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
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:42 pm
Bout time we gotta pulse out there. Thank you Josh
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:42 pm
Great play by Josh — Hawks on a 12-0 run.
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
8:43 pm
i didn’t think that was a good call
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:43 pm
arggghhh….
2 chances there to knock down a killer 3 ball
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:43 pm
How is that a foulb Both guys going for the ball
Jimmy
April 30th, 2010
8:43 pm
I don’t get why anyone would see Joe Johnson as a superstar.
MrHughes
April 30th, 2010
8:44 pm
WHAT? HAWKS ARE MOVING THE BALL?!?
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:44 pm
atta boy, Al
passes up a bad shot, drives and gets fouled
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:44 pm
Bucks shooting 1-9 in the jhalf
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
8:44 pm
Wh-Wh-Wh-What!!! Are the Hawks actually passing the ball?
o naw mane,,
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
OHh weee hawks coming back
JohhnyWalking
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
Waittt A Minute!!!! Hawks looking less Stank than the Bucks. Maybeeee Just Maybeeee. Comeeeee on Hawkssss!!!!!
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
Hawks moving the ball and playing defense. Bucks have only 1 fg made this half..
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
We gotta get some separation from these guys going into the last quarter.
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
anyone notice how rathbun keeps saying “GAME 7 WILL BE SUNDAY AT PHILIPS.” i like it rathbun, speak into existence
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
and that was their 1st shot of the half.
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:46 pm
I have always liked Rathburn..
Jimmy
April 30th, 2010
8:46 pm
I just tuned in…can’t believe the score.
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:46 pm
let’s go against the trend and hold the lead
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:47 pm
I just flipped over to Bob n Nique.
Been watching ESPN
JohhnyWalking
April 30th, 2010
8:48 pm
Well Woody is going for broke. The starters are gonna play the rest of the game. So you know they are gonna be dog tired with about 4 mins to go in the 4th. Can we get some FAVOR???
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
8:48 pm
Looks like homecooking for the Bucks. Hawks had some Mo working, long break in play, try to get the Hawks out of their rythym.
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
The run is now 15-0 since Bucks scored first 2 pts of half. Where has this team been?
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
ok back to ESPN, Sports South is behind…
We need to build this thing as much as possible, cause you know the collapse is immenent
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
could it be the hawks actually are playing a solid quarter
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
17-0
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:50 pm
Josh Smith is really trying to keep the guys intensity up..
o naw mane,,
April 30th, 2010
8:50 pm
Are the bucks missing these shots on purposee….anyway go hawks ANOTHER 3
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:50 pm
this lead scares me
Jeff Schultz
April 30th, 2010
8:51 pm
Nice answer by Horford after Bucks end 19-0 run.
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
8:51 pm
If the Hawks blow this game after the Bucks look this bad in the 3rd, I resign the Presidency as of noon tomorrow.
o naw mane,,
April 30th, 2010
8:51 pm
NICE move crawford they are playing better
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:52 pm
Now we finally convert on a break.
JohhnyWalking
April 30th, 2010
8:52 pm
NOW THAT HOW YOU PLAY!!!!!! YELLL YEAHH!!!!
soldierman
April 30th, 2010
8:52 pm
Dont know jeff but they need to hang around for a couple of weeks and leave that other garbage somewhere else
JJ
April 30th, 2010
8:52 pm
Alright….up 16 late in the 3rd. Gives Woody a little cushion. If we can just get to the 4th up 14 or so I’ll like our chances to win by 2.
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
Hawks are playing amazing!!! GAME 7 HERE I COME SOLD OUT CROWD LETS GO HAWKS!!!!
falcons pick(ed) spoon
April 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
Must keep intensity up. No time for droughts. Keep the foot on the pedal and back to Phillips for game 7.
Show me state
April 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
Is saying this is how u play on da road hawks…..i love da effort and toughness…..keep it up for 48 minutes…Go Hawks!!!!!!
Mid Town Joe
April 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
Glad I was wrong tonight. I’ll take the bag off now.
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:54 pm
23-4 this quarter??
Good heavens.
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:54 pm
This is too much good favor goin on. Hopefully we can keep this up.
truthspitter
April 30th, 2010
8:54 pm
Well we are totally capable of blowing this lead
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
8:55 pm
bibby isnt a great defender but he can sure hold his own..
o naw mane,,
April 30th, 2010
8:55 pm
he is really doing it .
JM
April 30th, 2010
8:56 pm
this is what should’ve occured every game
should’ve beaten this team in 5
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
8:56 pm
why are you always negative truth? if youre a true hawks fan have some faith in your team..
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
8:56 pm
We playin physical ball now
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
8:57 pm
come on guys, these have been hard times for me too, but gotta believe
JohhnyWalking
April 30th, 2010
8:57 pm
AWWWWW MANN. Guys are back to helping each other up and high five each other. I luv you mannn!!1