Atlanta Hawks: Raptors 102, Hawks 86
- This was a throwback game for the Hawks, harkening to their bygone days of ugliness. Just like old times–by which of course I mean last season–you had a lifeless loss, aggravated fans and Joe Johnson calling out teammates without naming names.
- “I think some of us was ready, and some of us wasn’t,” he said. “It just kind of gave a bad effect on the whole team. But give Toronto credit. They were better than us tonight. If we come out and start like that tomorrow, they’ll be better than us [again].”
- Not sure who Joe was talking about or if he included himself (seven points on 12 shots) among those not ready. Really, it could be anyone outside of Ivan Johnson and Josh Smith. No one else on Atlanta’s roster provided much evidence that they expected to actually have to play to beat the Raptors, who really do deserve credit for taking it to the Hawks.
- “Our season has been up and down but we’re not going to lay down,” James Johnson said. “We still have pride, we’re still men, and this is our job.”
- Larry Drew echoed Joe’s concerns while naming a name: “Early, I know Jeff Teague seemed very passive. His energy level wasn’t very good. I put [Jannero] Pargo in earlier than usual just to try to muster up some energy. Not taking anything from Toronto, I thought they played hard. We told our guys that’s not a team that has rolled over. The played extremely hard against Boston.”
- Joe’s gripes didn’t end with who was or wasn’t ready. Asked about the stagnant offense, he said: “It’s been like that for quite some time. I don’t feel like we take advantage of mismatches for whatever reason. It’s frustrating because of where we are at this point in the season.”
- That’s also the reason this is such a bad loss. It’s been a while since the Hawks turned in such a listless performance, and it would be easier to chalk it up as a bad night if the Hawks weren’t playing for home court. Then again, it’s doubtful many of the fans at the game tonight were inspired to run out and get their playoff tickets.
- “I don’t think this is a game you put our of your mind,” Willie Green said. “I think this is a game we need to think about. We’re supposed to be getting ready for a playoff run. It was a letdown on our part.”
- Actually, come to think of it, this would be a bad L even if the Hawks didn’t have something to play for. That’s always going to be the case when Ben Uzoh, Alan Anderson and Justin Dentmon outplay Teague, Joe, Kirk Hinrich and whichever-bench-guards-were-in-there.
- I’m not sure which was the worst sequence. Was it Josh throwing away the inbound pass just before halftime, leading to Uzoh’s score right after DeMar DeRozan had flipped in an uncontested jumper? Or maybe it was Josh taking a seat and Joe failing to check in, leaving the Hawks with four players on the floor as play started?
- I’m going with those two Pargo airballs in the fourth quarter because, if you can’t even count on Pargo Time, what else is there?
- I’m thinking Dwane Casey played a good amount of zone with the hope that the Hawks, especially Josh, would settle for Js. It worked. “You can’t win a championship with it, but it’s a good thing to have in our back pocket,” Casey said.
- Ivan (14 points on 9 shots, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals) was really the only guy to match Toronto’s effort and pace for the entire game. He needed help.
- Jason Collins started. He lasted less than six minutes. It seemed as if Drew had finally given up on playing Collins in anything but a very narrow role, but this wasn’t it.
- Drew says he likes to start Hinrich because he adds defensive tenacity to the lineup. It’s true that Kirk plays with spunk but he’s just not the defender he was even last season, and I’m not saying that just because he struggled with a tough matchup tonight.
- Green stayed behind in Atlanta as his wife prepares to have a baby.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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219 comments Add your comment
KevinM
April 16th, 2012
5:09 pm
Bravesfan79, I would rather see Chicago and a not so healthy DRose than deal with Miami.
My prediction at the beginning of the year was Miami was going to end our season and I still see that happening.
Indiana might be a better opponent to win against, but that Boston series would be big for the fan base. I would like to see us end the reign of the Big 3 in Boston and let Doc start negotiating to draft his son in the draft this year.
There would be nothing better than beating Boston and trying to take on the Heat…might as well….I am already convinced we aren’t changing anything management wise.
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
5:30 pm
“I really hate the emasculation and the effeminization of all men and black men” -HighSider-
Yes, its done on purpose by these sick, pathetic producers and directors who serve the dark forces.. Its just another form of the “divide and conquer plan”.. These actors were given a choice; put on the pantyhose,heels, dress, and makeup to get paid a boat load of money.. Griffin and Chappelle said no..Yes, what has to them? Their careers came to a screeching halt! Hmmmmmm
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
5:35 pm
Tyler P. would be average Joe siting on his couch without his dress…..lol
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
5:38 pm
Braves going for 6 in a row? Woopie do!
Wake me when they win another playoff series… Its been 11 years…..Yawn…….
11 years, huh Larry? Drop “Chipper”, your almost 40 year old dude!
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
5:39 pm
happened^^^^
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
5:51 pm
Hey doc,
my lottery car! lol Betcha this car stays in the shop though?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1H9D8Ephg&NR=1&feature=endscreen
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 16th, 2012
5:52 pm
Big Lou
“As Grandmaster JeJe and DawgNole would say, comments like these are why ATL is called Loserville. Fans pray for other teams because the Hawks suck so bad. Real NBA teams preform and try to win, no matter the opponent.
I’d rather them play a good team and somehow finally ‘get it’ during the process, or get blown the heck out so they can finally blow up the core/fire coaches/get new owners. To be honest, I hope for the latter.”
We get embarrassed vs the good teams every single year in the Playoffs. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I think every single loss in the last 4 years in the 2nd round/Boston (2007-2008) was a blowout loss for us or borderline. What makes you think getting owned this year will make things any different?
We return the same coaching, same players, same front office every single year AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS. Sund has NOT made ONE MOVE TO THE CORE.
And I would much rather play CHI in Rd 2 than Rd 1. Looks like they will be 1 seed? That means we’d have to play Boston Rd 1.
If we play Miami in a series, D.Wade will shut down Joe. LBJ will not let Josh breathe for one second out there. Rod will agree with me on this one: we will be lucky to break 83 ppg in that series.
Chicago’s bigs are very scary (Noah, Booze, Taj, Asik), but you gotta prefer going against them over LBJ/Wade/Bosh/Chalmers (who will prob make Teague piss his shorts). Plus we got Ivan
Gonna miss the game tonight
One love
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 16th, 2012
5:54 pm
The “The definition of insanity is…..” quote perfectly describes this franchise
Same coaches, GM, roster every year, same results.
If I was Smoove I would want the hell outta here. He saw what Rudy Gay and Z-Bo got (like 16-18M/yr for 5 years) and he will demand that money.
I think 99.9999999% of this blog will agree with me ASG will offer Smoove some joke contract like $39M/3 years and he will laugh in their faces
High-sider
April 16th, 2012
5:54 pm
Slimjr,
Add Arsenio Hall to that list. Arsenio Hall wore a dress in the movie “Coming to America” in the nightclub scene. Arsenio Hall [unfortunately] invited Louis Farrakhan to make an appearance on his “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Louis Farrakhan showed up [appeared] and was interviewed by Arsenio Hall and “The Arsenio Hall Show” was cancelled three weeks later. Where is Arsenio Hall [nowadays]?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 16th, 2012
5:59 pm
**And I would much rather play CHI in Rd 2 than MIA in Rd 2
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
6:04 pm
Looks like the players have shut it down like last year….Suckers born every minute!
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
6:07 pm
Arsenio should have invited Rush “Limbutter”.. He’d probably still be on the air like that duffus red head Conan….
Rev in Tampa
April 16th, 2012
6:08 pm
Why is Drew starting Collins again tonight??? How did that work yesterday? Why can’t Ivan start? Ivans game is a lot closer to Zaza’s than Collins?
Its this sort of nonsense that makes Drew look foolish.
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
6:10 pm
The Hawks are 2-12, .143 winning percentage in the lousy 2nd round!!
Fire the Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
April 16th, 2012
6:12 pm
Josh is out of here..Watch….
Rod from College Park
April 16th, 2012
6:18 pm
“If we play Miami in a series, D.Wade will shut down Joe. LBJ will not let Josh breathe for one second out there. Rod will agree with me on this one: we will be lucky to break 83 ppg in that series.”
No doubt.
Rod from College Park
April 16th, 2012
6:18 pm
It’s going to get ugly.
Admiral Snackbar
April 16th, 2012
6:31 pm
IT’S A TRAP!!!
Michael Cunningham
April 16th, 2012
6:35 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.