We’re LIVE from the Hawks’ . . . final game?
This series has been a laugher for Orlando, while the Hawks ...
We’ve all witnessed playoff disappointments before. Two weeks ago, I listed what I believed to be the seven greatest postseason flops in Atlanta pro sports history. The Hawks were on the verge of joining the infamous group at the time, only to show some resolve when down 3-2 against Milwaukee and win the next two games to make it to round two.
This second-round series against Orlando isn’t a playoff flop. It’s just an embarrassment. It would leave fans with an ugly hangover, sort of
like when the Falcons made their
... are hiding their faces after losing three games by 87 points.
miracle run to the Super Bowl, only to have Eugene Robinson get arrested on the eve of the game.
Nobody — at least no rational thinking person — really believed the Hawks would defeat the Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But most of us figured they would at least compete against the Magic and had a chance to win one or two games. Instead, they’ve played hard for three quarters in Game 2 in Orlando and were comatose for the other nine. They’ve not only have been blown out twice, including Saturday’s Game 3 at home, but Joe Johnson showed little concern for the Hawks’ disgruntled fan base.
Tonight at Philips Arena, there’s a good chance it will end. The Magic have won the first three games by deficits of 43, 14 and 30 points. The Hawks are only the fourth team in NBA playoff history to lose two games of a playoff series by 30 or more points (nobody has suffered that distinction three times).
Tonight could be Johnson’s final game as a Hawk. It also could be Mike Woodson’s final game as head coach.
What happens? Do they get blown out again, or do they show a little pride — and possibly lose any way? And is it in them to actually win a game?
When asked how difficult it would be to rebound off a game like Saturday’s 105-75 loss, guard Jamal Crawford said bef0re the game: “It’s hard. It’s harder the same night because you can’t sleep and the game just replays in your head. After you see the tape, you feel a little bit better but it still lingers with you. This game can’t come fast enough.
“We just have to have some pride. This is not a No. 1 vs. No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament. This is a No. 2 seed and No. 3 seed. We knew we were on a possible collision course. We just have to go out and play hard.”
That would be a nice change.
How hard do you believe the Hawks will play — and do you think it would make a difference in the result?
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492 comments Add your comment
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:26 pm
Dwight Howard:
24ppg
82%FG
12 Rebs
WOW
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Put Ryan Cameron in the game………….he had a nice jump shot at West Georgia back in the 80s
todd grantham
May 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
watching Ernie explain how to throw a screwball in a braves rain delay had more suspense than this game.
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May 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
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DP
May 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Jeff, given your penchant for humor and since the Hawks-Magic isn’t worth discussing, did you hear about the verbal gaffe by the female golf reporter on the Golf Channel? She attempted to say that Tiger had a “bulging disk”, but in her first attempt she missed the second word slightly in a Freudian slip.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
barnes looking like an all star,lol
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
8:28 pm
So how’s everybody feeling about now? Magic have 34 points in first quarter. I’m no basketball expert but that’s a pretty good pace.
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:28 pm
Throw the white towel in Woodson………….THROW IT IN!!! WE QUIT!! WE QUIT!!!!!
Alien in ATL
May 10th, 2010
8:28 pm
if the last home game was a “historical” one, the Hawks are playing to be in the history books for centuries to come! Loose a play-off game at home by +60!! A bet anyone?!
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:29 pm
commentators are clowning us. cmon hawks!!
todd grantham
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
on their way to 136 points.
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
Come on Van Gundy!!! Make all of your players shoot left-handed so the Hawks will have a chance!!
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
Hawks down after 1 by 11, 34-23 … Oy. Magic shooting 74 percent (14 of 19). Nice defense!
wordy
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
Magic look good despite the Hawks prolly not felling like playing bball tonight. I would like to see the a Suns Magic final.
Rod
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
The heartless hawks lay an egg in elimination game.
Greg
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
And through 1 quarter, the Magic are shooting 74% and are on pace to score 136 points and beat the Hawks by 44. Way to come out to prove something, Hawks…
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
Jeff, it doesn’t look good. their 3pt shooters are always wide open
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 10th, 2010
8:31 pm
I’ve started looking for a test pattern to watch.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:31 pm
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
Come on Van Gundy!!! Make all of your players shoot left-handed so the Hawks will have a chance!!
———————
LOL
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
8:32 pm
DP — Don’t distract me. … Uh, really?
todd grantham
May 10th, 2010
8:32 pm
Jeffrey, do you think the Magic can will it all or do they just look great against an inferior team tonight?
What's up with TNT?
May 10th, 2010
8:32 pm
Kevin McHale’s 5 keys to an Atlanta win.
1) Christian fundamentalists in the General Assembly outlaw magic before the game
2) Eugene Robinson shows up at Magic hotel as the concierge.
3) GLAAD launches secret plot to replace Jameer Nelson with Charles Nelson Reilly.
4) Orlando looks at crowd and mistakenly concludes the game doesn’t begin for 2 hours
5) PETA gets a temporary restraining order against the Magic for abusing avian wildlife.
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:32 pm
Hmmmm Let’s see………We didn’t draft Chris Paul…………we traded Pau Gasol………..and Speedy Claxton had more billboards in Atlanta than Coca Cola………….Okay I am no longer surprised about what I am seeing
Ouch
May 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
How full is the arena at this point?
Cant really tell based on tv views
TheAntiMe
May 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
I’m so glad the Hawks are going to all of the trouble of trying hard to win tonight. If not, the Magic wouldn’t have shot 74% and have 34 points after 1 quarter. Oh wait, they do have both. It’s a good thing the Hawks are playing hard tonight or the Magic would have 70 points instead of only 34 after 1. Just freaking pathetic.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
If Ted Williams wasn’t freezer-burnt, headless, and dead, I’d love to hear his take on the Hawks.
Rod
May 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
LOL DP
10 yr plan
May 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
Hey Jeff,
Hope u stay awake for the entire game. Hopefully the ASG will make Woodson Hawks President or part owner after tonight. Only fitting if you look at what they did with Waddell.
balismith
May 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
jj s mom said if you cant say nothing nice dont saynothing at all
Dead Hawk
May 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
Did anyone expect anything different? I would at least be interested if someone from the Hawks would throw an elbow and bust an eye or something. Perhaps any sign of life from this lifeless corpse of a team.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
take the ball to the ffffffffff….freakin hole, hawks!!!
Eric
May 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
Jeff,
Any thoughts on Sund as the GM so far? I think he’s been given too much credit. He let Childress go. He re-upped Bibby to what looks like a horrendous deal now. He signed Marvin Williams a somewhat sizeable deal and Williams has offered nothing. And most importantly, he failed to get us a center so that Horford can start shining at the 4.
I like the Crawford deal and the Teague pick, but otherwise, has he done a good job?
- Eric
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
we take nothing but jump shots
wordy
May 10th, 2010
8:36 pm
magic could beat the Hawks shoeless
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:36 pm
Joe “Rucker Park” Johnson looking to sign with Globetrotters next year
Dead Hawk
May 10th, 2010
8:36 pm
Teague? How would anyone know if he can play. Coach Furburger will not play him!
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
Wordy — I think they can beat them headless too.
Eric
May 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
You gotta love this stat for Mike Bibby: 12 points for the first three GAMES of this series.
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
@ Wordy………..exactly “Shoeless over CLUELESS”
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
“Joe “Rucker Park” Johnson”,lmao
thats a good one
What's up with TNT?
May 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
The White Sox had Shoeless Joe; the Hawks have Clueless Joe.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
LMAO@Jeff
TheAntiMe
May 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
Wow, what do you know? Joe Johnson missed a shot.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
all of this one on one crap has to stop
Shoeless Joe Jackson
May 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
can i still get odds on the Magic playing sans footwear?
Dead Hawk
May 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
Snowman: Anything past the first three pages and you lose me. You should print it and mail to the AJC in a nice pretty card. That will get his attention.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
one pass, then iso
Mac
May 10th, 2010
8:42 pm
Van Gundy just told Woodson he can play with 6 players if he likes
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 10th, 2010
8:42 pm
I may shoot my tv like Elvis.
todd grantham
May 10th, 2010
8:42 pm
Snowman, we know you are really Mike Gearon, so stifle yourself.