We’re LIVE from Hawks-Magic: Can they make it a series?
Mike Woodson's Hawks have been inconsistent in the playoffs.
There’s a saying in sports that a playoff series doesn’t really begin until a team loses a home game.
It’s understandable if you’re not feeling that way after seeing the Hawks dismembered in Game 1 and fizzle in Game 2 against Orlando, losing two games of this playoff series by a combined 57 points. But back now in Philips Arena, where all is usually well, this is the Hawks’ last chance to show a pulse — and maintain it for 48 minutes.
It has been stated enough times in this corner but here we go again: The Hawks are at the point in their evolution where they shouldn’t be defined by the regular season (53-29) but by the postseason (4-3 over undermanned Milwaukee; 0-2 against Orlando).
Granted, only the most optimistic of folks projected them to beat Orlando in this series. The Magic reached the finals last year. They may win the championship this year. They’re superior at basketball’s two key positions: center and point guard.
But what you wanted to see from the Hawks this series is passion, intelligence and consistency under fire, and too often that hasn’t been the case.
Can they win tonight? Absolutely. In a 2-0 series, the trailing home team tends to play its best game, knowing at 3-0 the series probably is over. (For what it’s worth, Las Vegas has this as a close game: The Magic are favored by 2 to 2 1/2 points.)
The Hawks’ objectives shouldn’t change: pound Dwight Howard inside as much as possible with rotating hackers (Zaza Pachulia, Joe Smith, Jason Collins). Play pressure defense to try and force turnovers. Hope Orlando doesn’t get hot from trey-range. See where you’re at in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks are 37-8 at home this year (34-7 in the regular season; 3-1 in the playoffs). However, Philips Arena is not a cure all. We saw Milwaukee win Game 5 here to push the Hawks to the brink of elimination in the first round.
In fact, since winning four straight home playoff games in 2008 (3-0 vs. Boston) and 2009 (first game vs. Miami), the Hawks have gone only 5-4 at Philips. The breakdown: 2-1 in the rest of the Miami series, 0-2 vs. Cleveland, 3-1 vs. Milwaukee.
So what do you think. Can the Hawks make a series of this? We’ll be here blogging live during the game, but let’s hear your predictions now.
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484 comments Add your comment
Mystikal
May 8th, 2010
5:51 pm
41 to 26 Orlando, anyone still think hawks taking this one?
buick59
May 8th, 2010
5:51 pm
actually I think Bibby’s been sampling the chili dogs too much. That on the job training is tough.
little dave
May 8th, 2010
5:53 pm
way 2 go joe 2points hip hip aray
chad
May 8th, 2010
5:54 pm
I wish the NBA could declare this a best of 5 and spare the fans and advertisers their money.
Jeffspanker
May 8th, 2010
5:55 pm
Pathetic!
TruthSeeker
May 8th, 2010
5:56 pm
Goodnight, sweet prince. Mike Woodson, 2004-2010.
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
DO NOT GIVE THE BALL GO TO JOE NO MATTER WHAT!
chad
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
Good grief, Joe can’t even throw a lob.
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
We need a petition to get Johnson out of town.
buick59
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
does anyone on here get the impression that the Hawks really give a rat’s … about this? I sure don’t.
Mystikal
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
Sure hawks are playing horrible uninspiring ball, but they are still a good team. Orlando is just better and hungry to take it all. Hawks were playing better last game and still end up losing by double digits.
nemowin
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
Did Zaza just remind the refs that he has two fouls? He actually has three.
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
Gonna try to have the website up by Monday.
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
Seems as if every time they try to muster up any kind of resistance they get stomped into the ground again. Hopefully they can fight their way through this funk and get back into this thing. LET’S GO HAWKS!
I was a hawks fan
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
this is why i was a hawks fan.
Greenwave
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
I really hope no one chooses to go to the next game. That should hammer the fact home that fans will not pay to see a disgusting display. This series was over from the get go and everyone knew that.
harry the hawk
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
This could get ugly……no floor leader for the Hawks, a coach who has obviously lost the respect of his players and the clock running out on JJ to prove he’s really worth a max contract.
A ‘perfect’ storm….
I was a hawks fan
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
not wasting my time with them anymore
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
Horrible D, horrible O by Johnson. Even at point blank. Can’t shoot.Can’t pass. HE SUCKS!
Tha Real Hawk
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
Some times you have to step back to progress. JJ is not a max player.
Mystikal
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
Before this series started i knew hawks would lose, just didn’t think it would be so pathetic
chad
May 8th, 2010
6:02 pm
Was that a 4 on 1 where we came away with nothing? lol..you can’t get much worse than that.
nemowin
May 8th, 2010
6:02 pm
Just like Rasheed Wallace, Josh Smith is starting to get away with obvious fouls simply because the refs look as if they don’t want to deal with the tantrum that would ensue.
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
6:03 pm
I am so glad he turned down that offer from Sund. New York you can have him.
Jeffspanker
May 8th, 2010
6:03 pm
Joe Johnson is doing to Hawks a favor. He is really showing management that he is not worth the big contract. So long Joe. Adios!
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
6:03 pm
Look at the bright side. At least the Braves are beating Philly.
Jo
May 8th, 2010
6:04 pm
Hawks look like they are out of sync. However they are getting the looks but not making the shots. Woody needs to tell JJ to stop shooting for awhile before we are 20 down and too far to come back. we can still come back from 14ish.
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
6:04 pm
JJ is not a max player. He is not a minimum player. He shouldn’t be in the league!
brody
May 8th, 2010
6:05 pm
Thank God that Joe turned down that offer, it was a blessing in disguise. Now we see what he really is a good 2nd tier player. Not a leader. Somebody who blames others for their own faults. Joe you had the opportunity to play for your contract and you blew it. Luckily, the Knicks will overpay for you.
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
6:06 pm
Man , If we can just get this thing into single digits going into the half maybe we can spark a little something coming out in the 3rd
Jeff Schultz
May 8th, 2010
6:06 pm
Joe now 1 for 9. But he did nail that one layup. Max Money!!!!
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
6:06 pm
Way to miss another point blank shot and play poor defense Joe.
little dave
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
i must admit ido think we r playing the world champs right now and i no coach woodsonson couldnt coach a tin of tomatoes but when ur so called best player is not as good as jj redick well wat do u do
Jo
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
down 16 now, about to be 18, too far down. This is a 3rd loss and that is sad. JJ needs to STOP shooting, he is off. Sending JJ away will not helpthe Hawks. They need a BIG man.
dawgfan13
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
Say BYE BYE to JJ he is throwing the game and he dosent care either! What a JOKE!
Mr. Phil
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
Why is Joe passing to Josh in the corner with 2 seconds left?
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
Ok so we conceded this half. It’s ok. We got em right where we want em. Prepare for all hell to unleash itself in the second half. JJ goes for 30 in the second half. Any takers?
RB
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
I see the Hawks problem. With the score 43 to 31 Joe Johnson air mails a pass out of bounds. The cameras go to Woodson and he shows no reaction. He does not challenge Joe’s error’s as he does others. That causes the rift within this team. Joe and Woody needs to go
D Hawks
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
Another half full of jump shots for the Hawks, uncontested 3s for the opponent, and no Superstar sightings. This is ridiculous. How does a coach allow this to continue without sitting somebody down?
Jo
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
sorry, i was wrong, I said they are about to down 18, instead it was 19….game over.
Jeff Schultz
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
Hawks down 52-33 at the half and they’re booed off the court, deservedly so.
cloudy
May 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
Pitful- absolutely pitiful.
Jo
May 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
no takers soldierman….Hawks lose by 35 in this game but only because orlando shows mercy the last 6 min of the game to avoid another 40+ loss for the hawklettes. sad..
Zach
May 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
Jeff this is embarrassing, they deserve to be booed. what a freaking joke.
Joe 1-10…50 threes by the magic. No one cares.
Cover the three, let dwight shoot 50 shots. What about that is so hard to understand.
Mystikal
May 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
I think Josh Smith genuinely believes he is going to get calls just because they are playing at home.
And doesn’t this halftime score look very similar to game one’s?
cloudy
May 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
Boo em out of Atlanta. What a joke they are.
Andray Bruce
May 8th, 2010
6:12 pm
NO SENSE OF URGENCY! The smirk on JJ’s face after the blown alley oop was disappointing. I’ve seen about 5 three pointers in his face. NO PRIDE on this team. 33 points?
Fitten
May 8th, 2010
6:12 pm
We need to say goodbye to Woodson and Joe Jokeson. Is there any way we can get D Wade??? That’s what we need
NightHawk
May 8th, 2010
6:12 pm
Jeff, if they give Joe max money I will not support this team for the life of the contract. His game is garbage (when he has to be the “go to” guy).
Doug
May 8th, 2010
6:13 pm
JJ…absolutely beyond bad…if they give him anything approaching max they will be laughingstock of the league…get a young serviceable big and a draft pick in a sign-trade and begone