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
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and on Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
436 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
That Joe J ends 11-0 run by Bucks.
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
keep attacking salmons..
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
even the shots we’ve hit are decently contested
JM
April 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
There’s Joe with his great dribbling again
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
Alright here we go lets see if they go back to driving or loose their composure.
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
7:59 pm
wow, joe johnson dribbling thru 4 players for a TO. we’ve seen that before..
OleOleOleOle
April 30th, 2010
7:59 pm
It really is absolutely AMAZING how this team completely folds under the least bit of pressure. Do we have ANY mentally tough players on this team?
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
7:59 pm
JM — that was ridiculous. what’s he doing?
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:01 pm
bout to be a blowout, guys
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
8:01 pm
This hgame is over! The Hawks are doing the same crap they did the other night and I guess J Johnsons mindset is that I am going to shoot as many as I can because this is my last game as a Hawk. They arent running any offensive sets and the defense is horrible!
JJ
April 30th, 2010
8:01 pm
It’s just unfathomable how so much talent can perform so poorly against this injury decimated Bucks team. I mean really. No defense, no shooting. No offensive efficiency.
buick59
April 30th, 2010
8:01 pm
choke to death you losers
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:02 pm
another joe iso, another joe miss, another buck rebound. that should get us back in the game
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:02 pm
Jeff—-Joe constantly has trouble maintaing control of the ball. Drives me nuts.
Jeff D.
April 30th, 2010
8:02 pm
These can’t be set plays… Joe everywhere, no baskets.
shane
April 30th, 2010
8:03 pm
Great to be an Atlanta fan these days isnt it
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
8:03 pm
Surely woody has to be telling them that there is no movement and it’s too much 1 on 5 going on! I mean good grief the guy’s job is on the freaking line!
JJ
April 30th, 2010
8:04 pm
Bye bye Woody. The ONLY silver lining in this embarassing, underachieving postseason.
chemdawg
April 30th, 2010
8:04 pm
joe’s not playing for the hawks, he’s playing for himself right now
Drewcat
April 30th, 2010
8:04 pm
LET WOODY WALK after this game! This is a horrible display of offensive production. No movement, no passes, all I see are tough, contested shots. Woody has to prepaare his guys better
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
8:04 pm
IF joe is triple teamed doesnt that mean 2 other guys are open????????
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:05 pm
I’d like to believe we can get back in this, but feels like the lead is 7 going on about 18 here in about another 5 minutes
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:06 pm
Great shot Horford
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:07 pm
Joe loses control of the ball, yet again…
JJ
April 30th, 2010
8:08 pm
Moe –
Yes, but that would require basic passing skills which are otherwise overlooked in Woody’s offense.
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:08 pm
Oooh… don’t know about that call.
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:09 pm
ZaZa just gave Joe the business
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
At least Gadzuric is also shooting 18 footers. Hope that continues.
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
haha, Joe yells at ZaZa b/c he is supposed to be the one turning the ball over. ZaZa yells back that this is a team game, we can all turn it over..
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
what the flim flam man!!!! it’s like they are a bunch of guys who came together for a freakin pick up game or something. We are lucky to be down so few
real talk
April 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
they need to trade Marvin every thing he shoots are BRICKS
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
This team acts like they forgot how to play ball. Sad only hit 5 shots the whole 2nd period.
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
When will it dawn on the announcers that when you have to keep saying what a team can do and skhould do, is it possible that they cant do it! This team is totally ineffective! They are brain dead! These isolation plays are rediculis and easy to defend. Does Woodson thing he can keep his job after they get bounced by the injured riddled Bucks? 31 freaking points WHAT A JOKE!
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
Not really a well played half by either side … Bucks up 34-31.
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
Horrendous half, offensively, yet only trail by 3.
Surely we shoot better in the 2nd half…
chemdawg
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
wtf, joe.
Jeff D.
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
Terrible way to end the half, Joe forcing it up the middle.
Hawks vs Bucks
April 30th, 2010
8:11 pm
lol
16 pt first and then a 15 pt second. Are they aware that this is an elimination game?
JJ
April 30th, 2010
8:12 pm
Pathetic half of basketball. BUT, still only down 3. You never know what might happen. Maybe Michael Gearon, JR. will tell Woody he’s unwelcome to return to the bench for the second half. Too much to ask?
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
8:12 pm
It there was ever a more complete and utter case of a team playing down to the competition this is it.
Of course I’m talking about the Bucks playing down to the Hawks level. 31 Halftime points for the Hawks (and we were lucky to get that much) and the Bucks only lead by 3. Hoo-boy! Quality NBA Playoff basketball here!
Peter
April 30th, 2010
8:12 pm
Remember there is NO JJ in TEAM !
GeorgeC
April 30th, 2010
8:12 pm
Down 3. I’ll take it.
MrHughes
April 30th, 2010
8:13 pm
Was it just me or did i just see Zaza and Josh smith yelling at Joe Johnson on the court? Oh god..
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
8:14 pm
Say ya gotta go, Joe! Say ya gotta go!
driver8
April 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
Player(s) err Joe is playing for himself not Woody .. team lacks emotion leaving coach out to dry … before you get what you boys …you might want to think where YOU will be come next season!!!
I give up … the players have so can we???? Turning it off and watching the Braves … oh yeah this ain’t much better. What’s happened to our teams???? UGGHHH!!!!
Peter
April 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
The difference is listening to Hubie Brown call the game on ESPN…….He says….No ball movement at all….then at one point the other guy just said….
I guess they don’t like to share the ball…
The Hawk’s are taking bad tough shots, the Buck’s are missing wide own shots…….this could really be a blow out if the Buck’s were hitting at all.
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
What is Joe’s deal? Is he ready to go or what? He’s b****ing at everybody, forcing bad shots… He hasn’t acted like that, to my knowledge, until recently
No Woody for Me
April 30th, 2010
8:16 pm
Joe Johnson and Woodson GOT TA GO!
Keep the nucleus. Get rid of the unhappy, declining star and the clueless coach and see what happens
MoeHawk
April 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
MrHughes-
Josh and Joe were yelling at ZAZA telling him to just PLAY because he was yelling at the refs.
ZAZA walked bad and even tehy knew it. ZAZA needs to sit his sorry ass down!
Now you see em, now they burnt off!
April 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
What do Potato head’s eyebrows have to say about the first half?