Live from Game 5: Do the Hawks have an answer for Bango?
Seeking to one-up a deer, Joe Johnson shoots from the bench. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Big game. Lots of pressure. If the Hawks lose tonight, they probably lose the series. But enough gloom and doom. Let’s talk about Bango.
Bango is the Milwaukee Bucks’ mascot. He — and I believe he’s a he — wears a deer costume. He’s not what you’d call intimidating. (When last did you see a scary deer?) But Bango did become the biggest Internet sensation of the NBA playoffs with a feat performed in Game 4 on Monday.
During a timeout, Bango climbed up a 20-foot ladder and, with his back to the basket, jumped off and dunked the ball. The Bradley Center crowd went Bango-ballistic, and even the Hawks took note. “That,” Joe Smith pronounced before tonight’s Game 5, “was sweet.”
And here’s my challenge to the Hawks: Last year Philips Arena produced a playoff star in Spirit the Hawk, who flew rampant before Game 2 of Round 1 against Miami and became so famous that he — the bird himself informed me in a Tweet that he was a he — had his own Twitter postings. But Spirit has been strangely quiet this time.
I say, on the behalf of Hawks fans everywhere, it’s time to unleash the fury. Un-tether Spirit and let him dunk the ball from the rafters. This is the postseason. Gotta bring your mascot’s A-game.
Oh, about Game 5 itself: You all know what’s at stake. So do the Hawks. They seem ready, and they’d better be. Lose tonight and Bango could easily sky-slam them into the floorboards Friday in Milwaukee.
And with that, we’ll open the floor for questions, comments and your favorite anecdotes about dunkin’ deer. I’ll be here until the Hawks have taken a 3-2 lead in the series — yes, I think they’ll win, but I’ve been wrong rather recently — and I’d love to have you alongside.
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736 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:59 pm
Put it this way: They won’t have a prayer against anybody if they’re eliminated by Milwaukee.
i_am_soulstar
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
can’t believe i’m saying this, but give the ball to Marvin!!!! He’s got the hot hand, don’t let it get cold
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
OK, put up or shut up time for the guys in the fourth. Smart basketball should win this one for the Hawks. No 5 minute scoring lapses please.
Dave
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
Where is the Thrashers playoff blog?
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:01 pm
Biggest quarter of the season.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
Mo Evans follows his miss. Ten point lead.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Joe misses badly. Lousy trip there. Had a chance to go up a dozen.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Joe dribbles the ball 38 times and then shoots an air ball from 10 feet
buddy c
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
Hey Mark…..Thats what I mean by mental toughness! They don’t know how to put people away……Think where this series would be if the bucks had Bogut!
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
Mbah a Moute gets stripped by Joe in the lane. Falls on the ball and calls time.
Bucks with 61 points. They had 111 in Game 4.
More variety Steve
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
Are we saying Joe just Troy Glaused it?
i_am_soulstar
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
Me: play smarter Joe.
Joe: my bad, i usually make those
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
Ridnour tough jumper over Horford.
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
MB, I agree that the type of scoring wasn’t what you’d want out of Josh in terms of shot selection, but he was 7 of 11 on a night when we had no offensive rhythm overall. The guards weren’t exactly forcing the inside game like you’d want them to, and like they are doing more of tonight…so far.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
Jennings misses a layup. Josh dunks at the other end. Up 10.
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
J-SMOOVE!!!!! That dunk was sick!!!!
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
When does the Ringling Brother need Phillips? I bet they can move that date up a few weeks now.
Tweets that mention Live from Game 5: Do the Hawks have an answer for Bango? | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
April 28th, 2010
10:06 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, ajc sports editor. ajc sports editor said: Hawks up 3 as second half begins. http://bit.ly/9WJrHA [...]
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:07 pm
Stackhouse with free throws after the TO. Hawks up eight, 8:39 to go.
L-town
April 28th, 2010
10:07 pm
evans said he will opt out and is playing like it
truthspitter
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
why is Mo Evans in the game?
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
but Mark, willl the Hawks win?
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
FYI – Braves still have zero runs
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
The Hawks will win.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
Here come the Bucks…make the FT’s and they are down 6 with 8 and a half to go. Time for the Hawks to start standing around and shooting 20 foot jumpers as the shot clock expires…problem is Joe and Jamal haven’t been making those tonight.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:10 pm
Stackhouse makes both. Six point lead.
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Wow… really Jamal?
L-town
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
wtf crawford
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Horford blocks Salmons. Big stop.
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Cards up by 6.
Spitting in the graveyard
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
this is serious bizness they better win,you think this is a game? oh wait
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
I’m a believer in your prognostications.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Joe scores on a drive.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
Horford block. Williams block. Shot clock violation.
bobo
April 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
Good D
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:14 pm
Don’t jinx this MB
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
Eight ahead, 6:49 to go.
Jesse
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
Woody says the right things, “need to play defense, rebound the basketball and share the ball” but the issue is whether or not the players listen to him. He has plenty of basketball knowledge, but do the players respond to him… and I think not.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
I have a good feeling about tonight. (I also had a good feeling two nights ago.)
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:15 pm
I’m afraid that the Hawks have as much a chance in the playoffs as Mettenberger has at starting at Georgia.
L-town
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
the braves are a joke…they will never be good again unless they start making big off season moves i mean you cant depend on a rookie in hayword to carry this team
show me state
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
Hey mark, i like ur confidence in this hawks team….even tho i still believe their not showing their full potential 2nite….they are doing da littlest things to make da difference in da game….and their defensive effort is outstanding….keep it up…get this win….Go Hawks!!
i_am_soulstar
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
keep up that good D Hawks
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
I think you are right in that the Hawks are more talented. But they dont seem to have the killer instinct to put inferior opponents away.
Jesse
April 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
If the Braves are a joke, focus on the Hawks game….
Spitting in the graveyard
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
doomsday clock is ticking,favor for or a’gin woody removal
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Terrible. Joe throws the inbounds pass away.
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
the Braves wont be anything until Mr Blank buys them.
L-town
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
lol turnover out of a timeout
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Joe or Jamal: feel free to show up any time before the end of this game. WE NEED YOU!