The Hawks haven’t grown up, and now they’re in trouble
Turns out there is something to do in Milwaukee, Josh Smith. Lose twice. (AP photo)
Milwaukee – Remember the Hawks? Leading a playoff series 2-0 since 1970? They’re not leading anymore. They’re tied with a team minus its center. They’re tied and they’re reeling. They might still win this series, but there’s no longer a guarantee.
One misstep at Philips Arena and the East’s No. 3 seed will be relegated to the dustbin of playoff flops. Because we can’t really see these Hawks winning on the road in any round of any postseason, can we?
Give the Hawks a smidgen of credit. For a change, they made the home team work. They were down three after one quarter, down four at the half. They’d done what a road team needs to do: They’d given themselves a chance. Then they threw it away.
They threw it away in a wretched third quarter, in which the Milwaukee Bucks spread out the Hawks and sliced them to confetti. And let’s say it again: The Bucks have no center, and they have a rookie for a lead guard, and they have journeymen like Kurt Thomas and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Carlos Delfino not just in their rotation but in their starting five. And they’re now tied with the Hawks, who have …
Two All-Stars. A third guy who should have been an All-Star, and a fourth who’ll soon be named the NBA’s best sixth man.
But here’s your difference: The Bucks play in a way that maximizes every part and the Hawks, at least when outside the Perimeter, play in a way that minimizes their resources. Some of it is coaching — Milwaukee’s Scott Skiles has worked a nice series — but more of it is simply the nature of these Hawks.
They don’t like it when it gets messy. They don’t react well when the opponent spaces the floor and forces bigger men to guard quick guards. They do it anyway, but in the two games here they’ve done the switching thing so poorly that they’ve blown their chance to make quick work of a diminished opponent. They’re in a real fight now, and the Bucks believe they’re every bit a match for the presumed heavyweight.
Back to that third quarter: The Hawks came out of the dressing and yielded two quick layups to John Salmons. The Bucks would make seven layups in the period. This is in the playoffs, where the motto of every defense is supposed to be, “No layups.” But the Hawks kept allowing the smaller opponent driving lanes, and this is one team that knows how to find the open man when he’s cutting to the hoop.
A four-point halftime deficit became an 11-point hole in 12 minutes. The Bucks scored 31 points in the third quarter, making 12 of 19 shots. (It’s easy to shoot 63.2 percent when you’re shooting from two feet.)
The Hawks made it interesting in the fourth period, but this team should be beyond the point where we praise it for not quitting. The Hawks won 53 games this season. This is their third playoff run. They should be all grown up.
Alas, they’re not. They still do the silliest things. Josh Smith got into it with the officials early and was never himself. He scored 20 points, but they were jump-shot points, disjointed points. Al Hoford got two early fouls and finished with four baskets before fouling out. Mo Evans lifted the Hawks with his defense but shot them out of it at the other end. (He took seven shots, missing five.)
And Mike Woodson took the better players and again allowed the opponent to control the game. He got Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford and Mike Bibby going in tandem, and it didn’t matter. Because the Bucks are making the Hawks pay for deploying Bibby and Crawford, neither of whom is a strong defender, and those mismatches out front have leveled what seemed a lopsided series.
Yes, the Hawks can still win. Yes, they should still win. But they’re facing another trip to Josh Smith’s favorite city and their margin of error has been reduced to nothing, and there sits Orlando, already in Round 2.
This is not the way a grown-up team handles Round 1. If the Hawks don’t grow up fast, they might not see Round 2.
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179 comments Add your comment
Dan c
April 27th, 2010
10:12 am
The Buck’s won because there well coached and play like a team. On paper the Hawks are the better team. They do have to play the games. FEAR THE DEER.
Jeffrey Cadavero
April 27th, 2010
10:12 am
I think the Hawks are “toast”..The Bucks will win game 5 and win the series back home in 6 where we ALL know the Hawks simply CAN’T win on the road in the playoffs!!! am I the only one who notices that NOBODY is in position down low to rebound the countless “bricks” that the Hawks throw up game after game??!..NOBODY “follows their shots” and NOBODY is in position to rebound the basketball after a miss..simple fundamental basketball, folks..and that ALL falls back on the coach..tons of talent, no direction..
jg
April 27th, 2010
10:26 am
This is how I see this series in a nutshell:
Good Basketball Bad Basketball
Bucks (Smart play) Hawks (Dumb play)
Box out every possession Saw one box out last night and it was Bibby
Set offensive plays Not one set play
Defense-stay between your guy and goal No concept on D-switch everything good/bad
Coaching Coaching
Del Pino Marvin
I could go on but there has got to come a time when this team is held accountable for their mistakes. Bench Josh’s rear end every time he hoists a jumper from more than 10 feet, jerk Marvin every time he does something stupid like allow a foul on a 2 on 1 fastbreak and pull anyone who doesn’t find a man and box his tail out especially on the defensive end of the floor every time down court.
Basketball is a simple game. Offensively work the ball toward a good shot–more likely than not–something inside the paint. If your offense is struggling try to get some fast break points (run). Defensively make it tough on their offense by limiting their shots. Box out, rebound and run!!! It is all fundamental stuff–we just don’t have anyone that can teach it.
By the way–didn’t we get Joe Smith for the playoffs? I would start game 5 with this lineup and play it the rest of the year: g: bibby, g: johnson, f: josh smith, f: joe smith, c: horford. this puts that veteran leadership in the game with all the starters and limits mistake-a-marvin from doing as much damage.
step it up atlanta or we’ll be the laughing stock of the league again…the pressure is on ya!!!!
racerx
April 27th, 2010
10:35 am
Miss dawg…
I dont usually respond on another teams blog, but I think you really underestimate Bogut. 16 point, 10reb, second most blocked shots in the league behing Howard, and very big d and passing from the middle.
Teams dont like to have to change their identity,especialy late in season or playoffs. Mark, Luc Richard was a draft choice not a journey man. Has been able to be a starter widel due to his d, which is in high regard around the league for a second year player. Yes, Hawks should still win. Last point, If Bogut didn’t get injured, none would matter because Bucks would have been fifth seed not sixth and playing Boston.
ladyhawksfan
April 27th, 2010
10:40 am
while watching the last two games by the hawks,there were a few things that stood out to me.The Hawks lack mental toughness on the road.The switch everything defense is not a good strategy against this team,particularly when zaza enters the game.Marvin does nothing on the offen
Mz. Wants Some Payback Hawkdafied
April 27th, 2010
11:40 am
Yep Mark Bradley. They’ve had enough time to learn how to win on the road. This is their 3rd playoff appearance. There was some improvement between 08 playoffs and 09 playoffs being that they actually won a series. Now the next step should be winning two series, although winning it all is more desirable, but so far it’s not looking good. But who knows anything can happen.
Now that game 3 and 4 is over, it’s time for some payback. You think we fans are fussing now, if our team loses game 5, boy there’s gonna be heck to pay. Come Wednesday I want some blood, okay not literally. The Bucks and their fans embarrassed our team (well okay the Hawks actually shamed themselves), let’s crank up the Highlight Factory and return the favor.
Yeah BJ forgot he had to come back to the A. It’s on Young Buck. When is their team bus coming to the arena, I got car insurance. Just kidding!
ladyhawksfan
April 27th, 2010
11:45 am
As a loyal Hawks fan since the late 80s, i to am very disappointed in theyre performance on the road.This has been a problem all season.Does anyone recall 2 losses to the Knicks,GS,Detroit,Philliy,etc,etc.This is getting very old and has to be rectified.People should stop blaming Woody for everything,he isnt the best motivator,but the players have got to be mentally tougher and play with more passion.Their lack of execution down the stretch is the reason why they lost game 4.Why was Mo Evans launching threes when J.J and Crawford had the hot hand?This is the kind of stuff that kills a teams chemistry.Another note is they should kill the switch everything philosipy when Zaza enters the game,as the Bucks look to attack that matchup whenever hes in the game.TO u band wagon Bucks fans,dont fell special cause u beat a horrible road team,and then have the nerve to say if Bogut was playing what you would when the series.Please no more excuses.The series is tied at 2-2,u should be happy that your team still has a chance to win without him,cause with him this series would be wrapping up.You wanna know why?This pick and roll everytime down the floor and the switching bigs on smalls is whats giving the Hawks fits,if Bogut were playing they would be more conventioal and that would be playing right in the Hawks hand.And aother thing its not our fault that your team dosent have any one on one players,thats why they run that offense.Maybe we will play a zone in game 5?I sure hope so ,im sick of them eploiting Zaza and Bibby,OH, and i still like the Hawks in 6,even with all our flaws.
CL
April 27th, 2010
11:50 am
Well at least we’re still better than the Bobcats.
Its not that hard……….The only guys we need to step out on are Salmons and Delfino when he’s hot, let them take us off the dribble, they cant do it all game. Now letting Deflino dunk on our backcourt was totally inexcusible, but let Jennings step back and throw bricks all night like he did at Philips……dont let him put the ball on the floor at all.
Joe Johnson can post his man up all night long, I really dont understand why that isnt happening
more.
Woodson is a good guy, but he is not the coach thats going to get the Hawks to the money round. Definitely not this year. But please stop playing and roast this venison so I can at least get to see us get destroyed by a real contender.
kevin crow
April 27th, 2010
11:59 am
why oh why do we keep switching on defense!!!! its not freaking working; any more moron can see that. We have better athletes on the floor…freak’n man up & stop getting cute on defense. They sprint right through the lane everytime we switch.
welikebaseball2
April 27th, 2010
12:06 pm
Can someone tell me what harm it would’ve done to throw Teague & Joe Smith into the mix last night? While Crawford is a force when he’s on (again, when he’s on), the team suffers with him running the point for two reasons: 1) He’s a below average defender, therefore quick opposing pg’s will continue to have their way; 2) Ball movement comes to a screeching halt.
welikebaseball2
April 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
And to those of you who think Horford & Smith are our biggest problems, chew on this: Is it realistic to expect them to clean up after the guards are blown by on every play? We were demolished by the Bucks’ guards last night. Our lack of perimeter defense & inability to stay in front of Jennings was sickening. At the very least it’s a defensive scheme & team defense issue. How can you put that on our frontcourt?
Tell it
April 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
All they did was hold serve on their homecourt and all you flamers are in here with “The sky is falling” sob story. Hawks smack these Bucks around something silly the next 2 games. Nice little series but the Bucks stop here.
Tell it
April 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
Let’s hear all this garbage on Friday when it’s over. Atlanta does have some sorry excuses for fans, throw the team under the bus when it’s just tied 2-2. Bunch of jokes,the heck with you all.
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Philip meehan
April 27th, 2010
1:46 pm
First off, i hope Woodson stops switching everytime on defense because our Centers are pulle dout by the opponents PG everytime and then they take it to the hole. (Jennings wouldnt have half of his points if we stop this) Also, when are the refs going to stop giving Kurt Thomas all of these calls? He’s been flopping for years and even grins afterwards knowing that hes full of it.
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
Kurt Thomas = savvy veteran with remarkable intangibles
Hawks fans = biggest bunch of whiners one could encounter
FEAR THE DEER.
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JeJe
April 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
Because the Bucks are making the Hawks pay for deploying Bibby and Crawford, neither of whom is a strong defender
*Neither of whom is a defender
82-79
82-79
82-79
82-79
82-79
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
Why exactly was Woodson laughing and smiling with the ref all toward the end of the game last night?
Resign Joe, trade Marvin and Bibby for Devin Harris (after they hopefully get John Wall), and GO INTO THE LUXURY TAX TO SIGN SOME MORE VETS and this team will be fine
Guy
April 27th, 2010
3:03 pm
The Hawks dont stick with there game plan they do too much one on one dribbling instead of taking the ball in the paint they settle for jump shots. They need to go back to what worked in games 1&2.
Stopthenegative
April 27th, 2010
3:23 pm
Until the Hawks lose the series, we shouldn’t give them a hard time. 2 years ago the Celtics went 7 games in the playoffs and won the world championship. The Boston papers were all over that team for going 7 with the Hawks. There is no reason to panic!! I hate when speculation drives articles!!!
Big O
April 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
The Hawks got pushed around last night by Thomas,#40. We dont have a real big man and its going to really show in the next round, If we make the next round. I wound not pay a jump shooter big monsy(Joe Johnson). He cant get to the basket and he does go to the free throw line often. Coach Woodson needs to go. The team doesnt run plays at the end of games. Its all Jamal Crawford or Joe Johnson shooting jumpers. You have to get to the rim. Good things happen when you do that. Ask Labron and D- Wade.
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TimBob
April 27th, 2010
6:15 pm
I think you’re right. I thought the Celtic’s season was over when they got swept by the Hawks, which makes me think that we put too much emphasis on those regular season match ups. It’s really more about who has the discipline to pull it off in the playoffs.
racerx
April 27th, 2010
7:49 pm
ladyhawks fan:
Most bucks fans are happy team is in playoffs as the early predictions had them being one of the worst. Most also believe the bucks will lose first round as well. However, again I will say it because you obviously missed the point altogether. My Bogut comment was directed at the fool who thinks he wasnt good and only looked at points per game. I will repeat it again…. second best shot blocker as well as double digit rebounder. Kurt as backup not starter. To say the stlye would play into hawks plan is to say the bucks have a coach like the hawks that doesnt make adjustments. Wrong. And lastly, we all wish we could see what this team would be like….but again, it would have been against Boston, not Atlanta as the bucks would have maintained the 5th seed(holding tiebreaker over Miami) not falling to the 6th seed. Remember,
the bucks team with Bogut held a lead in Atlanta most of the game but it took ot for atlanta to win. That was the positive we built our belief around. Just as most fans of any team would do. And we did this without disrespecting anyone elses teams which is a quality lacking in this blog. Makes me sick that I am a transposed hawks fan living in Milwaukee and have to read such crap from my original hometown paper and some of its mindless bloggers.
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Speedy
April 28th, 2010
10:49 am
welikebaseball2 – What would Teague do ? we would still be switching and all he would do is guarantee that the Bucks would be in the bonus the majority of the quarter
It was Delfino that hurt us last game . Crawford evened out Jennings and that was without us even going to him at all.If we actually put some effort into making jennings work both ends he wouldnt have even had that much.
WE ARE SWITCHING EVERYTHING so all the claims about the guards not staying in front of the other teams guard is rubbish.
This will be a blowout tonight and we will end this crap on Friday . This is entirely too much whining for 3 vs 6 matchup when the defending champs and #1 seed is going through the very same thing .
Grow up Hawks fans should be the name of the article .
corrina252
April 28th, 2010
11:17 am
FEAR THE DEER
BucksFan
April 30th, 2010
9:27 am
Fear the Deer!