A chilling thought: What happens if the Hawks DON’T win?
The legendary Dan Gadzuric exults after scoring. Josh Smith says, "Gadzooks." (AP photo)
Milwaukee — I don’t think they’re going to lose, but you probably shouldn’t listen to me. I didn’t think the Bucks would win more than one game, and I believed the Hawks would answer the Game 3 embarrassment with Game 4 atonement. And they did play much better. But they lost again, and in many ways that’s more troubling than anything that happened in Game 3.
The Hawks should be at peak capacity. They’re young but playoff-seasoned. They have two All-Stars plus Josh Smith plus Jamal Crawford, who will be named the NBA’s sixth man of the year this afternoon. They spent last summer retaining and augmenting a core that reached Round 2 in 2009, and they won 53 games this season. They should be poised to go even further this time. But what if they lose to the Bucks?
“It’s a three-game series now,” Mike Bibby said late Monday night. “You never want to go to a Game 7. We let them back in it.”
The Hawks stopped defending in Games 3 and 4. They yielded 107 points Saturday, 111 Monday. Billy Knight’s grand design — draft a bunch of tall guys who can defend any position — was put to rout by the smaller Bucks, who ran their guards off high screens and forced bigger Hawks to chase them.
The signature moment of Game 4 was Al Horford, an All-Star center, trying to defend Brandon Jennings, who’s the quickest guy in the league. The result: Another Jennings drive, another Jennings runner, another ego-deflating basket off penetration. The Bucks, whose center hasn’t played a minute, outscored the taller Hawks 44-26 in the lane.
Josh Smith finished second in the voting for defensive player of the year, but up here he forgot all about textbook rotation: He was slow closing on 3-point shooters in both games. And the killing trey Monday came from Carlos Delfino, left open in the corner because Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ best player, didn’t run to him after the Hawks tried to trap with their halfcourt run-and-jump.
The rule of thumb is that teams defend better in the playoffs because they’re desperate. The Hawks have shattered that concept. They’ve been wrong-footed at every turn, and now they have to win Game 5 on Wednesday just to keep from facing elimination at the Bradley Center on Friday. Five days ago this didn’t seem much of a competition. On Monday, even Mike Woodson was moved to note: “We’ve got ourselves a series now.”
Bibby: “They’re playing good right now. They’ve got a great coach. They’ve played us tough. They’re fighting.”
Of those four sentences, how many apply to the Hawks? Woodson has been through the playoffs and taken an NBA title as a Detroit assistant, but he hasn’t gotten a better team — and the Hawks are clearly more talented — to lock in the way Scott Skiles has. In Games 3 and 4 the Bucks kept finding open shots, while the Hawks approached every position as a degree-of-difficulty challenge.
Afterward one Hawk was heard to wonder why Mo Evans, not known as a scorer, wound up shooting (and missing) on three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions with the Bucks’ lead down to six points. There’s no answer except to say: That’s what the Hawks do. When in doubt, they don’t look for the open man; they look to shoot. And that’s always the harder way.
“I definitely think we’ll win [the series],” Johnson said. “We’ve been pretty good at home. But we can’t bank on that.”
The greater point: At this stage in their development, the Hawks shouldn’t have to be bailed out by their homecourt. They’re the No. 3 seed. They should be able to take a game on the road. But they gave a better account of themselves in Game 4 and still trailed the final 39 minutes.
And now we must ask: What if they lose the series that appeared a walkover? Their coach’s contract expires in June. Their best player is set to become a free agent. We all cheered when they re-upped Bibby and Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia last summer, but the cold truth is that Bibby is much diminished and Zaza is Zaza and Marvin is the Hawks’ sixth-best player.
Say they lose in Round 1. Do they break the bank to keep Johnson? Do they hand the team back to Woodson? If not, then to whom? Do they turn the leadership of this team over to Josh Smith and Al Horford? How much backsliding would that entail?
Me, I really don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think this is as good as it’s going to get for these Hawks. Because this isn’t good enough.
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288 comments Add your comment
Unknown source
April 27th, 2010
10:59 pm
MIKE WOODSON TO PHILADELPHIA? WTF
The most persistent report is that Woodson could wind up as Philadelphia’s coach, which is based on Larry Brown leaving Charlotte to become the 76ers’ general manager. Brown has denied that he’s planning to leave the Bobcats.
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/27/hawks.woodson.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2
Bill
April 27th, 2010
10:59 pm
Hawks and Braves need new blood running the TEAM..New Coach for Hawks and New mgr for Braves.
GT Fan
April 27th, 2010
11:01 pm
Please take PAUL HEWITT with you. Fire the @#$%%$#@
@ReanuKeeves
April 27th, 2010
11:33 pm
Bottom line is the same as always–if we lose a SINGLE home game, we won’t win a series. That does NOT a competitor make.
Reid Adair
April 27th, 2010
11:33 pm
None of Mike Bibby’s four simple statements applies to the Hawks right now.
There is no player who will step up and lead this team, and Coach Woodson is failing miserably at doing so when it matters most.
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
11:44 pm
FEAR THE DEER
corrina252
April 27th, 2010
11:46 pm
Dear whiny atlanta hawks fans,
please tell me what there is to do in atlanta that you can´t do in milwaukee.
UGAKev
April 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
To those that get on to us fans at bashing the hawks heart and effort and calling for heads just because the lakers struggled on the road. Well the lakers have won how many championships?? The lakers have to fight themselves to stay motivated. How many championships have the hawks won?? There should be no problem being motivated as an atlanta hawk player. It makes me sick to see… I was going to go watch the game tomorrow but I thought if they are not giving effort then why should I give effort to ride an hour and a half from columbus to watch them. They show me some effort and win this series and I will be at every home game in the orlando series.
UGAKev
April 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
corrina252 start with the women in atlanta…that would keep a man busy for eternity
Harpie
April 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Mike Woodson is an IDIOT!!!!!!
Harpie
April 28th, 2010
12:00 am
Mike Woodson sucks!!!!
BONE
April 28th, 2010
12:01 am
LOL ADD THE HUNDREDS OF MALLS, AMUSEMENT PARKS, MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS, CELEBS WHO LIVE HERE, TBS TNT CNN FOX NEWS AND ALL OTHER THINGS LOCATED IN ATLANTA, WORLDS LARGEST AIRPORT, JUST TO NAME A FEW…….WHAT DOES MILTOWN HAVE? UMM DEER AND DIRT ROADS?
truthspitter
April 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Bucks are jokes and the Hawks are known to choke, someone give me a smoke
truthspitter
April 28th, 2010
12:19 am
corrina252 : u cant continue to lick my butthole in Mil
racerx
April 28th, 2010
12:30 am
ok. Reality check. Reading a lot about the ifs Redd Bogut.
If bogut was playing, team would match up better and beat bucks in 4-5.
If bogut playing, Bucks would be winners in 4-5. Doesnt matter. Not the case. I have said before that if the bucks didnt lose Bogut, Bucks would be playing Boston as the 5th seed. Hawks would beat miami in 4-5 and have to play cleveland. But lets just say Bogut is there and teams are still playing each other. The only way to utilize matchups is for the coach to put players in the proper places and for the players to execute as a team. In Skiles, the bucks have a coach that moves the pieces around when something doesnt work and the players all buy into it and make the moves successful. Thats the difference. Yes. A lot of no name players….but total team concept win or lose.
End result….hawks win game 5 big. Bucks at best pull out game 6.
Hawks win game 7 and both teams are to tired to do anything beyond. For the bucks…it is a good learning experience for a team that was expected to be the second worst in the league(wow..22-8 though last 30).
For the Hawks, Status quo. While Hawks fans are down because they cannot seem to win a game on the road, neither have the bucks, although a lot less chances, still the same results.
Unknown source
April 28th, 2010
1:00 am
Why The F*ck would anyone Fear Bambi?
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
1:01 am
has anyone asked Woody why he hasn’t used Mario or Teague? We need to ask Woody questions on his rotation because it sucks.
And this switching on P&R is BS too
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
1:02 am
USE FREAKING MARIO OR TEAGUE ON JENNINGS AND MAYBE PUT MARIO ON SALMONS IF NOT MO
DO NOT PLAY MARVIN
JESUS
Unknown source
April 28th, 2010
1:06 am
Send Marvin to the D league pronto!!!!!!!!
Thekid2kill
April 28th, 2010
1:13 am
Marvin sucks, he needs to stop taking jumpers and attack the rim instead.
Make yourself useful Marvin!!!
Tj
April 28th, 2010
1:17 am
2004 We took took Josh Childress instead of Jameer Nelson, Kevin Martin, Luol Deng. But the hawks Drafted josh smith with the 17th pick so that was a big steal.
2005 We took Marvin williams instead of Chris Paul or Deron Williams.
2006 We took Shelden Williams instead of Brandon roy, Rudy Gay or Rajon Rondo.
2007 we took Acie Law ahead of Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Brooks, but the hawks got the second best player in the 2007 draft, we took Al Horford with the 3rd pick.
2009 we took Jeff Teague ahead of Darren Collison and Taj Gibson
I wish we could re-do this sh!t.
racerx
April 28th, 2010
1:49 am
Dawg dominance
“This is a logical question for milwaukee fans, Why build yourselves up just to let yourselves down? What makes you laugh will make you cry. It’s all about who has the last laugh, so be eazy. You people are only setting yourselves up for an embarrassing failure, just like your city. Lay off the brewery and come back to reality. Silly Mortals”
Wow. How about that. We are realists. We realize we are not as good of a team. We realize the bucks havent been to the playoffs in years and are excited about the improvement. Seems every hawks fan felt this should be over in 4 yet 6 is the minimum. We realize this team was picked to be the worst to second worst in the league. We lost our best player, and are still excited to be able to watch basketball. So, while you can laugh at the end of the round with a win, we know we accomplished a lot more than the year before and have faith that we have one of the best coaches and gms in the game now. Will you still be laughing 4-5 games in the second round after you are eliminated? Knowing your team hasnt progressed?
As for the people that complain about milwaukee fans being here, goto jsonline to read your faithful personell blogs. I am here because of roots to both and have tried to keep things real. Hawks win with talent, bucks build with better coach and experience. When constantly told we wouldnt see a game 5, nice to know I can use my Game 6 tickets to watch my 2 favoriote teams. One that hopefully can go somewhere this year, but probably not, and one that can keep improving over the next few.
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
8:30 am
I have a friend who ran into Stackhouse this summer (Stack lives in Atlanta) and Stack told him and he wanted to play for the Hawks and begged them to sign him and it could not have been for more than a ham sandwich and we didn’t. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF THAT IS A TRUE STORY OR NOT?…it sure sounds like it is true?
the buck almost stop here
April 28th, 2010
8:56 am
Lets see wonder if Game is sold out Not again the normal Fan is gettin fed up like Braves after blowin games n titles in 1999 n chokin in wild card games n a lucky chance help arizona win there only WS title.Bobby cox good remember he help fla marlins win 2 WS when he was here till he retired in 2010 We hope.So look for 11,456 at phillips arena with malox to use after game.
Hawker
April 28th, 2010
9:36 am
The bucks aren’t that good—the hawks should win the next two and finish this series. But, they’ll probably go out in 4 or 5 in round 2. Woodson will probably threaten to take the philly job and get a big raise, meaning more mediocrity in the years to come.
dangerousdan88.5
April 28th, 2010
9:59 am
Woody must go if they do not win this series. He has the players, but doesn’t rotate or play his big bench guys. Steve Smith predicting sweep and Josh Smith saying – there is “nothing to do In Milwaukee didn’t help. I know superstars do not make good coaches but I would love to see what Dominique could do with this team. He said the Hawks should use Joe Smith and Jason Collins on Dwight Howard so Al Horford doesn’t get in early foul trouble. He’s right.I hope the Hawks get the chance to play Orlando.
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
10:37 am
WHY IS ASG CONSIDERING GIVING WOODY A CHEAP CONTRACT? DO NOT GIVE HIM ANYTHING — HE SUCKS. LET HIM GO ROT IN PHILLY WITH ELTON BRAND AND OVERPAID ANDRE IGUODALA
corrina252
April 28th, 2010
11:31 am
Wow, am I getting a laugh reading all the negativity the crappy atlanta fans write about their team. The bucks got smoked in the first 2 games, are missing their best player, and we were still positive about our team and had the Bradley Center rocking. No wonder the reputation of atlanta fans is so lousy, you guys are a bunch of bitches. FEAR THE DEER.
corrina252
April 28th, 2010
11:34 am
I am still waiting to here from you bozos what there is to do in atlanta a person couldnt do in milwaukee, beside being such terrible sports fans.
PS hey, mark bradley, being new to your columns i didnt even know who you were but after reading some of your diatribes i am shocked at how pedestrian your columns are. i thought the sports columnists up in milwaukee were bad but they blow your arrogant ass away.
JuniorBridgeman
April 28th, 2010
11:54 am
I wish we could trade Marvin for a HAM SANDWICH. Marvin’s probably not even worth that much.
jc_dawgs
April 28th, 2010
11:58 am
Teams normally feed off there home crowd and they thereby play better at home. However….this Hawks team is a more extreme case of good at home…bad on the road.
I especially see this on the defensive side of the ball. There were a ton of instances where the Bucks would get wide open looks at the basket and simple layups due to a lack of defensive energy by the Hawks. It’s like night and day when they are at home as compared to being on the road.
They had better win tonight’s game or they are in serious trouble of getting knocked out in the 1st rnd…because quite frankly….I can’t see this team winning any games on the road with the lack of energy that I am seeing.
Miltown
April 28th, 2010
2:47 pm
This series has been flip. The Bucks are just playing with the Hawks. Next stop: Orlando.
irishmafia116
April 28th, 2010
3:37 pm
Main problem with this team (other than the more than useless coach) is they are not very bright, in other words they have a bunch of players who aren’t the sharpest stick in the pile. Go figure -look at them!–Also they have no desire ,been shown again and again over the last few years ,they are getting paid so they show up thats about it. They are pretenders not contenders. You would think with all the high draft picks and all stars on the team they could earn some respect –but they are not anyones favorite team -well maybe the Bucks-
Booby knight and anyone associated with him sucks
April 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
Woodson has got to go. He routinely gets out coached in the playoffs. Besides his lack of half-court strategy, he has no sense of urgency in his coaching style and it has rubbed off on the Hawks players.
Woodson career record as head coach –206-286 .416 which includes the last two years big winning seasons -worst in NBA history for any coach with over 300 games nuff said
Miltown
April 28th, 2010
11:56 pm
told you….
Dahlia
April 29th, 2010
10:29 pm
The Hawks are the biggest laughingstock west of Athens. Enough said.
BucksFan
April 30th, 2010
9:25 am
Fear the Deer!
dee
April 30th, 2010
11:20 am
Let Joe choke johnson go and get a free agent break the bank for Carmelo Anthony and get a center and get rid of Marvin Williams who is garbage Please Get A center for Al Horford SO he Can go Back to the 4 and smith to the 3 Get rid of the coach let the hawks run and gun they are young get rid of Randolph,West And COllins Please break the bank for Carmelo he is ready to leave denver.