The Hawks unleash one of the epic collapses in Atlanta annals
Here's one picture. It's worth several hundred million words. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
This was the Falcons blowing the lead against Danny White and Dallas in January 1981. This was Mark Wohlers hanging the slider to Jim Leyritz in October 1996. Only it wasn’t. It was worse.
Those opponents were top-class. The Hawks just blew a 13-point lead and probably a playoff series to Milwaukee, which is a No. 6 seed missing its All-Star center. They trail 3-2 in a series they led 2-0. They face elimination on the road, a place they’ve won once in 11 tries over the past three postseasons.
Yeah, theoretically they could still pull this out, but how can you win in the Bradley Center when you can’t hold a nine-point lead inside the final four minutes with the series lead on the line? How can you put this colossal choke — I hate that word, but it applies here — behind you?
Up nine, and here’s what happened: Josh Smith missed a dunk by hitting the ball on the underside of the backboard; Jamal Crawford short-armed a layup, the first of his five misses down the stretch; the Hawks watched as Ersan Ilyasova grabbed every loose ball and Joe Johnson fouled out on a charge. Nine points up with 3:55 left, the Hawks saw the lead disappear in 116 seconds.
I say again: One hundred sixteen seconds.
There are no excuses for this game, this series. The team with the better players is the one with one foot out the exit door. The Bucks have two chances to win once. The Hawks are down to their final shot.
“We had control of the game,” Mike Woodson said. “We let it get away.”
Then this: “It’s still a seven-game series. We’re going to see what we’re made of.”
We may already have seen it. We may have seen a team of splendid resources hit its ceiling. The Hawks win because they’re talented, but talent hasn’t been enough against a smarter and more dogged opponent. If anything, talent has undone itself. The Hawks have played into the Bucks’ hands for three games now, and there seems no end in sight. The Bucks are now believers; the Hawks really aren’t sure what they are anymore.
“All winning basketball plays,” Woodson said of the two offensive rebounds claimed by Ilyasova that spawned five immense points, the final three coming on a corner trey by Carlos Delfino that put the Bucks ahead by four. But why can’t Woodson’s men make those plays? Why does everything always come down to Joe Johnson, and why, with Iso-Joe rendered inoperative this crucial night, did nobody have a clue? (Unless hoisting a jump shot is having a clue.) This isn’t supposed to be a one-man team, but right now it’s not playing like a team at all.
Said Milwaukee’s splendid Brandon Jennings: “When Joe Johnson went out of the game, I thought we had a chance.”
Nine points up, four minutes left. Four minutes from a 3-2 series lead. Four minutes that will live in infamy on the long list of Atlanta sports collapses. Four minutes that could lead to the dismantling of this roster and perhaps the dismissal of this coach. Four unbelievable minutes.
Really, though, how unbelievable were they? The Hawks blew a fat lead here against Dallas, nearly blew one against Orlando last month. They’re known as the team that can fall to pieces if you keep applying pressure, and on this wretched night they lived down to that sorry reputation. They wasted a lead that should have been safe and are positioned to lose a series that should already have been won.
Technically the Hawks haven’t yet been eliminated. But it sure feels that way.
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414 comments Add your comment
TS
April 29th, 2010
1:12 am
Skiles has owned Woodson in this series.
tom
April 29th, 2010
1:16 am
The Hawks need to forfiet the next game and end without all the bad press they are going to get. If they can’t beat the Bucks they certainly cannont win against Orlando or anyone else. Even they get lucky and luck is all they can count on at this point, they will lose game seven. Time for the coach to find another home where execution is the norm. See ya next season guys.
braves choke again
April 29th, 2010
1:18 am
Everybody has pretty much covered it. The Hawks are mentally weak, have inferior coaching, and are the DUMBEST basketball team I’ve EVER seen. It’s time to BLOWUP the roster. Just wasted five years…time to rebuild. Dump Bibby, Marvin, and JJ. Fire Woodson. Josh could be a player if he had a coach and a veteran floor leader who would chew on his butt once a game. Horford is the real deal. Build around him.
Hawks < Roadkill
April 29th, 2010
1:19 am
So, just out of curiosity… as a Hawks fan…
How did it feel when your team sqandered a double digit lead?
How did you feel when you saw Smith brilliantly fire up a 3 when the Hawks were down by one?
How did you feel when you felt there was no chance the Bucks could win the series and now it’s a win or go home situation? Oh, don’t forget the fact that you’ve demonstrated that not only are you excellent at losing on the road, you can also accomplish it at home!!
I can’t believe all you sissies saying that you need to rough up our guards to keep them out of the paint… how did that work for yah? Ask Zaza!!
Phillip
April 29th, 2010
1:21 am
Even if we find a way to win the next 2 games there is no way we will beat Orlando. This team has no doubt reached its ceiling. We have still have a huge hole at PG (Mike Bibby is now a backup PG and the coach didnt bother to develop his predecessor this year). If you follow the Hawks closely you know the opposing PG always his way against the Hawks. The Bucks are a one man show talent wise but that one man is a PG, the rest of their team just looks hungrier and much more well coached than us. Its time to let Woody and JJ go and see if we can construct a more balanced roster (find a real tough as nails Center and develop Teague or find a play making PG who can play some defense).
Mafia
April 29th, 2010
1:27 am
Roadkill, 2 games left and you’re already talking like it’s over. By the way, everyone thinks of deer when you say roadkill.
LC
April 29th, 2010
1:28 am
Even though Gearon wouldn’t talk to MC tonight, everybody should go back and read some of these gem answers from him last week, http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/04/19/atlanta-hawks-asgs-michael-gearon-jr-talks-hawks/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks.
He actually has the nerve to compare this team to the celtics team with Bird, McHale, Parrish, and Ainge. What a freaking idiot. Why are ATL fans so tortured.
Joe
April 29th, 2010
1:30 am
How can we keep Woody after this series. HE HAS TO BE FIRED!!! We have made ATL a city of losers. Any other team in the NBA would fire this guy, but no our ownership….maybe empty arenas and no decent free agents will be the answer. Its a shame to have so much talent and no heart. It starts with the lack of coaching. Bring on Avery Johnson!!! If Doc Rivers leave Boston, we better have him on the phone quick!! FIRE WOODY!!!
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
1:33 am
Every freaking game Woody’s biggest contribution to the team is to stand there on the sideline for 48 minutes with that stupid look of bewilderment on his face. That ain’t coaching.
Pro Sports Are BS
April 29th, 2010
1:33 am
Series is FIXED you idiots!
The series isn’t over till it’s over.
April 29th, 2010
1:35 am
Chill Atlanta, Hawks will win in game six and they’ll force a game 7!
Hawks < Roadkill
April 29th, 2010
1:37 am
@Mafia
Here’s the thing, noone in either city actually thought Milwaukee could win this game. I mean, it was granted this series would go to seven games because Atlanta can’t win on the road. Now, instead of 7 games, your team has guaranteed 6 games which means Stern gets less money from this series and he is mad. Very mad at Atlanta.
Yes, this series is over. And so is the next one, even if somehow, Atlanta does win the next two. Bucks or Hawks would get raped by the Magic plain and simple. They are the team to go through in the East, not the Cavs.
Joe Johnson Choke Artist
April 29th, 2010
1:47 am
Even though Gearon Jr. wouldn’t talk to MC tonight, everybody should go back and read some of these gem answers from him last week, http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/04/19/atlanta-hawks-asgs-michael-gearon-jr-talks-hawks/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks.
He actually has the nerve to compare this team to the celtics team with Bird, McHale, Parrish, and Ainge. What a freaking idiot. Why are ATL fans so damn tortured.
Hope for the best not for the worst.
April 29th, 2010
1:48 am
Anything is possible.
you saw it today the bucks defeated the hawks in atlanta.
so lets hope the hawks can win at Milwaukee so we can force a game 7!!!
http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac304…
A loser becomes careless when he’s ahead and bitter when he’s behind!
Never let your head hang down.NEVER GIVE UP AND SIT DOWN AND GRIEVE.Find another way to get a win.
The series isn’t over till it’s over.
Mitchell
April 29th, 2010
1:48 am
Those opponents were top-class…
You mean the Yankees who hadn’t won a World Series in nearly twenty year and had been pretty much crap in the meantime vs. the Atlanta Braves in their fourth World Series in five years?
The Yankees may always be the Yankees, they can never really be an underdog, but the Braves were better and they choked.
Lot of coaches of lots of teams in this city that should be run out of town.
MilwaukeeAdam
April 29th, 2010
1:49 am
Hawks playing like Doves and the Bucks playing like Men. Don’t cry, dry your eyes Hawk fan! If Milwaukee is an armpit then Atlanta is the smelly butt crack!
ktkof08
April 29th, 2010
1:58 am
Yeah I didn’t see this happening at all. The problem for the Bucks is that they really NEED to win in Milwaukee because I doubt they’d win a game 7. How about Smith stop worrying about what he’s going to do when he’s in Milwaukee and just worry about winning a game! Maybe he should start with that.
Oh, and the few d bags ripping on Milwaukee because the Hawks lost… honestly get a fricken life! Nobody likes a sore loser so just grow up!!!
Just Saying
April 29th, 2010
2:02 am
Bad news is we are about to be embarrassed in first round of playoffs.
Good news is Woodson will be gone and Hawks can get a coach in here next season that will take this team to the next level. So it is kind of a victory losing this series. Thank you Bucks!
UGAKev
April 29th, 2010
2:05 am
WE NEED DWAYNE WADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO WHAT IT TAKES HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERY GAME WILL BE SOLD OUT AND HE HAS MORE HEART THAN OUR WHOLE TEAM
tree rollins
April 29th, 2010
2:06 am
Hawks showed their true colors tonight. Joe Johnson will be gone after the season. Woodson may be right behind him. Crawford shows he’s too nervous to contribute anything in the playoffs. This should have been there year but wasn’t. Now without JJ next year it’s back to the drawing board.
falcons pick(ed) spoon
April 29th, 2010
2:10 am
Great joke Milwaukee Adam. You sre showing why people stay away from Milwaukee in the first place. Regardless, we have the better team your coach is just beating the s*** out of ours.
Tweets that mention The Hawks unlease one of the epic collapses in Atlanta annals | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
April 29th, 2010
2:13 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, ReidAdair. ReidAdair said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: The Hawks unlease one of the epic collapses in Atlanta annals http://bit.ly/ajN11x [...]
MilwaukeeAdam
April 29th, 2010
2:23 am
Milwaukee, a Great place on Great Lake. ATL, Hotlanta? A city full of fair weather fans. The Buzzards are dead!
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
2:35 am
To all the people out there with very short memory spans, so J.J. had a bad game tonight, it’s not like he has them very often. And for someone who is always accused of being a ball hog, it’s kind of funny how many games he will lead the team in assists.
It’s not Joe’s fault if he has a coach who only has one play in his playbook called the Iso-Joe. You can generally count on J.J. for at least 25 points and a lot of assists almost every game. If he leaves this summer then the Hawks are in a world of hurt because the ASG still wouldn’t have the cash to sign a LeBron or D. Wade – not that they would come here anyway.
BucksFann5302
April 29th, 2010
2:36 am
I am a Bucks fan who had the misfortune of missing tonights game. But I must say that I am impressed by most of the peoples comments on this board. You have shown me that as a fan a tough loss can be painful but you didn’t put my team down to much, but any misgivings about them is warrented. They are not the most talented team in the league but they know how to win, and that starts from the top down, from the Owner, Gm,Coach, to the Players, they all play a pivotal roll to sucess. I’m not saying that the bucks will win but as a fan who has not been in your position for a long time, I’m just happy to be here and we’ll see what happens. We lose we still win just getting this far. Again thank you for being so kind, I think,I’ve just read the first page.
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
2:40 am
If Milwaukee is such a Great place, Milwaukee Adam, then why does most of the city smell like a freaking urinal, especially the Bradley Center?
Big Ray
April 29th, 2010
2:44 am
This series is indeed not officially over. But even if the Hawks win, how can there be anything but an expectation for change?
Joe Johnson’s future is solely in his and his agent’s hands. The Hawks can offer him the max all they want, but does he want to stay here? What would his decision depend upon, besides money? How does he feel about Woody?
How about the Hawks? Some say we have no choice but to try and re-sign him. Okay, so what if we aren’t successful, then what? Does anybody think this through, or do you only have respect for JJ and nobody else in the organization? We have nothing else to build on?
We need to extend a max contract to a guy who choked as hard as anybody in this loss, moreso than our third year center who is really a PF?
Wow…
Josh Smith-Wisconsin tourism director
April 29th, 2010
2:45 am
This series isn’t over. I’m from Milwaukee…reading this just to get a different perspective. A few things I’ll comment on. First, a lot of people have said it…but Skiles is kicking Woodson’s behind in this series. If you look at the starting five’s, the Bucks might have the advantage at one position (Jennings/BIbby), while the Hawks have a clear edge at four positions. There’s no way this series should really be close if you gauge it on individual talent, but the Bucks all know their roles and play well as a team. Atlanta is supremely talented but disjointed and almost dysfunctional. During Atlanta’s last timeout, no one was looking at Woodson and Horford was yelling at Josh Smith for that absolutely horrid 3 he took. Smith also thought he would hold the ball in the post for 10 seconds on one of Atlanta’s last possessions, when your team needed a quick score.Its clear that some of the Hawks players just dont like each other. But the Bucks will find it hard to close out the Hawks in Game 6. For the first time all series, they are expected to win. I dont watch the Hawks enough to comment on Woodson, but its clear that hes not getting through to his players.
As for the cities, theyre just different places that appeal to different tastes. I’ve been to Atlanta for the Olympics…nice place with nice people. Its definitely more “hip” in terms of the club scene, while Milwaukee is much more of a blue collar city. Milwaukee has great bars (it has the most bars per capita of any large city), but not much of a club scene. It can be dreary in the winter but most Wisconsinites are into winter sports at that time. Atlanta is definitely more cosmopolitan and trendy, but Milwaukee is a great city in the summertime. Its got Summerfest, the largest outdoor music festival in the world, and a series of great cultural based festivals with great food and music and culture…German Fest, Polish fest, Italian fest, Mexican fiesta, etc.
Monroe's first Redcoat
April 29th, 2010
2:45 am
@ MilwaukeeAdam: The Hawks may suck, bubba, but there isn’t a single person in an Atlanta bar tonight celebrating because his job just transferred him to Wisconsin…..
Big Ray
April 29th, 2010
2:45 am
Milwaukee fans make me laugh. Milwaukee is so great that they just feel the need to invade every one of our blogs. Morons…
Big Ray
April 29th, 2010
2:48 am
I agree that Scott Skiles has thoroughly outwitted Mike Woodson. Brandon Jennings is handling Mike Bibby.
We should be crushing this team, but we’re a blend of the most talented dysfunction you’ve ever seen. Hooray for us.
Letting Woody go is not the only way to go. This roster needs some retooling as well.
Vic
April 29th, 2010
2:50 am
Dude from Wisconsin was copying the TNT after show. No originality whatsoever.
BuckNutts
April 29th, 2010
2:52 am
Wow… 3 in a row by the lowly BUCKS? How could this be? The Hawks fans out there that say they are a better team are fooling them selves. They may have some players that are pretty good individually but to say they are a better team, I think we all know better. The team is more than just the coach and players, it is front office, trainers, and fans. It appears that the Bucks have it going on all fronts.
Lets go Bucks on Friday, rip out whatever heart the Hawks (players) have remaining!!
HeavyPetter
April 29th, 2010
3:09 am
Hi Atlanta, Milwaukee resident and fan,
The turning point in the series, for me at least, is when the media asked Kurt Thomas about Bibby getting a foul for knocking KT over, “Bibby has been working out,” and a smile.
Your team is the dumbest team in the playoffs. That’s why you arent coming back in game 6. Josh Smith is dumber than a box a sh.it with square wheels.
Sometimes you want your talent to be the talent you want, and ….and…and they are too dumb to use it…..
Fear the Deer
You were never entilded to this series.
Love,
Milwuakee
HeavyPetter
April 29th, 2010
3:11 am
I mean…
Love,
Milwaukee….and yeah….you still lost
bj rufino
April 29th, 2010
3:13 am
If the hawks let jj go to other team that needs him, who do you think will the hawks get to replace him????? Wade???? Chris Bosh??? Amare??? or Lebron???
Atlchick
April 29th, 2010
3:19 am
All I got to say is BALL MOVEMENT!!! MOVE THE DAMN BALL!!! WTF JOE JOHNSON!!! you aren’t a superstar holding the ball and then losing it!! I hope yall win this GAME 6…OR its ON TO THE NEXT ONE!!! damn…I can’t even study for my exam now..I’m angry as hell..
HeavyPetter
April 29th, 2010
3:21 am
It was a street fight and the mentally soft hawks cried uncle first.
Josh Smith-Wisconsin tourism director
April 29th, 2010
3:24 am
Bibby is the wrong matchup for Jennings. Your superstar could guard him, but I doubt that will happen. Josh Smith could actually remember that he’s tall and play as such.
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
3:34 am
Hey, BucksFann5302, it’s cool. Thanks for the classy comments and, you know, you folks have good reason to be proud of your Bucks because they have shown a lot of heart in this series.
Like I said on Tuesday night, most Milwaukee fans are good fans with a good measure of class. It’s just that, with few exceptions, most of the Bucks nimrods that have invaded our blog just happen not to be in that category (present company excepted). Not a big deal though because it gives me a chance to have some fun, as well.
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
3:36 am
Hey, BucksFann5302, it’s cool. Thanks for the classy comments and, you know, you folks have good reason to be proud of your Bucks because they have shown a lot of heart in this series.
Like I said on Tuesday night, most Milwaukee fans are good fans with a good measure of class. It’s just that with few exceptions most of the Bucks nimrods that have invaded our blog just happen not to be in that category (present company excepted). Not a big deal though because it gives me a chance to have some fun, as well.
Tweets that mention The Hawks unleash one of the epic collapses in Atlanta annals | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
April 29th, 2010
3:40 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Annice Jones, Mike Stoffers and Robby Solomon, Hawks Fan Zone. Hawks Fan Zone said: The Hawks unlease one of the epic collapses in Atlanta annals: Why does everything always come down to Joe Johnson… http://bit.ly/aFAg7I [...]
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
3:45 am
Wow, HeavyP, I have a hard time giving credibility to someone who can’t even spell the name of the city he is from. How in the world do you get your mail? Thank God for zip codes, huh?
TheAntiMe
April 29th, 2010
3:52 am
Actually, on second thought, with a name like HeavyPetter, you obviously are still in the eighth-grade and don’t actually receive any mail. But I should have been able to tell that from the very immature comments in all of your posts. My bad.
Tired of thug city
April 29th, 2010
3:59 am
Didn’t watch the game. Don’t watch NBA games. Just wanted again to express my thoughts and ask “why do people spend their time and waste their money watching “thugs” and “jerks” go through the motions and don’t worry about winning or losing. They just want the money and do as little as possible to earn it. I think many (majority) of the NBA players are street thugs who still have the street and playground mentality. The Hawks are a prime example of “low level commitment to excellence and performance”. No wonder they lost … they don’t have drive and a will to win. Just hand me the check and let me go out and take in all the vices and pleasures that are my right to because I’m a player in the NBA. Another year without watching a single game …. I’m still done with the Noting But A**** league.
blonju
April 29th, 2010
4:07 am
i’m so stressed out because i’ve given my heart to a team with no heart.. i won’t give up til the season is over though.. most of the woody comments are completely justified.. AL is the heart of our team and i guess because he’s so young, no one will follow him.. AL should take at least 20 shots a game against this team (like tonite) or any team.. he may be 6′9, but he’s closer to being a true center than 90 percent of starting “5’s” in the league.. and, obviously, we have to be able to make changes as the game evolves – something woody has never been able to do.. most of the time we win despite poor coaching.. this team is in nowheresville, as smoove so eloquently called milwaukee.. To all the hurting hawks fans out there, i’m with you.. and to all the haters, i’m also with you.. what a shame to see all this talent go to waste.. still, “it ain’t over til it’s over” YB…
zip eddie doodah
April 29th, 2010
4:09 am
can you spell C H O K I N G D O G S???
fayncdawg
April 29th, 2010
4:09 am
Is Doc Rivers, Avery Johnson or Billy Donovan available to coach the dumbness out of this team? If this team is kept intact, Woody can’t coach it! Rivers or Donovan would be better suited to coach this group. Both have coached championship teams that knew when to step it up on offense and defense. Under one of those two coaches, the Hawks win in 5 games max! Oh well, after this historic choke job, what do you think of the Hawks chances of signing a Lebron or a DWade? Truth be told this game did not make Atlanta look like a great place to play or coach basketball! This clearly leads me to say GO HAWKS! AND TAKE THE BRAVES WITH YOU!!! I HEAR CALGARY IS NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!
zip eddie doodah
April 29th, 2010
4:16 am
juat a thought–what do you think is slower—bibbys feet or his mind? i heard this guy on an interview recently and it seemed as though he was barely functional.
Notso Fast
April 29th, 2010
4:22 am
It takes a good point guard to win big time and the Hawks have a point guard that at one time was good now he is not. Can’t guard fast people. Winning teams have a Super Star that takes control of games like last night. The Hawks have Joe and he is good but a Super Star he ain’t.