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
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
263 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2010
9:56 pm
I’m on MARTA on the way back from the game. A few things:
The starting unit was ballin’ all game. I don’t just mean our big three — Bibby and especially Marvin played very well, whether the stats reflect it or not.
The bench, on the other hand, was not so great. Crawford had his moments but didn’t have his usual impact, but the rest of the bench didn’t do much at all. I wasn’t able to see Zaza yelling at Woody from my vantage point, but I don’t blame Woody for pulling him. Zaza’s job is to play physical and get boards, and he wasn’t doing either.
On the other hand, the Bucks were repeatedly exploiting him on the switch in the 2nd half, and that’s on Woody, not Zaza. Salmons was calling for picks until he got matched on Zaza and then he would drive it, and it was working consistently. Horford, though it may not be the ideal matchup, has the athleticism to guard perimeter players when switched on them. Zaza does not. The Hawks need a plan for modifying the switching D when Zaza comes in the game.
The Hawks tried as hard as they could to get Josh his triple double — and make no mistake, everyone in the crowd realized how close he was — but it was just hard luck on those two late misses by Marvin and Bibby. Doesn’t take away from the fact that he and the rest of the front court dominated.
Seeing how easily Bibby and Horford drew the and-1 on that pick and roll late in the game makes me wonder, as I do time and time again, why they don’t run it more frequently. With the athletic finishers the Hawks have and the passing skill at the guard positions, the Hawks would be an absolutely deadly pick and roll team against just about everyone.
If there was one thing that was somewhat concerning it was that the Hawks’ intensity seemed to drop off every time Joe left the game. That definitely can’t happen on the road in the playoffs.
Great win though. The Hawks look poised to close this series out before coming back to Philips.
JeJe
April 20th, 2010
9:57 pm
LOL @ Woody overplaying the starters and only getting 7 points from the bench. 10 minutes for ZaZa? Are you serious?
We can beat any lower seed if we play our starters 38+ minutes. Play the damn bench you idiot coach
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
10:01 pm
FEAR the DEER?
The Bucks look more like …… “A Deer in the Headlights!”
JSS
April 20th, 2010
10:03 pm
He played the bench early, they allowed a 12-2 run…
JeJe
April 20th, 2010
10:08 pm
LOL @ people thinking Marvin is playing better. I guess 11 & 6 is all you can expect from a guy playing 38 minutes
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
10:09 pm
Mr. Bibby
Does things that show you don’t see on a stat sheet! He makes his team mates better.
He sets up the play & talks on offense! Especially, in the huddles!! The switches are helping everybody on defense. Probably Mr. Bibby more than others. But what he does for the team in the games is irreplaceable to this team!
JT0 does not do that – Yet! But, I like his humble attitude. And feel that he will be a really good PG very soon.
With a jumper & some control to go with that blazing speed? He has potetntial to become
- Special.
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
10:14 pm
Miami are who we thought they were,
Going down in a Heat – of – Flames … To the KG-Less Celtic – Pride!
Who? Could have written a better script.
Blue-Ray?
What are the Hawks probability of drawing the Celtics in Round 2?
northcyde
April 20th, 2010
10:23 pm
Great game by the squad tonight.
Smoove and JJ looked like an All-NBA duo tonight. Gotta love the chemistry between those two tonight. Smoove loves playing the point forward role, while JJ isn’t shying away from taking open jumpshots.
Horford was a MAN on both ends of the floor tonight. Gotta love the steady offense he’s bringing so far in these last 2 games.
Zaza needs to STFU and just start playing. If you were playing well, you wouldn’t have gotten pulled. And when Smoove and Horford are playing as well as they were tonight, we’re NOT giving you sympathy minutes so that you can work through your bad play. So STFU and play better.
Good job by Woody for limiting Crawford’s minutes as well. If he’s not scoring or defending, get him out of the game. Jamal . . . please don’t pull a Flip on us these playoffs.
CingHawks
April 20th, 2010
10:27 pm
Was Joe Johnson some what upset towards the end of the post game interview, I hope not, but I was bothered by the camera staying on him as Josh answered the final question, or is that just Joe and the media fishing?
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
10:32 pm
TNT Sir Charles Barkley:
Qoute, “The thing about the Play Offs, is that, it really shows YOU- who can play.
The funny thing is, that, Every Game is D I F F E R E N T!”.
Based, on that – The most versatile team has a good chance of making it to the ECF.
That should be our – Realistic Goal – to make the ECF and play well there.
Section 303
April 20th, 2010
10:41 pm
Just back from the game. Full house! I was worried we would have a ton of empty seats tonight, but people showed off. Atlanta can be a great, not good, great basketball town!
Glad we won’t have to sit around and listen to the local talking heads talk and the local hacks write about how Joe is not a big game player. Last year, at this time, that was all you heard. They can all sing a different tune now. Joe was great!
Thought Marvin played with a killer instinct tonight. He attacked the hoop over and over again…when he does that, he can be really good.
Hate the long break between games 2 and 3. NBA needs to fix that.
Those that watched on TV, what’s with Zaza and Woody? I could see them going at it, but could not lip read. TV show anything?
drmaryb
April 20th, 2010
11:00 pm
Section 303
Thank you for the game insight. I always love reading ALL your posts.
Yeah, Zsa did not bring his * A * Game tonight and was probably antagonizing the REF’s @ it.
His conduct on and off the court was, to say the least – “Detrimental” to the TEAM.
I am sure management will address that and then it’s back to the business of basketball.
This is ENTERTAINMENT people!
The Zsa. Zsa stuff was as what NEON – DEON coined, “Pure Drama” on Zsa’s behalf.
Having said that, I Love Zsa Zsa on this TEAM! He’s Perfect for “what we do!”
Samuel
April 20th, 2010
11:30 pm
Woody=COY