Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 95, Wizards 92
Washington–The Wizards may be a good team one day. Right now the Hawks have better, smarter, and more experienced players. In the fourth quarter they maintained their poise, controlled the glass and made key shots while waiting for the Wizards to show their age.
- I’ll say it again: It was a professional effort by a fatigued team that once again began the game like it was cool trying to trade baskets but ended it like it a veteran, self-assured outfit.
- “I know some guys were tired, some guys were banged up,” Larry Drew said. “We were playing catch up the whole game. We got over the hump in the fourth quarter and that’s a huge, huge win for us. We are quietly starting to turn into one of those teams. We have stretches where we don’t play well, we have stretches that teams have runs on us, but we don’t panic. That’s a sign of a veteran team.”
- I’m not sure about huge, but the victory does help the Hawks stay on pace for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. They’ll earn it if they finish with a better record than Philly, though Philly would be the higher seed by virtue of a division title. The explanation for this silly system is here below the standings.
- If you like the ponies, the Wizards were sort of like a talented thoroughbred moving up in class against more accomplished foes, running a strong race but getting wired. Yes, I like the ponies.
- “Everything is easy when you are up [big], everybody is free-flowing and making plays,” Joe Johnson said. “But down the stretch, when it’s gut-check time, everyone tends to get a little tense and a little tight and the basket is not as big. We knew we had a chance.”
- The Hawks were going for the tie at the end but the Wizards cut off the play. The ball swung back to Joe, who calmly knocked down a 27-foot 3. Joe scored nine points on four shots in just 5:42 in the fourth quarter.
- “Joe came in that fourth quarter, it took him a couple trips to get loose again and then he was aggressive and in attack mode,” Drew said. “I guess the rest I gave him in that fourth quarter gave him some good because he hit some big shots.”
- Drew was able to give his starters a long breather in the fourth quarter because all of the bench guys made positive contributions after none of them except Marvin Williams offered much in the first half. Jeff Teague’s 36 minutes and Josh Smith’s 35 were the highs for the starters, though foul trouble also contributed to Teague’s limited run.
- “It was that second unit that got us back in it,” Drew said. “I wasn’t 100 percent I wanted to put the guys back in the game when I did, but it worked out pretty good.”
- Marvin Williams once again looked good coming off the bench in the first half. His nine points on six shots, second to Josh’s 14 points on 10 shots in the first half, prevented the Wizards from really running away with it.
- Ivan Johnson had five points on two shots and six defensive rebounds in just 18 minutes. He was good against Nene and Kevin Seraphin and even started a fast break and ended it with a nifty pass to Marvin.
- Willie Green and Vladimir Radmanovic each made key shots during the second-half rally. Vlad Rad also had four offensive rebounds and forced Dunwoody High’s Chris Singleton to miss in the final minute.
- “Ivan came in and played good defense on Nene,” Josh said. “Vladi hit a big three in the fourth quarter. Marvin, he lifted us offensively. Everybody contributed. That’s what you need in these three-in-a-row stretches.”
- The minutes are starting to pile up for Josh and it showed. He still was energetic while challenging drives (two blocks and three steals) and had 20 points on 17 shots.
- Zaza Pachulia seemed to look better as the game went on. He said he didn’t quite have his legs: “I don’t care [about the injury]. It feels good. If I’m out there, I can play.”
- With Zaza unable to do his usual good work on the boards, Kirk Hinrich’s seven rebounds were important. So was his perimeter defense against John Wall (1 for 10 from the floor).
- Teague (nine assists) did a very nice job using his penetration to set up teammates.
- The Wizards coughed up their second big lead in as many games. They seemed to forget about Nene down the stretch as Singleton, Wall and Jordan Crawford took turns jacking up rushed shots. “We played one way up until this trade and now we have to break that,” Randy Wiitman said. “The ball has to go inside more, inside-out.”
- With the Wizards leading 90-88, Crawford waved off a screen to take Joe one-on-one and missed a rushed jumper. He remains an undisciplined offensive talent.
- “I already knew that was coming,” Joe said. “Jordan is a great friend of mine. Any advice I can give him I’m always a phone call away. But when we play together it’s trash talking, ‘You can’t guard me.’ That’s just the way it is. I knew it was going to come down like that before the game was over, it just happened to be at a crucial part of the game.”
- Vlad Rad reported no problems with his back: “But the question is how it will feel tomorrow.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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135 comments Add your comment
DawgNole
March 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
“It’s only a blog.” That’s the classic excuse of those who can’t write/spell/communicate effectively on here. Will the world come to an end if you display your grammatical ineptitude and related excuses on a blog? Absolutely not. Will your mistake-filled posts reveal that you’re too ignorant and/or lazy to “get it right”? Absolutely.
hawkfan
March 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
whoever made this schedule for the hawks has to be in it for them, there is no reason on the third back to back to back they play less than 24 hours from the prior game and also have to travel within that timespan and somehow get some rest before they have shootaround before the game, not expecting much from this game against hot utah, and if it’s a blowout i wouldn’t be surprised or mad
Big Lou
March 25th, 2012
2:34 pm
Remember, the game is at 3:30.
doc
March 25th, 2012
2:35 pm
and big lou, as they say, if you cant take it get out of the kitchen. heh heh
serious stuff is what divides us bro.
hawks dont divide as it brings us together here. we all want the best and i am on the longest winning streak of you all after becoming a hawk fan in ‘57 as i learned about them as they won a championship that year and it was a pretty good franchise until about 1970, i dare to say the abl put a sting on it to decimate its drafts and stole a player or two. only the celts were better during that time.
long suffering i am, i hold the basg accountable as poor stewards not the players, they have decimated the thrashers, sent them packing, hurt a tax base and will still make a killing going forward.
doc
March 25th, 2012
2:36 pm
now that is free association at its best.
High-sider
March 25th, 2012
2:36 pm
To Josh Smith’s fans, here’s ya boy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj8hxElRox0&feature=g-vrec&context=G2d75008RVAAAAAAAAAA
DawgNole
March 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
Did the tipoff time change, Big Lou? Today’s AJC “Atlanta Sports TV Listings” section says the game will begin at 6, rather than 3:30.
doc
March 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
an anal retentive speaks!
no probs bro, each to their own, btw i grew up a techie on the sidelines during the dodd years, so i dont expect to ever get it right to you dude. so scroll. guess some dawgs and fsu women school sisters are literately trained. good!
Buddy Grizzard
March 25th, 2012
2:41 pm
“Are you guys really die hard fans or just depressed homebodies with no life.”
Post more, Sharon Drew, we enjoy your company.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2012
2:43 pm
“According to this, shouldn’t the 76ers be the 3rd seed?
http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=NBA_Playoffs_Format”
That is how it used to be before they changed it a few years ago.
Big Lou
March 25th, 2012
2:47 pm
DawgNole
Thanks for the correction. I looked on the wrong game while breezing through espn.
DawgNole
March 25th, 2012
2:48 pm
doc
March 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
an anal retentive speaks!
no probs bro, each to their own, btw i grew up a techie on the sidelines during the dodd years, so i dont expect to ever get it right to you dude. so scroll. guess some dawgs and fsu women school sisters are literately trained. good!
___________________
an illiterate responds!
It’s not a matter of “getting it right to you, dude”; it’s a matter of getting it right–period. If you don’t care, you don’t care. “No probs” there either, bro. BTW, I’m a techie, too–when they’re not playing the Dawgs or Noles.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
The only players that move without the ball are:
Kirk
Marvin
Zaza
Pargo
Willie Green
TMac
Joe (some times)
Everybody else is a spectator. What happened to the Princeton Pentangle?
Buddy Grizzard
March 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
“A report came out today that a witness saw the 17 year old on top of and beating the guy who shot him.”
Please link us pictures of the injuries sustained that justified deadly force.
High-sider
March 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Here are the NBA tiebreaker rule/procedures:
x-Clinched Playoff Berth | e-Clinched Eastern Conference | a-Clinched Atlantic Division | c-Clinched Central Division |
se-Clinched Southeast Division | w-Clinched Western Conference | sw-Clinched Southwest Division |
nw-Clinched Northwest Division | p-Clinched Pacific Division | o-Eliminated from Playoffs contention
TIEBREAKER BASIS:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games
x-Clinched Playoff Berth | o-Eliminated from Playoffs contention | e-Clinched Eastern Conference | w-Clinched Western Conference
nw-Clinched Northwest Division | p-Clinched Pacific Conference | sw-Clinched Southwest Division | a-Clinched Atlantic Division
c-Clinched Central Conference | se-Clinched Southeast Conference
*-Games remaining vs.Teams Over/Under .500
back to top
Playoff Tie-Break Procedures
Teams 1 to 4 in each conference are the three division winners and the team with the next best regular-season record, with the seeding of these four teams determined by regular-season record. The playoffs seedings of Teams 5 to 8 are based upon regular-season record. Ties are broken pursuant to the rules set forth below.
Ties for playoff positions (including division winners) will be broken utilizing the criteria set forth in subparagraph a. below (in the case of ties involving two teams) and subparagraph b. below (in the case of ties involving more than two teams), and the guidelines set forth in subparagraph c. below.
a. Two Teams Tied b. More Than Two Teams Tied
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other. (1) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
(2) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. (2) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(3) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). (3) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). (4) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).
(5) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).
c. Guidelines For Applying Tie-Break Criteria. The following guidelines shall be used when applying the above criteria to break ties for playoff positions:
(1) (a) Since the three division winners are guaranteed a spot in the top four, ties to determine the division winners must be broken before any other ties.
(b) When a tie must be broken to determine a division winner, the results of the tie-break shall be used to determine only the division winner and its playoff position, not any other playoff position(s).
(2) If a tie involves more than two teams, the tie-break criteria in subparagraph b. shall be applied in the order set forth therein until the first to occur of the following:
(a) Each of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tiebreak criterion (a “complete” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance, the team with the best winning percentage or point differential under the criterion will be awarded the best playoff position, the team with the next-best winning percentage or point differential will be awarded the next-best playoff position, and so on, and no further application of the tie-break criteria will be required.
~OR~
(b) One or more (but not all) of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tie-break criterion (a “partial” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance: (x) any team(s) that performed better under the applicable criterion than any other team(s) will be awarded a higher playoff position than such other team(s); and (y) teams that had equivalent performance under the applicable criterion will remain tied, and such remaining tie(s) will be broken by applying, from the beginning, the criteria in subparagraph a.(1)-(6) above (for any remaining tie involving only two teams) or subparagraph b.(1)-(5) above (for any remaining tie involving more than two teams) and the guidelines set forth in this subparagraph c.
(3) If application of the criteria in subparagraph a. or b. does not result in the breaking of a tie, the playoff positions of the tied teams will be determined by a random drawing.
d. Home Court Advantage:For purposes of home court advantage, ties will be broken pursuant to the procedures used for breaking two-team ties for playoff position.
http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html
Lacsho
March 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Doc, your 2:18pm response was classic. I understood every wrod. lol
Ken Strickland
March 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
The Hawks are on a 10gms in 14days stretch with a 3gms in 3days, and 2 consecutive back to backs, with 6 of the 10gms on the road. With this monster stretch and all of our injuries, we’ve managed a 4-1 record over the 1st 5gms, not bad, not bad at all.
“I’m sorry THIS TEAM IS NOT, HAS NOT, AND WILL NOT COMEPETE WITH THIS ROSTER AND THIS FRONT OFFICE.” JE JE.
I guess being tied for the Eastern Conference’s 4th best record and the NBAs 8th best record, winning 4 of 5gms on a 10 gm in 14 day stretch, as well as 2 or 3 in a row, isn’t being competitive in your ANAL MINDED EXISTENCE. If you believe everything you’ve said is true, WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU STILL HERE? Your continued presence on these blogs certainly adds credence to the old saying, “WHO’S THE BIGGEST FOOL, THE FOOL, OR THE FOOL WHO FOLLOWS THE FOOL.”
tyger
March 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
ZaZa is Co-MVP…
Where would Hawks be without ZaZa?…
Statistically compared to Horford this season:
Zaza Pachuliiiaaa 8pts. 7reb. 49%FG 32mpg.
Al Horford 12pts. 7reb. 55%FG 28mpg.
2010/2011 11pts. 10reb. 42%FG 39mpg.
for $7M more you get 3-4 more pts. and 1-2 reb…
not a big performance difference compared to…
the 200% salary difference…
There are a variety of other factors that matter, but…
on it’s face, ZaZa has done an excellent job for us…
And especially on such a cost-conscious team…
that has to be a valuable consideration…moreover…
how can he be expected to go back to playing 17mpg.?
So, while focus on Smoove/Marvin it would be wise…
to extend ZaZa this off-season…
Bogut 11pts. 8 reb. 45%FG – $12M
ZaZa 8pts. 7 reb. 49%FG – $5M
Mental Toughness:
Hawks get another playoff preview this week…
Again, plenty excuses will be available….
Will they close the month strong? Or….
Succomb to the high of a 3 game win streak v 3 weak teams…
Will they bring energy or point fingers?
Will they choose rest over effort?
Will they look ahead to the following week?
They have a chance to make a statement this week, but will they?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
“sorry Grandmaster JeJe (GM), if you made an f- on it. very revealing, eh? so, if you made an a good for you, then it qulifies yo as an anal retentive as they worry about spelling and punctuation, kinda motherly nit picky, no? ultimately, it is all about reading and getting the message, not the order of the letters. for those slower than others, i do try to correct the lousy typing errors. if it sails over a few, well maybe the short bus will bring you guys along later. heh heh”
Maybe you forgot to mention that that phenomenon exists because THE FIRST AND LAST LETTERS OF THE WORD ARE CORRECTLY in place, something you haven’t discovered.
No where in your meaningless babbles replete with horrific and egregious grammatical and spelling errors do I read and get the message you claim to state. I can’t follow your posts at all and I think it’s worthwhile if I just ignore yours and Ken Strickland’s posts as you are both very annoying people who can’t understand my basketball opinions.
*He Fades Back, Shoots, AND THAT’S THE GAME!!!!!!!!!*
KThxGG
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Ken, your posts are more entertaining when read in the voice of Granddad from the Boondocks.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
Is Doc Dame Diddy Dame Daddy or Dame Dummy? Oh I get it: you Biggie and he’s Puffy
#owned
DawgNole
March 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
Buddy Grizzard
March 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
“A report came out today that a witness saw the 17 year old on top of and beating the guy who shot him.”
Please link us pictures of the injuries sustained that justified deadly force.
_________________________
Please link us to the report itself.
ag
March 25th, 2012
3:50 pm
It is so funny how many on this blog whine and complain about the Hawks. I heard on the telecast, the Wizards have not won a playoff series since 1979!!! That is truly pathetic. I am not the biggest LD fan, but injuries are forcing him to be a better coach. I have wanted Marvin to come off the bench since last season. I thought Joe would become a better SF at this stage of his career. (Wish we still have JCII because he could be giving us a scoring punch)…. Well I have already posted this, so I really think it was a great win.
Although I have to work and rarely catch a game, I usually record it and watch it later. I also read the blogs during the game (up until half) – and reading this stuff I really expected the Hawks to lose!.. Anyway you have to wonder if AH would have played – it would be safe to say we would be at least 3rd in the standings. If I remember, we were #1 before the AH injury.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 25th, 2012
3:50 pm
“I guess being tied for the Eastern Conference’s 4th best record and the NBAs 8th best record, winning 4 of 5gms on a 10 gm in 14 day stretch, as well as 2 or 3 in a row, isn’t being competitive in your ANAL MINDED EXISTENCE. If you believe everything you’ve said is true, WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU STILL HERE? Your continued presence on these blogs certainly adds credence to the old saying, “WHO’S THE BIGGEST FOOL, THE FOOL, OR THE FOOL WHO FOLLOWS THE FOOL.””
Yeah I’m sure you said the same thing the last 3 years when we did so marvelously in the playoffs.
“guess being tied for the Eastern Conference’s 4th best record and the NBAs 8th best record, winning 4 of 5gms on a 10 gm in 14 day stretch, as well as 2 or 3 in a row, ”
Yeah, our schedule has been so tough lately. Seeing how we scored 31 POINTS IN A HALF AGAINST THE ANCIENT CELTICS.
Maybe your selective memory FAILS TO REMEMBER WE GOT OWNED IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
And no. YOU are the ANAL MINDED MORON, not me.
DawgNole
March 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
ag: “It is so funny how many on this blog whine and complain about the Hawks. I heard on the telecast, the Wizards have not won a playoff series since 1979!!! That is truly pathetic.”
_______________________
No more pathetic than not having made it past Round 2 of the playoffs since arriving in ATL 11 years earlier (’68).
Big Lou
March 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
“Granddad from the Boondocks.” Najeh
As the great Ed Wuncler II said:
“B!tches love smiley faces.”
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 25th, 2012
4:20 pm
Substance over Style!
Yeah doc, anyone who knows me – knows that if I’m nothing, I am authentic. Brain mapping determines your writing style. Personally, I must have a theme to preceed my diatribe. Somewhere in the body, you will always find a tie-back to the theme, (composition 101). Or, I will clearly state: “Here’s my point” if I go on a tangent.
Here is my point: hey, it ain’t easy being me – but, it’s even harder to duplicate my style. Sometimes, even I can’t do it. When the bloginator eats my post … I’m toast on a re-write.
That explains why the troll can never successfully steal my handles and, I end up putting the handle bars where the sun don’t shine. LMBO!
___________
All jokes aside: shout out to my boy, Biggie Lou! He is one of us. The blog doesn’t roll well, without this guy.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
Scheduling Brutality!
I think the hawks have won the two previous B2B2B’s? The good news about playing the tough schedule early is that we can cruise to the finish line, thereby, determining our own final destiny. A silver lining?
I hope the team’s goal is that #3 spot and, if we land on #5 – I still like our chances in round one. The only good thing about not having a clear offensive identity is:
Free spirited plays
Unpredictable offensive attacks
6 players can be in double digit scoring
You never know who will be the hero, from game to game in a series of seven
Hard to game plan against with multiple weapons
Even isos can be unstoppable, when you’re good at it
ag
March 25th, 2012
4:37 pm
I am a LD basher, but I actually see the Hawks run plays. In the 4th quarter late we have been ISO Joe heavy, but he is delivering. The Hawks run several plays, and they are a lot more succesful with JJ at SF. If AH were here, it would be better because the first pass usually goes to the C at the top of the key. ZaZa and Ivan will take that shot, but Jason Collins and Damp will not.
I am a JT supporter, but I like (although it was because Jeff was in foul trouble) with KH at the point. I think either Pargo or KH should run the point down the stretch because they can hit the big shot (a la the Boston air ball – or a week before that he passed up an open shot and game it to Joe.
Grandad
March 25th, 2012
4:38 pm
Well, well, well, my children, what an interesting day on the blog.
My, my, my, the pompousity of it all;
yet;
anal banality at it`s finest.
-Grandad the Pompous Ass- … *’`Lover of Mary Ellen`’*
Big Lou
March 25th, 2012
4:51 pm
drmaryb
Thanks for the shout-out, baby. I like being light-humored–too many stick-in-the-muds and cynics on this planet. No Walking Dead tonight… darn. At least I get to watch the Hawks tonight.
Sautee
March 25th, 2012
5:05 pm
Tyger, if Horford HAD played this year, his stats would likely be closer to last years. He only played 12 full games (got hurt 5 minutes into Game 13), and if you remember we had a lot of blowouts against bad teams to start the year, lowering Horfords minutes and therefore his stats.
Also, I don’t see Al blowing the layups that Zaza did to help lose two games.
That said, I’m proud of how Zaza has stepped up, and he DOES deserve some kudos. But, to me, Horford is still worth his pay IF he’ll get back inside, as he was beginning to do when he got hurt.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 25th, 2012
5:27 pm
BuddyG!
Sounds like the kid was fighting for his life and, went down swinging. What would anyone do if a big dude in a truck is following you with a gun?
Lie down and die? Three neighbors called 911 and said they heard someone screaming, “Help Me!” If I were about to die, I would go down with one hella swing too.
Who takes a gun to a fist fight? A coward!!!!!!!
This man hunted this kid down and follwed him to his death. This kid had no idea who this man was, he probably thought he was about to end up on the back of a milk carton – with no reward! No justification for shooting an unarmed kid who only had “running away” feet, iced tea and skittles. None!
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 25th, 2012
5:32 pm
Back in The Day!
Back in the day we kids fought like rabid dogs, the next day we were best friends. People don’t fight no more – all they do is shoot. Now who’s tougher?
You certainly don’t take a knife to a gun fight, so why take ice tea and skittles. That kid was looking for a fight, if he were – then it was a food fight.
Michael Cunningham
March 25th, 2012
5:49 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.