A breakthrough in Boston for the big-time Hawks
Not to say I told you so, but …
The Hawks just beat the Celtics on the parquet of the new Garden. Yes, it was a regular-season game, but it was as significant as a regular-season game can be in November. The Hawks proved to the NBA — and, more important, to themselves — that they can leave Philips Arena and outslug one of the league’s heavyweights. Armed with this knowledge, who knows where they might wind up?
The world at large has no idea how good these Hawks can be. Heck, until Friday night I’m not sure the Hawks had a clear notion. But they should have an inkling now. They should know they have as many good players — not a superstar, no, but good players across the board — as any team anywhere. They’re 7-2 with victories in Portland and Boston. They’re big-time.
And they’re still relatively young. This is no small consideration. The Celtics and Shaquille O’Neal (Cavs) and Vince Carter (Magic) aren’t going to be any younger come the spring. If any team is built to absorb the undulations of a six-month regular season and still be primed for the postseason, this is it.
Understand: I’m not suggesting the Hawks will win the NBA title in 2010. But I am saying they just took a giant step forward. They won a game that made us sit up and say, “How about that?” They beat Boston in Boston. If you can do that, you can beat anybody anywhere.
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149 comments Add your comment
All I'm Saying Is...
November 14th, 2009
10:00 am
Great win by the Hawks which I too also predicted.
Horford is not a center which was commented on by Hubie Brown during the game last night who specifically said Horford may be listed as 6′ 10″ but he’s not and that Horford is a power forward. And, Bradley, Hubie has forgotten more about NBA basketball than you’ll ever know.
Still, as long as we play an uptempo game, then Horford has a chance to be effective. Unfortunately, that’s not how playoff basketball tends to go. In any case, let’s leave that concern for another day. Because the best news is that we now have a solid front court rotation with Horford, Joe Smith, ZaZa and Jason Collins to give us some big bodies to put into the mix.
I also liked what Smitty did towards the end (which I also predicted would be an effective tactic) which was to have Joe Johnson, Bibby, and Crawford on the floor as a three guard attack—we have to play to our strengths: guards, energy, and athleticism.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
truth-serum
November 14th, 2009
10:18 am
Hawks on Fire the points in the paint comes from jj and Josh and has nothing to do with playing the post.You are showing your ignorance.
Lozo
November 14th, 2009
10:33 am
What’s the deal with Pierce’s beard? Is that a beard or does he just like having one spot of hair on his cheek?
j
November 14th, 2009
10:40 am
is it me or does anyone find it ironic that somebody named “atl sports fan” would bash the best team in atlanta? what an idiot! …. “i’d rather watch fishing for 5 hours” … what a redneck
Darrin "The Vent King"
November 14th, 2009
10:47 am
Great win Hawks! I will admit I was unhappy when I heard we lost Flip Murray cause I thought we needed someone who was gun happy coming off the bench like he was, but now I agree MB Jamal Crawford is an upgrade. He’s game is like a supersized Flip Murray game and this is having the biggest impact on the Hawk’s offense. Their biggest problem has been waiting around for Joe Johnson to save the day all the time and teams knew this and towards the end o the season it would wear JJ down, but now we have another legit scoring threat and it opens things up for all the rest of them. And HOW ABOUT JOSH SMITH HUN? That guy seems to be finally getting it and with him playing that way and Horford continuing to grow, mannnnnnn this team is going places! There were times in the past I wondered whether they would ever get to this level of play, but now it appears they can and will- keep up the good work fellas.
GO HAWKS!!!
heartofdarkness
November 14th, 2009
11:01 am
First of all, Hubie Brown did a fine job of describing the high level of play by both teams in the first half. For solid focus and effort, from buzzer to buzzer, that was one the of five best halves of basketball I have seen the Hawks play as a team [and I have been watching them for 35 years]. This is a very exciting development in Hawks history, when they move the ball in the half court, and capitalize on their strengths. The Hawks pressured the Celtics to keep up and while the bench was a little sluggish the first half, they made up for it in the second. Crawford gave them mid-range offense, which made the second unit more consistent in scoring and prevented multiple scoring runs by Boston. The entire front line was energetic all night. Josh Smith played one of the best games in his career, ironically, by doing less. He was in front of his man on defense most of the night, made himself available for the dish around the basket, rebounded all night and seemingly allowed the Hawks to outnumber and out-hustle the Celtics in the paint.
The strength of this team appears to be its capability to play either half court or transition offense and to play a hustling team defense. Rajon Rondo is not your prototypical point guard and I don’t think he was as focused on penetration and creating open shots for the Celtics. Against a more disciplined approach to initiating the offense, I don’t think the Hawks have a defensive answer at the moment. Since regular season NBA games rarely feature concentration on another team’s weakness to the exclusion of all else, this may not be as apparent for some time, but it will be an issue in the playoffs. Coaching and consistently high levels of effort will help, but it will be interesting to see how the Hawks deal with top level NBA backcourt play.
Jamal Crawford for Atlanta Mayor
November 14th, 2009
11:05 am
I saw the game last night– GREAT win for the Hawks. One thing that I don’t think anybody has said anything about, though, is the solid play of Joe Smith. He has an uncanny ability to get that critical rebound (usually on the defensive end) or make that clutch shot that somebody’s got to make when the other team is coming back. What a great signing!
VIVA LOS HAWKS!!!!
SadDawg
November 14th, 2009
11:09 am
Used to be an avid Hawks fan, but they broke my heart when they traded Dominique and I quit watching NBA. Started following the Hawks when they got JJ, and I am just thrilled with how this team has grown up. The new GM has made some savy moves since he’s been there. You guys like ATL Sports Fan just don’t know what you are missing.
fayncdawg
November 14th, 2009
11:17 am
Hey Mark, any chance the superstar the Hawks are missing is Lebron? Atlanta (the city) is to me a far better fit for Lebron than either Miami or Orlando. The way the Hawks manhandled the Celts tells you that they ARE one superstar away from competing for the NBA title. ANY CHANCE THE LEBRON SWEEPSTAKES COMES THROUGH ATLANTA?
SadDawg
November 14th, 2009
11:23 am
Josh does “get it”, Darrin, and then some. He was quoted the other day that he “now realized every possession was precious.” I used to notice how Dominique added something to his game every off-season; mid range jumper, post-up moves, 12 ft and in bank shots, 3-pointer shot, defense, etc. Deems like Josh is doing that, on a smaller scale. He’s better down low than last year and has a better outlet pass and full court pass than most NBA centers. He has to be near the top of league power forwards at steals, assists, and blocked shots. And he’s what 23 years old? I predict at the end of his current contract, there will be only a couple of teams that can afford him. It will be fun til then….
Go Hawks!!
Darrin "The Vent King"
November 14th, 2009
11:23 am
Ooo-wee fancydawg, you made my heart skip a beat with that thought. LeBron James on THIS Hawks team? The NBA would be held hostage for the next five years if that happened. Don’t think it will with the moron owners we have, but whew what a thought!
Dr. Warren
November 14th, 2009
11:29 am
Hawks could use Lebron or Dwayne Wade to get over the hump.
Brian Hunt
November 14th, 2009
11:35 am
I’m very proud of these Hawks.
JSasser
November 14th, 2009
11:48 am
It’s about time we have a really legit NBA team in Atlanta. Let’s really support these guys and see
if they respond to a “sold-out” arena every home game! When the “hottest ticket” in town becomes
a Hawks game @ Phillips then we’ll have a really legit chance of getting very deep into the Playoffs.
GO HAWKS!!!
Shamus Thacker
November 14th, 2009
11:56 am
I was a Hawks fan from the time they came from St Louis. Pistol Pete, Sweet Lou Hudson, Walt Bellamy, Skip Caray on the air; I was Hawks fan #1.
Nique for Danny Manning and the slow disintegration that ensued took my fire away. I lost interest for the first time. Never got it back.
UNTIL NOW!!
THIS TEAM IS FOR REAL!
GOOOOOOOOO HAWKS!!
fayncdawg
November 14th, 2009
12:00 pm
DVK you MIGHT be right about the Hawks management. BUT let’s look at some very recent management transactions and evaluate. Their last draft: solid B+. The handling of CMW’s contract situation: solid A. The acquiring of Jamal Crawford for next to nothing: A++++! Hey DVK, I really think the management is slowly but surely gaining some positive cred! I just hope and pray that all sideshows of the previous years are a very distant memory. NOW ALL TOGETHER HAWKS FANS: GET LEBRON!! GET LEBRON!!
Paul,
November 14th, 2009
12:02 pm
Give Mike Woodson a new contract!!!!!!
A Rod
November 14th, 2009
12:14 pm
Problem is they dont have a go to guy in a clutch situation. Joe Johnson is soft and shrinks away from big time pressure.
A Rod
November 14th, 2009
12:15 pm
Also, you have to have a superstar to get calls from the refs. You know how those refs help lebron in the playoffs.
David
November 14th, 2009
12:23 pm
It’s pure and simple what the big differences are. Yes, they are one year older/wiser. Yes, they are gelling. But the big big big reason is that JAMAL CRAWFORD IS AN ABSOLUTE ASSASSIN off the bench. When he’s in there in the 3rd – 4th quarter, with Joe and Josh, teams can’t figure out who to guard. They are over matched. This is the trade of the year pulled off by our latest GM.
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
12:37 pm
My goal for tonight is an easy win and for Teague and RandMo to play 25+ minutes. I want Teague playing serious minutes and I want Marvin to f’ing show up
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
12:44 pm
David –
YES. He is a beast. he destroyed Ray Allen last night, and he is an assassin on the court. I love this dude. And if ZaZa and Joe Smith can rebound like that vs. players like KG, Perkins, Shelden, and Sheed….WOW
I thought Horf and Smoove carried us in that 1st half. I seriously thought we shoulda been down 20 at half time–offense was so putrid for a while
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
12:47 pm
I am so in love with this team.
If LBJ or D.Wade just watched that PTL, BOS, or DEN game, could they not see how potent this team is? Woodson has the trust of all the players (seriously, the players love him. Bibby loves that Woody makes him the coach on the court), Smoove is absolutely impressive right now — hardly any boneheaded players except for the occasional.
CRAWFORD takes away the doubles from Joe, so Joe (who is EXCELLENT 1-on-1) can get his.
If Marvin actually did anything we’d be so sick
I just want us to sign one more 6″6 player/guard for the bench. Don’t we have 1 too many bigs
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
12:48 pm
How could LBJ and D.wade not want to come to this ATL market? Knicks are worse than awful, Miami stinks.
PLEASE COME PLAY HERE
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
12:48 pm
ASG, GET YOUR CHECKBOOKS OUT THIS SUMMER
Terrell
November 14th, 2009
12:51 pm
Beantown Fan,
Your right, it’s early in the season, but it was funny how emotional the fans and Celtic players alike were getting for this just to be “another” game.
Terrell
November 14th, 2009
1:01 pm
JeJe,
The same reason Kobe didn’t want to play with the Shaq. According to people here JJ isn’t a “real” superstar, and James and Wade want to be the guy. In all honesty, they wouldn’t be the guy here. In Miami, LA, and Cleveland, take away Wade, Bryant and James, the team is nothing. What we have noticed is that when J-Smoove is on his game we can’t get beat. Regardless of what you might want to believe James or Wade won’t get our team over the hump if Josh Smith isn’t on top of his game. I like the chemistry we have right now and if we keep this up I would prefer that we get a center to move Horford to PF Smith to SF with Marvin and Crawford off the bench, and eventually replace Morris and Evans.
J-MAN
November 14th, 2009
1:02 pm
There is NO way were in the LeBron Sweepstakes. We would have to trade Sign JJ and then trade him and probably Josh Smith and maybe Horford to get him and then your team is completly dismantled. If we did get somebody it probably would be Chris Bosh. But would the Hawks pay the Luxary tax and that would mean Horford would leave when his contract expired.
Brian H
November 14th, 2009
1:17 pm
Don’t be fooled… It’s only won game.
cdog
November 14th, 2009
1:26 pm
say what you want to, hate on the hawks, regardless the hawks are for real. watch them trash the hornets tonight we don’t give a darn about celtis, cavaliers or majic.the hawks are here to stay and that is on top of the eastern conference. great job mike woodson and rick sund. sund, i use to bash you but you knew something about this team i didn’t know. my apology goes out to you. you and woodson keep up the good work. the hawks will definitely be eastern conference champions this year.
Dan
November 14th, 2009
1:38 pm
Ya it’s one game but something to build on. These Hawks will be in the Finals and Atlanta will be rockin’. If you don’t believe –then go home and put on your Lakers jersey.
hawkslova1
November 14th, 2009
1:40 pm
Jamal Crawford is the new microwave! And Al Horford is a beast on the boards!
fayncdawg
November 14th, 2009
1:41 pm
J-Man, how is it that Miami and Orlando aren’t looking at sign and trades, luxury taxes, and dismantling of teams? Bottom line: market the team, market your city, smartly tweak the roster so you can afford the superstar and not dismantle the team. Do those things and you can easily acquire ONE superstar. The biggest hindrance to the Hawks acquiring Lebron would be management shortsightedness (ie looking more at the immediate financial impact as opposed the the financial impact after the team wins two championship rings). AND TRUTHFULLY, I think the only player that would be too expensive to keep with a Lebron on the team is J. Smith!
jlewis
November 14th, 2009
1:46 pm
What is up with this “superstar” stuff, D-Wade won a championship with a younger shaq, he didn’t have to get double teamed everynight, he hasn’t done anything since. What has Lebron won, he goes to the basket and gets lot of free throws, he has an average jumper, can’t shoot free throws very well and has average handles, he can jump and dunk, it’s the NBA hype machine people. For those of you that think JJ is not as good, why does Cleveland, Miami, Boston and every other team in the league double team him? You are a superstar in this league if you command a double team every night.
Kobe is the only shooting guard in this league better than JJ, bank that. If he got Wade’s calls he would average 30 too…He makes these players better by commanding a double team, J Crawford does not, that’s why every team wanted to get rid of him, he is a gunner, nothing else, don’t expect anything else.
eturn
November 14th, 2009
1:54 pm
Great win for the Hawks last night. But a problem I see is Joe J dribbling ability. The guy cant handle the ball. He dribbles too much, then lose the ball. Am I the only one seeing this? Big ups for Jamal Crawford he is the Man in my opinion
tman
November 14th, 2009
1:55 pm
Too early
eturn
November 14th, 2009
2:01 pm
Great win for the Hawks. But one problem I see is Joe J dribbling ability. The guy cant handle the ball and on top of it he dribbles too much. Then he gets the ball stolen. Is anyone else seeing this? Jamal C is the Man on the team,a ball handler and much more of a finesse player than Joe J.
jlewis
November 14th, 2009
2:17 pm
Enter your comments here
JeJe
November 14th, 2009
2:18 pm
PEOPLE, JOSH CANNOT PLAY THE SMALL FORWARD POSITION
Ron Roberts
November 14th, 2009
2:44 pm
What ought to scare the East elite about the Hawks is that they beat Boston DESPITE missing some easy inside shots. That was the only frustrating aspect of the game last night; we left points off the scoreboard that should’ve gone in. But wow, the bench IS the difference; our 2nd unit could’ve finished the game, the way they were playing in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Jamal Crawfod is VERY clutch.
JS
November 14th, 2009
3:11 pm
All that dribbling by Joe and not passing out of the double will be the Hawks undoing come playoff time. The Celtics send a big to double because they don’t think Joe can hit the open guy. Part of the reason is the the offense itself. One on one and the other guys just stand around and spot up for the three and no one cutting to basket. That offense will not beat the elite teams in the playoff.
jlewis
November 14th, 2009
3:52 pm
What is all this “superstar” talk. Lebron is showtime, he sells tickets, he has an average jumper, you can’t touch him, and he is an average free throw shooter, what has he won? D-Wade won his with a younger Shaq, the nba pr machine made it, you can’t touch him. If JJ got his calls he would average 30+, Wade shoots about 15 free throws a night. You are a star in this league when you can command a double team everynight, JJ does that. Don’t fall in love with Jamal Crawford too soon, he is a gunner that has been run off of 3 teams already, so be careful. That being said, I like the mix of youth and veterans on this team, as long as Bibby is on the floor they will be ok.
If JJ left this team, all of the players will be one on one players making bad decisions, Al Horford is the only one other than bibby and JJ with a hi b-ball IQ. As long as this team was losing, now you guys want to get rid of the one player that came here (when no one would) and helped build it back up. The guy is a solid citizen and good for the community, be smart and keep that. Bradley, you don’t know anything about b-ball, you crucified billy knight, he missed one or two, but all gm’s do. Let the coaches coach and the players play. Remember all of that darkness, if JJ leaves here, it will be back sooner than you think, ask Phoenix, they’ve been trying to get back to where they were in 04-05 and almost ruined that franchise.
MrHughes
November 14th, 2009
4:54 pm
When josh smith crossed up that celtics player i almost **** my pants. I had no idea he had that in his arsenal. And then the spin move he used to get the bucket?!?!? Wow Josh smith has really been working on his game. And to think i used to doubt him. This kid is gonna be good for the hawks for years to come
2 FOR JOHN DREW
November 14th, 2009
6:23 pm
I’ve always dranked the proverbial ” HAWKS KOOL-AID ” …. b/c that’s my team, and I live & die w/ ‘em,
but this kool-aid has something in it (some GIN or VODKA ) I can’t get enough of this…. BEASTLY AL, FOCUSED SMOOVE, DOWNTOWN BIBBY, CLUTCH CRAWFORD, & ” I WANT MO’ MIN TEAGUE ” . I’m watchin’ every game 2 x …… The only other thing better than winning that i’d like to see right now is ….. JJ smilin’ …… Bartender, another glass of that wonderful kool-aid, please !!
About atlanta hawks, friday, boston celtics, game | Find me About
November 14th, 2009
6:33 pm
[...] Still think Horfy isn’ta center? Still think the Hawks can’t play? (Boston.com) The Hawks just beat the Celtics on the parquet of the new Garden. Yes, it was a regular-season game, but it was as significant as a regular-season game can be in November. …Read Original Story: A breakthrough in Boston for the big-time Hawks – Atlanta Journal Constit… [...]
About pierce, friday, atlanta hawks, game, knee, boston celtics | Find me About
November 14th, 2009
8:29 pm
[...] Still think Horfy isn’ta center? Still think the Hawks can’t play? (Boston.com) The Hawks just beat the Celtics on the parquet of the new Garden. Yes, it was a regular-season game, but it was as significant as a regular-season game can be in November. …Read Original Story: A breakthrough in Boston for the big-time Hawks – Atlanta Journal Constit… [...]
Crashing The Glass
November 16th, 2009
3:14 am
For further reading (and gloating) about the Hawks-
http://crashingtheglass.com/2009/279/conundrums-contributing-factors
BBgenie
November 16th, 2009
9:44 am
HAWKS IN 7!!!!! HAWKS Rule!! Joe Johnson & Jamal Crawford Best Backcourt in Eastern Conference.. Damm.
jloofatl
November 16th, 2009
3:48 pm
Good road win for the Hawks to beat the Celtics. The Celtics were too busy crying about fouls all night they could not focus on winning. The Hawks were so cool.