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
Hans
May 8th, 2009
10:55 am
I’m disappointed you let that loser anchor from Cleveland bash you and Atlanta. Who on earth actually thinks Cleveland is a pleasant city to live in? You should have defended our city better, because anyone who would prefer to live in Cleveland over Atlanta is mentally ill.
LeBron’s Infectious Evening
May 8th, 2009
11:04 am
[...] curious how Nike feels about that pic… His game is so good, it can make a grown man go off in a tangent of hyperbole; although, in this case, you can believe the hype. LeBron has elevated his team to such a high [...]
williamboot
May 8th, 2009
11:12 am
Mr. Bradley:
You conducted yourself with dignity and grace, which is a lot more than I can say for that pathetic moron Bill Martin who interviewed you. After watching the video I feel like apologizing on behalf of the entire city of Cleveland. By the way, you spoke the truth when you expressed pity for those of us who have to live in this dump.
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
11:18 am
Thanks, William. Thanks, BraveDawg. I’m much obliged.
And Hans, what was I supposed to do? Get into a yelling match on live TV? How exactly would that have cast Atlanta, the AJC and yours truly in a better light?
champion
May 8th, 2009
11:19 am
Message to Coach Woodson, use this series to develop Josh Smith low post game. Have Josh Smith to low post game because his outside jump-shooting is horrendous. Josh need to understand that, and dedicate himself to developing a consistent jump shot during the off-season!!!
Joe Johnson need to stop hiding in the first half of each game from here out, that is if he’s still around after twisting his ankle. Joe need to take his mid-range game shots early on and be aggressive going to the rack. Challenge the officials to make a call his way on offense.
Mike Woodson need to start coaching and stop whining to his players. Coach them into position on defense and offense. When a player act lackluster pull him out the game and get in his grill. Remind his team that this is a seven game series. PLAY LIKE IT!!!
yellarjacket4life
May 8th, 2009
11:22 am
I can live with my team getting beat. Being a fan of all Atlanta professional sports and being a Tech fan, I have definitely seen my teams take quite a few beatings over the years, but to watch this Hawks team show absolutely no effort is unacceptable. No hustle, no heart, and definitely no sense of urgency. We all know the Cavs are the better team, but why not make them earn everything. Instead we are very imtimidated by them, especially Lebron. The Hawks just allow him to do whatever he wants, when he wants. No one will challenge him at the rim or when he drives to the basket, instead we just let him take us off the dribble and dunk all over us. It’s like the Hawks are scared to foul him hard. There were several times last night the Hawks just stood around and watched as Lebron beat his man off the dribble and dunk with ease. No one was willing to step up and knock him on his butt and make him earn his points from the line. If the Hawks didn’t notice, Lebron was not shooting the ball particularly well from the free throw line last night. In the second quarter, Mo Evans pushed Lebron in the lane and caused him to fall, then goes over and wants to help him up. WHY??? This is playoff basketball. Foul him hard everytime he gets in the lane and wants to dunk. Stop playing so scared and play with some emotion. The Hawks are getting embarrassed and they act like they don’t care. It’s tough to watch.
fairweather fans
May 8th, 2009
11:28 am
Gumbo and Ted Striker understand what Atlanta is REALLY about.
As a native Atlantan, it’s sad to admit how casual and superficial our fans are.
Except for the die-hards on this blog at on Hawksquawk.net, that is.
Dhani Jones
May 8th, 2009
11:36 am
Bazza: I haven’t been to Sydney, but I LOVE Melbourne!!!
Australia is the most fun country on the planet.
Much Respect.
CLE
May 8th, 2009
11:38 am
It doesn’t matter how good ATL does in hometown territory… they don’t have a chance!
They have 3 of they’re best players BENCHED and I see no hope.
I thought they might win a game or two but I doubt it. Better luck next year.
I also have to say that I grew up in Cleveland and it’s a great place. I think since Cleveland has been seriously effected by the economy people are saying negative things about the place but it’s not as bad as they all say. Reporters and fans bash Cleveland because they have nothing better to say. It’s understandable though… they are upset that ATL is being embarrassed at how they’re team is playing. Cleveland has it’s downfalls just as EVERY CITY HAS THERE DOWNFALLS. I think Mark Bradley’s reporting is okay, however, when you go the lengths to bash a city.. it’s lame reporting! Mark won’t be back in Cleveland reporting on a basketball game… Cleveland will finish it in Atl. Hope you’re not too upset Mark. Maybe we will see you next year! Cheers!!!!!!!!!!
Danny
May 8th, 2009
11:39 am
Man Mark, I heard that interview you did with the Fox station, you need to lighten up. You have the personality of a rock. They were just busting your balls and you looked like an idiot thinking they were serious. Come on man
STRETCH
May 8th, 2009
11:40 am
Mark (not Bradley)…i agree with you totally dude! The REFS do this kinda thing every year and especially in the playoffs! One play, that blocking call on Josh, My wife was like “he just ran into and over that guy”. Like Arsenio Hall used to say….”Things that make you go….Hmmmmm”
Braindawg
May 8th, 2009
11:41 am
OK I’like to think we could win maybe one in the highlight factory, but thats not the point. Lets say we do lose this semi final matchup. And yes that looks to be what will happen.
My question is this, what needs to be done to beat the Cavs in the future? We have a strong core to our team, what piece or two do we need to play with the Cavs or the other elite teams in the league?
And yes its good to be having this coverstation, about playing with the elite teams, and not the one about trying to make it to the playoffs, period. So truth is we’re much better off than this one nasty matchup is making it look.
Jason
May 8th, 2009
11:44 am
I just saw the interview with the Cleveland station. I am a Cleveland resident, but is this guy for real? It was supposed to be a joke, but Mr. Bradley apparently wasn’t playing. Why did he even go on if he was going to be so abrasive? Lighten up, Mark. Talk about dry.
Aaron
May 8th, 2009
11:45 am
How funny was Mark’s weather smack talk? You really showed them!
In all seriousness, Mark why would you agree to go on air with them if you were going to be so uptight? I mean when it comes to arguing who has a better airport, weather and traffic and you can’t tell it’s funny and the guy was joking, that says alot about your sense of humor.
Bravedawg
May 8th, 2009
11:56 am
It seems reviews on here of Mike Woodson are mixed, at best. I would give him a terrible rating. After 4 years he has failed to rein in Josh Smith. Smith is still an immature, inconsistent, EXTREMELY talented athlete that has learned no discipline (emotionally, and on the court) in the time that he’s played under Woodson.
Woodson continues to completely mismanage his roster – he has dumped Acie Law at the end of the bench. At this point, he can’t be blamed for doing it because it’s the playoffs, and the guy has little experience. However, who’s fault is it that Acie has no experience? Woodson hasn’t given a #11 overall draft pick, and a consensus All-American the chance to learn on the court. Bibby is a step slow, and Flip Murray is not a point guard – he’s definitely shoot-first. Acie would be a huge help to this team to provide some youthful energy, athletic ability, and speed coming off the bench. But Woodson buried him all season, so now he’s completely useless.
I feel as if this Hawks team has won as much as they have in spite of Woodson. He has not, after all these years, been able to show them how to play defense CONSISTENTLY, and he hasn’t developed any of his players. Marvin Williams is still a marginal contributor…the same Marvin Williams who was a can’t-miss prospect. Of course, many “can’t-miss” prospects do, in fact, miss, but I can’t help but think that Woodson is to blame for this.
This team will be stuck where they are (which is, to say, a less-experienced version of the Smith/Mutombo/Blaylock version of the late-90s Hawks) as a middling Eastern Conference team with no real hope of a championship–but not bad enough to even get a good draft pick–until they dump Mike Woodson.
Mike
May 8th, 2009
11:57 am
Mark is reporting on bad airports and weather now… Are you serious?!!
You can’t argue on who has better weather and airports! Mark has nothing better to do then to bash Cleveland. He has run out things to say about the Cavs.
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
12:00 pm
Sorry, Aaron. I’m just not big on on-air arguments. That’s why I don’t watch TV anymore.
And Jason: I was the abrasive one? Really. Huh.
Corliss
May 8th, 2009
12:35 pm
The Hawks quit on the road after getting down 5 points. They also don’t think they belong on the same floor w/the Cavs(in spite of the talent the Hawks have).In other news, traffic was tied up on spagetti junction this afternoon@5pm.
Hollywould
May 8th, 2009
12:39 pm
hey Mark, You are getting some ink on SI.COM
Kelvin
May 8th, 2009
1:03 pm
Where are all the Hawks fans who before the series started were saying Hawks in seven? Or were saying Cavs in seven? This series is so over it’s not even worth watching the final two games. The Hawks were slaughtered on the road and it won’t be much better at home. This team was built to make the playoffs and in the eastern conference that ain’t saying much, not built to win a championship. You can thank Billy Knight for not drafting Chris Paul or Deron Williams, a point guard which the teams still needs, and for drafting Sheldon Williams with the #5 pick the following year. The team is still reeling from those two drafts.
jaxman
May 8th, 2009
1:12 pm
Mark (not Bradley): Waa-waa-waaaaa! Are you seriously going to say that Lebron gets all the calls? I would be willing to say that Josh clearly DIDN’T get calls but to say Lebron got them is absurd. Obviously you never watch games. He is like Shaq; you could call a foul almost every time he drives to the basket. Because of his physical size, he takes a beating. Try that your team has NO HEART and stop blaming the refs.
jaxman
May 8th, 2009
1:14 pm
Hans,
what is the basis for your “expert” analysis? I can tell you that I’ve lived in BOTH cities and both have good and bad things about them. You sound like the immature babies from my days in the Navy that would say one state is better than another. You speak with ignorance. Better to be thought a fool than to begin typing and remove all doubt.
jaxman
May 8th, 2009
1:18 pm
STRETCH, you and Mark need to stop making excuses. Yes that was a TERRIBLE no call. But, we could dissect every game that way. You are talking about three guys at FLOOR LEVEL (Not watching on TV like you) trying to see through huge human beings. They make mistakes. We could go back to the very first play of the series when Lebron dunked on ATL. He was FOULED! Quit your whining!
oldmike
May 8th, 2009
1:22 pm
I think this about says it all. Stick a fork in the Hawks – they’re done.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/scott_howard-cooper/05/07/hawks.cavs.game.2/index.html
golt73
May 8th, 2009
1:31 pm
When you look at the Hawks on paper, they’re solid, but they continue to lack a superstar or at least a veteran presence that could be the glue to hold everything together. Johnson can score, but he wilts in big-time situations. You can tell he doesn’t want to be the one to step up. Josh Smith wants to step up, but is too immature to avoid taking bad shots or getting into foul trouble. The leadership both on the floor and from the bench is the missing ingredient. Can you imagine a Ray Allen on this team or a Garnett. Heck even a Duncan. All those guys lead by example but command respect on the floor. There’s no way J-Smooth does the same stupid thing twice with one of those guys standing next to him.
atlpaddy
May 8th, 2009
1:39 pm
The Hawks are gutless – just like every professional sports team in Atlanta when the bright spotlight of the playoffs shines upon them (save for the 1995 Atlanta Braves and even that was too close).
nunna yo bizznezz
May 8th, 2009
1:41 pm
hey mark,
OTHELLO!!!!!!!!!!!
GARDNER!!!!!!!!!!!
TELL WOODSON,TO REST JOE,MARVIN,AND AL,OR,LET THEM COME IN AND DO SPOT DUTY..THEY DON’T HAVE TO PLAY TONS OF MINUTES,LET THEM COME IN WHEN NEEDED TO GIVE FLIP/SOLO/BIBBS/EVANS/PACHY/ A REST,ALONG WITH INCREASED TIME FOR OTHELLO AND GARDNER,AND LET THIS BE A FULL TEAM EFFORT…
OUR 2ND/3RD TEAMERS BEAT UP ON CLEVELANDS 2ND TEAMERS,AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEAGUES DEEPEST AND BEST TEAM..WELL,I BEG TO DIFFER,AND OTHELLO/GARDNER/MORRIS SHOULD ALL GET SOME INCREASED PLAYING TIME ON SATURDAY..THEY DESERVE IT,BECAUSE I STILL HARK ON J-SMOOVE COMMENTS ON THIS TEAM BEING TIRED..
LET THEM REST..
I THINK ALL 3 GOING DOWN MIGHT BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE BECAUSE NOW WE WILL SEE JUST WHAT WE HAVE ON THE BENCH,AND MAYBE FOR THE FUTURE STARTING IN OCTOBER 2010..
GO HAWKS!!!
OTHELLO!!!
GARDNER!!!
Hawks 2010
May 8th, 2009
1:44 pm
Mr.Mark Bradley, I am disappointed with your posting.
You make hardcore Hawks fans like me look like idiots….
It is not over until the fat lady sinks…Now that the Cavs are coming to our home, we need to prove them no one …and I MEAN NO ONE can get away with an easy victory here…Lebron is gonna feel the wrath of our cheers and boos,our sceams are gonna throng the Philips arena…I hope Josh tries that dunk again…Its fans like you that make me sick. If we lose , we can ponder about it then. But now, Hawks need all the support that we can give…..Go hawks.
CheshireCat
May 8th, 2009
1:55 pm
I find it rather amusing that the BANDWAGON fans are now ready to bail out on the Hawks. I find that very repulsive. Isnt it amazing how short peoples memories are. The last two playoff series the Hawks were in there record was absolutely astounding!: they (1) Defeated the Miami Heat and (2) took the Celtics to seven games. That is an extremely impressive display of playoff basketball. Yet, in spite of that, the Hawks lose the first two game in the series with Cleveland and all of a sudden people are ready to jump off the bridge into the river. Dont jump! As I said before. The Hawks will WIN the series with Cleveland, provided that Horford, Williams and Johnson return for the next four games. If they play in the next four contests, the Hawks will win the series with Clevleland. If they dont return, THEN and only THEN will it be over with. But its only over when the Hawks players are unable to answer the bell.
Daniel
May 8th, 2009
2:01 pm
Here’s some more John Wooden philosophy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvX0fkEp0cs
STRETCH
May 8th, 2009
2:08 pm
jaxman
Im not making excuses, just calling it like i see it. Either way you put it….thats what they get paid to do, to make the right call and they showed way to much love Lebron. Anyway, who cares what a navy guy thinks? Who care’s that you were even in the Navy? When’s the next VILLAGE PEOPLE reunion???
RickNole
May 8th, 2009
2:29 pm
Just remember the Hawks were blown out of game 1 and 2 last year.
Its Me, Joe Johnson
May 8th, 2009
2:46 pm
Hey ATL. Remember me? I was playing in Game 7 of the Miami/ATL series. I don’t know if you were aware or not but the general management and I had a clause written in my contract that states when I am tired, I don’t really have to show up to work. I would advise you all to speak with your bosses about this and see if they will go for it. My boss seems to be okay with it. Also, I am very disappointed in the way you are trashing our team. We are playing against Lebron James….LEBRON JAMES…WOW! To be able to stand on the same court and watch him play…simply amazing. In the locker room before the game, while coach tells us to be proud of what we have done so far and enjoy watching Lebron, I get choked up thinking about possibly getting to touch Lebron’s jersey. In Game 1, I actually thought about trying to guard him, but then I said to myself “nah, he might get upset with me.” Well I’m rambling but just wanted to say that you ATL fans should leave us alone. We’re having fun out there…WE DON’T BELIEVE, even if you do!
Lebron James
May 8th, 2009
3:18 pm
Hi Folks, this is Lebron..I have already wet my pants thinking about playing in Philips Arena..Please dont come out and scream your heads off..We need an easy trip to the finals…
Please witness how we dance together at the bench and make a fool of ourselves.. I heard you have a lot of gayclubs in Midtown..
Looking forward to take my team after the game there ..
Tata.
wxwax
May 8th, 2009
3:19 pm
Just one little question.
Will a dreadful blowout sweep to the Cavaliers destroy all the goodwill the Hawks have managed to create this season?
Can four basketball games undo a full season and a playoff series win?
Lost and Found
May 8th, 2009
3:33 pm
Attention: A heart was found inside Phillips Arena late last night. It had “Atlanta Hawks” inscribed on it. It will be left in the home locker room at Phillips Arena. We are asking that the owner please return to claim it by Saturday evening and put it to good use. Thanks.
NC Braves Fan
May 8th, 2009
3:35 pm
ATL 2010 @ 1:44 pm … Who is this Fat Lady, and why is she sinking?
Rich
May 8th, 2009
4:05 pm
I love how when teams that don’t have a superstar play against a team with a superstar it always turns to the “it’s us against the team, the refs and the league card.” The Hawks have lost 5 games now by an average of over 20 points per game. That has every bit to do with inexperience, not enough talent and a lack of desire. Mike Woodson has done a good job bringing an athletic (not necessarily supremely talented) bunch of players into the playoffs with a 4th seed and won a series (as ugly as it was at times) and yet all that is said is how he needs to be fired. That’s insanity! Plainly put the Hawks have run into a buzz-saw and it isn’t necessarily anyone’s fault and it certainly isn’t because the fix is in and the league wants the Cavs to move on. I just hope the Hawks show some heart and actually play a game in this series. Because right now I don’t see how this series is anything but a sweep in the making.
On another note, for the bashers of the Big 10 on here and putting down the Ohio State Buckeyes while pumping up the SEC and/or local teams… Please explain to me which college program in the state of Georgia you root for and how you figure that the team you root for has enjoyed more success in the last 5 years than Ohio State. Down conference (Big 10 – which I agree has been garbage) or no down conference, last I checked Georgia, Georgia Tech or whatever other school you care to throw out in the state of Georgia doesn’t quite match up to the track record of OSU in recent years or over the course of time for that matter.
JR
May 8th, 2009
4:22 pm
Woodson- gone. Bibby- gone Johnson- gone. Woodson- no plan, no coaching. Throw the ball out there and hope that sheer talent will win for you. Bibby- may have some time left as a designated shooter off the bench with another team. His inability to even slow down younger guards leaves us with 4 on 5 defensively. Johnson- how can he be so good one-on-one in the regular season and so bad in the post-season? Wait a minute! The opponents are playing defense in the post-season. You only have to count to 3 to figure out when you are double-teamed or tripled teamed. Smith- No college, never been taught the game. Except for super,superstars like Lebron and Kobe, this seldom works. Human Highlight Film, with the emphasis on Light. Williams- he has great potential- so he’s probably the one to go. Murray and Evans- double-parked role players. Law and Jones- no floor time = no development, no contribution. These guys had a good run, but starting at the top, we need some addition by subtraction.
Wayne
May 8th, 2009
4:28 pm
Pray for a rain out.
Little boys should not play with grown men.
Atlanta Hawks — a good example of overpaid spoiled brats. Leadership is zero and team spirit is zero.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes you better pray for rain.
‘Net reaction: Hawks at Cavaliers, Game 2 | Lancilo USA
May 8th, 2009
4:41 pm
[...] Mark Bradley, AJC: "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 distessing road games, and that one went the distance. But Al Horford(notes) and Marvin Williams(notes) and Joe Johnson(notes) weren’t injured then, and these are the Cavs and they’re even more driven than Boston was. LeBron James(notes) 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." [...]
tale of woe
May 8th, 2009
4:41 pm
Mark – Nice TV appearance. You seemed too nervous though (Falcons, errr, Hawks….) What was up with that? I lived in Cleveland and the best thing my parents ever did was move down here. They don’t call the city the Mistake on the Lake for nothing.
dlb868
May 8th, 2009
5:47 pm
To everyone hating on Mike Woodson,
I say this as someone not tied to Atlanta at all. Stop one minute and examine your situation honestly. Here is your team:
aging Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, random role players
That’s a solid team, but no coach in the world could lead that bunch past Cleveland. Don’t be one of those dumb teams that fires a perfectly good coach because their roster is physically incapable of taking down one of the best teams of the past 10 years in the Second Round of the playoffs.
I’m sure Woodson would do just fine with more firepower. The key for me is that Atlanta must do the following:
1) Get a true SUPERSTAR. The roster is filled with borderline all-stars like Johnson, Bibby, J. Smith. Meanwhile, Orlando has Dwight Howard. Boston has Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Cleveland has Lebron James. Yet you people want to fire your coach because you can’t beat those people.
2) Let Johnson loose when his contract is up. Use the money to chase a better player. Only keep Johnson if he’ll take a huge pay cut. The hard truth is that there are only so many good players to go around.
3) I would say trade for an all-star point guard, but then again this is the team that passed on Chris Paul AND Deron Williams to take Marvin Williams 2nd in 2005. And the team that took Shelden Williams 5th in 2006, while Brandon Roy went 6th. Call it bad luck or bad scouting, but the Hawks coulda/shoulda/woulda had a world class PG/SG playing by now.
4) The Hawks will never have any shot of winning the title with this bunch, but they’ll be good enough for excruciating mid-level playoff trips for two or three years to come, thereby denying themselves the high draft picks that could ultimately make them champions.
Forecast: 2-3 years of 48 wins/season and a 1st or 2nd round playoff exit, then a decline.
Only Hope: They need to be working the phones like a Collections agent this summer to try and work out a trade that will get these quasi-stars out of town for one real one. Don’t know who would trade a superstar for a Joe Johnson/Josh Smith package, but there are a lot of stupid GM’s out there. Good luck guys!
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
6:12 pm
I think the sinking fat lady was Shelley Winters in “The Poseidon Adventure.”
Oh, and good post, DLB. Superstars are indeed hard to find. That’s why they’re, er, super.
MVP23
May 8th, 2009
6:38 pm
MB, keep up your good work. Your a great read. Question??? As a member of the press have you had the chance to speak with Cav’s radio man Joe Tait?? This guy is nothing but class and the only years he wasn’t on play by play was when the NBA’s worse owner…ever, Ted Steppian (sp) fired him.
Mark Bradley
May 8th, 2009
6:54 pm
Thanks, MVP. I’ve never met Mr. Tait, but I’ve been listening to him since the 1976 Cavs-Bullets series. I remember driving around in the car — I was then in college — to hear Game 7 (the Dick Snyder shot) on … was it WWWE? Pete Franklin was on the same station.
Joe Tait is, in my opinion, a great radio man.
MVP23
May 8th, 2009
7:21 pm
MB….should have read….”You’re a great read” LOL….don’t want to seem illiterate !!!
RA
May 8th, 2009
9:22 pm
Just a few brief remarks. Anyone that would begin to compare the Hawks situation to that of the Celtics is mistaken at best. Sixty percent of Atlanta’s starting linup is out, that’s down from forty percent that they were missing to start this series. There’s also the fact that they don’t have two future hall of famers left to trot out.
Truth, at full strength the Hawks are no match for Cleveland in Cleveland, and as snake bitten as they are, this thing has degenerated into bad comedy. But I think that a previous blogger said that Lebron James was professionalism personified, or some nonsense like that. Appearently a lot people turn a blind eye to the show boating that Lebron does after some of his dunks and the rediculous antics that he and his teamates carry on while on the bench. Now, the one thing that everyone in the known universe agrees on is that the Hawks were never up to snuff where beating Cleveland was concerned, so why do they celebrate after every made basket like they’ve just beaten the Lakers in game 7 of the Finals. I could understand all that carrying on if you’d just tied up a game in which you were down big, or someone had just hit a huge shot to give you a lead late. But with your team up by thirty and the other team so deep on the bench that they’re playing rookies that didn’t even get a hundred minutes total in the regular season. What have you got to celebrate about? The university of North Carolina could have done just as well against the team the Hawks ended up with Wednesday night, but those boys didn’t quit. They were outgunned and outmanned, but they kept fighting and the best that Lebron and co. could do is make fun of them and show them up. Well, as far as I’m concerned, the Cavs might win the NBA championship, then again, they might not. Either way, they’ve got a lot to learn about being champions, and even more to learn about being professionals.
Disgusted
May 8th, 2009
9:36 pm
IT WAS OVER BEFORE IT EVEN STARTED!!!!
I was so disgusted yesterday, I couldn’t keep watching until the 10′th minute in the 1st quarter! I AM DONE WITH THE NBA! I AM DONE WITH “CEASAR” STERN AND HIS KINGS AND QUEENS!
Noticed the MVP presentation? He was sooo exited he almost wed his pants! Noticed how he tried to touch King James’s arm? Like he was afraid to be called for a technical himself!!!!
ESPN’s broadcast was more of the same!!! Only about KING JAMES. Even during the game they needed to broadcast an interview one of those a$$lickers had with the King. The game didn’t matter. To their defense, for what I was able to digest from the game, I heard 2 comments that even for them seemed too much to be able to explain to normal people, other than King James suckers:
1/ after Smith’s 2nd foul called against King J., one of them at least had to admit it was a bad call!
2/ a couple of moments later, the other reporter had noticed that the Hawks had already 5 fouls against them, while “the Cav’s haven’t had one WHISLED against them!” You notice the difference? “not whisled against them”, meaning the refs saw them but choose (? sic?!!! – were ordered???) to ignore them.
A play or 2 later, one of the Cav’s was called a travel! Noticed how King James reacted? He was ordering the refs around! Reaction: Zaza’s lay-up was called a travel as well. Of course!! The Hawks could have come too close!
Anyway, that did it for me! I switched channel to “Disney Channel” – those shows have more reality in them then watching such a sell-out they call sport!!!
I read all these comments about what was going on with JJ. Maybe one of you, soft “reporters” should ask him if he had heard already before the Heat series that they wouldn’t make it. Would you play if you knew the game was sold anyway?!!
To all fans of the real game of basketball:
SHOW YOUR DISGUST WITH THESE PREFIXED GAMES – STOP PAYING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR SOME TICKETS – BOYCOTT THE GAMES UNTIL THE HOLY STERN RESIGNS AND THE REST UNDERSTANDS THE FANS WANT TO SEE “REAL” GAMES, INSTEAD OF PREFIXED!!
Nothing against our team, they worked their a$$ off the whole season (well, most of it anyway). Go Hawks!! BUT SHOW THE DA##ED NBA YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THIS!! DEMAND YOUR REFUNDS OF YOUR TICKETS – HOLY STERN AND KING JAMES MAKE ENOUGH ANYWAY.
I am soooo disgusted I won’t watch another game of NBA in my life, so help me God!!!
RA
May 8th, 2009
9:54 pm
Yo, disgusted, uhm I know you’re frustrated. Heck man, we all are, but don’t turn your back on the game. It’s still a wonderful game.