Hawks send a message, and an elbow
Behold, how to win a playoff game: Zaza Pachulia connects with Miami's Jermaine O'Neal in Game 5. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
They’re missing two starters. They’re playing on the road. Franchise history blows against them like a typhoon.
As a general rule, this is just this kind of backdrop that’s led the average Hawks fan to take a sledgehammer to their television before tip-off, or at least keep mind-numbing substances somewhere near the remote.
But this time, you might be safe.
“You’ve seen us all year,” Josh Smith said Thursday. “We’ve been fighting through adversity all season. We’re different now.”
Watch tonight. The Hawks have a chance to win a playoff series against Miami. They have a chance despite the fact Al Horford (ankle) and Marvin Williams (wrist) may be in street clothes. They have a chance even though history says they haven’t won a playoff series in 10 years, nor a best-of-seven series in 39.
They have a chance because, like Smith said, they are different now. They didn’t always play great in games four and five. But they won because of a toughness and resolve that at times has been missing. It’s what post-season basketball is about.
They’ve grown up.
They’ve even grown elbows.
“We don’t want that rep that we’re a soft team, that when teams get rough or physical with us that we’re going to run in the other direction,” Smith said. “We’re not built like that, and we don’t believe in going the other way. When the play turned physical in the last game, we returned the favor with hard fouls. We know we have to step it up.”
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“There’s more of a been-there, done-that kind of attitude now. They have a mental toughness. They know they have to make the next play, and they don’t look for excuses.”
This transformation clearly blindsided Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. It’s the only explanation for the man popping a spring.
Spoelstra and Dwyane Wade each cast Josh Smith’s failed attempt at a showboating, between-the-legs dribble-and-dunk in the final minutes Wednesday as some assault on the Heat’s manhood.
“Really trying to embarrass us,” Spoelstra said.
“We were very insulted by it,” Wade added.
Oh please. Now the other team needs to grow up.
For somebody to try to embarrass an opponent, they need to be calculating. Josh Smith is anything but calculating. Josh Smith just reacts, sometimes without thinking. That’s the problem. That’s why Mike Woodson’s head hurts.
The real story isn’t that Spoelstra or Wade feel disrespected. The story is that reality has hit them over the head.
The Hawks lost games two and three but they didn’t fizzle. They won in Miami to even the series. They won a physical game back home to push Miami to the ledge.
Suddenly, they’re the team that looks in control, while an opponent scrambles for a motivational tool. Suddenly, it’s safe to watch.
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190 comments Add your comment
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:23 am
ok westwurd, thanks for the info on the missing players tonight. thanks for ever so slightly mentioning the starter thing to subtly set up your future excuse in case.
Will
May 1st, 2009
11:24 am
The only reason Heat Fan is posting on here is because he wants to take his anger out over the fact that the Heat are getting beat on Hawks fans. Why is the whole city of Miami so butthurt? Do they not know that playoff basketball is more physical, more intense, and with more confrontations? Spoelstra needs to grow up, as does Wade (and he needs to stop flopping, exactly why he got booed).
Of course, since Heat Fan doesn’t have any solid argument for his actual NBA team, he has to come in here and insult a city that has more going for it than Miami ever had or ever will. So, that’s a moot point, as well.
What, exactly, are you arguing then, other than just being disappointed that your Heat are too big of babies to keep up with the Hawks. We don’t back down, the Spoelstra, Wade, and the Heat obviously are copping out in this series.
And to this argument also goes out to those who have said that it doesn’t matter who wins this series because that team will get beat by the Cavs…so what? It at least would mean that the Hawks actually won a playoff series and that the Heat were out after the first round — I would be fine with that, we’re still developing. That argument has no life, either.
So please, go back to your Heat blogs where all of you can bitch and moan together, in harmony. That’s all I hear from Heat fans these days – lots of crying and complaining. Get over it, it’s the playoffs!
Oh, and Heat Fan, come stay with one of us in Atlanta for a couple days – we’ll show you what a real, fun city is like! My doors are open.
heatforlife
May 1st, 2009
11:31 am
HEAT FAN I GOT YOUR BACK THESE HAWK FANS ARE DELUSIONAL .THEY ARE GOING TO GET SPANKED TONIGHT AND THEY KNOW IT .
Mark
May 1st, 2009
11:33 am
heat fan for life here is some advice…PEOPLE WHO TALK IN ALL CAPS ARE IDIOTS!!!!!
DirtyDawg
May 1st, 2009
11:34 am
Guess I’m gonna have to listen to Steve Holman tonight…can’t wait. Just hope he’ll have some goons close-by to cover his ass from the ‘heat fans’. But I can’t see him backing off at all. The post earlier about this series being pretty-much a side-show – it’s not as if either of these teams will make it to the finals – but then that’s why they play the games.
One thing’s for sure, I’m gonna, at least, TIVO this one.
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:35 am
Will, Will, Will – you’re too easy to – you’re trying to teach us about playoff experience? What an absolute joke! Do me a favor, do a little research and find out who has so much more experience and success in the post season. just because the hawks finally made the play offs last year (after what 10+ yrs of not) you are playoff experts. See if you guys had any real experience, you would know 7 games series can go any which way. You’re coming back to MIA tonight. You SUCK on the road. Chances are high we’ll be back in ATL – and you’re spouting off like it is a done deal. I see that as lack of experience.
As far as going off on beautiful ATL, check back, I didn’t start that! I only said the facts. Your fans have no class! It snowballed from there. When you have NBA analysts, TV Commentators and many writers questioning the hostility to one of the game’s great, it’s not only me dude.
And finally about the booing. What a crock. Look at game 1. The very first time Wade touched the ball. BOOOOOO!!! A future NBA hall-of-famer goes down – YEAAAAAAAA!!! Sounds like a pretty intelligent crowd to me…..
Mark
May 1st, 2009
11:36 am
Ahhh…heatfanforlife has “heat fans” back. Everyone does know what it means “when a man has another mans back” in Miami don’t we. That is sick heat fans…keep that “man-love” and the heat blogs…we don’t swing that way here
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:42 am
Mark, Don’t swing that way. Don’t you remember the movie “Deliverance”. Took that another man’s back thing to a whole new level. Suuuuuiiii SU Su Suuuuuiiii. Hope you’re old enough to remember that classic about the back woods and what really happens in the good ole south…..
Dr. McCoy
May 1st, 2009
11:47 am
They threw Michael Vick in jail for doing the same thing with those dogs in his bedroom that some sick person does with Michelle Obama every night.
Go, Basketball!
Mark
May 1st, 2009
11:52 am
Nice try heat fan…..everyone knows Miami is the gay capital of the universe. The Universe!!! That most be where dumb wade and the rest of the floppers get their softness from
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:54 am
San Francisco owns that title Marky pooo. Homophobic moron.
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:55 am
nice NBA fact by the way Mark. A little too high for your intelligence.
Chuck
May 1st, 2009
12:49 pm
Hey, Heat Fan – you are amazing, but you really need to take all the pills they give you, not just the ones that look like candy.
heatforlife
May 1st, 2009
12:53 pm
Mark, you should know you and your incest loving hawk fans .
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
12:53 pm
I still can’t seem to get a date even though I have been posting on craigslist nonstop…maybe I should move out of my parent’s house in Boca Raton. I can’t wait until they allow same sex unions in Florida! Chris Quinn and I have a cute little bungalow set up right outside of Coral Gables. PLEASE KEEP PAYING ATTENTION TO ME! I AM SO LONELY!!!
heatforlife
May 1st, 2009
12:55 pm
Are you going to watch the game with your pig by your side or are you going to be behind it.lol
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
12:55 pm
Dwayne (sic) Wade is my hero! Maybe one day I can get herpes from some girl too!
heatforlife
May 1st, 2009
1:00 pm
By the way MARK you sure taik about gays alot you must be curious.good luck with that.(trying to identify who you relly are)and then maybe you can talk basketball
truth-serum
May 1st, 2009
1:01 pm
The A T L
May 1st, 2009
10:41 am
Quit whining and get over it. Vick is a great talent and a nice person who has many friends and fans, he always will, no matter how many haters spew their venom.
Right Schultz?!?
Heat fan you and Miami have this in common; you both losers. Shaq is no longer there quit living in the past… Deal with reality and the reality is Miami has peaked already and on its way down. They have no chemistry or bench depth. Surely you must know they can’t run with the Hawks…Yeah, I hope the next time Josh goes through both legs and Dunks on all five of the Luke-warms. The only Heat you’ll feel will be from the pressure the Hawks will put on your scrubs+1. The Hawks are about business! Get out of their way.
Miami should save money and stay home, don’t waste it trying to get back to The ATL. Either way they lose. The best case scenario for them is take this butt whooping and then go on vacation while they are in Miami rather than having to fly out of the ATL.
BOO to WADE and BOO to Charles Barkley and BOO to Kenny Smith. After this weekend Wade can join them in the Hate booth!
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:09 pm
Mr. Imposter (Heat Fan!) – you so funny. You too having a hard time coming up with real NBA facts? you guys keep proving your intelligence levels…. BTW Boca & Coral Gables are 60 to 70 miles apart. if i’m living at my mom’s in boca, how can i get to the gables. remember i too wittle to dwive.
And also I sure if you visit the back woods of georgia, you can get a bit more than herpies. Suuuuuuiiiiiiii
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:17 pm
truth-serum do you have any brain in there? Heat are on the way down? last year 15 wins. This year 5th seed in playoffs, with 2 rookies (one just voted to all rookie team) and cook who has no playoff experience. Yep, looks like we are clearly on our way down!
And for you information, I’m not whinning about shaq. It’s co-idiots that keep bringing him up saying he’s the only reason we won a ring (something you don’t have BTW).
I’m sure you would love it if the heat stay home for game 7. How else you gonna make it out of the 1st round in like the first time in history. LOL
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:20 pm
Hey Chucky, I do take my pills. You know the blue one that helps me keep the smile on your wifeeee. After seeing her, i need all the help I can get. Again, another brainiac that can debate B-Ball. Boy, you guys are just loaded with quick witted individuals that know nothing about NBA
Chris
May 1st, 2009
1:24 pm
As a TRUE heat fan, I am disappointed in Heat Fan! for coming on here and trying to belittle everything associated with the hawks and atlanta. If the hawks win this series, then they deserve it. They have outplayed the heat in every aspect of the game thus far…and they are the fourth seed after all. They were supposed to win this series. The Heat still have a chance to take this series and I think it is a bit premature to write them off just yet. All the Heat need is a big game from Dwyane and some timely shooting and this series is back to the drawing board. The Heat have already proven that they can win in Atlanta. Good luck to both teams tonight in an entertaining game!
Heat Fan! you are 47??? Start acting like it!
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:28 pm
Hey someone in georgia that can add!!!! Chris…. you really got me. Especially since all the banter back at me has been at such a high level of maturity. Par for the course…..
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
2:58 pm
I can’t wait to see Rony Seikaly knock Zsa Zsa Patchulioil on her butt tonight!!!!!
I own an exclamation point factory and bring the seconds home with me to use on blogs.
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
Glen Rice will light up the Hawks to-nite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anybody want to buy some exclamation marks? I sell them out of my teal, rust and Bondo ‘88 Ford van under I-95 near Liberty City.
bigeasy830
May 1st, 2009
3:11 pm
When your tem is down and you have no more hope, the only thing floating is the treas in your beers, then you result to name calling. I guess D-Wade and his coach and you will continue to call ATL and it’s fans name after we eliminate the Heat tonight. The only way D-Wade go to the second round of the play-offs, is if he ask Joe, Josh or Al for a ticket.
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
3:32 pm
Mr. Imposter. chicken sh!t. you know what’s funny. at least you are able to back in time and reference good heat players. Dare you to try for the hawks. The only good one you had other than wilkins was steve smith that guess what? you got him from us. Seikaly was ok, but to poke fun at rice. again shows that good ole georgia lack of any thing between the ears. poser. but then again i understand why you pose as me, you are a WANT-TO-BE.
and bigeasy830….. WHAT?
Truth-serum
May 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:09 pm
Yeah, the heat has peaked. Their best days are behind them. How many did you say they’ve won without Shaq?
Oh they have some promising rookies? I agree they have a….promising rookie.
Is that the same J.Oneal of the once great Indiana pacers? Did he ever play with the Retired R.Miller?
How much of a beating can D.Wade take?
I’m sure they will be good to mediocre for a few more years…but the down slide is inevitable. I’m glad they are trying to give it the “old college try” one last time or two. Maybe you can let Zo coach. That would be inspiring and get a few more miles off those fumes. Your mules can’t run with our horses.
The heat is cooling. Actually they are Luke warm. Wade is a whiner and actor constantly begging for a foul. There is nothing wrong with him. He showed no signs of any issues in the second have…after his cortisone shots… Dude…Just play ball. What a loser. Shrub.
How moving was that to see him laying at midcourt and hoping for a standing ovation when he got to his feet…GIVE ME A BRAKE!!
The refs should have called a delay of game penalty and toss his “begging for sympathy” butt from the game. Quit loitering, you are holding up the game. Next time he’s loitering and begging maybe Josh or Z will drag him by his feet to the sideline so there won’t be any further delay in this _ _ _ whooping coming the heats way!
By Sunday Wade can make plans to have a seat at the HATE FACTORY with the round mound of rebound and Kenny “I should have been the Hawks GM” Smith. Then the four of you can hate together, and sing together, ” I hate the birds”, while watching the Atlanta Cleveland series.
Truth-serum
May 1st, 2009
4:24 pm
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
4:02 pm
Dumb? Hummm.
I can answer a simple question. Can you? How many championships has Dwade won without Shaq? Simple enough question… So simple even a heat fan can answer.
Oh, You like debating morons…Hummm go figure. Why am I not surprised?
CJDawg
May 1st, 2009
5:21 pm
Heat–Y’all even had the biggest biznitch of all, Mr. Slick himself, quit on you. You BOUGHT a ring with the Diesel. Last year, whaddya win….15?? And ur talking trash in here?? This is comical.
Schultz, if you had to pick ONE key to the Hawks win tonight, what would it be? I have the key being a well rounded game by Josh.
FreddieBrown
May 1st, 2009
5:31 pm
Im hoping that the Hawks get past the Heat. The reason why is that the Hawks might upset the Caviliers in the next round. My feeling is that once the Cavs are eliminated in the east, Atlanta has a great chance of making it to the finals, since the Celtics may not even get past the Bulls. That would be something if the Bulls and the Hawks meet in the Conference Finals. It would be a cakewalk for the Hawks to get past the Bulls and make it to the finals against the Lakers. I know that there is a lot of speculation there, but Im amazed at how the top heavy big guns (Orlando, Cleveland, Boston and Los Angeles) are overrated and not all that they’re cracked up to be. It would be wonderful to see the Hawks win the title this year and I believe they just barely have enough talent to get it done. Go Hawks. Finish off the Heat tonight!
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:12 pm
Hi
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:13 pm
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
echooooo echooooo echooooo
Truth-serum
May 3rd, 2009
4:07 pm
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
I appreciate you creative attempt to answer the question but the correct answer is 0 none zilth zero. Thats how many championship Wade has won with out Shaq. Name calling wont make your incorrect answer…correct. When you argue with the “Morons” who wins? My money is on the Morons…By the way if you argue with Morons…what does that make you? I Hope you enjoyed the game.Shaq I understand is available if you and Wade are interested.
Truth-serum
May 3rd, 2009
4:13 pm
IT IS NOW SUNDAY AND NOW THIS TRUTH IS CLEAR TO EVEN THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED HEAT FAN!
Truth-serum
May 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Heat Fan!
Yeah, the heat has peaked. Their best days are behind them. How many did you say they’ve won without Shaq?
Oh they have some promising rookies? I agree they have a….promising rookie.
Is that the same J.Oneal of the once great Indiana pacers? Did he ever play with the Retired R.Miller?
How much of a beating can D.Wade take?
I’m sure they will be good to mediocre for a few more years…but the down slide is inevitable. I’m glad they are trying to give it the “old college try” one last time or two. Maybe you can let Zo coach. That would be inspiring and get a few more miles off those fumes. Your mules can’t run with our horses.
The heat is cooling. Actually they are Luke warm. Wade is a whiner and actor constantly begging for a foul. There is nothing wrong with him. He showed no signs of any issues in the second have…after his cortisone shots… Dude…Just play ball. What a loser. Shrub.
How moving was that to see him laying at midcourt and hoping for a standing ovation when he got to his feet…GIVE ME A BRAKE!!
The refs should have called a delay of game penalty and toss his “begging for sympathy” butt from the game. Quit loitering, you are holding up the game. Next time he’s loitering and begging maybe Josh or Z will drag him by his feet to the sideline so there won’t be any further delay in this _ _ _ whooping coming the heats way!
By Sunday Wade can make plans to have a seat at the HATE FACTORY with the round mound of rebound and Kenny “I should have been the Hawks GM” Smith. Then the four of you can hate together, and sing together, ” I hate the birds”, while watching the Atlanta Cleveland series.
Link Report this comment
Truth-serum
May 3rd, 2009
4:14 pm
Truth-serum
May 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Heat Fan!
May 1st, 2009
1:09 pm
Yeah, the heat has peaked. Their best days are behind them. How many did you say they’ve won without Shaq?
Oh they have some promising rookies? I agree they have a….promising rookie.
Is that the same J.Oneal of the once great Indiana pacers? Did he ever play with the Retired R.Miller?
How much of a beating can D.Wade take?
I’m sure they will be good to mediocre for a few more years…but the down slide is inevitable. I’m glad they are trying to give it the “old college try” one last time or two. Maybe you can let Zo coach. That would be inspiring and get a few more miles off those fumes. Your mules can’t run with our horses.
The heat is cooling. Actually they are Luke warm. Wade is a whiner and actor constantly begging for a foul. There is nothing wrong with him. He showed no signs of any issues in the second have…after his cortisone shots… Dude…Just play ball. What a loser. Shrub.
How moving was that to see him laying at midcourt and hoping for a standing ovation when he got to his feet…GIVE ME A BRAKE!!
The refs should have called a delay of game penalty and toss his “begging for sympathy” butt from the game. Quit loitering, you are holding up the game. Next time he’s loitering and begging maybe Josh or Z will drag him by his feet to the sideline so there won’t be any further delay in this _ _ _ whooping coming the heats way!
By Sunday Wade can make plans to have a seat at the HATE FACTORY with the round mound of rebound and Kenny “I should have been the Hawks GM” Smith. Then the four of you can hate together, and sing together, ” I hate the birds”, while watching the Atlanta Cleveland series.
Link Report this comment
Robert
May 18th, 2010
9:55 am
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July 10th, 2010
1:58 am
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