Atlanta Hawks Squawks Game 7: Hawks 95, Bucks 74
They did it. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
– If you are still mad this series went seven games, can you at least be happy the Hawks closed it out today with no drama?
– Of course about 30 seconds after they clinched everyone wanted to ask them about Orlando. “I am ready to go lay down,” Bibby said. “I don’t even want to think about that. I am not even going to worry about basketball right now.”
– I kinda know how he feels. Looking forward to some Breaking Bad tonight. Get on that show.
– The Magic may have the Hawks’ number. They have Dwight Howard and a bunch of shooters. They have home court advantage. They have a longer history of playing good defense and an even more efficient offense than the Hawks. They were in the Finals last year. They’ve been sitting around waiting for what seems like forever.
– So naturally pretty much everyone will assume all of that means the Hawks won’t have a chance. “That’s how it goes,” Bibby said. “Somebody has to be the underdog. Why not?”
– That comes later. First, the acknowledgment that the Hawks pulled out a hard-fought series. (Warning, warning, lame boxing analogy to follow) Regardless if the Bucks should have been going toe-to-toe with them in the first place, the Hawks were left standing.
– “Guys played their hearts out on Friday and we did the same today,” Smoove said. “We’ve got to have that every game.”
– The Hawks ended up playing some defense in this series. In Games 1-4, the Bucks shot 48 percent, averaged 99 points and led the rebounding tally 159-154. In Games 5-7 the Bucks shot 35 percent, averaged 78 points and trailed 145-115 in rebounding.
– Sure, the Bucks aren’t a very good offensive team even when they have Bogut (though Salmons had made them better) but the Hawks hadn’t been a very good defensive team.
– They were over the final three games of this series. “I know that’s what wins basketball games,” Woody said. “As we move forward, it has got to stay consistent as far as how we defend and rebound. The only way we got out of this series is defend. We did that in Milwaukee, holding them to 69 points and tonight 74 points. It was our defense that came through for us in this series.”
– There will be lots of talk about whether the Hawks take their chances by focusing their defense on Dwight or let him get his and control all those shooters. But it may not be as simple as an either-or proposition, particularly within the flow of each game.
– When Bibby was asked about how Al can handle Dwight, he offered some vet perspective: “I judge teams by how good their team defense is. I remember playing San Antonio and Portland when I was younger and I was just baffled about how they were helping each other and rotating. How tough they made it for everybody to score. I look at it like it’s a team effort.”
– “I think we’ve figured out if we play hard defensively we always give ourselves a chance to win games and we just have to come out and match [Orlando's] intensity,” Al said.
– That kind of sums up the Hawks, doesn’t it? They’ve talked about being a good defensive team for so long and only now seem to have discovered that it actually does make a difference when they back it up. It’s how they beat the Bucks fairly handily in Game 6 and 7 despite some long scoring droughts.
– Al was a beast against the Bucks: 15.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 56 percent shooting. He had 25 and 11 in Game 5 (overlooked for obvious reasons), 15 and 15 in Game 6 and 16 and 16 in Game 7.
– About the only thing you can pick at Al were the few times he insisted on trying to bull Kurt Thomas to the basket instead of shooting in face-ups and pick-and-ops. But he offered an explanation for that before Game 7: “It’s all about what our guards want us to tun. I can do both. I feel comfortable doing both.”
– The Magic have to deal with Al, too. Dwight didn’t get to be defensive player of the year by chasing quick, athletic guys around on the perimeter. “They have a load down low and we have a guy that makes outside jumpshots in Al,” Josh said. “There are going to be some mismatches in the series. We just have to see where they are at.”
– Another good sign for the Hawks was Marvin getting better at defending and rebounding. Can’t say it enough: If he can do both of those things consistently and sprinkle in a couple games of 15-20 points, that’s a lot.
– Zaza also played better in the final two games. Because of Zaza, the Hawks were even better after Smoove got into foul trouble today. “It didn’t affect anything,” Woody said. “It gave as an opportunity to go big. It gave us an opportunity to move Al to the 4 and put Zaza at the 5. I don’t think we really lost a whole lot. We just continued to flow.”
– For all of the (justified) talk about the Hawks struggling to overcome an opponent with inferior talent, give the Bucks some Ps. Said Zaza: “Of course losing is terrible and no one wants to lose, but they should be proud of [themselves]. I give a lot of credit to Coach Skiles and the players there. They were really fighting. They almost had us.”
– Once Brandon Jennings gets his game under control, look out. “He’s a talented young man,” Woody said. “If he’s able to stay healthy he will have a long career. It’s nice to see a young guy figure it out that early.”
– Woody before the game: “All those people that wrote us off, they don’t dribble one ball up and down that court, they don’t shoot a jump shot, they don’t rebound the ball, they don’t get defensive stops and they surely don’t coach the team. It ain’t about all these people outside our circle. Any team will say that. It’s about the people who go to battle and work in the locker room. I could care less about what you guys write or say.”
– It’s been my experience that coaches and players who say they don’t care about criticism really do care. How can they not? It would bother me if I were in the same position. It’s human nature. That’s why I want to be rich but not famous. Yeah, I know, I’m 0-for-2.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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181 comments Add your comment
GeeMack
May 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
I would love for this series with the Magic to be a classic.
However every time I hear a quote from one of the Hawks it sounds like they are trying to convince themselves they can play with the Magic.
It’s such a different tone whenever the Magic talk about the Cavs. The Magic are almost irritated that the Cavs get the publicity they get, when the Magic beat them so convincinly last year. Therefore every time they face the Cavs they are trying to prove they are the better team.
I don’t see that with the Hawks. The only teams the Hawks play with that passion against are the Celtics and Lakers.
GeeMack
May 3rd, 2010
11:32 am
The Truth
I gotta disagree that the pressure is on the Magic in the series.
The pressure is on the Hawks, to prove they are not the same, heatless team that allowed an injury riddled Bucks team to push them to the limit.
Anything less than a hard fought game 7 against the Magic, will maintain the heartless tag the picked up against the Bucks.
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
Truth . . .honestly man, people shouldn’t even be worrying about JJ’s contract situation. This is the playoffs. He’s not worried about how a bad game is going to affect his situation in the offseason. That dude is simply trying to help the Hawks win games.
People want to diss JJ, but keep in mind what that dude did.
* 20 ppg – 5 rebs – 6 asst ( led team in points and assists )
* shot 42% FG and 25% 3FG ( his only negative of the series )
* shot 87% FT
* shut down Salmons the final 2 games
* helped shut down Jennings
Don’t worry about JJ’s contract situation. That dude is simply playing to win games. Don’t fall for that trap that the other AJC writers try to steer you toward. If JJ outplays Vince Carter and we beat the Magic, people will be talking about how he deserves whatever money he wants. But even then, that’s the wrong thing to be worried about.
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
11:37 am
I disagree GeeMack
Orlando is one of the best teams in the NBA. They’re probably better than the Lakers. They’re the poor man’s version of those mid-90s Houston Rockets teams that won 2 titles. And that’s only because Dwight Howard is nowhere near as good as Hakeem Olajuwon was.
It’s no shame in losing to that team, if it comes to that. And if we lost in 6 hard fought games, there will be nothing “heartless” about that. They do have the better team, even if our individual talent may be better.
Fresh
May 3rd, 2010
11:43 am
Big Prop To The Atlanta Hawks Student Section!!!!! Props to the 40-50 college kids who have turned up lately to the Factory around section 118. Those Guys Was Rockin The Whole Time!!!!!!!!!!!
Phyllis B
May 3rd, 2010
12:27 pm
After the comments that were posted after game 5, it is amazing that we are even playing Orlando at all. Most of the people here made it sound like the Hawks were already done. Amazing. Now we are in the second round. We might not win the series but at least we are where we are supposed to be. Go, Hawks!
Mike
May 3rd, 2010
12:35 pm
Everyone keeps pointing out how Atlanta beat Orlando in their last meeting as the blueprint to beat the Magic.What everyone fails to point out is Atlanta had a 10point lead with 8 minutes left in that game and blew it. Orlando turned it on when they woke up and Atlanta only won by a last second dunk by Josh Smith
Is everybody going to base Atlanta’s ability to beat Orlando on that game and ignore the previous 3 games that Orlando won by an average of 22.2 ppg? It’s a long season and it was Orlando’s 71st game of the season and they disrespected Atlanta in that game, probably because they did not think Atlanta could beat them.
But truth is Orlando woke up in the final minutes of the game and turned it on and came back.
This is the playoffs, and Orlando is not going to play like they did in that one regular season game. Orlando has won 24 of 27 games, including 10 straight.
Orlando has not lost 4 games in the last 27 games, do you really think the Hawks who lost 6 of their last 7 to Orlando can beat them 4 times in seven games?
O'Brien
May 3rd, 2010
12:44 pm
Wabe,
That’s probably part of the reason why Bibby can get away with just about anything (mistake wise) on the court. And part of the reason why Woody doesnt seem to call him out either.
Ken Strickland has always said the reason Woody does not give Teague any PT is because Woody is afraid he might take PT way from his belovd Mike Bibby (Ken’s words, not mine).
If what Jamal said is true about Bibby being the teacher’s pet, and like Woody’s son, then I’m surprised we have not heard from Ken as yet.
The Truth
May 3rd, 2010
1:14 pm
northcyde
True, I shouldn’t worry about JJ contract now (during round 2) and quite frankly I’m not. My comment regarding JJ contract was meant to be a place holder thought for future reference since JJ contract will be the big gorilla in the room. If I expand any further into this discussion (beyond what we have both wrote about on this topic) it would defeat what we both don’t want, OFF-COURT DESTRACTIONS.
The Truth
May 3rd, 2010
1:17 pm
Correction “Distraction”
Wabe
May 3rd, 2010
1:23 pm
Mike, you make some valid points.
But, I think you’re looking at some of these posts that discuss “the blueprint” in the wrong manner. I think what these individuals are trying to say is simple, the way we approached that last Orlando game (playing Howard straight-up, not leaving shooters) is our BEST BET to beat Orlando. Nobody knows for sure whether it’ll be effective, but as of now, that’s the one game that we saw an actual tactical adjustment – and we got the results we wanted as well. Therefore, one can assume that THAT APPROACH gives us a much better chance to compete and maybe pull out a few W’s as opposed to playing into what they do by doubling Howard and opening up the inside/out game.
You play Howard straight up. If he averages 30+ ppg, you tip your hat to the Magic and call it a series.
South ga boy in the atl
May 3rd, 2010
1:24 pm
First, let me agree with other posters and compliment Najeh on his scouting report. Sometimes I wish I could put him upstairs in a booth and a headset on Woody, like football, so Najeh could help Woody with adjustments. Everything he said is correct about NOT doubling Howard, sticking like glue to the perimeter scorer’s, and ball movement at the offensive end. But for the Hawks to win this series, I think a tough mental attitude is what’s key. I think back to the Douglas/Tyson fight where Buster (hawks in this metaphor) had to take everything Tyson (magic) could throw and punch back even harder until that “tipping” point occurred and Tyson realized that not only was he in a hellluva fight but that he was getting his ars whipped. For the Hawks that will only come in the form of defense. I hope the Hawks stand up to Orlando the beautiful way they did just 2 yrs ago against Boston. We didn’t win that series but if we play with that kind of tenacity, we have the horses to beat the magic. Go Hawks
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
1:25 pm
Bucks Fan here…
dam, u guys got lucky
great year for the Bucks
before the season started, we were suppose to be bottom 5 in the NBA
some good moves by our gm Hammond, and great coaching from skiles
we were about 500 for most of the season
then we got Salmons, and things r looking great
Bogut goes down, and wer all devestated
games 1 and 2 vs the Hawks happen, and our confidence is low
games 3 and 4 back in Milwaukee were Crazy Good
the Fans were freakin Awesome
game 5 had us believing in a 1st round win
games 6 and 7, the Bucks went Cold shooting
i think the Bucks lost game 6, and not that the Hawks did anything to win that game
good luck v the Magic
whatever happens, as long as the cavs and celtics DONT make the finals
*****
if the Hawks dont keep JJ, they should trade JS.
because of the lack of $ (like most teams)
theres no reason to continue as a mediocre team
keep teague and horford, trade everyone else u can
in 4 years, should be able to make another run at it
The Truth
May 3rd, 2010
1:27 pm
GeeMack
You feel all of the pressure is on the Hawks? How is that true since the Hawks is the 3rd seed going against Orlando, the 2nd seed? It is true that they should avoid being swept but that’s about it.
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
1:36 pm
Poor ol’ Jamal, he didn’t mean to start nothin’?
JeJe
May 3rd, 2010
1:42 pm
FIRE JEJE
JeJe
May 3rd, 2010
1:42 pm
Jamal said Bibby is teacher’s pet? Where?
The Truth
May 3rd, 2010
1:57 pm
PANDEMONEUM
I love your sportsmanship. Good luck next year except when the Bucks play the Hawks.
O'Brien
May 3rd, 2010
2:04 pm
Jeje,
Crawford was on ESPN first take, and they asked him who was the teacher’s pet. He said bibby. And he added bibby is like coach’s son, that’s for sure…
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Tomorrow night the curtain will be drawn for the final act in: Wdsn’s “Odyssey”. The epic journey awaits the the conclusion.
Can he Coach or can he not?
He actually has the better team, save one transcendent player [DH].
The other team is coached only by a puffed up, aggrandizing, grumpy, frumpy, transplanted yankee, who can actually coach a little bit.
Most teams make the mistake of trying to stop [DH].
Leave him be. Offensively, he’s camouflage.
It’s the shooters who score. [DH] is a ‘Stopper’!
Thats what make him great.
Another thing – some people say; let him get his:
NO…& again I say NO.
Don’t let anyone get anything!
JUST / For Pete’s Sake / Don’t double [DH].
He should not command a double team.
Thinking outside the box…Marv on [DH]:
*Length…[7-3+ wingspan]
*Lower Body Strength
*Big Butt
*Affordable Fouls to Give
*Marv’s a good defender
Final Chapter: Hawks overcome (win series) = Wdsn re-signs
*(if he wishes) *$$$ offer may not be to his liking.
This is the step he must take to get his contract.
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
2:22 pm
The Truth
thanks,
but thats only because the Bucks lost
if they had won, id be talkin alot of smack, haha
the Hawks r in a weird spot
they need a Better coach, not just a new coach
and any decisions for the future, Cant be made, until they find out whats going to happen with JJ
if JJ is Not with the Hawks, i would definitely trade JS
because he is making 11 million next year, the Hawks will have to get 3 bench players in return but will require a late 1st or early 2nd round pick in the trade
i gave an example last week, js to memphis for
jaric, haddadi, carroll, young, 1st round draft pick
i dont think that the Hawks can get Equal return in the Js trade
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
2:46 pm
PANDEMONEUM:
I’m sorry but I don’t even begin to comprehend your logic.
Section 303
May 3rd, 2010
3:10 pm
Grandad, my thoughts exactly. I do not know what the h#ll that guy was trying to say.
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
Grandad
where will the Hawks be without Joe J ?
when he was out the last 2 minutes of the game, the Hawks couldnt score a basket
if u keep JJ, then the Hawks can be the 3 seed again, and add some rookies or vets at minimum
to fill in some holes
if the Hawks lose JJ, i see a 3 seed drop and not enough $ to add a key piece
and no $ relief for a few years
i dont like the average or middle of the road approach
i prefer all in, or re-build
so that is why i say re-build if u lose JJ
O'Brien
May 3rd, 2010
3:25 pm
PANDEMONEUM,
if we lose jj, Sunday will try to work out a sign and trade. And even without a sign and trade, we dont need to rebuild.
We would insert Crawford into the starting lineup, hopefully bring chills back, and use our $6-$8 mil in cap space to sign one or two bench playes and go from there.
We would not be top 3, but I think we would still be competing for a playoff spot (7th or 8th maybe).
drmaryb
May 3rd, 2010
3:46 pm
Panda-Bear
You need to go back to the JS.online Blog & try to fix your own team – maybe find something to do!
Everybody knows there is NOTHING to do in Milwaukee. Better yet figure out how you can beat the Hawks.
We’re doing just FINE thank you! Now run along we have a new series to prepare for!
Geez fellas, don’t entertain that clown! Have you seen their BLOG? No wonder he’s over here. They have a bunch of 15 year old over there taking turns saying the same thing over & over. Not, on researched fact or statement.
Good – Bye
Panda – Deer
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
3:47 pm
O’Brien
“We would not be top 3, but I think we would still be competing for a playoff spot (7th or 8th maybe).”
and i say, forget that
why? so u can play the cavs or the magic ?
might as well dump the players and start the re-build
u all ready have Teague and Horford
add 2 draft picks this upcoming draft
use some key guys to get draft picks for the future and youngs
and in 4 years, u can be top 4 in the East again
heres a link to the Salaries still owed for the Hawks
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9154
trade JS and get 35 million freed up
jc is in the last year of his contract @ 10.8
marvin, will either excel, cause of seeing the ball more, or be the same – maybe see what value he has on the trade market
hawks r stuck with bibby
zaza is getting paid appropriately for a backup C
(u could even start zaza at C and horford at PF)
evans last year of his 2.5
joe s out
jason c out
west ? people seem to like him, and hes cheap
cavs, with lebron = up
magic = up
hawks, without JJ = down
celtics = down
miami, with dwade = even (if they add a top free agent = up)
bucks = even (? on salmons return)
charlote = even (little $ space)
bulls = even (but could add a top free agent, then = up)
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
3:58 pm
PANDEMONEUM:
whoa, whoa, whoa!!! I must agree with O’B [1 minor exception]
No disrepect intended, but you display the logic of a female.
If Joe goes surely it will be a S & T:
Preferably to Chicago / with a Joakim Noah heist in return.
But even if we lost him straight up building around:
Al, Josh, Teague, Jamal + some money to spend,
& Marv as a trade chip; is not a bad foundation.
How many teams would love that foundation?
O’B I disagree in that Childress (my opinion only) burned his
bridges when he left his teammates on a young & building
franchise plus after what Sekou said…best he goes somewhere
else…Bibby, as well. O’B – I very rarely differ with your take,
and then only to parse @ minutiae.
Lacsho
May 3rd, 2010
4:00 pm
Great Win!!!!! Me and my son had a ball. Now its time to Hack Howard, and figure out what to do with Jameer Nelson (Whew!!!) SMH
Fire Woody
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
4:17 pm
drmaryb:
Please do not be offended by my female/logic remark.
If you knew the women with whom I’ve had to work, over the yrs.
you would understand.
I had a [single] Mom + 2 Granmothers /
I have 1 wife [longsuffering](her) – puttin’ up with me.
1 mother in law / 2 sisters in law /
1 daughter / 1 daughter in law /
and 1 beautiful Grandaughter… my point… I respect women.
Didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
4:20 pm
O’B:
I think PANDEMONEUM must be a 15 year old girl.
YALL SOME FAIR WELL FANS!!!
May 3rd, 2010
4:21 pm
YOU ALL ACT LIKE J.J. IS SOME BOMB A** PLAYER, YEAH CRAWFORD IS GOOD ON OFFENSE BUT IS GARBAGE ON DEFENSE, I DONT KNO WHAT GAMES YALL BE LOOKING AT, J.J. PLAYS DEFENSE, HE PASSES, REBOUNDS MORE THEN ANY OTHER PLAYER ON THE TEAM AND MOST CATS IN THE LEAGUE, AND HE IS A MAX PLAYER, CAUSE HE HAD 2 TERRIBLE GAMES AGAINST THE BUCKS DONT MAKE HIM SORRY HE WAS THE LEADING SCORER IN 4 OF THE 7 GAMES, IT MUST BE A BUNCH OF KIDS THATS ON THIS BLOG THAT DONT KNO ANYTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL, EXCEPT FOR LEBRON AND WADE, AND WADE IS NOT THAT GUY, JOE HAS PROVED HIS SELF AGAINST HIM LAST YEAR, AND LEBRON HASNT WON A CHAMPIONSHIP YET AND YALL GIVING HIM GLORY CAUSE HE DUNKS AND SCORE ALOT OF POINTS, HES JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT, JOE IS ABOUT BUSINEES AND WINNING, THERE NOT LOOKING AT ALL THE DUNKS HE CAN DO AND COMMERCIALS HES IN AT THE IN OF THE DAY THERE LOOKING AT WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE, THATS DEFENSE AND OFFENSE, MOST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE CANT DO THAT, AND YES HE THE BIG REASON WHY ATLANTA IS IN THE SITUATION, THEY GOT BETTER EVERY YEAR THAT HE WAS HERE, AND I PROMISE IF HE LEAVES ATLANTA WILL NOT MAKE IT TO A PLAYOFF EVER AGAIN, TRUST ME ON THAT!!! HE IS A MAX PLAYER
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
4:26 pm
Grandad
ok, so with that team ur about a 6th seed in the East
then when Jamals contract is up, then what ?
i feel, its better to re-build before u lose pieces
and re-build now, that your players have value
if the Hawks re-sign JJ, they will have to pay the lux tax
and have little $ to spend for the next year
i try and look at it from a $ perspective, and trying to win a Championship
the Bucks r in the same boat
Salmons, Ridnour, Thomas, Stackhouse are all free agents now
should we spend the $ and bring them back ?
we wont have flexibility until we get rid of Michael Redd 18.3 million and Gadzurich 7.2 million
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
5:05 pm
PANDEMONEUM:
Okay quit lookin’ @ the Hawks as you are the ‘Deer’.
The Hawks Have [5] Young talented, 25 yr. old or under,
players with which to build. *(four under manageable contracts)
*Josh *Marv *Teaguer *Zaza
Zaza = [1000 yrs. of exp. & he's still under 25] he’s Benjamin Button!
*Al will be under contract very soon.
*Jamal only ??? what ??? 29, will be re-signed.
*If Joe goes in a S & T:
return = Noah or Gallinari [more young building blocks]
*Childress = something / either a player [himself] or [in return].
We are not the Deer.
Plus…We will get my man…’Brian Zoubek’ in the draft/this year!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 3rd, 2010
5:21 pm
“i gave an example last week, js to memphis for
jaric, haddadi, carroll, young, 1st round draft pick”
Have you ever considered working for TBS? I heard they are very funny too.
While you are at it, how about Milwaukee trades Bogut to the Hawks for Randolph Morris, Jason Collins, Mario West and a 2nd round pick.
vanomania
May 3rd, 2010
5:40 pm
How about as many people as possible go out and get one of these. Make an amulet out of it and wear it to the game. I’ve got my order in and will be there for game 4.
http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Kryptonite-Crystal-Shard-Sticks/dp/B000GKWGT2
VenomSpitter
May 3rd, 2010
5:44 pm
The Hawks just got trashed for playing 1 on 1 BBALL on PTI.
DAMN
Section 303
May 3rd, 2010
5:47 pm
PANDEMONEUM, your take on the Hawks is all wrong. Why would you want to drop all the pieces of a team that you’ve spent the past six years building? It isn’t going to happen. And, I am willing to bet that Joe Johnson is back next year, too. The rest–Josh Smith, Horford, Marvin–they aren’t going anywher, either.
And, if you’ve paid attention, this ownership group has shown the ability to resign guys once their contracts are up. All the local hacks talked about how Marvin was gone at the end of last year. Bibby, too. Well, funny thing happened on their way out of town…they resigned. So, when Jamal’s contract is up, putting my money on him getting a new deal.
At some point, people have to start giving this organization credit. They’ve built this thing up the right way, have not cheated the process at all. Now, they are not that far away. In fact, put a guy that can start at center on this team, allow Al to move to the 4, and the sky is the limit.
Don’t be confused just because the Bucks took this thing to 7. Those of us who know the Hawks know that they lose interest in lower level teams (which, without Bogat, the Bucks are). No accident that the Hawks hammered Milwaukee when their minds/hearts were in the game. Hawks are on the rise, whether you want to believe it or not.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 3rd, 2010
5:49 pm
I thought Wilbon was pretty fair on PTI, basically agreeing with most of us that the parts are greater than the sum on the Hawks, and that there’s no reason for a team this talented to struggle so badly against a team like the Bucks.
Interpret that how you want, but to me that falls on the coaching staff.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 3rd, 2010
5:49 pm
Mickael Pietrus is questionable for Game 1 tomorrow after spraining his ankle.
Section 303
May 3rd, 2010
5:49 pm
Venom Spitter, those clowns on PTI have probably seen the Hawks play about 2 quarters this year. Quite fankly, I don’t give their take on this team an ounce of credibility.
VenomSpitter
May 3rd, 2010
5:59 pm
Yea I don’t think too much of their opinion.
For instance Wilbon just said he thinks Pacquiao would KO Mayweather LMAO yea right.
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
6:17 pm
Section 303
that was a real good post
if JJ is re-signed, then its all good, add those rookie draft picks and 2 vets at the minimum
and the Hawks should be top 4 again
lose JJ this year
lose jamal the year after, cause hes making 10.8 million in his last year, and is NOT worth that contract again
then its the same thing as rebuilding, ur star and ur 6th man gone
and u dont have the quality to replace them
so the Hawks will still be in the playoffs, just not as good
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
6:35 pm
PANDEMONEUM:
I’m glad you’ve become a Hawks fan.
85% Joe stays (I just made up that #)
100% Jamal stays (He’s found a home)
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
6:47 pm
VS & 303:
I didn’t see PTI, but from the sound of things [ND]
I probably agree with alot of what they said,
plus, if ‘ND’ thinks it was a fair assessment;
he’s pretty reliable.
Our sum is less than the parts as quite a few of us agree,
coaching, or lack thereof, influences that viewpoint.
PANDEMONEUM
May 3rd, 2010
6:56 pm
Grandad
im a huge NBA fan
i liked JJ when he was on the suns
and jamal when he was on the bulls
and bibby from the kings
and teague from his college play
and zaza, with his time on the bucks
and i bought the NBA ticket, so i got to watch alot of the games
+ my season tickets with the Bucks
i just feel the Hawks have reached their peak
and if they lose JJ, time to start over
jamals last year, 2010-2011 he will be making 10.8 million
i dont think they will re-sign him for that much again
drmaryb
May 3rd, 2010
7:09 pm
REBUILD?
Heck No! We are almost DONE rebuilding! We are only 3 – 4 right players to become ELITE. Along with the continued maturation of our core. If we constantly rebuild every 4 years then we become the CLIPPERS!
How Long have they been rebuilding – 50 years and counting? Or, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL. No way will the ATL support that nonsense!
We are vested in our core & need to put our core in their best position to excel. AL has been a Man about guarding the giant centers & not one complaint have we heard. He has embraced his role & done his best.
He and Josh have improved each year. Josh hopefully will come back with a mid-range jumper next year & improved FT %.
Vinny Del Negro was FIRED today! That’s too bad he doesn’t deserve that crap! His team competed very well against the Cavaliers IMO. I would never work for them terrible owners! Heck, they let MJ go? After ALL he did for them? Terrible owners – THE WORST!
I like stability at the Coaching spot! I don’t like musical chairs. Mr. Woodson has earned his job! Sure he can do better with better talent! What’s so great about Mike Brown the Clown in Clevelqand? Anybody could WIN with LeBron! He’s LUCKY he has the MVP who actually is the Coach anyways!
If we keep.Re-building, we would still NEED Luck to get that ping-pong ball for #1. The special players only come along once in a while. Not every year do you see another MJ, Kobe, Shaq or LeBron, Durant.
Look at Clippers – they’re #1 didn’t even play his rookie year, nor did super-bust Oden!
I would NEVER trade proven talent for possible draft picks thaty are un-proven. Heck MJ was taken @ #5 after who? Sam Bowie #1 to Portland! DWayne Wade went lower than #1 to Miami! Its all a gamble IMO.
drmaryb
May 3rd, 2010
7:24 pm
Grand-Daddy
LOL!
I’m cool with your assessment : Panda-Deer does sound like a 15 year old gurl to me too! His team sucks – so he wants our team to suck too! So, next year they can slip by us! The Hawks would have beat them sooner if they had Bogus-Bout, Michelle Redd. & Bogut’s Mamma preparing all the team meals too!
They were NOT going to defeat the Hawks regardless of who they put out there. As flawed as we play? We are built to WIN! If Bogut scores, then we shut down Salmons & Jenny -on- the- Block. They still have only 3 starters in dble pts. Hawks average 6 players in dble pts ALL DAY. …. ALL YEAR LONG!
NUNNA!!
May 3rd, 2010
8:43 pm
i got a comment for woody.
we didn’t write of the team because of the players,we wrote them off because of your inability to COACH!!
the hawks win,in spite of you coach woodson!!
you put them in position to lose,not win.you got outcoached in games 3,4,and 5 and after the team held a players only meeting and came out and played their way,then and only then,did we win!!
If you think for one moment that we are to believe that you and your coaching staff changed our scheme of play on the offensive and defensive ends,then u have fallen off of the “nut truck” for real!!
im not on here to call u names sir,or belittle your inteligence..none at all..
but,i will call it as i see it,and what i don’t see is a coach who has the full attention of his team!!
we see it on tv!! you call yourself drawing up plays and they look off into the wilderness,knowing whatever u are saying won’t help..or else you would have their full attention..
and how can you give kudo’s to jennings and talk about how he will get better because of his playing time,when you won’t even give your similar in skills and game PG the same attention,minutes,or kudo’s??
This team is talented enough to beat orlando in a 7 game series and i believe it won’t even take 7 games either..
But,we won’t..As long as you are coaching this team without adjusting to what we’re up against sir,and not defining a role for your bench nor developing your rookie or your bench,
WE HAVE NO CHANCE!!
and i have a question for you..
how can you argue lasts years excuse when you said you didn’t have a bench to play and you needed vets especially in the playoffs and SUND brought in collins and joe smith,but you still refused to play them in the regular season and now??
how can you make sense of sitting a starting center for an NBA FINALS team?? And a career vet who posted better numbers than your starting power forward in the playoffs when he played last year?
you cried for vets,and you got vets with playoff experience..and you have a guard on your team with similar talents as brandon jennings..and you applaud his playing time and developement but you don’t have the same belief in your own player nor the confidence..
and having said that,do you honestly believe that if we had drafted derron williams,chris paul,or brandon jennings that they would have had the same if not better success with you as their head coach?? do you really think so,coach woodson??
williams would have been out the league by now,and paul would have been playing teage minutes and jennings would be sitting next to randolph morris in speedy claxton wear!!
thats right,STREET CLOTHES!!!
i tell you what!!
if we’re competitive,and you really coach and make adjustments and don’t be predictable,then,yea,i will be the 1st to give u kudo’s,props,dap and all dat good “ish”!!
but to be honest,even if we lose and it appears that we lost because of non production from the bench when called up(because i do think that the starters legs will give in by game 3),then,yes,it will still be your fault..
for not getting them ready with real game time minutes..they are going to have to feel each other out and most likely look sloppy doing so..
Your career is on the line bruh!!
Getting knocked out in the 2nd round is not an excuse..You have to get as far as the finals if u expect to be resigned..i do believe that you are over rated and we would be better if you went to philly..
GOOD LUCK TO YOU COACH WOODSON,BECAUSE WE’RE GONNA NEED IT….
--7 kevin--
May 3rd, 2010
8:56 pm
well dang naanaa or noo noo! tell us how your really feel!