Round 2, Game 2: Say goodbye to the Atlanta Hawks
Cleveland – It’s over, folks. More than just losing two games, the Hawks have lost players and heart. They’re undermanned. They’re overwhelmed. Soon they’ll be outta here.
This one has sweep written all over it. Yes, a certain series a year ago bore the same look after two distressing road games, and that one went the distance. But Al Horford and Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson weren’t injured then, and these are the Cavs and they’re even more driven than Boston was. LeBron James might not let his team lose a half, let alone a game.
And the Hawks who showed up at Quicken Loans Arena – or, more precisely, didn’t show up – pale alongside the spirited bunch that took Games 3, 4 and 6 from Boston, even alongside the polished crew that saw off Miami in Game 7. In three days here the Hawks managed the difficult task of hurting themselves while taking a dive.
“I don’t know who’s going to dress on Saturday,” Mike Woodson said afterward. And then: “We’ve got to get our main guys on the floor and see what we’re made of.”
Alas, we’ve already seen.The Hawks weren’t going to win Game 2 Thursday without Horford and Williams, but they might have given the appearance of desperation. Instead Josh Smith got two (and then three) early fouls and Johnson managed only three baskets in 22 first-half minutes and by halftime the Cavs led by 24 points, which meant they could have wiped away LeBron’s 18 and still his team would have been ahead.
Two sequences told the grim tale: At the end of the first quarter, LeBron somehow got isolated against poor Solomon Jones. On cue, LeBron whirled past Jones and dunked behind his head.
Flash forward to the shank of the second quarter: The Hawks sought to hold for one shot, though there was a four-second difference between the clocks. They wound up being whistled for a 24-second violation. And LeBron took the ball in backcourt and, from 40 feet away, rose above Mario West and flipped the ball through the hoop.
Obvious point: LeBron can do whatever he wants – he just missed a 45-footer at the end of the third quarter – and the Hawks suddenly can’t do anything. “We need to act like we want to be here,” Johnson had said after Game 1, but almost nobody, Johnson included, has behaved that way.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Said Mo Evans, who led the Hawks with 16 points: “Even if we’d been at 100 percent, I don’t think we could have won playing the way we did.”
And then Johnson got hurt. He was going for a layup against LeBron with the Hawks trailing by 32 points in the third quarter, and he missed the shot and came down wrong and was off to the locker room, and soon he was in a wheelchair. Woodson’s prognosis: “He tweaked his ankle.”
The mighty Cavs might well have been, as they say in England, a bridge too far for the full-strength Hawks. Still, you’d like to have seen more effort, more passion, more something. The belief coming into this series was that the Hawks needed only to avoid being swept to call this season a success, and now even that modest goal seems a forlorn hope.
It’s said a playoff series doesn’t really begin until the road team wins, but these two wipeouts have belied that bromide. The home side rolled. The road team didn’t even stir. This one’s over.
More on me versus the “mayor”: I promise not to belabor this — indeed, I’m hoping soon to forget it ever happened — but here’s an independent (or so I assume) take on what transpired on a certain Cleveland station last night. (For my admittedly self-interested version, click here.)
And, as Lt. Columbo would say, one last thing: My new best buddy Spirit the Hawk Tweeted me late last night. Here was his heartfelt message:
“Taking on the entire city of Cleveland solo…you’ve got seriously commendable Spirit, Mr. Bradley!”
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175 comments Add your comment
Mitch
May 8th, 2009
2:27 am
I see your point, Mark. I hate to see it end like this too.
Basketball in modern times is so different than it used to be in the 1970s. If this was the 70s, this Hawks team could win several championships. Think of the 1970s Knicks. They didnt have one standout player, but they just played great as a team, and won two championships. Granted, many of their players are in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Now, one player can just dominate. It used to be in the 80s you had two players. Kareem and Magic, Bird and Mchale. Jordan changed all that. Now, you can have a Shaq, a Kobe, a Lebron, etc, and one guy can propel a team to a title.
Something tells me that we havent seen the summit for this team. Maybe next year we will make the Eastern Conference Finals. Then again, I’ve followed the Hawks for years, and I know that the Nique/Doc/Spud teams of the 80s, great as they were, never got out of the second round.
I’m going to be the optimist, and say that next year, the Hawks will get 50 plus wins, and have a legit shot to get to the Conference Finals.
Mitch
rft
May 8th, 2009
2:44 am
Defense wins titles. Great pitching beats great hitting. Rarely does an offense minded team win the title. That is why i believe the cavs have a good chance to win it all. Are they a Juggernaught? NO. But they are very very focussed on what they have to do to win. They are the epitome of team basketball and they play hard every night and earn their rediculous pay. They are unselfish and have great chemistry. So many many teams play way below their talent level and it is refreshing to see a team rise above. They dont cry or complain about their roles. They relish in them. You never see Lebron ripping or chastizing his teamates for mistakes or bad play. You dont see Shawn Marion complaining because he is not getting as many touches as Amare. They are a blue collar team that goes to work everyday for one reason. To win. Not just to win but to win it all. They have a hunger in their belly that makes them sacrifice themselves for the good of the team. They know and respect who the alpha dog is, and their is no competition or infighting for that role. They support him and trust him and will do anything to help him win the title.
Cavs just set a defensive record for allowing the fewest points in 6 playoff games. That is why they are very dangerous. Problem for most teams is that most players have no desire to defend. Everyone wants to be the scorer or the star and nobody wants to play boring defense. Scoring gets the most recognition among the fans and media. Although i grew up in cleveland i have now lived in arizona for the past 13 years. I have had the frustration of watching a very talented suns team come up short time and time again. Why? Because they dont defend. They wont sacrifice personal recognition for the betterment of the team. The suns high scoring offense is fun for the fans to watch but it will not win a title. The suns fired their coach and hired a defense oriented coach but all the players were unhappy and were complaining because they all want to be scorers.. Nobody wants to be a role player or defend or rebound or take a back seat to anyone else. So now the suns fired their defense minded coach and hired an offense minded one again to make their whining players happy. Look where that got the Suns this year. Nowhere. Not even the 8th seed. Many times i hear suns fans talk about how boring Cleveland games are. All defense and no offense. Im sorry but what is more boring? Watching your team competing for a title or going fishing in 115 degree heat.
Antoine Carr
May 8th, 2009
2:44 am
Coach Woody, I just woke up..Let me suit up cause i’m still a BEAST!!!!..i’ll show yall toughness..Lebron won’t drive in the hole on me like that.
Dr. Warren
May 8th, 2009
3:05 am
I hope Mitch is right. But players’ personalities don’t change. The Hawks’ identity is “above-average inconsistency.” I’m not sure it has as much to do with Woodson as it does this particular group’s chemistry. It’s just been odd this year to see how great they can play only to be followed by horrid performances. Their confusing start to the season–6 straight wins followed by 4 or 5 straight defeats–told the whole story. Adding a proven winner–like Denver adding Chauncey Billups–might help change the mix a bit. As stands, I don’t even expect this group to equal the Dominique-Doc-Spud or Mutumbo-Steve Smith-Mookie runs of consistent goodness. Joe Johnson is not the charismatic star that ‘Nique and Dikembe were.
Cuz
May 8th, 2009
3:45 am
Mark, I am going to work on some intro paragraphs that won’t get you tarred and feathered when you get back to Atlanta. But heck, I am no miracle worker, we may be riding the rail together. Oh and since they will be on the blog, feel free to ignore them. Actually, please ignore them.
As Samuel Clemens said, “If it was not for the honour of the thing, I would just as soon walk.” Yeah you, me, and a few others in the newsroom even know who is Sam Clemens.
Welcome back home. Take off a day and we will see you soon. Now that you are a Catholic, point out to St. Peter you have served time in Purgatory, you have been to Cleveland.
smartguy
May 8th, 2009
4:22 am
That video of “Joe Johnson Speaks Out” is pretty funny.
TRADE NO SHOW JOE
FIRE STUPID WOODY
Billy
May 8th, 2009
5:11 am
Best way to put it: If I was a Cleveland fan, I’d be pretty pumped and excited. Unfortunately,….
bagong_sali
May 8th, 2009
6:00 am
Just would like to point out the everytime the hawks seems to fall apart, they’ve always dig deep and pull through. Have faith, believe on the team….. Go Hawks!!!
ltdbrave
May 8th, 2009
6:25 am
Well let’s just face it. When players are in the playoffs and repeatedly fail to show up for the game and play, not only is it a failure of the coach for being able to pump up his team, but just goes to show how unprofessional the players are. The Hawks should not be in the playoffs. They have no heart and definitely are not the same team that played the Celtics to 7 games. This team is ba. Like Mo Evans said, even at 100% he did not think they could have won this game because of the way they played. What a profound statement. How can this team be considered a championship team when they go on the road and lose by 20+ points consistently in the playoffs?
RA
May 8th, 2009
6:36 am
I think Bradley’s more right than wrong, but it would have taken more than a superhuman effort for the Hawks not to be demoralized. I mean look, you’re down two starters and your best three players look impotent to do anything about the fact that you’re getting your drawers pulled down on national TV and paddled soundly. I’m sorry, but demoralization is probably all that should have been expected last night, especially after Joe went down, but that’s not all we got. Atlanta’s second unit went out there and competed. Call it garbage time, call it whatever you want, but they didn’t quit. The Hawks could very easily have lost that game by 50, but they didn’t. They, inparticular Za Za, and the second unit showed a type of grit that may not play up in this series, but it could be highly important, for the future.
Leedawg
May 8th, 2009
6:43 am
C’mon, this series was over before it even started.
RA
May 8th, 2009
6:47 am
Old Antione Carr. I beleive you would show some toughness, right before breaking a hip. James is a punk, but this is his year. But don’t worry, I have every confidence that the world will teach him everything he needs to know. Now, as for all of you that blame “no show Joe” and “Stupid Woody.” I’ll remind you that we wouldn’t even be in the playoffs if not for Joe Johnson playing a billion minutes during the regular season, and last time I checked, he was the ONLY player in teh NBA that warranted a triple team beyond the arch EVERY time he touched the ball, and now he’s hurt. If that’s all the gratitude that you can show for a man who is as responsible as any one for getting us this far, then you don’t deserve to be a Hawk fan. You’re pathetic.
NCBravesFan
May 8th, 2009
7:04 am
Do we at least get to be fake outraged by a showy Cavs dunk?
Seriously though, it is tough with the Hawks so banged up – but clearly some changes are in order coming up as so many of you have pointed out.
The team as constituted will almost certainly change – unless the ASG is content with where we are. I can’t imagine why they would be, but then again I ain’t writing the checks and selling the tickets.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
May 8th, 2009
7:05 am
I’d rather watch Creepshow 2 than see the hawks play another game in this series.
MVP23
May 8th, 2009
7:24 am
Needless to say, I’m a Cleveland fan and I have felt everything you guys are feeling…ALOT!! We are not fans of the big city teams,,the New York City, Boston or Los Angeles of the world. When we have a chance….we have to take it…it may never be there again.
The Cav team of the early 90’s with Daugherty, Price, Nance and Hot Rod Williams may be a better team than this cav team, but they were up against the Bulls in their prime. I’m a fan of the most cursed sports city in the world. I’m still waiting for LeBron to hurt his ankle or something.
Anyway, goodluck to the fans in the ATL. I harbor no ill feelings towards you guys. I save that for the Yankee, Redsox, Celtic and Laker fans.
NCBravesFan
May 8th, 2009
7:28 am
MVP23: classy, man.
Cavs Fan
May 8th, 2009
7:47 am
I really enjoyed the comments following game 1, you know the one’s about how JJ was being double teamed etc. I came back to see if you all actually WATCHED this game and I am pleased to note you have dissuaded yourselves of that notion.
So let me comment on a few things said here….
This is NOT Mike Woodsons fault. He may or may not be a crappy coach but his team has quit on him. Both games so far the Hawks have quit in the the 3rd quarter.
Wednesday the mantra here was That Josh Smith was every bit the superstar that LBJ is, ahhh….. no.
Call LBJ a punk? He’s class personified. Compare and contrast Smith and LBJ and tell me LBJ is a punk. Sour grapes, sore losers is all that can be said about a clueless comment like that.
Blaming injuries. The Cavs went west and lost to the fakers, er Lakers, then beat Portland, Utah and Houston to go 3-1 and all they heard about was that losing “Z” and West was no excuse for losing to LA. Sorry if you think this is different. You play the hand you’re dealt and you don’t whine. Quit whining.
Compare the Hawks to the Cavs position by position and don’t leave out the bench players. If you can honestly say that the Hawks are superior to the Cavs you don’t know Basketball. Trying to blame the Coach when his best players quit is pitiful. The character of the players is in question. This is professional sports and the Coach doesn’t fire up his players. They play for their jobs, for their contracts. I wouldn’t pay Josh Smith to be a bench player, yet you all compare him to LBJ. Hysterical.
Whomever said that you can’t get a game changer in the draft outside the lottery is right on the nose. In fact if you don’t pick in the top 3-5 you can’t get a game changer unless you simply luck out. If you do get one it will be a guy that was drafted as an underclassman and will need YEARS to develop. Even LBJ wasn’t a superstar for years, in fact just this year is he getting to that lofty status.
Finally… complaining about Atlanta teams…. From where I sit the Braves have been one of the best, classiest organizations that have won more than their share of games and WS over the last few decades. The Falcons made a huge mistake with M Vick and it hurt them badly but Ryan was a brilliant pick that paid immediatre dividends. Get over this attitude that if you don’t win it all you are losers.
The Hawks have made progress the last 2 years. Did anyone here really expect them to compete for the NBA Championship this year?
BravesFan79
May 8th, 2009
7:48 am
Giving Horford starters minutes the first game when it was CLEAR he was hurt and hurting the team being out there, and THEN playing Joe Johnson while down by 32 in the second half….. both TERRIBLE decisions made by Woodson. Its clear Woodson isnt the man to lead the Hawks to the next level.
Anyone think Lebron or Kobe would be in the game down 32 in the 2nd half to risk getting hurt? didnt think so!
Cuz
May 8th, 2009
7:52 am
Mark get some rest and be prepared to suffer the slings and arrows of life’s misfortune.
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
7:53 am
Every traveling writer always feels the urge to share cab-driver stories — and I’ve already done it once on this trip — but I should report this little exchange this morning:
Driver: “Where you headed?”
MB: “Atlanta.”
Driver: “Oh, were you here with the Atlanta Hawks?”
MB: “I was here watching them.”
Driver (after a long, grave pause): “Maybe they’ll do a little better at home.”
Bazza Mckenzie
May 8th, 2009
7:56 am
To u Cleveland bashers: I was born and raised in Sydney Aus. When I was growing up we used to read how the Brits always ragged on us and our city as provincial dirt filled city with provincial dirtbag peeps, now Sydney (and even then it was) is really one of the best cities to live in in the world. I now live in Cleveland, and work all over the world (Consulting engineering) and I have to say, its a pretty decent place to live and it ranked in the top 10 places to live in this poll
http://moving.about.com/od/whymove/a/best_places.htm
I am amazed at how obtuse many Americans are when it comes to stigmatization, you really are a sad lot. Cleveland is a little cold, and a little cloudy, but it is better than many other cities I have visited (NYC, Chicago – blech, LA – sheesh, pahlease, St Louis – gag me, and Atlanta – where’s the air conditioning)
Now they have a great sports team as well … All I can say is eat your shorts envious ones.
(PS I Still think Sydney CRAPS on the rest of the world)
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
8:03 am
I’m in Terminal A of the Cleveland Airport. I’m trying to find a Coke. My search — and I’ve already scoured the length and breadth of this terminal — hasn’t yet proved availing.
And Hartsfield Jackson is “a dreadful airport”?
(And that’s my final word. Unless I think of something else.)
David Smith
May 8th, 2009
8:06 am
It’s disheartening watching these guys take the court and underachieve time and again.making us wonder “If’ they will ever “get it”. This team is the true personification of it’s coach in this series (confused=joe johnson, inconsistent=josh smith, defenseless=mike bibby, big tease=marvin williams, and dependable=al horford). I’ve seen this team play the same way ever since woody was hired to coach them and he keeps getting more predictable every year (the win level increases but the players rarely progress under his stead). I knew cleveland would be a tough draw in the second round but, thought we had an even chance based on how tough we usually played them. I didn’t figure they would show a national televised audience the type of ineptness only a coach of woody’s caliber could provide.
Dash of Reality
May 8th, 2009
8:09 am
Man i hate to admit it but this team needs a heart transplant. Along with Dallas I think my Hawks are one of the softest good teams out there. I dont remember seeing any hard fouls even as Marvin got decked in game 1. I am sick of seeing King James doing chin-ups on the rim.
RedTailHawk
May 8th, 2009
8:16 am
Does anyone know if JJ has been hurt for a long time? I mean, looking at the tape, the ankle “tweak” didn’t seem that bad. On the other hand, he has not played like himself well, starting the last month of the regular season. I believe that he hurt his ankle badly on that play, but I suspect that it has been very weak/hurt for a long time and he has been playing through it.
Hollywould
May 8th, 2009
8:30 am
Man, I almost bought tickets for this weekend. Glad I saved my money
and will go see my son’s travel team play baseball. At least they give 100%. I don’t want to hear about injuries, people tired, or any other excuse you people have for the CHICKS. They are sickening. Cash your checks and just forfeit this weekend. I swear I could leave Bibby in the dust. Has any of these so-called big men ever played before? Does anybody ever help out? Do they not realize they can leave their man when they are standing next to the lane watching each Cav player dunk?
I have never seen a more inept performance. I will take my savings
and go to the Waffle House. At least the cook and waitress will give an effort. Hawks sux
Joe
May 8th, 2009
8:44 am
Mark,
Any chance that Woodson loses his job if the Hawks are swept? There is no excuse for the road woes of this team except for the fact that the coach is not a motivator. The guy is simply not a good coach.
Cavs Fan
May 8th, 2009
8:47 am
Is Mark Bradley a joker? Can’t find a coke? Really? Who drinks coke at 8:03am in the first place?
If that was a lame attempt at humor fine, it is what it is. If that was an attempt to elevate Atlanta’s airport over Cleveland’s it’s hopelessly pathetic.
Hollywould
May 8th, 2009
8:51 am
Cavs fan, Are you seriously worrying about who has the best airport? LOl
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
8:54 am
I drink Coke at 8:03 in the morning. I don’t drink coffee. Sorry, but there it is.
Had to settle for a Lipton Diet Green Tea, you should know.
Bill
May 8th, 2009
8:57 am
Not Martin….Thanks Mark for info. Bill Martin is a first class jerk. Hawks are dead and Braves show no new life.
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
9:03 am
You’re welcome, Bill.
D.Carter
May 8th, 2009
9:08 am
Not saying that this is all woody’s fault because you cant coach heart indeed…..
But however the Celtics are also desimated by injuries but DOC who in my opinion is the best situational and adjustment making coach in the league gets the most out of his players…
Hell ! he even has Brian Sclabrine (spell check) playing decent ball…
Over the last 5 years woody has NEVER effectively used his bench and ran good players either out of town or in the ground.. You have to be able to reach and teach these younger generation players… I honestly dont think Woody has done an adequate job in those areas…..
X and O wise , Woody is just plain stubborn… he is way to set in trying to make what he wants to work work!!! Instead of taking advantage of mismatches by using strategy , he relies on talent alone….Joe cant score because our offense is so predictable and ends up looking like a 1 on 5 show…
Josh takes jumpers and crazy shots because they basically run nothing for him to get invovled so he has taken the get mine mentality… Have you every noticed how the hawks offense has no continuity?
Mike bibby who plays with heart is simply not the player he once was and may be the worst defensive point guard in NBA history….. Now we have wasted the last 2 years of Acies career trying to plug him into a system that doesnt work for him… he is a pick and roll penetrating point guard, which is kinda hard to do when joe is dribbling 300 times….
Understand that JJ is a shooter not a scorer… to be 6′7 and 245 he shoots floaters and doesnt finish strong at the rim… People who shoot floaters dont get fouled… when was the last time you saw joe draw some contact?..
Josh would and is gonna flourish in a system that keeps him moving and in situations that he can slash and drive to the basket… Trust me his jumper will improve thru hard work…And a least josh plays with some heart and emotion!!!
Bottom line: We need tougher players…. definately a new coach…..
A few suggestions for next year: See if we can trade joe for rudy gay which would be good for both teams…..
Trade Marvin for Kevin Martin (sacramento) Scorer who lives at the free throw line…
Sign a free agent defensive minded center who rebounds the basketball
resign Flip and ZA ZA
Hand the keys over to Acie Law
Give Othello Hunter some time… (hustler and rebounder)
say goodbye to Mario , Randolph,
See about trading for or signing Matt Harpring
most importantly GET AVERY JOHNSON IN HERE… OR HELL BUY DOC OUT OF HIS CONTRACT AND RETIRE HIS JERSEY OR SOMETHING….MAKE HIM PART OF THE SPIRT GROUP SOMETHING!!!!!!
DO SOMETHING RICK SUND DONT JUST SETTLE FOR MEDIOCRITY… THE FANS OF THIS CITY WANT TO BELIEVE AND IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF WE WERE REALLY COMPETITIVE
ken
May 8th, 2009
9:13 am
i think the hawks can aleast get 2 games out of the cavs, nba is so rigged for entertaining and ratings, everytime they predict the finals they make it happen. its sad. or i just cant accept these a#$ kickin cavs are giving us. the hawks . its the hawks vs. cavs and refs and the nba. joe is not trying to be leader, bibby is the only one playing hard, josh is the only one who cares about the team and winning. al and marvin cant step up and play. this is a disaster. im so pissed. whats your take on what i said? Mark Bradley
yetta
May 8th, 2009
9:15 am
JJ has always been the problem; he only trusts Bibby and Bibby only trusts JJ. Stop blaming Josh Smith; at least he has confidence in himself. JJ always blames his shortcomings on his teammates not showing up. How many times have you not showed up Joe?????
PMC
May 8th, 2009
9:19 am
The Hawks are not remotely in the same league as Cleveland. It dosen’t mean this season is a failure. It was a Great season. When you draft guys like Marvin Williams and Josh Childress in the top five and they aren’t remotely superstars… it’s going to set you back. Right now Josh Smith is probably the closest to “star” we’ve got on the team… yes Joe Johnson is talented but he doesn’t have a leading role personality. Mike Bibby is a great player but he’s on the tail end of his career.
For the Hawks to get past where they are now they have to have at least one true SUPERSTAR. They haven’t had that since Dominique. We are a superstar town with no superstar. I can’t fault them for getting stomped by a vastly more talented team. I wish the effort was higher… but they just aren’t close to Cleveland. It was a great year… maybe one day we will have an NBA team that can compete for a title but superstars don’t grow on trees.
We are essentially paying for drafting J Chill; Marvin Williams and the slumlord in the Lottery. None of those guys are leading anyone anywhere.
Mark C.
May 8th, 2009
9:20 am
Anyone notice Lebron’s 3 at the half hitting ZaZa in the face after it went through the basket? It was fitting.
ken
May 8th, 2009
9:20 am
YETTA,
right on, everybody always blame josh, jj hasnt been doing anything.
ATL living in NYC
May 8th, 2009
9:31 am
I’m upset too but we wouldn’t have gotten close to the playoffs without Joe Johnson. True he isnt a Superstar but there arent many out there. He is a great player who gave his all to this team. When he becomes a free agent they need to pay him his money because who is going to be our leader on this team J-Smoove?!?!? J-Smoove gives his all when we are up but when we are down he just gives up and that will be our leader if Joe isn’t here. In 2010, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, D-Wade or Lebron James aren’t even thinking about coming to Atlanta and teams like the Knicks have money to spend. It was a great year wish it could have been better.
RealSquawk
May 8th, 2009
9:41 am
This season had failure written all over it when there goal was to simply get home court through the first round of the playoffs and advance past the first round of the playoffs.
Once you take the NBA champs to seven games you are supposed to have more focus and a clearer focus of what real goals are in the NBA. No team still in the playoffs was talking about getting a first round playoff win and being satisfied there goal has always been to get to the playoffs in whatever position and then win a championship.
This team set its goal to allow for a cop out and it starts with Mike Woodson. He set those goals so he could continue to mark his improvement with this team and keep his job.
If this season is not two more games I would be greatly surprised.
And first six games told me that Mike Woodson wasn’t the person to put most of blame on. It is the players and will always be at the end of the day they have to go out there play and execute if they need to change something they change it.
This team does well thing well and that’s compete at home sometimes.
For all of those people who don’t care for Joe Johnson we will see what he is made of next year because that will be his contract year.
And I would argue this would be one of our most important off season.
What do we do with Marvin Williams?
What do we do with Mike Bibby?
What do we do with Josh Childress?
What do we do with Flip Murray?
Do we get more national television games even though they played like the wackness for five games of the playoffs?
Do season ticket holder numbers increase?
What do we do in a deep draft with a GM who is notorious(well known or well has had some) for bad drafts?
And if the Hawks they have made in believers in these playoffs then they are kidding themselves. If they think anyone is going to use the excuses of injuries laughable. Its the playoffs everybody’s got some ankle roll or wrist sprain. Maybe if they had simple handled Miami like they were supposed to do last series then they could be better rested and less injured.
When the first quarter announcing highlights are I wish they showed they cared or they could at least give a little more effort then you know there is something wrong. And you can’t blame the coach unless he told them to go out there and play like the wackness.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
May 8th, 2009
9:54 am
Well mark bradley drinking a coke is kind of like Creepshow 3, wasnt really need but what the heck.
STRETCH
May 8th, 2009
10:16 am
Someone made a comment saying that the Hawks were out of it without their starters. Well, even if they had all their starters they were not going to win this series. Its ok to believe and have faith and hope and all that, but sometimes we need to have a little common sense people.
Bibby is too slow, he’s good off the bench these days, He was getting lit up by the Cleveland guards and has been all season.
JJ is done. He checked out early in both games. He’s a STAR, not a SUPERSTAR but makes 14 million this year and still cant make free throws??????
Woodson will never be an elite status coach in the NBA. If he was, then why doesnt he tell Josh Smith to STOP shooting jumpers or get back in the gym??? He brought in a second unit(which outplayed Clevelands 2nd unit) only now when he doesnt have a choice. They should have been getting minutes all season cause they atleast had hustle and heart!!!
This Cavalier team is really, really deep. Anyone is going have problems with a team that deep. It was only inevitable for the Hawks with that 8 man rotation Woodson stupidly continues to use.
But i did have to sympathize with Josh Smith last night, even the commentators were saying Lebron was not getting fouls called against him! There was even one insident were Josh got hit in the mouth and they played it back in slow motion! Refs are the biggest homers in the world!
ZaZa has heart and hustle, but he’s got to be the clumsiest, no hands having GEICO guy look-a-like i have ever seen!
They will get swept! Time to chalk it up and look forward to the offseason.
Keeping It Real
May 8th, 2009
10:19 am
I cannot believe that pro athletes could perform as badly as the Hawks did last night. The Braves come to mind but they have no talent. The Hawks have talent but no desire. Mike Woodson cannot inspire the team to play defense,move on offense and hustle for loose balls. As much as I want him to succeed, it appears that the chemistry is not right with Mike and the Hawk players. Change will be good for both parties.
All I'm Saying Is...
May 8th, 2009
10:21 am
This season has been an unqualified success for the Hawks. Are we likely to end on a bad note? Yes, because it appears we lack the playoff experience and the firepower to compete with the CAVs. Does this mean we should blow up the team, fire the coach, harp on the negative such as what I have read on this blog? No.
Too many people are drinking too much hater-ade about this team. Do we need to keep getting better? Of course. Do we need more growth in the Josh Smith’s game (i.e. a consistent jump shot)? Yes. Do we need someone besides Mike Bibby with a different skill set to run the point? I think so.
Let’s remember that it took Cleveland several trades and tries to get the right group around LeBron (remember when they thought Larry Hughes was who they needed or that over-rated shooting guard formerly with Miami or when they signed Ben Wallace for that matter?).
I still believe in Joe Johnson and know that this playoff year will help him to realize what he must do to lead this team to victory in the playoffs. I don’t fault him for getting shut down by LeBron which is basically what has happened in this series. Everybody in the NBA knows that to beat the Hawks, shut down Joe Johnson because no one else is consistent enough to be a threat and that’s what has happened in this series whether via infrequent double-teams to get Joe to give up the ball or man-to-man D from Delonte or LeBron.
Going forward, what we need to do is:
1) Realize we will be better when we have healthy Al and Marvin—with Al and Marvin we did well against Celtics in last years playoffs and in the regular season when we beat Cleveland at home in December
2) Upgrade our mix of guards. We need
(a) an uptempo point guard to come in and being a change of pace for the offense as we are much better as a running team and
(b) a defensive minded guard who can shoot. Clearly, right now, Acie Law is not working and we can’t get rid of Speedy soon enough.
(c) Keep JJ, Bibby, Flip, Mo and Mario and get them all to work on their outside shooting—have them take a 1,000 jumpers a day.
3) Most important, FIND A LEGITIMATE CENTER. I love ZaZa but we need a scorer down low who can threaten shots. We don’t need a superstar just someone as good as Erik Dampier with the Mavs or that Diop dude they use to have;
4) Stop hating on Mike Woodson. He has shown what he can do when he finally had a good point guard (i.e. a full season of Mike Bibby this year)
Do we need to consider trading anyone to get what we need? I don’t think so. I think we can get what we want without having to do that and now is the time for Rick Sund to show how smart he is.
If we had to go the trade route, however, I personally believe that, contrary to some of you haters, there would be significant interest in Josh Smith especially in the Western Conference where he would flourish in a run-and-gun offense. I would not be opposed to seeing Josh leave (although I know he would burn us everytime we played him).
Thoughts?
Bravedawg
May 8th, 2009
10:43 am
MARK – Kudos on the way you handled that guy. He showed a lack of class, and you showed more than the requisite amount. You’re refreshing as a newspaper columnist – you’re not a blowhard, you’re quick to admit when you’re wrong, and you’re humble. I’ve seen a lot more of your humor come out now that you’ve started “blogging,” so keep up the good work.
(I promise, this isn’t Mark Bradley’s mother writing this – I’m being sincere!)
Ashamed Atlantan
May 8th, 2009
10:43 am
God, sometimes I absolutely hate being a real fan of Atlanta sports. I get on this blog and read some of the most ignorant blather and to my dismay, not all of it is coming from Bradley.
This season has been a unqualified success. End of story. This team is still ridiculously young, and making progress every year. What more do you guys want? A return to the stupidity of the past that brought us guys like Danny Manning, Isiah Rider and Shareef?
All you ignorant Atlanta “fans” calling for Woodson to be fired and spend more time hating on Josh Smith than attempting to put together a rational thought are a disgrace. This team is stocked with young talent, and guess what idiots, not every young player is LeBron and does amazing things by the time they’re 24. It takes time with young guys, if they leave the core of this team (Smith, Horford, Williams, JJ) in place, and continue to add the right pieces around them like they did this year with Flip and Evans, they will continue to get better.
Again, this is the exact same position we found ourselves in last year against the Celtics. Two demoralizing road losses to open the series. I am 100 percent confident the team will play better here at home. Will they stretch it 7 or win the series. Probably not, too beat up and injured at this point.
And thank god for Skip Bayless. Who would be the only national media personality pointing out that Josh got all that BS for his dunk attempt in round one with idiot media types calling him out for trying to show the other team up, yet those same idiot media types remain silent about LeBron and his new found love for celebrating everything. For god’s sakes, Mo Williams won a tip last night and you would have thought they had just won the championship from looking at the LeBron and the Cavs bench. Then all the shimmying and mugging to the crowd. Josh Smith does that and he’s being roasted on TV, and probably by most of this blog following. But Lebron showboats and it’s all ok.
Zaza, if you happen to read this. Do me a favor. Smack LeBron in the mouth the first chance you get.
Biff
May 8th, 2009
10:43 am
Cavs fan here. You guys just came off a tough, physical 7 game series and had to go into the toughest arena in the league, with key players injured. That was a tall order.
As some of you guys have pointed out, the Cavs defense really is their key. That’s not something you can develop overnight, and it’s not just an “effort” thing that you can just ramp up in the playoffs. You’ve got to have good defensive schemes and work at them, with a high level of effort in every game, really for a couple of years to get to a championship level. It took LeBron years to figure that out and get this team where it needs to be. And we ditched a lot of players along the way before finally getting a group that was on the same page mentally when it came to defense.
So my thought for you guys is get a good defensive minded coach. Trade guys or bench guys who won’t play defense, get guys who will, and then, uh, get lucky in the draft.
Worked for us. Heh.
Cleveland guy
May 8th, 2009
10:44 am
As a Cleveland fan, born and raised, I’m even surprised how one-sided this series has been, injuries or not. I think a healthy, homebound Hawks squad would give Cleveland a challenge, but w/ Johnson out…no way. These Cavs are laser-focused unlike any C-town team I’ve ever seen, and i’m 34. Driven, hungry, relentless… and these guys obviously like each other, too. It’s a pleasure to watch…and a championship would be so good for the city. People outside the city have no idea how much we want a ring! It would be huge for our collective psyches in these tough economic times. And it would put to rest The Drive, Shot and all the other sports heartbreaks that people love to bring up.
I like the Hawks..hell, I wanted the Cavs to get JJ instead of Hughes a few years back…but these Cavs are on a mission and I don’t expect them to be even challenged until the ECF. I can only hope!
SlimG
May 8th, 2009
10:45 am
Don’t trade Josh. The kid is coming into his own. Without his contribution in Game1 of this series, we would have been down by 20 at the half like Game2. We need a center and another guard. With three starters hurt, we don’t stand a chance. I like our strategy going in (force Lebron to shot jump shots), but we had nobody to rebound the misses. The little bit of Game1 I saw (partying Cinco de Mayo), our game plan worked until the second half.
Mark (not Bradley)
May 8th, 2009
10:51 am
Hawks had no chance with their depleted lineup and Cavs playing at home but I have one question. WHAT DOES LEBRON JAMES HAVE TO DO TO GET CALLED FOR FOULS??? This guy fouled Josh Smith three times in the first half and was never whistled. Instead Josh Smith was called for fouls on two of the plays. You could see the the anger and frustration in Josh’s reactions and I have no doubt that it affected all the Hawks. And James fouled both Josh Smith AND Joe Johnson on the play where Joe got hurt (using the same standards by which everyone else on the floor is judged) Yes, home teams have always gotten more calls in the NBA and superstars get some breaks but this is nonsense.
The announcers agreed on several of these plays that Lebron got a break but no one mentioned that he ALWAYS get these breaks. I heard recently when watching another team play Cleveland that Lebron was called for only ONE foul in a TEN-game sretch. Ridiculous. Mark Bradley could be named to the NBA’s Defensive All-Star team too if they never called him for a foul.
Should the Hawks handle it better? Sure. Their lack of mental toughness on the road is a big part of why they struggle. Would they have won if they got these calls? No. But I have a feeling they would have competed a lot better if the calls had been correct. If Lebron goes to the bench instead of Josh Smith the game takes on a different tone.
Yes, I am a Hawks fan but I don’t think I am alone in seeing this kind of stuff in the NBA. When Miami won the title a few years back fans and writers all laughed at the ridiculous calls sending Dwyane Wade to the line over and over. Games CAN be won or lost by this babying of the
superstars. They have enough of an edge already.