—Parker, James, Jamison, O’Neal and Mo Williams—were together for just three full games before O’Neal tore a ligament in his thumb on Feb. 25.
After the Hawks beat Milwaukee last night, Woody said he was inclined to send out his full lineup. But if the Celtics lose tonight and thus can’t catch the Hawks for the third seed, he’d have to reconsider, right? There’s the idea of taking momentum into the playoffs and also ending that nine-game losing steak to the Cavs, but the former is overrated and the latter wouldn’t mean very much if LeBron and/or Shaq doesn’t play.
Stay tuned, Hawks fans.
– I asked Mo about a DraftExpress.com Twitter post about him likely opting out of the $2.5 million he’s due on his contract next year:
“Obviously my focus right now is on the playoffs, and I’m excited about where we are headed as a team and looking forward to it. At the same time I’m excited about the possibilities of this summer. I’ve been on six different playoff teams where I’ve made an impact.”
Translation: Of course he will opt out. Why wouldn’t he? There certainly will be a market for a reasonably-priced player who might be undersized for forward but who can defend, likes to mix it up inside and has no fear of taking big shots. Mo, 31, most likely can get a longer deal on the market, if not from the Hawks.
– Ken S. sent me a link for discounted playoff tickets the other day. I never got the chance to check it out to see if it’s legit and forgot about it (sorry) but I see super commenter Najeh Davenpoop and others also have found the deal. It must be for real, so here it is.
MC
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175 comments Add your comment
Cannon
April 13th, 2010
8:38 pm
FYI Just realized that the Bull-Celtics game is on TNT tonight. Boston is up 14-13 late in the 1st. GO BULLS!!!
BravesFan79
April 13th, 2010
8:40 pm
Gwinnete Fred: Metro Atlanta has over 6 Million people!
So your saying that Chicago has 36 Million people? And SF has over 12 million people? And according to you…. New York City has 102 Million people in it! Wow… you must be a math genious! Are you a product of the Clayton county school system by chance? lol
vava74
April 13th, 2010
8:53 pm
Incredible how sentimental my fellow bloggers are… And what reaching 50 wins makes to the minds of people… Ray, OB, you are flip flopping!
We clearly underachieved! Yes 51 or 52 wins is pretty cool and Woody also has his share of te laurels, but he is the single most important reason preventing us from winning 57 / 60 games this season, probably the last with JJ in our ranks making it a particularly important season since it smells like our best oportunity at making a splash (reaching the ECF) for at least 2/3 years.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
9:02 pm
The Hawks won’t realize Mo Evans’ value until they let him leave. You can never have enough savvy veterans who are always in the right place at the right time. I don’t know how much he would command on the open market, but if they can give Marvin $7.5 million per year, they should do everything they can to find enough room to keep Mo. Easier said than done, with Joe’s contract situation, but the Hawks should try as hard as they can.
bigdave
April 13th, 2010
9:09 pm
Steve James
No Crossover:
The Trial of Allen Iverson
quality television…
Blast
April 13th, 2010
9:11 pm
Loving Bulls energy vs Celtics tonight. Bulls REALLY want to make the playoffs. Hope they do. No one wants to see banged up Toronto get swept by Cleveland. Then I do not want to face Heat in the first round, so I’m rooting for Bulls like never since the days of Air Jordan and Lord Scottie.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
9:23 pm
By the way, my previous post is not a suggestion that the Hawks should pay Mo $7.5 million per year, for those who choose to read it that way. I’m just saying they should do everything in their power to keep him around.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
9:25 pm
This Celtics-Bulls game is just as entertaining and back-and-forth as their series last year. Hope the Bulls can pull it out. As much as I’d love to see the Hawks close the regular season with a win, this is still the Hawks’ best chance at securing the #3 seed.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
9:26 pm
Thank you Charles Barkley. For the FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, someone is calling out this Celtics team for what it is — a washed-up pretender. The sports media is always slow to react to changes, and that has never been more apparent than in the coverage of the Celtics this year.
Blast
April 13th, 2010
9:44 pm
Bulls need a timeout to regroup.
N-Trigue
April 13th, 2010
9:44 pm
If Mo is gonna leave we need to try and make a deal for Rudy Gaye he’s in his last year I would try to trade Mo and Marvin and maybe draft pick for Rudy! We would be unstoppable Teague, Joe Johnson, Rudy, Josh, and Al for the starters that’s the would be the most athletic lineup in the league. Any thoughts MC?
DawgNole
April 13th, 2010
9:48 pm
Jeff’s right. NEVER past the second round in 40-plus years in Atlanta. Don’t see it happening this year either, although the team has promise and some talent. It’s the losing mentality that has permeated the city’s major pro sports teams for almost half a century. One championship (’95 Braves) in all those years. Will 2010 be different? Not a chance with Orlando and Cleveland around.
O'Brien
April 13th, 2010
9:53 pm
Najeh,
If resigning Evans becomes a money problem for the hawks, then that would mean even bigger issues for resigning Chills.
As for calling out the Celtics for the pretender they are, its not just media. Woody and hawks players have hyped them up too, talking about how these guys were champs 2 years ago.
The Celtics are old and injured. And that’s a tough combination to overcome. Yes, they are very experienced, but experience alone is not enough.
JeJe
April 13th, 2010
10:00 pm
I can’t believe more people don’t call out Bibby for being overweight.
The guy does NOT use his size to his advantage at all on the court.
1) He cannot post up players a la Baron Davis. B.Diddy uses his SIZE to post up SMALLER players. Bibby doesn’t do this
2) Because he is so big, he is too slow and immobile to GUARD other players. Seriously, someone faces him up, takes one dribble, and Bibby looks like the damn Statue of Liberty after the player has taken one dribble –> !@#$ing joke
So can someone tell me why Bibby feels the need to be so big?..
Hawks vs the Waiting Game
April 13th, 2010
10:08 pm
Chicago only down a point as the third qtr closes out
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
10:16 pm
LOL @ Rasheed Wallace putting it in his own basket. I wonder if he has some money riding on this game. Never seen an own basket that blatant before, not even in a pickup game.
northcyde
April 13th, 2010
10:39 pm
No matter what people say JJ will be worth, there is NO WAY IN HELL that the Hawks can let Chicago get their hands on JJ.
You team JJ up with Rose and Noah, and they instantly become a top 3 team in the East . . surpassing both us and Boston.
I could also see Chicago possibly making a play for Marcus Camby to pair with Noah on the frontcourt ( if they can’t get a Wade or Bosh . . and opt to go after JJ + a post player ).
Rose looked like a 8 year vet tonight.
Hawks vs the Waiting Game
April 13th, 2010
10:43 pm
boston within 6 with about a min and a half left
VenomSpitter
April 13th, 2010
10:43 pm
Rose is a beast
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
10:43 pm
Derrick Rose is the man. Chicago has played a great game. Hope they can close it out.
Hawks vs the Waiting Game
April 13th, 2010
10:46 pm
nice, timely 3 for Chicago
Nique's Revenge
April 13th, 2010
10:48 pm
how can we get rose in a hawks uni?
Cannon
April 13th, 2010
10:49 pm
@Nique’s Revenge haha keep dreaming
Hawks vs the Waiting Game
April 13th, 2010
10:50 pm
7 point lead with 43 seconds left!
Nique's Revenge
April 13th, 2010
10:50 pm
and hinrich too please
VenomSpitter
April 13th, 2010
10:50 pm
yea the bulls wouldn’t trade Rose for anyone on the Hawks
Hawks vs the Waiting Game
April 13th, 2010
10:52 pm
and that should be game, hawks get the 3rd!
Cannon
April 13th, 2010
10:52 pm
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats to OUR Atlanta Hawks #3 in the eastern conference!
VenomSpitter
April 13th, 2010
10:53 pm
Yes
Nique's Revenge
April 13th, 2010
10:53 pm
GRATZ HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 13th, 2010
10:54 pm
Thank you Chicago!
Hawks can comfortably rest their starters tomorrow. Let Joe, Josh and Al get some much-deserved rest before the playoffs begin. As long as New Jersey doesn’t screw things up by winning tomorrow, the Hawks-Bucks 3-6 matchup is secure. Can’t wait for the playoffs.
mark
April 13th, 2010
10:54 pm
3 Seed!!!!!!
Melvin
April 13th, 2010
10:55 pm
Thank you Bulls…. Hawks have the #3 seed…
Freshmaker
April 13th, 2010
10:57 pm
Whew! Now we can rest JJ and Bibby and get healthy.
Cannon
April 13th, 2010
10:59 pm
Really hoping Miami doesn’t throw the game. If they lose to New Jersey at home then we all know something fishy is going on.
UGA
April 13th, 2010
11:00 pm
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only problem: Boston will rest players, Miami will rest Wade. Bucks could win, Heat could lose, then…………..
JeJe
April 13th, 2010
11:01 pm
DO NOT PLAY THE STARTERS TOMORROW. WE WILL NOT LOSE TO MIL RD 1.
REST EVERY DAMN STARTER. DO NOT LET BIBBY PLAY. REST HIM. DO NOT LET JOE OR CRAW PLAY
REST THE DAMN STARTERS AND LET TEAGUE PLAY 30 MINUTES DAMNIT
Gilley
April 13th, 2010
11:03 pm
Well we have the 3rd seed after all.
northcyde
April 13th, 2010
11:05 pm
Here’s the deal:
Now that Boston has no shot at the 3rd seed, they will completely lay down tomorrow night in Milwaukee. Doc will probably rest the vast majority of his starters, or play them very limited minutes.
Which will mean that Miami will control their destiny.
- Do they go ahead and beat Jersey to keep their winning ways going . . and face “the old guys” in a 4 vs 5 matchup?
- Or do they rest Wade ( which will be the first signal of them tanking the game ), lose the game, and play the Hawks in the 3 vs 6 matchup?
If you see Wade in street clothes tomorrow night, then you’ll know what’s up.
Stat Man
April 13th, 2010
11:06 pm
1- I agree with the Miami lay down conspiracy theory. They lose and their path is ATL then Orlando. They win and it’s Boston & Cleveland in the first 2 series. I think I need to get to Vegas and lay something down on the Nets plus the 15 or so they will be getting.
2- Way to go BULLS!!!!!!!!!!
3- Someone needs to slap some sense into Rondo. What kind of a message was he trying to send wearing his headband upside down all game. What a punk.
4- Can’t wait for tomorrow night. Always wanted to see what Teague could do with 44 minutes of playing time!!!
VenomSpitter
April 13th, 2010
11:07 pm
I remember last year Woody’s dumb self still played everybody long mns for some reason in the last game. Damn he pissed me off.
Wabe
April 13th, 2010
11:07 pm
Pretty crazy to have locked up the 3-seed.
We should get the Bucks in the 1st round, which is by far the better matchup for the Hawks considering Miami’s 3 wins against us this season. Also, we just beat a Bogut-less Bucks team on their home floor yesterday minus Jamal. This should be a good 1st round draw for our Hawks.
Wabe
April 13th, 2010
11:09 pm
Hopefully we get the Bucks.
Stat Man
April 13th, 2010
11:09 pm
Of course everybody is wondering if Miami lays down tomorrow night. Exactly what desire does Milwaukee have to win? You think they’d rather play BOS & CLE in first 2 rounds than ATL & ORL – I doubt it.
J.J.M.
April 13th, 2010
11:10 pm
bobcats will upset the magic. I thnk jordan will prepare them well. He will give them some kind of heroic speech and flash his championship rings around…that will motivate them lol
JeJe
April 13th, 2010
11:10 pm
DO NOT PLAY JOE, CRAW, OR BIBBY TOMORROW. NOT EVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. WE COULD BE PLAYING ON SATURDAY. THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO NOW. REST YOUR BIG GUNS. LET TEAGUE PLAY EVERY DAMN MINUTE IF U HAVE TO
Nique's Revenge
April 13th, 2010
11:13 pm
just put in the whole bench the whole game tmw
Stat Man
April 13th, 2010
11:13 pm
I say the only starter going tomorrow should be Williams. He’s healthy and probably more expendable than Evans should one get hurt.
Teague for 40 minutes sounds right. NO WAY does Crawford play at all.
It might me OK to let the starters tip it off to allow them to come out one by one to a standing ovation though – figuring since it is the Cavs in town, the game will be sold out or close to a sell out.
Section 303
April 13th, 2010
11:16 pm
Get to watch some basketball tomorrow night that means nothing! Excellent! Big thanks to the Bulls!
UGA
April 13th, 2010
11:17 pm
Is the Hawks game at 7 or 8 tomorrow?