‘It was like a bad dream’: Actually, Game 5 was even worse
The clock is close to striking 0.0 on the Atlanta Hawks. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
With 2:44 left in the biggest game the Atlanta Hawks have played in the 21st Century, Brandon Jennings missed a free throw that would have cut the lead to two. And you thought, “Big break for the Hawks.”
Then you knew better. You saw Ersan Ilyasova, who has never been confused with Kevin McHale, running down the rebound because Josh Smith, who should have been an All-Star, didn’t block out. And then Marvin Williams fouled John Salmons, and the one-point possession tripled in value, and the Hawks’ lead was down to one.
And then Joe Johnson, on whom everything seems to ride, charged into Kurt Thomas and fouled out. And then Ilyasova scored underneath over Smith. And then the Bucks were ahead. And then Smith missed a three-pointer and Al Horford missed a follow and Jennings missed a runner at the other end but Ilyasova snagged another offensive rebound and fed Carlos Delfino, who fumbled the catch but still hit the clinching trey over Mike Bibby.
And you wondered: How does any of that — let alone all of it — happen? How does Ersan Ilyasova will himself to dominate the final four minutes of an NBA playoff game?
“Just a lack of concentration,” Jamal Crawford said afterward.
But how do you not concentrate with a season on the line?
Said Crawford: “I honestly don’t know.”
I don’t, either. And neither does Mike Woodson or Rick Sund or James Naismith. It’s the great imponderable of a series that beggars belief. The Milwaukee Bucks are playing without their MVP; the Hawks won seven more games in the regular season and have all hands on deck, and they’re 48 minutes from elimination and perhaps a coaching search.
I keep wanting to believe the Hawks can still win this series, but I no longer have any basis for it. Game 5 was the worst moment in Hawks history since the loss — also to an undermanned Milwaukee team, also in Game 5 — at the old Omni in 1989. I was on hand for both, and the one of 21 years ago was the beginning of the end for Mike Fratello. For Mike Woodson, this Game 5 could be the end, period.
Nobody can seriously dispute this much: Scott Skiles has taken lesser players and leads Woodson’s team 3-2. (And that’s with spotting the Hawks the first two games.) Woodson has improved the Hawks’ record each of the past five regular seasons, but in a series the Hawks were expected to win easily he hasn’t gotten his men to do what they should. And if the players have stopped responding to a coach, what do you do? Fire 12 men or ditch the one?
Down nine on the road with four minutes remaining, Skiles’ team kept playing. Up nine at home with four minutes remaining, Woodson’s team was outscored 14-0. Fourteen-zip. Those four minutes were everything you’ve feared might happen to these Hawks but kept hoping would not. Said Crawford: “It was like a bad dream.”
It was worse than that. It was stupefying. (How do you not win on a night when Horford and Williams give career-best postseason performances?) It was the kind of loss that can, more than simply scuttling a season, scar a franchise. It was the loss that could not happen. But it did.
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273 comments Add your comment
Paddy
April 29th, 2010
9:46 am
mountain_jim….it is always football in Georgia when the alternative is the ASG group of under-funded and mismanaged teams to choose from. They have managed to ruin hockey and basketball in our town in nothing but record time. And to top that off, they are still in litagation on ownership. This will not have a happy ending and fans are fed up!
are you drinking
April 29th, 2010
9:46 am
Nathan B.
Don’t know about the finals but The Bucks were never inferior, undermaned yes,
FromUpNorth
April 29th, 2010
9:46 am
Hey, I’m from Ohio, which is also cursed by the sports gods. Examples: Browns playoff teams from the 80s that would lose to Elway’s Broncos year after year; the Cavs playoff teams of the 90s who would lose to Jordan’s Bulls; Browns being moved to Baltimore by Art Modell; Indians losing to the Marlins in ‘97; OSU Buckeyes BCS embarrassments; OSU basketball team embarrassments (including this year); Cincinnati “Bungles”; the list goes on…
Needless to say, I’m used to disappointment from sports teams. Grew up on it. But sports is the only thing worth watching on TV these days. Sigh.
Justin
April 29th, 2010
9:46 am
The beloved Sekou Smith of NBA.com:
“We’re going to win,” Horford said. “No question about it. That’s the bottom line. We have to bring it back to Atlanta [for Game 7 Sunday].”
Were Horford the Hawks’ center of attention and not just their center, his words would carry more weight.
But captain and All-Star Joe Johnson is the Hawks’ catalyst, and his ominous words in the aftermath of this debacle spoke volumes about the shaky state of affairs for a team that entered the postseason with aspirations of battling Orlando for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
“We’ll just have to go up to Milwaukee and see what we can come up with,” Johnson said.
ptjackets
April 29th, 2010
9:47 am
Josh I did not realize that the hawks were still playing! Most people don’t even care
Mark Bradley
April 29th, 2010
9:48 am
An amazing night. And in the worst way.
biddaddyJ
April 29th, 2010
9:51 am
Enter your comments here
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
9:53 am
I’m hurt for real, I need to be single as a fan for a while, tell the Hawks I’m changing my number!
babyJay
April 29th, 2010
9:57 am
You know what makes me sick? Not only do atlanta teams play with a complete lack of energy, but the fans show up and give very little energy, as well. Look at the Bucks and how tough it is to play in Milwaukee, or look at Oklahoma City, with the blue out. I could be wrong, but during a pregame interview, I could have sworn I saw white shirts on all the seats, sounds like they wanted a white out. I saw very few people wearing white…if those were white shirts keep in mind. All atlanta fans and teams need to make it tougher to play here. Make teams not want to come back. That’s my piece
FromUpNorth
April 29th, 2010
10:01 am
I agree babyJay, the crowd definitely seemed out of it most of last night. But, honestly, they probably all knew what was going to happen…not that that’s an excuse to not support the team, though.
Mark Bradley
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
The arena got so quiet at the end of Game 5. It was as if people were too stunned to boo.
truthspitter
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
The Hawks are done, but you people fail to realize that the Hawks have done nothing but overachieve. The NBA is a league in which most analyst agree that you cant hide players but the Hawks have been hiding Mike Bibby on defense and its lack of size on the interior for 3 years now while bringing back hope to the city. Why can’t people just give them credit while admitting that it is over for this current roster?
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
babyJay
I was their in all white section 102, and that wasn’t the problem, I could have hit that shot Josh took from my seat and hit it before he would,
ken
April 29th, 2010
10:04 am
The worst thing that can happen now is for the Hawks to win the next two games and then win one or two against Orlando in the next round. If this happens management will consider the season a success and resign Coach Woodson to a long term deal. Woodson has been totally out coached in this series and throughout his tenure. The team has improved despite its obvious coaching weaknesses. Good assistant, terrible head coach because he refuses to learn and change . This is why he cannot make in game adjustments and continues to under utilize his bench to the detriment of the starters. What we saw last night was the overflowing fustration of players who are tired of covering up the flaws of their head coach. When JJ fouled out, he actually looked relieved that he was out of the game. Did anyone else see that?
Mike
April 29th, 2010
10:05 am
Two words: No discipline.
The Hawks play playground basketball.
jake
April 29th, 2010
10:06 am
Tuned in for a few minutes, and saw what I usually see when I defy my better instincts and watch the Hawks — a godawful offensive scheme where Joe Johnson dribbles and dribbles and dribbles and the other four guys stand around waiting for the inevitable. Which, of course, is Joe Johnson taking a shot, often a low percentage shot. And then near the end, there’s Josh Smith dribbling and dribbling and dribbling…and losing the ball. And then Johnson dribbles, etc, etc…and loses the ball.
The Hawks may have better athletes, but under pressure they “go playground” — no discipline, no
coordination, no teamwork. The Bucks were the better TEAM last night, and the better team usually wins.
John
April 29th, 2010
10:06 am
Wow. Let’s hire Scott Skiles — he seems to actually coach. Woody may have improved the team’s record, but when you get severely outcoached every playoff series, it’s time to acknowledge the obvious. A good coach would make some adjustments and inspire his team for game 6 — hard to see that happening here. To me, the huddle shown on TV in the last minute where Woody is trying to get the team to listen to him but they all ignore him, says it all. It reminds me of the GTech huddle with Paulie Walnuts. Atleast Paulie uses up all his timeouts, so he doesn’t put himself in that situation at crunch time.
Mike Woodson
April 29th, 2010
10:07 am
I officially am announcing my retirement. I have came to a realization that I am too fat, old, and stupid to coach an NBA team. I want to go back to my previous job as a water boy, however my diabetes prevents it.
Lon Kruger
April 29th, 2010
10:07 am
Hey Rick,
I’m available. Call me.
jake
April 29th, 2010
10:08 am
Oh, yeah, I forgot: and for the record, that’s why you couldn’t GIVE me tickets to a Hawks game, and why I refuse to watch them on TV.
Mark Bradley
April 29th, 2010
10:08 am
Just want to note: The Hawks did win 53 games.
That’s what makes this worse.
babyJay
April 29th, 2010
10:09 am
i need booze: this isn’t a shot at you, just all atlanta sports fans in general…im not saying some of the fans, like one section, need to wear all white….im talking the whole arena. Somehow all these other cities and their fans buy in….why can’t we?
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
I don’t know Baby J (I didn’t take it harsh) we try we just miss sometimes like Josh Smith.
FromUpNorth
April 29th, 2010
10:14 am
I agree, Bradley. That’s what stings – this team won a decent # of games, and is the 3 seed in the East. But all that obviously doesn’t mean much now. Except that they’ve been able to win despite their flaws in the regular season. I’m not totally giving up on the entire team forever, but they do need to dump some players and revamp the coaching staff IMO. Can’t keep spinning their wheels like this anymore. We’re the laughing stock of the NBA right now.
jake
April 29th, 2010
10:15 am
Part 3: On the other hand, Rick Sund is suddenly looking like a genius for not extending Woodson’s contract. No doubt he’s praying that the 76ers are dumb enough to hire Woodson and he can hire a coach who has a workable offensive scheme and the gravity to lead.
AlphaDog
April 29th, 2010
10:15 am
Hawks huddle in last seconds of the game. All eyes on the scorer’s table to see if Horford’s last shot was a 2 or a 3, and NOT on the play Coach is trying to draw up. Hawks inbound the ball, can’t get a shot off, lose the game.
BANGO
April 29th, 2010
10:17 am
i liked how JOSH SMITH talked all that junk about MILWAUKEE, i am a lifelong BUCKS FAN and have always liked the hawks… (’nique, spudd, even jsmoove and the crew). but you have to admit the hawks were OUTCOACHED, OUTPLAYED, & about to be KNOCKED OUT!!!
the unemployment line in atlanta should increase by one on saturday morning when woody is jobless…
Kapoonka
April 29th, 2010
10:18 am
If they reamke the Wizard of Oz…we have the supporting cast:
Josh Smith as Scarecrow..NO BRAINS
Joe Johnson as the Cowardly Lion…NO COURAGE
Mike “got schooled by Brandon Jennings” Bibby NO HEART..and finally……
Mike Woodson as Dorothy..I hope he finds his way home…anywhere but Atlanta
Mike Woodson
April 29th, 2010
10:19 am
Did I mention I have diabetes? Thats why i cant coach.
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
53 win is our ceiling…
bigeasy830
April 29th, 2010
10:21 am
Mark I knew the Hawks would lose after the first quarter, i have seen them blow at least 10 games like this way, this season. they should have won the south had and had at least a 2 seed. But Woodson refuse to make adjustments. He is like an old high school or college coach who refuses to bend be flexible with his system. That switching defense do not work against all teams, not even all bad teams. All teams in the NBA have talen, you must exploit their weakness. The Bucks have no inside presence with Bogut out. Instead of exploiting that, they play right into their hands with tat man to man switching defense hat at least 10 times during the game have Jennings matched up against our 4 or 5 and he takes them to the hole all day, everyday. Woodson cannot coach. This team have the talen to win it all and the youth with the experience to dominate for a few years, but we do not have the coach. Marvin showed what he can do last night even though he was being pulled from the game when he is hot. No wonder the kid is timid most of the time. Ands if the Hawks actually ran an offense who knows how good he would be. This is the worst 53 win team in Atlanta history. We should have won 60. and damn he don’t playt the Rookie all year, he is the only player quick enough to stay wit Jenning. If the Hawks would have drafted Chris Paul of Deron Williams instead of Marvin I wonder if they would be as good as they are now, chances are no. Woodson sucks and he must go, The Hawks will lose next game I believe they have packed it up and cashed out already. I will cheer for them but, Ii just don’t think that a Mike Woodson lead team will win 2 in a row against them. Hell they haven’t won a road play-off game yet in his tenure.
Blue
April 29th, 2010
10:22 am
@ Ken
Good point …. If the Hawks had made it to the second round, then the ASG would have offered Woodson a long-term contract and this team would have continued to be mediocre for years to come.
Me thinks Joe Johnson is headed to Miami to play with D-Wade (they have enough to max-out two players).
Blow-up this roster and take a long, hard look at Mark Jackson as a possible head. His basketball acumen if off the charts, he’s a former point guard (they usually make solid head coaches – Scott Skiles anyone?), and he would have instant respect in the locker room.
ugafan426
April 29th, 2010
10:22 am
Why isnt Jeff Teague being used to guard Jennings, he could actually keep up with him… Bibby and Johnson are both old and slow and couldnt even guard Shaq if he was running point. Teague is known for his quickness, even put in mario west, he’s the best defender on the team, or even zaza, he could just punch him in the face when he drives by.
VolGuy
April 29th, 2010
10:23 am
People say Atlanta is a bad pro sports town, and perhaps they are right, but my Lord:
The Thrashers are pathetic. They have managed one post season performance, they lost four straight, and they have traded away their best players.
The Hawks are not even good pretenders. Up nine with four minutes to play in game six and they give up or as they like to put it “they lose concentration”. They stop running their offense, they stop boxing out on rebounds – they just STOPPED PLAYING! I don’t even care about pro basketball. I only watched the last quarter of last night’s game and it was pathetic.
What is common to the Thrashers and Hawks – the ownership group. They have probably spent more on legal fees suing each other than they have on their teams.
And last but not least – the Braves. I don’t think it is a coincidence that they are on their longest losing streak since 1990. They play like they are all sleep walking on Ambien. They have almost as many errors in a game as hits. They make every opposing pitcher look like Cy Young. I’m beginning to think that the slow slide that started four years ago has brought them back to where they were before 1991.
Yeah. being a pro sports fan in Atlanta is a real treat.
Art Vandelay
April 29th, 2010
10:24 am
Go Hawks! And take the Braves with you.
DHunt
April 29th, 2010
10:24 am
JC the Hawks did not successfully run a play in the entire 4th quarter, except possibly the one time they got the ball to Marvin on an obvious mismatch. Hell that wasn’t a play that was just good recognition by Josh and Marvin. It’s all part of the same pattern. Let me add my voice once again to the chorus. FIRE MIKE WOODSON! Yeah the team played very out of sync in the fourth quarter last night. But they had a monster 3rd Quarter, and I was still screaming at my tv, FIRE MIKE WOODSON! The list of his transgressions is far too long, but forgive me because I need the catharsis.
1. Stuck in witching defense. It’s one thing to do it against a different opponent every night, but to keep trying the same thing against the same opponent for 6-7 straight games is nothing short of lunacy.
2. Point guard killer. He can’t say he doesn’t play rookies because every rookie big man he has gotten , has played. Woodson killed Acie Law’s basketball career, and is murdering Teague’s before our very eyes.
3. No offense. JJ fouls out. Hawks have ball side out. Jamal inbounds to Al (five feet outside the 3 point line) and Al spends the nest 8 seconds trying to get the ball back to Jamal, until the officials finally get tired of it and call a foul on Salmons (who was actually playing pretty good D). The other three Hawks players are standing on the court completely of my 42 inch screen, not moving. This is the essence of the offensive genius that comes out of a Woodson timeout.
4. Cannot (or will not) properly use his bench. Everyone I know says the Hawks are at least 5 deep on the bench this year. So why is it that we only see Jamal and ZaZa? Mo Evans hasn’t played much, and nobody else has gotten more than “end of quarter don’t want my starter to get a foul” seconds of playing time. Did u see Jeff Teague come out of nowhere to make a play on that Bucks breakaway. Hell I thought it was a good block, but it was at least a great foul. How can a coach not figure out a way to use that energy productively for at least 10 minutes a night? Have you ever seen Woodson sub Teague directly for Bibby? Me either? Last night was a high energy game and the Bucks had more energy late because they had all gotten more rest.
5. Can’t develop players. People say the Hawks have gotten better every year, but really how could they have gotten worse? I’m inclined to think the growth of the young players is something that happened because of the simple fact of time passing. And the Marvin Williams we saw last night was the one we expected to get in with a first round pick. If he is capable of that, why can’t this coach get it out of him. Joe Johnson has regressed under Woodson,
6. Can’t control the team. And by that I don’t mean they don’t listen to him. They do, often to their own detriment. And they’ve started doing it with increasingly bad attitudes. Like maybe they realize that it’s not working and they wish they could try something else. They pay little attention in the huddle, and why should they if the gist of the message is “Iso-Joe(Jamal)”
I could go on, and I probably will later. Let me just say in closing,
please,
somebody,
go down to Phillips Arena
and fire mike woodson,
today.
thank you
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
10:25 am
we still got Jeff Teague and Mario West…I thought we just had Bibby
Doug Messerlie
April 29th, 2010
10:26 am
An insight on Scott Skiles high school days (might help if you are from Indiana or Kentucky): Skiles scored 39 points in double overtime to beat powerful Gary Roosevelt for the state championship in 1982 when Indiana had an open tournament vs classes. Skiles was the star for Plymouth, IN., the smallest school to win the state since Milan in 1954 (re: Hoosiers). He tied the game with a last second shot, then went on to hit the game winner with no time left during the second overtime. This guy does not quit and has instilled the same attitude in the Bucks.
Doug Messerlie
Blue
April 29th, 2010
10:26 am
@ Kapoonka
Mike Woodson as Dorothy …………… Good one, hilarious.
FromUpNorth
April 29th, 2010
10:27 am
@jake: If the 76ers hire Woodson over…say….Larry Brown…I can’t even comprehend a move like that. Stranger things have happened, though.
Flip Murray
April 29th, 2010
10:31 am
Hey guys, Flip here. I was willing to come back at a fraction of the price that Rick paid Marvin and Bibby. However, he felt compelled to let me walk. Oh well, I could have really helped you guys this season and definitely in this series. Maybe Rick is not so smart after all.
Blue
April 29th, 2010
10:33 am
Why is Bibby even on the floor? That cat is done! And what’s up with that little skip-dribble! This ain’t Hop-Scotch man!
Rod
April 29th, 2010
10:34 am
I have been at Phillps all season long, Josh Smith is the key to hawks and he has not play good basketball since game 2, do we have anyone in this organization who can reach this kids and teach him how to be a pro. this kid need to take advantage of this opportunity now. Woody did not develop Jeff, the kid has the ability to do something with this lineup and need to given the green light.
Mike Woodson
April 29th, 2010
10:36 am
I think I will begin the offseason by having my barber shave my eyebrows off again.
I need booze..
April 29th, 2010
10:36 am
Bibby smells like Tide with Bleach, fold him up, and put em’ on a hanger.
MaryM
April 29th, 2010
10:37 am
Every one of the Hawks should be fired and forced to dig ditches or ride the back of a garbage truck. That’s all they’e qualified for.
FromUpNorth
April 29th, 2010
10:39 am
@Rod: What Josh needs is a good ol-fashioned smack upside the back of his head. He has clearly bought into his own hype….he’s not worthy of the “J-Smoove” nickname or people ooohing and aaahing over his dunks. I bet he DVRs his own SportsCenter highlights. He had the nerve to trash talk Milwaukee, for cryin’ out loud!! Who does this kid think he is? Can we call on Nique or some other former player to talk man-to-man with this kid? He’s all raw talent and no (basketball) brains/maturity, and it’s frustrating.
Henry B.
April 29th, 2010
10:40 am
I was born a bred in Atlanta and remember the criticisms of the mid 80’s teams with Nique for so many years. Nique, Doc, Spud and the rest did not give us a championship but they were fighters for the most part which I can hardly say for this group. Its amazing that were still talking about some of the same stuff that we were talking about in the 80’s and how much Manning was going to be so much better for the team back in 94. As much bashing as the Hawks took years ago especially Dominique in this city, I assure you this team would not even come close to battling a Larry Bird led team and come close to beating them in a seven game series like we almost did. We didn’t win then and we certainly don’t look like were going to win now but I for one would love to go back in time just one day and have my dad take me to the Omni to see that old team like we used to. At least they had heart unlike this bunch.
Ben
April 29th, 2010
10:40 am
The disparity between Skiles and Woodson in this series is astounding. I don’t lay it all on Woody but man, it’s simply GLARING right now. If the Hawks lose this series, this game has to go up there with the Leyritz homer to beat the Braves for bitter pills choked down by Atlanta sports fans. BLECH.
Ben
April 29th, 2010
10:43 am
Also, Mark, can you find out how many people (players, coaches, management) showed up for Jamal Crawford receiving the 6th man award (not the presentation pre-game)?? I heard there were only a couple players and maybe Rick Sund? If so, that is incredibly telling and sad about this team as far as team unity.