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
Jeff D.
May 10th, 2010
9:53 pm
Does Woody really call these 1-4 offense plays?
NCBravesFan
May 10th, 2010
9:54 pm
My god the Braves have seven runs. A wrinkle in the time-space continuum has opened up.
Snowman
May 10th, 2010
9:55 pm
Jeff, I think you should be fired!!! You are an embarrassment, seriously…you are a CLOWN because you know frickin better!!! You know it is amazing that this Hawk team, currently configured, which has won 53 games, finished 3rd in the east, ahead of Boston, the ONLY team of the final eight that is under the luxury cap, beat every team in the NBA including, the Lakers and the Cavs, except the Thunder, has ONLY 1 bench player Jamal (who I love), no rookies this year and last who have contributed (and I know Teague is on the team and they had zero picks in 2008), a 6′9″ center (who I love), an aging point guard (who I love), a terrible 3 (what would we be like if we had Derron or CP3 instead of Marvin), maybe one of the lowest basketball IQ guys in the NBA at the 4 (seriously, he has NO CLUE!!!) and a solid 2 who is having a tough post season (who I love).
Are you kidding me!!!! This team won 53 games and are in the 2nd round of the playoffs? By the way, Boston lost by 30 at home to Cleveland the other day and San Antonio was swept 4-0. Their local reporters did not turn on them, did they? Mark Bradley is fair and balanced and allot more entertaining…I don’t know why people even read you (Red Neck factor aside)?
So why does Woody and Joe catch so much heat when clearly they have done an incredible job given the hand they have been dealt? I understand the casual blogger who just don’t get it however Jeff you are suppose to!!! You actual do understand however you are a pawn for Rick Sund and it is as clear as the nose on your face!!!
I have had ONLY 3 questions this season and last…1) Why are you doing Sunds dirty work and what is your agenda? (you just can’t be this stupid…can you?)…2)Why are the fans not showing Woody and Joe NO LOVE after all the success they have had and the team has gotten better and better every year an NBA record 5 years in a row!!! and finally, 3) Do you (well I know you don’t) and I mean the blog world, really believe this Hawk team is better than Orlando or Cleveland?…seriously, seriously…really, really???…so what is the issue?
Well in closing if Joe and Woody leave this team, it is back to the drawing board and they will not make it to the 2nd round next season nor will they win 53 games. It will go bad fast and Al won’t re-sign when his time comes up. These Hawks are NOT far away, if we add a couple of pieces and have Woody and Joe back (PERIOD!!!)
If anyone needs not return it is you Jeff Schultz!!! You are dishonest and an jerk (again you know this!!!) because you know everything I said is true however you try to make it seem like it’s coach Woodson’s fault. I pray for you Jeff…I do, because you play dirty pool and your are a fraud!!! Your day will come my friend. I wonder how you would like it if people would come to your job and “Booo”? Or write non sense about you constantly. There have many better writers out there and I for the life of me don’t know how in the world you keep your job. You have to be ten times worst in your profession than Woodson is in his and can we all agree at least on that Blog world?
Good luck Hawks!!! Go Joe and Go coach Woodson!!!…Boooooo Jeff Schultz, boo!!!…Does anyone agree with me that Jeff is worst than Woodson and Joe becasue he is dishonest?…I would love your thoughts?…
please make it stop
May 10th, 2010
9:56 pm
not bad, after the 11-2 start for the Magic, the Hawks are on a 17-11 run. Better call a TO, Van Gundy.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
9:56 pm
i can’t take anymore
Jeff D.
May 10th, 2010
9:56 pm
I’ll eat pork if the Hawks could pull off a nice pick and roll.
-_-
May 10th, 2010
9:57 pm
kill yourself Joe Johnson
why didn’t Josh pass the ball to Jamal? for the 3
please make it stop
May 10th, 2010
9:57 pm
Hey Snowman, take your medicine. Seriously, you’re delusional.
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
9:58 pm
A little fight from the Hawks — trailed by as much as 17 in third quarter, get it down to 9 before 4th, 75-66
MenVsBoys
May 10th, 2010
9:58 pm
McHale says, “We’ll see what the Hawks are made of in this 4th Quarter.” wince. cringe.
-_-
May 10th, 2010
10:00 pm
every time JJ’s face appears on TV, i show him my MIDDLE FINGER.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:02 pm
thank God Marvin is on the bench
Alien in ATL
May 10th, 2010
10:03 pm
Ready everyone for the traditional 4th quarter melt-down?
@ Snowman: at least those teams didn’t embarrass themselves in doing so!!!
Jeff D.
May 10th, 2010
10:03 pm
The 3 ball is killing us.
-_-
May 10th, 2010
10:03 pm
I rather see Joe on the bench.
once again he’s killing us!!
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:04 pm
JS has absolutely no basketball iq
MenVsBoys
May 10th, 2010
10:04 pm
wince
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
10:05 pm
Joe is unofficially 1-for-6 in the second half.
-_-
May 10th, 2010
10:05 pm
Well its over, orlando is finally going to put us out of our misery!
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:07 pm
damn..why can’t we ever get lucky in the draft and get a dwight howard or LeBron. are we cursed? We need a superstar in this town again…haven’t had one since 2007
Alien in ATL
May 10th, 2010
10:07 pm
Didn’t I hear Woodson just saying that they have to defend better in the 4th? Yeah, too bad his team didn’t understand what the words “defense” and “hard” and “shooters” mean.
I am sad to say, but this is for real how far Woodson could have brought them! He can’t clone his brain to put it into those clueless losers, can he?
buick59
May 10th, 2010
10:07 pm
LETS GO HAWKS!!!!! OUT THE DOOR!!!!
-_-
May 10th, 2010
10:07 pm
I feel like punching Joe
Steve
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
To this point, a much better game – their guys are so much more rested than our guys however – if we could pull this out…..at least I’m satisfied with the effort to this point. Let’s see if we can finish this out!
Old School
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
According to the promo that ran during the break, “The Atlanta Hawks care about the community.” Really. The past 3.75 games say otherwise. Looks like they don’t care about themselves either.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
one pass and shoot
Harry The Hawk
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
@they’re too light…
Great points…goes right back to JJ.
Heard a radio interview with Crawford at the end of last week where he was asked whether their are leaders on the team. He proceeded to mention everyone’s ‘leadership qualities’ (i.e., Horford is vocal when called upon, he and Josh are emotional) and when he described Joe he charecterized him as the team’s ‘quiet leader’.
WTF??? Quiet leader when you’re getting blown out by 30 and 43 points!
Get a lunch pail and some vocal cords in here quick,,,and bring an equally-equipped coach while you’re at it.
The Bandit
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
hey snowman, put your ears on. you suck man.
Hawks vs. Magic
May 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
Pretty sure this is Joe and Woody’s final 9.5 minutes with the Hawks
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:09 pm
jesus
Steve
May 10th, 2010
10:09 pm
And not lose by 25+! By the way, think of the growing and maturing I hope we’re doing, maybe it will pay off in a couple of years.
Alien in ATL
May 10th, 2010
10:09 pm
anyone noticing the Magic is showing mercy to the Hawks? they don’t even try to get offensive rebounds anymore!
todd grantham
May 10th, 2010
10:10 pm
vick, who was that?
Jeff Schultz
May 10th, 2010
10:10 pm
That should do it — Dwight power move inside. Magic 9-0 to open fourth quarter and open up 18 pt lead.
Quittin Time!monddktedd99@aol.com
May 10th, 2010
10:10 pm
The hawks quit after game 1. They are just around to collect playoff checks, then they will be off on vacation to the Caribbean, laughing about all the millions they make for showing up at games!!! Keep funneling the millions to these losers atlanta chumps!!!! They need more bling!
Dandy Don
May 10th, 2010
10:10 pm
Turn out the lights ….. The parties over …….
They're too light in the pants
May 10th, 2010
10:10 pm
Orlando is showing their teeth and the Hawks are tucking their tails. If a team is a reflection of it’s coach then Stan is a Pit Bull and Woody is a Show Poodle.
heartofdarkness
May 10th, 2010
10:11 pm
In watching two playoff series in which the Hawks played, not one announcer, color commentator or studio host has said the Hawks played harder, or were better prepared than the opponent. TNT and ESPN need to get new on air talent.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:11 pm
we look like a JV team compared to the magic
MenVsBoys
May 10th, 2010
10:11 pm
I mean really, How non-existent can a team be?
cheshire
May 10th, 2010
10:12 pm
it literally eats at my soul that we have had a professional basketball team in this city for nearly 50 years and have failed so consistently year in and year out for so long… and yet Orlando has had a team for less than 20 years and they just have great teams and players fall in their lap on a regular basis. it just seems so incredibly unfair having to be a sports fan in this town. i’m not sure if it’s just bad luck in the lottery, if our team is THAT poorly run, or what. it is killing my desire to ever watch sports again.
'sic vick
May 10th, 2010
10:12 pm
he’s just as disgusting and sick a ticket as ever
Dandy Don
May 10th, 2010
10:12 pm
Some tough questions need to be asked after this one Jeff.
Jason Heyward
May 10th, 2010
10:13 pm
Vick Supporter, you’re saying I’m not a super-star?!
Dead Hawk
May 10th, 2010
10:13 pm
I almost got excited when I saw Vince Carter come down hard on his knee. I have held a grudge against him since 1997. I had a Mountain Dew cap with North Carolina and he choked in the NCAA title game costing me a cornucpoia of goodies!
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:13 pm
13 3s for the magic,lol
Dandy Don
May 10th, 2010
10:13 pm
Tommy Hanson is dealing tonight.
Jeff D.
May 10th, 2010
10:14 pm
The 3 ball has officially killed us.
NCBravesFan
May 10th, 2010
10:14 pm
Schultz is writing the epitaph article right about now.
Vick Supporter
May 10th, 2010
10:14 pm
lewis wide open again