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
David
April 26th, 2010
11:29 pm
The problem with the Hawks is that in their minds, their season was made when they swept the Celtics.
Gilley
April 26th, 2010
11:33 pm
I dont mind us losing on the road. But I didnt want us to get blown out. But we could have won this game…but we couldnt consistently play good defense. Joe Johnson is playing for his contract and doing quite well. But we are not worthy to play the Magic and have no chance to win playing like this. Can we just turn it on and off against an elite team? NO. We can’t even do it against the lowly Bucks who have Carlos Delfino going off on us. Unacceptable. I understand why the media take us for a joke. We are underachievers. Now I know we’re going to win at home and we all will be happy again but we have to go back to Milwaukee and win on the road. 1-10 is terrible. Mike Woodson is outta here next year.
Big L
April 26th, 2010
11:35 pm
Anybody still wondering why Woodson’s cotract has’nt been re-upped. They play like they are coached. Underwhelmingly.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2010
11:36 pm
same hawks…sorry mark im done with this team
GT3O
April 26th, 2010
11:36 pm
Third?
Is there a kudos for third? Especially since no one claimed first?
Oh yeah, Mark the Braves just lost…again. Good night in Atlanta!
I went to the Rockies game yesterday and they had only one guy in the line-up, other than the pitcher, who was hitting less than .200. After watching the Braves, I was not used to that.
TheAntiMe
April 26th, 2010
11:37 pm
Two main differences between these teams:
1) The Bucks play defense for 4 quarters. The Hawks play defense only when they feel like it, which isn’t very often.
2) The Bucks coach Scott Skiles has successfully made adjustments throughout the series to counter what the Hawks were initially able to do to hurt his team.
The Hawks coach Mike Woodson has refused to make any adjustments, whatsoever, during this series especially on defense – such as going away from the switches that aren’t working or maybe double teaming Brandon Jennings since no one player on the Hawks has been able to guard him. And people say that Bobby Cox is stubborn.
Keith B
April 26th, 2010
11:40 pm
The Bucks deserve a TON of credit for pulling even. as Mr. Bradley noted, on paper the starting 5s favors ATL by a mile, maybe 2 miles.
I sure am glad they aren’t playing this series on paper.
Fear the Deer
RMT
April 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
..what do the Hawks do in practice ? ..
The Grinch
April 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
Hopefully Woodson is gone next year, but unfortunately Joe Johnson will be too. And the rebuilding process begins again…
hector
April 26th, 2010
11:43 pm
Hahahahahahahahaha I finally found the hawks blog……… feer the deer b!+@&s…….. go home hawks go home hawks go home hawks…….. well if u guys want to keep it going come visit us at jsonline.com/sports/bucks/
If the bucks win at atlanta, the series will be over in the bradley center. For shure. And oh, hawks fans don’t get too exited if you guys win the series. Idk if you guys forgott but our MAIN piece of the puzzle is out. His name is andrew bogut. A player wich the hawks could not stop all season long. Good luck to you
Tired
April 26th, 2010
11:44 pm
Keith B—The Bucks don’t deserve any credit. The Hawks do what they have been doing the past 3 years, which is choking on the road. I saw this coming just like everyone else. They’ll win the series then get embarrassed by Orlando.
Peter
April 26th, 2010
11:45 pm
Mark they won the first two games here, and really they shouldn’t have been so close as they were……both games the Buck’s fought to get back in the games after being down big time……
That should have given you a clue……. they are still missing pieces, like a legit small forward, a Big with a presence, and a legit point who can guard, and dish.
NYCmatt
April 26th, 2010
11:45 pm
Ugly game. Sorry I asked the Village Pourhouse guys to switch the channel for me. Atl looked slow, plays were run with no inspiration, enough bricks dropped to build everyone in that frigid wasteland a fireplace. Hate to say it, but maybe we need to let Joe go and get a real star that’ll keep people motivated on the road.
Big L
April 26th, 2010
11:46 pm
We need some heart and fire. Let Joe go and bring in D Wade. More money will be made and Atl will be loud as hell. This is not immaturity, this is a could care less attitude from a team that has earned nothing and does not try hard.
Biff Pocoroba
April 26th, 2010
11:47 pm
It looks like Paul Hewitt is coaching now. The team wants to shoot jump shots instead of going inside where they should dominate.
Missisppi Dawg
April 26th, 2010
11:47 pm
A better effort than game 3 – but still got out-coached and out hustled again. And can someone please explain to me why when I tune in for an NBA playoff game, why in the world do I have to listen to Bucks announcers on the “NBA Network” ??? That was frustrating!!!
Peter
April 26th, 2010
11:47 pm
D Wade won’t come here…..the ownership is the reason !
FloridaHawk
April 26th, 2010
11:47 pm
I was thinking the same thing “Big L”…
JSS
April 26th, 2010
11:48 pm
TOLD YOU SO! This is not Woodson, this on the players! You don’t change DNA in the middle of the series. Marvin Williams and Al Horford have gone Casper! Poof! It does not happen to mature teams… JJ, Crawford and Smith showed up… Everything that I said had to happen on the road to win did not fall into place. Now, you’re in a best of 3 dogfight! You better have a big set of huevos!
E
April 26th, 2010
11:48 pm
Makes you wonder what would be happening if Bogut was available to play
Peter
April 26th, 2010
11:49 pm
e……. I think the Hawks would have split at home……and be down 1-3.
FloridaHawk
April 26th, 2010
11:50 pm
Actually Big L, my first post referred to yours, but I also agree with your second post as well!
Keith B
April 26th, 2010
11:50 pm
Tired: You are simply ignorant. The Bucks outplayed ATL. Simple enough
Al Einstein
April 26th, 2010
11:50 pm
“The first two times [in the playoffs], especially when we first got in, we was new we didn’t understand things about the playoffs and the postseason,” Josh said. “We was just playing with a lot of momentum at home. We didn’t really know what to do on the road. Last year we still was young but we had the depth that we needed and we had the maturity and growth that we needed to be able to win games on the road”
And the Bucks….they haven’t been to the play-offs in what…eight years? They have no center, a rookie point guard, and maybe, just maybe, Josh Smith and his team might learn next year how to win games in the play-offs. That would be about on schedule, huh Josh? What a bunch of over talented under achievers…….FEAR THE DEER………and any AAU team as long as it’s a road game in the play-offs.
SickandTired
April 26th, 2010
11:52 pm
I just simply want to see one of our big men lay Jennings out cold when he comes floating in the lane shooting those fall away acrobatic shots. Nobody has laid the wood to that kid yet and until somebody does he’s gonna continue to float in there like he just got of the tattoo chair and he’s certainly used to that and comfortable. Lay him out.
Tired
April 26th, 2010
11:57 pm
Wow, really calling someone ignorant on a basketball blog? Wow. Anyway, like I said the Hawks lose these types of games, they Bucks didn’t beat them. If you knew anything about Hawks basketball over the past 3 years, then you would know what I am talking about.
sportdog
April 26th, 2010
11:59 pm
i admire the job Mike Woodson’s done in rebuilding a wreck but these last two games have proven he can not lead this team to the title. there is too much talent for this series not to have been a sweep
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2010
12:00 am
Sorry to have stepped away. Tight deadline on the ol’ 8:30 p.m. tip.
The Hawks are not devastated. They still think they’ll win. But they know they’re in for a long slog now. Forget about getting in and getting out.
The Bradley Kiss of Death
April 27th, 2010
12:00 am
OVER IN 5
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2010
12:01 am
Yep. I did pick that, didn’t I?
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2010
12:02 am
I called home after the game. I told my younger daughter I really thought the Hawks would win tonight. She said: “Why would you think that?”
She had me.
Denver Hawk
April 27th, 2010
12:02 am
82 games is a long time to wait for this kind of flop – again… any team that plays like this should be lining up after hours to study film, practice, ANYTHING, with Coach Woodson, who has BEEN to the finals as a coach before!!! Instead they tweet and hang out and say they’re bored – they probably even secretly blame the coach! well, the fans are the ones getting bored now – with THEM…
hawksfan
April 27th, 2010
12:04 am
Mark you should be fired. why you still write for the hawks?? I’ll never understand that
Missisppi Dawg
April 27th, 2010
12:04 am
Hey Hector – enough with the “we don’t even have Bogut crap”…he’s not Dwight Howard…if you can’t replace 15 ppg with someone on your NBA bench then you are woefully unprepared for an 82 plus game schedule..If Gasol went down do you think the Lakers would start making excuses…no they would trot someone else out there and still expect to win…..Beer!, not Bogut is the best thing to come out of Milwaukee….Keep brewing it
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:05 am
Mark……WHEN… is Marvin going to earn his Money ?
RC in ATL
April 27th, 2010
12:05 am
Big L, I think you’re right on track. I think Hawks will have to beat Orlando now for Woddy to be extended. If they had closed out the Bucks in 4 or 5, and then were competitive in Round 2, maybe he would have been extended…at least a couple of years.
I really believe this ownership group and management is looking at this team’s performance in the playoffs over the regular season. To be honest, so should all of us.
This team, while beating Miami last year, has not taken many steps forward once the regular season ended. I would not be surprised to see a new guy on the Hawks bench come October. And maybe it’s time.
So what are the chances the Hawks let JJ walk and go after Wade or one of the blue-chippers?
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:06 am
Mark do you talk with Marvin ? What does he think of his personal production ?
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:07 am
The ownership group is a fragmented as the team…….. each is a reflection of the other.
bowman
April 27th, 2010
12:07 am
Tone at the top. The problem has been and continues to be Mike Woodson. How does a team with a 2-0 series lead get blown out in the first quarter? Lack of mental preparation. Who’s in charge of this issue? The head coach. Too late to salvage this season but the future still looks bright… with a different head coach. Lots of talent has been squandered in getting to this point, and lots of talent is being squandered today. The solution: a new head coach. Simple. Why has no one pulled the trigger to ignite this team to the next level? Do it. Now.
bowman
– -
“Art will always be Art.” – Goethe
Mel Kiper
April 27th, 2010
12:08 am
Hey Mark if the hawks lose the series is woody in the unemployment line
tree rollins
April 27th, 2010
12:08 am
I think these Hawks are going to get back home and blow out these pesky Bucks. The problem is the Bucks are such a nothing team that the Hawks relaxed a bit and took them for granted. They’re already aiming for the Magic. But this wake call is all they needed and Mike Woodson will have these guys foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs at the Highlight Factory. Watch the Hawks win by 30 in the next contest and begin putting the final nails in the coffin for the Bucks. Orlando – here we come (and we won’t take YOU for granted)!!
tree rollins
April 27th, 2010
12:10 am
Sund has all but assured folks that Woody will be back with the Hawks leading the charge next year.
RC in ATL
April 27th, 2010
12:11 am
Hope you’re right Tree!
MrHughes
April 27th, 2010
12:11 am
i would give my left nut to see Wade in a hawks uniform
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2010
12:11 am
The Hawks didn’t take Milwaukee for granted tonight. They just got beat.
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2010
12:12 am
Marvin was gone by the time I got to the locker room, Peter. But he was awful.
RC in ATL
April 27th, 2010
12:13 am
Hawks need a vocal and charismatic leader. JJ was great to bring the team to competitiveness and maybe a step beyond. But the championship teams never stand pat. They always tweek the roster and upgrade wherever and whenever possible. We cannot think this team is going to get much better without making some moves.
Mr. Hughes, how good would the Hawks look with Wade and Childress?
RC in ATL
April 27th, 2010
12:15 am
Let me clarify Tree, I hope you are right about the Hawks coming back to win the series, not bring back Woody. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Woody has to go. But this roster needs tweaking.
Seen-a-lot
April 27th, 2010
12:16 am
Come on ASG, speak up!! Bad ownership. The Hawks will always be what they are as long as this group own the team. Change players,change coaches.The only owner that knew that was to much money to give to a guy (JJ) you can never built a CHAMPIONSHIP around was sent packing. Cuban will learn that with Dirk.Just because a guy can score is only part of what you need to built a championship around. Bad decision with resigning Marvin
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:18 am
Mark…….. I have seen him in the sandy Springs Pet’s Mart…….he looked soft there !
Does he lift weights ?
truthspitter
April 27th, 2010
12:18 am
The Bucks are pure trash and don’t deserve any credit. There fans are trashy also, I never go to anyone other teams forums or boards after we win. We sweep Boston a legit team unlike the Bucks and I did not do that. The problem is the Hawks are also trash and will not proceed until they rid themselves of there curse which is Marvin Williams they got rid of all the other clear-cut mistakes except for this bust
Angie
April 27th, 2010
12:18 am
Is there one reason not to dump every one of these lazy millionaires and get some players who give a sh*t about anything except getting the season over with as fast as possible?
Seriously. Start over.
MrHughes
April 27th, 2010
12:19 am
RC in ATL,
It would be great to see Childress come back as a rotational player.
Like you said we need a vocal leader, but i think need we two. One on the court and one on the sidelines(Coach). We need a tough coach to whip these guys into shape. For us to be playing this way on the road is really embarrassing as a hawks fan. Remember that they aren’t even playing with their best player, and they are making us just look like crap.
Someone call Avery Johnson, It looks like Mike Woodson’s career here is over.
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
12:21 am
Wow, MrHughes, you are definitely the biggest Hawks fan around. While I agree that it would be way cool to have D. Wade in the Hawks backcourt, I’m not quite willing to trade in any of my original equipment.
truthspitter
April 27th, 2010
12:22 am
Angie: Why does everyone talk about money so much with athletes? Noone is stopping you from getting a better job than being a cashier at Fred Dollar Store
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:23 am
How do you tweak the roster with guys signed for so long…….ZAZA….Marvin ?
Plus what most folks do not realize…..the Spirit is running in the RED BIG TIME……. loosing hockey team, can’t sell the Hawks, and the stadium is not selling for other events as well.
POOR ownership, and may mistakes will set this franchise back a few years, especially after JJ leaves……and really can you trust them to pick the next coach ?
ryc30078
April 27th, 2010
12:24 am
Hey Mark; Tell me how does a #2 draft pick who stands 6′9 and weighs 250lbs only have 4 points in 20 minutes with Carlos Delfino! I’M SICK OF MARVIN WILLLIAMS; HE IS A BUST; HE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNATHLETIC PLAYERS IN THE NBA TODAY!! HE CAN BARELY DUNK; HE MOVES LIKE AN EDERLY PERSON!! HE HAS REGRESSED TERRIBLY THIS YEAR; AND RICK SUND REALLY NEEDS TO CUT BAIT WITH THIS GUY THIS OFF-SEASON.
chem
April 27th, 2010
12:27 am
When the team gave up in Game 3, it was not only embarrassing but it certainly emboldened the Bucks. It’s a playoff game, and it’s only 48 minutes. — If your career is basketball, you make millions of dollars doing so, and it’s the playoffs, why do you need homecourt to motivate yourself to play full out for 48 minutes?
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
12:27 am
Marvin Williams is the new Speedy Claxton. At least Speedy was injured and had an excuse.
Buckfan
April 27th, 2010
12:27 am
Bucks fan reading this board because I am interested in other team’s viewpoint. Seems like a lot of overreaction. Hawks are good, not great. Never were great, and never will be great with this cast of players. Very talented. Certainly better than the Bucks (at least without Bogut), and will likely still win, but probably now in 7. Hawks biggest issue is lack of chemistry and lack of a legit point guard, they don’t have any playmakers, just scorers. How the Hawks fans watch the non-stop isolations without going insane is beyond me…that’s not basketball, it’s a glorified game of one-on-one. Give the Bucks a little credit, they are undermanned and don’t have a lot of talent, but they play hard and the right way.
Aaron
April 27th, 2010
12:30 am
Mark, any comments about Adrian Woj’s article claiming the Hawks will ditch their draft pick in an effort to re-sign JJ to a max contract?
Aaron
April 27th, 2010
12:31 am
Mark, any comments on the Yahoo Sports article (Adrian Woj) claiming the Hawks will ditch their draftpick in an effort to re-sign JJ to a max contract? Has Woodson really manage to “cool” Sund’s offce, too?
Moxie
April 27th, 2010
12:31 am
Man it sure is frustrating to be a fan right now. It seems like fans want them to win more then they want to. I just dont get why they lay a big ‘ol egg on the road all the time! Its not like this is something new. They have now played 43 games on the road, but they cant get right!They say the same old tired comment: “i dont know why we dont come out with energy”, “we are still learning how to win”. WTH! After you won 53 games, I think you know how to win pretty well. They are complacent. They dont think they are going to win a championship, and who are we kidding, do we really think they are going to win the Finals? Do they have the mental toughness to win 16 games this postseason? No.
lewis
April 27th, 2010
12:32 am
pathetic performance again. Bibby is the worst 31 year old defender at the point in the NBA and it’s completely and totally embarassing to watch. Mo never plays so its impossible for him to get into rhythm shooting. I wouldn’t put up with Zaza or Josh’s attitudes for a second. I’d have benched them instantly. Don’t need a phenomenal coach to win a championship, but without a player leader, we’re screwed. Hawks really fooled me this season I thought we were going to step it up in the playoffs. Chris Weber and Charles Barkeley just said they were disappointed in the Hawks and no longer believe in them. I agree.
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
12:32 am
I hate to burst your bubble, Buckfan, but for the last couple of years the Hawks have a very nasty habit of playing down to their competition, especially on the road.
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:32 am
Speedy……that would be an antonym for Marvin……… not a synonym !
One blogger said it best he is pulling a Casper.
keno
April 27th, 2010
12:32 am
After watching the press conferences, I think they should send Woody packing. What the hell was that? I could of gave better answers than the nonchalant BS he was talking. Seriously? I can’t believe he condones “bickering” amongst teammates during the game (he said they’ve been doing it all season and it’s good for them to work out the grievances with each other). And then the Joe Johnson answer made no sense at all. I don’t think this team takes on Joe’s personality. I think they take Woody’s personality. How many times can the answer be, “we fought all season for homecourt and we took care of our business”. So that means that he doesn’t expect to make it out of the second round since the Hawks will not have homecourt for that series.
ryc30078
April 27th, 2010
12:33 am
Buckfan; Good game by your Bucks tonight; but the Bucks favorite play is letting Brandon Jennings dribble around the baseline for 24 seconds and hitting lucky shots just as the shot clock is about to expire. I blame Mike Woodson for not adjusting to the Bucks pick n roll involving Carlos Defino. Both teams can’t operate a half-court offense.
Big Ray
April 27th, 2010
12:35 am
Mark Bradley ,
Of course the Hawks don’t like it when their bigs have to guard the opposing team’s guards. No team in this league has to do it as much as the Hawks do. This is what happens when:
1) You draft a college team’s backup forward and ignore two very good point guard prospects
2) Sign three straight broken down veteran pgs to address the position, with the last one managing to play less than 25 full games in two or three seasons.
3) Trade two lottery pick draft mistakes, a popcorn loving idiot, and one of the aforementioned broken down veteran pgs for another pg who is about to break down, not realizing that the team you are trading with is glad to have the “trash” that you are trading them in return…helloooooo….
4) Ignore the best point guard propsect that you’ve had since Billy Knight came to town, ensuring that you are stuck with no backup point guard in the playoffs (and nobody outside of Joe Johnson, who can actually guard the opposing pg), and the guy who is doing that job just happens to be a talented, but streaky-shooting journeyman shooting guard who has never been to the playoffs before.
5) Staying in a Holiday Express won’t help, even. Lose this series, and the bald one is gone, while his boss scrambles to find some answers before he follows him.
PlusSizeModel
April 27th, 2010
12:36 am
The only thing good that will come from this completely unlikeable Hawks team winning this series is so I can watch them get swept by Orlando.
Signed,
A Hawks Fan if the product was worth a flip.
The ownership is a joke.
The coach is an embarrassment.
The co-Main Guy (Smith) may have the lowest basketball acumen in history.
Seen-a-lot
April 27th, 2010
12:36 am
Ownership in the red? Yes, and that’s why everyone can’t own a pro team. You can’t be short on cash flow and make bad decisions.
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:39 am
Signing Marvin to a Big Contract was a BAD decision…….and will bite them long term.
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
12:39 am
Gosh Mike Bradley you sure are an arrogant jag-off. Mbah a Moute is not a journeyman but rather a 2nd year player from UCLA drafted by the Bucks. I guess a “big-time journalist” like yourself should probably know something like that. Secondly, Skiles, who finished second in coach of the year voting, is putting on a coaching clinic and to not realize that shows how little you truly know about the game. FEAR THE DEER. Bucks win the series in 6. Since atlanta has terrible sports fans it will be interesting to see what a morgue the phillips arena is on wednesday. FEAR THE DEER.
Al Einstein
April 27th, 2010
12:40 am
Hawks BB: Get a lot of talent, don’t play together, take turns playing one on one, act cocky, play no defense, mouth off about the other team’s city not being up to your standards, and then go out and LOSE to a team that was happy just to be in their first play-offs in 8 years. TWICE !!!! Oh, and talk smart about bring on Orlando. Orlando can’t wait to get a hold of their next opponent be it Hawks of Bucks. At least the Bucks know it and would put up the good fight. Hawks will crawl away after a quarter or two. NO HEART.
Buckfan
April 27th, 2010
12:42 am
TheAntiMe, there is no bubble to burst. I don’t doubt the Hawks play down to their competition, and I think they’ll probably win the series anyway, the Bucks are just not there yet from a talent perspective. The Hawks are a reasonably talented team without a legitimate playmaker who can create shots for not only himself, but also his teammates. Look around the NBA and tell me which teams are winning in the playoffs that don’t have a good point guard…Nash, Kidd, Westbrook, Williams, Kobe, LeBron, etc.). Tough to win playoff basketball against good teams without a really good playmaker.
Udahman
April 27th, 2010
12:42 am
Fear the Deer! We’ve got you in our sites…AND…we have momentum!
Peter
April 27th, 2010
12:43 am
Buckfan is correct……..trade Marvin for a one !
ryc30078
April 27th, 2010
12:43 am
Corrina252; Atlanta fans will be ready Wednesday. Don’t brag too much about those Bucks fans; I still saw SEVERAL EMPTY SECTIONS IN THAT DUMP THEY CALL THE BRADLEY CENTET\R
Buckfan
April 27th, 2010
12:45 am
Peter, if Jennings and Bibby switched teams, Hawks are a legit contender. And the Bucks are thinking about drafting John Wall.
Udahman
April 27th, 2010
12:48 am
truthspitter, so tell buck fans where it says we can’t comment on “YOUR” board?! AJC says nothing of the kind…do you sign their paycheck?
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
12:48 am
FEAR THE DEER. Most be frustrating being a hawks fan. FEAR THE DEER. I could give a rip if you think the bradley center is dump it had more electricity than you atlanta bozos could ever create. FEAR THE DEER.
Udahman
April 27th, 2010
12:49 am
truthspitter, or are you just afraid of the truth? Did you see in your own ajc newsrag that local atlanta fans are now predicting a BUCKS win…taking the series? Great fans you have down there…backstabbing your own team…so we thought we’d bring a little class to your board
Udahman
April 27th, 2010
12:49 am
FEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR THE DEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Will
April 27th, 2010
12:51 am
SickandTired – that WAS a sick comment, and pathetic. Your strategy for the Hawks to win a series is to root for them to injure an opposing player? Loser.
PlusSizeModel
April 27th, 2010
12:52 am
The Hawks re-signing Marvin Williams to a new five year deal is the definition of mind-boggling. I thought Billy Knight got fired.
ryc30078
April 27th, 2010
12:54 am
Corrina252, Don’t make me laugh you bandwagon buck fan. The Bucks is in the bottom third of the league in attendance! Funny how all “These Bucks Fans” are all coming out of the woodwork now lol!
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
12:56 am
FEAR THE DEER.
ryc30078
April 27th, 2010
12:57 am
Udaman; Stop with your lies; No Atlanta fan is predicting the Bucks to win this series; The Hawks will win the series period. Btw quit acting like you from “Milwaukee” lol!
Loc
April 27th, 2010
12:59 am
If I hear the words “we like our core” from this moronic ownership group and GM one more time, I will puke. A good core is one like that of OKC, where there is still room to grow and put other pieces around it. This core has already maxed out it’s ability and will not sniff the finals or anything close to it.
I ask again, why the hell did we give Marvin’s duck butt a 5 year deal when nobody else wanted him? Completely inexcusable and a lazy job by Sund. I hate to say it, but we are headed for more rebuilding if JJ leaves and Marvin and Horford continue to regress.
What a pathetic organization.
Feer the Deer and the Beer
April 27th, 2010
1:00 am
Hey Atlanta, quit stealing our teams (the Milwaukee Hawks and the Milwaukee Braves) and we might stop stomping your Southern arse. What, you want the Packers too? Falcons (snicker)!
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
1:00 am
Wow the hawks averaged about 1200 more fans per game during the regular season than the bucks fans, IN A CITY 4 TIMES THE SIZE! Face it, atlanta fans are clowns.
Loc
April 27th, 2010
1:02 am
Sund’s offseason moves may have helped this team during this year’s regular season, but they did nothing to bring us closer to a title. We are now hamstrung by Marvin’s contract for 4 more years, Bibby for 2 more, and Zaza for 3 more. And for what? To win 53 games, have another useless 7 game first round series, and then get blown out in the 2nd round by a superior team? Just such a disgraceful organization and ownership group. Thank god for Arthur Blank, TD, and Mike Smith. Without that group, all 4 major sports teams in this city would be massive disappointments.
Kurt Thomas is definitely
April 27th, 2010
1:10 am
in Al’s head a little bit. Al needs to step it up in Game 5—-and the team needs to make a concerted effort to get him the ball in the post early & often, so Al can play with the reckless abandon we’ve seen before.
Also, lets show an adjustment for once & stop switching on screens so our bigs don’t get caught on the perimeter watching guys blow by them.
Lets Go Hawks!!
TS2
April 27th, 2010
1:11 am
woah
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
1:12 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYkgIrGMUcY
FEAR THE DEER.
Fear the Deer
April 27th, 2010
1:16 am
I think not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DzzmeoRmrQ
TS2
April 27th, 2010
1:16 am
damn you and the deer
JSS
April 27th, 2010
1:21 am
Freakin’ American Antelope, come home, get right, and then wipe them out! Sorry PETA!
blonju
April 27th, 2010
1:28 am
kurt thomas only sets illegal screens, yet because he’s 900 years old, the refs cut him slack on most of them … hawks brought the effort tonite, but were outshot by a team who thinks it has the momentum … 3 game series with 2 @ home … bucks “fans” really think they have a chance?! hawks still win in 6 … it’s just embarrassing that we’ve wasted all this energy on such a pitiful playoff team … if bogut was playing, we might be up 3-1 because he actually gets called for his fouls … the refs treat kurt thomas like he’s tim duncan or something .. see YOU wednesday! GO HAWKS!
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
1:30 am
Actually, I think that most of the Milwaukee fans are good fans with some measure of class. Unlike the bandwagon jumping trolls invading this blog who act as if their team has never won a playoff game before. You Bambi’s show an extreme lack of class. You really should Fear the Beer!
Hawks Fan in DC
April 27th, 2010
1:37 am
Why do I feel like I’ve seen this act before………
because I have it was the Hawks of 1986-1989, Dominique, Doc, Spud, Kevin Willis, Moses Malone (1989), and Reggie Theus(1989). Never got past the 2nd Round. New Atlanta Hawks advertising slogan: Same S–t Different Day!
Feer the Deer and the Beer
April 27th, 2010
1:38 am
Please TheAntiMe, “Wherever you find 4 Southern Baptists, you’ll find a fifth.”
Hawks Fan in DC
April 27th, 2010
1:41 am
I would like to apologize to Jon Koncak for omitting his part in the late 80’s underachievement.
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
1:52 am
Wow, that’s truly clever, Feer. Did you make that one up all by yourself or did your Grandma help you out with that very witty reply? Smoove must be right. There really must be nothing to do in Milwaukee if you trolls have to come here to get your thrills. Pathetic.
Big Dog
April 27th, 2010
1:55 am
Bradley: Looks like you get a second trip to ‘foggy, 40 degree England.’ Hopefully the weather clears and heats up for Friday so that a big-time journalist, like yourself, can be nice and comfy…just like you hawks were when you thought you had a four-game series in the first round….please, keep continuing your sunny-forecast for game 5; your so-called insight makes me laugh
Blake
April 27th, 2010
1:59 am
What Is It with this bunch.I predicted In the regular season that this team showed It could’nt win on the road.Why should we believe this team would win on the road in the playoffs.Well here they are going up 2-0 at home and relaxing on the road.I TOLD YOU SO.THIS IS THE PLAYOFFS FOR CHRIST’S SAKE.WHAT’S IT GONNA TAKE TO GET THIS TEAM FIRED UP ON THE ROAD?
Whopper Dawg
April 27th, 2010
2:05 am
No leader on the floor, in the locker room or wearing a suit and tie.
CAVSFAN
April 27th, 2010
2:09 am
Where is all the cockiness now ATL? seriously, you guys are a disgrace.
ts2
April 27th, 2010
2:26 am
Marvin and Zaza are garbage
truthspitter
April 27th, 2010
2:26 am
Marvin and Zaza should just give us our money back
cory
April 27th, 2010
2:28 am
all you fair weather fans including you mark bradley make me sick. i guess the lakers havent grown up either or how about the nuggets and mavericks being down 3 to 1 in series where they have the Advantage. i mean utah is missing 3 players. or wait there was a team 2 years ago that was the number one seed and needed 7 games to beat a 36 win team oh yeah they won the title too i guess they were immature to. face it its hard to win on the road in the playoffs especially against a team with no pressure. so talk about kobe and melo as you do the hawks cowards. the reffs changed the game with early phantom calls on horford and late with those charges and missed thomas holding smiths arm report it accuratley. we will win in 6 .
RC in ATL
April 27th, 2010
2:42 am
Cory, I don’t know if you included me in the ‘fair weather fan’ category or not? I have been a loyal Hawks fan since the mid 1980s. I am not a fair-weather fan. It is so awesome to be having this conversation about our frustrations regarding post-season series. It seemed the Hawks would never make it again just a few years ago.
And I totally agree with you that there were some very bad calls by the officials in this game.
I also appreciate your point about the other teams who have their hands full in the first round (Lakers, especially). But even the Lakers have the elephant in the room when it comes to their coach. He pretty much came out a few weeks ago in an ESPN interview and said he was gone if the Lakers didn’t reach the Finals…and maybe even then, as he said something like ‘it would be nice to retire as a champion.’
Coaches who stay with teams forever (it seems) like Jerry Sloan in Utah are just very rare. Isn’t Woody longest tenured in the East? Whether they stuck with him because of the ownership flux situation or just because they hired their man and believed in him, it was nice to see him get the chance to fully develop his players. But I think this roster has improved about as much as it can during the regular season. It is time to measure success by postseason standards. Unfortunately, you are measuring against a 5-7 game season sometimes, and not 82 games. But if you get too wound up in what happens just during the regular season, you can definitely find yourself a perpetual postseason underachiever. (See team on Hank Aaron Blvd. for a tremendous example)
Regardless, if this roster is unchanged, I don’t see the Hawks winning 60 next year…and I really don’t think they have the makeup/maturity/leadership (whichever you choose) to win the three post-season series it is going to take to get to the Finals…especially with how we cannot win on the road, and tend to blow large leads. Orlando will not let us live to tell about that…let alone Cleveland.
Now let us hope we can finish off the Bucks after giving them new life.
And I hope I am wrong, because it would TOTALLY ROCK to see the Hawks make a run deep into the summer this year!
TheAntiMe
April 27th, 2010
2:53 am
I ain’t worried about the Hawks. We all know that they have just got to make things way more interesting than they ever really should be. But you know what? Maybe that’s not a bad thing in the overall scheme of things. As long as they get that 4th win before the other team, that’s all that matters.
hawks sleep
April 27th, 2010
4:25 am
Feer the deer oh please fear the Magic when they roll in 4 over u guys.Oh by the way since u owner is not there n u support stinks n no new arena U Guys will be in Kansas city playin as the Bucks and yes i believe kansas city is gettin a new arena up.So fear the Dear cause they be movin from Milwaukee. Oh n its time for Woodson to Go he Fired
JokeMan 4000
April 27th, 2010
4:37 am
Why Does Woodson Always Take Bibby Out Win He Is Streaking It From The 3-Point Line? He Sits Him Out Long Just So He Can Get Cold And Then Puts Him Back In The Game And Expects Him To Still Come Off The Bench And Go 4-4 Beyond 3pt. If He Is Streaking It Early Keep Him Out There As Long As Possible.
zymoedoo
April 27th, 2010
5:30 am
btw some of you may not know that brandon jennings is the son of the late country singer waylon jennings. you can look it up. in another coincidence kurt thomas is the son of kurt russell and marlo thomas. you wont find that anywhere else.
ltdbrave
April 27th, 2010
5:34 am
Immature is a great term for this team. A great team or even a good team knows and has the drive to win on the road. Williams is a waste and the number one immature player. Will never understand why they signed him. He should be a complete player by now. Woodson needs to go also. There is no motivation on this team. Seems the only place they enjoy playing ball is at home.
zymoedoo
April 27th, 2010
5:41 am
the hawks problem is numerical. three of their starters have a total of 9 letters in their names. no nba team with 3 or more starters with the same amount of letters in their names has ever advanced beyond the 1st round. its just bad karma. walt meech
michael
April 27th, 2010
6:23 am
The only thing that was worse than the officiating was the coaching ability of Woodson.
Samuel
April 27th, 2010
6:43 am
The problem is they have good players with no super star. Being that said let Joe Johnson go, sign DWade. Move Horford to power forward sign a free agent at center who can score and block shots. Get a gaurd who is quicker than Bibby who can play defense and score points. Then your’e on you way to a championship.
just facts
April 27th, 2010
6:58 am
The excitement of just making the playoffs is no longer enough. I could care less if we beat the bucks because we have NO chance to beat the magic.
Who wins a game first… The underachieving hawks or the terribly undermanned braves?
doc
April 27th, 2010
7:04 am
samuel, tongue in cheek there buddy? how about getting a coach that can use the horses he has and be able to make in game changes or between game maneuvers that work when he has superior talent? that would be novel.
Woody in Blunderland
April 27th, 2010
7:10 am
“Steer clear of the beer deer,” the hardcourt jester warned the Eyebrow King.
“You’re a fool, Fool,” the Eyebrow King replied. “Good teams figure out how to win on the road. I learned that at the feet of the Wizard of Westwood (II), Denver, Kansas, Detroit, New Jersey, Charlotte, San Antonio, New York, Los Angeles, Indiana and Davidson.”
Before game 3, this series looked like a David vs. Goliath matchup. Once the Bucks close the series out this weekend, and are then swept by the Magic, it will be revealed as Doug vs. Phil.
What the past two games has taught both teams is that the Bucks can take the series. They will. Skiles is a far superior coach to Woodson. Woodson needs to go. A good coach would have taken this team much farther.
GT41
April 27th, 2010
7:23 am
Amazing the difference in looking at the two offenses last night. The Bucks looked like the Celtics of the Bird era, cutting and driving and PASSING..while the Hawks looked like 4 guys standing still while the fifth guy worked in isolation. I am a huge Hawks fan, but it was actually fun last night seeing a real offense at work, even if it meant we got killed by it.
TREMAINE
April 27th, 2010
7:35 am
The Hawks will be ok if the refs let them play. Game 5 will be a blowout Hawks win. The only reason why the Bucks won is because of all those offensive flops, I mean fouls that Kurt Thomas got away with. He made Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford look like Hercules out there. C’MON REFS!
Victor
April 27th, 2010
7:39 am
As I said in an earlier blog just because the Bucks don’t have Redd and Bogut doesn’t mean they are out of it. They are and NBA team that was good enough to get into the playoffs and they have nothing to lose so that makes them dangerous. They also have a good coach. The Hawks have gotten smacked in the mouth twice so I beleive this is theyr’e wake up call, and I beleive they will eventually win but not in 5 games as was predicted by someone who I won’t name. Coaching is the reason for the Bucks comeback victories. Scott Skile coached well But Mike Woodson not so much as he has made few adjustments after the first smack in the mouth by the Bucks. I believe woodson will make the neccassary adjustments and the Hawks will win this series.
sameoldsameold
April 27th, 2010
7:45 am
just because joe johnson doesn’t run his mouth and cry to the refs like all the other “stars” in the nba, don’t underestimate his value
whenever the offense slows down, the other hawks main play is to find joe and give him the ball
they would have lost this game by 35 without him
JOE BROWN YEAH YEAH
April 27th, 2010
7:52 am
3 WORDS (FIRE MIKE WOODSON) AFTER THIS SEASON. Bad choices in the drafts and coaching. FIRE MIKE WOODSON DON’T GIVE HIM ANY MORE CHANCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Billy D
April 27th, 2010
7:56 am
Only plus side of this game was Joe. Losing points:
- 4th quarter, Hawks within 6, have the momentum. Mo Evans misses 3 straight shots on 3 straight possessions. On the fourth MIL possession, they hit a 3. PASS THE BALL, MO!
- Jamal should hit open 3’s or attack the rim cause he’ll shoot free throws at the very least
- Box out!
- 4th quarter, JC guarding Jennings on the elbow with Delfino wide open in the corner 4 feet away. I even knew it was going to him and nobody closed out
- Refs need to stop blowing the whistle so much. It’s playoff basketball, let them play
Most aggravating loss of the season cause the Bucks did not play that well. The Hawks just sucked
Herschel Talker
April 27th, 2010
7:58 am
hahahahahaha The Hawks suck. hahahahahahahahaha
mountain_jim
April 27th, 2010
8:18 am
IMHO Mo Evans lost this game, as Billy D above described. 3-5 straight shots he missed, when we were finally getting defensive stops and had momentum and could have taken over the game right there in the 4th. And still he takes the critical 3 and misses it as well.
Kurt Flopper Thomas
April 27th, 2010
8:24 am
Kurt Thomas flopped all over the place last night. Someone tell me how can little Jamal Crawford or Mike Bibby can push down someone the size of Kurt Thomas; give me a break. I’m not saying it would have made a difference in the outcome, but come on! When in the NBA going to do something about this flopping?
Ezekiel
April 27th, 2010
8:35 am
The world champion LA Lakers with Kobe Bryant and all their tinsel are trailing, too. This often happens in the 1st round, a motivated underdog makes it interesting only to succumb in the end. No worries, yet.
governor404
April 27th, 2010
8:42 am
True Atl fans remember just 2 short seasons ago we were da pesky undeserving team low seed yada yada yada and we took boston to 7 games on their way to da championship, same thing last year 1st round houston takes kobe 2 7games on his way to the championship, look da bucks held serve nothing more nothing less.Talent and depth will win this series ultimately. I will say this I don’t know what the voters see in Josh Smith as the #2 defensive player but is he not the worse on ball defender around, his fundamentals are terrible only his freakish athletic abilities bail him out from time to time.
Atlanta is the only city the Union wishes stayed Confederate
April 27th, 2010
8:47 am
Technically… this is a “win” for the Hawks? Why? Because normally they get the snot beat out of them on the road in the post season… But other than that, it’s like Sir Charles said… the Hawks are pretenders.
Smith, is nothing but lazy. For all of his athleticism, he should be a guy we fear who could drop 35 to 40 on any given night instead of struggling to go 2 for 9 in a game? Same thing with Horford. While your front court as a whole is better than most teams, the best word to describe them is inconsistent. Just like superman… but superman has a deep and diverse team who make up for his inability to sink a free throw or consistently drop 12 points in a 4th quarter.
Slimm K
April 27th, 2010
8:52 am
1st, as much as i watch the hawks play on the road i see the same things happen. NO Defense!!! What happened to scoring in the paint?.. Where was the energy? Winning in the playoffs at home is easy when you got home-field. The REAL Championship contenders win on the Road and put teams away. I thought, and probably wasnt the only die hard hawks fan who felt we should win the series in 5 games. Honestly I gave em 4, yah a sweep.. I’m taking nothing away from Milwaukee, but we are the #3 seed in the east. Next round its Orlando. If the bucks take us to game 7, we won’t make it pass Orlando, look wat they did to Charlotte a sweep… Communication is key Hawks, we need some energy, block shots, monster dunks, rebounds, DEFENSE, and consistency. Really what are YOU, yes the Atlanta Hawks as a team going to do.. I’m hoping for Eastern Conf Finals… We know yall good at home, so what! Take the show on the road and prove to yourselves, the city of Atlanta, and the critics what the Hawks are in the playoffs for…
hatfieldgeoff
April 27th, 2010
8:55 am
The Hawks are so much better than 4 years ago, its easy to be satisfied. But while they are better they are no threat to win a championship. Orlando and Cleveland should not even be a thought. As they proved during the regular season the Hawks have no chance against either team. Against Milwaukee, the Hawks are much more talented but as Bradley says they don’t know how to use that talent to get the most out of their effort. Milwaukee could not get a rebound in games 1 & 2 yet in the last two games they have dominated the glass. The Hawks defense has given up inexplicable open layups to guards who drive around them and forwards cutting through the paint. Offensively they are settling for jumpers and 3-point shots because Milwaukee has made it more difficult to post up their big men, again I said “more difficult not impossible.” These things are the reasons they could not keep big leads in the first two games and they are the reasons they have lost games 3&4. Their is little passing. One pass to Joe Johnson and he then tries to dribble in the lane and shoot no thought of dishing the ball to someone else when the defense moves to him. They do the same to Josh Smith who simply does not have the ball skills to get to the basket starting that far away. Although the talent has been honed the team still lacks the cohension of a good offensive team. It still lacks the same thing it did 4 years ago, a point guard. Least we forget how glad we should be Billy Knight is gone, imagine this team with Chris Paul and no Marvin Williams. An imaginative guard using his quickness to drive the lane and then getting the ball to Smith, Horford for dunks and layins and out to Johnson, Bibby and Crawford for open 3’s. That team would have swept this series and would be a threat to Orlando and Cleveland. But they are what they are and Coach Woodson does not seem to know how to make the most it. Its time to find a new coach who can. Don’t sweat this series Hawks fans because win it or lose it. The next round ends it. Maybe the right off-season moves can give us hope for next year.
oldmike
April 27th, 2010
8:57 am
This game is a snapshot of every poor, dispirited, miserable effort the hawks put up over and over again. They can’t win playing that switching defense over and over again. Whatever happened to a simple man on man. How about JTeague on Jennings once in a while to slwo him down? I could care less if JJ goes and AWoody follows him out the door. I’d rather watch a team that knows how to share the ball and find the open man consistently than watch JJ isolate and stagnate the offense over and over and over. It gets sickening doean’t it? Who cares if they lose this series. If they win we’ll get towatch them humiliated by the Magic in a sweep and the whole season will be a waste. And then, there is the Braves. Yikes.
jfreak13713
April 27th, 2010
9:19 am
At what point do the Hawks begin to realize that this team as it is has a ceiling and that ceiling tops out in the regular season. From coaching to on the court leadership this team is not really built for a playoff run. I’m proud of the Hawks and I’ll sure take this team over the teams of the past but what gives? It would be different if they were playing good basketball but getting beat by better teams. They play bad basketball and get beat by lesser teams.
In my unprofessional opinion its time to shake things up. Goodbye Woody and Joe Johnson and hello Jeff Van Gundy and Chris Bosh!!
al tennis
April 27th, 2010
9:27 am
I share ryc view on MARVIN WILLIAMS. He has given us nothing in this series. He does not shoot the ball well from outside and he does not take advantage of his size by going to the rim like a man,to either dunk the ball or rebound.Please realize we are talking about a guy who is 6″9 and 260. Just watch dwayne wade violence in dunking the basketball,and he is much smaler than marvin.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 27th, 2010
9:37 am
I used to worry that the Hawks would relocate to another city.
Now I’d help load the moving vans and buy the damn gas.
Dick
April 27th, 2010
9:50 am
This team is the “tin man” of the NBA: no heart. When things get tough, they roll over. Whether that’s coaching, lack of leadership on the court, selfishness, etc., who knows. It’s very hard to root for a team that has shown such little character, that reverts to one-on-one basketball when things get tough. Even if they get past Milwaukee — which is no sure thing — they have absolutely no chance to get out of the next round without embarrassing themselves (although the way they often play, they appear to have no shame).
Melvin Flowers (Macon Georgia)
April 27th, 2010
9:50 am
Atlanta Fans Are To Quiet In The Arena. Some Time You Will Think You At A Funeral, At Times They Are To Sorry To Chant Defense.
The Main Part Is The Hawks Are To Sorry and Soft.
They Have No Heart What So Ever. The Coach Has No Control Of His Players.
The Hawks Are Finish
Bucks And Orlando Round (2).
Woody Will Need More Its Time To Fine A New Coaching Job.
Atlanta is the only city the Union wishes stayed Confederate
April 27th, 2010
9:53 am
Your biggest problem? Easy, your front court, while as a whole, is better than most team front court’s is lazy and inconsistent. There is no reason, with both Horford’s and Smith’s athleticism that they should not be able to put up 35 or 40 on a given night. But they can’t. Also, there is absolutely no reason for Smith to have some type of 3 point shot and be an awful free throw shooter. Face it, Smith is a buster.
Joey
April 27th, 2010
9:54 am
Mark, I think it’s closer to the truth to say Scott Skiles sliced Woody to confetti. I watched the game and the Hawks played hard.
The refs called a typically anti-Hawk game. I don’t know if it is the players, Woody, or the city of Atlanta that NBA officials don’t like, but it is something. A foul is called on any Hawk reaching in to strip the ball from a driving Buck. Go to the other end, Salmons slaps the arms, head, and neck of JJ and not a peep from any one of the three blind mice.
The Bill Laimbeer of his generation, Kurt Thomas, sets illegal screens, holds and elbows every Hawk that gets near, and to top it off, flops when any Hawk touches him back. Gets up grinning like he’s made a play. Disgusting. Laimbeer, Mahorn, Thomas and those dispicable Pistons led me to quit watching the NBA in the 90s, and Thomas is about to get me to that point again.
Go to the other end of the court and Al gets called for illegal picks, while moving his feet LESS than Thomas was 20 seconds before!
Woody can’t coach, not a lick. But he had the Hawks playing hard. 5 players can’t beat 8. Ever.
jay dawg
April 27th, 2010
10:00 am
AVERY JOHNSON! AVERY JOHNSON! AVERY JOHNSON!
Hawks = Roadkill
April 27th, 2010
10:05 am
Face it, Horford and Smith, while a solid front court are lazy. There is no reason, with their athleticism they cannot drop 40 on any given night. But they can’t. Also, you need to get rid of Smith. A power forward who practices 3’s because he wants the glitz of hitting from down town but still struggles to hit 70% from the free throw line? Unacceptable. Why pay someone so much who clearly doesn’t have their priorities straight?
Mom2KidsDog
April 27th, 2010
10:09 am
Josh Smith now knows he can get a tasty beatdown at the corner of 4th and State anytime he visits Milwaukee.
Hawks < Roadkill
April 27th, 2010
10:09 am
Get real folks, Horford and Smith, while a solid front court are lazy. There is no reason, with their athleticism they cannot drop 40 on any given night. But they can’t. Also, you need to get rid of Smith. A power forward who practices 3’s because he wants the glitz of hitting from down town but still struggles to hit 70% from the free throw line? Unacceptable. Why pay someone so much who clearly doesn’t have their priorities straight?
ChitownBrian
April 27th, 2010
10:11 am
Again I spend lots of $$$ to go see my Hawks in Milwaukee and THEY DON’T SHOW UP!!!! I show up ready to cheer the hawks on and I never get to cheer to whole time. I’ve been a hawks fan for over 20 yrs, going to every game they play in chicago or milwaukee and before I would expect that type of showing from them but NOT ANYMORE!!!! Kurt Thomas was the reason the HAWKS LOST last night! Sounds funny but in the 3rd and 4th qtr he did so many things for the bucks! He’s the 2nd oldest player in the NBA!!!! Yes he big but come on, al should be able to take him to the hoop. Don’t try and bang him cause he bigger! Use your speed! I wore my smoove jersey thiking he would show up cause of the game 3 he had. Yes he had 20 points but most of them were Jump shots! All of us hawks fans DON’T WANT JOSH SHOOTING JUMP SHOTS! Lazy on the D, if the bucks scored he would blame somebody everytime! I LOVE HIM BUT WHY CAN’T HE PLAY LIKE HE DOES AT HOME ON THE ROAD?????????????? We need to finish this series ASAP! Orlando is waiting. If the bucks are shooting this well what is orlando going to do to us??
BOTTOM LINE, Hawks Please grow up and take care of business!!! What happened to the highlight factory??????????????? I did not see 1 highlight for the hawks in the 2 games I went to!!! SAD HAWKS FAN
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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April 27th, 2010
1:24 pm
[...] Hawks haven’t grown up and now they’re in trouble, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mark Bradley The Buzz: The Hawks are a totally different team at home [...]
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.
Ballin’: Bobcats Swept Out of the Playoffs (and Larry Brown Out of Charlotte?) | Fitness Talk Today Idiom
April 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
[...] 104, Milwaukee 111: Bit of a puzzling loss for the Hawks, who let the Bucks tie the series and now must play at least two more games while the Magic will [...]
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.
The Hawks haven't grown up, and now they're in trouble | Mark Bradley Contact
April 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
[...] the rest here: The Hawks haven't grown up, and now they're in trouble | Mark Bradley Trouble with FTP – cPanel Forums3 Ways to Bounce Back From Money Trouble – Healthy Living – [...]
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.
Atlanta Hawks - Page 39 - iSTORYA.NET
April 28th, 2010
4:03 am
[...] [...]
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!