Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 7: Here They Are Again
Some of my blog people are not in the mood to praise the Hawks even after that Game 6 triumph. I understand.
You think the Hawks shouldn’t have this much trouble with the Bogut-less Bucks. You remember the Game 3 surrender and the Game 5 collapse. You think Woody should have made defensive adjustments earlier in the series. And if the Hawks win today, some of you probably don’t want to hear about their resilience, their character, how they responded with their backs against the wall and all the other things they tend to say in these situations.
Well, like “they” say (and like I vowed I never would), it is what it is. The Hawks can win the series today.
“Every team goes through adversity at times,” Al said. “It’s all about how you handle it. Now we have a chance to make it right and win a series.”
I’ve heard rumblings that the Hawks lose in the long-term by winning today but I’ve got to think your fanhood instincts overwhelm your sourness and you cheer the Hawks on to a W. Shoot, you might even begin to believe they can take on the Magic, despite your misgivings and general grumpiness.
I would understand that, too.
– J.J. on the improved communication in Game 6 after things got snippy at times in Game 5: “It was a lot better. But we are always going to have arguing. That’s is because we are a family, we are brothers. We ain’t always going to get along. Everything ain’t going to be peaches and cream. We are going to get in each other’s face every now and then but that is just the way it is. At the end of the day we got love for each other, got each other’s back and each others’ best interest.”
– After Game 6 some in the Hawks locker room sarcastically asked if Jerry Stackhouse can sing the National Anthem today like he did on Friday. So it was pretty funny when I saw this line in Michael Hunt’s column about the pressure on the Bucks for Game 7: “Just think about how much poise it took for Stackhouse to sing the national anthem before Game 6 in that setting.”
Indeed.
– Have fun, Hawks fans,
MC
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322 comments Add your comment
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
7:06 pm
Blue-Ray
(Clear – Image)
Thank God! You’re here. I hope you brought your hand-cuffs, pepper spray & billy-goat club?
We got a perpetrator loose on the Blog! Please PROTECT & SERVE the innocent people of Blogsville, GA.
Please help us! There is a big ole SNAKE – Spittin’ Venom on the Blog! You may want to call animal control for back-up!
That was the Bad – Newz, The Good – News is ……… Hawks WIN! (But the haters are madder than ever!). Please Help Us?
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
7:08 pm
tiger woo:
I promise, I’m not trying to be a smart alec, but if Wdsn cannot get
to the finals, do you feel he has maxed out with this group of players.
A true Hawks fan
May 2nd, 2010
7:10 pm
JeJe you are a disgrace, that you would use God’s name in vain over a basketball game
TigerWoods
May 2nd, 2010
7:14 pm
Not sure who the new tiger woo is, but seems like my type, he likes my brother Wooden.
But little tiger, you seem to have upset the force, VS used to be a Wooden fan.
Any way, time to forget about the past and move on. Hint, that is what i am doing after this past weekend of golf. i really wanted to watch Hawks instead of play on Sunday, there now you have the reason.
Hawks seem to have gotten their 6th man back, just in time. Hawks defense seems to be alive and well. Brother Wooden will devise new plans for Orlando. I am extremely hopeful Hawks will steal one game from rusty Orlando team. Hawks will then make it to finals, where an injured LeBron can not stop them. This scenario is very realistic now. My brother Wooden will then be signed to a 5 year contract.
tiger woo
May 2nd, 2010
7:19 pm
Grandad,
The Hawks really aren’t expected to reach the finals – it’s going to be very difficult to overcome the home court advantage that Orlando and Cleveland will have in a Hawks matchup.
Now, to answer your question, I’m just looking for a respectable showing against Orlando. Regardless of the coach, I really think the Hawks need to add some key pieces (like Cleveland and Orlando did) to make it to the next level.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
7:24 pm
tiger woo:
Spoken with clarity & persuasion.
I would rather have Joakim Noah than home ct. advantage.
A true Hawks fan
May 2nd, 2010
7:26 pm
All you Woody haters chanting fire Woodson, if he is not coaching in Atlanta you best beleive he will be coaching somewhere, laughing all the way to the bank. He probably care less about what people say about him, he’s getting paid. What are you doing running off at the mouth. haha. He gets the last laugh
beone
May 2nd, 2010
7:30 pm
tiger woo, not stupid in the least my friend. Those three came to play today and played with passion, intelligence and showed teamwork. Joe and Bibby pounded as always more than should be tolerated. And Smoove missed some assignments and made some mental mistakes. Woody has held back the Hawks for at least the last 2 years IMO and the org will be much better off when he leaves. Doing well (winning more games each year) does not accurately measure Woody’s impact or lack thereof. I think the team should have won more games each year if you or I had been coaching it. Assessing how well the players perform vs how well one thinks they should perform is more important when assessing the impact of a coach. In that assessment, Woody fails. Of course many say the coach cannot make the players perform. Well, the coach should put them in a position to take advantage of their strengths while covering their weaknesses. If they don’t do what he says, they should be benched even in favor of lesser players. If this had been done consistently, they would be doing what he wants by now. And if they ARE doing what he wants, (see Bucks games 3 – 5) he is an idiot. I hope Sund can do what is best for the Hawks but of course only time will tell.
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
7:32 pm
Grand-Daddy
R U Kidding me? You would rather have Noah than Home Court advantage? Well maybe you can have him – last I heard? He was at Home watching Horford play another game?
I’m reading between the lines here, so please correct me if I’m wrong? But, to get Noah? You would have had to take him with #2 pick! Have you heard his post game speeches & have you seen his attire for that professional press-conference? He needs a barber & besides, whay happened to the NBA dress code for pro athetes enacted by Stern 9 years ago?
tiger woo
May 2nd, 2010
7:37 pm
Thanks Grandad – and yes – Noah would be a nice addition !!
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
7:45 pm
Grand-Daddy
Having said that, I would LOVE to have Noah here in Atlanta! But, how can we get him? I mean Chicago wouldbe nuts to let him leave! Who would we have to give up?
I would like to explore that? I would give our 1st round pick over the next 2 years + cash + our whole bench less Crawford. I would give Marvin too!
But, I never take Noah over Horford. Especially, if you’re talking that draft night pick over Horford at #2.
drmaryb
May 2nd, 2010
7:51 pm
LeBron
I LOVE that kid! He deserves MVP! I like that old-skool tie pin. He must have great grand parents to be wearing that thing!
The 2nd MOST votes for MVP ever behind SHAQ being #1 in HISTORY of the NBA! I guess the internet has made that huge difference when it comes to voting! I remember back in the day, we had to go to McDonald’s to vote!
tiger woo
May 2nd, 2010
7:52 pm
beone,
All I am saying is I can’t understand how people can call for Woody’s firing after the team just advanced in the playoffs. I realize people don’t like his style and express those sentiments with a lot of emotion on here, but doesn’t the guy deserve a little credit – just a little?
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
8:15 pm
drmaryb:
I absolutely love Joakim Noah’s intangibles. Not to replace Al
[remember they were teammates @ 2 x Champions @ *the swamp school*]
but he would only enhance what we already have.
He has energy, passion, work ethic, a champion’s pedigree [father],
a don’t take no crap attitude [ask LbJ], runs like an *elk, infectious enthusiasm, Al speaks highly of him, grabs about 12 boards a game,
blocks about 2.5 per, teammates love him,…whats not to like?
*elk…couldn’t use *deer [for a simile] after disposing of them today.
Rodman is probably my all-time favorite player for alot of the same reasons. Then again Shane Battier is my favorite current non Hawk.
Yeah, I would prefer he had a haircut, much like I wish Dennis were not crazy. But then again I’m a big fan of Artest…maybe I’m a fan of crazy. Just so you know / Al’s my favorite Hawk, therefore I would never have taken [JN] over Al. (another clean cut / non crazy).
Perhaps I’m more normal than I think, @ least I’m talking to you, Right!
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
8:22 pm
I doubt they would give him up / they love him up there.
Only way is if Joe does leave…S & T / Chicago.
[JN] & they would want us to take on Kirk Hinrich [contract].
Rather have Joe.
But I would explore alternatives, because I like him so much.
beone
May 2nd, 2010
9:13 pm
tiger woo, I think there are many coaches that are worse – Bob Wetzel, I. Thomas, Dunleavy, etc but IMO I don’t believe the Hawks are nearly as good as they should be. A stronger coach – Nate McMillan, Fratello, H Brown, J Sloan, Scott Skiles, etc would go further with this team than Woody ever will. They also likely wouldn’t last as long with the Hawks because after a while the players would likely be fed up with them. But if such a coach gets them to the finals or thereabouts, that is ok with me. So I give Woody some credit for getting them to the 2nd round but unless they get to the Conf Finals or beyond, I say they have significantly underachieved with the primary reason being Woodson.
tiger woo
May 2nd, 2010
9:37 pm
Good enough, beone – but let me ask you this . . . are we better than Orlando and Cleveland – talent wise? Getting past the 2nd round without the home-court advantage would be over-achieving. I’m just looking for a competitive series with Orlando – at least 6 games. If we can steal a road win, it could get interesting.
Ken Strickland
May 2nd, 2010
10:05 pm
Against Orlando, a team that’s kicked our butt all yr, Woodson won’t have the luxury of waiting until the last min to make much needed adjustments, and then expect the players to save his stubborn butt again.
They’ve destroyed our switching DEF each time we’ve played, so it would be wise for Woodson to abandon it completely against them. But we all know he’s too stubborn and mule headed to do that. I’d let Horford play Howard with limited help, make certain none of his teammates hurt us, and take away their 3pt shooting. I’d dress RMorris instead of MWest, and use Horford, Zaza, Collins and Morris to wear him down and get him in fowl trouble.
Since DHoward is the only interior DEF starter they have, and he covers up his teammates poor DEF, we need to quickly move the ball. which would force him to rotate with the ball to give help. Horford needs to rely heavily on hitting that medium range jumper and force Howard to come out and play him. When he does, Horford can fake and go to the basket on him. Most of Howard’s fouls are outside the lane.
SashaStevens
May 3rd, 2010
11:32 am
If the hawks share the basketball the rest of the way, they will win the title this season. Hopefully by next season, woody will implement plays specifically designed to utilize the talents of our skilled players. My guess is by then we might be attempting BACK-TO-BACK titles if woody is serious about finding plays for Jamal, Joe, Marvin, Bibby, Smoove and Horford. I am predicting back to back titles for the hawks once these plays are designed. We should win the title this year because the competition is so soft. Go Hawks. Hawks will sweep Orlando in four games. That is quite a difference than getting our butts kicked by the Bucks.
drmaryb
May 3rd, 2010
1:22 pm
Grand-Daddy
Yeah, I wish we could land Noah too. I agree with you that we NEED more & better players to round out this team. I don’t know what another coach could have done with that sorry bench tho.
The starters need back-up help. I almost see J-Cross as a starter/closer rather than a true bench guy.
I admitt we switch too much. & maybe run too many ISO’s. But who else would you have take those shots on this roster? You saw Maurice take 4 point blank short jumpers in the 4th qrtr. Melt-Down in Game 5! Switches merely help the perimeter guards who don’t guard well.
T
He roster has serious flaws G_Daddy. Rick Carlisle has the same problem in Dallas. People want him here. Woody learned them switches from Larry Brown – that’s his staple defensive scheme – yet people want Larry Brown here? We just need better players Pops!
Ala Magic & Cleveland…Lakers! Bulls looked nice in series, but they only got Rose & Noah. Their coach Del Negro is nice too- so, should he be fired too?
LarryWilcox
May 3rd, 2010
2:10 pm
The Hawks should hire Michael Jordan to replace Woody as a player-coach. I know michael is the owner of the bobcats, but during his off days Michael could probably help the hawks and take them to the next level.
Surf Chingon
May 4th, 2010
9:42 pm
Wow, the worst team ever to make the NBA Playoffs……What a joke………..