Bucks at Atlanta Hawks: Game 2
Game 2 should be a test of the Hawks’ maturity, right? Because there’s a couple things that are clear after just one game in this series: The Hawks are too good for the Bucks, and the Bucks are too prideful to quit.
The Hawks just have too much physical talent all over the floor for the Bogut-less Bucks to handle. Scott Skiles has been pretty blunt in talking about his matchup dilemmas, basically saying the Bucks simply have to be more aggressive and active with their help defense. What else can the Bucks do, really?
Skiles can put Mbah a Moute on whomever he wants and it leaves a problem somewhere else. Carlos Delfino on Josh is not feasible, but neither is Delfino on J.J. Kurt Thomas is good for bodying Al in the post but not for chasing him on mid-range jumpers, while the opposite (or maybe neither) seems to be true with Ilyasova. And when Bibby is stroking jumpers too the Bucks can forget it.
So we know the Bucks are overmatched but I have to think they won’t be shook tonight. After they were stunned by the Hawks’ opening blitz in Game 1, Skiles said they looked “more like ourselves” in the second half. Expect the Bucks to show more poise and energy to start Game 2. And judging by the way Hawks players have been carrying themselves over the last couple days, expect them to respond.
“They are probably going to come out more aggressive,” Smoove said. “But we are going to be the same team we were in Game 1, exuberant and full of life.”
If the Hawks do that tonight and also crisply execute to take advantage of their superior talent, we’ll know they’ve taken another step toward being what they want to be.
– I’ve been impressed by the overall positive vibes from my blog people. Good to see you set aside your gripes and get behind your squad. Just think, if the Hawks come out and smoke the Bucks tonight you’ll have three days of shine until Game 3.
Have fun, Hawks fans.
MC
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263 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
Wow…our non-defensive center throws yet another shot and discourages the very next one…
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
Ballinnnnnnnn
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
Knew that play wasn’t going anywhere, LOL
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
I’ll take that foul. Josh still got the point across.
Melvin
April 20th, 2010
9:09 pm
Buckshots, Buckshots…
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:09 pm
All we need is Josh to get 1 more ast. Come on someone recognize that josh needs 1 more
pinoy hawk
April 20th, 2010
9:10 pm
last bibby shot looks like the sacramento bibby i am used to..
GO HAWKS!!
Blast
April 20th, 2010
9:11 pm
Big Ray,
Joe has always played best when he’s being fed the ball. When he tries to create his own shot, he takes too long, and attracts a swarm of defenders.
No reason Hawks can’t close this first round in 4. I would be highly disapointed if they don’t.
Lion
April 20th, 2010
9:11 pm
I have a feeling Mike Woodson might take Josh Smith out soon, since the Hawks have a dominant lead so little time left. He already took Al out.
Lion
April 20th, 2010
9:11 pm
Hmm, just as I say that, Woodson puts Al back in. Maybe Josh will get a chance to get that triple-double after all.
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:12 pm
Najeh
Your assessment on the Half-Time show was I L L! Lmbo!!!!
OMG – Not the wardrobe malfuntcion!
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Al Horford with 8 blocks in two games.
Where is truuuuuuuth serum
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Damn marvin
Melvin
April 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Marvin mess up Josh assist..
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Josh should slap Marvin. He personally kept him from a triple double.
Lion
April 20th, 2010
9:13 pm
Father Time is really attacking the rim.
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:14 pm
Man woody don’t take him out
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:15 pm
SCREW U WOODY
Melvin
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Woody could have left Josh in to get his last assist instead of Marvin… I know I’m knit picking…
Lion
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Well, looks like the starters are done for the night. No triple double for Josh, but still a monster night for our frontcourt.
HATER MAN
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Wow,it just goes to show you that coach mike woodson,can be a punk!
Under 8:00 to go in the 4th and zsa zsa goes ballistic as he is pulled and curses woodson out on the bench,and what does the punk coach do?
He brings zsa zsa back in the game under 4:00 minutes left in the 4th!!
Woodson has no control over his team,we need a real man to coach this team,and drmaryb,northcyde,and others guess what?
Your homey is not it!!
Do you think,even if it were kobe bryant himself,that phil jackson would have brought him back in after that display?
We’re in trouble
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Josh didnt wanna come out.. if i read lips correctly.. “Josh said f that, he wanna call a T.O. .. f that… ”
lol
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:17 pm
hater man… agreed.. they are honestly talking shiiii about him on the bench..
Lion
April 20th, 2010
9:17 pm
What is going on with Zaza?
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:18 pm
Jenny – on – The Block?
Where are your 34 points tonight? Oh My Bad – Hawks defense took that away this game!
We let you score 34 – just for kicks & mind games. Sorry, you just got PRANKED!
Zsa Zsa “Nothing But Nets!”. An Air-Ball. LOL!
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:18 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if zaza punched woody in his shiny azz head
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:18 pm
great win though.. and i actually thought Woodson coached a good game..
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:19 pm
Za Za has been wanting to lay Woody out since the Boston series when they got into it on the court..
Clyde
April 20th, 2010
9:20 pm
I hope yall get this excited in the second round.
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:20 pm
good game
VenomSpitter
April 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
Who wants to see Zaza body slam woody besides me????
Melvin
April 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
bigdave,
I think you are right about Josh.
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:23 pm
Our bench was friggin’ fugly tonight. That would include Mr. Sixth Man.
In the meantime, we still beat the snot out of these guys, the score could have been a good bit worse.
I’ll take a 2-0 lead, thankyou very much.
Gotta give Woody credit, he managed to rest our bigs (the biggest difference in this game, even with Joe having a near 30 point night) until being forced to put them back in, kept things nice and balanced.
Josh and Al took turns abusing the Bucks and helped keep Joe from having to do everything himself.
I was proud of the way the starters played. They were ready.
It took Joe 23 shots to get 27 points, but last I checked 12 of 23 was better than 50%. He’s averaging 25 ppg in this series so far. I have no complaints.
Go Hawks!
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:24 pm
Melvin..
did you see it? i know lip reading is a reach but it was quite obvious..
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:24 pm
Blue-Ray
(Clear Image-s!)
I hope you will agree with me – when I say,
“That was a totally different game plan executed tonight – versus the previous win. This was measured play and combinations of “an old-fashioned butt whippin.”
Great Coaching & Game Planning with hard play tonight!
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:25 pm
Great strings of defensive effort. There weren’t many lapses on that end, except when the bench came in.
Hopefully the second unit can provide much more, especially since we’re going on the road.
Go Hawks!
bigdave
April 20th, 2010
9:25 pm
to add to that Ray, there were about 3-4 times where Joe should’ve been at the line.. he could easily be a high 20 point scorer..
BirdDawg
April 20th, 2010
9:29 pm
Another great showing by our non center, Al Horford. If he’s not a real center, then I’ll take a fake one all day, every day. He was great right along with the rest of the Hawks. Offensive execution…what??? Where did this team come from?
This is a team that can cause some real damage if they keep playing like this.
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:29 pm
drmaryb ,
Agreed 100%
Zaza had a rough night and remained frustrated throughout. He has to suck it up, get ready to play on the road, and give a better performance. Just let it go, man.
Kudos to Woody for recognizing that and letting the man blow off some steam. When he brought Zaza back in the game, it was probably just his way of saying he realized that Zaza was just frustrated, and he wasn’t going to take it personal.
Besides, it was late in the 4th. No harm in it, the game wasn’t close.
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:30 pm
We’ve Only Just Begun!
To improve on last years 1st Round W/L Record. 2 – 0 versus 1 – 1
I like it. I like it. I like (like Tyler Perry’s Mr Brown.). LOL!
SWeep?
Big Ray
April 20th, 2010
9:31 pm
bigdave ,
Right on, brotha.
BirdDawg ,
Preach it man, preach it! Where is my boy Truuuuuuuuuth Serum?
Al averaging 4 bpg….where you at, where you at….
Ree Roe
April 20th, 2010
9:32 pm
We’re gonna need the second unit to do something, but very convincing win for us. We shouldn’t lose a game to these guys. Go Hawks!
-REElated to Roe!!!
BirdDawg
April 20th, 2010
9:32 pm
drmaryb, thanks for the link to the website. Damn shame we have to go on the internet to catch a Hawks playoff game when Atlanta based TNT claims to be “the home of the NBA playoffs”.
kwooden1
April 20th, 2010
9:37 pm
Great Defensive effort for the HAWKS, GREAT WIN! Clearly the defensive in Jennings was great, but I like everything I saw except the occasional lack of attention to the boards. Our bench was terrible, but the starters just came to play! I think its to clear to say we should have taken Stackhouse over West, but the past is the past.
Now the series really starts! We have to get some rest and get ready for a crazy environment in Milwaukee.
GO HAWKS!!
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:37 pm
Marvin is playing very well this series! Great Killer Defense from Marvin.
Mr. Phil
April 20th, 2010
9:43 pm
Very satisfied with Marvin’s play so far this series. Good job MGW.
BirdDawg
April 20th, 2010
9:43 pm
Come on, Big Ray. We both know that if Al can’t single handedly shut down Dwight Howard every single time they match up, he can’t possibly be a real NBA center. Nevermind that no one else in the league can either, Al plays for the Hawks, therefore he is obligated to hold Howard to 2 ppg and 3 rpg in order to cement his legitimacy.
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
9:48 pm
BirdDawg
I feel you right there – Bro!
I got to give Props to Mr. Najeh for that U-Stream @ ATDHE.NET tip. He turned me on to that site.
Pretty Neat hugh? Not a very Clear – Image like (ahem ahem cough) like HD or….
You guessed it …… Blue-Ray on the Blog! AKA Big-Ray! LOL!
Keep up the great posts! I love reading all your comments & stuff on here.
Fear what Deer? Hawks in 4!
JSS
April 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
@Big Ray…
What must Royal Ivey be thinking now (the difference between now and then in what Hawks have become)?
kwooden1
April 20th, 2010
9:55 pm
Marvin has been playing well, it almost appears that he’s getting better every game. I think he’s been much more in attack mode, but also Salmons is a bad defender on top of being to short to guard Marvin. His defense has been solid in both games.
Bibby actually reminded me of the Bibby from back in the day! (I can’t believe he only shot 4-10) Smoove led the team in assists, but I think overall Bibby was the key on offensive. He got the guys easy shots and made the correct decisions with the ball. Joe didn’t have to play a lot of ISO ball, because Bibby was getting Horford and Smoove the ball at the right times.
I am a bit worried about Joe Smith though, he hasn’t played well in either game. E. Ilyasova was taking care of anyone and everyone tonight but he especially played well against Joe Smith. I believe Smith, Zaza and Crawford are due for a good game, and I’m really hoping that Saturday will be the night. If our bench comes to play we will have a major advantage come Saturday.
GO HAWKS!!!