The Hawks have a choice: Show up or get shown up
Cleveland – Just because they’re playing with house money doesn’t mean the Hawks have nothing to lose. And that’s what Mike Woodson tried to tell them after they were beaten by LeBron James’ team by 27 points in a sobering Game 1.
“We’ve played our way to this point,” Woodson said before practice Wednesday, “and you never know when you’re going to be in this situation again.”
And what had the coach done after Game 1? He’d yelled. Said Woodson: “I kind of lashed out a little bit last night after the game. [The players] don’t want to see me right now. I’ve got to go talk to them.”
It’s fine to set specific goals, even finer to meet them. But what happens when you do what you intended and still have games to play? Do you – picking up the house money image – double down and dare even more greatly, or do you smile benignly and slip your money in your pocket?
These Hawks said they wanted to improve their record, have the home court edge in Round 1 and advance to Round 2. They managed all of the above. To lose now to the top-seeded Cavaliers in a competitive series would be no disgrace. But they don’t want to be embarrassed four games running. That would cheapen them and their accomplishments. That would leave what has been a most palatable season with a sour aftertaste.
Said Joe Johnson after Game 1: “We need to play with a sense of pride. That second half, we kind of gave up … We need to act like we want to be here.”
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.The weird part was that Johnson might well have been talking to himself. He took only 10 shots in Game 1, half as many as LeBron. Afterward Johnson and Woodson spoke of the Cavs’ double-teaming defense, but after further video review …
“We made plays out of the double-teams,” Woodson said Wednesday. “I didn’t think that hurt us as much as I thought it did.”
Put simply, the Hawks’ best player had another tepid playoff game. And with Marvin Williams in obvious disarray and Al Horford no lock to start Game 2 – his ankle stiffened Tuesday and he didn’t practice Wednesday – the Hawks are already at a manpower disadvantage. Mo Evans and Zaza Pachulia and Flip Murray can’t offset LeBron James. Among Hawks, only Johnson can manage that.
Woodson yet again: “We need to move the ball side-to-side more, and that’s on me. I felt like I didn’t help the team the way I should have.”
This series, however, stands to be more about mindset than tactics. The Hawks must decide if they’re willing to pay the heavy price to trade blows with LeBron’s forceful team. They must decide if a series victory over Dwyane Wade was enough for one spring. If that’s how they feel, Round 2 will end in four deflating games.
But, should they choose to meet fire with fire, they could win a game or two and do themselves even prouder. Just because they’ve gone where the Hawks have rarely been doesn’t mean they should stop now. And who knows? They could get lucky. They could scare the Cavs as much as they frightened the Celtics a year ago. But they can’t do it if they don’t try.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
80 comments Add your comment
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
7:42 pm
Oh well enjoy Cleveland. A great site to get to know Cleveland. http://www.247polkaheaven.com This is what makes Cleveland rock.
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
7:45 pm
Time to show what the Hawks are made of, time to give up, I don’t think so. Did America give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour, heck no.
GA Bulldawg
May 6th, 2009
7:45 pm
Woodson yet again: “We need to move the ball side-to-side more, and that’s on me. I felt like I didn’t help the team the way I should have.”
Yeah Woody cause you certainly went out of your way to help the team during the regular season. The help you gave them all year allowed us to beat a much inferior Miami Heat team in 7 games…this man is a genius on X’s and O’s! Hmmmm running more set plays wouldn’t help this team, teaching the team how to move without the ball also wouldn’t help either would it?
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
7:48 pm
Maybe a group Yoga session given by Woody would help.
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
7:50 pm
That’s an idea. Perhaps a day-spa outing would work wonders for the Hawks.
Atrocity
May 6th, 2009
8:01 pm
1) Joe never places the onus on himself. Why didn’t you ask him if he needs to step up?
2) Winning 1 or 2 games? You don’t want to try win the series? Oh wait–I forgot–you hate all the Atlanta teams and are just a fair-weather fan.
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
8:01 pm
How was the Walleye Mark? Since I cannot for the life of me figure out why the Hawks play like worldbeaters one game and fall apart the next, how was your dinner?
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
8:05 pm
Atrocity, win the series, that would be funny in some alternate universe. I am not a fairweather fan, it is raining here. I am a bandwagon jumper. Right now the wagon is going over the cliff. Quick, jump off.
Atrocity
May 6th, 2009
8:14 pm
I could care less how hard the team is we’re playing. The goal is to win the series. Did we beat them during the regular season? Yes. Did the refs screw us in multiple other games? Yes. We aren’t playing the freaking 1996 Bulls.
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
8:23 pm
hey great post mark, i agree lol now would be a nice time for the hawks to spend a day at the spa. One thing i saw in the first half of the game was that the cavs offense was similar to the hawks.For most of the half they had their on version of iso joe with lebron which i think was the reason the hawks did pretty well during the 1st half but then the 2nd half, the cavs passed more and played team ball which led to the blowout…now if only the hawks would do that
ignition
May 6th, 2009
8:28 pm
Somebody check to see if Joe Johnson is a man cause he plays with a lack of testicular fortitude that I cannot stand..
The nerve of this guy talking about his teamates when he turns the ball over 5 times and has 11 pt..
I’ve about seen enough of this extra soft player that is NO WAY in any form a “leader”.
Joe Johnson cost us the game in the second half plane and simple, he needs to get his head out his anus and play better “leader”.
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
8:33 pm
Playing team ball, hmmmm…. You may have something there Hawksfan. Now how do we get it to the coach and team? If only they read Mark’s blog.
I agree with you FAN. The birds need to quit playing like some kind of middle schoolers who are mad about not getting the ball and play like the worldbeaters they were in game seven against the Heat.
Ishakamusa
May 6th, 2009
8:34 pm
Sekou wrote the same blog about how Joe never uses “I” — only “we”
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
8:42 pm
“cuz” maybe we can get on twitter and get this blog to joe or sombody lol becuz i read that joe has a twitter account
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
8:46 pm
Ishakamusa, that is because there is no I in Team Catastrophe. There are several I’s in Individual Failure. Or even, I Am Tired.
Mark Bradley
May 6th, 2009
8:50 pm
Joe is @LittleRock02 on Twitter.
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
I don’t know Hawksfan. I am just an old guy but twittering sounds like something that should be done in privacy. With maybe a cigarette afterward. Of course, I would probably just fall asleep after a tweet. Now in my prime I could have twittered all night.
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
8:55 pm
well i believe there are 2 reasons joe is really struggling. first reason is maybe he dosent have the legs to go. Since he dosent have the legs it makes it very hard for him to get some kind of energy. Second Woodson sets no plays at all that gets joe open. He always do either bang bang bang shoot or dribble dribble dribble shoot or pass out of double team. During that plus playing defense and running takes a toll on your body. but he’s gonna have to step up and led cuz the hawks played that game as if they were satisfied with just making the second round.
Chattin Hill
May 6th, 2009
9:05 pm
Joe Johnson: The only Hawk who can approximate LeBron James…
…when he’s not tired.
brewdawg
May 6th, 2009
9:08 pm
I agree with something I read on Mark’s blog from earlier today: the Hawks are 1 and a half players away from being bona fide championship contenders. My one and a half= a true center (I’ve mentioned Thabeet as a possibility if we can trade up… beyond that I admit I’m a little clueless as who to get… and an upgrade over Marvin.
Lloyd Free
May 6th, 2009
9:09 pm
Ishakamusa: Joe Johnson did use “I” one time when he said “I’m tired.”
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
9:15 pm
lol well maybe il twitter him later. cuz im a lot younger than what u mite think. your probaly old enough to be my father. thats how young i am lol…im not even close to my prime
brewdawg
May 6th, 2009
9:19 pm
Oh, and I also agree with Mark in that Marvin will always be “not Chris Paul or Deron Williams” in Atlanta. Don’t discount the possibility that this could be a hinderance to his development, and that he could thrive somewhere else. Hell, he deserves to thrive somewhere else.
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 6th, 2009
9:37 pm
The Hawks were playing with confidence in the first half but after getting down by 5 by half time that confidence waned and turned to doubt. I don’t think they’re satisfied with a second round win cause if that was the case then the first half would have been just like the second half. The biggest difference between the Hawks and Cavs in my opinion is confidence. Cleveland believes they are the best and can’t no one tell them different. JJ’s problem is that he’s lost his confidence, he has been hesitant to shoot. It’s like he’s thinking too hard and is filled with doubt. Mike Bibby and Josh Smith seemed to be the only ones who showed up to play. They didn’t give a hoot who they were playing they were there to win.
I wasn’t worried about the team at first until I read that JJ was tired. That sounds to me like a person ready to go on vacation. That’s not good at all. Nothing worth having is easy to attain. You wanna be counted among the elite you have to earn it and work hard at all costs. Ahh I was so looking forward to seeing the Hawks go beyond the goals they set for themselves. I guess they didn’t think beyond making to the second round. okay now that they are there now what are they gonna do? A sweep by the Cavs is definitely not what they should do with it. GO HAWKS! NO MORE EXCUSES! GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!!!!!!!
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
9:41 pm
Hawksfan, I am old enough to remember watching the Beatles the first time they appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. Kinda dates me.
Brew I am with you. Marvin deserves to thrive elsewhere. U-haul has a great $29.95 special going right now.
The Hawks need to put that seven foot center on their wish list. It don’t appear that they will pay for one.
Any of you Hawks want to make me eat my words go right ahead Thursday night. I will be more than happy to come on here after a blowout of the Cavs and say what an idiot I am.
DHD
May 6th, 2009
9:48 pm
Wow, Mark. How long did it take you to think that up? We should call you Mr Obvious.
Mz. Hawkdafied
May 6th, 2009
9:52 pm
If the Hawks don’t bring it Saturday with an arena filled with us cheering, screaming, and rooting them on then it’s time to start worrying about the team. Until then I’m gonna chill.
doc
May 6th, 2009
9:52 pm
“One pass and won’t shot on offense for the Hawks won’t get the job done against Cleveland.”
That is what it says on the AJC Hawks page. It’s said this for an hour.
Do any of you people actually proofread what you write?
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
10:02 pm
hey cuz i just got on twitter and i was gonna hit joe up but he hasnt even been on since April. 14. guess he been to busy lol but hey i tried….
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
10:06 pm
No doc, the proofreader was let go to cut costs. But they do have a cool KFC coupon on the Hawks page you can download thanks to Oprah. Oprah hawking KFC on the Hawks page. You can’t make this stuff up.
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
10:11 pm
Two twired to twitter.
HAWKSFAN
May 6th, 2009
10:14 pm
yea that is true well all i can hope for is that they come to play tommorow. I want them to win of course but i would take a loss if they left it all on the floor
mike28212
May 6th, 2009
10:24 pm
Great column as always Mr. Bradley. Here’s the link to the Wenger soundbytes I mentioned in the chat today. I think my favorite is ‘I’m not opposed to it.” http://www.twogunrocky.com/SOUNDBOARDFOLDER/ArseneWenger_soundboard.html
Shannon
May 6th, 2009
10:59 pm
Word is Joe Johnson is playing bad to get rid of his coach…. that ownership group is not smart enough to do the right thing!!!
Hal Basch
May 6th, 2009
11:16 pm
Word is, Joe Johnson…is tired.
Jamaaliver
May 6th, 2009
11:26 pm
Hey Cuz, Germany didn’t bomb Pearl Harbor. That would be the Japanese.
Anthony
May 6th, 2009
11:28 pm
In my opinion Joe needs to be a more vocal leader on the floor. When you’re getting paid the money he is getting paid, that position dictates you have to be able to light a fire under your team, not just by example. It’s not the coach. By this time of the year the players know the plays and each others tendencies on the court. THE PLAYERS have to be the ones who EXECUTE, PLAY WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, AND HAVE PRIDE. Do they not know they not only represent themselves as pros but they’re representing us, the TRUE ATLANTA HAWKS FANS who have suffered all these years and yearning every year for a team we can be proud of. Cmon guys and show some life. What ya’ll think?
Lica
May 6th, 2009
11:32 pm
I have a question. Do you hear a little hate in Joe’s words?
Joe’s numbers have been down since before the all star game. He performed horribly in the all star game. He has taken flack for his mediocre performances since then. Even to the point that some Hawks commercials now say “Josh Smith and the Atlanta Hawks”.
He clearly can not rally the team and motivate them. Is Joe turning to bad mouthing his team to cover up for his poor production. Maybe its me, but wouldn’t a real team player pass the ball to the player making shots. He wants the ball to do what with it. He had the most turnovers in Game 1, 5 to be exact.
Only one action can correct a good player that is labeled an all star (some times undeservedly) who clearly can not take responsiblilty for his own actions. A dose of humility from the media and fans. I think Joe is getting his fill now and hopefully will return next season prepared to be the player he can be.
All to often, the most average of us can be tricked in to believing the hype. Joe is there. It is time for him to put up or shut up. No more throwing his team mates under the bus. I believe he should be a man and own up to his lackluster performances. If we don’t see that soon, Joe is headed for a downward spriral.
No team is going to pay him what he is getting now with this kind of production. If I am not mistaken, he is up for option this summer.
Darrin "The Vent King"
May 6th, 2009
11:36 pm
MARK IT DOWN- Hawks will win Game 2, you heard it here first…
wxwax
May 7th, 2009
12:05 am
You’re a hard working man today, Mark. Nice job, thanks.
One thing Coach Woodson said that makes more and more sense the older I get: “There’s no guarantee you’ll ever be here again.”
Young players never really believe that. I’m not sure the young Hawks believe that. But if they did, they’d play with an intensity that would burn a hole in Quicken Loans Arena.
I’m watching the Rockets play Los Angeles right now. And the defensive intensity Houston brings to the game puts the Hawks to shame. LA’s the favorite and Houston’s already socked them on the nose once, and they may be fixing to do it to them two games in a row… with Yoa Ming on the bench, even!
The Rockets already have the road win in their pocket, and they’re still playing like there’s no tomorrow. Now there’s a team with cohesion and leadership.
Barry
May 7th, 2009
12:10 am
Great post mark. I am reading it late but what a great post.
This goes back to coaching and the philosophy and goals you set fore your team. As an organization and coach of any team with any perceived type of players they have, the organiztion and the coaches should always have as the first priority of the team is to “WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP”. Sub goals should be: 1. Establish a winning record, 2. Win the division, 3. Make the playoff , and 4. WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD. These are subgoals. However, if your subgoals are preached to be your main goals throughout the season, with the exception of #4-WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, then we have a problem when those subgoals are achieved and gives your players a “false sense of security” in thinking that their season is “DONE”. The players belief system becomes disarranged and they become just another team in the playoff instead of a team fighting to win the playoff. It appears to me that must have been the philosophy of this franchise and coach. They laud themselves of the yearly improvements and want a pat on the back but as a team in the playoff. However, they are playing as if to say as an organization and a team is “WOW , WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE, ONLY, AND NOT FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE NBA. THANKS FOR INVITING US. And that’s IT!!!!!!! This philosophy and goal is not that of winning organizations and teams. This is a philosophy of “PERPITRATORS” who want to tease fans about wanting a winning organization in their city. If this is the philosophy of the Hawks and its coach than they all must go. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that this is not the case. I want to believe the organization and the players want to win the “NBA CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD”. I want to believe that the team is more than hungry to compete and win against any team in the NBA. I want to believe that our Hawks are ready to “SHOCK THE WORLD!!”. But if the philosophy by the organization and coach was tell the team to just to make it to the 2nd Round of the playoff as a goal then that is “malfeasence to professional sports”. YOU PLAY TO WIN EVERY GAME! If this is what they were teaching during the season then they all must go and we must start over. This lowering your standards and not pushing players to excel as a team, every game, and throughout the playoffs, is dunb thinking. Therefore, I encourage the HAWKS organization and the “PLAYERS” to “MAKE ME WRONG!!” “MAKE ME WRONG!!” I am with you when you make me wrong. “DO NOT MAKE ME RIGHT IN THIS. PLEASE!!!!!
“MAKE ME WRONG!!!!”
LET’S GO HAWKS! LET”S GO HAWK’S!!! LET’S GO HAWKS!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a HAWK FAN!! TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………………………”ATLANTA HAWKS, BOOM-BYE-YEAH!!…………
…………………………”SHOCK THE WORLD!!!”………………..
David Smith
May 7th, 2009
12:12 am
I wish our guys would communicate more with each other on the court. No one seems to call out picks, double teams, and screens out there.I know joe is not a vocal leader but, we need someone to step up and not be afraid to call out players that are not performing like they should. I’m expecting to see a more competitive effort from our guys thursday night (WIN OR GO HOME HAWKS!!!).
otisfirefly
May 7th, 2009
12:13 am
@ Jamaaliver……you obviously haven’t seen Animal House. “Over, Over? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor….”, is a classic comedy line from that movie
otisfirefly
May 7th, 2009
12:17 am
Varejao looks like Sideshow Bob
It's time for the Hawks to stand up (and stand together)! | Hawks Blog
May 7th, 2009
1:04 am
[...] meticulous AJC wordsmith Mark Bradley points out, the choice to either fight back or get smashed, belongs to the [...]
hot err
May 7th, 2009
2:46 am
Hawks have a choice- show up or get embarrassed? Really? This is expert analysis? Really? No wonder no one buys the paper anymore.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
3:03 am
Thanks, WxWax. Thanks, Barry. Thanks, BrewDawg.
vincent
May 7th, 2009
3:28 am
Fellas, it was the japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor.
Birdy
May 7th, 2009
4:12 am
My only comments to Joe is, “Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant and Dominique Wilkins have never admitted to being tired at playoff time.”
I know he played a lot of minutes but you just can’t give in to such thoughts.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
4:12 am
Folks, the Pearl Harbor thing? That’s a line from “Animal House.” The late John Belushi uttered it.
Dominik
May 7th, 2009
6:01 am
why are we talking about Pearl Harbour and Animal House in the Hawks blog… GO HAWKS!!! I with you all the way!!
Greetings from Germany
Eric B
May 7th, 2009
7:07 am
Dominique use to thrive in these kind of situations! John Drew, Lou Hudson and other true Hawks were know for stepping up in Playoff situations. Joe Johnson is suppose to be a franchise player, all star, but yet, he runs up and down the court like he is to “pretty” to play basketball. I say let him go rob the bank someplace else. And you would think that he would at least be playing hard for a new contract. If this kind of play by him is what it means to be a Hawk, to him, then I say, get him the heck out of town.
Reebok
May 7th, 2009
7:50 am
Joe Johnson can offset Lebron James…? Um…well, no.
mountain_jim
May 7th, 2009
8:17 am
That Animal House Germans reference draws out the clueless every time, topic degeneration ensues. I think Woody burned up Joe to get this far, and thats probably as far as we get. It really bites that Marvin is only a shell of the Marvin that played really well against Cleveland this season, and that Al is injured also. Woody either does not have or did not develop the depth to compensate for loss of these 2.
ant banks
May 7th, 2009
8:19 am
Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
listening to jj and co. speak, it sounds as if the HAWKS are “grasshoppers” in their own mind and if they see themselves this way, there is no way that we will win one game.
HAWKS, please look at YOURSELVES as “GIANTS” therefor you will play like giants and maybe cleveland will look at you as bein’ a formidable opponent.
doc
May 7th, 2009
8:47 am
mark they got mark richt disease. play for the lesser rung, never for the championship. dont set the bar high.
mark bad trend isnt it? now we have watched 8 playoff games and only one where they have truly competed. 7 games they didnt show up for the whole game. 7 games where they said we tried hard enough and quit or one player tried to do it all and the rest of the guys got either bored or tired of watching and went home mentally. coach has to step in there and find out who the offender is and remove him promptly even if it means getting one guy mad instead of them all.
when is joe going to change the we to i. when he does i will call him a leader, when he wins after doing so he can be a winner. now he is a loser. it is better to be a leader and fail than to quit and i would settle for that. he wont get to step three until he passes two. again that would make me believe a bit he has what it takes to do what he has been appointed to do. i am tired doesnt compute on this stage, that is mental stuff there.
Greg
May 7th, 2009
8:50 am
The Hawks are completely over matched without basically two starters out…come on…they are going to get blown out all four games…no chance
newkid
May 7th, 2009
9:02 am
Rick Sund disease as well doc.
Bob
May 7th, 2009
9:09 am
Ummmm…. the Germans didn’t bomb Pearl Harbor.. that was the Japanese. Where is your head at boy. Lets go Hawks! Cleveland is beatable.. ZA ZA just neads to shatter golden boys jaw.. the way he did Jermain O’neal in the heat series..
Dell
May 7th, 2009
9:17 am
I’ll borrow the words of Forrest Gump. The Hawks are like a box of Chocolates….you never know what you are going to get!
Ace
May 7th, 2009
9:19 am
Who is worse?
Mike Woodson or Paul Hewitt?
It is sad that a basketball crazy city like Atlanta has these two men leading our teams.
OKCBULLDOG
May 7th, 2009
9:22 am
JJ saying that he’s tired kind of remind me of Knowshon Moreno sucking up air on the sideline when the team needed him the most. Is there something in the North Georgia air that’s causing only our stars to be tired in games?
doc
May 7th, 2009
9:23 am
yeah newk, enjoying your contributions around here.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
9:26 am
In fairness to Joe Johnson, he said he was tired only after I asked him if he was tired.
NativeATLien
May 7th, 2009
9:30 am
You know, it’s funny. Terrence Moore says essentially the SAME thing last week – that good isn’t enough – and there is all manner of “you’re such a pessimist” and “Good riddance, meanie!”-type comments. veeeeery interesting….
Seriously!
May 7th, 2009
10:14 am
It’s time to shake up the line up! Have Moe William, Joe Johnson, Bibby sit on the bench to start the game, if they thinks this game is fun! Fun comes after a win and it really shouldn’t last because you have to play the same team again! I see why my Hawks are a up and down team now! WOW! They only have fun when the crowd is cheering for them at Home?!!… Let the Hungry player play and GET THE WIN!
Kelvin
May 7th, 2009
10:17 am
I predict the game tonight will be essentially over by halftime.
Seriously!
May 7th, 2009
10:22 am
Thanks Bradley for the Blog, I just had to vent. I feel better. Sorry about the typos! GO HAWKS! Ya gotta love em!! Nothing cures ailments like a Win.
doc
May 7th, 2009
10:25 am
good clarification there only i didnt hear him say it doesnt matter and i have to do things to make this team winners. his we stuff, i am tired of. comments like guys running around or i need more vets get old and tiresome, too.
BPJ
May 7th, 2009
10:30 am
The most significant stat to me in the last game was the # of rebounds by Horford and Pachulia: zero. That has to change.
Unfortunately, Horford and Williams are injured and not at their best. This Hawks team is great with all 5 starters healthy (and the 3 best subs). Lacking a superstar ( and just one all-star in Johnson), they need all their best guys healthy and playing as a team. Meanwhile, let’s be supportive, OK?
Paul From Milton
May 7th, 2009
10:36 am
I think the statements from Joe and Woodson just shows that this team is not on the same page. That must be one nasty locker room. I watched the Rockets play and admired how tough-minded and focused they are on both ends of the court. Everyone – even Ron Artest – seems to be on the same page and understands their role within the team. We will never be a serious threat in the playoffs until we can get a coach who can instill those qualities into the Hawks.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
10:49 am
I just saw esteemed colleague Sekou Smith in the concierge lounge at our palatial hotel, and we agreed that everything is magnified during the playoffs. Nobody would be concerned about the mood of the locker room were this the regular season, for the simple reason they’d be 500 miles from here ready to play another game against another team. But when it’s the postseason, you come back to work in the same arena where you just played 12 hours earlier.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
10:50 am
Oh, and thanks for the Arsene Wenger clips, Mike.
ILL-logical
May 7th, 2009
11:24 am
Because if you give the ball up, there’s now way you’re going to get the ball back. I played 40 minutes and took 10 shots. And we can’t play like that. But I don’t know if everybody knows that. And that’s why, if we don’t figure it out, this might be a short series.”
JOE JOHNSON
Sounds like Joe has a case of the whine flu.
Rev. Moring
May 7th, 2009
11:38 am
My Hawks are going to win this series. Josh, we need you to play your low post game all the time. Cleveland can’t stop you. And when they come at you, feed your teammates. They will make the shots. Joe feed Bibby! Bibby feed Flip! Flip feed Mo! For all Joe Johnson haters, Joe is the best leader for this team. The Best leader is not the one who win games, but the one who can get his teammates to win it for him. GO HAWKS!!!!!!
John Shaheen
May 7th, 2009
12:28 pm
The Cavs are too strong, too deep and will win. LeBron lifts weights for one hour before the game, then shoots around for an hour, then gets a massage before even stepping out onto the court. He is on his way to becomming the best ever and his only mission is to win it all. They are the team this year and nothing will stop them. The stage is being set for them and the Lakers and it may be the best match-up in a long time.
rft
May 7th, 2009
12:58 pm
What is really scary is that the cavs usually play better in the playoffs than their regular season record would indicate.
ant banks
May 7th, 2009
1:36 pm
Enter your comments here
MrOSU1
May 7th, 2009
1:42 pm
I know that you guys are Hawks fans,and are trying to represent,and keep hope alive,but has it occured to you that perhaps the reason that the Cavs one game one,is that they are the better team? They did afterall (a)Win 66 games this season, (b) Win the season series btween the two clubs 3-1 (C)Have the best player on the planet on thier team (D)have the coach of the year coaching them (E) Are the top defensive team in the league. So maybe just maybe the Hawks are not supposed to win this series. Just a thought.
nunna yo bizznezz
May 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
MROSU1,
HAS THE TEAM NAME OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CROSSED YOUR MIND??
THE SUPERBOWL WAS ONE GAME,BUT,THIS IS THE HAWKS SUPERBOWL..I’VE SEEN OTHER UPSETS AND I KNOW U HAVE TOO..I DON’T KNOW HOW OLD U ARE,BUT WHEN JORDAN MADE THAT LAST SECOND SHOT OVER EHLO AND OTHERS ON YOUR CAVS TEAM SOME YEARS AGO TO SEND U GUYS PACKING,U WERE THE ONES WHO WERE THE FAVORITES GOING INTO THAT SERIES..
YOU WERE FAVS,BUT LOST..
I THINK OUR COACH IS ONLY GONNA GET US AS FAR AS WE ARE NOW..BUT,I THINK WE CAN BEAT U IN A SERIES IN SPITE OF HIM…I REALLY DO..SO,DON’T COUNT YOUR EGGS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED..IM STILL GONNA SAY TONITE IS THE NITE WE BEAT U AND TIE UP THIS SERIES BUDDY..CAVES IN 7..BUT,IF WE BEAT U TONITE AND THE 2 GAMES HERE,HAWKS IN 6