Round 2, Game 2: Say goodbye to the Atlanta Hawks

*disappears*

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Joe Johnson has looked flat out scared in this series for the most part he has not shown any leadership and he runs away from the ball. The hawks won the series against the heat but the heat wasn’t all that good so when they faced the cavs they got exposed.

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Yes Mark it looks like this series is definitely over….last year series against was a different animal, we had all our starters healthy and personally i think the Hawks matched up better against the Celtics. Who knows with Joe hurt it may spark an emotional push for someone else to step up. I like the way the reserves played hard down the stretch in the 4th quarter, they could have easily mailed it in to get it over with but they didnt. I admired the hustle. We both know the Hawks are a totally different team in Philips Arena and play at a totally different level, they question is whose going to step out? We need at least 4 players to have career nights to compensate for the injuries. Lebron is a beast and he appears determined to get his team back to the conference finals so they can make a push for the Championship. Tell me this, how in the world do a team(Hawks) get blowed out in every road playoff game? Is that heart? coaching? what? Please tell me…..i’m baffled. Inspite of it all i love my Hawks and is very proud of what they’ve accomplished this year, to cap it off though they need to win at least 2 more game and i’ll be satisfied as a fan. No ones stopping the Cavs….not even the Lakers. We must avoid the sweep and fight to extend this series so that the season want end on a sour note. Hopefully we can.

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Hey i’m not busy..Yall want me back?

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What a joke! These Hawks don’t even show up! What an embarassment they are to professional sports. Let’s hope they are swept so we can get a real COACH!

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Well Mark the hawks never had a chance from the get go this is the cavs year they are the best in the east. I would love to see the cavs match up against either the lakers or the nuggets in the finals that would be exciting.

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This team has been done a while now. This team will never advance past the second round and will suffer 6 or 7 game first round series that will be toss-ups…I think now we have to think about the future composition on this team because this team will be done by Game 5 at the latest. Is Bibby worth (or believes he’s worth) the 15 million he got this year? Acie Law isn’t ready to run the team but Bibby is not the Bibby of the Sacramento era though we would not be in this position without him. Second, we have some huge frontcourt decisions to make…is Horford best served at the center position? Is Marvin worth anything more than vesting his additional year? I think Marvin has been good but has been hurt so much that it’s difficult to gauge whether or not we should give serious money to him. With Horford, I think he should be at the 4 but I believe that Josh Smith, should he develop any med to long range shooting or not, is the best option. Finally…we know JJ isn’t a superstar…therefore what do we do with him when his contract expires next summer? These are all questions that GM Rick Sund gets paid the big bucks to make. I’m glad I’m not in his shoes right now. So long as he does not pull a Babcock in an effort to make the team better, I’m happy. I think the team pull one game but if they don’t in Game 3, they will be swept….what do you think about all this Bradley?

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the problem I keep seeing isn’t the injuries, its the effort. I understand with the injuries they will probably lose, but they don’t look like they even try. I really think the problem starts with Woodson and a lack of a true game plan.

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Even if everyone was healthy they would have no shot to win more than one game. They are not an elite team…as usual for Atlanta sorry sports teams.

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As I have said many times, it’s time to get a real coach in here. Woody is perhaps a great assistant, but he sucks as the head coach. With the talent on this team they should at least compete. Also, when your score is doubled by the other team, how long does it take for any dumb@$$ to realize that it is time to try something else. What’s wrong with trying your bench. And speaking of the bench, why try the guys that you NEVER EVER gave time to in the regular season ahead of the guys that you at least let see some light?
I personally think that Woody’s coaching in this game is highly indicative of his ineptness and inability to lead this team any further than this round. And by the way, the Charlottes and Philly’s are getting stronger and could actually keep this talented team out of the playoffs next year if Wood-dummy doesn’t get his head out of his @$$.
With the team 36 points down in the third quarter, old dumb-dumb (I meant Woody) is still playing his starters. Good gosh, rest em instead of risking an injury for the next game–oops, too late, Joe Johnson already wheeled out.
I would just love to see what these players could accomplish with a good coach. They have done well with this non-coaching fool and I really believe that they are championship material with a coach who knows his @$$ from a hole in the ground.
Go Hawks, in spite of your disadvantage at the head coaching level.

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The Hawks — and yes, the much maligned Spirit — have given casual fans more than they deserve in 2009. When a city doesn’t sellout for the playoffs the city doesn’t DESERVE a round two winner. Peer E Odd.

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Mark, I have seen the video. You can take Billy/Bob. The sad thing is the dolt does not understand humour. Insulting the South by saying you work for Waffle House, was dude, lame. I bet if you would have asked him if he would like them scattered, smothered and covered, he would have given you a blank what…., look. You held up well only stumbling on the Hawks/Falcons comment, uhhhh but we were not all made to be tv stars. I guess I should send you my tape, “The best of my Masters interviews”. Soon to be out on DVD with an intro by Larry Munson. Fun swapping jokes tonight, lets play some ball Saturday.

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Mark, you may disagree with me, but I still think this season was a success, even if the Hawks do get swept.

Wasn’t the goal, one building block at a time? Last year, we made the playoffs after a nine year drought, and took a 66 win team, the eventual champs, to the seventh game. This year, we won the first round, and ran into a Cleveland team that may well win it all. I hope the Hawks can pull out a game at home, somehow, to send this series back to Cleveland, but even if not, it seems to me that we should say, “Nice season, Hawks, see you next year, and hopefully, if everyone’s healthy, we can compete, and get out of the second round.

Mitch

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Mark, what’s your email address? When I clicked on the email link on your bio page, nothing happens. It just stays on the same page

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I have got to change the channel, Sportscenter is killing me/us.

I just turned on the Weather Channel and they started talking about the perfect storm of a High reaching Lebron meeting a cold fronted Hawk team. Disaster. The video showed a demolished Atlanta bench. And one Atlanta player being rolled off in a wheelchair. Georgia Power says they don’t know if they can get them up by Saturday.

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Thanks. Don’t worry about it

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OH MY…Yesterday I was dancing around the house. Got 5 floor seats for me and wifee and the 3 boys for Sat night. But they’re too young to see another Home Town Massacre like they did from the 45-yd line of the Chick Fil A Peach Bowl…May scar them for life.

Has there ever been a more two-faced playoff team in ATL sports history? (OK…’96 Braves in World Series) Show up and blow out the Heat…Get blown out by the Heat…Rinse and repeat. Now they just DON’T SHOW UP?!?!

I knew we were in trouble when Marvin was being interviewed in the locker room the other day before either Game 7 Heat or Game 1 Cavs and he said, “I’ll have to see how I’m feeling…” WTF is up with THAT?!?! You SHOULD be feeling like this is THE NBA and it’s PLAYOFFS TIME and you’re making a STINKLOAD of $$$ because of us fans paying $120 a seat, you Freakin LOSER…And you should have your hurt self out on the court GIVING IT EVERYTHING YOU GOT. Otherwise, just GO HOME and watch it on TV.

That’s what I saw from the Hawks FIRST team Tues and Thurs — NO HEART, NO ENTHUSIASM, LITTLE EFFORT, JUST GET ME OFF THE COURT ASAP CAUSE I GOTS THINGS TO DO, Y’ALL KNOW? “NOW YOU KNOW” you’ve been taken when your team doesn’t even want to PLAY FOR PRIDE, something I thought ALL professionals accepted as their code…NOT THESE GUYS.

Now the Hawks SECOND team looked like they were HUNGRY…Something desirable in a Playoff Series. They would’ve shellacked the Hawks starters and probably sent a couple more home in wheelchairs. The Atlanta Spirit just hit a freakin iceberg and they better do whatever it takes to WIN SATURDAY NIGHT…Just one game where the Hawks actually play like they aren’t moving in slow motion or just standing flat-footed watching the Cavs in awe. Just sickening…I need to go throw up again…

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IM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SATURDAY NITE..I THINK THE PLAY OF THE 2ND UNIT CARRIES OVER,AND WE’LL SEE THEM DOING SOME SPOT DUTIES AS WELL..

We’ve got to tap into our reserve energy right now and get it going,” Josh Smith said. “We’re all tired right now. I think every team still playing has to kick it into that extra gear this time of year. That’s just the way it goes in the playoffs.”

WE’RE ALL TIRED RIGHT NOW..I KNEW IT..JOE EVEN TOLD U HE WAS TIRED AFTER U ASKED HIM MR.BRADLEY..

I DON’T HAVE THE STATS,BUT I READ THAT JOE JOHNSON WAS AMONG THE LEADERS IN MINUTES PLAYED THIS YEAR,WITH 39+ PER GAME..

AND DID U ALL SEE WOODY’S BODY LANGUAGE ON THE CLIP OF HIM ON THE AJC WHEN HE WAS ANNOUNCING THAT WILLIAMS,AND HORFORD WERE NOT GONNA BE PLAYING..IF HE DID THAT,CAN U IMAGINE WHAT THE PLAYERS DID WHEN THEY SAW HIM..

PLAYOFF MINUTES IN THE REGULAR SEASON = TIRED LEGS DURING THE PLAYOFFS..
THE INJURIES COULD BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR THESE ATLANTA HAWKS…
WE’RE GONNA SEE OUR FUTURE STARS PLAY NOW,INSTEAD ON AFTER NEXT YEAR..

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Gumbo, i never said the cavs were Playoff Juggernaughts. YOU DID. All i said was that the cavs with Lbj always play better in the postseason than they do in regular season. Jordan and the Bulls always did that. For example the Bulls beat cleveland on THE SHOT and went on to win the title even though cleveland had beat them 6 times during the regular season. Playing better in the postseason is a sign of a potential champion.

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Can we stop talking about Josh Smith now? He got totally outplayed at both ends by Anderson Varajao–a player so many around here dismiss as a flopper.

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I saw my ex-wife tonight to give her the monthly chid support check. I asked her what she thought of Manny Ramirez testing positive for taking “performance enhancers”. She told me if I had taken “performance enhancers”, I would not be writing a check every month.

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Hey Mr. Bradley! This is more on your dust-up with the Cleveland television station. I enjoy your blog (seriously!) http://cursedcleveland.com/?p=1218

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That might be the poorest coached playoff team I have ever seen….. There is no excuse for that kind of collapse.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Best way to put it: If I was a Cleveland fan, I’d be pretty pumped and excited. Unfortunately,….

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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?

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C’mon, this series was over before it even started.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Mark get some rest and be prepared to suffer the slings and arrows of life’s misfortune.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cavs fan, Are you seriously worrying about who has the best airport? LOl

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Not Martin….Thanks Mark for info. Bill Martin is a first class jerk. Hawks are dead and Braves show no new life.

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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

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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?????

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Anyone notice Lebron’s 3 at the half hitting ZaZa in the face after it went through the basket? It was fitting.

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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.

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Well mark bradley drinking a coke is kind of like Creepshow 3, wasnt really need but what the heck.

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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.

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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!)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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!!!!!!!!!!

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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”

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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.

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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.

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hey Mark, You are getting some ink on SI.COM

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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???

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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!

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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?

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ATL 2010 @ 1:44 pm … Who is this Fat Lady, and why is she sinking?

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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.

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[...] 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." [...]

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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!

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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.

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MB….should have read….”You’re a great read” LOL….don’t want to seem illiterate !!!

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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!!!

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OH no, not an insult from a guy named “stretch”. Point about being in the Navy was that everyone likes to think their home is such a nice place and everyone else’s is a dump. Guess you don’t understand context, huh? Whine some more for me pulease!!!!! Perform your job perfectly everyday I see. Nothing like blaming the refs for being down 35, huh? Bet you didn’t mind it when Dominique was getting all the calls, either. Fact is that’s part of the game. It is imperfect. Everyone knows you have to essentially win by 10 to win by 2 on the road. So, please, cry some more.

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jaxman

May 8th, 2009
10:42 pm
Hey Disgusted….more like Hilarious. Why not pay attention to the game a bit more. Yes, there were clearly some missed calls. Home teams always get those. You can’t even say ATL doesn’t get them too. Watch the Miami series???? The MAIN reason that they didn’t get to the foul line is because they fell in love with jump shots. Period. Josh Smith can complain because he went to the hole strong on a few occasions but didn’t get the calls. Even he eventually started hoisting up shots. Other than him, it was a bunch of scared jump shooters

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Disgusted,
we need prefixes! Without “mal” we wouldn’t have malcontent. Without “mis” we wouldn’t have misinformed. And without “re” we couldn’t have REJECT!

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1) So the “Mayor” of Cleveland moonlights as a local news anchor? Or does a local news anchor moonlight as the Mayor of Cleveland? Sounds like he wants a 3rd job as an Amateur Boxer – “If I see him in this town, I’m gonna fight him!” Does he actually say near the end, “You better hide because I’m coming that way with a SHOVEL?”

Bark Madley’s response was an instant classic, “Oh yeah…I’m gonna be hiding from YOU.”

2) The Mayor of “The City of Champions…” To what city is he referring? He must be delusional. Did he have a brain fart and think he was in Pittsburgh…Or Boston maybe? Cleveland, like ATL, may be a lot of things…But NEITHER ONE is “The City of Champions”.

3) These Hawks are TERMINAL. They aren’t going to “grow out of it” after a couple of more years. A coach and team either GEL or they don’t. Players getting in a coach’s face during a game (J-Smoove) and the ridiculous locker room chatter coming out of the player’s AND the coach’s mouths after crushing losses says just about ALL that needs to be said:

“Woody doesn’t have the ‘SPECT of the Playas.”

You don’t cure that with time. It’s why most teams DON’T WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS, or even make the playoffs. A coach can be a “player’s coach” and still RUN THE TEAM. When the COACH fails to exercise his authority over the players, chaos always ensues…

Reference Thursday’s AJC: “Johnson, Woodson disagree on plan.” Joe Johnson says, “If you give the ball up, there’s no way you’re going to get the ball back.”

Aren’t these the kind of things you work out over the course of a full season? Isn’t this the LAST THING that should be coming up when a team has limped into the 2nd round of the playoffs? The PLAYERS HAVE QUIT on this coach AND THE FANS! Ask Chan Gailey what happened in Big-D when grown men no longer respect you as their coach…

Now you can blog 24/7 on Hawksquawk.net (as if that makes you some kind of Fan-On-Steroids as opposed to the rest of us who pay our hard-earned money for seats in Philips), but how can you continue to lavish praise on players that have QUIT? The definition of a Professional Sports Player is one who DOES NOT QUIT, regardless of the circumstances.

The Thrashers stunk it up until the final 2 months of the year…But even knowing they were mathematically OUT of the playoffs, THEY NEVER QUIT! In fact, they dug down inside and GOT EVEN BETTER! If these Hawks players ever dug down inside, all they’d find would be a bunch of half-eaten waffles and bags full of riddles and question marks.

Sorry, call me a “fair weather fan” if that makes you feel superior…But I prefer to support PROFESSIONAL sports players and teams, especially when it comes to my financial support. These players have TURNED ON THEIR COACH AND FANS because they lack the intestinal fortitude that is the hallmark of TRUE WINNERS. The mask has come off and “NOW YOU KNOW” that they’re just there for the paycheck…And the off-season can’t come fast enough. If you were a “TRUE FAN”, then that should turn your stomach.

They’ve shown that they’re capable of playing very well and competing with anyone in this league…But winners don’t just turn it on and turn it off whenever they feel like it. Winners don’t show up their coach and players with sideline shouting matches and backstabbing locker room drivel. When professionals forget who’s running the show (the coach) and who are paying their ridiculous salaries (the fans) and lose the will to even play for pride, it’s time for attitude adjustments or time to hit the road, Jack…And don’t you come back.

Some of these Hawk Fans on here are hysterical…Quoting their recent playoff performances as “progress”. FIVE BLOWOUTS in nine games? Did you even watch the past 2 games? The guys standing still were the Hawks…The guys celebrating their win by halftime were the Cavs. You saw a team with Talent + Heart destroy a team with Talent + No Heart. Give me 5 guys with avg talent and an all-consuming desire to WIN and I’ll slaughter your team with above avg talent and a desire that consists of phoning in performances whenever they feel like it…EVERY TIME.

Fortunately I resisted the Kool-Aid and didn’t go for the sucker punch of signing on for Season Tix next year. The Thrashers showed me they’re headed in the right direction. The Hawks simply showed me they’re a train wreck…And it takes a long time and heavy equipment to clean up a train wreck.

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Mike Woodson is without a doubt the World’s Worst Coach. Also – the NBA should be ashamed of the way their officials call the games; it’s a travesty…

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Now, any of you can take me to task if you want to, but any coach in the league would have been hard pressed to make a better showing with the team that they had on hand by the end of the game on Wednesday. It’s a testament to Woodson that his team was still playing in the fourth quarter, they could just as easily have lost by fifty. Back off Woody. (If any of you doubt me, think back to the 1990 finals, Detroit and LA. The Lakers lost Byron Scott and Magic Johnson, and Pat Riley, arguable the best postseason coach in the history of the game, got swept.)

Now,with all respect to Woody, if there is the slightest bit of truth that Byron Scott may leave the Hornets, the Hawks need to make a play for him. I’m not saying fire Woody. Promote him, give him a raise and a title within the organization, God knows he’s earned it, but Byron Scott is one of the all time great players in this league and he’s taken every team that he’s ever coached at least as far as the conference finals. He’d demand respect from players and coaches alike. Sorry Woody, but it’s the right thing to do. If Scott’s available.

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It is not over till we say it’s over. Did America give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour, he11 no. Now who is with me?

Where is Senator John Blutarski when we need him?

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I’m with you ,Cuz…These bandwagon fans are making me sick..Ok,so we are the underdogs..Big deal..We shocked the world last year when we were down 0-2 in the series against Boston..Boston who I believe had a superior team compared to the Cavs today..I just hope I am not the only one cheering for the Hawks in the arena today.Stupid article.Hey MB,Why dont you leave the ATL and move to Cleveland?You are a disgrace. I understand you are trying to be an analyst, but you are just being a “premature ejaculator” in my opinion.

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Cuz ….you out of line son…LOL

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PREDICTIONS FOR THE HAWKS –

GAME THREE – We show up looking like a playoff team full of energy and playing for the home crowd as we do so well. Great game but we lose in the final minute because of missed free throws.

GAME FOUR – The Hawks refused to get swept and actually blow out the Cavs.

GAME FIVE – Its over by the end of first quarter and we lose saying goodbye to the playoffs. Josh Smith sits the whole second half.

OFF SEASON – Woodson is giving a key to the city of Atlanta and a three year extension.

NOW YOU KNOW!!!

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The Hawks need leadership ! I am a true HAWKS fan ! We are looking at a sweep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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want my seats???? As a long suffering fan of Cleveland sports I feel your pain. Since the Browns came back to the league I had season tickets…until this year. I can’t take this constant rebuilding crap. If the owner was not so incompetant he could hire a GM who would get the franchise going in the right direction. The first few years us fans were just glad to get football back, but to tell you the truth, the three years w/o pro football was way less distressing than watching this crap.
Next, you have MLB and their crap. The rich teams pay the poorer teams a little money to keep their franchises pofitable…and young. These poor teams will bring up the young talent which will eventually run off to NYC or Boston. I keep hearing this crap about the small market teams being competative with the large market teams. Yes, this is true but it’s a DIFFERENT small market team while the Yankees and their ilk are their EVERY year. They NEVER have rebuilding years.
Finally, the NBA. I know the league and players association wants LeBron to go to NYC for ratings and money. I’ll just say this…if LeBron leaves Clevland , the league might as well fold the franchise. Cleveland as NOTHING….NOTHING going it’s way but LBJ and if he leaves…the franchise might as well go too.

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[...] Round 2, Game 2: Say goodbye to the Atlanta Hawks | Mark Bradley blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/05/07/round-2-game-2-say-goodbye-to-the-atlanta-hawks – view page – cached Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that the Hawks-Cavaliers playoff series is essentially over after only two games. — From the page [...]

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