Round 2, Game 1: A big night for LBJ, another no-go for Joe
CLEVELAND — They were here — well, not “here” geographically — last spring. The Hawks arrived in Boston at a time when Sports Illustrated was bannering the prospect of a Celtics-Lakers final on its cover, and they nearly gummed up the works. Now they’re on the shore of Lake Erie for what’s being billed as LeBron’s Coronation. So they know how difficult it is.
“It’s tough to steal a series,” Mike Woodson said before tipoff Tuesday. “I’ve seen it done in my 27 years in the NBA, but it’s very tough.”
The Hawks gave Boston all it could handle — in Atlanta. The games in TD Banknorth Garden were rather different and never close. The Celtics won by 23, 19, 25 and 34. And this Game 1, sad to say, tracked that regrettable path. The Hawks lost by 27 and didn’t lead after the first eight minutes.
True, they hung around for 2 1/2 quarters, whereupon the MVP left the visitors in his considerable wake. Credit the Hawks for making LeBron James work, but credit the man himself for working in a way no other player in the world can.
On the night David Stern handed James a big trophy, LBJ the MVP scored 34 points in the game’s first 36 minutes and made the Hawks realize — if they hadn’t already — that they’re in against bigger and better now. Dwyane Wade is a great player, but he’s not LeBron. Miami is a decent team, but it’s not LeBron’s team.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.And once again Joe Johnson’s team went off and left Joe Johnson. Or, more precisely, he let it leave without him. He’d scored 27 points in the final three quarters of Game 7 against the Heat, but he took four first-half shots (none the second quarter) and scored four first-half points. “I wasn’t trying to force it,” he said afterward. “I wanted to let the game come to me. And they did a good job with their defense and double-teams.”
Johnson tried to make something happen in the third period, but that’s exactly how it seemed: He was trying to do too much after having done too little. He finished with 11 points, 10 shots, six assists, five turnovers.
Josh Smith and Mike Bibby were again very good, but with Al Horford still limping — his right ankle stiffened in the third quarter — the Hawks cannot hope to beat Cleveland even once without Joe doing his Joe thing. It will take maximum production to make this a series and, with the exception of Game 7 against Miami, Johnson has spent this postseason doing the minimum.
Is he weary? He worked more regular-season minutes than any NBA player. “I’m tired,” Johnson said afterward, “but I’d never use that as an excuse. You play the whole season to get to the playoffs, and now that we’re in the second round, we need to act like we want to be here.”
We can understand if the Hawks feel they’ve met their goal by reaching Round 2, but they need to compete in this series for the good will flowing from Round 1 to linger into the summer. Game 1 was competitive for a little while, but in the end it wasn’t. They’ll need to do better in Game 2, or there might not be a Game 5.
“We have to play with a sense of pride,” Johnson said. “The second half, we kind of gave up.”
Promotional insert: I’ll be chatting live from my not-so-spacious hotel room — somehow Sekou has himself a suite three floors below me — from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday. I’ll answer any questions. Except the hard ones. Those I’ll duck. Come talk about the Hawks, the Falcons, the Braves or Manchester United. I’ll be obliged it you do.
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139 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
10:19 am
I’m about to head over to Hawks’ practice, but I’ll be back for the live chat from 1 to 3 p.m. I’d be mighty obliged if you join me then.
D.Carter
May 6th, 2009
10:20 am
We dont have a legitmate post player so therefore we should be more of a ball-screen motion offense type team…. When teams set screens on the ball it creates penetration and open shots and driving lanes for the wing players…. keep josh and al as your screeners which will pull the opposing bigs away from the basket and force a defensive rotation to take place…. big Z is doubling joe in the post or at least everytime he gets within 15 feet of the basket… Instead of cutting to the basket to the vacated spot of the court the hawks are standing around settling for jump shots…
The cavs are out of control on there closeouts to the shooters!!!! Somebody needs to teach Mo evans a move called the pump fake… he had at least 4 to 6 times where he forced a jumper when he easily could have ball faked and drove around the closeout defender… or at least ball fake and jump into the guy and draw the fouls….
Woody i hope you guys are in a morning film session right now and you are ripping Joe a new one about his blatant lack of hustle!!! The prime example of that was when delonte west lost the ball on a shot fake and couldnt touch the ball… Joe stood by and watched and delonte held off flip and allowed someone else to come and get the ball…. would someone other than ZA ZA and Josh smith get a rebound… hell i think mike bibby had more rebounds than joe….
Defensively we need to play zone and hope that they go cold… we are allowing them into the teeth of the defense way to much and they are getting the best of both worlds… I think that we rebound better out of our 3-2 and also i have noticed that we get out in transition way more when we play zone… If we do these things we have a 60/40 chance of only losing by 20….lol
hawksfan
May 6th, 2009
10:22 am
MB: maybe they didn’t tell you what it was going to before. I enjoyed seeing your quote in there I aspire to be a writer for a major paper like the AJC like you are one day I enjoy reading your stuff!
Kellie
May 6th, 2009
10:22 am
LEAVE JOE ALONE!! JOE IS NOT THE PROBLEM!! If it wasn’t for Joe we wouldn’t be in the playoffs. Thank God Joe wanted to come here and play and help turn this team around!! Joe has worked and played hard all year every year so leave him alone! I know Woodson has also been a big part of turning the team around, but at some point we have to start looking at him! He can’t but the ball in the hoop, but he is responsible for making sure our guys are prepared and ready, which I don’t think they were. I also don’t think they have coached them well enough on handling the double teams and defensive schemes of other teams. Joe is my favorite player on our team and I am so glad he’s here. I know we can play the Cavs better than what we did even with the injuries and fatigue. We have to take it one game at a time. Keep working and fighting for it HAWKS!!! Love Ya’ll!!
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
10:23 am
Thanks, HawksFan. Good luck to you.
D.Carter
May 6th, 2009
10:25 am
I ALMOST FORGOT!!!! THEY TRIED TO KILL JOSH SMITH WHEN HE WENT TO THE BASKET AT THE END… DAMMIT WOODY TALK TO RANDOLPH MORRIS , SOLO AND ZA ZA HELL PUT IN OTHELLO HUNTER AND FOUL SOME DAMN BODY…. THEY HAVE NO FEAR OF DRIVING THE LANE
smartguy
May 6th, 2009
10:26 am
Compare the effort NO SHOW JOE has when playing for the national team or in the all-star game with the effort he shows with the Hawks, even in a playoff game–its like two different players. When JJ wants to play like a superstar, his hustle and activity level are so high, but most of the time with the Hawks, we get a lackadaisical wannabe. Like I’ve said before, I would trouble playing hard for Woody every night too.
Brock D
May 6th, 2009
10:31 am
Regardless if the Hawks get swept, I still consider this a great season. They improved once again and I can only expect more next year. They were obviously tired last night based on the way they played the 1rst vs the 2nd half.
Mark from Ohio
May 6th, 2009
10:40 am
The people calling the Cavs a one-man team are just not watching or just being blind – this year’s Cavs have a very good supporting cast around a player that arguably is the best all-around player in the league. Joe Smith – want to get rid of him, Cleveland would like to offer Sasha Pavlovic, J.J. Hickson and this year’s first round draft choice. Also, Joe did not see THAT many double teams – Delonte West is just a very, very tough relentless defender that fights his way through picks and can tell you what flavor of gum Joe was chewing last night. Look at the scoring averages of the players he guards when they play the Cavs – Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, etc. Plus, on top of how good a defender he is, the Cav’s have been coached to think defense first and ALL of the players have bought into the system. Have you been watching the defensive rotations of this team? Your Hawks are a good, but young team that can play good defense – they just don’t do it every night, yet. The Cavs at the moment are just a better team, but we had to be where you are now – waiting to get all of the right pieces, and to mature. We are just fortunate to have a Lebron James – full of physical talent, high basketball IQ and a leader through his work ethic. In spite of all of this, it doesn’t guarantee us anything – I’ll be happy to get by your Hawks.
Stephen
May 6th, 2009
10:43 am
I am hoping that the Hawks will win this series, but if they don’t, hopefully they can acquire a couple of big burly players (especially a tall center) that can clog of the lane and at least block some shots in the paint. That, to me, is severely lacking with the team’s defense. Hopefully there might be some players available in this year’s NBA draft or via free agent acquisition that can help get the team to the next level.
Joseph
May 6th, 2009
10:45 am
I know the Hawks sucked last night but you know what? Cleveland showed a LOT of weakness and they were SLOPPY as hell. If the Hawks show up and play agressive, the Hawks CAN take this series to 7. However it will take a LOT of heart and determination. I understand fully what the Hawks need (bigger center, bette coaching etc etc) but Cleveland canNOT keep up with ATL conisitently if they are on their game. They have great athletes.
Marcus
May 6th, 2009
10:48 am
Good sentiments Mark from OH. It is only Game 1, but us long-suffering Hawks fans have to remember that this is a building process. Looking at the last 20 years you see it, where the ‘86 Pistons had to fight through the Celtics to get on top, the Jordan era Bulls had to fight through the Bad Boys Pistons in the early 90s, then a 2-year respit where Houston won back-to-back, even then, the Knicks had to battle the Bulls regularly in the playoffs to forge their playoff steele. More recently, CLE had to fight through resurgent DET teams and even for a year or 2 NJ Nets were the team to beat in early 2000s and caused issues.
this is our guantlet, and we will have to contend with BOS and CLE the next few seasons to get where we want to.
Its only Game 1. Make adjustments and lets go.
D.Carter
May 6th, 2009
10:52 am
THE HAWKS NEED A LESSON IN THE ART OF HELPSIDE DEFENSE
RickNole
May 6th, 2009
10:53 am
We need a legitimate center and a head coach. Then we talk about NBA title!
Woody has not played the bench all season long. There is not way Joe and the starters can continue to play at extremely high levels when other teams have backups to rely on.
Kyle
May 6th, 2009
10:56 am
Kellie – LEAVE JOE ALONE!! JOE IS NOT THE PROBLEM!!
You’re right, JJ is not the problem, but he’s also not the solution.
Mr. Bradley – I disagree with your statement of the Heat fearing the Hawks. The Hawks feared Wade, just not the rest of that team. The Heat on the other hand has nobody on their roster that makes the opposing team timid. Every championship caliber team has that one player that nobody really want’s to mess with, either b/c they’re so dominant or b/c they can be an enforcer for their teammates. The only championship team(s) that I can remember in recent history who didn’t have that player was the Spurs. They on the other hand, did have the Big Fundamental and two guards who were much better than any 3 man combo the Hawks can put on the floor.
dawgrific
May 6th, 2009
11:00 am
Is it just me, or is Cleveland’s “non-LeBron” roster just not that impressive. I guess MJ had a lot of stiffs/roll-players on his teams too, but at least he had Pippen and Grant. I don’t know, but it just seems to me that the Hawks should be able to hang in this series. Careless turnovers, missed free-throws and getting out-hustled will NEVER equal a road win against a very good team though. I just hope that we show some heart in game 2, even if it ends up being another loss (by less than 10 points hopefully). These blowouts are getting old, but I’ll take the wins of that variety any day, lol. Later, and GO HAWKS!
Marcus
May 6th, 2009
11:02 am
Stephen, someone else in one of the other blog entries (either MB or Sekou) mentioned getting a ‘BIG’ to put Horford back at the 4 spot. I had issue with that line of thinking because of the following. Not 100% sure how it is gonna get solved, but just my thoughts:
1. If (big IF) we get a ‘5′, most likely he has to fit the style and personnel of the currently constructed team, he has to be an athletic one, like UConn’s Tabeet, not a plodding clog-the-lane kinda guy. Thabeet won’t be around when we draft this year, and there are probably few like him that would merit chainging our currently-constituted starting lineup.
2. Josh Smith just got a big contract extension, Horford and Marvin Williams are still riding rookie contracts but may be coming up soon for . If Horford becomes the 4 what do you do with Josh Smith and the money you just signed him to? Ecomically, it would be hard justifying having with a $58 million dollar player (Josh) coming off the bench, if he is considered the best one to move out of the starting line-up.
3. Neither Josh and Horford shoot the mid-range jumper well enough to make either one a ‘3′ to accommodate a new player to play Center adn one of them to become teh ‘4′ even if we did have to shuffle positions… and then what becomes of Marvin Williams?
dawgrific
May 6th, 2009
11:04 am
I will say that Mark from Ohio provided some EXCELLENT and fair analysis in his post. And, Yes, they do play tough D and each player seems to know and buy into their role on that team.
ant banks
May 6th, 2009
11:39 am
we should really consider trading jj and with bibby’s expirin’ contract that would free up 30 mil. get jarret jack, rasheed, horford, smoove, and marvin
MsDee
May 6th, 2009
11:41 am
If the Hawks can get Camby from the Clippers and bring back Chills, we can and will be ready for an NBA title..Camby can be that big body that can blocks shots and give u a few points here and there and Chills can be that slasher player that can create from his own shot around the basket..keep Flip but remove Mo Evans!!
MsDee
May 6th, 2009
11:43 am
Oh no..dont trade Joe yet..He has only 1 more year on his contact with us..trust me, every player on their last year plays ALL-OUT BALLIN!! If we can get Camby, Chills, and have Joe playing like a Kobe/LeBron,,than we will definely be able to get that TITLE!!
ROBERT TAKACS
May 6th, 2009
11:46 am
History is a great teacher. Does anybody remember the Cavs previous playoffs. This is team that has an uncanny ability to flick a switch and play at a higher level than their talent alone would suggest. This is a team that was previously undermanned and outgunned with the exception of Lebron and yet managed to go deep into the playoffs against vastly superior talent. They gave the Pistons fits and gave Boston their stiffest challenge last year. Now they have added depth and good shooters to surround Lebron. Playoff experience, superstar, great bench, great defense, good coaching and a desire to leave it all on the floor are what separates the cavs from the rest. Yes there are better teams talent wise but the total package of the cavs makes them in my opinion the most dangerous team in the league and the most likely to win it all.
tarheels3
May 6th, 2009
11:46 am
If you are scared Joe… say you are scared, but no one says they are tired. You are a professional athlete. No one sets a goal and acheives the goal and once you arrive to the goal makes a statement like that. If you are scared, say you are scared…
The Truth
May 6th, 2009
11:58 am
My related comment in Sekou blog:
Man, let’s frame the story this way: last year Mike Bibby came to the Hawks to play starting pg with limited knowledge of the offense with a left thumb injury and a bad foot injury. While not being 100%, he played his azz off, didn’t complain, made no excuses when he played poorly at times and was a major factor in getting us into the first round with the Celtic where we pushed them to 7 games. Now, after 10 years we have advanced to the second round with an opportunity to do something special against the highly covered MVP Lebron James and company. We have accomplished this because of the acquisition of key support players such Flip Murray, Mo Evans and also a more seasoned Josh Smith. Given this scenario, our 70M dollar star player Joe Johnson (who is not injured) responds by saying “MAN I’M TIRED” but I’m not making excuses.
Mark from Ohio
May 6th, 2009
12:00 pm
Robert Takacs – exactly correct. Up to this year – take a look at the players that surrounded Lebron. The supposed shooters were mostly brick-layers – Eric Snow, Damon Jones (self-proclaimed “World’s Best Shooter), Larry Hughes, Jeff McInnes. Only decent offensive guys were Drew Gooden (a matador on defense – O’le), Carlos Boozer and Z (but when he is the only shooter you have to guard, makes it a lot easier to do so). Cleveland has good management (an owner willing and able to do what is necessary to get the right players). a GM (Danny Ferry) that cut his teeth in a great organization (San Antonio), made some great trades (dumped Hughes to get Ben Wallace and Joe Smith and Gooden to get Szcerbiak and West, and got Mo Williams for virtualy Damon Jones -Joe Smith was also part of the deal, but got him back for nothing), some decent late & 2nd round draft picks (Daniel Gibson, J.J.Hickson, Darnel Jackson) and an excellent coaching staff. The chemistry of this team is rare.
Hey, speaking of Boozer – isn’t there a chance he may be available this year?
David Smith
May 6th, 2009
12:07 pm
Joe needs to realize that great players never make excuses but, find a way to overcome. Anyone would be tired if they had a coach playinng them 40+ minutes a night and, refuses to rotate his bench (with the exception of zaza, flip, and mo) to give him a some much needed rest during games. Joe needs to stop avoiding his duty as a leader and start taking control of games early before opposing defenses get a chance to set up. Michael Jordan played one of the gutsiest games i ever saw in the 1998 Nba finals as he led his team to victory scoring 33 points suffering from flu-like symptoms. I don’t know if joe has that type of determination inside him but, his team needs him to be the extraordinary joe that took over game 4 last year against boston (22 4th quarter points) instead of the ordinary joe we all saw last night.
Will
May 6th, 2009
12:14 pm
I think its obvious Joe Johnson is not a big time player. He struggled every game except game seven against the Heat, and his shooting woes continue against Cleveland. Atlanta needs a leader on the team, and Joe is not vocal enough to lead the team.
I also love Josh Smith, but someone needs to tell him not to take long jump shots. Every time he get the ball outside the paint I get nervous. STOP SHOOTING 3′S JOSH!
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
12:29 pm
The Cavs have done a great job fleshing out their roster to complement LeBron. It’s an ordinary team without him, but that’s not the point: The point is that these guys — Mo Williams, Ilgauskas, Varejao, West, Ben Wallace, Gibson, Joe Smith, even Szczerbiak — do what it takes to let LeBron be LeBron.
Back in the hotel now. Talked to the Hawks before practice. There’s some news there. We’ll discuss it on the live chat.
james
May 6th, 2009
12:31 pm
The Hawks will not have a chance of winning unless someone else beside Josh drive to the basket and really challenge the Cavaliers. With an honest assessment Joe Johnson is not the leader of this team. he does not play aggressive enough. He tends to be a second point guard on the floor. He relies on the jumper instead of driving to the basket, when he enter in the lane he does not finish plays aggressively. The Hawks really need a floor leader with the ability to create when they penetrate when faced with one -on – one defense. In space Atlanta is great. But jump shots will not win championships. Defensive the Hawks are sound, but they cannot let the game get away from them when they only take jumpers and three pointers.
dstdeelite
May 6th, 2009
12:51 pm
Ant Banks—–I’ll pass on the Rasheed notion. Not only is he ailing, but he’s not that great of a defender. He’s effective behind the arc, but much more so as a post up player. Like Josh Smith, he tends to drift towards the arc to chuck up 3’s more often than not. They have several similar attributes that I don’t like. They both seem aloof at times and Rasheed is always one technical away from a one game suspension.
WyleECoyote
May 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
The Hawks can win the series with the Cavs, obviously, and I believe they are going to beat the Cavs. Most people say it wont happen but in my opinion the Hawks are every bit as good as the Cavs, but must play perfect in order to beat the Cavs. Can they do it, of course, if the Hawks can extend the Celtics to 7 games last season with a much weaker team (only 37 wins last year) then I say the Hawks can beat the Cavs since the Hawks have a considerably stronger team this year (47 wins (a 10 game improvement over last season)). The Hawks are much better, the bench is much stronger, but one of the keys to the game is that Joe Johnson needs to play like the 3-time all-star that he is. If Joe does that and the other players follow along, I see the Hawks proving to be too much for the Cavs as they were too much for the Heat. You see, Joe Johnson needs to, he CAN and WILL match LaBrons numbers and then the supporting cast of the Hawks will outplay the supporting cast of the Cavs. Watch for there to be a Hawks-Lakers finale.
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
12:57 pm
OK, we’re now chatting online. Join us here. I’ll be glad you did.
Joe Johnson
May 6th, 2009
4:14 pm
I’m tired, but a long summer vacation will cure that.
That, and the millions of dollars I just “earned.”
Suckers.
GoldenRichards
May 6th, 2009
4:48 pm
THE HAWKS CAN BEAT THE CAVIILIERS IF THEY SIMPLY DOUBLE AND TRIPLE LBJ. You will have to do that in this series if you want to win it. It worked with D-Wade and it will work with LaBron. Just do that, find a way to win and the Hawks will be in the finals. Forget about the next round because the Hawks are vastly superior to Boston (shorthanded in the playoffs and easier to beat this year without Poe and Garnett) and Orlando (who the Hawks manhandled in the opener this year). The Hawks will wipe out the next opponent if they can just get past LaBron and the Cavs. Again, as I have said numerous times before, the Hawks will be in the finals this year because they have grown up and will accept all challenges prior to coming home for the summer. In other words, when the Hawks are through for the summer and are comming home to end the season, THEY WILL ROCK THE WORLD AND BE WORLD CHAMPS AND NOT WORLD CHUMPS!
Mike Woodson
May 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
Atlanta, I regret to inform you that Joe Johnson is tired.
come on now
May 6th, 2009
5:43 pm
Come on guys, I can’t beleive I’m reading comments like Coach Woodson should be fired because his team is not showing any fire and motivation. Are You Kidding Me? If it takes the coach to motivate you to play in the PLAYOFFS then your gonna lose everytime. Its not Coach Woodson out there not showing any fire its the players. Its not Coach Woodson not playing inspired its the players and its the players responsibility to get ready not the coach. Do you guys think Phil or Pop have to motivate their teams?
leandro
May 6th, 2009
9:59 pm
this is the playoff!!! you cant be tired!!! you play or you dont!!!
this time of the year is when you know who has heart and who dosnt!!
josh smith this boy has heart!!!! Zaza too!!
joe and marvin dont
robert
May 7th, 2009
12:36 pm
Joe is no LBJ. Not even close. LBJ is the premiere player in the league right now. He is a linebacker with point guard speed and can carry three hawks to the rim and still make the shot. Lbj can score like Kobe but he also rebounds, plays great defense and is one of the best passers in the game making everyone around him better. He also has Jordans intense desire to win. Joe does not have the fire inside to compete like LBJ. Ill take LBJ over two Joes anyday. The only way the hawks win is if LBJ gets hurt and doesnt play. LBJ wont allow the cavs to lose.
Peter
May 7th, 2009
5:43 pm
Mark, you write if Joe wasn’t on the team we wouldn’t be in the playoffs period ! Great !
Is that what we pay guys 14 million Plus a year to maybe show up ? We don’t strive for the Championship ?
We shouldn’t expect him to lay it all on the line every time he steps on the court ?
You were asking if Joe was a “Super Star”…… not a star…….he may be an All-star, but where is he in the BIG GAMES this year…..AND…..will he show up tonight ?
Flip a coin…there will be the answer….?
Kobe scored 30, then 40 in consecutive games…….MJ wouldn’t show up twice in a 7 game series…….he carried his team…….EVERY NIGHT…….All the GREAT ones do Mark……what has Joe done so far this playoff season ?
Joe is a nice piece to the puzzle, but he is NOT a Super Star, not a team leader, but a really fine OVER PAID Player………..Period as you would say !
I hope him the best, and the Hawks the best……..the city deserves it…….after all he makes the big bucks……..let’s see him earn it !