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
Atlanta Crows
May 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
Can you say DEJA VU? So Coach, how does it feel to be swept in the second round 2 years in a row? Lets try to get a “REAL” Center so Howard doesn’t get 16 F’ing rebounds a game. Try getting in your players a** when they walk back on defense.
John
May 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
Detroit won it all a few years ago without a superstar. I think that is who we are modeled after. I really think we could have been competitive in this series with a different coach. This series, based on talent should at least go six games. What kills me is that I think they would beat us without Howard with the way we are playing now.
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
Soldier, also none of those cities you mentioned are a 4 sports city. Atlanta has 4 major sports teams and have a combined 1 championship.
cheshire
May 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
yeah, i’m a GT graduate and fan, but even i’m not deluded enough to say GT is the shining star in the Atlanta sports spectrum. come on, please… GT football is hopefully getting better, but GT basketball is arguably in worse shape than the Hawks. well, i dunno, that’s a tight race…
RB
May 8th, 2010
7:50 pm
The fat lady has not sung yet!!! Win 4 in-a-row and on to Cleveland. Folks please don’t give up on the Hawks! They can get it done!! I forgot to mention, Cleveland is my hometown.
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
7:50 pm
Atlanta Crows
There are no “real center” to sign. No one can check Howard one on one in the world
Biggdawg33
May 8th, 2010
7:50 pm
I just want to say thank you, Hawks, for being such an embarrassment to the state. If you are going to be in the 2nd round of the playoffs and roll over and play dead, just lose in the first round or don’t go.
Man, they look like they are from the North Avenue Trade School.
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:51 pm
Vick, relatively speaking the Falcons are an exciting team. They are certainly not as exciting as they were a few years ago though. Yes, Vick was a very exciting player no matter what people say about him. He was very fun to watch.
buick59
May 8th, 2010
7:52 pm
to be fair Atlanta has to be compared to cities with the same type sports franchises. Buffalo, San Diego have had 2 major teams at least since the 70’s. For the better part of 20 years Atlanta has had all 4 major sports franchises.
John
May 8th, 2010
7:52 pm
Howard would likely get 16 boards against anyone. How about we move the ball on offense and not swith every screen on defense? Those are simple ideas that we can’t figure out. How many open looks did we get today on offense? Not many because we don’t move the ball.
da yooper
May 8th, 2010
7:52 pm
coal miners-not afraid to dig deep and do the dirty work
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
7:52 pm
wait, I almost left but I just got to ask. What exactly does city size and population have to do with the way the teams represented by that city and the championships brought in? did the topic change while I went to the john?
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
7:53 pm
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:51 pm
Vick, relatively speaking the Falcons are an exciting team. They are certainly not as exciting as they were a few years ago though. Yes, Vick was a very exciting player no matter what people say about him. He was very fun to watch.
———————————
Please explain how the Falcons are exciting. Not trying to start anything. Unfortunately, we are forced to watch the falcons here (i will be purchasing NFL pass so I can watch the Philly Eagles…i saw nothing exciting
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:53 pm
Soldier, you can’t compare Atlanta to cities that have 2 major sports teams. Atlanta has 4.
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:54 pm
Vick, I’m just saying compared to the Hawks, Thrashers, and Braves the Falcons are exciting. That’s not saying a lot however.
trint
May 8th, 2010
7:55 pm
Woody knows he has lost his job. The guy has said “I wish I knew” after two games in this series. What player will come to the press conference
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
7:55 pm
Brian
May 8th, 2010
7:54 pm
Vick, I’m just saying compared to the Hawks, Thrashers, and Braves the Falcons are exciting. That’s not saying a lot however.
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The Hawks are more exciting than the Falcons. Hawks are the best team we have in the city
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
7:58 pm
Wait the falcons for what it’s worth fielded some good teams in spurts over the years. let’s see the early 80’s team. 2 or 3 in the 90’s and then the dirty birds of the late 90’s even into the early 00’s with the vick led teams. The braves as we all know were very competitive during the 90’s and the hawks fielded some good teams during the late 80, then again through the mid to late 90’s. We may not have the hardware but we have been competitive and relevant throughout the years. It’s just that when our teams are bad we have a tendency to be excruciatingly bad which makes our dead cycles seem even worse.
Vick Supporter
May 8th, 2010
7:58 pm
Brian…and this statement isn’t because I’m a Vick fan. Unless Vick was playing at the dome, I would doze off sometimes at Falcon games. The electricity was in the air again when Vick came back as an Eagle.
Sorry man
UNReal
May 8th, 2010
8:00 pm
wow johnson doesnt even show up to the press conference, what a coward
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
8:00 pm
My hockey knowledge isn’t the best however, I believe the flames were pretty decent when they were here as well. With them it was an issue of support. The thrashers, well they have had their opportunity as well. Just a bit of mismanagement.
RA
May 8th, 2010
8:01 pm
They’re losing this series for all the wrong reasons. Let’s be clear, Orlando is strong enough, and deep enough, and talented enough that when they play their game, you can do everything right, and still get beat by ten or twelve points. As we all know, the Hawks haven’t done everything right. Offensively they’ve been a mess, defensively they simply refuse to guard the perimeter. On both ends of the floor, they have performed at a level of execution that one might expect from a badly coached high school team.
Now, to be clear, Van Gundy had a week to prepare for Atlanta (I doubt he put much time into prepping for Milwaukee). By the time Tuesday rolled around they knew exactly what Atlanta wanted to do and had a pretty fair idea of how to take it away. Woodson had 48 hours. Now, putting the niceties aside, Woodson simply has not mentally prepared his team for this series. Woodson did not mentally prepare his team for the Milwaukee series which should have ended in no more than five games. There’s no denying what Bob Woodson has done with this team. He inherited a mess and he took them from a mess to a perinnial playoff team, but not a contender. Now, I’ve said many times that with the team on hand, I don’t know of many coaches that could have done as well as Woody has since 2004, and I only know of one or two that might have done better. At this point however, I have to say that even though Woody can get them to the show, he just can’t make them dance. Unfortunately, the NBA is all about how well a coach can make a team dance when it really matters.
soldierman
May 8th, 2010
8:02 pm
unreal were you expecting anything less. You put up a stinker like that you just wanna go home cut off all electronics and nyquil yourself to sleep until the next game.
Cedrick (Texas Hawk)
May 8th, 2010
8:03 pm
OO VV EE RR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cloudy
May 8th, 2010
8:03 pm
Brian The Falcons only became a decent team AFTER a change of ownership. Smith never knew how to build a strong team and contender as the owner of the Falcons.
Cedrick (Texas Hawk)
May 8th, 2010
8:04 pm
Good point “RA”
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:05 pm
the hawks need to let joe johnson go and throw all their mmoney at dwayne wade with him we would have a great chance to go to the finals. jj doesnt have the killer instinct to take over the game when needed dwayne wade carried the heat all year, with wade as a hawkl we would reach the finals easily
NBA
May 8th, 2010
8:09 pm
The answer to your question is NO. They can’t make it a series. The Hawks are just not a very good team.
MitchC
May 8th, 2010
8:12 pm
This series is over. I’d say there is a 90% chance the Hawks are going down in a sweep. To lose by 30 points in a must win game, on your home floor, when you’re already down 2 games in a series? No.
My original “Orlando in five” prediction that I posted on Mark Bradley’s blog at the beginning of this series, was based on my feeling that the Hawks would win Game Three. They have lost Game Three, in humilating fashion. They have shown no reason to think they will not do the same, in Game Four.
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:13 pm
hawk can win this next game against orlando bc orlando will think they have atl beat
magic hater
May 8th, 2010
8:14 pm
Orlando will not win the championship. They will choke in the next round.They are not that good, we are just that bad for now.
Mr.Phil
May 8th, 2010
8:15 pm
Schultzie,
In the final analysis we have to say the Hawks played with no heart or passion. This can only come from a lack of the same in the leadership roles.The bottom line is the Hawks have no heart because number 2 has no leadership skills.
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:16 pm
g
Greenwave
May 8th, 2010
8:16 pm
Here’s hoping they blackout Game 4 on Monday. Spare the city the embarassment of watching the Hawks get blown out by 30 again. I hope Phillips Arena is devoid of people and they play to an empty crowd. If the players and coach dont care then people should not spend their hard earned money to watch them give up.
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:17 pm
i think the hawks need to let jj go and get mr wade in place that would be all the hawks need
magic hater
May 8th, 2010
8:17 pm
They are beating Atlanta with the three, and they will die by the three during the next round.
magic hater
May 8th, 2010
8:18 pm
Woodey will never coach again after Monday night.Stick a fork in him, he is done.
cloudy
May 8th, 2010
8:20 pm
magic hater The Magic are the best team in the NBA shooting the three pal. You think they are suddenly gonna go cold? You think that the Hawks are gonna suddenly learn how to defend the three? I think not. Magic in 4.
PTC DAWG
May 8th, 2010
8:22 pm
LMAO at Brian…..what a loser.
pebblebeach
May 8th, 2010
8:23 pm
Hawks are done…stick a folk in them…its over and the fat lady doesn’t have to show up to sing…
Timmy
May 8th, 2010
8:24 pm
For those people who keep saying things like “It’s not Woodson’s fault, guys. The players just aren’t competing…”:
When the players are lacking in effort, you need a coach who can light a fire under them. You don’t get rid of an entire team that underachieves but keep the coach. That makes no sense unless we’re talking about a Hall of Fame caliber coach…but that’s not the case here.
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:24 pm
cloudy the magics are very good but they will not even reach the finals bc they will die by the three
against a real team that plays defense they will not get all those open looks the hawks will get mr wade and keep woodson and all will be better next season
joey gt
May 8th, 2010
8:26 pm
woodson is a good coach but he cant make the players give 100 percent effort
finer9
May 8th, 2010
8:33 pm
joey gt- woodson is a good coach?????????? the hawks need a mike singletary
4 Jacks
May 8th, 2010
8:33 pm
Fire Woody for sure, but this the most gutless and heartless team that has ever made the playoffs. I am not sure I would want any of these players on my team. I am sure ownership will figure it out and spend the money and make the right decisions to bring Atlanta an NBA championship. hahahahahahahaha…The ASG sucks, always has, and always will.
tishman
May 8th, 2010
8:40 pm
There is not argument here that the Hawks lack leadership. Their failure to find a coach who can implement and a true point guard who can orchestrate an offensive game plan has been their problem for years. Billy Knights draft failures when the Hawks were consistently making lottery picks will haunt them for years. JJ is a good player who is expected understandably to play a a level he really is not capable of playing at. He;s not a number 1 guy and no better than players like Rashard Lewis, Coron Butler etc…. JJ can be a good fit on a team that plays like a team. The Hawks are a bunch of athletes who have no offensive chemistry let alone flow. You have got to fault management and the coach for that. They are a tease at best but must get seasoned coach who can demand more of this team and management must get their act together, settle the lawsuit and move on so that this organization can reach its full potential. Yea, like that will happen…..
Rob O
May 8th, 2010
8:42 pm
Another emotional jerk job of a season from the Hawks comes to the end. Fans threw in the towel after watching their team do the same. Why should the fans care when their team doesn’t?
Joe Jackson has suggested that he may not been here next year. I like Joe, but he is not worthy of superstar dough. Let him go. Not worth it. Mr. Woodson also should be shown the door. Get a top shelf coach who has competed for a championship.
AmyG
May 8th, 2010
8:49 pm
What a freaking sickening joke. This isn’t a team, it’s a gang of wealthy, lazy thugs.
Someone please run these jerks out of town.
Tony
May 8th, 2010
8:55 pm
This was disappointing today. I just don’t know what to say. Can ANYBODY tell me what is it going to take to win a championship? If Joe leaves what do you do? sign J-Chill I mean who’s out there. If Mike Woodson leaves who do you get to coach these guys? Byron Scott is available, I don’t who else is a championship coach and will demand more out of his guys. Can anyone here on this blog? Do I think if we had D-Wade this series would be different? Heck Yeah. We wouldn’t be down 3-0 I Know that for a fact. A few months back I suggested (and still state) that Joe Johnson is not a SUPERSTAR as Charles Barkley has also stated. I was scolded on this blog for that. So after today does anyone out here think Joe is a SUPERSTAR. If so, where the heck was he today!!! Or the series for that matter?
Rosalyn
May 8th, 2010
8:56 pm
First off,The Management is in shambles and that’s where it begins.Coach Woodson needs to be fired and he should have been fired atleast 2 years ago.The team has no respect for him to even try and earn their money………….Atlanta sports fans deserve better than this.Coach Woodson doesn’t seem to be concerned with anything except getting his paycheck.
I’m tired of seeing Josh whine his butt off all the time.The problem with Josh is that he’s under the misconception that he’s actually an elite player when he’s barely a C list player good for a dunk every now and then.
Joe Johnson has no damn heart and I knew that when little Mo Williams punked him last year during the playoffs……Joe Johnson also seem to think he’s elite and he is surely not remotely there.Joe Johnson showed by not signing a new contract that he wasn’t committed to The Hawks and I say he needs to GO!
My favorite player on the team Jamal Crawford because he is a hard worker !…I’m so happy for Josh Childress,his team in Greece is doing well !