Atlanta Hawks: Magic 101, Hawks 76
Orlando–During a radio interview yesterday, the host tried to get me to predict how this series would turn out.
- “I’m done trying to predict the Hawks,” I said. “They can make you look stupid. When I’ve praised them, they go and get blown out. When I criticize them, they do something like go up 3-1 on the Magic. But one thing I think I can say for sure after these four games is you know they are going to give a good effort tomorrow.”
- Man, I’m about as smart as Charlie Brown when he’s always trying to kick that damn football when he knows Lucy’s going to pull it away again.
- “They came out and hit us early; it just seemed like we didn’t have a response for it,” Hinrich said. “We are going to regroup. We still have the series lead going home. We’re confident we will play better in Game 6.”
- It’s hard to trust the Hawks. They said all of the right things after this, just like they said the right things before. Obviously they are back in the “show me” category after this one.
- Game 6 is Thursday at 7:30 on NBA TV, Home of the Hawks.
- “We are good,” Jamal said. “We are still in the driver’s seat. This is just one game. We have to come out and act like we are in desperation.”
- No act should be necessary. The Hawks shouldn’t want any part of a Game 7 back in this building.
- “There are going to be nights like this,” Smoove said. “We just have to wash it out of our heads. We did want to get the win tonight but we have another shot at it Thursday. We have to play with a little bit more desperation and know that we can’t play Game 7.”
- When Dwight went to the bench with two fouls in the first quarter, it almost seemed like the Hawks relaxed. Maybe L.D. did, too, because he took out Kirk and Al as Orlando’s lead grew to 10. He got Al back in but the Magic’s lead was up to 42-21 by the time Hinrich returned.
- Not that it would have mattered much in this game since his players weren’t ready, anyway, but for a guy who talks about subbing depending on feel and flow L.D. sure does have some weird patterns sometimes.
- With Dwight on the bench the Hawks still didn’t go to the rim. The Magic, meanwhile, played faster and crisper. The Dwight Defense was nullified and the Hawks were a step behind.
- “Jameer and Gilbert were coming off screens aggressivelty all night long,” Josh said. “We had to help a little bit and [still] get out on the shooters. They were shooting with rhythm tonight. I think that pick-and-roll kind of hurst us tonight.”
- “When [Dwight] went out of the game, they went to a little bit more movement sets,” Jamal said. “That is when everyone got involved.”
- And they made shots. Man, did they ever make shots.
- “It seemed like once they made one, they started making them all over the place,” Marvin said.
- “Guys were contesting J.J. Redick and he was making fade-away jump shots,” Josh said.
- “We’re a good-shooting team,” Stan Van Gundy said “This is more us than the first four games. This is not some aberration, ‘Oh, the Magic made threes.’ We’ve been doing this for four years. The aberration was the first four games.”
- The Magic eventually cooled off from the floor. They took care of the ball, though, so there were few extra possessions for the Hawks.
- Not that it would have mattered. Once the Hawks got down, they never showed any sign of putting together a coherent plan to get back in it. They just kept taking and missing jump shots, allowing dribble penetration and generally sucking all around.
- “Obviously we laid an egg tonight,” Hinrich said. “It’s disappointing but at the same time we are looking forward to Game 6. Right now our attention is on that.”
- The Magic turned up the pressure on J.J. and Jamal. They didn’t handle it well.
- “They gave me different looks,” Jamal said. “But I will watch a lot of film and adjust to it.”
- Josh and Al weren’t much better. Smoove strayed outside even before things got out of hand, though at least he did play with more energy than anyone else. Al doesn’t have much else to go to if he’s not popping free for Js.
- At least the Hawks got to the free-throw line. Too bad for them they only made 22 of 32.
- Dwight had eight points and the Magic won by 25. He had eight rebounds and the Magic had an 48-43 edge on the boards. He shot just 10 free throws and the Magic had 29.
- The Hawks lead 3-2 but the Magic have to feel good about a) finding a way to attack the Hawks that works b) discovering that they can in fact take Atlanta’s guards out of it and c) seeing that they in fact can still shoot the ball.
- “The biggest thing was we played with tremendous focus and intensity from start to finish,” Van Gundy said. “And that’s what it’s going to take [in Game 6]. It will be much, much harder on Thursday and we’ll need to play better than we did tonight to get a win there.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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313 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
April 27th, 2011
3:43 pm
The Memphis core of Conley – Randolph – Gasol– Mayo – and Gay is greater than Josh- Allstar AL- Marvin- ISO…………..
Prison Mike
April 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Hate that blogs don’t have some type of filter to purge some of these “interesting” posts. Going to game 6 was to be expected with a high chance of game 7. Don’t see how you expect them to beat a team with home court in just 5 games with the best center on this planet.
Smith is now 15.6 and 9 for the series shooting 46%. Easily one of the more productive players on this team. No pg to set him up at playing the 3 routinely receiving the ball late in the shot clock after a failed iso attempt. Again he will not truly thrive without a pg that can get him and others in the right set up.
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
@northcyde…see why aimin’ the bailin’ thing at me??/ not even necessary. we are discussin’ the team. and for the record if you ain’t been a fan since the 70s , LIKE ME, then take your aim elsewhere!!! and that’s puttin’ it nicely!!!
SteveW
April 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
And throw in Jameer having 9 pts and 5 assists – wow, how did we lose?
But we lost because of coaching. LD was great coming up with the Collins strategy. And it has taken the Orlando staff a few games to adjust. But this is the playoffs, and unlike Woody last season, they have adjusted.
Now we have to see if LD can adjust to Orlando, and win this series. Last night when Jamal didn’t show up, we should have had a plan B (Teague maybe?).
I think LD is back coaching for his job.
And did anybody read that clip on ESPN of Dwight guaranteeing a series win if Orlando won last night? Here’s the quote,
“So now it officially becomes a guarantee, because Dwight Howard said so.
With the Orlando Magic down 3-1 and facing elimination entering Game 5 at the Amway Center, Howard essentially told reporters after Tuesday’s shootaround that his team would be advancing.
Well, that is under one obvious condition.
“If we get one win,” Howard said, “we’re going to win the whole thing.”
Post that in the Locker Room!
Go Hawks!!!!!
The Real Mandingo
April 27th, 2011
3:55 pm
Game 5 is over and the Hawks need to focus on Game 6. It is extremely important for the Hawks to perform well from the start by shooting quality, high-percentage shots, playing gritty, tenacious defense, establishing a lead of about seven to ten points, and taking control of the game throughout the first quarter. This good start will give the team and the ATL fans an enormous boost of confidence and optimism that the Hawks can indeed close this series out in Atlanta. However, if the Hawks stumble out the gate early, Larry Drew (LD) should not hesitate to call a quick time-out and settle the team down so the game doesn’t get out of hand early. Also, if J-Smoove starts taking and missing ill-advised, deep perimeter 2pt. shots and 3pt. shots, LD should immediately substitute J-Smoove with J-Craw aka “The Difference” and move JJ to the (SF) three spot.
I don’t want to be overly critical of J-Smoove but I can’t understand how he is allowed to attempt deep, perimeter field goals when he has a career free throw percentage under 70%. If he (J-Smoove) shot 80%+ from the free throw line for his career, I could see him being allowed to take deep, perimeter shots. On the other hand, I can’t put all the blame on J-Smoove. His teammates at times pass him the ball while he’s out on the perimeter to take those long-distance jumpers. I remember watching the last regular season matchup between the Hawks and Celtics on ESPN which the Hawks won. I recall Dan Schulmann asking Hubie Brown how do you get a player like Josh Smith to stop taking deep, perimter shots. Hubie Brown responded by saying you have to run plays for him (Josh Smith) in the post because it’s obvious he (Josh Smith) is comfortable out there (on the perimeter) and, if allowed, he will stay out there (on the perimeter) and keep shooting. Hubie Brown further stated that by allowing Josh Smith stay out there and shoot perimeter jumpers, you (Coach Larry Drew) are allowing him (Josh Smith) to dicate to you (LD) when you (LD) should be dictating to him (Josh Smith). Unless there is a conflict of interest, I think the Hawks should look into hiring Hubie Brown as a consultant of some sort because I think he provides expert analysis and he seems partial to the Hawks.
In conclusion, if the Hawks defend the three point arc well and don’t allow the Magic perimeter players to get hot from the outside, I like the Hawks chances to win Game 6 and close out this series.
Plain & Simple...
April 27th, 2011
3:57 pm
ASG made the Hawks lay down last night to get the extra home date.
JOEY1
April 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
hawks win by 10 points plus tom… you heard it 1st from me
BILLY KNIGHT
April 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
The hawks biggest problem is there shot selection, if im not mistaking the hawks have not scored over 90points in the playoffs, because all of there shots are difficult from outer circle, the hawks have to push the ball for easy basket and stop playing half court ball but hinrich is more of a set up point guard not a transitition guard that create easy basket, this i don’t understand why my home boy want play teague who is a valuable piece on this team that can push the ball up court and create space for open shots, if the hawks are going have a chance in the playoffs teague must play atleast 25mins a game.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 27th, 2011
4:27 pm
“Please quit calling Smith “Smoove”.
Where the heck did that name come from?”
I only call him that because a) MC does and b) there is another Josh on the team. When the Hawks are mercifully rid of Josh Powell and his “championship experience”, I’ll go back to referring to Smoove as Josh.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
“You don’t go to the lengths to defend other people, like you do Josh Smith. When people criticize JJ, you rarely come to his defense. Same goes with Horford. ”
You do a fine job defending Joe, and most people who post here think Al is beyond reproach so he barely gets criticized to begin with. Like I said, it’s really just about balance. Nobody on this team is blameless. Now that people are starting to point out Al’s limitations as a post player, inevitably there will be people who start to underrate him and I’ll respond accordingly.
JeJe
April 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
WIN TOMORROW
Northcyde, I am nervous about tomorrow. Our P&R defense is suspect. Nash destroyed Horford earlier this year a thousand times in that game in Phoenix. Who says it won’t happen tomorrow? Guys were not running out to contest shooters quick enough
Ugh
JeJe
April 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
I agree about the sense of entitlement the Orlando folks think they have. I want to win tomorrow so badly. I hate everyone on that team tremendously, even more than I have hated Boston in past years
bigdave
April 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
playoff basketball is all about teams w/ identities..
i will not be surprised if we make history. those mid range jumpers must fall folks, simple as that.
BBIB
April 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
Sadly he’s right about this team making a fool out of you every time you gain confidence in them.
It’s absolutely INEXCUSABLE we let them build a 13 point lead in the 1st quarter when Dwight Howard picked up 2 early fouls
That should have been the time we PUT THEM AWAY.
LD and everybody talking about how we wanted to treat that game like a game 7. So much for that when he benched our starters when Dwight got those fouls
WE should have been the ones building a double digit lead by attacking the basket. What an absolute joke of a performance and if we lose this series we deserve to
Slimjr
April 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
Hawks will close it out Thurs.ISO and JC1 will show up and bail out the bigs
BudMan
April 27th, 2011
4:44 pm
Orlando may have found its peak last night. They have yet to play a complete game. While the 3 shot improved, Dwight was off and Turk still struggled. If they all start clicking what Otis thought he was building may materialize. ATL wins at home-or the Magic play in the finals. That is my prediction.
Grandad
April 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
northcyde
” Like I said . . I tend to do the same thing with JJ.
But unlike yourself, I don’t claim to [not]
have some sort of bias toward JJ. LOL . .
everybody knows I’ll try to give JJ the benefit of the doubt,
unless he’s just flat out sucking ( like he did last night ) ”
northcyde, my friend, your post ever @ 1:43 pm.
*(not for the criticism of Najeh)*
–But– for your self analysis.
It came from the heart.
I, too, admit that Al is my favorite Hawk.
On the other hand;
my favorite players are ” Team ” -&- ” Teammate “.
I have bickered with you about Joe,
not because I dislike Joe, but he most likely frustrates me
more than others due to his hallmark as face of the franchise
magnifies his shortcomings.
Whereas, over the years, I’ve cut Marv a little slack,
due to the fact that he didn’t draft himself. (# 2 overall)
I guess what I’m trying to say is;
kudos for making your point w/o statistical analysis.
My last point, I promise;
Najeh & yourself have every right to defend whomever
yawl choose and however yawl choose,
–&–
I’ll critique the same.
This blog is a wonderful uniqe community.
” I love you guys ”
– Coach Norman Dale — Hickory HS, Huskers, [circa 1952]
Grandad
April 27th, 2011
4:50 pm
your *-[best]- post ever @ 1:43 pm
MikeWoodsen
April 27th, 2011
4:52 pm
In reading the majority of the hawks blogs today, I sense a lot of panic with Hawk fans. As I indicated previously on a blog, the percentages are with the Hawks and the Hawks still have a favorable advantage over the Magic. FOLKS, THE HAWKS ARE STILL IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE MAGIC ARE FACING ELIMINATION AND THE HAWKS ARE NOT. WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE BECAUSE ITS TRUE. THE HAWKS WONT BE FACING ELIMINATION UNLESS THE HAWKS LOSE TOMORROWS GAME AT PHILLIPS. THEN BOTH TEAMS WILL BE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. THERE WILL BE MORE PRESSURE ON THE MAGIC BECAUSE THE MAGIC WILL HAVE BEEN IN THREE ELIMINATION GAMES IN A ROW AND ITS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO WIN THREE OF THEM IN A ROW. HISTORY SAYS IT WONT HAPPEN. THE HAWKS WINNING THE SERIES WITH THE MAGIC IS 95% CERTAIN TO OCCUR. I LIKE THE HAWKS ODDS. THE MAGIC BEATING THE HAWKS AND WINNING THE SERIES IS ABOUT 5% PROBABILITY OF HAPPENING. THOSE ODDS ARE REAL TINY TO ME AND I THINK ARE JUST NOT FAVORABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE TO THE BANK. WHO DO YOU THINK HAS THE BETTER ODDS. I’LL TELL YOU THIS. IF THE HAWKS DONT CLOSE OUT THE SERIES AT PHILLIPS THEN I THINK THE MAGIC WILL WIN GAME 7 BY AT LEAST 70-100 POINTS. BUT IF THE HAWKS BEAT THE MAGIC AT PHILLIPS, FOLKS THE HAWKS WILL HAVE BEATEN THE MAGIC 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES THIS SEASON. THAT WILL BE A PHENOMINAL RECORD AGAINST A TEAM THAT HAS OWNED THE HAWKS IN THE PAST. IT WILL APPEAR TO ME LIKE THERE IS A CHANGING OF THE GUARD IN THE MAGIC/HAWKS SERIES MATCHUP. IT USED TO BE THE HAWKS WERE SCARED TO COMPETE WITH THE MAGIC AND DID A POOR JOB OF COMPETING. THIS YEAR THE HAWKS WERE 70% SUCCESSFUL AGAINT THE MAGIC. I SEE THAT AS A DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT BUT FANS ARE JUST EXPECTING THE HAWKS TO WIN 100% OF THE GAMES AGAINST THE MAGIC AND THE HAWKS CANT DO THAT BECAUSE THE MAGIC ARE STILL A VERY ELITE 50-WIN TEAM.
Celtics#33forever
April 27th, 2011
4:59 pm
Dont really have a horse in the race BUT….most of us in the East felt like ORL was the team to reckon with. Many thought their mid season trade bold. Was last nights game a fluke or an affirmation?
If it is the latter, then that team may well win an NBA title.
ATL, must look at game 6 as game 7.
tyger
April 27th, 2011
5:06 pm
That’s the ticket, it’s the FAN’s Fault…
That makes alot of sense, afterall, we didn’t stay in front of Arenas and Riddick. We kept jacking jump shots instead of penetrating. We didn’t hustle, we didn’t care.
That’s right, its the Fan’s fault.
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
5:10 pm
some fans are really FANATIC!!! very naive and idealistic in their unbridled support. but then again, this team can turn it on and off accordin’ to some…even LD!!! gimme an f’n break…PLEASE!!!
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
5:13 pm
this team is who they’ve shown themselves to be..PERIOD!!! choose your own sample size…from and however you want. i know where i get mine…simple…the eyeball test
D12 from O-Town
April 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
Josh Smith has been the third best player on the Magic all series…..Keep it up J-Smooth, when the ball is in your hands all of Orlando gets that nice warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Finish the sentence….Ball goes to Josh Smith….
-Stands in the triple threat position till the shot clock runs low and shoots a terrible step back jumper.
-Dribbles the air out of the ball and throws an errant pass into the 3rd row.
-Spins and flips into the lane before ripping a lay up off front iron.
At least he makes the “I’m a bad ass, I don’t give a damn” tough guy pucker face the entire game.
Keep it up J-Smooth, ORLANDO LOVES YOU!!!!
JeJe
April 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
FIRE LD
WE GOTTA WIN TOMORROW OR WE WILL BE CLOWNED BY THE MEDIA
WELL NOT REALLY, BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW THIS TEAM IS SOFT LIKE MARSHMALLOWS
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
5:19 pm
@JeJe…too late bro. around the horn next topic is hawks/magic. tony’s intro…i’ll see if anybody wayched 1 minute of hawks/magic!!!LMAO
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
watched…
mykhalc
April 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
no heart, no smart…around the horn talkin’ about Hawks…
RickRodney
April 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
Celtics#33forever: you just hit the nail on the head. If the Hawks dont treat game 6 as though its game 7, knowing full well that if they lose they have to fly to Amway Arena to play the Magic in game 7, the Hawks wont accomplish it because Orlando is too pumped up to let the Hawks win on their home floor like they did in game 1. Of course the Hawks did win on the road in game 1, but that was before the Magic started making their shots. It will be a tough challenge for the Hawks but the Hawks should close out the Magic in game 6 and rest up to play the Chicago Bulls in the second round. The Hawks should forget that they have two chances to win the series becuase I know the Hawks are going to lose game 7 to the Magic. Three years ago when the Hawks forced the Celtics to a 7th game at the TD Garden in Boston, the results were like a Horror Film with the Hawks losing game 7 to Boston by about 40 points. Of course the Celtics went on to win the title, so it was the champions that the Hawks were losing to, but this is why you play the regular season and try to have a great record so that if there happens to be a game 7, then you earned the right to have it on your home floor. The Hawks should have finished with a better record than the Magic. Lord knows they have better talent and they had enough chances to win 60 games this year, but since the Hawks didnt think the regular season was important, the Hawks lost the last 6 games of the season to get rested and polished for the playoffs. That didnt help them last night as the Hawks got blown out by 26 points. The Hawks need to come out of the gates quickly tomorrow night and grab an early lead in the first quarter, build that lead and go up at halftime by at least 20 points. This way I think if the Hawks trade baskets the rest of the way in the second half, the Hawks should win the game by at least 20 points and be proud to advance and elevate their franchise to a new level by beating a world beater like the Magic. Should the Hawks close out the Magic and beat them, it will be more impressive than the Hawks beating Milwaukee or the Heat over the past two seasons, because the Magic are considered one of the top 3 teams in the conference. Also I saw the predictions of at least 10 sports affiliates and all of them picked the Magic to win the series even after the Hawks took a commanding 3-1 lead. None of them changed their predictions because they thought the Magic would eventually dominate which they did last night. Again, as I said yesterday, should the Hawks defeat the Magic, the Hawks will win the NBA championship as well. Go Hawks, win in 6 games.
Grandad
April 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
D12 from O-Town
” Finish the sentence….Ball goes to Josh Smith….
-Stands in the triple threat position
till the shot clock runs low and shoots a terrible step back jumper ”
Obviously…..You don’t know what the triple threat position is !
“-Dribbles the air out of the ball-”
Naw – that’s Joe;
I’m sure you got ‘em mixed up because of the headband.
Now – Get off our board.
The real * — D12 — is from the ATL,
-&- he’ll be comin’ home in ‘012. (or sooner)
SAS
April 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
Sorry to say but,I’m expecting 2 more L’s.JJ is awfull.It takes so much time to make his move and he is so slow of the dribble.No PASSION,NO HEART ,NO WIN.Ihate myself for being a HAWKS fan
Rod from College Park
April 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
“But we lost because of coaching. LD was great coming up with the Collins strategy. And it has taken the Orlando staff a few games to adjust. But this is the playoffs, and unlike Woody last season, they have adjusted.”
This is the point that everyone needs to understand. We got outcoached last night plain and simple. Van Gundy was able to adjust by playing more pick and roll, instead of passing to Howard, and standing around, and he also made another subtle move that destroyed the Hawks last night. He started trapping Jamal like they do with JJ, and we had no answer for it.
Again, for all the Josh Smith haters, please know that Josh is not my favorite player by any stretch of the imagination, but to critisize him after every game is absurd. Josh Smith is not an ALL STAR. Joe Johnson and Al Horford are ALL STARS. Al is a 2 year All Star, and Joe is a 4 year All Star. Please name one other team, in the playoffs, whose ALL STARS don’t carry the team. I can argue for the Hawks, that Jamal and Josh, have been much more productive in the playoffs than Joe and Al. Is Al Horford a leader, and a smart baskeball player, if he continues to pass up a shot (midrange jumper), that he was one of the best at shooting during the regualar season, and pass to Josh standing behind the three point line? Joe Johnson was terrible in every facet of the game last night.
FYI (2011 playoffs)
Jamal Crawford – 29mpg. 44%FG, 51%3p, 1.8 rpg, 3.2apg, 20.8 ppg
Joe Johnson – 40 mpg, 39%FG, 35%3p , 5.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 17.0 ppg
Josh Smith – 34.8mpg, 46%FG, 23% 3p, 9.0 rpg, 2.4apg, 15.6ppg
Al Horford – 38 mpg, 41%FG, 9.8 rpg, 3.2apg, 1bpg, 12.4ppg
Let me also point out that in this series, Josh has 26 free throw attemps (he has been terrible at the line), while Joe has 22 attempts, while being guarded by JJ Reddick, Jason Richardson, and Turk, and Al has 14 attempts, while being guarded by Brandon Bass, and Ryan Anderson. Which player is exhibiting the highest basketball IQ? If our ALL STARS can not dominate their matchups, we will not win this series period. To really be specific, Al and Joe need to at least put up their season averages in points, and stop depending on Jamal and Josh to carry the team.
Craig
April 27th, 2011
5:36 pm
I have faith in this team. I know last night’s loss looked bad, but you have to keep in mind that this team has been able to defeat the Magic in a huge majority of the teams’ meetings this season. Also, as much as you all want to criticize the Hawks for being mentally fragile and weak-minded, keep in mind that no one wants to lose. No one wants to be embarrassed. Even if the players don’t say it, don’t think for a second that they don’t still remember the embarrassment at the hands of the Magic last season. Don’t think for a second that this team is not hungry for revenge. That series blowout last year left a deep scar in their hearts and they remember it. They probably remember the final score from each of those 4 blowout losses. Don’t think that that fire isn’t burning in their hearts. They want to prove that they are better than this Magic team. They probably want to win this game 6 more than they’ve wanted to win any game in their lives. Don’t underestimate the Hawks, if they have anything going for them, it’s the underdog card. Too often teams have taken them lightly and they’ve made them pay. I, truly, believe that if the Hawks play their best basketball, the Magic cannot beat them. We all know the Magic are going to bring it tomorrow, but I have a strong feeling that the Hawks are going to be ready and they are going to hit Orlando so hard that the Magic won’t be able to recover. The Hawks need to show what they are made of in closeout situations, even moreso than they have the previous years against Milwaukee and Miami.
It’s up to us fans to help out. Let’s make Phillips arena the most uncomfortable place on the planet for the Magic tomorrow. Let’s make those arrogant pircks feel like garbage for disrespecting this team and acting like we’re a joke. Let’s help the Hawks put an end to the Magic’s false sense of entitlement. The Hawks will be ready tomorrow. I hope you are too.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 27th, 2011
5:45 pm
Great point Rod From College Park, buy just like magic made adjustment the hawks can do the same, as we see that every play howard is now coming to top of the key for pick role, so what LD have to do is don’t let collins or zaza follow him up so high stay back in the paint because you and i no that howard can’t shoot jump shots, he have come back toward the paint so why follow him so high, just stay back and don’t follow howard and hawks be okay.
no justice
April 27th, 2011
5:47 pm
Hawks are leading the series 3-2. Something they’re doing is right! Well, more right than the other team. We can’t speak on the future unless you are “Nostradomas or David Sterns”
GT Alum
April 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
Craig, if it hurt so badly, then why didn’t they act like they wanted to prevent it last season when it was happening. This team is a joke. It has been since they traded Steve Smith.
Wabe
April 27th, 2011
5:50 pm
the hawks will start switching that pick and roll…
TMAC
April 27th, 2011
5:54 pm
Well, another disappointing night for the Hawks. I don’t want to place the blame on any player, but JSMOOVE you need to try another plan of attack. Please, please get under the boards and help AL and gather yourself under the boards and be a big man inside. So what if you get blocked by Dwight. You couldn’t play like this for Duke, NC or Ohio State. You would ride the bench if you can’t be coached. This is a team sport.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
Craig this is the perfect opportunity to play your secret weapon jeff teague, he bring the crowd to there feet with energy and him getting josh out on the wing for a thunder dunk, with the half court game if shots are not falling then hawks are in trouble, but teague bring a different diameter that no other player on this team have and thats the pace of the game, let me also say this if teague couldn’t play defense i would understand LD justice for not playing him, but he is your best defender at point guard so why has teague not played in this series is clueless to me.
Craig
April 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
“Craig, if it hurt so badly, then why didn’t they act like they wanted to prevent it last season when it was happening. This team is a joke. It has been since they traded Steve Smith.”
Honestly, I don’t think that they could have prevented it last season. The strategy they were using was flawed and Woodson refused to adjust it. Everyone who has success against Orlando knows that it’s not about Dwight. As good as Dwight is, he’s not going to beat a playoff team by himself. It’s all about the shooters. The more you can stick to the bodies of the three point shooters, the greater the chance you have to beat Orlando.
Even besides that though, I think Orlando was just the better team last year. They had more talent, more chemistry, a better coach, and more experience. Even if we would have played our absolute best, meanwhile adhering to Woodson’s strategy, we would have lost to the Magic. This is not last year though. This is not the same Magic team anymore, and the Hawks are significantly better defensively with a competent defender at the point guard position. We still have lost of offensive flaws and bad coaching, but I feel like if we played our best and stuck with the single coverage of Dwight and hounded their shooters, we’d beat them about 85% of the time.
O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
In our 2 losses, JJ is averaging 9.5 pts and shooting 30% from the field. From Jeff Schultz new blog;
But Johnson didn’t do nearly enough to prevent the loss – or even collective team humiliation – from happening. And yes, he does deserve a greater share of the blame than Josh Smith or Jamal Crawford or anybody else on the roster because more is expected from him.
Such are the little inconveniences that come with a $123.7 million contract...
This team needs JJ to get off to a good start in game 6. And when Jamal comes in, we need him to make a couple shots too.
“Joe and Jamal are our main guys who put the ball in the hole,” Josh Smith said. “We depend on them to get us involved at the offensive end, because when they start making shots, it opens things up for everybody else.”..
JOEY1
April 27th, 2011
6:00 pm
come on guys,AGAIN 123
i know we just got beat up but did we expect to win in a do or die situation against orlando on their home floor???
the difference was they hit shots and we did not …..it simple they hit 7 more 3 pointes than us thats enough to put us in a very close game.
hawks will win at home thursday in a tough game bc they know if they lose they will not win in game 7 in orlando.
i think with howard on the floor that slows down their offense, if hes in the game they dont shoot as many 3 pointers we cover them better bc of ono on one coverage of howard.
i said before the series hawks win in 6 and they will close it out in front of a spectacular crowd..
so guys lets show up to phillips arena a cheer on our hawks to win, bc we are the sixth man
Nate ArchiBALL
April 27th, 2011
6:01 pm
I can’t believe we are discussing /complaining about nicknames……..
Nicknames have bee apart of the NBA for years. – Jerry West (Zeke from Cabin Creek), Walt “Clyde” Fraizer, Oscar Robertson (The Big “O”), Wilt Chamberlain (”The Big Dipper”) John “Hondo” Havlicek, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Julius “Dr. J ” Erving…….. just to name a few. You have the option to refer to them by their given name or nickname —It’s up to you.
James
April 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
“the hawks will start switching that pick and roll…”
That’s a terrible idea if that pick-and-roll involves Dwight Howard because there is no way in hell that Collins can defend any perimeter player. Also, there is no way any of our guards will be able to handle Dwight in the post before someone comes over to help, unless the guards flop and Dwight gets called for a charge. Also, this means that someone will have to come over to help on Dwight or switch off onto the perimeter player that Collins ends up on, which means we’ll be scrambling to recover to at least one open shooter on the perimeter. That’s never a good thing.
The best thing would be if we had a guy that was mobile enough to show hard on the pick and prevent the guard from getting an open look or making an easy pass. That would require us to play Horford at the 5 though, either that or we’d have to give Powell or Hilton a shot at that with Al at the 4. Personally, I think Al would make Dwight work for his points, but I don’t think we could afford to let Horford get into foul trouble trying to check Dwight.
At this point, the only simple solution would be to have our guards fight through picks as best they can and try playing Hilton at center for stretches. This also implies that we may need to place Jamal on non-ballhandlers as much as possible, since he does a weak job of fighting through picks a lot of the time.
James
April 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
There’s also the idea of playing Jeff Teague to help with the pick-and-roll defense, but we all know that Drew will never attempt to play Teague in this series that unless several of his “shot-makers” are in foul trouble, or if it’s a blowout situation in the fourth quarter.
GT Alum
April 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
Why is it every time I try to make a multi-paragraph post, it gets eaten?
James
April 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
“what LD have to do is don’t let collins or zaza follow him up so high stay back in the paint because you and i no that howard can’t shoot jump shots, he have come back toward the paint so why follow him so high, just stay back and don’t follow howard and hawks be okay.”
This is what the Hawks were doing in Game 5. It doesn’t work because it’s not that simple. With Collins or Zaza just laying back while Dwight goes to set the pick, it leaves the Hawks guard who is trying to defend the pick caught on a Dwight screen, which leaves Nelson or Turkoglu (whoever is the ball-handler) open to either shoot an open jumper, drive the ball, or scout the floor to make an interior pass all before the Hawks perimeter defender has a chance to recover off of the pick. This also forces our bigs to come into the lane to help on the ball-handler, which leaves shooters open on the wings, and forces us to scramble to get back to them.
BILLY KNIGHT
April 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
James can i disagree with your comment, okay if collins or zaza follow dwight to top of the key then what your doing is adding more body that will be in the way of your guard, it’s easier for point guard to go around one person than two, let your big stay back to defend the paint is much better than switch.
O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
6:28 pm
Who will be on the next Madden Cover? Almost 13 million people voted…and the winner is…
Peyton Hillis? he beat Mike Vick in the final. Peyton Hillis? Cleveland Browns? Really?
JOEY1
April 27th, 2011
6:36 pm
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