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
lewis
May 2nd, 2010
6:44 pm
good stuff
VenomSpitter
May 2nd, 2010
6:45 pm
Fire Woody
Good game Hawks
Fire Woody
VenomSpitter
May 2nd, 2010
6:46 pm
Maybe the Magic will be outta rhythm and the hawks can steal Game 1.
VenomSpitter
May 2nd, 2010
6:49 pm
I don’t think Dwight needs to be doubled. Just play him str8 up.
SWAT Native
May 2nd, 2010
6:53 pm
Great day: Hawks win, Braves win, and the Boondocks comes back on tonight!
Great day at the Highlight Factory. I was a little concerned when I saw Mark Bradley, but I guess he decided not to blog this time.
I still say that the Hawks will give Orlando a better series than people think. I think they finally found a way to beat them in that game a couple of months ago. It should be interesting.
Clyde
May 2nd, 2010
6:57 pm
It should have been a sweep
FIRE WOODY
SWAT Native
May 2nd, 2010
7:04 pm
Can we give respect to the Bucks for fighting back and making it a series? They even put themselves in position to win Friday night. You could see in their eyes at the end of that game that they knew they blew their shot. Whem they get Bogut back, and from what I hear they have a nice salary cap position after next year, they are going to be a good team for a long time.
BirdDawg
May 2nd, 2010
7:07 pm
Clyde,
It’s ok to enjoy the fruits sometimes, my man. You don’t have to throw salt after EVERY game. Good game Hawks, enjoy it and get ready for Orlando.
FIRE WOODY
mountain_jim
May 2nd, 2010
7:10 pm
I also think the chance to steal game one is there – Orlando may be lethargic and ragged. Well that’s my hope anyways…
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2010
7:12 pm
Good job Woody and Hawks. The important thing is to survive and advance, and we did.
But Orlando is a completely different monster, and we will have to turn up the intensity defensively and offensively, because the magic are better than the Bucks at every position (except maybe HC).
I hope Woody watched the tape from our only win over Orlando this season, and I hope he also watches what his mentor and the Bobcats did in the first round, because D12 stayed in foul trouble that series.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2010
7:18 pm
Great game. Josh said they wouldn’t let the fans down today, and they didn’t. From the second quarter on, they whipped the Bucks into submission. The defense dominated, starting on the interior, and the offense got enough easy looks to put the game away, and it helped that the Bucks played maybe their worst game of the series. It says a lot about the depth the Hawks have that Joe only scored 8 points and the Hawks still won comfortably.
Of course, this all just makes it that much more disappointing that they couldn’t do this in Game 5, like they should have.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Looking ahead to Orlando, the Hawks already have the blueprint to beat them. March 24 was the day the Hawks figured out how to beat the Magic, and it was probably Woody’s best coached game of the season. After three games of switching on the perimeter, doubling Howard, and getting burned, they finally realized that the key is to shut down the perimeter players at all costs, even if it means Howard gets a 20-20 game. In the March 24 game, Howard had 24 boards, 4 blocks, and 16 free throw attempts, and the Hawks still won because none of the Magic perimeter players cracked 50% shooting.
Teams often treat Dwight Howard like he’s a go-to scorer, when in reality he’s at best the 4th best offensive player on the Magic. Doubling Howard and focusing on him defensively only allows players like Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and JJ Redick — whose long-range jumpers are the backbone of their offense — to heat up and get on a roll. The key is to make sure every perimeter guy has a hand in his face at all times and cover Howard with only one man. If Howard takes advantage and dominates the game offensively and the Magic win, you tip your hat and move on, but his post moves are nowhere near developed enough to where he will do that on a consistent basis.
What this means is that the Hawks are definitely capable of winning games against the Magic with Horford and Zaza assuming responsibility for defending Howard. The tougher task will be trying to keep the Magic from dominating the glass; this will involve putting a body on Howard at all times and forcing him away from the hoop, which is easier said than done. But make no mistake, any game the Hawks will win be won on the defensive end by shutting down the perimeter players of Orlando.
Considering how badly Jameer Nelson abused Raymond Felton in Round 1, I would suggest putting Joe Johnson or Marvin Williams on Nelson and rotating Bibby onto someone like Matt Barnes who is less likely to drive the basketball. On the perimeter, Nelson is the only tough matchup for the Hawks — they have the athleticism and length to deal with Carter, Lewis, Pietrus, and Redick if they concentrate and stick with their guy.
On the offensive end, Josh Smith needs to assume a much bigger role in Round 2 than he did against the Bucks, because Horford is not going to be able to do much more than knock down mid-range jumpers against Howard. I would like to see Horford face up and drive against Howard to try to get him into foul trouble, but for some reason Horford never does this despite having a quickness advantage on nearly every other center in the league. Smoove on the other hand will be matched up on players like Barnes and Lewis often, and these are all players that he can post up with success. And of course as the most willing passer the Hawks have, getting him the ball in the post leads to more ball movement, which leads to easier buckets.
One thing is for sure — the Magic players will have no problem getting in the faces of the Hawks’ perimeter shooters and contesting every shot, because they know Howard has their back if they let a guy get past them, and the Hawks won’t have a very good shot at getting rebounds on their long jumpers. This means if the Hawks insist on running the iso-whoever offense, they will get destroyed.
None of what I wrote above takes into account the Hawks’ psyche and mentality, and whether the Orlando crowd will rattle them or whatever. But if they can keep their heads in the game, contest every perimeter shot, and move the ball on offense, they will have a good shot at making this a long series. If they insist on running iso-whoever on offense and are slow to contest perimeter shots on defense, they might as well buy their fishing equipment now.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2010
8:04 pm
Oh yeah, one more thing: a lot will be made over the next week and a half of Orlando’s superior depth. Don’t let it fool you. Yes, Orlando has a lot of good players, probably more than Atlanta, but most of their bench players duplicate rather than complement what their starters do. Aside from Howard, Nelson, Bass, and Gortat, pretty much every Magic player is a shooter first and everything else second.
It’s a very different situation from playing a team like Cleveland, which can throw several very different big men at you and make it all but impossible to drive inside. The Magic can swap in all the shooters they want, but the only player whose foul trouble will matter in this series is Howard. If the Magic beat the Hawks, it’s not going to be because of their depth.
Zach
May 2nd, 2010
8:04 pm
MC,
I know that you agree with me on this one. Bibby was excellent in this series, and he (along with pretty much everyone else) will have to be excellent to beat orlando. I’m giving you and me some props for knowing that Bibby is a stud when everyone else doubted him.
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2010
8:05 pm
Najeh,
We got blown out by the Magic 3 games last season, and the first 3 games this season, before Woody finally made an adjustment. I’m not sure why it takes him so long…
That being said, I agree with your scouting report. Use up all our fouls, and send Howard to the FT line as often as necessary. Plus we dont want to give him any easy dunks, because that will get the crowd into it. And everybody needs to crash the board.
We will need JJ to play good defense on the perimater, and Crawford will need to help carry us offensively (he has struggled against the Magic all year).
Nobody expects the Hawks to win, so if we can find a way to win game 1, we will be in great shape.
nola hawk fan
May 2nd, 2010
8:07 pm
can we just take a sec and say BIG UPs to MC for his coverage during this series. Great job on the game stories, notebook and blog. Even bringing out a dusty article to sum up how most of us felt (Z post)
For someone who came in mid-season, you have done a fine, fine job sir. Rest up Mike… wait until Round 2. Us ATL natives will get even more pessimistic on ya… hey, its all we know in this town.
Mike
May 2nd, 2010
8:08 pm
Najeh… The Hawks don’t have a blueprint for the Magic, they only won 1 game off of a last second tip-in because Rahard Lewis did not box-out Josh Smith. Orlando is probably going to sweep or win this series in 5 games. The Hawks only chance is if Orlando’s does not show up.
BirdDawg
May 2nd, 2010
8:12 pm
People forget that 1) the Hawks played three of the games against Orlando in the second of a back to back after having played a brutal team like Boston the night before. And 2) even still the Hawks held a decent lead in two of those games before having one of their, now infamous, mental lapses. The only game where those two instances weren’t a factor, the Hawks won. That’s not to say that the Hawks will or won’t win the next series, it’s just to point out that a Magic victory shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion. Also, for the haters, here’s an excerpt from another sports writer:
“A question: Would you rather have a center averaging 15.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in the playoffs while shooting 56 percent from the field and 74 percent from the line? Or would you take his counterpart, a guy with a flashier nickname but with averages of just 9.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.5 fouls, not to mention his 48 percent field goal percentage and his 38 percent success rate from the line?
If you chose the former over the latter, you just selected Al Horford over Dwight Howard.”
Last I checked, Charlotte had no one near as good as Al Horford at center. Just food for thought.
MAD-DONNA
May 2nd, 2010
8:17 pm
Mike, the Magic can be beaten! There should not be a concern about the Magic showing up or not! The concern lies in whether the Hawks show up or not! When they do, they can compete with any team in the league!
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
8:21 pm
Najeh
Awesome Editorial! You definitely possess the moxie to have your own blog!
Co-Sign ALL that!
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 2nd, 2010
8:23 pm
nah@Mike…Najeh has a point.
Those perimeter players for Orlando burned the crap out of the Hawks in their blowout wins.
Its ALOT more of them and just 1 Dwight Howard. It’s way more important to limit them than it is doubling Dwight. They really didnt focus on that until the last game.
I agree with what Josh told ESPN’s Chris Sheridan
“It seems like they hit every shot when we play them,” Smith said. “They have a load down low, but we have a guy that makes outside jump shots in Al, so there’s going to be some mismatches exploited in the series, we’ve just got to see where they’re at first.”
That’s how I felt, it just seemed like their perimeter guys didnt miss at all and ALWAYS hit the big shots….they would have crushed anybody in the league shooting the way they did against the Hawks in those game.
Shut them down and let Howard get his, foul him and try to get him in foul trouble.
BirdDawg
May 2nd, 2010
8:30 pm
As long as the Hawks do not, I repeat DO NOT switch on the pick and roll with Nelson and Howard, they should limit a lot of easy points by Orlando. Having Horford on Nelson is a recipe for disaster as Nelson is like Jennings but with more experience and playoff savvy. But having Bibby on Howard in the post is the best way to guarantee Howard takes over the series.
Big Ray
May 2nd, 2010
8:31 pm
Co-sign drmaryb . Najeh definitely has the knowledge.
I agree on his assessment of Orlando (particularly on Dwight Howard). Not a go-to scorer yet by any real means.
I want to see quicker adjustments by the coaching staff and consistently high effort from the players (not to mention a more team oriented attitude).
Al Horford’s leadership is crucial.
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
8:32 pm
Knock – Knock!
Who’s there?
Orange.
Knock – Knock!
Who’s there?
Orange.
Knock – Knock!
Who’s there?
Opportunity! Orange you glad I didn’t say Orlando?
People – Orlando is NOT knocking on that door!
You heard it for yourself! That is OPPORTUNITY! Knocking on that DOOR!
Orange You glad l didn’t say Oralando!
Big Ray
May 2nd, 2010
8:33 pm
Mike ,
That win against Orlando had less to do with HOW we won the game, and far more with the fact that we actually competed with them. THAT is the key. In the other three losses, we either only competed with them for two quarters, or not at all. If you don’t compete the whole game, then you haven’t competed at all, really. In the win, we gave ourselves a chance by actually competing.
That’s where the blueprint comes from.
Rock Preston
May 2nd, 2010
8:36 pm
Classic Woody during presser….Giving off a bully vibe after his strategies have been questioned. NEWS FLASH WOODY!!!! You dont coach them either!!
Mike
May 2nd, 2010
8:48 pm
Orlando has won 10 straight and 24 of the last 27 games. Atlanta has to beat Orlando 4 times in 7 games, Orlando has not even lost 4 times in the last 27 games.
Atlanta has lost to Orlando 6 of the last 7 times and only won by a last second tip-in the one win they had in Atlanta.
My prediction, Orlando in 5.
bigdave
May 2nd, 2010
8:50 pm
how can we get Brandon Jennings..? lol.. he says, “hopefully we didnt tire them out too bad, they can go get one in Orl. at least they’ll be warmed up”
aye.. key to Orlando; dominate the glass (only Dwight really cares about boards).. contest shooters.. let Dwight eat offensively..Josh has to be a major contribute offensively this series, im not sure Orl. has an answer for what he can do..
bigdave
May 2nd, 2010
8:51 pm
*contributor
Clyde
May 2nd, 2010
9:08 pm
drmaryb you lost me with that one
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:08 pm
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:09 pm
“We’re healthy, the depth is there, and we don’t have to rely solely on the starters to get the job done.”
LOL @ Smoove for saying that. What depth? Our bench consists of Crawford and ZaZa (gets 10 minutes even if he plays great)
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:11 pm
EVERYONE IN THE ROTATION IS EXHAUSTED RIGHT NOW. BIBBY SAID AFTER THE GAME HE WAS EXHAUSTED.
THIS IS BECAUSE WOODY DID NOT DEVELOP THE BENCH, MEANING OLD-@$$ BIBBY PLAYED HUGE MINUTES BECAUSE WOODSON WAS TOO ARROGANT AND SELFISH TO DEVELOP YOUNG GUYS LIKE TEAGUE OR EVEN MARIO (AND ACIE LAW THE LAST 2 YEARS). YOU WILL SEE SOME TIRED LEGS TUESDAY, SOLELY BECAUSE WOODSON IS A GARBAGE HEAD COACH, WHOSE TEAMS NATURALLY GOT BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE SO YOUNG
MAGIC IN 5. AND TRUST ME I WANT THE HAWKS TO WIN, BUT DWIGHT AND VINCE HAVEN’T EVEN SHOWN UP IN THE PLAYOFFS YET
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:13 pm
HORFORD SAID THAT THE HAWKS THINK THEY’VE FIGURED OUT THAT IF THEY DEFEND WELL, THEY GIEV TEHMSELVES A CHANCE TO WIN. HOW THE HELL DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO REALIZE THAT?
WOODSON ALSO SAYS THAT HE HAS NOT FIGURED OUT ORLANDO YET. GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOUR COACH CAN’T DEVISE A GAMEPLAN TO BEAT A DIVISION RIVAL (WE GOT LUCKY IN THE 1 GAME WITH THE SMOOVE GW)
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:17 pm
I’M SO TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HOW IF THE HAWKS PLAY UP TO THEIR ABILITIES THEY CAN BEAT ANYONE. THAT STATEMENT IS MEANINGLESS. ANY TEAM IN THE NBA CAN SAY THAT
FIRE WOODY
Blast
May 2nd, 2010
9:25 pm
Great series win, Hawks, even if it took you 7 games to do it. Do not discount the Bucks either. They brought all they had. Hawks gave them life by taking them for granted.
Play Orlando the way you did in the only game you won this season. Straight up! Double Dwight only when he puts the ball on the floor and rotate on the shooters. Double only selectively. Foul him if he gets too close in the post. Make him make foul shots. Stay on the shooters! All of them! I would rather Dwight score 50 than get beat by deadly three’s.
Hope Hawks can gain momentum from these last two wins.
Go, Hawks, Go!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2010
9:31 pm
“MAGIC IN 5. AND TRUST ME I WANT THE HAWKS TO WIN, BUT DWIGHT AND VINCE HAVEN’T EVEN SHOWN UP IN THE PLAYOFFS YET”
What makes you think they necessarily will? It’s not like either one is a proven playoff performer.
Logic favors Orlando winning this series, but if this past series has taught me anything, it is that making predictions about the Hawks is a pointless exercise.
Blast
May 2nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Mike Bibby was awesome! He seems to get better as the season goes on, saving his best for the playoffs! Hope he can keep it up. Give that man major credit, dude coming up strong.
Joe was awful on offense, but he gave a great defensive effort.
Josh was Josh. Filling up the stats sheets despite foul trouble.
Jamal continues his great play two games in a row.
Wow! Hawks, what can you do vs Orlando?
Blast
May 2nd, 2010
9:40 pm
And Big Boss Al Horford was a super Beast!
He has improved greatly, but can he match Dwight toe to toe?
banks
May 2nd, 2010
9:43 pm
The key to this series is Al Horford and if he can hit the 15 ft jumper and pull Howard from the lane and create lanes for the other players. Also Howard is a mentally fragil player at times. ZaZa and Collins needto play the role of Kurt Thomas and frustrate Howard. One worry is Vince he always kills us. However he can disapper in games once he becomes frustrated. I think more than any other series Marvin will be the key he will have to hit the open shot in order to provide more one one match ups for Joe and Jamal.
northcyde
May 2nd, 2010
9:47 pm
Mike
May 2nd, 2010
8:48 pm
Orlando has won 10 straight and 24 of the last 27 games. Atlanta has to beat Orlando 4 times in 7 games, Orlando has not even lost 4 times in the last 27 games.
Atlanta has lost to Orlando 6 of the last 7 times and only won by a last second tip-in the one win they had in Atlanta.
My prediction, Orlando in 5.
*****************
LOL . . . this must be an Orlando troll. Like people couldn’t look up this, and see if he’s right.
Record of the Hawks vs Orlando in the past 5 years:
2009 – 10: 1 – 3
2008 – 09: 1 – 3
2007 – 08: 2 – 2
2006 – 07: 3 – 1
2005 – 06: 2 – 2
RECORD: 9 – 11
. . . . definitely nothing to brag about. LOL . . but we haven’t lost to them 10 straight and 24 out of 27. Hell . . . Orlando JUST got good.
Mike
May 2nd, 2010
9:48 pm
Al Horford is a great player, but he can’t defend Dwight. Plus the Hawks need his offense so he can’t waste his fouls on Dwight like Charlotte did with their centers.
You can’t really gauge how good Horford is by the way he played in Milwalkee, they had no one even close to the caliber of Dwight. It’s like thinking that an NBA team is good enough to win a title because they beat a college team.
Floze
May 2nd, 2010
9:55 pm
Great Win Hawks – Rest and Heal, you will need it.
BirdDawg
May 2nd, 2010
10:04 pm
Mike,
By the same right, Charlotte has no center anywhere as good as Horford. Al may not be able to defend Howard in the post, but Howard can’t defend Al on the perimeter either. Also, it’s not necessarily about that individual matchup. If Al is able to pull Howard out to the perimeter, it opens up the lanes for Jamal or the post for Joe and Josh. Also will lead to many more offensive rebound opportunities. If the Woodson is smart (big IF), he will start Zaza at the beginning of the game, rotate between Al and Josh at the PF and use Collins and Morris spell Zaza and waste some fouls on Howard. In the second half, go with your regular starting lineup to take control using Al to bring Dwight to the perimeter and work the inside outside game like they did against Milwaukee using Josh, Joe, Jamal and Bibby. This is all completely dependent upon the flow of the game of course and we all know how Woodson is with his in-game adjustments. Woody usually feels that it’s not that his gameplan isn’t working, his players just need to play harder to execute it. No need to make adjustments.
Stuey Rock
May 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
northcyde,
Mike isnt talking about the Hawks record against the Hawks, he’s talking about the Magic’s last 27 games, including the playoffs, and he’s right.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=orl
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
“The Hawks don’t have a blueprint for the Magic, they only won 1 game off of a last second tip-in because Rahard Lewis did not box-out Josh Smith. ”
What you seem to be forgetting is that the Hawks led for most of that game before one of their isolation-fueled dry spells allowed Orlando to come back and tie it. Not to mention, if Vince Carter doesn’t hit a highly improbable, contested fadeaway 3 in the final minute, the Hawks would have just dribbled out the clock with no need for the tip in. I was at that game, and the Hawks executed the defensive blueprint to perfection.
Also, LOL at the idea that the win is somehow less legitimate because Smoove took advantage of Rashard Lewis’ mental lapse to win the game. Last time I checked, the team that makes big plays in crunch time usually tends to come out on top.
Stuey Rock
May 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
I mean he isn’t talking about the Hawks record against the Magic
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
10:14 pm
WE NEED TO ATTACK THE BASKET AND GET DWIGHT IN FOUL TROUBLE
AND JOE, STOP THIS DAMN ISO !@#$. YOU TAKE HORRENDOUS SHOTS AND NO ONE CUTS
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 2nd, 2010
10:21 pm
It’s like this, The Magic have shooters, but we have shooters too (Joe, Bibby, Crawford, Marvin, Evans)
they just have to knock down their shots at a high enough % to compete with the Magic.
The Magic have Dwight Howard, a big, intimidating physical specimen down low….with no jumper and cant shoot free throws
We have Horford, who isnt as big or as intimidating but has speed and is able to move howard away from the basket (to respect his mid ranged J……..where he also could use the space to drive right at Howard and try to get him in foul trouble) ………………………+ plus Josh Smith
The Hawks can compete and win, and it would be dissapointing if they dont atleast compete.
banks
May 2nd, 2010
10:23 pm
The one thing we can not do is double Howard. If you do that he will find the open shooters. Let Howard beat you. Collins, Za and Joe Smith have 18 fouls per game to give.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
10:31 pm
I can’t help myself, but I must pick @ a couple of nits:
(1) I’ll start with Al. Seeing as how he’s my favorite Hawk, maybe it won’t come across too negative.
“we just have to come out and *match* [Orlando's] intensity,” Al said.
Our young Hawks say this alot:
Why not instead; defy the other team to match our intensity!
*(leadership)
(2) Woody said: [in reference to Brandon Jennings]
“It’s nice to see a young guy figure it out that early.”
This chaps my hide.
I bet it put a little burr under Teague’s saddle as well.
He [Jennings] had to play in order to figure it out.
(3) 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.”
*This one puzzles me.
*If he don’t care, then why is he even commenting.
*Just enjoy the win &…
if you don’t care about us fans then don’t whine if we don’t show up.
Great win / good luck Mr. Wdsn / Go Hawks / Git ‘er done!
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
10:42 pm
WOODSON GETS HIS PANTIES UP IN A BUNCH EVERY TIME SOMEONE SECOND-DOUBTS HIS DECISION-MAKING.
AND WHY DO NO MEDIA MEMBERS ASK HIM ABOUT USING TEAGUE?
SWATlantadolfan
May 2nd, 2010
10:53 pm
I got a idea and I posted this on another website…..start Jason Collins to keep Horford and Smith out of foul trouble, and that way we wont be down by 20 entering the second quarter. Collins is strong and experienced(started for NJ in their finals run) and big enough to at least bang with Howard, letting Horford focus on offense and staying in the game instead of sitting next to Woody.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
10:57 pm
northcyde:
I don’t know if you got my previous post to you on the last blog
but I let you in on my C-ville ties.
My wife’s aunt [80 yrs. young] was rescued by boat today in Nashville. At least [5] have perished in Davidson Co. (Nashville) today.
Hope you & yours are safe.
Mike is Back
May 2nd, 2010
11:02 pm
MC, U THA MAN DAWG…you called it right. Phillips was electric…If I were Woody…I would be grateful to the fan that came out in droves…to support the home team. IT WAS CRAZY electric in the arena…it was a guy sitting next to me with a Star Wars outfit with a Hawks logo on it…his girl was dress as a Basketball…they were off the chain…the crowd was crunk the F up. Surely, he didn’t mean everybody had given up on them. Cuz, most of the game the fans was standing and cheering…Emphatically show their belief in the team.
Anyway, Congratulation…Great Win Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
red
May 2nd, 2010
11:03 pm
the hawks should use horford to lure dwight away from the basket. i’m sure orlando is already aware of big al’s mid range jumpshot then let jj, crawford attack the basket and pass it to for an open jumper bibby when they get double teamed. it pays to have a big man that is capable of hitting a mid range shot its just about on how the coach will utilize the skills of his players and use it as an advantage.
red
May 2nd, 2010
11:05 pm
the hawks should use horford to lure dwight away from the basket. i’m sure orlando is already aware of big al’s mid range jumpshot then let jj, crawford attack the basket and when they get double team they can pass it pass it to bibby for an open jumper or to smoove to do damage underneath the basket. it pays to have a big man that is capable of hitting a mid range shot its just about on how the coach will utilize the skills of his players and use it as an advantage.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
11:07 pm
SWATlantadolfan:
Excellent idea!
*Another benefit; the leagues:
“Defensive Player of the Year”
is wasted by guarding ‘Cheeseburger’!
*Additional benefit; spot up Chsbrgr for his newly discovered
flatfooted [non]jump shot / thus pulling DH away from basket.
PMC
May 2nd, 2010
11:38 pm
Heart, Guts, Glory. Outstanding few days Hawks.. Now on to the next one.
DHunt
May 2nd, 2010
11:52 pm
Great to watch the Hawks finally look like they belong in the playoffs. The Dr. Jekyll (good) Hawks have made two straight appearances after letting the Mr. Hyde (awful) Hawks run loose for three straight games. Lots of good scenarios (Najee got deep wit it) and analysis of how the Hawks could win this series. But unfortunately it all falls on Mike Woodson’s head to make this team adhere to a winning game plan, and/or make the necessary adjustments.
Still the good Hawks are very likely to show up at home. So we really only need them to be good in one game out of four on the road. Dr. Jekyll can beat the Magic four straight games. Mr. Woodson better keep Mr Hyde out of sight.
And right after the season is over, even as we raise the championship trophy, please FIRE MIKE WOODSON.
jojocope
May 2nd, 2010
11:58 pm
Please! listen hawks player’s and fans.we need to push the ball at the orlando ever chance we get. Play Joe Smith, Collins, Jeff Teague,West,Evans!! I mean Everybody we are the only team in the east or west with all the players can play a major role. Pushing the ball atacking howard making him work drive the ball to the hole don’t worry about foul put the ball in basket by any means.24 fouls between all the hawks big men don’t worry bout fouls deny them from scoring any clean means. Woody use everybody and we win!!! Teague make play to take Nelson out of his game,he would have to play defense and offense not able to do for 48min.gone
drmaryb
May 3rd, 2010
12:43 am
JoJocope
You’re wild man! Are you serious? – laughable ideas –
This is the Play – Offs – man!
BirdDawg
May 3rd, 2010
12:52 am
drmaryb, I agree with you. I can just imagine jojo with crazy don king type hair, eyes bugging wildly as he frantically types all of his idea to a loud, madness inducing cackle. lol
dominique
May 3rd, 2010
12:56 am
this days hawks are a bunch of THUGS!!! classless players, and they will get sept by orlando.
buck were with out bogut…..they got lucky…wow they are dumb.
dominique
May 3rd, 2010
12:57 am
correction not sept but “swept”
ORLANDO
May 3rd, 2010
1:01 am
i am back!!!!!!!!!
Maxx
May 3rd, 2010
1:17 am
Great peice MC. I gotta agree with you, like Tupac says, “All I want is money, F#%* the fame, I’m a simple man”. Also, Breaking Bad is awesome, I’m on season 2 right now!
Clyde
May 3rd, 2010
1:17 am
FIRE WOODY
Greg
May 3rd, 2010
1:18 am
Northclyde, I don’t see your point in showing that the Hawks are 9-11 vs the Magic over the past 5 years. The record of 2-6 over the past two years seems to be the most important statistic in reviewing those numbers. That said, a lot of people are forgetting or just don’t know that the Hawks played Boston the night before playing Orlando twice this season. The schedule makers definitely didn’t do the Hawks any favors when it came to playing the Magic this season.
As for Woody, these comments say a lot about him as a person and a coach:
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.”
Can you imagine Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Scott Skiles or any “real coach” saying that? Focus on your job and do it a lot better and things will take care of themselves, Woody. You obviously do care what people write and say about you or you wouldn’t have been such a tool about it.
Mike
May 3rd, 2010
1:21 am
Dwight can’t guard Horford? Are you kidding me?
Horford against Dwight in the regular season
Al Horford
8.0 PPG
7.3 RPG
Big Ray
May 3rd, 2010
2:29 am
Mike ,
Our last game against the Magic:
Dwight Howard: 19 points, 24 rebounds.
Al Horford: 12 points, 11 rebounds.
If this is all about Howard vs Horford, then how did we win? And please don’t give me that crap about the last second dunk by Smith. That play makes no difference if we hadn’t lead nearly the whole game before giving up that miracle 3 by Vince. By the way, the score was TIED when Josh got that dunk.
If this is all about Dwight, then explain to me why the Wizards tapped that a$$ nearly every time the Magic played them? What, was Brendan Haywood Dwight’s equal?
Big Ray
May 3rd, 2010
2:31 am
Ooops…was still logged in.
Big Ray
May 3rd, 2010
2:49 am
Grandad ,
In regard to Horford, there was nothing harsh about that opinion. Horford’s completing his third year, the leadership is an evolving thing. That, and I think he got caught up in the cliches of this team. But what you said stands: got to expect better. Now if only his veteran teammates will follow him and forget pride/seniority, or take the reins of the wagon in the ways they know how. Leadership by example is but half the job, in my opinion…
As for that part that Woody said about Jennings….chaps my hide as well.
I’ll never forget all the comments about Teague’s awful shooting percentage. Funny, did any of those people see what Jennings finished the season at? 37.4% for the regular season, raised to a lofty 40.8% in the playoffs
Gee, I wonder if Teague could have aspired to such lofty shooting results in 32.6 mpg, with the greenlight to shoot when he wanted to?
I laugh every time I hear “shooting percentage” as the chief reason why Teague didn’t get to play. Johnny Flynn shot a whopping 41.7% from the field this year. How come Kurt Rambis didn’t set him on the bench? Teague shot 39.6% in very limited minutes. Am I missing something here?
Rambis even bristled when somebody compared Flynn to Jennings. Rambis came right out and said that Flynn did not produce the same amount of scoring simply because he did not turn the kid loose the way Jennings was turned loose. He went on further to say that he required Flynn to initiate the offense and defend his position first, and then when he got that down, he would be allowed to take more scoring opportunities.
Hey, at least Rambis had a plan and mapped it out. He limited the shots the kid took, but he didn’t skimp on the minutes. I’d call that “bringing him along slowly with intent.”
Now I never called for Teague to start, or even come close to it. Rambis was explicit and deliberate with what he wanted from Flynn. What is Woody’s plan for Teague, and what was he supposed to learn in 10 mpg? Just curious…
Big Ray
May 3rd, 2010
2:51 am
…though I probably never should have brought it up. Won’t have one single effect on this second round playoff series unless Mike Bibby goes down with injury, which I am not hoping for.
BirdDawg
May 3rd, 2010
3:22 am
Big Ray,
Well said. Woody should really think before he speaks. I don’t know if anyone remembers, but at the beginning of the season, he was touting Teague as young point guard that “gets it”. Woodson sure didn’t reflect those sentiments in his use of the young rookie though.
timbo
May 3rd, 2010
6:42 am
We can’t look at Orlando’s regular season success against the hawks, and assume the hawks doesn’t have a chance. Two of the magic’s wins came after they had a coupler nights off, and the hawks played them on the back-end of back to backs. It won’t be that way in the series. Plus, why does Vince Carter have so much success against the hawk. He had it at New Jersey. A big key is stopping him.
ant banks
May 3rd, 2010
6:55 am
i am tellin’ y’all, we need to try the HACK-A-HOWARD to stop orlando. use all of the fouls available jason, joe, zaza, and lastly horford. everytime the ball comes inside foul howard, put him on the line. this will accomplish two things: first, they will quit goin’ inside to him. dwight is a liability on the line and orlando won’t leave their chances to him at the free throw. secondly, it will slow the game down for the hawks. this ish will work!! i dreamed about it!!
AG
May 3rd, 2010
7:51 am
Great win Hawks. A lot of you bloggers quit on the Hawks after game 5 – so realistically should you still be blogging? You already quit on the team. I also have read many opinions and the one I do like is to throw a wrinkle to Orlando. How surprised will the magic be if Marvin does not start, and Collins or ZaZa does? Both of them can shoot 10-15 feet jumpers so have them outside the land so Howard has to leave the lane (a la Bill Laimbeer). If Woody actually devised a “strategy” to beat the Magic – I certainly will get off of the FIRE WOODY bandwagon. Also MARVIN HAS TO SHOW UP!!! Coming off the bench and becoming a real factor. Evans needs his shot fixed because we have to match all those three’s Orlando is going to put up. The big concern for me is Nelson.
AG
May 3rd, 2010
7:53 am
We cannot utilize hack-a- Howard with Hortford because he is to valuable on the offensive end. If Woody elects not to have Morris and Collins available (that is only to right to do), he deserves to get canned!
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
7:55 am
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
10:57 pm
northcyde:
I don’t know if you got my previous post to you on the last blog
but I let you in on my C-ville ties.
My wife’s aunt [80 yrs. young] was rescued by boat today in Nashville. At least [5] have perished in Davidson Co. (Nashville) today.
Hope you & yours are safe.
Oh OK Grandad . . . thanks.
The situation in Clarksville is nowhere near as bad as it is in Nashville. My brother lives in South Nashville and had water all around him within a 1/2 mile. Fortunately, he lives in an elevated part of his subdivision, so his home sustained no damage. The waters are receding, but anybody traveling to Nashville in either direction may find part of ANY INTERSTATE closed at least through the afternoon.
Hope your wife’s aunt is safe today and everyone makes it through OK. Just a bad situation for folks. Especially those who have homes along rivers and creeks.
sam'l
May 3rd, 2010
8:01 am
“Great win Hawks. A lot of you bloggers quit on the Hawks after game 5 – so realistically should you still be blogging?
I gave up on the Hawks after game 5 for obvious reasons. But ptobably like a lot of oher people I was back for game 6. Happens a lot when your team is schizophrenic.
Doesn’t mean you get the blog to yourself though…just means I’m normal.
victor
May 3rd, 2010
8:06 am
Ant Banks: The key to nuetralizing Dwight Howard is Keeping him away from the basket.Defensively don’t let him catch the ball to close to the basket because he is not a good Jump shooter, he gets his points on dunks and put backs. If we are not succesful with that then use the fouls you have on the bench. Offensively use the two headed monster of Josh and Al hitting 10 to 15 footers away from the basket and this will draw Mr. Howard away from the interior and open it up for points in the paint. If Josh and Al are not hitting consistenly go right at Dwight Howard and hope to get him in foul trouble like the Bobcats did. The Hawks will Shock everyone and win Game one in Orlando. You heard it here first, Go Hawks!!!!!!
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
8:07 am
Stuey Rock
May 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
northcyde,
Mike isnt talking about the Hawks record against the Hawks, he’s talking about the Magic’s last 27 games, including the playoffs, and he’s right.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=orl
************************
OK . . gotcha.
Good thing that really doesn’t matter in the playoffs, seeing all of those bad teams that Orlando played during that stretch. We’re good enough to take 2 games minimum from the Magic. I could see our series going somewhat like how our series vs Milwaukee went . . . with the exception being that we’ll be the Milwaukee type team vs Orlando.
If the Hawks win the series, they’ll probably have to do it in 6 games. I can’t see the Hawks winning a Game 7 in Orlando, if it came to that.
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
8:16 am
TV Schedule through Game 6:
Tuesday: 8 PM . . TNT
Thursday: 8 PM . . ESPN
Saturday: 5 PM . . ESPN ( in Atlanta )
Next Monday: 8 PM . . TNT ( in Atlanta )
Next Wednesday: TBA . . TNT
Next Friday: TBA . . ESPN ( in Atlanta )
************
We play terrible on TNT for some reason. Even back in the day, we’d lose TNT games.
delo
May 3rd, 2010
8:22 am
atlanta those championship rings are within your reach go out and take them. be confident no other team can beat you. all you have to do is win 12 of the next 21 games and you are world champs. go to orlando and just take both of those games. just take them. keep the ball out of nelsons hand and make dwight play defense all night long by taking it to him again and again and again. box him out and don’t let him get those put back donks. you are world champs. keep that mentality. take them rings take them rings. nobody can beat you. fire woody that was a low blow for teague to have to hear from his own coach complimenting another rookie but wouldn’t give his own playing time
Nacho
May 3rd, 2010
8:32 am
I am very confident that Woody will have a great strategy prepared for Orlando.
Perhaps we should try the switching defense on Orlando. That way we can play Bibby 40 minutes and Bibby can get two (2) assist!
Fundamentals
May 3rd, 2010
8:53 am
Nice win for the Hawks. Still dissappointed in Woodson’s stubborn ways. They made runs every time he went back to his switching D. It may work on some teams, but not the Bucks. We need variety against Orlando, on offense and defense. Isolations and switches will just leave us 0-4.
I love the comments on bringing your own intensity and forcing Orlando to match. They’ll be a bit rusty for game 1. We need to bring everything we’ve got to steal a win. That’d give us home court, which is something we’ve proven we need to win a series.
Teague has every right to be chapped about Woodson’s comments about Jennings. He needs some run against Orlando to give Bibby and Joe rest. Joe Johnson was so tired in the last 2 games because he carried us defensively. He was the reason their guards faltered. He deserves alot of credit, which in my opinion he’s not getting.
Hopefully Teague will use the comments as motivation this summer. We need him to play at least 50% of the games next season…if not start for this team to be effective. Bibby will be an awesome back-up over the next few years, but he can’t be relied on for full time starter minutes next year.
darrell starks
May 3rd, 2010
8:58 am
Blow out city this series unless woody make adjustment first that 7 man rotation will not work at all against the magic, this is not the depleted buck who should have been swept, how do woody continue 2 shorten his bench like last year and in the second round swept away by the cavs because of the lackluster energy the team showed from being over played, this series will be totally different unless woody do things another way.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 3rd, 2010
9:01 am
Woody the luckiest coach in sport but we will see how lucky he is this series, if woody get past orlando he must be resign.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
WISE
May 3rd, 2010
9:03 am
actually that guy was kinda right, we do have to play joe smith and collins in small spurts throught the series. let them use those fouls and be physical. theres no way we can let al foul out. we need him down the strecth big time. theres no excuses anymore we need joe to play like he is a superstar, that means no more letting crawford take the last shot and no more struggling in the fourth. If he thinks he deserves max deal type money then show it now. we have the talent to play with the magic but we will need joe to play like a star. lets go Hawks give this city something to be proud about…btw thanks to all the hawks fans yesterday the place was rocking im sorry i couldnt make it but i will be there next game lets goooo ATL
Game Seven and Series Wrap-Up | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
May 3rd, 2010
9:27 am
[...] Hawks Coach Mike Woodson had some poignant comments about the doubters following game seven. “A lot of you wrote us off and it’s a shame because, if you understand playoff basketball, anything is possible. These guys didn’t stop believing after that Game 5.” “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.” “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.” [...]
hawkfaninbham
May 3rd, 2010
9:33 am
why didnt joe smith see any playing time? i thought he was brought in for his experience, especially in the playoffs.
GeeMack
May 3rd, 2010
9:35 am
northcyde
We can only get 2 games from Orlando, and we are the number 3 seed. We should at least have enough pride not to lose at home.
There are no major injuries with the Hawks ging into the 2nd rd, but watch the excuses they come up wiht for not bringing any intensity.
kwooden1
May 3rd, 2010
9:37 am
GREAT WIN! I only saw the first half, but I was confident the guys would sustain their defensive effort. I really liked the two-man game with Crawford and Horford, they did a great job of getting each other good looks.
Bibby get a great job on defensive, he really worked hard to get over screens and fight for position on post-ups. If he plays the same way against Barnes I’m OK, but I don’t like Bibby on Nelson or Carter. We definitely shouldn’t double team Howard to start the game or as a habit. Horford needs to fight for position and front when Howard gets to deep. We also need to pressure the ball at all times and trap the pick-in rolls with Howard and Nelson.
Our offensive really worries me because if we play a lot of ISO, than we won’t get to the free-throw line. We need a lot of ball movement and a lot of pick and pop with Horford and Crawford/Bibby. Howard is going to have to come out and guard Horford, so if we run a lot of pick and roll, Howard will be away from the middle. Also, we need to get the ball into Smoove, so Howard has to choose if he wants to help or stay with Horford.
GO HAWKS!!!
HawksFan11
May 3rd, 2010
9:46 am
Wise,
You were doing fine until you said “we need joe to play like he is a superstar, that means no more letting crawford take the last shot …”
Fundamentals has it right; “Joe Johnson … carried us defensively. He was the reason their guards faltered. He deserves alot of credit…”
That’s what a true star does, whatever it takes to get the win for the team, not just make himself look good. Joe Johnson stepped up and stepped aside when he saw what his team needed from him and here we are.
Frankly, I wouldn’t care if YOU took the last shot if it means the Hawks get the W.
SouthFultonMusic.com
May 3rd, 2010
10:05 am
As long as Woody doesnt run that switch defense against Orlando, we should have a chance, regardless of public expectation. Orlando is a jumpshot team…If you live by the jumper, you can also die by the jumper…
……………….
I also like this line-up over the current one:
Bibby-pg
JJ-sg
Smoove-sf
Horford-pf
Zaza -c
Zaza will make Howard work for every shot… and we need to attack Howard when he’s on D….
O'Brien
May 3rd, 2010
10:08 am
Fundamanetals,
Woody decided that the switching defense is the best way for him to hide certain guys on defense. Given that Bibby is one of those guys, wouldn’t it have been worthwhile to give Teague more PT, so that when adjustments need to be made in the playoffs, Teague could be used as a defensive adjustment? Or to provide a change of pace?
Bibby has looked good so far in the playoffs. But if he struggles (or gets hurt) against Orlando, what is the backup plan?
northcyde,
Phoenix struggles on TNT too. I know its coincidence, but its always interesting.
Sid
May 3rd, 2010
10:30 am
All of you missed the best sports story from the weekend. It wasn’t the Hawks, it wasn’t the Braves, it wasn’t Nascar, the Dawgs or Tech. It was Rory McIlroy winning his first PGA event @ Quail Hollow by four strokes over Phil Mickelson and the rest of the field. He finished with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th to set the course record at 10-under 62, beating the previous record by two strokes. At 20 years old he is the youngest winner on the tour since Tiger Woods. Many of us remember Tiger Woods birth on the PGA tour, well Rory Mcllroy just jumped out of the womb.
Wabe
May 3rd, 2010
10:55 am
Yall hear Jamal on ESPN First Take?
Whose the teacher’s pet on the Hawks? (Dumb question, but the answer was still quite telling)
“I’d have to say is Mike Bibby…that’s like Coach’s son for sure…”
I thought it was worth mentioning…
The Truth
May 3rd, 2010
11:10 am
For the Bucks, finally, it is officially over; kudos to the Hawks for a gut-check like performance and to JJ in particular. Not because of his outstanding performance but the lack there of. If this trend continues in the round 2, the justification for giving JJ a max contract will be extremely hard. That financial relief (in the long run) would be much better for the Hawks if it came down to that.
For Round 2, all the pressure is on the highly favored Orlando Magic. This series will be about the match-up between Al Horford and D Howard. In other words, the Hawks will go as far as Al Horford takes them. If Al is struggling, that might mean the Hawks won’t go very far if at all.
So here is some advice for Big Al; since D Howard loves to block shots, use more head fakes; pump fakes and extra passes in the paint. This will put the over aggressive Howard in foul problem early. Since Al has an outside game, he should counter much of what Howard like to do around the basket. Watch out for the flying elbows of Howard. He is a master of using them under the radar. And remember rule number 1: don’t let Dwight get to his sweet spot in the paint for easy dunks. It is his way to intimidate you. Rule number 2: NEVER FORGET RULE NUMBER 1. Overall though, Dwight might win the physical battle but AL could win the mind game. We shall see
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!
--7 kevin--
May 3rd, 2010
8:58 pm
hawks will win games in atlanta,but lose on the road.
magic in 7 games,4-3
KEEP WOODY!
VenomSpitter
May 3rd, 2010
9:07 pm
FIRE WOODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JeJe
May 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
IF THERE’S ONE REASON TO USE THE 29 BIG MEN ON THE TEAM THAT DON’T PLAY, THIS SERIES IS IT.
WOODSON NEEDS TO !@#$ING US COLLINS AND RANDMO AND USE THEIR FOULS. DO NOT USE YOUR LAMEASS 6.5 MAN ROTATION AND EXPECT TO WIN. AND THE FACT U DONT KNOW WHAT DEFENSE TO USE ON DWIGHT IS PATHETIC. U KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS LEAGUE
Wabe
May 3rd, 2010
9:43 pm
You guys watching this C’s/Cavs game?
Rondo has 15 assists with 8:00 left in the 3rd.
Melvin
May 3rd, 2010
9:50 pm
If it wasnt for the Refs, the Celtics would be up 25pts….
Blast
May 3rd, 2010
10:07 pm
How come Celts can play Cavs hard at home and possibly win game 2 after coming close to win game 1, but Hawks can’t beat Cavs even when they play them hard? But Hawks swept Celts? The NBA. Go figure.
Rebuild? That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. No shock it came from a Bucks fans. Hawks have been rebuilding the last five years, and the maturation process is just coming into fruition. They are 2 players away from being true contenders, and you want them to break it up?
I feel Joe and Jamal will stay with Hawks. Even if Joe leaves in a S and T, Hawks still have enough pieces to make some noise in the East.
Melvin
May 3rd, 2010
10:18 pm
The Cavs are not dancing on the sidelines tonight…lol
Samuel
May 3rd, 2010
10:18 pm
Top NBA Point Guards
1. Rondo
2. Williams
3. Rose
4. Parker
5. Paul/Nash
Woody=COY
Melvin
May 3rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Will they annoncers stop making excuses for Lebron. He and his gang is getting their butts whip….
Melvin
May 3rd, 2010
10:23 pm
Sam,
Do you think Rondo could have Utah playing better than Deron? I wouldn’t rank him higher than Williams or Rose. Since Paul been hurt the past 2 seasons, I could see Rondo surpassing him.
Clyde
May 3rd, 2010
10:52 pm
Samuel long time no see
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 3rd, 2010
10:54 pm
FIRE MIKE WOODSON
IF THERE’S ONE REASON TO USE THE 29 BIG MEN ON THE TEAM THAT DON’T PLAY, THIS SERIES IS IT.
WOODSON NEEDS TO !@#$ING US COLLINS AND RANDMO AND USE THEIR FOULS. DO NOT USE YOUR LAMEASS 6.5 MAN ROTATION AND EXPECT TO WIN. AND THE FACT U DONT KNOW WHAT DEFENSE TO USE ON DWIGHT IS PATHETIC. U KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS LEAGUE
FIRE WOODY
Samuel
May 3rd, 2010
11:11 pm
Haters COY Ballot
1.S Brooks (Gone Fishing)
2. S Skiles (Gone Fishing)
3. N McMillian (Gone Fishing)
4. J Sloan
5. A Gentry
Real COY Contenders
J Sloan
A Gentry
M Woodson
Woody=COY
Melvin, Yes I would due to the fact that Rondo is a better defender than both of those two hands down.
What’s up Clyde. The Hawks fuc_ed up your wet dream, huh?
northcyde
May 3rd, 2010
11:20 pm
@ Grandad
A sign and trade would be the best case scenario for the Hawks, if we lost JJ. But JJ is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, which means that he doesn’t have to agree to a sign and trade. He can just simply sign with somebody straight out.
That;s going to be the dilemma this summer. A team like Chicago doesn’t have to give up anything to sign JJ. When you talk about possible sign and trades, it will be with teams who can’t sign JJ outright, but may want to offer up someone ( or a collection of players ) for him.
Samuel
May 3rd, 2010
11:29 pm
Rondo has the Celtic record for both steals and assists in a single season, he’s now a legit scoring threat from inside and out. Yes, he’s the best all around PG in the league right now.
Samuel
May 3rd, 2010
11:35 pm
I told yall a long time ago that JJ was waiting to see what the Hawks do with Woody. If Woody stays, JJ stays. If the Hawks act stupid and not extend Woody, say good bye to JJ. JJ would not be an All Star without Woody and he knows it and yall do too. Chicago, Philly, possibly Charlotte?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 3rd, 2010
11:37 pm
Rondo doesn’t carry his team’s offense the way Williams and Paul do. He’s still a terrific player who I would rank at #3, ahead of Nash because of his defense, but Rondo has three future Hall-of-Famers as teammates to take the load off of him whereas Williams and Paul have zero.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 3rd, 2010
11:38 pm
“But JJ is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, which means that he doesn’t have to agree to a sign and trade. He can just simply sign with somebody straight out.”
If money matters to him at all, he would sign-and-trade instead of signing outright. He can add an extra year’s worth of max money to his contract by agreeing to a sign-and-trade. That’s the incentive for players to agree to that even if they have no intention of helping their soon-to-be former team.
Samuel
May 3rd, 2010
11:50 pm
Naj,
You obviously haven’t been watching the Celtics lately. Rondo is hands down the best player on the Celtics this year. Another thing that gets overlooked is toughness. How many times do you see Rondo get hurt.
What do Hall of famers have to do with playing “great defense”. Paul is out of the question right now because he’s hurt so much. He’s not as tough as Rondo.
Grandad
May 3rd, 2010
11:56 pm
NUNNA:
*Co-sign *ditto *agreed *high five *aye aye *checkmate & *Amen
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:00 am
northcyde:
Najeh beat me to it.
That X-tra yr. is the BIG incentive, I would think!
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:03 am
To All:
On Joe / That X-tra yr. is ‘OUR’ > advantage, as well!
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:23 am
Wdsn ranked the top five pt. guards in the league:
1. Chauncey Billups [coached him in Detroit]
2. Mike Bibby [teacher's pet]
3. Jason Kidd [ran into him once in Atl]
4. Andre Miller [he's old too]
5. Anthony Johnson [said he ought to be starting for Orlando]
*Iverson – If active, he moves up to # 3[coached him in Philly]
*Nah – [He's Canadian]
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:27 am
Wdsn:
When asked how he chose those particular point guards?
“They’ve got experience, man, and that’s huge”!
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:27 am
Wdsn:
When asked how he chose those particular point guards?
“They’ve got experience, man, and that’s huge”!
Grandad
May 4th, 2010
12:28 am
uh oh / must have mashed the button twice!
R. Bobby
May 4th, 2010
12:48 am
On the topic of top point guards, there is absolutely no way that Rondo is at the top of that list. He may be the best defensive point-guard in the league, statistic-wise, but when you talk about overall play, Deron Williams is leagues above him. Deron Williams has something that Rondo definitely does not: a consistent jumpshot. Rondo may never become as good offensively, in his entire career, as deron williams is right now. Also, williams is a superior playmaker because not only is he a terrific passer who reads the defense well, but he attracts much more defensive attention, due to his scoring ability, which leaves teammates open to score (and he finds them). You can’t afford to leave Deron Williams open anywhere inside or even just beyond the three-point line because he will make you pay, where defenders can game with rondo and give him space, as long as they are able to stay with him when he drives. I’m not trying to take anything away from Rondo, he’s a terrific young point guard, but to put him above Deron Williams, overall, is just insane.
northcyde
May 4th, 2010
12:49 am
OK @ Najeh . . . that makes sense. I doubt Chicago would give up their key pieces to get JJ though. I’d hope the Hawks wouldnt fall for something, like taking on Hinrich’s contract or worse, Luou Deng ( to replace Marvin at SF ) + a draft pick, for JJ.
But if all Chicago could offer was a 5 – 90 deal ( just tossing figures out there ) . . but could get a 6 – 100 deal in a sign and trade, then you’re right . . JJ would probably agree to the sign and trade.
I’d be mad as hell if that’s all we could get for a 4-time All-Star though. A deal like that wouldn’t help us at all. It’ll just give us extra bodies, and a reason to send Marvin to the bench ( although to me, Deng isn’t much of an upgrade over Marvin ).
northcyde
May 4th, 2010
12:52 am
As for the PG debate, give me both Williams and Paul over Rondo. Rondo is very good though, and would definitely make this squad much better than what it is right now. We’d give up some outside shooting, but gain a hell of a defender and a very good passer.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
1:24 am
Yeah, I just don’t see any way the Hawks can get equal value for Joe in a sign-and-trade unless Miami’s GM gets drunk and sign-and-trades Wade for him. The only other half-decent idea I can think of is sending him to New Jersey for a package including the #1 pick (if they get it) and using it on Evan Turner, and even that is no guarantee (Mike Conley looked like the next CP3 at OSU, and look how that turned out). I can’t think of any realistic package of current NBA players another team could send the Hawks that would even come close to equaling JJ in value. Maybe the max is too much for a player like him, like many people think, but the alternative is much worse for the Hawks in my opinion.
Samuel
May 4th, 2010
8:19 am
Insane according to who? Just watch the games and let me know when it’s all said and done. Naj, didn’t Bird, Magic,Russell, and many other greats play with Hall of Famers?