For the ever-improved Hawks, it’s time to win in Boston
The Hawks were playing Boston when Tree Rollins bit Danny Ainge’s finger (1983) and again when they were outscored 36-6 in the third quarter of an elimination game (1986). They were playing Boston when they had a chance to oust the Celtics and Cliff Levingston hoisted the running lefty hook (1988), Boston yet again when the top-seeded Celtics were taken to a Game 7 by an opponent that wasn’t sure it could win one playoff game (2008).
And now the Hawks are set to meet Boston again. Officially it’s one game, one of 82. Actually it’s much more.
The Hawks are off to another fast start. They’re 6-2. But they were 6-0 last season when they went, inevitably, to Boston and played the champion Celtics off their feet. They led after 47 minutes and 58 seconds. They lost because Paul Pierce hit, as Paul Pierce does, a contested shot while off-balance. The Hawks of 2008-2009 would finish 47-35 and win a playoff series for the first time in 10 years, but never again would they come so close to a significant road victory.
Against teams that finished with a better record, the Hawks were 2-12 on the road last season — and the two victories (over Orlando and New Orleans) came in the season’s first eight days. Even as the Hawks keep advancing, they still haven’t negotiated the essential step: They haven’t managed to wreak the same amount of havoc away from Philips Arena. If the Hawks are to get as good as we — well, I — believe they can be, they must travel better.
Friday night is an opportunity. The Celtics are 8-1 and looking again like the class of the East if not the whole wide league. (Orlando and Cleveland have already lost six games between them.) The Hawks have a chance to catch people’s eye if they do what they haven’t yet managed since they started to get good again — win at TD Banknorth Garden.
Mike Woodson said it a hundred times last season: “Boston taught us how to play playoff basketball.” Now the Hawks need to absorb another lesson: The Celtics (and the Cavs, and the Magic) showed the Hawks how to win on the road by taking games in Philips last season. For the Hawks to challenge the East’s Big Three, they must reciprocate. And this reconfigured team with its beefed-up bench has that capability.
NBA rule of thumb: Role players do disproportionately better work at home than on the road. The Hawks now have a second unit consisting of two guys — Jamal Crawford and Joe Smith — who’ve been more than role players in their time. And Crawford is the biggest single reason these Hawks have a chance to win not just 50 games but maybe 55: He’s a bona fide starter who doesn’t happen to start. Only the best teams have such a man.
After the Hawks surged from 14 points behind to beat the Knicks by 13 Wednesday, Woodson told reporters: “We’ve grown. The last two years we’ve been in some tough games. We’ve won some tough ones and we’ve lost. You know this team hasn’t quit these last two years and it’s a sign of the guys in that locker room. We’re all fighting for something. We’re trying to be better than a year ago.”
They are better than they were a year ago, and far better than in May 2008. These Hawks can win a lot of games. But for their growth to continue, they need to win one somewhere they’re not supposed to win. Because then we’d be able to say: “Know what? Maybe they are supposed to win.”
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72 comments Add your comment
Eric
November 12th, 2009
4:21 pm
I’ve always felt that the only reason the Hawks don’t win on the road is because they don’t play defense on the road. This puzzles me because any other team with their combo of length, athleticism, and speed would wreak havoc to any team’s offense. This falls on the coach. If Woody gets his “young” (they were young 2 or 3 years ago, they’ve matured now) group of guys to buy in to playing hard defense every game, then there is NO TEAM IN THE NBA (besides a healthy Orlando) that would want to see the Hawks in the playoffs. Go Hawks!!
AC35
November 12th, 2009
4:29 pm
Doug – you nailed it exactly. Celtics ARE the class of the league. They went toe to toe with Orlando last year with Glen Davis starting…now he’s their 10th man. Rasheed and Garnett are actually very tight friends…things won’t implode because, in case you were watching basketball the last few years, Doc Rivers (you might know him from such films as “Pulling on Danny Ainge’s shorts” in the playoffs, has an amazing way to get vets to play together (See: 2007-2008 NBA Champions).
AC35
November 12th, 2009
4:30 pm
Glenn: Sheed and Garnett on the same team sure looks like a bad idea at 8-1, doesn’t it?
Hawksgirl
November 12th, 2009
6:19 pm
This game will tell alot about how much our hawks have grown counting on woody as well. He needs to play our bench when their needed. But im excited about this game and have a good feeling we will show up and show them that we are there
rusty
November 12th, 2009
6:41 pm
if our first unit comes out like against the knicks,woody has to go to the bench a lot quicker as we will not be able to come back against the celts. we really need to come out passing the ball & not playing iso joe. woody needs to integrate the second unit with the starters better
Truth-serum
November 12th, 2009
9:43 pm
For the unimproved Bradley has the time come to step down?
Truth-serum
November 12th, 2009
9:45 pm
you will never crack the big three with Horford as your starting center. Hes ok against other power forwards playing center but gets the snot knock out against real centers.
Today’s Celtics Links 11/13 « Flceltsfan’s Weblog
November 13th, 2009
10:54 am
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About atlanta hawks, boston shelden williams, game, nba, boston celtics, hawks celtics, td | Find me About
November 13th, 2009
11:38 am
[...] The Hawks were playing Boston when Tree Rollins bit Danny Ainge’s finger (1983) and again when they were outscored 36-6 in the third quarter of an elimination game (1986). They were playing Boston when they had a chance to oust the Celtics and Cliff …Read Original Story: For the ever-improved Hawks, it's time to win in Boston – Atlanta Jou… [...]
Celts Win Again
November 13th, 2009
12:18 pm
Do we have a running commentary here during the game? I think I will come back tonight and goof on you guys.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
November 13th, 2009
12:53 pm
Hope The Hawks don’t get caught looking ahead to the showdown with The Hornets – jk. Seriously this game is a huge barometer for Woody. Will he play 7 men or will he play Teague? Sund will be watching. Will JJ play selflessly or will he WILL on the big stage?
Sableman
November 13th, 2009
1:27 pm
Nothing ever changes. I am certainly not a “Woody” fan and wished, a few years ago, that he would go away. In the pre-season he talked about how he was going to use his bench this year, and even tried to show it during the pre-season games. But now he is back to the same old “Woody”. Jeff Teague played a total of 1:34 in the Knicks game! While Joe Johnson played 43:51. It’s the same old story of playing the regulars too much. Then at playoff time, everyone gets down on Joe Johnson because he doesn’t play well. He is wore out by that time! Anyone who has played basketball knows that to shoot outside shots you need “legs”. So Woody wears out the starters during the year by not substituting. He will not ever change and needs to go!
Reverse the Curse - Turner Field to Aaron Field
November 13th, 2009
3:22 pm
I like this Hawk team a lot, but I worry if they fall behind early against this good Boston team it’s going to turn into another Charlotte/Laker game. And I hate the body language of Joe Johnson when they do fall behind; a team leader he is not. And Josh Smith is both fun and frustrating to watch. One minute he’s blocking shots and being a good garbage man, and the next he’s putting up ill-advised jump shots. Bottom line, if they can get out to a good start tonight, they will beat Boston tonight.
Glenn
November 13th, 2009
3:41 pm
I stand by what I said . Sheed & Garnett are a couple of freaks & not in a good way . They are strange guys . I bet they wear womens clothing . Yes the Celtics are 8-1 . It’s early November . Big deal . Lets see how they do in when spring rolls around & they are led by two old tired psychopathic big men . Ray Allen is a shell of his former self . Yeah I like Paul Pierce but he is just one man & no spring chicken either . I watch lots of basketball . You will see my genius soon enough . It will be the Cavs – Lakers when it is all said & done . The Celtics I bet don’t even get to the second round . They actually play Sheldon Williams for heavens sake . They even lost to the Suns . They remind me of the Pistons a couple years back . They are over the hill . You people just can’t see it yet .
Glenn
November 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
I really don’t see the Hawks getting to the upper tier until we learn to set up plays . Yeah we can run & are athletic & all that but we need to be able to run a half court offense . Would really help us out on the road .
Kane337
November 13th, 2009
10:32 pm
Hawks beat the Celtics on the road. Holy crap. How bout them Hawks!!!
MitchC
November 13th, 2009
10:43 pm
So, Mark, I just finished watching it. The Hawks got their win in Boston. Two big road wins this week, by double digits no less. (Of course, winning in New York isnt what it used to be, because the Knicks are terrible) but, a very impressive win in Boston tonight. Do the Hawks have enough to stand up to the Celts and Cavs in June, or is one road win in November not an indication of what may or may not happen in the playoffs?
JJ
November 13th, 2009
10:45 pm
This team is FOR REAL.
preston
November 13th, 2009
10:48 pm
very good game to watch for a change in boston…….hawks played a very solid game. And I must say that for all of the flack that I have given Woodson….I got to give him his props for his 4th quarter rotation of letting Crawford finish the games out now instead of Marvin…………still would like to see Teague in there a lil more, but I will take the win. Good call on this game Mark Bradley………time for you to start picking my lottery numbers!
Dawg Nation 09
November 13th, 2009
10:58 pm
Hawks beat Boston 97 to 86 in an awesome game.
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November 13th, 2009
11:05 pm
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JayDubu
November 13th, 2009
11:25 pm
If the Hawks play an all around game like they did tonight, and stop turning the ball over, they can beat anyone.