A furious comeback makes us take new notice of the Hawks
Don't know why he was so happy. Wasn't like he did much. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
To recap: I hated the Larry Drew promotion, wasn’t overwhelmed by the Kirk Hinrich trade and had been unimpressed by the games I’d seen the Hawks play this season. (I saw them blown out by Boston in November, saw them blow a 22-point lead against Charlotte last month.) And for 24 minutes last night I saw nothing to make me rethink.
The second half I saw a team worth watching. The second half reminded me why, not so long ago (meaning pre-Orlando sweep), I’d come to like the Hawks and the way they played. You can say it was just one game of 82, and you’d be correct numerically, but if this one game had become just another meek home loss we’d have been dismissing the Hawks altogether. But you cannot dismiss a team that surges from 19 points down without its third-best player to run down a big-time opponent at the end.
The first half was laughable, but the laughter ceased in the third quarter. The Hawks dug in and defended the Bulls in a way they haven’t defended anybody all season. Some of it had to do with the new man Kirk Hinrich’s ball pressure at the top, but that wasn’t nearly all of it. Damien Wilkins, Mr. 10-Day-Contract, entered and played significant minutes. Marvin Williams made the best defensive play — maybe the best play, period — of his NBA life, blocking a Derrick Rose dunk inside the final three minutes. Joe Johnson switched over to Rose at the end and kept him shackled. And Al Horford … well, about him you’ve already heard.
Said Drew: “After a game like that, they have to feel really good about themselves. They have to believe they can line up against anyone and beat anybody.”
If I told you I now believe these Hawks will go on to the NBA championship or even the Eastern finals, I’d be lying. I still don’t see that sort of potential. But I’m less inclined to dismiss this team’s postseason chances out of hand than I was 13 hours ago. The next six days — home games against Oklahoma City, New York and Kobe Bryant — will tell us more. But if you’re facing a month of key games, coming from 19 down to beat the Bulls was the way to start.
Said Jamal Crawford, standing in a giddy Hawks’ locker room: “You couldn’t have done it any better.”
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
92 comments Add your comment
SAL
March 3rd, 2011
12:32 pm
What do you think of the Obama “birther” question? It’s beginning to take wings!!
JDFA
March 3rd, 2011
12:45 pm
at the end of the season after a first round defeat, all the ajc sports writers will say,”But they showed such great potential in that bulls game.”
JSS
March 3rd, 2011
12:48 pm
Drive-by Hawks Blog…
You people are a hoot! The Hawks did what it should always do, feed Horford and yes Josh Smith off the motion in the post and let them create mismatches…
bob dylan
March 3rd, 2011
12:10 pm
“I think its fair to say the offense runs a lot better without J Smoove on the court. For every poster dunk and highlight block he turns the ball over four times and bricks three 18-foot jumpers. Get rid of this guy he is THE MOST FRUSTRATING PLAYER TO WATCH IN THE NBA.”
What Josh Smith have been watching (or not watching)? The Hawks offense was a mess for 3 quarters last night. Then somebody decided to join Horford’s Herculean effort, Joe and Marvin in the final 5 minutes. You count on that every night… Josh does some boneheaded things; but he is not the cancer on this team… Time for you guys to get off that ship…
JSS
March 3rd, 2011
12:51 pm
Mr. Bradley, please check your filter…
Wolfman
March 3rd, 2011
12:55 pm
They didn’t quit! — like DREW II
peter
March 3rd, 2011
12:56 pm
Dap01 has it right and I am taking it one game at a time for sure. However we just might see something special develop in March if our guys can stay focused and healthy
Tremaine
March 3rd, 2011
1:01 pm
dap01 said it best
“Whether your team is the best or not, the most important thing for a fan is for a team to have heart and be competitive.”
GT Alum
March 3rd, 2011
1:21 pm
To be fair Mark, yes, Atlanta fans want the Hawks to make it past the second round, but they wouldn’t draw nearly as much ire if they didn’t show the propensity to lay some sizable eggs on a regular basis, most notably the Orlando playoff series last year.
As I noted in your blog yesterday asking if new ownership would make a difference in support for the Hawks and Thrashers, I’ve had a renewed interest in the Hawks since they traded Bibby because since that trade I’ve seen this team look like the team that wouldn’t back down from the Celtics in that epic playoff series a few years ago, and this is the first time in a while they’ve looked like that team.
To give it everything you’ve got and come up short is one thing. To just disappear and get blown out is another. Hopefully, this team continues playing like this and, win or lose, performs like a team that their fans can be proud of.
Jeff
March 3rd, 2011
1:29 pm
Great win for the Hawks last night… good column by Mark Bradley today… HOWEVER, even though I love Atlanta and root for all my home teams, I have to disagree with Crawford’s quote to close out Mark’s piece… he said “We couldn’t have done it any better.”
Uhh, yeah you COULD have done it better, Jamal! You guys could have NOT gone done 14-0 right out of the gate! You could have NOT fallen behind by 19! You could have NOT forced yourselves to HAVE to mount a frantic comeback in the final 10 minutes!
A legitimate championship contender does not fall behind by double digits at home ALL THE TIME. I have seen Atlanta trail Boston, Orlando, Miami, and now Chicago by 10 or 15 or 20 points at home all season long. I have also seen the Hawks struggle to put away teams like Memphis and Milwaukee and Detroit at home, and I have seen them lose leads (and games) to teams like New Jersey and Charlotte at home.
To be considered legit, the Hawks need to win 28 to 30 (or more) home games EVERY YEAR… and to be considered an elite NBA team, they need to win 20 to 22 games on the road. That puts Atlanta in the 50 to 55 win mark every year, and that gives the team a shot at a serious playoff run.
I like the nucleus of the Hawks, I really do… and after a decade of wretched play, it’s nice that this team is on the way to its fourth straight playoff berth. But this team is still a superstar player away from being a contender. As constituted, this team has hit its ceiling… it’s a 48-to-52 win team that is a No. 4, 5, 6 or 7 seed in the East for the next few years. We need a top 10 player to get over the top — not Joe Johnson, a REAL top 10 player. Add a Kevin Durant or Dwight Howard or Carmelo Anthony or Tony Parker or Dwyane Wade or Kevin Garnett or Blake Griffin and the Hawks could step into the discussion of one of the top 6 teams in the league. Until then, we’re the Blazers or Jazz or Hornets or Bucks of the last 10 or 15 years… some nice teams, some playoff appearances, but never a serious title contender.
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
1:29 pm
I think the hawks was use to josh smith taking over in the first quarter like he has been doing for the pass few games.., then they replaced him in the starting line up with twin Collins , and Marvin Williams is not a offense threat , and kirk hinrich has not been.doing well offensively… so basically the hawks only had 2 offensive threats in the game, against a very good defensive team, which will not work in terms of scoring.
..
.. and that explains the 14-0 lead the bulls had
But only thing is, when josh smith gets back…. that’s another offensive threat… but the hawks have to get more scoring from the starting point guard rather if its Jeff teague or kirk hinrich.. they gotta be able to play defense and offense if you wanna make a run in the playoffs. They are doing great defensively. But they offense is also dropped off some too…
No more starting Collins ,he don’t really play defense or offense, he just big!!! Zaza is not the answer either. Look at the higlights , he gets caught standing around too much, he gets offense rebounds, but he can’t guard a big that’s faster
Harry Hawk
March 3rd, 2011
1:31 pm
The Hawks are capable of beating anyone in one game. Can they do it four out of seven? I don’t think so. That’s why this team is such a tease.
It was not a bad pick
March 3rd, 2011
2:01 pm
@Mark Bradley
Do not disrespect Marvin like that..the kid had 30+ points in Denver against Mello one year, and he had a late second shot against the Wizards also..I was there. he has had plenty big plays…Never understand why Hawks fans bash a guy who is the 4th option at best..last night the highest paid player on the court was Joe”max contract” Johnson and he clearly was not even the 3rd best player on the court..How does Joe continue to get a free pass?
BrutusSinclair
March 3rd, 2011
2:05 pm
The Hawks should have traded for Kendrick Perkins and beefed up the low block rebounding. If we had Perkins we would probably win the title this year. The Hawks should have traded for Perkins before the trade deadline or traded Josh Smith and Marvin Williams to Oklahoma City in exchange for Kevin Durant (Durantulia). The Hawks team is pathetic and is devoid of superstars. The Hawks only have one superstar on their team now and that is AL HORFORD. Period.
bob dylan
March 3rd, 2011
2:06 pm
JSS
All I’m saying is Marvin should be shooting 3’s not Josh Smith. Marvin stepped up last night, doubt he will perform like that on a consistent basis but it was nice to see. I like watching Smith throwing it down or back into the face of a shooter, but i don’t like to see him shoot AT ALL. He has the ability to be a dominant rebounder and scorer in the paint, but he lacks the discipline and mental capacity to realize it. He either leads a fast break on a dunk or stands around three-point line waiting to jack up another brick. There are other ways to have an impact on the game, ask Dennis Rodman. How many three’s did you see him jack up? Smith has gotten better but he still has mental lapses that waste several possesions a game. I don’t hate the guy but he frustrates the hell out of me in the 3 games out of 4 every week, and that is why he will never be an All-Star caliber player.
Rufus1
March 3rd, 2011
2:07 pm
Hawks have a self-esteem problem…..
You always doubt the good things your team does and magnify the bad…
The Bulls haven’t won a playoff series in like 8 years, but you give the credit for being elite….really?
The Heat have won about 2 games against the top 5 in the east, but you give the credit for being elite….really?
The Magic have gotten worse on defense this and SOFTER in the box, but you give the credit for being elite….really?
The Hawks just beat the Bulls without their 3rd best player, 6 and 5 against the other top 5 teams in the East, have the 2nd best road record in the east and just traded the Worst defensive PG for maybe the best defensive PG, but we are not elite….Really??????
If we are not elite, then they are not elite.
Then Boston is the only elite team in the east.
Rufus1
March 3rd, 2011
2:08 pm
correction…Hawks fans have a self-esteem problem…..
joey
March 3rd, 2011
2:09 pm
go hawks
Mr. Mojo
March 3rd, 2011
2:20 pm
God the Josh Smith haters are really annoying and show they have no basketball IQ. They were miserable offensively for 3 1/2 qtrs last night other than Horford. And how many easy layups did the Bulls get and Offensive Reb that wouldnt of been there if Josh was there. Get off his back already he is a very important part of this team and he isn’t goig to eb traded so get over it already.
bagochocks
March 3rd, 2011
2:26 pm
In a shocker the Hawks maintained a positive attitude and played hard when Josh Smith wasn’t around.
“Smoove and Horford make a pretty good tandem at the 4 and 5 as they will be dominating the NBA in the next 2-3 years.”
You and Josh must smoke the same weed ….
Jo Bling
March 3rd, 2011
2:58 pm
JSS – What J Smoove have you been watching? Please don’t tell us it’s time to get off that ship. I will never get off that ship until Josh Smith becomes the player he dam well ought to be – but isn’t! I have to think if Josh had played last night we would have lost. After getting down 14-0 he would have been pouting and whining to the refs, and loafing back down the court late to get into defensive position. And on offense he would have taken it upon himself to be the savior by standing around on the perimeter and launching threes – after all, his expert marksmanship from the perimeter would have been our only chance to get back in the game, right?
Whopper Dawg
March 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
And exactly why is that? Grasping at straws. No one, no one, talks about the Hawks as any type, any type of a contender in the east, much less the NBA.
And that is for good reason. They are not.
Rufus1
March 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Talk is cheap… The Hawks have beaten these teams consistanly this year….That is all that matters.
jay
March 3rd, 2011
3:45 pm
I couldnt believe how quiet and uninvolved the fans at Phillips Arena were during the comeback. At one point when Al Horford was at the line shooting for the game tying and lead changing free throws, you could hear fans booing! I thought that was insane. (I’m a Knicks fan by the way).
jay
March 3rd, 2011
3:48 pm
@NewVegasDawg
“big-time opponent”….Chicago?? Really?? When’s the last time they won anything?”
###########################
What???!!! The Bulls are 4 games behind the number one seed in the East.
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
3:59 pm
Jo Bling
the Hawks wouldn’t have gotten down 14-0, Josh Smith, before he got injured, scored ten points in the first quarter. the game before that. 8 points in the first quarter.. and the bulls was scoring in places Josh Smith would be at, ( in the Paint or on the weak side help side)
Josh Smith gets steals, rebounds, assist and points… not to mention that he also helps force teams to play honest defense!!! they didn’t have too with , COLLINS AND MARVIN starting on the floor at the same time!! and Kirk Hinrich didnt score that much last night.. they only had two offenses threats in the game!! Joe Johnson and Al Horford.. They started to come back and get back in to the game when Jamal Crawford got in the game, another offense threat!!!
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
4:02 pm
Jay
You heard boo’s from the Chicago fans that where their.. Atlanta is a home to people that migrate from other cites and states.. So you have a lot of fans from other cities here.. such as Bulls, Lakers, and Celtics!! along with other teams..
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
4:04 pm
to me, the only teams that are elite in the NBA are the Lakers, The Boston Celtics, and even though its been awhile, the spurs.. other then that, nobody else has won the title in ten years ( except detroit, and they cant even get their players to come too games, we not talkin about practice, not practice, but games!! lol )
but everybody else has to prove them selves to become elite.. because at the end.. their can only be one champion!!
This year, we will see what the Hawks will do.. But I like their chances
Jo Bling
March 3rd, 2011
4:17 pm
ICECOLD – Yeah, maybe. The problem with Josh is you just never know what you are going to get. In those blowouts we’ve suffered at home he was completely ineffective and did not help us get off to a good start. Those losses weren’t all his fault by any means, but against the Knicks a few weeks ago he single-handedly cost us a 23-point lead and the game.
My only point about Josh is that no one needs to be telling me to get off his back. I’m not going to get off his back until he becomes the player, and the man, he ought to be. He could be dominant, both offensively and defensively if he would screw his head on straight and play to his strengths ALL THE TIME, not just some of the time. That’s when I’ll get off of J Smoove’s back, and it will be the same time he blossoms into an NBA All Star. We all know he has the skills. The only thing holding him back is his head and attitude.
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
4:31 pm
Jay
He does a lot of dumb mistakes.. but a lot of those mistakes was bibby fault.. like him taking the ball down the floor and trying make the homerun pass or play that the point guard suppose to make ( the supposed to be ally oop when he threw it off the glass, twice ) and the defensive frustrations that he had because point guards was penatrating so easy.. now that that is no more.. we will see how good he can be offensively, defensively, and mentally… but I think that particular point guard situation was mentally frustrating… so he kept messing up trying to do to much.. but we will see
The Game Has Changed
March 3rd, 2011
4:36 pm
Josh Smith doesnt respect the coaching staff. I played ball with his dad and his dad is telling him what he is doing is ok and that is crazy. His dad was the same way. Josh thinks he is better than what he is and it is killing his potential and the Hawks. By the way, ICECOLD, you are right. The Lakers, Spurs, and the Celtics are the only elite teams. And I got a feeling one of the three are going to win it all this year.
Phoenix Falcon
March 3rd, 2011
4:40 pm
I’m a huge hawks fan, but MB lets be real, this team is no more intresting to watch then the cavs or the pistons, at it’s best this team is avg. the only reason this hawks team has a better record then say , the suns ( another completely avg team ), is because they play in the east with teams like, the wizz, and the pistons, and the caves, and the pacers, etc. etc…… So mark you have nothing better to do then to blow smoke up our colective a$$es? AGAIN, I AM A HUGE HAWKS FAN, and also a fan of yours MB, bottom line is this team won’t beat anybody, I know it, you know it, and anybody who knows anything about basketball knows it, come on MB, lets call a spade a spade. this team is garbage from the top down. from the ” owners “, to the gen manager, to the coaches, to the players, to the cheerleaders, to the trainers, to the radio and tv guys. GARBAGE.
ATL4Life
March 3rd, 2011
5:07 pm
I really believe Marvin and Al have really stepped up lately for Joe’s lack of offense. Maybe the face of the franchise has finally been changed with Joe constantly slumping and Al constantly doing well. It is now Al’s Hawks not Joe’s.
ICECOLD
March 3rd, 2011
5:26 pm
ATL4Life
March 3rd, 2011
5:07 pm
I really believe Marvin and Al have really stepped up lately for Joe’s lack of offense. Maybe the face of the franchise has finally been changed with Joe constantly slumping and Al constantly doing well. It is now Al’s Hawks not Joe’s.
HE HAD 9 ASSIST AND 7 REBOUNDS and played lockdown D on DERRICK ROSE!!!!!
Just because he doesnt score 40 a night doesnt mean he fell off…
Al Horford is great. but Joe Johnson has been carrying this team for the longest, and when Al was injured, he was averaging 26 points a game. he stept up when he had too..
Marvin sucks.. period..
The Game Has Changed
I bet if Phil Jackson or Pat Riley was head coach, he will respect the coaching staff.
If they not going to trade Josh Smith for being insubordinate, then they need to get a coach that he would listen too and respect. and I know if they get Josh to respect and listen to a coach, the rest of the team would listen and respect the coach too..
ag
March 3rd, 2011
5:26 pm
Jo Bling, what Hawk is consistant other than Marvin, Powell, ZaZa, Collins – all of whom are consistantly bad? I think of all Hawks, he is the most consistant, followed by Al.
Wow, It Wasn’t a Bad Pick has showed up again, and as always defends Marvin by bashing Joe. Two great plays erased another turrible game by Marvin.
JSS
March 3rd, 2011
5:29 pm
Like I said, “What Josh Smith have you been watching?” Smith has been as consistent as at any time in his career since mid December at both ends of the floor. At the beginning of the season, there were some moments where he showed some “Milwaukee Series immaturity.” The guards on this team (Bibby era and post the trade) and Marvin just don’t realize if they give the ball to Horford and Smith in the right spots and go to the basket; then the offense will blossom…
Marvin, Johnson, and Crawford still have long “Casper Periods.” On the both ends of the floor and it can be maddening. I complimented Marvin and Joe for getting involved late in last nights game. Those are truly maddening portions of this team. They’ve all been in this league too long for this to keep happening.
Don’t forget that last night was a home game. What will they do when they do are on the road and get down 14-0 somewhere? They have to play a whole game!
ag
March 3rd, 2011
5:37 pm
Phoenix Falcons, if you feel this way, why watch the Hawks, go watch the Cavs and Pistons. Honestly, the Hawks are the most athletic team in the league and when they play well are a well oiled machine. Although I am a HUGE supporter of Jeff Teague and still believe he should start, Hinrich is 3-0 in a Hawks uniform. Without our disrespected Bibby, we are 5-2.
For most of us, do we ever question the decisons our bosses make for us? I think Josh is entitiled to do so as well. I do think he has to be “coached” up. Tell the guy, list 3 players who can stop him down low. When he fails to mention those three, coach him to stay down low. When he refuses, he needs to spend some quiet time with the bench. Let him realize two things happen when he stays down in the lane, he is going to score or get fouled. Now if he decides to shoot and miss jumpers, he can think about his actions on the bench. Actually at this point I like him shooting jumpers more than Marvin.
sas
March 3rd, 2011
6:04 pm
ag,
i like the last one ” Actually at this point I like him shooting jumpers more than Marvin.”True.
Al was great last night.Hawks are showing heart right now,i was just about to give up on them.If they play D,they can win against every NBA team. But IF(big one)
Jo Bling
March 3rd, 2011
9:13 pm
ag, I would argue that Horford and Joe are pretty consistent. Joe’s not always going to score 30, like last night, but when he doesn’t Horford is usually there to step in. And even when one or the other isn’t scoring, they are usually doing whatever it takes to win – like Joe d-ing up on Rose in the fourth quarter last night. That’s why those two are the best players on the team. They know their limitations and they play to their strengths, and they do it over and over and over again. Josh will do it one night, and then the next night he’s in another zone altogether.
As someone mentioned above, his perception of himself and status as a ballplayer is a far cry from reality. At points this year he has shown signs of maturing, and then the next night he’ll go out and be completely out of control again. Perhaps his worst trait is his attitude, and the fact that when things don’t go his way he pouts and whines and shows that mouthpiece, and then he loafs. I don’t expect him to be perfect. Nobody is. But I see a lot of wasted potential in Josh. He wonders why he doesn’t make the All Star team, but he refuses to fairly assess his own game and how he is perceived throughout the league. I think he could take the Hawks to a championship if he would grow up. I really do. And that’s why I’m going to stay on his back.
Dalastdon
March 4th, 2011
8:00 am
OK, Hawks that’s what the city is waiting for a TEAM we can all get behind. Yeah we don’t have Melo or Kobe or Lebron……you get the point. However, we do have the Best Power Forward playing Center in the League.
Market this team around Al Hortford…he is the leader not Joe Johnson or Josh Smith (not dissing JJ or Josh), but Al is the heart and soul of this team. He showed it Weds. night and has shown it since he arrived.
Let’s make a strong showing in the playoffs and then do whatever it takes to get our hometown boy out of Disneyworld and back in the ATL.
Then we will rule the Eastern Conference.
ICECOLD
March 4th, 2011
10:48 am
I know this might not happen, but can you imagine..
Jeff Teague
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
Al Horford
DWIGHT HOWARD
bench
Kirk Hinrich
Jamal Crawford
Marvin Williams
Josh Powell ( or Al Harrington )
Zaza Pachulia ( or any other center…
3rd
pape sy
Damien Wilkins
Collins
now tell me thats not a championship squad down to the T!!!! I bet Jeff Teague becomes Rajon Rando with his other 4 starters 2 starters All stars ( josh smith , Joe Johnson ) and two super stars ( Al Horford , Dwight Howard) and two time 6 man of the year Jamal crawford… and a starter thats now on the bench Marvin Williams…. thats 48 minutes of straight Defense and getting killed in the paint by two guys… Alley oops all day.. might not be as much jump shooting….. until Jamal Crawford get in the game!!!!! You have to play everybody 1 on 1…. everybody…
and we can afford to give Dwight Howard the same amount of money we gave to Joe Johnson
and we can give Jamal Crawford 8 million a year for 2-3 years!!!!
because everybody else would be getting the veteran minimum or the rookie scale, except marvin williams… and zaza would be traded!!!
Jo Bling
March 4th, 2011
10:53 am
ICECOLD,
I like it, no question, but that’s one hell of an expensive bench. Probably more expensive than a lot of teams’ starting five. I don’t think that would ever happen.
bigeasy830
March 8th, 2011
10:28 am
Teague will never become the next Rondo, he does not have the heart. I know ppeople complain about the Marvin williams draft pick, but marvin was concensus number 2 prospect in that darft he is just a bust because he does not have heart. But, the biggest mistake was drafting was drafting Sheldon Williams over brandon Roy or not reaching for Rondo. Also biggest mistake hiring, larry Drew over Avery Johnson. Drew and his coaching staff cannot develope young point gaurds plain and simple.