We’re LIVE from Hawks-Bucks (and is this the end?)
Any thoughts on what the scoreboard will look like when it's over?
MILWAUKEE — There are people with painted faces and antlers on their heads outside the Bradley Center. Inside, all of the seats are draped with souvenir red “Fear The Dear” towels. Just a hunch: It’s a going to be loud tonight.
“That would be something to break 20,000 hearts, wouldn’t it?” Jamal Crawford said, smiling.
That would be a change of pace for the Hawks: breaking the hearts of a road crowd.
Facing elimination and with the backdrop of a 1-10 road playoff record in the last three years, the Hawks play game six against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Oddsmakers actually have the Hawks as two-point favorites. But after following a 2-0 series lead with three straight losses — including a meltdown in the final four minutes of game five at Philips Arena Wednesday — they don’t quite project as a safe investment.
“We know what we have to do, so we just need to relax and do it,” said Crawford, who has shot a miserable 6-for-21 in the last two games. “We’ve been pressing a little bit. Just relax and have fun. They’re playing loose. Why can’t we? Now nobody expects us to do it. So maybe the pressure changes a little bit.”
If nothing else, it’s a nice rationalization to get yourself up for a game. Here’s what I see happening tonight: The Hawks will come out strong and try to pound the ball inside. At the outset, they’ll play like they know it’s win-or-go-home. But if the Bucks can get out to a comfortable lead, it’ll be over. It’s difficult for a team that’s down 3-2 in a series and coming off such a difficult loss to bounce back. Resolve is key tonight. But we’ll see how it plays out.
It would help if the Hawks change their defensive strategy because all of the switching doesn’t seem to be working. Exhibit A: Brandon Jennings shot 37.1 percent from the field and averaged 15.5 points during the season. In the playoffs, he is shooting 44.8 percent (39 of 87) and averaging 20.8. Any chance we see a zone tonight?
How do you see things going tonight?
♦
Earlier posts
♦ Hawks down 3-2 but Skiles hardly looks satisfied
♦ Poll time: Where would Hawks’ collapse rank in history?
♦ Gearon is mum on Woodson but expects Hawks ‘to go far’
♦ Frank Wren’s problem: He hasn’t earned benefit of the doubt
♦
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436 comments Add your comment
shane
April 30th, 2010
7:36 pm
Josh Smith should have kept his mouth shut.
Jam
April 30th, 2010
7:36 pm
You see other teams have stars that hit that buzzer beater shot. We have a bunch of doofus idiots.
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
Bucks scored the last nine points of the quarter and lead 19-16 … as you know, team that led after first quarter has won every game.
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
Alright despite us playing like siht the last couple of minutes of the first I like the intensity. Al’s gotta watch his fouls we are gonna need him in the 4th quarter. we can not allow the fans to get into the game tonight.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
What is with J-Smoov and Horford thinking they are Dan Majerle and Reggie Miller?
Ree Roe
April 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
These heartless clowns…Mo Evans give the ball up. This bs is actually making me angry now
-REEpeatedly Roe!!!
OleOleOleOle
April 30th, 2010
7:38 pm
Brick, Brick, Brick, Brick. Is this a mason’s convention, or a basketball game?
MrHughes
April 30th, 2010
7:38 pm
Josh smith is getting so frustrated to the point where he isn’t making good gameplays. He should’ve passed the ball to Joe on the left at the end so he could get a jumpshot. Know your game Josh Smith
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:39 pm
We’re doing fine on defense, getting stops and rebounds.
GOT to have better offensive possessions. They are an embarrassment at the moment.
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
7:39 pm
Qustion? Does anyone else think J smith launching 3 pointers in the first quarter a bad omen? He’s done so well all season just to get into the post season and test out his jumper.
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
7:39 pm
Question: Why did we go out and sign Joe Smith? I thought we got him for playoff games but he gets no time
JW
April 30th, 2010
7:40 pm
It’s hard to believe that the Hawks can blow a two on one fast break against the smallest man on Milwaukee’s team. Wow!!!
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
7:40 pm
soldierman – that was to end a qtr, no big deal. You want him to just let the clock runout?
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:41 pm
Come on Hawks!!!
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
7:42 pm
more screen and roll with crawford..
jlewis
April 30th, 2010
7:42 pm
Joe Johnson is your best player, go to him, the rest of these guys have no individual talent or bball iq. Now you see why Josh Smith has not been chosen to the all star game, and Al Horford does the same stupid stuff, just ridiculous, play through Joe. Playing through Joe is what got this team away from being a laughingstock.
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:42 pm
All of these point blank layup misses!!
Do u think Teague will get any burn time???
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
7:42 pm
obviously dawgboi the shot to end the quarter can be forgiven however the previous possession when he threw it up isnt.
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
7:42 pm
Mo Evans gotta give that back to Zaza. Does he not know how to run the break anymore.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:43 pm
This game is there for the taking, if we want it. Milwaukee blows.
shane
April 30th, 2010
7:44 pm
braves have an early 1-0 lead. we could see history tonight.
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:45 pm
Hawks 6-0 run to open the quarter. Not dead yet.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:45 pm
I’m liking the feel of this game right now.
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:46 pm
Can somebody tell crawford to play team ball and stop shooting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They almost blocked that last shot because they knew what was comin!
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
7:46 pm
Jam been struggling all series. I wonder if he has a little bit of stage fright.I think the only game he was decent was what game 3? He’s due to explode. hopefully it’s tonight
OleOleOleOle
April 30th, 2010
7:47 pm
Defense is looking great thus far. Need to start making some jump shots though.
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:48 pm
The Bucks dont have to worry about playing defense if we are gonna jackup a jumpshot everytime down the floor with 20 seconds left on the shot clock
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:50 pm
Brandon Jennings is still scoreless (0-3)
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:50 pm
Make that 0-for-4.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:51 pm
I just don’t like Marvin/Josh/Horford shooting jumpers. Stupid.
6 point lead gone.
OleOleOleOle
April 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
Another brick, this time by Marvin…turns into a fastbreak bucket by the Bucks.
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
I dont know why we cannot stay in front of Delfino. It just amazes me why Woody cant get thru to this bunch of guys.
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:53 pm
The worst defense EVER!!
Sit Marvin A$$ DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has only one good game out of 20!!!!!!!!!!
ZAZA>>>AWFUL
MrHughes
April 30th, 2010
7:53 pm
i’m sorry but zaza being in this game is too much of a liability. Please get Joe smith in there. A veteran with an actual basketball IQ of more than 0
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:53 pm
I say ZaZa should be the next to take a 20 footer
OleOleOleOle
April 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
Hawks: 12-32
That’s a blistering 37.5% from the floor.
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
@ MHughes: AGREED!
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
FYI — Bibby has been out of the game since 3:01 in the first quarter when he was replaced by Crawford.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
I didn’t realize Lebron James pulled a Michael Jackson and bleached himself into Carlos Delfino.
Eddy
April 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
Is that Delfino or Larry Bird out there?
kirkinga
April 30th, 2010
7:55 pm
Jump shots are a fundamental part of the game. It is not that those guys are shooting jumpers, it’s that they aren’t doing so under control and/or at a better time within the possession.
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:55 pm
Bibby coming in during next time out.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:55 pm
Bad shot by Jamal. Lebron Delfino with another 3
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:56 pm
That’s 3 straight 3s for Delfino.
Hawks vs Bucks
April 30th, 2010
7:56 pm
guess they’ll be beaten by the 3 tonight
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:56 pm
Here is where it gets away…
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
7:56 pm
MARIO WEST ON DELFINO PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DAYUM!!!!
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:57 pm
Jennings finally on scoreboar with 5:37 in half. 2 FTs.
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:57 pm
11-0 run?
Hawks vs Bucks
April 30th, 2010
7:57 pm
“Bibby coming in during next time out”
and promptly fouls