Hawks-Bucks in Round 1: It’ll be over in five games, max
These guys aren't scared of the Bucks. Nor should they be. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Hawks’ run of late-season good fortune continues. Had Yi Jianlian made a baseline jumper at the end of regulation in Miami last night, the Hawks wouldn’t be playing the Milwaukee Bucks come Saturday. They’d have faced the Miami Heat in Round 1 again, and that would have been a much rockier path.
But Yi missed and his New Jersey Nets lost to the Heat in double OT — the league’s worst team had grown skilled at losing, doing it 70 times this season — and the Hawks got what they wanted: The Bucks as a first-round opponent.
Milwaukee has had a nice season, but it’s about end. It is working without its best scorer (Michael Redd, torn ACL) and its best player (Andrew Bogut, broken arm). The best remaining Bucks are John Salmons, who has played for four teams in eight seasons; Jerry Stackhouse, who’s 35, and Brandon Jennings, who’s 20.
This, folks, will end in five games. The Hawks will win the first two. Figure the Bucks take Game 3 in Milwaukee — Game 3’s are usually the last stands for overmatched opponents — but then lose Games 4 and 5. And the Hawks will strut into Round 2 in better condition physically and emotionally than they were last spring, when the seven games against Miami left them hurting and spent.
And there’s a chance the Hawks could get lucky again. Charlotte faces Orlando in Round 1, and the Bobcats could string that out to six games. (Larry Brown is a good coach, as you know.) And that would leave the local team more refreshed than the Magic for Round 2, which wouldn’t hurt matters one bit.
I say again: This is shaping up very nicely for the Hawks.
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78 comments Add your comment
Barry
April 15th, 2010
9:00 am
First!
Barry
April 15th, 2010
9:03 am
I think you’re right Mark. I’m so glad not to have to face Dwayne Wade. Maybe the Hawks can get on a little roll and have some momentum going into Orlando. I hope Woody gets a good rotation with the bench. I would love to see some Joe Smith in the first round, because he could be big against Dwight Howard
Lowcountry Bulldawg
April 15th, 2010
9:04 am
Can we get a new blog for the Braves? Now that Glaus homered TP has got to be a genius!
Hawks in 5 and did Teague earn a few more minutes with the nice game he had last night? Or since its playof time will Woodson extend Bibby and Crawfords minutes at PG?
Alex
April 15th, 2010
9:06 am
I agree. The bucks win this in 5.
Barry
April 15th, 2010
9:07 am
My first first.
GT65
April 15th, 2010
9:24 am
Enter your comments here
GT65
April 15th, 2010
9:24 am
Enter your comments here
GT65
April 15th, 2010
9:24 am
sorry about that …the darn cat ?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
April 15th, 2010
9:27 am
How about a new blog singing the praises of TP for Glaus and his breakout game! TP for Hall of Fame…lol
Just kidding, after the heat of yesterdays blog.
Hawks in 5 also. Also curious to know that if after the performance Teague had yesterday if he may draw a few more minutes, or will Woodson go with Crawford and Bibby since its the playoffs.
Clay
April 15th, 2010
9:28 am
The Hawks really dodged a bullet last night. The Heat are coming into the playoffs very hot after winning 15 of their last 18 (Though only 1 of those wins came against a team with a record above .500). However, it still seemed a much more daunting task considering the Hawks are 1-3 against the Heat this season and they have a player named Dwayne Wade. I do not think I will ever be more tuned into a Nets/ Heat Double OT game than last night.
But now… the Hawks are in great shape to win this in 5. I totally agree with you Mark. Hawks will win the first 2 at home. The Bucks will return home and take 1 of those 2 games. And then the Hawks will wrap it up in game 5. Hopefully in time to give our guys a few days of rest.
But I am not so sure about Charlotte stretching Orlando to 6 games. It will be a battle between a very sound defensive and low turnover team in Charlotte and the running the court/ 3 point shooting team that is Orlando. I just struggle to see Charlotte keeping up in this series because they simply cannot score that much. Unless Charlotte can really clamp down on Howard and the 3 point shooting of Orlando, I say this series is done in 5 games. But I hope I’m wrong.
JC
April 15th, 2010
9:40 am
Who would’ve thought I’d be screaming at the television to switch over from Hawks-Cavs to Nets-Heat last night? Well played, David Stern…
Josh Smildress
April 15th, 2010
9:41 am
Can we remove that picture with a better one?
gtm
April 15th, 2010
9:41 am
I hope the Hawks’ focus is better than the fans. I think the Bucks are being completely overlooked, which is understandable given their injuries, but at the same time it’s dangerous to assume that we’ll put them away just because they’re the Bucks.
Dallis04
April 15th, 2010
9:46 am
When will the schedule come out?
Mark Bradley
April 15th, 2010
9:47 am
It’s already out. Game 1 is Saturday, Game 2 Tuesday. Games 3 and 4 are in Milwaukee on the 24th and 26th.
Mark Bradley
April 15th, 2010
9:48 am
Kudos, Barry.
Jerome
April 15th, 2010
9:51 am
Atlanta, really need new ownership with deeper pockets. This group will hang onto Woodson because, they probably get him on the cheap compared to getting a proven coach that has won BIG at this level.
Dallis04
April 15th, 2010
9:53 am
Thanks! I just didnt see it when I went to look at the tickets.
GT Falcon
April 15th, 2010
10:01 am
Man the NBA drags these playoffs out…Tues to Sat between games 2 and 3. I do like the hawks in 5. Also the heat will take out boston.
Daniel
April 15th, 2010
10:05 am
Dang Mark, are you trying to put the kiss of death on my Hawks? I agree with your pick, but you know your predictions are like a Madden Cover. I demand a retraction immediately!!!
Dan c
April 15th, 2010
10:08 am
Don’t underestimate the Bucks. Fear The Deer!
EW
April 15th, 2010
10:11 am
MB I too am confident, but your level of confidence worries me….I hope that this isn’t a bad sign of things to come..
O'Brien
April 15th, 2010
10:29 am
Mark,
Do you think The Highlight factory will be sold out when the Bucks come to town?
Joey
April 15th, 2010
10:37 am
Oh no. The Bradley jinx. More potent than the SI cover curse . . .
SWAT Native
April 15th, 2010
10:43 am
Yeah, Mark, please don’t jinx us!
jg
April 15th, 2010
10:49 am
can’t discount this bucks team. they are better than the golden state team that fielded 8 guys that beat us. they are much better than the detroit team that beat us a couple of weeks ago without all their marquee guys. and they are certainly better than the knicks that beat us multiple times this year. we need to come out and beat them all over the court in the first two games in atlanta. give them no belief that they can win a game against us.
obviously we have to control salmons–but i too worry about ridnaour and stackhouse. luke and jerry seem to play their best ball against the hawks…with that in mind i don’t see how this should go more than six games max.
great year hawks–proud to be a hawks fan since the late 70’s–but think this years squad is my favorite of all time!
bdawg1968
April 15th, 2010
10:50 am
I know alot cant be taken from the victory over Cleveland with Lebron and Shaq not playing. I may be mistaken with this insight, but wasnt the same lineup on the floor for Cleveleand a few days ago when they played Orlando? And I believe Orlando played its starters the whole game trying to imporve their record for home court if they reach the finals. The point Im trying to make is the Orlando starters struggled against the same Cleveland team our bench for the most part handled the whole game. Just something to think about….
Darrin "The Vent King"
April 15th, 2010
10:50 am
If the Hawks do not take this in GRAND fashion, Woody should be (enter comments here).
don't hate the player
April 15th, 2010
10:59 am
it takes a big man to rock the short shorts…don’t know about the turtle necks though.
Dr. Warren
April 15th, 2010
11:29 am
Many people here in China think the Hawks in English are called “The Yatalanta Eagles.” But many have heard of us now, nonetheless, and among men of a certain age and type, it’s the first thing they bring up when I say I am from Atlanta. Big change from two years ago when even the huge Shanghai NBA shop carried nothing with Atlanta on it.
Marcus
April 15th, 2010
11:36 am
spread-out playoff schedule is the worst. I guess they have to make sure that the select few channels can carry each game, so they spread it out to make sure.
Mark Bradley
April 15th, 2010
11:38 am
No, O’Brien. I don’t think it will be sold out for Game 1.
KEEPING IT REAL
April 15th, 2010
11:42 am
We will beat the BUCKS not sure about 5 games. Jennings gives the Hawks problems when he drives to the paint. BIBBY and TEAUGE will have there hands full. I would put WEST on JENNINGS to slow him down.
Steve
April 15th, 2010
11:51 am
How sad that it won’t be sold out. I promise you every other playoff game in the NBA will be sold out. Pretty pathetic.
Dr. Warren
April 15th, 2010
11:53 am
If only Teague could shoot like Bibby, we’d have our point guard of the near future.
BUCKS in FIVE!
April 15th, 2010
11:54 am
The Bucks are bruising scrappers and will win the series because this Hawks team lacks heart and the will to win. The Hawks definitely have more talent but without hustle they’re nothing.
Victor
April 15th, 2010
12:08 pm
I think it is a mistake to understimate/disrespect the Bucks because of their njuries to Bogut and Redd. I hope the Bucks organization does not read this blog because the comments about taking them out in five games could serve as incentive for them. They are underdogs that have nothing to loose, with a chip on their shoulder, and that could make them dangerous. Remember these are the playoffs all regular season records mean little, bets are off and anything can happen. Go Hawks!!!
billy bowels
April 15th, 2010
12:11 pm
the hawks would not make a decent pimple on my butt , even if they win the cavilairs ( cleveland ) will destroy them , bad…….
melky sucks
April 15th, 2010
12:18 pm
the bucks are goin down! Let’s go hawks show the bucks who’s boss!
lakers are in town
April 15th, 2010
12:26 pm
i will take the bucks in 6 games the hawks are not ready to make that jump Brandon Jennings will light them up maybe go for 50
The Elected One
April 15th, 2010
12:29 pm
The Eastern Conference is setup to give the Hawks a good chance to make the NBA Finals. Hawks beat Bucks in 5. Bobcats beats Magic in 7.
Heat beat Celtics in 6. Cavs beat Bulls in 6.
Hawks beat Bobcats in 6.
Heat beat Cavs in 7.
Hawks beat Heat in 7…..Hawks in the NBA Finals vs. Denver.
Thats my story and I’m sticking to it.
USMC8541
April 15th, 2010
1:02 pm
The Elected One. Remember. It’s puff, puff, pass. Don’t bogart the bud.
Khao$
April 15th, 2010
1:14 pm
Honestly, people are selling the Bucks short. I full expect the Hawks to win the series. However, our dear team hasn’t shown a killer instinct all year. They’ve been prone to play down to their opposition (particularly in 4th quarters). Unless the buck this tread (no pun intended) how can we assume they’ll run over the Bucks?
JeJe
April 15th, 2010
1:15 pm
This is BS. Stackhouse owns us, if anyone actually watched the Monday game. It’s Skiles’ fault for not using him.
We should win in 5 though.
Orlando being tired won’t mean !@#$ .I’m so tired of hearing ppl talk about how if injured players are out or teams are tired, we are supposed to win. GOod job beating Orlando when Vince was out! And Detroit too!
Dawg Man
April 15th, 2010
1:18 pm
Go Hawks!!
Terrell
April 15th, 2010
1:23 pm
Jerome,
In regards to getting a new coach for Woodson because obviously you don’t think he’s a good coach. If what you are saying is true ( which it’s not, but lets say it is) then you mean to tell me that there is a coach out in free agency that has won BIG at this level? If there is one then it begs the question why is he available?
AtlSouthside
April 15th, 2010
1:23 pm
Hawks sweep Bucks easily…. Too many weapons for them. Salmons is their only weapon, Jennings is just a loose cannon. Hawks in 4. I’ll be in Philips for Game 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Section 200
Every dude in the photo (above) looks “suspect.”
AtlSouthside
April 15th, 2010
1:25 pm
yep, that spread out schedule is whack! Its all about making money… dragging out promotions and commercials… takes 2 weeks per series…
JT
April 15th, 2010
1:39 pm
I actually WANTED us to play Miami…you never hear the good teams saying “we don’t want to play this team, etc, in the first round”. They play whomever, whenever. You should always want to play the best, it’s the only way you can BE the best! And Milwaukee ain’t it…….something else that amazed me…in teh Western conference, I think Oklahoma is the number 8 seed…and they won 50 games! Chicago is our conference’s number 8 seed and they barely won 40 games(last nite) and are well below .500. No one in the western conference playoff picture is below .500…..i’m jus sayin’..
Andy
April 15th, 2010
1:43 pm
The Bucks are a team against whom the Hawks might actually get some favorable calls from the refs. If we were to play the Heat, we would, like last year, see call after call go D. Wade’s way. The Bucks have some good players, but they have no inside presence–how are they going to defend the middle and get rebounds? Al and J. Smoove are going to get a lot of blocks. Hopefully the Hawks will take care of business and put them away quickly in this series.
JSS
April 15th, 2010
2:05 pm
Andrew Bogut the Bucks best player? In what universe? Their best player is on season long injured reserve, one Michael Redd. Their 2nd best player, Brandon Jennings is going to be a wild card. This is going to be a tough series… Luckily I believe the Hawks have more artillery! Message to all AJC columnists, STAY AWAY FROM THE HAWKS!!!
Jerome
April 15th, 2010
2:06 pm
Terrell,
I didn’t mean to imply Woodson is not a good coach, what I’m questioning is can he take this team to a Championship. That coach that can take the Hawks to another level may not be without a job now but as a organization you have seize the moment when that opportunity present itself. Look I’m a Hawks fan for many years, I hope you are right. We will see in a few years.
Chris
April 15th, 2010
2:07 pm
Hey Bradley, ten gajillion dollars says that the Bobcats don’t win one game against the Magic.
crackbaby
April 15th, 2010
2:22 pm
I suppose the safe pick is Hawks in 5. Honestly though, Hawks should sweep. Never mind the sketchy road record and lapses in offensive discipline during the season. The loss of Bogut, combined with lack of depth should spell S-W-E-E-P!
Go Hawks!
Benjamin
April 15th, 2010
2:24 pm
MB, I always look through my fingers when you post predictions. Benjamin sure does like your blogs, though.
My personal prediction is that it goes a game longer. I say we win in six.
Floze
April 15th, 2010
2:47 pm
What leads us to think that the Hawks will win one road game in the playoffs? Did they win a playoff game away from home last year or the year before that? What was the Hawks record away from the Highlight factory this year?
I like the Hawks in a tight 7 game series in round one. I like them to lose a 7 gamer in round 2.
O'Brien
April 15th, 2010
2:50 pm
Mark,
I dont think it will be sold out either.
Hawks fans,
Please go out and support our Hawks.
JASon
April 15th, 2010
2:54 pm
Good point, yeah I think in the playoffs the bucks would be overmatched even with their top guys, I don’t care what they’ve been doing the past month and a half. I look for a sweep or five games.
JSS
April 15th, 2010
3:40 pm
Floze…
The Hawks won a road playoff game in Miami last year…
RA
April 15th, 2010
5:56 pm
If history teaches us anything Mark Bradley is that life very rarely follows a script. This series is the perfect trap for the Atlanta Hawks. They’re going in against a team that’s obviously outgunned, but the sun will NEVER rise on the day that a Scott Skiles team doesn’t show up ready to compete. This series is a microcosm of all the games that the Hawks had this year against lesser oponents. Had they won half of the games that they lost to inferior teams, that last game against the Cavs would have been more than an expedition of two teams resting their stars for the playoffs. Atlanta should have won AT LEAST as many games as the Magic, but they didn’t. Too many times this year, this Hawks team just showed up against a lesser ball club expecting a buzzard win, and became road kill. Too many times they left a lesser team in the game and watched them walk off with the victory (such happened with this very same Milwaukee clubb not one month prior). They need, no must, go into this series with the mindset that they are the underdogs. When ball is on the floor, they need to be diving, they need switch on their rotations like there’s no tomorrow, and for the love of God they need to keep a body in front of the Milwaukee guards. They can’t give this team any inkling of hope that they can win. (Remember what almost happened to the Celtics in 2008 AFTER they had won the first two games and Atlanta took game three?) No, they need to open this series by putting their collective foot squarely on the necks of the Bucks and they can’t stop stomping until they feel that windpipe crushed beneath their heel. That’s how they need to approach this series.
Chiquita
April 15th, 2010
6:41 pm
I hate to put a damper on things, but I say the Hawks go down in six games max.
Just a reminder that as long as the Hawks have been in Atlanta, it’s alway been safer to bet against them.
MitchC
April 15th, 2010
10:10 pm
Mark, it does sound like the Hawks should feast on the Bucks in the first round. Milwaukee is depleted.
I’m sorry to say, that with as much as I hoped we would have a date with Cleveland in the Eastern Finals, I think we are going to go down against Orlando in the Semis. The Magic won 59 games, and the Hawks are not a great road team. They have done things like lose to the pathetic New York Knicks at home on the road. Not good for a team that has it’s sights set on the conference finals.
My bet: Hawks win round one, lose in the Semis to the Magic.
MitchC
April 15th, 2010
10:11 pm
That should be, lose to the Knicks at home, and on the road.
Hawks-Bucks in Round 1: It
April 15th, 2010
11:51 pm
[...] [...]
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
April 16th, 2010
4:52 am
Much love to ya MB but your prediction scare me – usually because they are wrong. Fun boy Hawks Fans in the pic – priceless. jk
i_am_soulstar
April 16th, 2010
8:42 am
We can upset Orlando! Go Hawks!!
#2 BAMA FAN
April 16th, 2010
10:04 am
The guys in the picture look like the modern Village People!! They need to be on SNL Live from New York!! LOL
Chiquita
April 16th, 2010
2:13 pm
Enter your comments here
MaryM
April 16th, 2010
2:26 pm
I agree with Mark most of the time, but I think the Hawks lose in six games.
Take it to the bank.
Terrell
April 16th, 2010
3:36 pm
Jerome,
I understand what you’re saying but I guess my concern is if we did look that coach who could take us “over” who would it be? It would have to be a popular coach with credentials but those are the ones who are on other teams.
rooster
April 16th, 2010
4:01 pm
no way the hawks get past the second round
Bucks Pat
April 17th, 2010
12:53 am
“the Hawks got what they wanted: The Bucks as a first-round opponent.”
HIGGS: if our Bucks get even a whiff that Hawks players/media is glad they got Milwaukee instead in the first round, the Hawks could be out in the first round.
now this one is the dousy. i sure hope devoted Hawks fans aren’t counting on this guy for an accurate preview of this series. here he is talking about us:
“It is working without its best scorer (Michael Redd, torn ACL) and its best player (Andrew Bogut, broken arm). The best remaining Bucks are John Salmons, who has played for four teams in eight seasons; Jerry Stackhouse, who’s 35, and Brandon Jennings, who’s 20.”
HIGGS: where to begin. Redd was our best scorer TWO SEASONS AGO before his knee shreddings. He also failed to note the Bucks were 40-24 without Redd this year, and 6-12 with him. Then to slight all three, Salmons, Stacks and Jennings because of just their age? Didn’t mention us playing .750 ball in the last third of the season with Salmons and Stacks, or the fact that Stacks is providing a big lift off the bench and is one of the best on our team at getting to the line. Slipped his mind that Jennings, all 240 months old, won conf rookie of the month 4 of the 5 months thus far. Or that Jennings is the first rookie PG in about 50 years to start all 82 games his rookie year. His reason the Bucks will get trampled? John Salmons has played for four teams in his eight years.
bOEN
April 17th, 2010
12:57 am
http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=87&c=672&f=47074
^^new interview wit joe, he sound focused , truthfully he dnt sound like he wanna go ANYWHERE
Oops i did it again
April 17th, 2010
6:32 am
You right Mark Bradley it be over in Five for Us…as we watch Bucks play next round while we stay and watch again! Yep folks i said it Bucks will win series in 5 games!
Hawks beat cleveland ha ha
April 17th, 2010
6:39 am
Humor is good here folks sayin we can beat cleveland they whip us like choir boys at a church social gatherin…as for Milwaukee i kinda remember a hawks team won 59 games n was flavored beat Bucks n they won in best of Five 3-1 remember at the Ommi the clueless players n coach.Well u see again Milwaukee bucks win series 4-2. and they play orlando instead n Orlando vs cleveland n Oh my Labron James chokin as Magic wins eastern conf finals 4-2. And again Orlando Magic face Lakers n Lakers win 4-3 win second title in arow!
cleveland cavaliers | TrendyTwits
April 17th, 2010
8:03 pm
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robdawg08
April 19th, 2010
9:36 am
Hawks disappeared in the 3rd quarter and let a 22 point lead dwindle to 7 points. I’d be running the pick & roll with Horford & JJ/Crawford a lot. If Horford can’t hit the hook,dunk,or lay-up then kick it to JJ & Craw outside. J.Smith needs to get consistent offensively. He disappears for stretches…But his “D” is awesome.
robdawg08
April 19th, 2010
9:57 am
Nice shot of dude picking his nose bottom right in picture. Was that Bobby Cox ?