Magic at Atlanta Hawks Game 4: Jamal Crawford, by the way, is balling
We interrupt the talk about fights and flops with the news that Jamal is having a good series.
Jamal was known as a good scorer/volume shooter on bad teams when he came to Atlanta. He shed that image with the most efficient season of his career while playing on a good team. Jamal also was the only guy to show up in the playoffs against Orlando last season but hardly anyone noticed because the Hawks were taking beatdowns (good scorer, bad team again).
After Jamal’s production and efficiency fell off this season in L.D.’s egalitarian offense, hardly anyone was expecting what we’ve seen so far in this series. According to ESPN Stats, Jamal is just the seventh guy in league history to score 20 points or more as a reserve in three consecutive postseason games.
“It’s different because in the playoffs, everybody knows every play you are calling,” Jamal said. “They went over it. They have had three days to prepare. At times it comes down to making plays and creating stuff. I love the big stage. I love playing at the highest level. I used the last month of the season to get in a rhythm and get relaxed.”
That part about loving the big stage is true. Anyone who knows Jamal will tell you he loves the attention. Shoot, he will tell you it’s the reason he was hyped about joining the Hawks: “I was just excited about getting to play on the big stage and on a good team because more people notice that. ”
Jamal’s love of the limelight is an emotional counter to the logical argument that he can’t keep this up because he’s shooting way over his norm, especially 3-pointers. It’s also a way to explain how that lucky, banked-in, challenged 3 in Game 3 sort of made sense in a Jamal kind of way.
“It’s no fluke, really,” Al said. “We are probably a little surprised at the way that shot went in. But he likes that. He likes being in that position.”
Notes
- Twin appeared to be moving a bit stiffly before the game but he’s in the starting lineup. “Just try to keep it warm and pay through any discomfort,” he said.
- L.D. on Al possibly guarding Dwight: “I won’t completely rule that out. We will just have to look at the rhythm of the game and the flow of the game.”
- Al on defending Dwight without fouling: “It’s really tough. If you are fronting him, maybe you can get away with some stuff. The whole key is to keep him off [the block] and make him shoot over you. You have to know when to [front] him. You have to pick your spots.”
- Hilton Armstrong: “I have to wait for my name to be called to try to defend Dwight and give a couple hard fouls if need be. . . . We just have to try to be solid and hold our ground against him. He’s strong but we have to keep fighting and be physical with him.”
- L.D. on Stan Van Gundy’s flop complaints: “Maybe that evens up all of the illegal screens that’s been set. . . . We haven’t gotten the whistle. We are not going to cry and complain about it. We are just going to keep playing. This is what playoff basketball is. You can’t cry about a whistle, you have to learn to play through it.”
- Van Gundy said he’s not “posturing for calls” but just doesn’t like flopping. “I am talking about 7-foot, 270-pound guys falling down like they are grade-school kids out there. It’s not just our series. You see it all the time in the NBA. It’s something I don’t like. I think it’s bad for the NBA and I wish it would stop. I don’t have any problem with how the series is being called. . . . A lot of the flops they haven’t even called fouls on Dwight, which is good. I’m just saying don’t flop. Stand up and play.”
- Zaza: “So what do you expect him to say, Dwight keeps elbowing guys? Of course he is going to defend his player. I am not surprised. But I know I am not [flopping]. We are just trying to play basketball. We are trying to win the game. That is our goal.”
- Q-Rich is starting in place of J-Rich. “It allows us to stay bigger,” Van Gundy said. “I like J.J. coming off the bench. We can run some stuff for him. It doesnt’ put all of our offensive guys on the floor at the same time.”
- Arenas will be back in Orlando’s rotation. “We are going to need five perimeter guys,” Van Gundy said. “He’s going to be in there and I expect him to play well.”
- L.D. on how Orlando’s lineup change might affect Joe: “The way they’ve been playing him, they’ve been coming every single time just a matter of how we play out of it. I don’t see that much difference. Dwight is coming every single time.”
- Said Joe: “I wouldn’t say it opens up much. They may double a lot more. With Jason, I thought they picked spots where they played one-one-one and were satisfied with it. Now if a smaller man is on me maybe they come with the double team a lot quicker. We have to see. I think it’s neither here nor there. If we come out with the effort we need we definitely can get a win.”
- Q-Rich: “We are going to bring out intensity. As far as all of that extra stuff goes that Collins and them are doing over there, we can’t control anything. But like [J-Rich] said, we going to protect ourselves. We are not going to be bullied or back down from anything.”
- L.D.: “We haven’t taken a step back when it gets physical and emotions are high. Because when you do that, you expose yourself. We don’t condone fighting but we are not going to back down.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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688 comments Add your comment
doc
April 24th, 2011
9:52 pm
poke away with a knee on replay.
Rev in Tampa
April 24th, 2011
9:53 pm
That was as ugly as it gets. The Hawks just about drained all the enthusiasm out of me. The only positive to take away from this game is that the Magic are awful. I despise that team, I despise their arrogant tv announcers, and I despise Howard’s constant complaining and dirty play. (Of course all’s forgiven if he signs with Atlanta).
Otis Smith (the Magic GM) has destroyed the Magic for the foreseeable future. They will be a lottery team when Dwight moves on next year.
Prison Mike
April 24th, 2011
9:54 pm
It was really his shin but it was clean so no bs from the other fans.
doc
April 24th, 2011
9:54 pm
dmb the streamers were there for the second win on friday. you know askg doing their best to make the experience better.
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
^ cosign rev
Sautee
April 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
Props to Joe for his clutch free throws. We don’t win without them.
LOL, he HAD to though, to offset his 1 to 6 assist to turnover ratio.
Mike W
April 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
I tell you these hawks can make you run out alieves,adveil bc headache powder and all but as long they get the win you feel better that you did. Have to do better game 5 should of beat these bums by 10+pts. Lets go hawks close it out in ORL. SO we can rest up for the bulls.
ant banks
April 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
ORLANDO MAGIC-DISAPPEARING ACTS?
2008 magic lose in finals
2009 magic lose in 2nd round
2010 magic lose in 1st round?
WTF?
vava74
April 24th, 2011
9:56 pm
Gotta hand it to Jamal. He’s ballin’.
Nice to see JJ compensate that TO with ice veins FTs.
ant banks
April 24th, 2011
9:56 pm
SORRY, GOT YEARS OFF
northcyde
April 24th, 2011
9:57 pm
In other news . . . I wonder what Elle Duncan had on tonight.
I forgot to report that in my “Observations” yesterday about Game 3 . . but she was looking GOOD . . DAMN GOOD in that white dress. That body . . man.
(( regaining focus ))
Nice to be up 3 – 1 in this series. I do wish they would have a killer instinct, and close this series out in Game 5, but we at least have a cushion with a guaranteed Game 6 at home to close it out.
The trade for Turkoglu is looking horrible right now.
He’s shooting 11 – 48 FG ( 23% ) . . 3 – 23 3FG ( 13% ) . . 7.8 ppg – 4 rebs – 4 assists
And he’s due to make another 34 million over the next 3 years?
This is why those owners want to revamp the financial structure of the league. It’s the mediocre players like Turk, that they grossly overpay for, that get these owners in trouble. AT least when you overpay for a star player, the star will show up on most nights. Mediocre players are a different story. They may or may not show up at all.
Melvin
April 24th, 2011
9:57 pm
Take the win and get the he!! out of there…. LOL
tremaine
April 24th, 2011
9:59 pm
Dumbinique just predicted the Hawks closing out the series in Orlando.
Prison Mike
April 24th, 2011
9:59 pm
Tricks are for kids. Official magic mascot…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTqsV3q7rRU
Hilarious.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 24th, 2011
10:00 pm
Winners! Streamers came Down!
Where are you gonna’ go Hawks!
Answer: We’re going to Disney World!
_________________
Really, really too bad we didn’t sweep these guys! A huge missed opportunity for our ball club. Just huge. (In O’Briens voice)
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:02 pm
yes northcyde, elle looked good in her white out dress didnt she? or was it her preview for easter sunday?
northcyde
April 24th, 2011
10:03 pm
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
9:48 pm
and northcyde,
Joe and Jamal can combine for those point totals when playing with the matchups they have.
The Magic team defense isn’t all that great. It’s really just Dwight, and that’s about it.
Will those two be able to do that against a team with much better team defense? Like the Bulls?
**************************
Against the Bulls, I would hope our frontcourt guys take it to them. In the past, Smith and Horford have had very good games against the Bulls. In that series, you’ll see Marvin inserted back into the starting lineup, because we’ll need him against Deng. Smith and Horford can concentrate on scoring on and slowing down Boozer and Noah.
That’s a different type of series. JJ and Jamal will still get some of his shots, but the going will be much tougher. Brewer and Bogans are decent defenders and won’t give JJ and Jamal the type of looks that they’re getting now. But make no mistake, when both JJ and Jamal have it going, they can score the tough baskets.
I’m not writing the Magic off yet though. They’ll play with desperation in Game 5. But if we do get past them, Smith and Horford may be the stars against the Bulls, rather than JJ and Jamal.
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:05 pm
vava you really like jamal when the other guys cant throw it in the ocean dont you? man their offense really doesnt exist.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 24th, 2011
10:06 pm
Great win for my hawks.
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:08 pm
northcyde i havent seen anything to suggest josh wants anything to do with boozer. he tore he up and stuck josh so hard making moves to the basket you could see the wind literally go out of him. we also need someone to stay with rose.
Prison Mike
April 24th, 2011
10:08 pm
Deng owns Starvin, I would rather see the line up of
KH
Joe
JS
Al
Zaza
BILLY KNIGHT
April 24th, 2011
10:09 pm
With out Collins the hawks loose this series, he set the tone on defense and kept howard from dominating the board good game collins.
northcyde
April 24th, 2011
10:10 pm
LOL @ doc . . I was in section 201 for Game 3 . . and she was all the way on the other end of the court doing one of her in-game recaps. And that dress stood out. And that booty . . wow. And that was the view from about 200 feet away.
(( shaking my head ))
Oh . . and as for the road trip . . It would be nice if both the Hawks and Griz could make it to the 2nd round. You’d be talking about us playing the Bulls, and the Griz playing the Thunder. That would make for a very nice road trip again in about 2 – 3 weeks. And hopefully those games fall on the weekend, so that I could really make the trip.
northcyde
April 24th, 2011
10:12 pm
Josh in the past has killed Boozer though. Maybe the scenario has been different this year, but I think that’s because Josh has been playing too much on the outside. But while in Utah, Smith had very few poor games vs Boozer.
EmirS.
April 24th, 2011
10:14 pm
Dwight Howard is to Orlando what LeBron James was to Cleveland.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 24th, 2011
10:14 pm
Collins have to starte from here on out in the playoffs he play the role of banger, with collins starting he set the tone on defense.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
Stream Lined!
doc, really? We had streamers after game 2 win? Wow!
ASKG once again, spending wisely. heh?
______________
Give a game ball to Hilton Armstrong! Nice big body with a great ZaZa impersonation. Good job! Young fella!
Aye JRich! How did that. Room service – Peachtree Burger with cold Fries taste? You are a smart guy, who really helped your team and ours too.
You BIG Dummie! (in Fred Sanford’s voice – RIP)
ant banks
April 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
DID THE HAWKS WIN BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF JASON RICHARDSON?
if he had played, would the outcome be different?
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
Agreed northcyde.
Smith and Horford will need to step up and be the players we go through if we’re fortunate enough to play the Bulls.
We’ll have time to analyze that once we get past (hopefully) the Magic.
tremaine
April 24th, 2011
10:17 pm
Let’s close this series out before Orlando start making shots.
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
10:18 pm
Prison Mike
April 24th, 2011
10:08 pm
“Deng owns Starvin, I would rather see the line up of
KH
Joe
JS
Al
Zaza”
You know what, I’m gonna co-sign this. I really do think the Hawks would be better off trying to go big on the Bulls too.
northcyde
April 24th, 2011
10:19 pm
A possible Bulls series will be different. Guys like Marvin, Damien, and even Teague may have to play and come up big for us. I could see a scenario in which Rose is killing us, and racking up the fouls vs whomever is guarding him ( mainly Hinrich ). So we may need those reserve guards to help guard Rose. And Marvin really needs to step up vs Deng. He destroyed Marvin the last 2 games we played them.
With the way the Bulls have destroyed us the past 2 meetings, Drew may need all of those guys to come up big in at least one game, to get win a few games vs the Bulls. To win the series though, the stars will have to come up big in the 4th quarter . .whether it be defensively or offensively.
First things first though. Let’s close out the Magic in Game 5.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 24th, 2011
10:20 pm
Coach LD made me kind of nervous when he had josh and horford trying to defend the post on howard, but collins came in and stop the bleeding great adjustment coach.
tremaine
April 24th, 2011
10:20 pm
ant banks
April 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
DID THE HAWKS WIN BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF JASON RICHARDSON?
if he had played, would the outcome be different?
It wouldn’t have mattered. Richardson has played like trash just like every other Magic not named Dwight Howard.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 24th, 2011
10:20 pm
Team Leading 6 Assists? Did anyone have more?
Has Mr. Drew “turnt” Jamal into a PG? You can give Nique credit for the “turnt” word. He has coined many phrases, but no one can top Barkley. He is the master of a pictionary reader.
That’s when you only read books with lots of pictures.
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
10:23 pm
whoever gaurds rose in that bulls series really needs to play off the dude. he’s gonna get his without a doubt. i’d rather you make him get his through jumpers than playing him tight and attacking the rim. when he attacks the rim, he finishes with the best of them and he opens up everything for everybody else. keep him in front of you, no matter what takes – even if you have to play him like you would rondo.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2011
10:23 pm
That game did not need to be so close, but the flip side is that it was really fun to watch in a loud packed house. Haven’t looked at the box score yet but I’m guessing this was the Hawks’ best rebounding game this series. Way to win one for Zaza. Time to close it out in Orlando so I don’t have to shell out another $35 for Game 6.
EmirS.
April 24th, 2011
10:25 pm
If we play the Bulls (assuming the Pacers dont rally back from 3-1), I think a Zaza vs Noah match-up…would be VERY entertaining.
Two very emotional, scrappy, down and dirty big men.
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
April 24th, 2011
10:26 pm
had to go outta town….great to see we’re up 3-1.
Hawks = Eastern Conf. Finals.
Our bigs can have more of their way against them like Northcyde said. Plus, if Joe and Crawford can keep playing like the talents they are, it’s ECF fasho.
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:26 pm
interesting to see the hawks out rebounded the magic and that capt kirk played all but 6 minutes and led the way with al.
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
April 24th, 2011
10:27 pm
The Hawks will close out in 5, while the Bulls/Pacers series goes to 3-2.
I really hate the Bulls.
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:28 pm
najeh just read your last comment, al and josh in doubles jj with 9
prison mike
April 24th, 2011
10:28 pm
Wabe
April 24th, 2011
10:18 pm
You know what, I’m gonna co-sign this. I really do think the Hawks would be better off trying to go big on the Bulls too.
Josh has played decent these playoffs. I attribute this to turk good position d on him dwights outstanding help d. I think he would absolutely abuse deng on the block. As for Marv, he needs look deep inside him and attack the basket.
prison mike
April 24th, 2011
10:30 pm
Wow the alcohol must be kicking in because I butchered those statements.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 24th, 2011
10:35 pm
Northcyde!
Take it easy on that gall-bladder boy, Elle Duncan will kill you son!
Like a 90 year old center – you’re dead. LOL!
Ncyde … They owe Turk 34M over 3 years? Geez-Us!
And we complain about Joe-Max? Relax people! Joe is only 29 years old.
__________________
SVG presser was amazing! He got in that teams azz!
He said, “The guys we have are here because they are SHOOTERS!
look it, we don’t have players like Jamal who can break you down like that.”
That’s what I’ve been trying to tell all the Iso-Crap complainers.
They don’t appreciate creative bball talent and the chess making plays that are derivatives of ISO-TALENT! We got two players, guards that can do that! Too bad we don’t have two PG’s.
Wow! Joe looked great, with suit and tie and gave a rare presser!
Very nice representation. Saw that DWade & LeBron presser today, they wore street clothes. Not a good look for the world to see, especially on Easter Sunday during the play offs. LeBron had a very angry expression and awful body language. What an idiot with no class nor sportsman ship for the kids to see. I don’t like that guy one bit, his Mamma neither – she is a sho’ nuff gold-digger.
Dwight is up at the podium next! You’re gonna hear one game at a time crap from now till Thursday. Count on it!
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:35 pm
heh heh northcyde, i was in 111 on the opposite side with a very attractive date and i had to take a chance and look. it was close but i got away with it. i even caught her derierre well before she had the camera on her, then it was jumbo tron time as her face is fine too. guess you watched her until she was out of sight up the ramp?
yes teague might need some time along with damien. josh better bring his bang body and thibs has boozer playing a different way than sloan did i guess. a lot of folks sneered at the idea of boozer having an impact with chicago. they were dead wrong after thibs benched the guy early on to get his attention and move on together.
tremaine
April 24th, 2011
10:36 pm
Did Derrick Rose cut his foot off after spraining his ankle because that is the only way we will beat the bulls. Scratch that I think they still would win if he had a peg leg.
doc
April 24th, 2011
10:36 pm
dmb, yup spending wisely, even had some advertiser doing t’s and towels tonight so it wasnt them. everything except the streamers has a name on it.
ryan
April 24th, 2011
10:47 pm
Hey give up for the Knicks go out bring in Mello and Amare and get swept Hawks under a bad ownership on the verge of going to the 2nd round Go Hawks .
It was not a bad pick
April 24th, 2011
10:49 pm
Great win, and we match up great with the bulls also….Please explain to me why Josh is starting over Marvin?..The hawks would have won by 20 if Marvin started!…Against the bulls, Drew should unleash this Pit Bull on their a##..Marvin is 10x better than Deng…