Hawks show some resolve in win over Bucks
No need to look at the scoreboard to know who won. Al Horford and Josh Smith can tell you the playoff sereies is going back to Atlanta for a Game 7. (AP photo)
(UPDATED AT 10:58)
MILWAUKEE — One game after humiliation, one loss before elimination, in a game on the road, they showed us something. Not talent, but resolve. Not finesse, but determination.
Not the things that crush a team’s salary structure, just the things that crush opponents in the postseason.
Who knew?
“Now nobody expects us to do it,” the Hawks’ Jamal Crawford was saying before Friday’s playoff game against Milwaukee. “So maybe the pressure changes a little bit.”
It came off as a wonderful pre-game rationalization by a struggling player for a desperate team. But maybe he was right. After hanging with Milwaukee for one ugly half, the Hawks started to look again like the team that won 53 games during the regular season and the first two of these playoffs.
Playing as if somebody suddenly pulled needles out of a voodoo doll, the Hawks went on runs of 19-0 and 27-2 in the third quarter. They built a 20-point lead, held on during the almost inevitable Bucks’ rally and eventually put the clamps on an 83-69 win at the Bradley Center. Crawford led them with 24 points.
Their season is not over. By virtue of only their second road playoff victory in the past 12 tries, there will be a Game 7 on Sunday at Philips Arena. Recent history should prevent anybody from making a prediction.
Surprised?
Al Horford blocks a shot by Milwaukee's Carlos Delfino, an example of the Hawks' improved defense in Game 6. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photo)
“I don’t know, man — I could care less what people expect and what they don’t expect,” Joe Johnson said when asked about the team being written off after Wednesday’s meltdown in the final four minutes of Game 5, when the Hawks’ let a nine-point lead slip away and lost at home. “It’s about us players and the coaches and everybody in this locker room. There’s nobody else. As long as we stick together, I think we can overcome anything.
“We’re professionals. This is what we do. We lost a game at home, and now we have to go get it back.”
They were words you wanted to here, and the way you wanted to hear them.
The Hawks played a few minutes of zone defense for the first time in the series. But the difference Friday wasn’t a change in philosophy as much as it was a change in effort. Milwaukee shot only 32.9 percent (25 for 76) and missed 11 consecutive attempts at one point in the third quarter. The Bucks had some open looks, but not nearly as many as in the previous three games, thanks to players fighting through screens. Rookie guard Brandon Jennings was only 4-for-15 and didn’t make a shot until there was 1:41 left in the third.
“Guys just got over screens,” Josh Smith said. “We really didn’t have to help [with switches]. It was just the will. Desire. We wanted to win this game.”
In the previous three games, the undermanned Bucks showed more resolve, more heart, more intelligence. Before Game 6, they established that they could even sing better: Stackhouse sang the National Anthem. (What were the Hawks going to do, boo?)
The Hawks trailed 34-31 at the intermission. They weren’t fluid. We saw too much of what Mike Woodson didn’t want to see. The Bucks closing off the angles and not allowing the Hawks to drive into the lane. Johnson turning over the ball on the dribble. Marvin Williams and Al Horford both misreading teammates’ next moves and passing to air. Mike Bibby throwing the ball into Smith’s back on a fast break.
But something strange happened in the second half. But after Carlos Delfino made a jumper to open the third quarter and give Milwaukee a 36-31 lead, it was like somebody changed the channel to a different game. The Hawks scored the next 19 points to go up by 14, 50-36. The lead soon mushroomed to 20. They shared the ball on offense. They clamped down on defense. Milwaukee couldn’t hit anything.
Almost inevitably, the Bucks rallied and whittled the lead down to seven. But just as everybody started having Game 5 flashbacks, Smith blocked Stackhouse at one end and Johnson made a jumper at the other. The Hawks displayed all of those intangibles that seemingly had left their locker room.
“I wish we could play like that all the time,” Al Horford said.
Yes. But at least we didn’t have to wait until next season to see it.
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130 comments Add your comment
KakNiqueTree
April 30th, 2010
11:33 pm
Way to dig deep Hawks.
“They were words you wanted to here, and the way you wanted to hear them.”
Can someone explain how the writer can spell the word ‘hear’ wrong and then spell it right IN THE SAME SENTENCE?
Greg
April 30th, 2010
11:34 pm
Speaking of “Fear The Deer”, the Bucks blog at jsonline.com has some funny comments. My favorite regarding the Bucks: “Fear the Headlights”. Also, “Lots of drunk idiots at the game. Fear the Beer!”.
falcons pick(ed) spoon
April 30th, 2010
11:34 pm
Ugly you’re an idiot. If you say the Bucks lost instead of the Hawks winning, then you can say the exact same about game 5 when the Hawks missed wide open shots: Jamal missed a layup and Josh faltered a dunk in the last 4 minutes. The Bucks winning is a testament to their superb coaching. Everyone in America knows the Hawks have more talent then this team and thats exactly why us Hawks fans are keeping hope if we face Orlando, because our talent rivals hardly anyteam. However, execution is a whole other matter. Now, how bout you go back to watching Mash reruns in your mother’s basement. Or is it lights out already? Clown.
Joe Johnson needs to go
April 30th, 2010
11:35 pm
Kobe 19 shots 27 points. Choke Johnson 22 points 24 shots. Nuff said.
falcons pick(ed) spoon
April 30th, 2010
11:36 pm
Ugly you sound like somebody who got spurned from a few Hawks for autographs.
governor404
April 30th, 2010
11:38 pm
SO I guess u JJ haters would have rather seen those 24shots divided among Lit’l Marvin, can’t make a layup mo Evans or the stumblin bumblin man that is ZAZA JJ has been strokin da ball since he was a razorback, do you Joe and to hell with the haters, last i checked they don’t pay top dollars for assist men, scorers and shooters get paid in this league.
Joe Johnson needs to go
April 30th, 2010
11:38 pm
Kobe 20 shots. 30 points. joe 22 points 24 shots. And Joe wants big bucks. Uhhh nope. Let’s not even get into his previous games.
Conspiracy theory
April 30th, 2010
11:39 pm
Maybe ASG mandated the Hawks lose games 3-5 to force the series to go seven to generate more revenue.
Ugly
April 30th, 2010
11:43 pm
As I expected, you resort to name calling, which is what happens when a little snapper like yourself gets outwitted and loses the debate. Now the ? is are you so inane that you put your $$ where your mouth is? You say 7 games with the magic. Assuming this 38% garbage team wins! So what is it little boy? Do you have the balls to bet the magic hawks go to a game 7? Of course not. You’re just a kid with no money and no clue.
Tchau
PD
April 30th, 2010
11:49 pm
Agree with Monger. Woodson definitely gotta go, but Joe needs to go too especially if we resign him with a max contract. Our offense becomes stagnant every time Joe decides to dribble out the shot clock to 5 seconds then finally chuck up a shot, turnover, or force a bad shot by a teammate. (I noticed Crawford also doing this now.) These moments always coincide with those 3-4 minute lulls the Hawks always go through and subsequently lose the lead. Joe is a good player, but NOT a max money player. If we sign him to max money, we will be back in the Steve Smith/Mookie days where we make the playoffs but dont advance. Like I said, Joe is good, but not going to win us a championship. I say build around Horford and go from there. In any case, Woodson should be gone next year. Let’s go Hawks, make it to the 2nd round.
hahahha
April 30th, 2010
11:52 pm
Last night it was fire woodson, fire woodson..
The Hawks who were supposed to win in 5 games are playing a game 7.. not even close to a championship contending team..
bg3003
May 1st, 2010
12:18 am
Fear the Queers!!!!
Jeff D.
May 1st, 2010
12:25 am
Joe is a good player but is set in his ways here. (or set in the role he plays) In a perfect world I’d love a guy to take his spot who sees the whole floor and can set up an open teammate rather than hanging on to the ball. Joe meanders into a lot of double teams and doesn’t hit the guy left open very much. That’s what bothers me, especially when it’s the end of a quarter and the defense knows he’s going to keep the ball. We need someone who can create easy baskets, not force tough shots.
The Realist
May 1st, 2010
12:29 am
Proud of the Hawks, but WOW, Joe…nice words from an overpaid superstar…so, you don’t care what the FOLKS out there (OK, maybe more corporations, but you get my point) who pay your fancy salary, think, eh? We all get a LITTLE upset when YOU act like you don’t give a crap, when you show up nonchalant at an impromptu team practice after the loss the other night all decked out barely trying. Or when the team is renting a limo heading down to Chi-Town the first night in Milwaukee to go PARTY when you should be resting up to take care of business.
YOUR LACK of leadership is keeping this team from being CONSISTENT. I hope you decide to show up in Game 7 so we can at least have a CHANCE to see how the matchup with the MAGIC might go.
If you can STAY MAD like this and concentrate and show a little LEADERSHIP, then I will finally give you your due.
OTHERWISE, it’s hard to sympathize with a highly paid, underachieving bunch that finally came to Jesus tonight to save their season.
falcons pick(ed) spoon
May 1st, 2010
12:30 am
Ugly, you’re confusing the people that you are arguing with. I never said that the Hawks would take the Magic to 7. And i resorted to name calling after I proved you wrong.
governor404
May 1st, 2010
12:38 am
Well Jeff you have id’d the what the hawks need, now who is that person and most importantly is he available ?change for the sake of change is not smart decision making, but that’s what fans do and the reason they don’t run basketball teams.
Montrell K
May 1st, 2010
12:40 am
The hawks will upset Orlando in 6—mark it down!
CakeBoy Ent
May 1st, 2010
12:47 am
hahahha
April 30th, 2010
11:52 pm
Last night it was fire woodson, fire woodson..
The Hawks who were supposed to win in 5 games are playing a game 7.. not even close to a championship contending team..
Lol thats funny playa..Didnt atlanta take boston to 7 games the year they won the championship….
truthspitter
May 1st, 2010
12:49 am
Still skeptical about game 7. Hopefully they show up and give all out effort
hahahha
May 1st, 2010
1:08 am
Hopefully more than half the stadium cheers in game 7… or it might be another Bucks win.. Boy we were lucky Bogut was out,
Crack Head
May 1st, 2010
1:34 am
OOOOHHHHHHHH YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHH
MY SNEAKERS BE IN THE TIRE IRON!!!!
JASon
May 1st, 2010
1:46 am
Joe, you need to go be a basketball player somewhere else.
truthspitter
May 1st, 2010
2:32 am
No respect for the Bucks or there fans either way even if they win, they are some spoiled little biatches. They cry everytime they lose and start the what if’s about Bogut who was considered a bust by most until this year and not solely because his career numbers aren’t what you expect of a #1 overall pick, but because he has a history of getting injured. If you can win 3 without Bogut you can win 16.
HawksFansSuck
May 1st, 2010
5:05 am
first of all. you all thought they were the worst team ever after game 5 and the whole city was embarassed of the team.. Now you all are saying they will beat ORLANDO. Come on what drugs are you all taking. You take a team without Bogut and without Redd to 7 games and you expect to beat a fully healthy Orlando team. Get real you barely were within 20 points of them each time they played. Orlando in 5 they own the hawks!
Time to wake up to reality
Dr. Warren
May 1st, 2010
6:49 am
The Hawks are a scary team–and not in a good way. What’s scary is that you just don’t know which team will show up on a given night. Given their regular season record at home, game seven should be a no-brainer. But then again…let’s wait and see.
Speedy Claxton's accountant
May 1st, 2010
7:18 am
Yes the Hawks were great in the third quarter, but I thought they played better at the end of game 4, especially Joe Johnson. The difference was that the Bucks could not miss on that night. The fact is that the boys from Milwaukee absolutely stunk last night. They looked lost. If they had been able to shoot at all, they could very well have won, because they had open looks at the basket throughout the game.
Has anybody ever seen a worse half of basketball in the NBA playoffs than the first half of last night’s game? Orlando must be licking their chops right now. Maybe I’m wrong, but Woodson’s patented offense, known as the “Frozen Screen and Prayer”( which means most of the team stands around like statues and lets two guys run high school screens and one person throws up a prayer), will not take this team very far.
JROLL1
May 1st, 2010
7:30 am
I’M GLAD WE WON, AND I WILL BE AT GAME 7. BUT, ALL WE DID WAS JACK UP JUMPERS. NO HALF COURT OFFENSE. NO BALL MOVEMENT. MO EVENS NOT PASSING ON 2 ON 1 BREAK (TWICE). NO ONE CRASHING THE BOARDS WHEN ALL THOSE JUMPERS CLANKING OFF THE RIM! DEFENSE STEPPED UP, BUT HEY, WE MISSED 5 LAYUPS IN THE FIRST QUARTER ALONG WITH 5 TURNOVERS…..WE GOT TO PLAY SMARTER BALL…
freshd
May 1st, 2010
7:51 am
`The HAWKS are fools gold, and only a fool would bet on them to win a title as long as WOODROW IS THE COACH. The HAWKS played a below average first half, a great 3rd quarter with FLOW on offense, and great defense. Which brings us to an average 4th qtr, where WOODROW went back to his tired and true offense, called ISO JOE where everybody else stands around and nobody cut to the basket to score or rebound. There was no way the DEER should have made a comeback, but for DR. EYEBROWS offense, and he didnt play his bench in the 4th when BIBBY was running on fumes. This might work against the DEER but it wont work against the MAGIC. I love the hawks but I cant stand WOODY.
CJ
May 1st, 2010
8:09 am
My grandson and I really , really prayed last night while watching the game, and everytime the Hawks made a point we said “thank you Jesus” NOW!! we are going to our first playoff game Sunday. We will continue to look and give thanks for the Hawks to WIN!!!
Dear Slayer
May 1st, 2010
8:21 am
In Milwaukee they say “FEAR THE DEER”
In Atlanta we say “F__K THE BUCK”
Willie Hatchett
May 1st, 2010
8:27 am
I’m glad the Hawks won but they got to have better playing and better coaching if they plan to move forward into the next round. I yelled and screamed at my TV “come on Hawks”. Everybody including the game analysts knew they were playing selfish and wasn’t playing team ball. Do they even watch replay of their own games. You can’t really blame the players. Coach Woodson got to coach better. He’s coaching like Bobby Cox and losing these games. If a player isn’t getting the job done, sit his butt on the bench man!
TheAntiMe
May 1st, 2010
8:48 am
The Bucks fans that invade our blogs are such freaking hypocrites. I took a look at their blog last night and all anyone over there was doing was crying about the Wisconsin sports curse and how the Bucks just built them up to let everybody down and how they have to watch the Brewers and the Bucks always lose.
Don’t come on our blogs talking stuff. You freaking Bambi’s are nothing but a bunch of no-class whining bandwagon jumping snotty little hypocrites and it’s documented in your Bucks Blog for everyone to see.
kj
May 1st, 2010
9:14 am
It’s funny reading these post that people who don’d support the Hawks are on here. Why comment if you are not a true fan. You support the Braves and they have fallen hard. The Hawks keep improving. It’s easy for simple people to try to pull down others I guess, especially when they have no athletic ability themselves, thats when they become fat bloggers behind a screen.
sippin the koolaid
May 1st, 2010
9:25 am
nice to see the defense packin’ delfino,salmons and erkle, er, jennings. great defense third quarter on. pressure even the long threes and milwakee is not so accurate. Hey,By the way, where is corina 252? yeah f__k the buck. Go Hawks.
Cazz
May 1st, 2010
9:38 am
Just do it Hawks, go team.
Pete
May 1st, 2010
9:40 am
Well, well, well.
Whoda thunk ??
Congrats to you, Hawks.
Well done.
dude
May 1st, 2010
9:48 am
how you like me now !!!!!!!!!!! J-Craw haters, wazzup ?!?!?!?!?!?!? A game 7 victory and then we stomp that sissy Howard and the lowly Mickey Mouse Magic…..the Hawks will soar…..and Woodson is the man.
Darrin "The Vent King"
May 1st, 2010
9:55 am
Who said you can’t be a fan and still criticize the Hawks for legit reasons? Parents love their children, but do they not scold them or criticize them when they screw up? Get off that high horse for real. I’m glad the Hawks won, but be serious- there is no way you can be happy that it has taking them this long to beat a team who is missing their best player, NO WAY. Hearing Jamaal say that no one gave them a chance after losing game 5 AT HOME made me ill. Of course they didn’t Jamaal, you were supposed to have crushed the Bucks, this should NOT be going to game 7 so why would anyone be impressed with the way you all are doing the same thing you did against the Heat last season? Struggling needlessly. NBA teams who seriously expect to contend do not struggle with inferior teams this bad consistently. This is not a work in progress, this is a team who has been in these playoffs three str8 seasons. This needs to become old hat sooner rather than later and the fact that it has not points to one thing- Mike Woodson has taken this team as far as he can and a new fresh perspective is needed from another coach. The lack of road prowess is beyond annoying, lame, and downright pathetic. It’s been five years people and numbers do not lie- these Woodson -led Hawks have up until last night been 1-10 in playoff road games. ONE and ten!! We have the talent, but collectively the Hawks do not have that focus or killer instinct mentality yet to go all the way. I believe with a better coach they can have that, but Woodson is NOT that guy. I am a true fan from wayyy back who just wants the best for this talented bunch and anyone questioning my fanhood because I want that improvement needs to go soak their head. Mediocrity is for losers, we can do better and will with new and better leadership…GO HAWKS!
x playground great
May 1st, 2010
10:01 am
CONGRATS to the Hawks..Hawks proved they could win a important game on the road for rd 2 againnst Orlando, since the Magic’s has the home court advantage and they succeeded with a very impressive ROAD win over Milwaukee. Hawks closes the Bucks out sunday and win in 7 over Orlando.
cnd
May 1st, 2010
10:17 am
Go Hawks!!! Go Atlanta!!! Go Georgia!!!
Van the Man
May 1st, 2010
10:20 am
I am a Hawks season ticket holder! Go HAWKS! But we must show more consistent team play and intelligence on the floor! This is part coaching and part floor leadership! It was severely lacking in Game 5 in Atlanta! Let’s turn this train around and start playing to our capabilities and not the level of the opposing team! Take the Bucks out early and keep’em out!
ChippersLoveChild
May 1st, 2010
10:59 am
Now that the Hawks have redeemed themselves by finally winning a road game (an eventuality that you knew had to happen) now lets close out the Bucks at Phillips and go onto the next round and defeat the Orlando Magic). This post season is setting up nicely for the hawks to win the title. Orlando is considerably weaker than they were last year and we broke through against Orlando the last time we faced them when Josh Smith swooped down at the basket like an eagle to surprise the Magic, beating them at the buzzer. THE HAWKS ARE READY FOR THE MAGIC. The second bit of great news is that LaBron James is injured and is injury may limit his effectiveness against us should we face the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals. The Hawks can beat the Cavs in a 7 games series so THE HAWKS ARE ALSO READY FOR THE CAVS. Should the Hawks face Boston in an upcoming round, the hawks are undefeated against Boston this year at 4-0, so THE HAWKS ARE READY FOR THE CELTICS. The Hawks defeated the Lakers the last time they faced them so the HAWKS ARE ALSO READY FOR THE LAKERS. So, in wrapping up, the Hawks are ready to win the title. LAKERS, CELTICS, MAGIC AND CAVS will ALL be beaten if they face the Hawks. Results: Hawks will carry out three things this summer. #1)Hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy as world champions; #2) get themselves fitted for championship rings and last but not least #3) hang a championship banner up at Phillips Arena for a job well done for winning the title. MIKE WOODSEN IS ABOUT TO GUIDE HIS TROOPS INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
Peter
May 1st, 2010
11:00 am
What ever game you folks watched, I don’t know…….. but in all the excitement, I am confused at what all thinks here……..
Frankly being lucky is better than good……. The Buck’s missed so many open looks it was ridiculous, and could have easily blown the game out in the second quarter, while we played JJ on 5.
3rd quarter the same…….Buick’s missed open shot after open shot………
You folks are calling that Defense ?
Buck’s lost the game due to poor shooting…….Atlanta did get lucky.
swampem
May 1st, 2010
11:01 am
Take care of business tomorrow, then let’s get ready for the magic fellas.
GO HAWKS!
Snowman
May 1st, 2010
11:12 am
Congratulations to the Hawks players, coaching staff and especially Mike Woodson. Job well done in Milwaukee last night. Now let’s close this thing finished on Sunday!!! I have complete confidence you all will get it done and “it’s on to the next one” to quote Jay-Z (smile)…GO HAWKS!!!
hahahha
May 1st, 2010
11:20 am
This blog is sad..
Beat the Magic? Yesterday we were saying we were horrible and were going to lose. Hopefully people actually show up to the game on Sunday..
governor404
May 1st, 2010
11:21 am
just 2 short years ago, boston with 3 future hall of famers struggled with a certain young, athletic, sub-500 team for 7 games on their way to the championship, why can’t that be the hawks, you gotta believe hawks fans (you true fans) lord knows no other pro team in this town is even playoff contenders, so struggling with these bucks may be our wake up call on our way to the gold basketball.
hahahha
May 1st, 2010
11:22 am
Governor,
That’s because Boston was actually the favorite to win the east.. the Hawks are the 4th best team in the east and will lose in the 2nd round.
governor404
May 1st, 2010
11:26 am
by the way our most recent, relevent road record reads we are 1-0 and display record setting defense (team record playoff scoring low of 69 points) and can come together and win a big ball games and that’s all that matters, what have you done lately, 6 of our most recent playoff road losses were to boston during the championship run (they only lost 1 game at home in the playoffs that year) and cleveland who lost 2 games the whole year at home, so stats can be overrated.
Zawadi
May 1st, 2010
11:32 am
Listen folks, all of the NBA players are exceptional, they made it to the NBA. To say that the Hawks should have beaten the Bucks in four is saying that the Bucks does not have players who cannot play the game of basketball or win but we know that they can or they would not be in the play-offs. Let’s not be torn asunder when the Hawks lose, let’s give them some encouragement to WIN. We, in whatever profession we are,have our times when things don’t always work out in our favor, so do the Hawks.
I met a few of them a couple of years when they did a Thanksgiving dinner for a group of foster boys and they were all very encouraging to our boys. I thought then (2007) that this group of young men would become the champs. They can when they start believing that they can and when the city of Atlanta believe they can… Let’s encourage and believe we can win . . . we’ve got the talent. Go,WIN, Hawks.