Horford leads way, as Hawks survive for another day
Al Horford, in his first start in four months, was Hawks' best player early and late against Boston. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
With his dual-personality basketball team facing playoff elimination Tuesday night, Hawks coach Larry Drew started a center (Al Horford) who was coming off his first game in nearly four months and a forward (Marvin Williams) who had played his way on to the bench for much of this season.
“We wanted to give a different look and see if it jump-starts us,” Drew said.
This is where the average Hawks fan inserted the just-rearranging-the-chairs-on-the-Titanic joke. Because, well, what is an Atlanta sports fan if not someone with a sense of impending doom?
But something weird happened. Actually, more like something Hawks happened. Philips Arena was Sybil Central again.
They trailed by 10 early. They led by 12 late. They blew the lead (of course). They got it back (of course).
They led 87-83 with a minute left, but left Paul Pierce wide open for a 3-pointer (seriously?). Then they led by one point and had the ball with 10 seconds left, but Josh Smith threw away an inbounds pass to Rajon Rondo (Smith later on Rondo: “He’s got long fingers.”), only to knock away a pass at the other end as time expired.
Sorry. Did you lose your stomach about seven turns back?
But hey, the Hawks won 87-86. They live to play another game. That’s probably more than most saw coming after self-immolation two days earlier in Boston.
The Celtics still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. They certainly will be favored to close this out Thursday night. But speculate at your own risk.
As for Drew’s lineup decisions, try this: Horford, back from a torn pectoral, finished with a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Williams made three of six three-point attempts — the rest of the team was 4-for-10. On a night when Smith and Joe Johnson started dreadfully but finished strong, Horford was the difference.
Horford was expected to play 15 to 20 minutes. He ended up playing over 41.
“I didn’t want to bring him back that early in the fourth, but it was a close game and you could feel the momentum shifting,” Drew said. “He was a superman for us down the stretch.”
So was this: After making only 4 of 16 shots to open the game and shooting 35.7 percent in the first half, the Hawks shots 61.3 percent in the second half.
The Hawks were a resilient team during the season. So, yes, even given the backdrop of so many franchise failures in past seasons, it was stunning to see this bunch in Game 4 on Sunday morph back into the decipherable blob that lost four consecutive second-round playoff games to Orlando by a cumulative 101 points in 2010.
How does a team, knowing what’s on the line, find itself trailing by 24 points midway through the second quarter of a playoff game?
The hangover seemed to carry into Tuesday. Johnson, taking his usual public flogging for postseason failures, said following the morning shootaround, “We haven’t had a game like Game 4 in quite some time. It was mind-boggling, honestly. I’m still puzzled by that.”
He should try the view from the stands.
It wasn’t much better at the start of this one. Smith missed his first eight shots, too many of the what-are-you-doing variety. The Hawks started the game shooting 4-for-16. They trailed early by 10 points, 28-18.
Mocking shouts from the stands could be heard after Johnson misses (although it was difficult to tell if they were coming from Celtics fans or Hawks fans). He had complained he needed “more touches” after the last game, and the Hawks bent over backwards to appease him. At one point in the half, Jeff Teague passed up a wide open 3-point attempt to feed Johnson, who also was open. He missed.
But the Hawks found a spark late in the half. They went on a 14-3 run after consecutive three-pointers by Williams (two), Johnson and Teague, taking their first lead at 40-37 since 3-2.
Did the skies just open up?
Like so many things Hawks-related, it was an agonizing tease. They built a 12-point lead in the third quarter, only to implode. Four turnovers enabled the Celtics to close the quarter on a 10-0 run and the lead to 66-64. They did that with Rondo leading the way and Pierce on the bench resting his sore knee.
But the Hawks made another run. Teague fed Horford inside to break an 83-all tie. The next time down the court, Horford made a 6-foot floater to make the score 87-83, setting up the final frantic seconds.
Drew wanted to believe the Hawks could come back from 3-1.
“Like I’ve told our players,” he said, “I think we’ve had a great season despite [Game 3], and that game is no reflection on the rest of our season. We watched film, we talked about it and learned from it and now it’s time to move on.”
They did that. No telling what happens next.
By Jeff Schultz
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106 comments Add your comment
IceColdATLien
May 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
We just saw Al officially take over the leadership of this team… much to JJ’s delight, I would imagine. I can’t hate on Smoove for the crappy inbound pass at the end, I place the blame on coaches for having Josh inbounding the rock when they have TMac, Marv, and other better-passing tall/long guys.
Don’t let the ATL boys win game six… cuz game seven will be the resting place of the original “Big Three”
IceColdATLien
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
I don’t do “1st!!!!”
Jason
May 8th, 2012
11:01 pm
Thank goodness this ownership group sued itself to get Joe Johnson here. If not for him, the team might actually make it past the first round this year.
IceColdATLien
May 8th, 2012
11:02 pm
“Because, well, what is an Atlanta sports fan if not someone with a sense of impending doom?”
Jeff, that was the best encapsulation of my mindset as an ATL fan that I’ve ever heard… very nice.
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:03 pm
I’ll take it!!!
IceColdATLien
May 8th, 2012
11:04 pm
Jason, I’m not sure what you’re talking about since the Hawks (along with the Celts and Lakers) are one of only three squads to make the second round each of the past three years… get a clue, Cuz.
5150 UOAD
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
this team has as much BITE as Roundfield and HEART as Drew.
Rajon Rondo
May 8th, 2012
11:09 pm
Look at my goofy face in that picture.
5150 UOAD
May 8th, 2012
11:10 pm
All ATLANTA sports teams need to wear uniforms close to a Dominatrix outfit. They tease us, beat us. take our money and leave us unfulfilled.
Larry Nalls
May 8th, 2012
11:14 pm
I told you it Could Happen…ha
Ryder
May 8th, 2012
11:18 pm
5150 UOAD, best post ever!
It’s good that they actually won a game because Rondo wanted to be the hero. At least Horford proved that he is Atlanta’s only reliable player from game to game.
TC
May 8th, 2012
11:23 pm
In the photo above, Rondo looks like the Hawks comentator who sits next to stinger, what’s his name?
Eb
May 8th, 2012
11:24 pm
Great play by Al tonight. He was clearly the difference between extending the season and going home.
Joe had another aberage night- far from the superstar he’s supposed to be. Atlanta teams should avoid people from Arkansas in the future as the past has not boded well- JJ, Jamaal Anderson (DE Falcons), Bobby Petrino.
Gwinnett Fred
May 8th, 2012
11:29 pm
Serious question:
Why in the world is Smith in the game when the key is: (1) ball handling, (2) intelligent decision making, and/or (3) good free throw shooting needed as other team will foul?
Dead serious – he would be the last person I would have inbounding the ball in the key spot where he almost lost the game by himself. This was after doing his best to blow a 10 point lead in the 3rd quarter by, on consecutive posessions, 1- dribbled the ball upcourt and turned it over, 2- let his opponent drive rgo right past him for a stickback while still pouting before 3- trying to make up for it by drilling a 3, but instead laid another brick.
I have never seen a player with so much talent be such a total loser. Thank God for Horford!
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:32 pm
If Dominatrix beats you and you’re “unfilled?” Maybe that ain’t your kind of a party!
TC
May 8th, 2012
11:32 pm
Gwinnet Fred you are a loser. We would not be in the play offs without JS high level of play all season
Marcus
May 8th, 2012
11:33 pm
Schultzie,
Glad we won …. whew!
On that 3-ball by Pierce … Marvin didn’t look to be at fault when I saw it again on replay courtesy of ESPN …. somehow Marvin was left alone trying to guard both Pierce and Pietrus (who had the 3-ball corner pocket shot on the near baseline) and was caught trying to guard both, leaning towards Pietrus. I think Josh or JJ left his man to double-down on Rondos penetration or failed to rotate, which left Marvin in a lose-lose situtation.
The percentages are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in favor of BOS pulling this series out, but we did show some mettle.
I still lament the front-rimmed jumper that Willie had in Game 3 with 14 secs. left when the game was knotted @ 80. Hit that shot and this could have been a different series, despite giving away Game 2 with Rondo on the bench.
Gwinnett Fred
May 8th, 2012
11:33 pm
BTW – If Johnson was wondering how long it had been since they played like dog crap like they did in game 4, he must have a short memory. The last Sunday game in the regular season was a 100% disaster getting blown out at home vs. Toronto and it’s 3 10-day contract starters!
“Oh yea”, said Johnson. “Now I remember that game”. Frigging idiot.
DarthVesper
May 8th, 2012
11:34 pm
I have faith that the Hawks will win game 6!
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:34 pm
“I have never seen a player with so much talent be such a total loser. ”
You live in a town where Nick Esasky, Aundray Bruce, and Isiah Rider applied their trade, are you serious?
Jamaaliver
May 8th, 2012
11:35 pm
Josh Smith is TERRIBLE!!!
They have to trade this guy in the off-season, right Jeff?
Can anyone else remember the last time he more than 50% of his shots?
Dr. Warren
May 8th, 2012
11:36 pm
I give them a 0% chance of winning the series–they are, after all, the same schizoid Hawks–but at least Horford is back and making them look better and giving ASG a reason not to make any changes in the off-season so next year we will have a 25-50% chance make it to Round 2. NBA purgatory.
Gwinnett Fred
May 8th, 2012
11:38 pm
@ TC:
Why don’t you try COMPREHENDING what you are reading BEFORE making a stupid statement.
My point is that he should not have been inbounding the ball or even be in the game under the set of circumstances the game was at with 10.9 seconds to play.
I think he should have been an all star and certainly we wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him – BUT he has the ability to play selfish, stupid basketball at the worst opportune time – that does not win games!
Marcus
May 8th, 2012
11:39 pm
I agree w/Gwinnett Fred to some degree …. with 10 sec. left and no fouls to give, we all knew BOS was gonna put somebody on the FT line. I was begging LD to sub for Smoove, just for foul shooting %. The turnover, now that was unexpected drama for the last few seconds … unnecessary and palpatation-inducing drama.
One question … it seems like LD is using almost all his bench except Ivan. Pargo and WG have gotten minutes in recent games , although I don’t think Pargo got time in Game 5. Collins has resumed his reg. season seat on the bench. I don’t remember if McGrady got game tonight, seems like LD rode the starters + spot duty from WG. Dampier and Heinrich.
Gwinnett Fred
May 8th, 2012
11:41 pm
@JSS
Talent wise, Smith has more than any of those you listed with the possible exception of Bruce.
Seriously, if you are going to trash the Atlanta teams like you love to do, you should be able to come up with a better example of a great talent that sucked than Nick Esasky – come on, I expect more from you than that. Be creative man, Brad Komminsk or Jeff Francoeur maybe – but Nick Esasky??? LOL
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:44 pm
That is on the coach, he’s the worst free throw shooter on the floor but your only player capable of guarding the tin… You take that risk, I guess Hal Greer who was great player should not have inbounded the ball against the Celts either? Geez, Drew should have gone offense defense with McGrady, but hey you want to kick Smith…
Big Lou
May 8th, 2012
11:45 pm
LOL @ RONDO IN THAT PICK!
He looks like he just saw something yummy…
TC
May 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
It was a bad coaching decision that had Josh inbounding the ball. So blame Drew not Josh
Marcus
May 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
crap, forgot the question (LOL)
What predicted adjustments will we make (and BOS make) for Game 6? We shortened our bench, and put our season-opening starting lineup out on the floor ….. we don’t have any margin for error so any chess move that Doc Rivers makes for Game 6, we have to counter immediately or break out the fishing poles…
I would look for a Paul Pierce rising, so whatever scheme or motivation can be used to keep him from going NBA Jam-esque “on fiyah” in Game 6, LD will earn his playoff paycheck. Seemed like Bradley and Pierce didn’t get off, and the BOS bench shooters (Dooling, Marquise Daneils) didn’t get a lot of run.
We pissed away our lead (tied @ 83) with two straight, Iso-Joe dribble the clock down to a tough shot possessions, when having Teague be aggressive and drive had been the catalyst all night for good shots and good assists.
Get to Game 7 and all bets are off.
5150 UOAD
May 8th, 2012
11:48 pm
JSS I don’t know what “unfilled” is. The being whipped isn’t the HAPPY ENDING. Maybe you need to stick to The Eagle or Bulldogs in Midtown Atlanta.
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:56 pm
I don’t trash Atlanta teams, I point out when they aren’t up to mustard you cherry picker… I like a number of players on the Falcons, they just aren’t the one’s you and your ilk drool over… I don’t gulp down your Chipper Jones hooey (post 2004) either, I’m critical of not realizing when opportunity is in front of you! Komminsek was potential (mostly TBS hype), Esasky had a real resume, but the Braves were too stupid to have a Ear, Nose, Throat exam done on a multi-million investment! They got want they deserved! Rider was a nut case, but hey Babock liked sleeping with the devi! Look, Smith has his flaws, I’ve learned live with them when he is willing to warrior up and play on 1 and 1/2 legs!l
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:57 pm
POAD, you needed to get better analogies… And more lotion or KY!
JSS
May 9th, 2012
12:03 am
Great talent sucked, Dude, you can list the great list the “great talent” who played for the Braves between Oct 9, 1974-April 30, 1991 on three fingers (Niekro, Murphy, and the ushers in the Upper deck cause they stayed awake!) …
What's gone rondo?
May 9th, 2012
12:08 am
Joe makes a bad team better, a good team play worse. Josh, Al, Marvin, and Teague would play better without Joe! Let’s play through Joe. Let’s give Joe more touches!!!!!!!
rollo lawson
May 9th, 2012
12:11 am
Did anyone notice that Drew called for the “Iso-Joe” play and not Joe Johnson? Why take the ball out of Teague’s hands. Drew, for whatever reason does not trust Teague in the crunch.
When will Drew get the nuts to tell his big men to get the ball into the point guard’s hands after the rebound and just run the floor. How many turnovers did Josh and Al commit trying to impersonate Magic Johnson? You can’t do that with Rondo lurking!!
Play and coach smart basketball Thursday and we will play in Game 7 Sat. If you play out of control and coach like an idiot on thursday, you will get embarassed and the season will be over.
JSS
May 9th, 2012
12:13 am
Rollo, it’s Larry Drew…
jlewis
May 9th, 2012
12:14 am
seriously rondo?
Mr. P
May 9th, 2012
12:23 am
I was at the game tonight, and the atmosphere was awesome in the 4th quarter. It was great to see all of the Celtics fans sitting on their butts through most of the 4th. Of course, we made it interesting down the stretch, as always. Let’s go steal one in Boston and bring it back home for game 4. Can we believe in this team??? I hope so…GO HAWKS!
Greg
May 9th, 2012
12:36 am
3 reasons to blow up the team:
(1) Teague is a score first point who doesn’t make the players around him better. He is not a leader.
(2) Joe Johnson, the teams supposed franchise player, is selfish and has no leadership qualities. He not only doesn’t make anyone better around him, he makes them worse.
(3) Josh Smith still plays like an 18 year old in many of the moments of the game that matter most. It’s hard not to hold your breath every time he touches the ball.
Horford is the only true winner on the team and he proved that again tonight.
With the issues relating to Teague, Johnson and Smith, it’s not surprising at all that the Hawks had an awful record vs teams with records of .500 and above…and that obviously isn’t going to change as long as those guys represent the core of the team.
They won’t win this series because they don’t believe they can win this series.
5150 UOAD
May 9th, 2012
12:43 am
JSS Brett Butler, Horner, Washington?
Mike
May 9th, 2012
12:48 am
@greg – you cant just blow up a team at will. JJ is signed to a max contract. Think anyone is going to take on that for his production? You have to find someone to trade him to or wait out the contract. Meanwhile, you cant go over the cap signing free agents which means the Hawks only legit option is to keep this team together. You can go over the cap signing players on your roster already.
Teague is too young to be knocking like that. Smith has improved considerably this year. Here’s what blowing up the team will do:
Leave us with Joe Johnson and worse players around him than what is already here. JJ is not going anywhere with that contract. Marvin Williams is also still a Hawk because no one wants him for his money either.
Jamaaliver
May 9th, 2012
12:50 am
@Greg-
I don’t disagree with your assessments about Smoove, Teague and JJ. But you have to give them credit for accomplishing what they did during the season without Horford.
Teague is a score first PG, but this was his first season as starter. He was solid with lots of room for improvement.
JJ is simply overpaid. He’s still our top scorer and most reliable option in crunch time.
Josh Smith sucks, though. Not a winner. Anytime a boneheaded mistake is made by ATL, you just KNOW he’s a part of it. He needs to go.
Mike
May 9th, 2012
12:51 am
The Hawks have been devastated by injury in this series. Despite that, this team is an OT loss away from being up 3-2 going back to Boston. If Smith and Horford had both been healthy for the whole series, the Hawks win 4-1. No way they lose game 2 or 3 without being short handed.
rollo lawson
May 9th, 2012
12:52 am
If you have a problem with the way Teague plays, you don’t know ish about basketball. Any idiot can see that this team’s problems center around Larry Drew. He constantly gets out-coached by the better coaches in the league. But to give him credit, he didn’t mess this game up tonight.
JSS
May 9th, 2012
12:53 am
Horner was fat when he got to Atlanta, and fatter the day he left… Everyone within ear shout of the ASU campus knew Bob could not stay away from the dinner plate, training plate, or the buffet plate! I never lost sleep over Horner… Brett Butler didn’t waste his talent, he discovered it in Cleveland and exploited it in SF and LA! You got your money’s worth from Claudell, he was an average baseball player…
rollo lawson
May 9th, 2012
12:53 am
Why is Willie Green getting minutes? I’d suit up Jerry Stackhouse for Game 6 and put Collins in street clothes. His Hawk’s career might be over pretty soon.
rollo lawson
May 9th, 2012
12:57 am
A real coach like Jerry Sloan is all Josh Smith needs.
Replace Collins and Dampier with center Bernard James, out of FSU. He reminds me of Serge Ibaka. And sign a SG/SF with Hinrich’s money.
jaceylow
May 9th, 2012
1:02 am
trade everyone except AL Hartford and Jeff Teage. Joe Johnson is not a leader. This Atlanta hawks needs a leader , until then we are not going to go nowhere.
SAL
May 9th, 2012
1:08 am
Blah Blah Blah…so what. They will lose game 6 in Boston and this will be over. The Hawks blew their chances in the game 2 loss. Had they won that game, they would be up 3-2 right now.
Bravesfan79
May 9th, 2012
1:17 am
Hawks put together their best game yet and pull out game 6. Then come back to AtL where anything can happen!
PS… having Smith in those last 20 seconds was just dumb. Poor freethrow shooter, not the best passer.
CamiloAtlanta
May 9th, 2012
1:18 am
Just setting us up for more heartbreak. Six times out of six the Hawks have left us at the playoff altar against the clover-heads. Call me doom-and-gloom, but it’s being a realist first. As much as I love this team, they are always overmatched, and it is coaching’s fault. So give them credit this game, then blame them the next. There will be no game 7.
TROLL PATROLL
May 9th, 2012
1:36 am
5150 ought to know about TROLLAMATRIX!
JASon
May 9th, 2012
1:39 am
Rajon Rondo. I’m glad the hawks won but what a dynamic and intersting player this guy is. What a story, just his makeup and the way he plays. Its just too bad he has to represent such a piece of crap organization, speaking of which how awesome is it that the lakers lost.
Preston
May 9th, 2012
1:51 am
i’m seriously tired and i’ve had it with the josh smith hatred. No, the guy isn’t a world beater, but he went 18ppg an 10 reb per game this year, he stretches the floor, and brings a crap ton of energy. he is better than at least 25 other guys that start at his position in the league. As much as I like the guy, If he can’t be appreciated in this city, then maybe he should go somewhere else. He deserves to be appreciated. He gives it his all every game (and he’s played practically every game over the last 4-5 ears).
JG
May 9th, 2012
2:40 am
Blog – Atlanta Hawks: Yearly Pretender: http://bit.ly/atlhawks
Truck Robinson
May 9th, 2012
3:01 am
Braves were up 3-2 on the Twins–anything can happen — well Minnesota cheated but none the less– Go Hawks– shock the world
Doc Rivers
May 9th, 2012
3:36 am
Josh Smithis a loser!Hewas to be a point guard…he dribble up court after he grabs a lose ball. He jacks up three” and any other jumpspot more than 12 feet. He cant inbound the ball. He pouts about everything. Lets the Bobcats have him and pray you can find another Al. I really dislike J Smoove maybe he will hold out for a trade. LOSER Smith playing for a loser organization.
hawks d
May 9th, 2012
4:12 am
@ Jeff Schultz
I liked your message at the end “No telling what happens next.”
After all the speculation on this series, I am honestly baffled. Which team will we see on Thursday night??
I think if we concentrate on two things we have a chance :
1. KNOCK OUT DEFENSE – I mean flies on sh..t defense
2. POINTS IN THE PAINT
hawks d
May 9th, 2012
4:15 am
I think if we concentrate on two things we have a chance :
1. KNOCK OUT DEFENSE – I mean flies on sh..t defense
2. POINTS IN THE PAINT
clay
May 9th, 2012
4:20 am
If you are a true hawks fan then you know you have to take the good with the bad with Josh. If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t even be in the playoffs. It’s just something you have to take with him. Glad we pulled out the win, but I do think all they did was prolong the inevitable. If somehow they pull out Game 6. Oh man the highlight factory is going to go insane for game 7
Eric C.
May 9th, 2012
4:24 am
JSS,
Brook Jacoby, Bruce Sutter (the million dollar bench warmer), Komminsk, etc…the1980s Braves blew it whether they were departing or arriving. Players like Mahler, Oberkfell, Treadway, and Moreno inspired me though.
Go Hawks!
ryan
May 9th, 2012
4:40 am
Nice win by the hawks but to call the Celtics a piece of crap organization is ignorant
Atlanta sports fans would love to have an NBA championship, let alone seventeen
RA
May 9th, 2012
6:51 am
Let’s be clear. The Celtics and the Lakers will ALWAYS be the two grand old organizations of the NBA. If an organization like the Hawks is going to get any level of respect, they’re going to have to earn it, and there will never be a better time than now.
heartofdarkness
May 9th, 2012
7:03 am
We rope-a-doped them. Or is that vice-versa?
Larry
May 9th, 2012
7:07 am
One game. Just one, single game is the difference between 3-2 and 2-3. They just totally blew it in game two and that one game will gnaw at them all summer…as it should.
This is not a championship fabric team; this is a team of individuals coached by a cadaver whose best advice is “I’m going to be a little birdie on their shoulders” and whisper great motivations in their ears. This team of individuals has needed a more intelligent and urgent coach for years but we keep hiring cupcakes or a “little birdie.”
(Temporary pause to puke).
Like I said from the beginning, Celtics in 6, followed by another offseason “we couldn’t overcome our injuries.” Well, little birdie, the Celtics showed you how to overcome injuries and suspensions by wiping your lazy, inept azzes all over your home court in game two.
Sal Manchino
May 9th, 2012
7:14 am
Sloppy 4th qtr. for Hawks. Nobody was guarding Rondo & Allen. Up by 10 plus points you know Allen will be shooting 3’s. Just keep a man on him.
Sal Manchino
May 9th, 2012
7:16 am
I predict a 20 point Celtics win next game. Will Joe Johnson show up to play ?
Larry
May 9th, 2012
7:19 am
Sal Manchino
May 9th, 2012
7:14 am
“Sloppy 4th qtr. for Hawks. Nobody was guarding Rondo & Allen. Up by 10 plus points you know Allen will be shooting 3’s. Just keep a man on him.”
Sal, that’s on the Little Birdie!
Sal Manchino
May 9th, 2012
7:21 am
Drive to the hoop and kick to open man for short jumpshot. Its really that easy.
Sal Manchino
May 9th, 2012
7:22 am
Picknroll with Teague & HORFORD.
GwinnettDad
May 9th, 2012
7:34 am
What difference did last night make? The Hawks will play one more game before their season ends. Big deal. A big yawn for a mediocre team that folds every year come playoff time.
GwinnettDad
May 9th, 2012
7:41 am
Incidentally, the problem with blogs such as this one is that ignorant fools, such as JASon, show up here. The Celtics under Russell won 11 out of 13 championships, unparalleled in sports. That was before the days of Bird, McHale and Parrish with at least 3 NBA rings. The Celtics have an incredible legacy, one that the Hawks could only match if they won 14 NBA championships in the next 20 years or so. But stupid fools just simply shoot off their stupid mouths, and prove just how stupid some Atlanta Hawk fans are. An embarassment for the entire city from a jerk who probably can’t find his fanny with both hands.
Nico100
May 9th, 2012
8:33 am
Hawks played good team ball last night!! The fans showed up big too and mentally Horford is ready for the battle!!!
For you Joe Johnson haters…. We had to sign Joe and he has won alot of games and made alot of big shots for the Hawks!! Sometimes he is hot and sometimes he isnt… That’s what you get with Joe but you can never count him out and he draws defenders and double teams which allows marvin to hit some 3’s or event Josh to hit that jump shot he has been hitting all season..
If Teague keeps penatrating and breaking down the D we will be straight. it took the Hawks a long time to get back to this point and ASG needs to keep this team together.
When the Hawks are on they can compete and beat any team in the league.. Glad to have Horford back!!!
CP3
May 9th, 2012
8:36 am
Keep Al, Teague, & Josh. Everyone else is available, what we have here is the results of the great Billy Knight era, wasting picks on Marvin, Josh Childress, & Sheldon Williams, if even 1 of the Williams picks panned out we would be in alot better situation, too bad we didnt take Deron Williams instead of Knights idea of stockpiling forwards!
SWAT Native
May 9th, 2012
8:39 am
Very exciting night in the Highlight Factory. What was interesting to me was that they gave out Hawks playoff flags as fans were LEAVING the game. Thinking about it later, I realized that they probably planned to give these out for Game 7, but decided to give them out last night because they don’t expect Game 7 to happen. That’s messed up.
Double Zero Eight
May 9th, 2012
8:59 am
I have no complaints. They won and that is all that matters!
Horford did a lot to silence his critics in the win. I wish Marvin
could play like that every game. The team actually listened to
LD for a change. Too much drama at the end for me.
South ga boy in the atl
May 9th, 2012
9:02 am
“he has long fingers.”. Lmao. Jeff can’t make that stuff up. Lol. Don’t all you Smoove apologists see. He missed his first jacks…I mean shots and Rondo has long fingers. It’s JUDGEMENT or the lack there of that kills this team every time and NOBODY BUT NOBODY represents that better than Smooooove. TRADE HIM THIS OFFSEASON AND IT WILL BE ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION…AND BY ADDITION TOO
Bobby Cox
May 9th, 2012
9:17 am
Hey 5150 UOAD:
Brett Butler as a 24 year old played 3 seasons in ATL, the third the only time he was a full time starter, and he batted that year .281 with 39 stolen bases as a 26 year old. Get your facts straight!
yeahsure
May 9th, 2012
9:21 am
ASG needs to somehow unload Joe and his contract at all costs this offseason. This team can’t move forward with him. Imagine a real star with pieces like Horford and Josh.
Curly
May 9th, 2012
9:32 am
Yeah, you want to trade Josh? Don’t want his playoff-leading 14.8 rebounds (Millsap is second with 11.0)? Don’t want his playoff-leading 4 double-doubles? Don’t want his 16.5 points of playoff scoring? Think that will be easy to replace? Addition by subtraction?
Lugnut
May 9th, 2012
9:44 am
@JSS- you are demented.
biz
May 9th, 2012
9:51 am
In true hawks fashion they will likely win game 6 in Boston (getting folks excited) and lose game 7 at home in a blowout. Go Hawks!
Blue
May 9th, 2012
10:00 am
Why does Josh Smith insist on bringing the ball up the court after a defensive rebound? Why do the Hawks half court offense consist of ONE guy dribbling down the clock before taking an errant long range jumper or passing to some other guy with two seconds left on the shot clock? Why does Josh dribble the ball off his foot, then turns to ref and start screaming?
The Hawks really remind me of the guys playing pick-up ball at the parks. No passing, no half-court sets … just a lot of one-on-one. You always have a couple of ball hogs who never pass the ball and take every shot. So when the other guys get a rebound, what do they do? They take it coast-to-coast, refuse to pass it, and usually jack up a bad shot, because they feel like they will never get the ball back … Josh Smith anyone?
Trojan
May 9th, 2012
10:01 am
Hortford was a true leader last night. He was impressive.
JJ can not be allowed to bring the ball up the court to bog down the offense. He simply is not capable. (Larry, this falls on you).
Teague can get anywhere at any time. Give him the ball and everyone else gets better.
Larry: Don;t be so predictable on the inbound passes. They guarded JJ and you still tried to force the pass to him.
Alvin still has fire that the team can use. Don’t forget to use him.
PMC
May 9th, 2012
10:03 am
I thought Joe played a pretty good game. He didn’t score a lot, but they moved the ball well in this one played agressive defense and I thought Joe made the right play more often than not. The Celtics left Al alone and swamped Joe all night.
PMC
May 9th, 2012
10:06 am
Josh Smith is hurt, and he still had a double double and made clutch buckets down the stretch.
Why are people getting on him?
Trojan
May 9th, 2012
10:11 am
Anyone; Is ZaZa’s health improving? When can we expect him?
Lugnut
May 9th, 2012
10:11 am
It would do both Hawks and Josh well to part ways. I predict Hawks won’t miss him one bit and Josh will disappear into the sunset with his next team as Andruw Jones did when leaving the Braves. Josh is undisciplined and his playing style is awkward. He lacks consistency in both shooting and ball handling. Sorry JSS and other Josh sniffers here, NBA got it right again- Josh is not an All Star talent.
South ga boy in the atl
May 9th, 2012
10:14 am
Yes Curly, I don’t want his untimely and ridiculous 20-25 ft jump shots. I don’t want his CONTINUED bringing the ball up the court on fast breaks only to turn the ball over even though he’s been told a thousand times not to do it. I don’t want his crying to the ref that he got fouled while his man run down the court for an easy jam. I wouldn’t miss his crazy “try to the thread the needle” and throw the ball away. Yea I won’t miss that
Time
May 9th, 2012
10:29 am
Typical Hawks. The ultimate carrot dangling on the end of a string team. And while everyone is loving on AL. He did have a great game, looked like he hasn’t been hurt. And that’s the problem. If he can look that good in his first full game back…then where has he been for the last 2 weeks when they needed him with Zaza hurt and starting Twin. If he was that good yesterday, he could have been better than what we were starting for the entire series.
CONservative Johnson
May 9th, 2012
10:52 am
PMC, because it is easy. They conveniently overlook that. They even fail to give him any credit with playing D after the turnover; Al didn’t do it by himself.
By the way, on a lot of turnovers, the guards fail to do their jobs. There are many times where they either fail to go towards the ball, pay no attention to someone trying to steal an inbound after makes, or just plain fail to get open (nobody got open on that inbound).
Therut
May 9th, 2012
10:53 am
Has Ivan Johnson been suspended?
PMC
May 9th, 2012
11:03 am
That’s true, If the Hawks would move better without the basketball more consistently I think they would make things a lot easier on themselves. Odd to see guys flat footed on an inbound play.
Eisendawg
May 9th, 2012
11:13 am
Rondo looks like GTBob when he spots a UGA blog. lol
Heisenberg
May 9th, 2012
11:51 am
JSS
May 8th, 2012
11:34 pm
“I have never seen a player with so much talent be such a total loser. ”
You live in a town where Nick Esasky, Aundray Bruce, and Isiah Rider applied their trade, are you serious?
One of these things is not like the others. Nick Esasky came down with a well documented case of Vertigo. He was a talented and hard-working good guy that in no way should be lumped in with the other 2.
Marco Pillow
May 9th, 2012
11:55 am
Hawks need a miracle to happen if they expect JJ to play hard…
Marco Pillow
May 9th, 2012
11:57 am
Why were Stackhouse & McGrady in street clothes?
JSS
May 9th, 2012
11:57 am
And your user name is L-u-g- NUT!!! Nobody is sniffing anyone’s jock (what kind of freak are you)! Get a life, live with his assets and his limitations… That is what adults do…
Eldrick
May 9th, 2012
12:02 pm
I bet Joe Johnson is looking forward to the off season. Some big house on a lake or at the beach.
JSS
May 9th, 2012
12:10 pm
Heisenberg, you missed the point about Esasky (not surprised), the Braves did not ask for an exam before signing him even though his vertigo had shown signs at the end of the 1989 season in Boston. Nick never revealed his symptoms when asked about it… He exacerbated the problem of his inner ear infection, by the time he got a proper diagnosis, the damage (with 1990 technology) was untreatable…
Playoffs Day 11: Hawks, Nuggets, Bulls stay alive; Pacers advance | Sports Book Gambling
May 9th, 2012
12:15 pm
[...] From Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “With his dual-personality basketball team facing playoff elimination Tuesday night, Hawks coach Larry Drew started a center (Al Horford) who was coming off his first game in nearly four months and a forward (Marvin Williams) who had played his way on to the bench for much of this season. “We wanted to give a different look and see if it jump-starts us,” Drew said. This is where the average Hawks fan inserted the just-rearranging-the-chairs-on-the-Titanic joke. Because, well, what is an Atlanta sports fan if not someone with a sense of impending doom? But something weird happened. Actually, more like something Hawks happened. Philips Arena was Sybil Central again. They trailed by 10 early. They led by 12 late. They blew the lead (of course). They got it back (of course). They led 87-83 with a minute left, but left Paul Pierce wide open for a 3-pointer (seriously?). Then they led by one point and had the ball with 10 seconds left, but Josh Smith threw away an inbounds pass to Rajon Rondo (Smith later on Rondo: “He’s got long fingers.”), only to knock away a pass at the other end as time expired. Sorry. Did you lose your stomach about seven turns back?” [...]
Eldrick
May 9th, 2012
12:25 pm
Joe Johnson is going to get his points. You just have to try to keep up.
Baked them for ASG
May 9th, 2012
12:37 pm
Josh smith can’t score JJ wants ball more//kincade needs a hug and shultz needs a wake up so we won barkley all ready sayin luck cause celtics let up at end……Believe me come game 6 Rondo be Tebowin …at half when scores 67-24 at half as Hawks Joe Johnson Josh smith do there we all god to thee here in a 124-70 romp over atlanta Larks(hawks) and another exit and excuse’s will appear..they blame us in atlanta for the lost to wait!
Khao$
May 9th, 2012
1:30 pm
While I’m on the bandwagon with those yelling the Hawks should trade Josh while his trade value is high and question his BB IQ, if you’ve watched this team all year, you know he (along with Zaza and the bench) are the reason we’re in the playoffs.
Josh carried this team when Horford went down and certain AJC writers, fans and and I said “it’s over” when Horford got injured. However, he carried this team, while no-show Joe had uneven showings throughout the year.
He took some dumb shots last night, but he also missed a bunch of dunks he normally makes (as the TNT commentators pointed out). His lift is clearly not there playing on a bum knee. Al had a great night. He willed us to win. However, I think some folks have short memories when it comes to Josh’s contributions. I think any angst towards him is misdirected and should be aimed toward J-J-J-J-Joe Johnson (in my Ryan Cameron voice). That said, we need to trade Josh while he has value.
jroll1
May 9th, 2012
2:55 pm
I totally agree with you Gwinnett Fred, and rollo lawson. My son and I were at the game, and on the last play he looks at me and ask…”whose’ idea is it to let Josh inbound the ball! And Larry gets outcoached all the time. I thought not using the bench would come back to haunt us. TMac 7 mins. not shots, Willie Green 6 mins, not shots…Pargo..dnp/cd, are you kidding. Pargo had been hitting big shots for us all season….
ATLBorn
May 9th, 2012
3:35 pm
Larry Drew is outcoached. T-Mac should definately see more playing time, he consistantly makes smart veteran decisions. He should definately have been on the floor late in the game over Marvin Williams. Joe Johnson may be overpaid but he is the best player on the Hawks team. It is poor offensive game planning not Joe’s fault. Coach calls iso Joe and when he get’s doubled near the end of the shot clock the only person he has to pass it to is a 4 or 5 out of position to make a good play. Josh Smith has the most upside of any Hawk and with proper coaching he could reach his potential. Horford is at his peak, there isn’t going to be much upside, he is the person that you trade….and any way to get rid of Marvin is a plus. The Hawks need a center, just some one to clog the lane, rebound, play defense, a slasher, and a spot up shooter. Teague needs coaching also, he is very tentative and looks un-nerved too much on the court…..plus his defense is atrocious.