Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 103, Magic 93
Orlando– We already knew the Hawks can defend the Magic but it’s possible they won’t be able to score like this through the entire series.
- The Hawks made 13 of 27 shots from 16 to 23 feet. That’s a high percentage even for a team that made them at a better clip than anyone other than the Mavs during the regular season.
- But, thanks in large part to J.J, the Hawks also had an effective Plan B (11 of 19 from 3 to 15 feet) and Plan C (21 of 29 free-throw attempts). That provides some evidence that the Hawks might be able to score when those long Js stop falling if they can make it a point to go to those other plans.
- “The primary problem is we couldn’t guard them at all,” Stan Van Gundy said.
- And, Xs and Os aside, the most important development might have been that the Hawks finally stood up to the Magic in a postseason game. That’s worth a lot for a team that was embarrassed in last year’s second round and staggered into the playoffs on a six-game losing streak.
- “People were a little frustrated with us because of those last six games but, for us, we didn’t even think about it,” Jamal said. “Last year’s series was last year’s series; we didn’t think about that, either. We feel confident going into the playoffs. We got one down, one more to go here.”
- “We are here to win,” Twin said. “We are not here to get a free T-shirt and head home or anything like that. We accomplished the fist step. We got the win tonight, and Part 2 is on Tuesday night.”
- Suddenly the questions about Atlanta’s state of mind have shifted to the Magic, who lost in their sparkling new arena to a team they thumped from the playoffs last spring.
- “It’s frustrating that we lost but it’s the first game,” Dwight said. “We’ll come back in the second game with a better effort.”
- The Magic can’t ask for anything more from Dwight. He was magnificent while scoring 46 points on 23 shots and grabbing 19 rebounds. But other than a 20-point eruption from Jameer in the third quarter, the Magic couldn’t find points from other sources.
- “Offensively we have to get better, move the ball, whatever,” Jameer said. “I don’t know. I really can’t put a finger on it right now.”
- The Hawks for the most part stayed straight up on Dwight even after he thrashed them for 31 points in the first half.
- “We came in at halftime and we knew that one player was not going to beat us,” Collins said. “Dwight can go out there and have 60 points. As long as we have 61, we will take that.”
- Twin and Zaza were in foul trouble early and the Hawks sent a parade of little-used big men at Dwight. He overpowered all of them more easily than he did Twin, who made entry passes tough enough that Dwight was called for lane violations three times.
- “He got in his head a little bit,” Josh said. “Even though Dwight had an explosive game I think he did a pretty good job on him, especially in that second half.”
- The Hawks kept Orlando off the 3-point line. Hinrich controlled Jameer on pick-and-rolls. That was pretty much all it took to slow Magic players who weren’t Dwight.
- “He was scoring but the other guys weren’t getting as many touches,” L.D. said. “That was just a decision I made to stay with that particular coverage. I did not want to open up any type of opportunities with their 3-point shooters.”
- J.J., Jamal and Hinrich outplayed Orlando’s group of Jameer, Arenas, J-Rich and Redick. “To be honest with you, their guards killed us,” Redick said.
- J.J. carried over the edge he showed from those final four games into Game 1. “I wanted to attack early and just try to make the game easier,” Joe said. “I was getting in there and making plays for myself and my teammates and it worked out.”
- Joe took it to J-Rich and Redick, shot over Dwight’s help D and generally made good decisions passing out of double teams. “When he does get the ball we know Dwight is coming over to double-team him,” L.D. said. “He just has to put himself in a position where he can score just a little bit faster.”
- “He has to keep that up,” Smoove said. “He’s our offensive leader as well as Jamal. What I always stress to him is make quick moves. That’s what he’s been doing.”
- Joe played 45 minutes. “I thought he got a little bit tired at the end,” Drew said. “I told him I was going to ride him all the way until the end. He’s our go-to guy.”
- Jamal was lax on getting around screens and containing Arenas on the dribble. But he more than offset that with 23 points on 14 shots, including 5 of 6 free throws, and delivered some daggers after halftime.
- Maybe Hinrich was just saving it for the playoffs. No longer was it a pick-and-roll horror show for the Hawks against the Magic.
- “He’s getting over screens. He’s fighting, picking up the point guard full court and turning him in the half court,” Josh said. “He’s doing a good job.”
- Kirk also was making his shots and had five rebounds.
- “His energy was really high,” Drew said. “His shot was looking good. I could see the confidence when he shot a couple of them in the first half.”
- Josh recovered from a poor start. He ended up taking eight of his 14 shots from closer than 15 feet. He kept his head in the game after some early foul trouble.
- “A couple of cheap fouls,” he said. “I stayed with it for the full 48 and I was able to show some production and help out a little bit in that third quarter.”
- The Hawks have a plan to beat the Magic. Now the test is sticking to it or improving it after Orlando goes back to the drawing board.
- “I am sure like us they are going to see what they can do better but it doesn’t matter for us,” Zaza said. “We know individually what we can do. If we play together for 48 minutes I think we should be in good shape. We are going to have a chance to win the series if we play just like today. Together, help each other defensively, share the ball. It was beautiful to watch our team.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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207 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
5:36 pm
Crazy Glue!
And, where would we be without ZaZa? He is like crazy glue for the Hawks these past few months. He never sulked when the trade for Brad Miller fell through. What a Pro’s Pro! A keeper, I say.
Every Champion needs a guy like him, all the way around.
Keep him and ship out all them other scrubs: Powell, Etan, Hilton, etc.
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
5:37 pm
Laker frontline should be ashamed of themselves today. Gasol is a non-factor. So is Odom. Bynum playing solid, but can’t stop the pick and roll. Hornets getting into the paint at will. Just terrible defense and poor effort by that frontline.
O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
5:38 pm
Slimjr,
Feel sorry for Allstar Al when he matches up with Howard!!!! It’s just brutal to watch…Don’t let the little ones watch that abuse!!.
Why feel sorry for him? There are probably only 3 centers in this league (Bynum, Perkins, Bogut) who Howard would not abuse. So it is expected that Howard will abuse Horford.
We know that Howard can be a one man wrecking crew. But the bottom line is, the Hawks “team” won the game, not Howard. Let Howard abuse the Hawks all he wants. We just need to contain everybody else.
Buddy Grizzard
April 17th, 2011
5:39 pm
drmaryb I’m on record saying I hate Drew because he has agendas other than the success of my home team. Doesn’t change the fact that we have mismatches at 3 positions thanks to superior talent at those positions. The only thing that made it not a mistake to play Teague is the fact that got a lead and maintained it. Consider this:
Jamal Crawford was the only Hawk to play at least 15 minutes with a negative plus/minus. In other words, despite his scoring outburst, the Hawks were outscored when he was on the floor because of his poor defense. If the Hawks had lost, we’d all be talking about that.
O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
5:42 pm
drmaryb,
Even if Dwight Howard does not come to the Hawks, it would be good just to get him out of our division.
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
Damn Kobe . . . can you fight through a screen man? Paul uses the screen twice in a row to get Gasol on him, and he scores both times.
I guess even “elite” defenders play like garbage on defense sometimes.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
“And I consider Worldwide Clyde and Rod from CP to be the 2 best posters on here”
-JeJe-
_____________________
That pretty much proves my point, sans Rod of CP. He doesn’t deserve the insult. The short bus people.
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
5:52 pm
Woody taking over Phil Jackson’s body, with all of the switching.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
OB
I know, but without help in Orlando, he is no longer a threat to the east.
He needs at two more superstars on his team, at least that is the general consensus these days. I sure hope he wants to come home though, especially if he is an UFA and we don’t have to empty the coffers like NYC did.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 17th, 2011
5:58 pm
People can give Derrick Rose all the props they want — not that he doesn’t deserve them — but nobody knows how to get easy shots for their teammates in the half court than Chris Paul. Just makes me think how efficient Joe and Smoove might be if he had been setting them up for the last six years.
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
5:59 pm
Ice water Chris Paul.
Lakers gonna lose this.
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
6:00 pm
northcyde
Don’t put me in the category of people who: [purposely]
” purposely look for the negatives in his game,
don’t even acknowledge the positives.
People do the same thing to other players on this team ”
1st of all I look at all our players with a critical eye.
[some definitions of critical besides the obvious]
* occupied with or skilled in criticism.
* involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.;
* a critical analysis.
* of or pertaining to critics or criticism: .
* providing variants, proposed emendations
If I were the Coach:
those critiques that I mentioned of Joe;
would not go unattended.
For your [nc's] benefit;
*Joe is graceful
*Joe is marvelously skilled
*Joe does not get in the headlines (negatively)
*Joe is durable
*Joe is a workhorse
*Joe played injured all this year
*Joe’s elbow still ain’t right / *shot ain’t right
*[could be like a pitcher & the [surgery] messed up his mechanics]
However;
I don’t feel like Joe has that fire in his belly that
Russell, Jordan, Kobe, et al
had / have.
But, very few athletes have that.
Tiger had it, then lost it.
(that’s what one gets for breaking ones vows)
When I mention a trade;
it has a logical and pragmatic viewpoint.
It has nothing to do with liking or disliking Joe, or Josh.
By the way;
We absolutely need to re-sign Jamal.
Once again the critiques of Joe…I’ve observed over time.
You say I purposely look for the negatives.
Even if I did – if they were not there I would not see ‘em.
In that regard, I say your profound admiration for Joe
causes you to turn a blind eye to his faults & shortcomings.
However, I’m done, let’s revel in the Hawks win !
Go Hawks !
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
Yeah Najeh . . no telling what a legit PG could’ve done for JJ, and especially Josh Smith. Smith would definitely be an All-Star, if Paul was the PG running the show.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
Buddy Grizzard
I know, I do agree Teague has earned PT. For the life of me, I can’t logically figure out why he is buried. But, since he doesn’t play, what are we gonna’ do about it? Teague has not hurt his team one bit, actually the opposite is true.
I have to scratch my head about this one. But, until Jamal costs us a win in this series? I wouldn’t change a thing right now. It may back fire.
____________
WOW! What just happened to Gray of The Hornets. He was playing awesome In place of West. That is what I was saying about being too happy this morning.
No round 2 talk just yet. We got to stay healthy and not have a nuclear melt down. Hawks got to stay kewl!
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
6:07 pm
Grandad . . once again . . look at who you’re comparing JJ to. You’re comparing him to all-time greats. I know JJ isn’t nowhere near on that level. I don’t even say that JJ is a superstar.
All I did was to illustrate to you that whatever you’re seeing in JJ, doesn’t match up to what he’s holding his opponent to. Not even close.
And remember, we’re only an average defensive team. And JJ is guarding a position in which some of the most dangerous scorers in the league play. Yet, by the numbers, he’s arguably a top 5 defender at SG AND SF.
It is what it is.
(( shrugging shoulders ))
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
6:12 pm
Buddy Grizzard
As for the (+/-) stat and Jamal:
He was on (9) of our top (10) five player (+/-) combos
in last nights game.
Just another way of lookin’ at stats.
superiorblogman
April 17th, 2011
6:16 pm
Congrats to NO I guess they are going to win the series now according to you peoples logic and how you are running around like we have accomplished something. I will say it again, Hinrich was still a backwards move, Sund is horrible, Drew is horrible, and the ASG is horrible. Memphis and NO winning should put things back into perspective for you weak minded ones who can’t see the BIG Picture. I thank my maker for giving me a vision at this point in life
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
Nutty – Buddy!
“drmaryb I’m on record saying I hate Drew because he has agendas other than the success of my home team.”
__________________
I would be hard pressed to agree with you that, Mr. Drew. Has an agenda
to be purposefully unsuccessful as a first year head coach.
Do you honestly believe that?
Perhaps a more believable argument would be he is a rookie coach and
has made egregious mistakes with not utilizing Teague properly.
At least that is the general consensus of the fans far and wide.
By why hate someone you never met or have met?
Why not say you hate his decision making skills or choices made?
O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
northcyde, Najeh,
I was thinking the same thing. With JJ, CP3 and Josh, thats a really good core to build around with the right coach. And even if we dont get the chance to draft Horford, so what? Josh is just fine at PF.
CP3 made an All-Star out of David West, and he made Tyson Chandler better. he would have done wonders for Josh. And with CP3, I dont think Josh would be hanging out by the 3-pt line as much.
And with Chills moving without the ball, CP3 would find him, since Childress would start at SF.
Andd with the money we spent on Claxton, we could have gone after a legit center. Plus we wouldnt get Horford, but we would still have a lottery pick that year to address other needs.
CP3/JJ/Chills/Smoove/Center.
Thanks for messing it up BK.
superiorblogman
April 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
5:27 pm
superiorblogman
Hinrich move was only bad due to giving up 1st round pick.
Not because Hinrich is white.
Why can’t you at least say Cap’n Kirk was instrumental
in the Hawks win last eve.
You sir, have an agenda.
Perhaps, the team is finally meshing after the trade.
Is that a possibility ?
Would it bea possibility if he [-KH-] were a minority ?
Bring something conclusive to the table blogman.
All you said for awhile was:
” he couldn’t guard Bibby ”
Let’s hear it now:
” he can guard Jameer “.
Waiting.
Grandad: You are inferior to me. Before you start a blog convo with me, you must begin it with down on my knees from now on if you wish any response.
BigDawg
April 17th, 2011
6:29 pm
all these people that still don’t think the hawks have a shot,
do you not realize that the hawks have now beaten orlando 4 out of 5 times this year.
the magic are exactly the team that the hawks can beat: live and die by 3-point shooting.
even though the magic scored 93, the hawks defense was the perfect strategy. let Howard go nuts but don’t let anyone else beat you
BigDawg
April 17th, 2011
6:31 pm
got tix to game 3, watch for the sign with the comment about Nelson’s remarks to Rose
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
6:33 pm
Has anyone on here based their enthusiasm on the western conference series? I for one am not doing any back-flips, I’m too measured and pragmatic, not the overly emotional type by nature.
But I recall the enthusiasm on here, expressed prior to the western conference ball tip. In defense of the overly happy ones, they saw total dominance from the Hawks at 4 positions on the floor last night.
Jameer rendered himself to being a SG with only 1 assist.
We saw an out matched magic basketball team. They, not us need to find an answer to stop the Hawks now.
There has been a major role-reversal. And, that is not a problem for Drew to worry about right now. Maybe, he can get some sleep now.
JeJe said, he looked sleepy.
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
6:33 pm
Dadgummit northcyde;
I’m not comparing him to those guys either.
I’m just simply sayin’ he is not an “elite” defender.
Okay;
on the Hawks he is one of our elite defenders.
Why would I compare him to those guys if I didn’t think
he’s elite to begin with ? *(fire in the belly analogy)
Bill Russell = Great Player (all-time great)
Bill Russell = mediocre offensive player (in his day)
Wilt = Great player
Wilt = great offensive player
Wilt = great defensive player
Wilt = great passer (led league in assists one year)
Wilt = great rebounder
Wilt = great all ’round player
I watched ‘em both play.
Wilt better stats.
Wilt beat Russell head up every time they played.
Wilt bigger & stronger.
Russell = 16 championships during same era.
Which was the better player ?
” Just when you think you have all the answers,
I change the questions “—Rowdy Roddy Piper—
BigDawg
April 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
the only person on the magic’s team that the hawks cant defend is Howard, so why waste the manpower and strategy on a guy you know you cant defend when you can just take away any other scoring. the record for points in a playoff game is 69 by Jordan against the Celtics and they still lost (hint hint)
the hawks are like 4th in the league in 3-point defense (somewhere up there, dont quote me on that) which is perfect
this strategy could probably be used on the bulls as well (not that im calling this series over, not by a long shot) just let Rose go crazy but shut down Boozer, Noah, and company
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
6:38 pm
LOL!
Northcyde with the “Kanye Shrug”.
Grand-Daddy, please don’t feed the troll.
BigDawg
April 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
btw is it a stretch to say if Hinrich upped his scoring ability hed be a top-10 PG in the league?,
really think about it
Inferiorblogman
April 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
I want to make it known that my stance has not changed. LD is still a horrible coach, Sund is still a horrible GM, the ASG is still a horrible ownership group. Kirk Hinrich is still a backwards move because what you people fail to realize is that we made it to the 2nd round last year and that Orlando had a much better team last year. The team they had last year had just went to the finals the year before. We may come out of the East and my views would not change, because as I have stated we can beat Orlando, Chicago, and Boston in a series. I am not like you guys I see the Big Picture and it says we are not winning anything worth nothing until we get a real coach, real starting C, a long term answer at the PG position and just a better deeper bench and finally a ownership group that wants to win a championship regardless the cost.
Now, on the Big Picture positive side. Jamal, Kirk, Marvin, and maybe even Zaza can improve there trade values during this playoff run.
Translation – “I just want to confirm that I’m still a RETARD.”
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
6:52 pm
These playoffs are proving how important it is to nullify the opposing teams’ size with some of your own. You don’t necessarily need a scorer at the center spot, just an adequate defender. I hope Aaron Grey is OK for the Hornets.
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
superiorblogman
You’re absolved, you don’t have to get on your knees.
“you must begin it with down on my knees”
your quote not mine.
You are right sir, I am inferior to everyone.
I try to have the attitude of a servant.
“It shall not be so among you.
But whoever would be great among you
-must be your servant-”
— Matthew 20:26 —
“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”
— James 3:17-18 —
“Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man”
— Ephesians 6:7 —
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones,
holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience”
— Colossians 3:12 —
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:04 pm
Grandad, Amen! ^_^
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:06 pm
BigDawg,
Kirk was very close back in 2006 when he was a member of Team USA along with JJ. He was averaging like 16&* or something like that. IDK if Kirk still has the motor to do that consistently at this point.
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:06 pm
*16&8
superiorblogman
April 17th, 2011
7:11 pm
Grandad: Who has those bible quotes really helped in the long run? They don’t save you from death, suffering, illness, being poor. Who do they really help other than the inferior self righteous people like yourself who need to believe in fantasies.
When you respond you had better start it off like I told you from now on.
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:33 pm
Superior,
This may help:
http://www.writersbytes.com/documents/GM.SQUIRM.pdf
O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
7:33 pm
Grandad,
I am all for resigning Jamal. The problem is, I think his asking price will be too high for what we can afford (Especially since there may be teams out there that might be willing to pay him to be a starter).
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:34 pm
This even moreso:
http://www.gotquestions.org/
Booo!
April 17th, 2011
7:37 pm
Well, if JC2’s are a dime-a-dozen then we should have no problem replacing Jamal next season right?
Don’t take that comment personally anyone,that’s just my post-trade bitterness shining through. Who knows, maybe Jamal will give us a discount? Just wishful thinking.
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
7:49 pm
superiorblogman
“When you respond you had better start it off like I told you from now on”
Why had I better ?
What you gonna do ?
“They don’t save you from death”
Nope your right – I’m lookin’ forward to it.
“suffering”
Makes you stronger !
” illness ”
I’ve had more than my share;
better me than somebody else.
“being poor”
Been poor all my life & actually kinda proud of it,
as it shaped who I am as a human being.
“fantasies” – naw, that’s called faith.
Clearly, I’ve come up harder, been made stronger by faith,
I’ve been made tougher by life than you.
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
O’Brien
I can’t imagine him wanting what he’s getting now.
We need to jettison Marv ASAP.
(then give him Marv’s money)
O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
8:05 pm
Grandad,
With Jamal making $10 mil right now, I think he will have to settle for less, especially since Vince Carter and Jason Richardson are also available.
But I would definitely be ok with giving him Marvin’s money. I think Marvin is currently overpaid for what he brings to the table.
northcyde
April 17th, 2011
8:10 pm
I bet Jamal is reading the blog and smiling . . . “they like me again.”
Amazing how one win can change the opinion about a player and a team.
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April 17th, 2011
8:27 pm
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O'Brien
April 17th, 2011
8:30 pm
new blog up..
drmaryb (*_-)
April 17th, 2011
9:15 pm
Grand-Daddy!
Bringing that TRUTH to the blog.
superiorblogman
April 17th, 2011
11:05 pm
Grandad
April 17th, 2011
7:49 pm
superiorblogman
“When you respond you had better start it off like I told you from now on”
Why had I better ?
What you gonna do ?
“They don’t save you from death”
Nope your right – I’m lookin’ forward to it.
“suffering”
Makes you stronger !
” illness ”
I’ve had more than my share;
better me than somebody else.
“being poor”
Been poor all my life & actually kinda proud of it,
as it shaped who I am as a human being.
“fantasies” – naw, that’s called faith.
Clearly, I’ve come up harder, been made stronger by faith,
I’ve been made tougher by life than you.
Oh yeah, Grandad? I am 33 years old and I have already been stricken with an ailment that I will die with. I am sorry if I don’t really find a need to respect people like you and Sund who leave for many many years and never really learn anything worth learning. Those of us that can handle the truth like myself, are blessed at a young age to know the truth. The bible God does not exist and the bible itself is a bunch of bogus BS. As for you, I don’t hate you, I just think you are sad and anyone like you. How can you live that long off of fantasies? Why would you be a fan of the bible God? He is the most selfish myth ever. Everything is about him. Once again we take care of each other, we show each other real love or hate. Thus, I love you all. I guess I am the 666 now huh? LMAO at that whole BS concept.
Go Hawks. Fire Drew, Fire Sund, Sell Please ASG.
Buddy Grizzard
April 18th, 2011
2:24 am
I bet Jamal is reading the blog and smiling . . . “they like me again.”
Amazing how one win can change the opinion about a player and a team. – northcyde
Opinion not changed. I hope Jamal plays out of his mind this postseason and gets a contract offer elsewhere that the Hawks can’t match. His minutes will be replaced next year by a combination of Teague, Marvin and Kirk. I believe with more scoring chances, Marvin will become a more consistent player.
This time | Sports Plop
April 18th, 2011
8:53 am
[...] went on to win the game 103-93 Saturday night after keeping the Magic at a safe distance.[2] The Hawks won the season series 3-1, but going into [...]
Walt"Clyde"Frazier
April 18th, 2011
10:34 am
The Hawks DOMINANCE over the Magic saturday proved that I was exactly right about the Orlando Magic. The big trade the magic made earlier in the year to supposedly improve their team BACKFIRED. The Magic are worse now than they were two years ago. What I want people to learn from reading my blogs is that although the Magic have enough talent to get to the finals and win, so do the Hawks. Most fans in atlanta dont appreciate the Hawks for what they are truly capable of. Folks when you make the playoffes in the eastern conference, it is the top 8 records in the regular season even if that record is a losing record. But then if you eliminate the #4 seed (orlando) and you are the #5 seed (Atlanta), Atlanta will then leapfrog over orlando and be one of the top 4 clubs in the eastern conference. Folks the Hawks are much better than you realize. The Hawks are essentially the same team from last year that won 53 games. The only thing is that they are much better because with Hinrich, they have improved their defensive philosophy and that is what wins you ballgames in the post-season. So then the question must be, how good are the hawks. I know this. The Hawks have just as good a chance to win a title as anybody. That should make everybody feel great. Stay tuned and jump on the Hawks bandwagon. They are going ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS.
DelorisWatkins
April 18th, 2011
1:35 pm
For all the bad games that the Hawks had this year, underachieving and failing to win 50; having a horrendous losing streak of six to close out a regular season; exaggerated talk of joe johnson’s demise; and all the bad things that happened. A strange thing happened against the Magic the other night: THE REAL HAWKS TEAM SHOW UP; THE SAME HAWKS TEAM THAT PLAYED BOSTON IN THE PLAYOFFS A FEW YEARS AGO TO A STANDOFF AFTER SIX GAMES. THAT TEAM SHOWED UP. That Hawks team can beat anyone easily. Hopefully that Hawks team will continue to show up and give the Hawks a fighting chance to win the title they are hungry for. The Hawks are fighting a curse of mediocrity and they are trying to overcome almost insurmountable odds. There are really teriffic teams in the playoffs this year and i believe almost any of them is capable of winning the title. HOPEFULLY THE HAWKS WILL BE THE FIRST TEAM TO 16 WINS SO THEY CAN BRING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP HERE TO ATLANTA WHERE IT BELONGS. GO HAWKS. HAWKS IN 5.