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
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
9:14 pm
Finish! Finish!! Finish!!!!!
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:15 pm
im so happy right now im not gonna lie i was about to cry when the bucks were up by 7 earlier in the game
MenVsBoys
April 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Bucks are picking it up defensively, flying to the ball. Hawks, are you ready?!!!?
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
bibby’s playing great in these playoffs
Hawks Fan For Life
April 30th, 2010
9:17 pm
If the Hawks end up winning this game it will lead me to believe that the Hawks lost games 3, 4, and 5 on purpose to bring Atlanta revenue. We will wrap it up in Atlanta on Sunday. Then … we have the Magic . :-/ Very scary.
BTW, my students HATE Lebron James
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:17 pm
brandon jennings is fast as hell
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:17 pm
still in doubt…Need some clutch buckets
GeorgeC
April 30th, 2010
9:18 pm
This is now about running the offense. If we score 15 points, the Bucks would have to score 28, That wont happen.
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:18 pm
hawks fan for life thats just a stupid suggestion to think that… losing 3 games and risking elimination to get a sold out arena, if anything they would have lost fans in the long run if they ended up losing the series..
Cedric
April 30th, 2010
9:19 pm
We gotta drive and kick to corner to Jamal. Josh missed that read on last possession
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
Big miss by Jennings
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
Oh my god
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
only the Hawks would give up that kind of play late in a game…
DawgBoi
April 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
oh lord, 4 pt play comin..
Nick
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
How old in FN Kurt Thomas geez!
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
KURT ****ING THOMAS!!!!
GeorgeC
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
How many flops are they going to give him?
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
ANd there goes the game for ATlanta,,,,,, everybody standing around looking on offense!
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
20 down to 9
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
come on Joe, move the effin ball
i_am_soulstar
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
Woody looks like he’s panicking
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
Apparently the Jordan Rules apply to Stackhouse
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
When they pick and roll evrybody else stands and look atthe other two players and of course our max out player misses another jump shot!
St. Bernard
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
This is what happens when you have no offensive scheme other than clear-outs and a team without a coach to take control of their team.
Nick
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
I mean this team is like a retro 90s team with Kurt Thomas and Stackhouse. I’m waiting for Keith Van Horn to trot out and get some minutes!
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
Well, we all know how this ends.
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
if the hawks lose this f them…
NCBravesFan
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
Joe = Ball hog
Aaron
April 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
Hawks doing their best to blow this game.
mmgtfan
April 30th, 2010
9:24 pm
Ball Movement!!
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:24 pm
if the hawks lose its time to cheer for the Braves!!! o wait… nevermind
truthspitter
April 30th, 2010
9:24 pm
choking rearing its ugly head
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:24 pm
this is exruciating to watch
NCBravesFan
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
Joe has Jamal wide open and instead takes a contested shot. Unbelievable.
Work together guys!!!
Mike
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
Ref’s wanting the game to come down to the wire. Two terrible calls in a row.
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
This is the only team in t he league that will blow and 20 point league and panick away the game. The offense never works is there a coach on the bench that can step up to FAT A***** Woodson and say lets run something else?
Hawks vs Bucks
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
two fourth quarter letdowns in a row guys? Don’t let this happen again
Nick
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
If they lose after that 3rd quarter beat down they deserve to lose! You gotta be kiddin me!
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
Stackhouse is trying to take over the game, LOL
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
great d by smoove
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
joe JOHSNON!!!!!!
Nick
April 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
Bibby can take Thomas on the block!
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
LOL JM!!
Innocent Bystander
April 30th, 2010
9:27 pm
Ah nuts…
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:27 pm
Still in doubt…feeling pretty good though
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:27 pm
WTF IS JOE DOING??
Nick
April 30th, 2010
9:28 pm
grab the board J smoove! geez!
JM
April 30th, 2010
9:28 pm
What the F is Stackhouse doing??
ATL FAN
April 30th, 2010
9:28 pm
LETS GO HAWKS FINAL STRETCH!!! TWOOOO MINUTES!!!!
dawgfan13
April 30th, 2010
9:28 pm
Stop dribbling the dam ball and pass and cut!!!!!! Whats wrong with this team?