OK, so maybe it won’t be so easy
Here's how Dwyane Wade buried the Hawks, hitting one of his six three-point shots on the way to 33 points. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
It’s so easy to get drunk off one game, isn’t it?
A young team runs and defends like a title contender, Josh Smith looks like some lab creation, Dwyane Wade looks just ordinary — suddenly you find yourself drifting and wondering: “Can LeBron handle this in the next round?”
Welcome to sobriety.
If what happened Wednesday night wasn’t a market correction, it at least was a wakeup call for everybody. It won’t be easy. It won’t short. And any assumptions that seemingly could be drawn after one game were blown to bits in Game 2.
Three days after crushing Miami by 26 points, the Hawks were dropped by the Heat 108-93 to even the playoff series at one humbling apiece.
Nothing went right. Even “Spirit” the hawk (the real one) got loose early in the game, and circled the arena a few times, moving from scoreboard to backboard before returning to his handler.
As far as we know, at least the bird did not leave behind any reminders of his visit. The human Hawks? Different story.
“I think we were a little too comfortable out there,” Al Horford said. “I really didn’t see that sense of urgency from our team, starting with me and going down the line.”
A defense that held the Heat to 64 points and 36.6 percent shooting in the first game was shredded Wednesday for 55.6 shooting, including 15 three-pointers.
Wade? He was back to being something north of mortal: 33 points, including 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. He buried a Hawks comeback attempt with 2:36 left when he banked home a trey with Joe Johnson hanging all over him as the shot clock expired, making it 101-91.
What the Hawks saw from Wade on Wednesday was the real thing. Game 1 was the aberration. Coach Erik Spoelstra downplayed defensive adjustments and player rotations before the game, saying: “None of that matters. You can drop-kick that out the door if you don’t come with any intensity.”
Wade did just that. He spoke earlier about how difficult it was replaying Game 1 in his head and watching tape for three days, waiting for Game 2. “It’s tough, but at least it gives you a chance to work on some things,” he said.
On game night, he came out to the court early to shoot at 5 p.m. for an 8 p.m. game. Spoelstra said he walked into the locker room later and saw some teammates talking and laughing.
“He told everyone to shut up and get their minds on the game,” he said.
The Hawks could’ve used such a wakeup call. Game 1 was so lopsided — Miami led for only 26 seconds at 2-0 and trailed by 20 points at halftime — that it was easy to forget the Heat won nearly as many games (43) as the Hawks (47) this season.
Game 2 recap: the Hawks led at 3-2. That’s it. A defense that held Miami to 36.6 percent shooting and 4-of-23 shooting from 3-point range in Game 1 was shredded in Game 2.
The Hawks trailed by 13 at halftime and as many as 18 late in the third. They rallied to get it back to single digits but never got closer than five (96-91). Then Udonis Haslem made a jumper, Wade banked home his three from Marietta, and that was it.
The home-court advantage that the Hawks worked for six months to get: gone. Miami can win this series by sweeping three at home. But given the diametric results of Games 1 and 2, that’s a dangerous assumption.
As is any assumption.
Jeff Schultz can be reached via email (jschultz@ajc.com), Facebook, Tweeter (SchultzAJC) or carrier pigeon (make a right off 400).
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115 comments Add your comment
David
April 23rd, 2009
10:48 am
So much for that Game 1 post-game comment by a Hawk about “We didn’t work our butts off to secure home court advantage just to give it away,” or something to that effect.
Hawks73
April 23rd, 2009
10:49 am
I agree with the above posts in regards to the officiating. It’s not just the number of free throws that each team is awarded, it’s when they are called and what type of fouls are being called. It was obvious from the beginning that the ref’s were going to control the game by calling some real cheap (ticky-tack) b.s. in the first quarter. They were calling some soft reaches, which in turn gave the Heat and Wade free roam to the basket. Any uneducated fan would just assume that the overall count is what’s important….WRONG!
If we go back to the days of Pat Riley as head coach of the Heat, he would constantly push the boundaries of what is and isn’t a foul (he practically wrote the book). His teams were known to keep as much pressure on each player and force the ref’s to “call a foul on every play”. If one team is given that much of an advantage, then the rest of the game has already been pre-determined. This is the playoffs where the “stars” are given preferential treatment and where “soft play” is normally eliminated. If any of you believe that the REFS weren’t going to be a factor, then you are delirious.
With that being said, they (the NBA) got what they wanted. A series tied at 1-1 and one of there treasured stars/marketing machines into the series spotlight. I have a hard time believing the Hawks will get any calls in Miami, but if this series holds true to form they will push for seven games. Here is my prediction: The Hawks will win one of the next two (the game the refs “let em play) and will hold court into the seventh game.
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
10:49 am
These cry, excuse-making Hawks fans need to stop fueling the “joke’s” fire then.
Also the “joke” actually makes hawks fan realize how silly they sound. The heat played awesome, shot lights out. The tempo was completely controlled by the Heat from the start of the game. They forced the hawks into their weakness, halfcourt basketball. The hawks played really bad and dumb on top of all that.
Yet some babies here can only blame the refs! Yes, the refs made all of Wade’s and Cook’s 3s go in, right?
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
10:50 am
Hawks73 is certainly not helping the “joke” go away David.
South Beach Tranny Police
April 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
I saw PLENTY of Miami Heat fans crying after Game 1
Care to try again?
Ted Striker
April 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
Edo River @5:29 am– “I used to teach statistics and I have never heard of any sample size of 1″
That’s nice statistical hyperbole, but in the real world sometimes a sample size of one is incredibly significant. If you ever have a ONE NIGHT STAND and get someone pregnant (twins!) you’ll know what I’m talking about.
‘Sample size of one isn’t significant’, my azz.
TheHawksFan
April 23rd, 2009
10:54 am
The REFS!!! The NBA!!! YOU DAMN RIGHT. All Day and Nightlong!!! D Wade is a Superstar no DOUBT. But get pass him and there is NOTHING but SMOKE (Beasely and Chalmers puff puff) to the HEAT . Hence the Azzzwhopping on Sunday. He was on LOCK! He was Truly
shocked, bitter, and confused. But he went straight to his locker got his cell phone and called his Daddy Pat. Thats cool though. My thing is we need to make those cheap fouls count next time. Bust his azz up like THUGazz Jamal Maggotloire was trying to do to us last night. This is the PlayOffs and the gloves are coming off. Give em a REAL reason to be pissed. GOOOO Hawks!!!
Go Hawks
April 23rd, 2009
10:56 am
Let’s get behind our team. They dropped one. Watch film, work hard, and take one in Miami!
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
South Beach Tranny Police ( gross, you like Trannies?), Heat fans were crying about THEIR TEAM and how bad THEIR TEAM play. Nothing else. That’s the Miami way. No excuses. Unlimited Resiliency.
The Heat team did the same. They looked in the mirror, and Game 2 speaks for itself.
You better hope the Hawks players do not have the same mentality as it’s fans. They can’t blame anyone else but themselves.
South Beach Tranny Police
April 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
I’m sorry, but did a Miami fan just mention baseball and fans in the same post? Championships are one thing, but an EMPTY baseball venue is another. And Turner Field has 15,000 more seats, so don’t’ bother mentioning our empty seats.
When the Hawks win Game 3, all of you die-hard Heat fans will be right back here to chat, right?
Right??
South Beach Tranny Police
April 23rd, 2009
10:59 am
I don’t like trannies, but someone has to clean up Miami
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
11:01 am
THE REFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kj
April 23rd, 2009
11:04 am
truth of the matter is, (and I hate to admit it) charles was right last night. We dont have a half court offense, we play too much one on one basketball on the offensive side and if a defense swarms the middle and kills our fast break points we are offensively shut down. however, we are still talented enough to get past wade n co. Game on! Go Hawks
South Beach Tranny Police
April 23rd, 2009
11:04 am
At Game 1, Heat fans were complaining about THEIR TEAM and THE REFS.
I was there, and I heard them crying THE ENTIRE NIGHT.
Face it, the rest of the nation sees Atlanta and Miami as the worst sports towns, and it’s still undecided who’s worse (Atlanta fans with no recent championships to celebrate, or Miami fans that can’t support a championship franchise). We BOTH know how hard that reputation is to shake, and we BOTH know that great weather makes sports less of a priority
Just like this playoff series, this discussion is tied 1-1.
bigjohnhawksfan
April 23rd, 2009
11:05 am
truth of the matter is, (and I hate to admit it) charles is a fat @$$
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
11:07 am
“They’ve had a chance to watch the film from Game 1,” Woodson said prior to the game. “They will make adjustments. It’s just a matter of how we react to it.”
“We did everything we could offensively to control the pace,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said.
“We didn’t get any stops,” Woodson said. “We were pretty good in Game 1 in running them off the basket. We were not so good this time.”
“We didn’t star the game with a sense of urgency like we did in the first game,” Hawks forward Josh Smith said. “We also didn’t play together. You put those two negatives together, and that’s what causes us to lose. If you look back in the past, whenever we play selfish on the offensive end, things don’t get working on the defensive end.”
“You’ve got to give them credit,” Williams said. “The made it a point come out and make shots in this game, and between Cook and Dwyane Wade, they didn’t really miss from beyond the arc. They played well, man.”
“It’s starts with me,” Johnson said. “I definitely have to pick my play up. But I just thought we came out too complacent. We were nothing like the first game. We won that first game and felt like we won the series already. We didn’t have that fire in our belly. And they jumped on us, and we never recovered.”
THEY GET IT. I DON’T SEE THE REFS BEING TALKED ABOUT ANYWHERE. MAYBE BECAUSE THAT’S JUST LOSER TALK.
TheHawksFan
April 23rd, 2009
11:21 am
Naww Dude, Rasheed Wallace is the only guy in the league who doesnt mind giving money away on Fines for slamming the refs. Im not givin em JACK!!!
David
April 23rd, 2009
11:24 am
We didn’t have any halfcourt offense at all last night..I agree..We don’t swing the ball enough and there is no creativity…its like are waiting on fast breaks and josh smith to throw something down…but lets get serious…heat aren’t going to be shooting that lights out again for 3s…well not in this series again thats for sure…I believe the hawks got their wakeup call and are going to win next game and tighten the squeeze on Miami…if they don’t win…its not b/c of the heat its b/c of themselves…we are the better team..Miami fans have to know that…and please show proof to say otherwise that Miami is a better TEAM
Mac
April 23rd, 2009
11:33 am
Schultz, I was up at 1:46 a.m. because a drunk driver took out my front fence. Did that happen to you, too?
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
Whoever wins this series is the better TEAM.
We shall see.
ilovehawks
April 23rd, 2009
11:40 am
the hawks can’t hang with my man D.wade. watch game 3 and 4 the hawks will have no chance of stopping D.wade at home. Miami heat win this series 4-1….D.wade will drop 42 in game 3 and 38 in game 3. then he will come back to Atlanta to finish them off with 35 poits
scott
April 23rd, 2009
11:42 am
For all the whiners:
Point #1: Hawks can still win this. Sheesh. Game 1 and Game 2 just show that this is series is up for grabs, and we already knew that before last Sunday night.
Point #2: this was not a referee problem; it was an intensity and focus problem on the part of the mostly young Hawks
Point #3: Forget not having a “true” center balogna–where would the Hawks be without Bibby?? if they don’t re-sign him for next few years, I don’t think the Hawks are in any serious discussion of being in the Elite of the East.
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
11:43 am
Scott gets it.
scott
April 23rd, 2009
11:53 am
Dear Shocked:
Please tell my wife and my 4 teens, who don’t seem to think that I understand anything. Thank you.
Hawks73
April 23rd, 2009
11:54 am
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta – I can’t determine by your posts if you are Hawks or Heat but I loved this quote.
“Heat fans were crying about THEIR TEAM and how bad THEIR TEAM play. Nothing else. That’s the Miami way. No excuses. Unlimited Resiliency”
HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What type of fool are you, does Miami actually have FANS???? Last I checked, your “fans” are non-existent. We certainly have our challenges here in the ATL with support, but you guys don’t even care about your “HEAT”. I believe the correct term for that attitude is APATHY. The funny thing is if you are a HEAT fan, your posts suggest and support my above mentioned APATHETIC attitude. You will only post when your so called team wins but you will disappear once you get your head handed to you.
Here’s a little test for your “HEAT” knowledge. What year did the HEAT become an NBA franchise?
dawgrific
April 23rd, 2009
11:55 am
One long-time Hawks fan’s perspective.
1-Joe Johnson played quite poorly.
2-We missed FAR too many free-throws.
3-The Heat made everything they threw up (see 15 3’s, especially that crap that Wade banked in late)
4-We were still in the game late in the 4th quarter.
-Don’t give up on the Birds after 1 game where everything that could go wrong did for the Hawks.
Steve
April 23rd, 2009
11:56 am
Enough about the refs. Every game, every series has calls each team can use as an excuse, they seem to always end up evening out. For every call you think was bad you can see 5 that are not called.
This is a very even series, The hawks have a better overall team but Miami has a superstar, this evens it out.
It takes 4 to win, not 1. This series can go either way.
David Stern
April 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
NOW YOU KNOW heat fans are just as classy as celtics fans lol
LET’S GO LAKE SHOW!!!!
Hawk Fan In New Orleans
April 23rd, 2009
12:10 pm
If the Hawks made their free throws, the game would have been won – in spite of the 3 point barrage Wade went on.
Beeweezy
April 23rd, 2009
12:17 pm
Man, I’ve lived in georgia all my life and always cheer on the home team, but i’m not stupid enough to believe that whoever wins this hawks-heat series are going to be trouble for the best player in basketball out in cleveland. We will beat the heat in 7 in atlanta. The braves just need to get rid of BOOBY COX sucker because they have a young talented team. Am i the only 1 who realize matt stafford is getting ready to do the joey harrington to detroit. I think the bulldogs will actually contend for a title this year. And as far as the falcons go, i have lived thru the chris millers, jeff george, chris chandler(i can say he got us to a superbowl). Football, we are a force, that’s why the nfl gave us a superbowl team schedule because they know we are going to be superbowl contenders plus they hate to see the falcons win. We are already in the toughest division!
Steve
April 23rd, 2009
12:20 pm
If the queen had balls she would be the King…
If’s are for losers, what if the heat never missed a shot, what if the hawks never made a shot, if doesnt matter only the score on the board when the clock hits zero.
Eric
April 23rd, 2009
12:30 pm
This Hawks team has the talent, but no mental ability. Just when the whole city is behind you, you go out and lay an egg!!! This is all on Woodson, as a coach you have to have your team mentally prepared to go and perform at a high level every night. This Heat team is much weaker than the Hawks are, but now it’s up to all the Hawks players to prove us wrong and take back home court.
snaddermen
April 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
Half a** peformance. Half a** coaching. The talent is what keeps them competitive. Their lack of discipline and coaching is what emberasses them. I miss the NBA of old times.
JuliusCesaer
April 23rd, 2009
12:38 pm
The Hawks can beat the Miami Heat. It is an extremely simple formula for the Hawks to pull off. First, the Hawks should double and triple team D-Wade. Secondly, the Hawks should run the floor, fastbreak alot and use the lob and ally oops to Josh Smith as in game 1. [It worked so well to the tune of a 26-point blowout of the Heat./Dont forget it.] The Hawks should also give Flip Murray more minutes and utilize his excellent 3-point shooting. I think if the Hawks can execute this plus play steller defense as in game 1, it should be an easy series for the Hawks to win. In addition, dont let the Heat players shoot 3-s uncontested. At least get up in their jerseys, put a hand in their face and make them struggle to make those shots. All of this executed will make the Hawks winners in their series with the Heat. Wade is good, but he wouldnt have won a title without Shaquille O’Neal.
oldmike
April 23rd, 2009
12:41 pm
The Hawks need to win game 3. Otherwise it’s sayonarra baby. What I don’t get is the team always stating that they didn’t have the intensity they needed. Why after 4 years isn’t this obvious? It is to me and I don’t make their money. Bring the intensity and they compete against all teams. Iso JJ and it’s brick city.
Steve
April 23rd, 2009
12:55 pm
Can someone please proofread this guys stuff before you put it on the site? Is this a proffessional newspaper?
LouHudson
April 23rd, 2009
12:55 pm
I hope that the Hawks fans wont press the panic button too soon. What you are looking at in the Hawks are this seasons NBA champions so be careful how you critique them. I know the Hawks will beat the Cavs if they make it to the next series. I know the Hawks will beat Orlando should they face them in the Eastern Conference Finals. I also know that the Hawks will beat the Lakers if they face the Lakers in the finals. What I dont know is if the Hawks can get past the pesky heat because the Heat are so close to the Hawks as far as record in the regular season is concerned. What Im telling you and what Im assuring you is that if the Hawks get past the Heat, THERE IS NO ONE ENTITY, PERSON OR TEAM THAT WILL STOP THE HAWKS FROM BECOMMING THIS YEARS NBA CHAMPIONS AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY TAKE THAT ONE TO THE BANK!
David
April 23rd, 2009
1:33 pm
I want to have Lou’s optimism!
Dave
April 23rd, 2009
2:05 pm
Wow! The Heat had the lead the entire game and I keep reading peoples comments about a bank 3 pointer?! Great players make great shots.
If you’re a NBA basketball fan than you know the Wade is a top-three if not league MVP this year. Also Beasley was the # 2 pick in the draft and Cook is the reining champion.
So the players play like they’re suppose too…and everyone act surprised?
In game one the Atlanta Defense sagged in the middle trying to contain Wade at the rim. Their man defense at times lookes like a zone D out there. So Spoelstra looked at some tape, changed the lineup, and the Heat took game two in Atlanta with shooting and not allowing easy fastbreak layups on missed drives to the hoop.
What’s the Vegas odds that Woodson gives that same look of bewilderment when Bibby gets called for grabbing Wades arm? 2-1?
Can’t wait for game three! It’s always fun to talk after them!
Good Luck Saturday!
JoelAdamus
April 23rd, 2009
2:09 pm
Heat in 6… You heard it here first!!!
Also, for those of you complaining about the ref’s, get a clue… The Hawks shot 12 more FT’s than the Heat, so your complaints are falling on deaf’s ears…
You guys were just flat out beat last night, just like we were on Sunday night!!
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
2:10 pm
Hawks73, you are way off and just clueless. I’m a die-hard HEAT fan since 88.
JUST WAIT. THE TRIPLE A WILL BE ROCKING ON SATURDAY. IT’S THE BLACK OUT. EVERYONE WILL BE IN BLACK.
UNLIKE ATLANTA WHERE EVERYONE IS WEARING THEIR FRUITY, TACKY PASTEL COLORS….THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE HAWKS AND THE GAME.
HEAT FANS ARE ROWDY. DWYANE WADE IS A MIAMI LEGEND ALREADY. HE AND THE HEAT GOT FULL SUPPORT FROM SOUTH FLORIDA.
MIAMI FANS ARE FAIR-WEATHER, BUT WHEN THE TEAMS ARE GOOD THE FANS FULLY SUPPORT THEM AND BECOME ROWDY.
A SEA OF BLACK. JUST YOU WATCH. IT WILL BE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE ENVIRONMENT OF PHILIPS. LOUD, ROWDY, ELECTRIC. YOU HAWKS FANS ARE IN A BIG SURPRISE.
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
2:21 pm
OH MAN, THE SWEET IRONY OF A HAWKS FAN TALKING SMACK ABOUT ANOTHER TEAM’S FANS. TOO FUNNY! EVEN 95% OF YOUR FELLOW HAWKS FAN KNOW YOU CAN’T GO THERE.
HECK, HALF THIS BLOG IS ATLANTA FANS COMPLAINING ABOUT ATLANTA FANS!
ahahahahahahahahaha
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Don’t you wish you’re superstar was just like ours, don’t you wish you’re superstar was just like ours. Don’t you?
Fatlanta
April 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
Tacky pastel colors is right, buy some Hawks gear or stay away from the b-ball game!!
The Hawks haven’t been the same since they left St. Louis.
Suckers.
Wade is a Homo
April 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
He sure has a sweet touch on the ball doesn’t he?
Lots of cold nights and hot showers at Marquette can change a man…
Dwade County Weather Report
April 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
Be on high alert for fair-weather fans moving in from north Georgia this weekend. Along with the homoerotic warm front in the Miami area, this weekend will be the perfect storm of pitiful fans, pointless bickering, and bi-curious hero-worship.
Let’s Go Cavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawginLex
April 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
The game was really frustrating to watch How do you not double D Wade and make the rest of them beat you? That is coaching, scheme or whatever you want to call it.
This series is OVER. Miami in 5
Shocked, Bitter Cry Baby Live from Atlanta
April 23rd, 2009
5:03 pm
Wade is a homo, yes he’s got great touch and he’s got Garbielle Union. That gay bastard!
braveshater
April 23rd, 2009
5:16 pm
The mediocore hawks had their chance, now the series is over. They wont win another game. I need to move to a real sports town!
evelyn
April 24th, 2009
6:15 am
Yeah the bird handler is actually in real life a dead beat dad who has never paid child support to his son who is now 8 years old. He is a real loser who has lived off and used women his entire life. Well as everyone can see what goes around comes around. A real LOSER in action.