Live from Game 3: It’s a prove-it night for the Atlanta Hawks
It's a white-out/Dwight-out night at Philips Arena. Meaning: Free T-shirts! (Photo by M. Bradley)
How big is Game 3? Said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, speaking minutes ago: “You win and you’re up 2-1.”
Well, yes. More from Van Gundy: “People want it to mean something psychologically. Heck, it means something mathematically.”
Well, yes. But the psychic dimensions of this game for the home team are immense. Win and the Hawks will go some distance toward proving Game 1 was no fluke. Lose and they’ll travel just as far in the wrong direction.
The belief here is that Game 1 was no fluke. It’s a belief buttressed in reality: The Hawks beat the Magic three times of four in the regular season, and then they went to Orlando and won once and nearly won again.
Said Larry Drew, the Hawks’ coach: “We feel very confident.”
They should. They’re better than Orlando. They have the better starting five — you’d give Orlando the nod at center and point guard — and the better subs. And I’m not alone in this feeling. Jeff Van Gundy, Stan’s announcer brother, has taken to saying on-air that the Hawks are more talented than the Magic.
Informed of his sibling’s stance, Stan Van Gundy said: “That’s of no consequence.”
Tonight’s game is a far bigger deal for the Hawks than the Magic. Orlando needs to win once here over the weekend to reclaim the homecourt edge. If it loses Game 3, there’s still Game 4. But for the home side …
This is the prove-it game. This is the night to prove a series in which almost nobody – present company excepted — gave the Hawks a chance is theirs to take. This is the night to banish bitter memories of wretched home losses to Orlando in Round 2 last spring. For the Hawks, this is a massive night both psychologically and mathematically.
And with that, the floor is again yours. (Until I feel like saying something else, which I’m fairly sure I will.) I invite you to sit next to me — psychologically if not physically — as Game 3 unfolds. And if you’re asking me who will win, I’m saying the Hawks.
By Mark Bradley
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479 comments Add your comment
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:13 pm
Dont worry thwg…Rathburn is about to b-slap a ref
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2011
9:13 pm
Hawks by nine at halftime.
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:15 pm
What is with the hate for the Hawks. We are dominating yet Bucher asks Joe in the halftime interview about the fans booing him last year and why are we not up by more? Really??
Mike Jay
April 22nd, 2011
9:16 pm
Further proof that the Hawks get no national respect…..
ESPN just showed a graphic with the scoring leaders of each team. Apparentley the Hawks signed some guy named Hawford yesterday and he has 8 pts in the first half.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:16 pm
Its ESPN……thats what they do
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:17 pm
Mike Jay, Hawford just signed a 10 day contract and has already earned every penny
Joe for 3
April 22nd, 2011
9:18 pm
It’s much better to watch the local feed with Bob and Nique if you can’t stand ESPN.
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:18 pm
quick checkin….we are looking good. Need to win 3rd qrt big time! JJ to go for 35 tonight….
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
As much as I hate listening to ESPN, I can’t stand Nique. I don’t think he’s said anything of significance in his few years as announcer
GT Alum
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
thwg,
That’s what i was going to reply to soldierman when he said he was going to ESPN for some unbiased coverage. Seems more like we’ve got the choice between the official Hawks coverage and the unofficial Magic coverage. The national media loves Orlando and is hung up on all the Hawks’ issues. Not that I can criticize too much. I get hung up on all the Hawks’ issues, too. But tonight, they haven’t fallen into their bad habits too much.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
Joe for 3…I agree!! You get to listen to the homer Bob Rathburn who gets soo pissed at the moving screens by Howard its hilarious
tyler
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
Good first half……Just keep up the aggressiveness and we should win this one. Terrible reach in call on Crawford (all ball). I love it when the official closest to the action doesn’t call it and then the guy with from 10 feet away blows the whistle. Awesome.
Mike Jay
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
TC, They need to get him on a long term deal, he’s got some game
Oh I can’t stand ESPN but it’s good for some laughs every now and then.
Mike
April 22nd, 2011
9:21 pm
Hawks are a Bunch of stiffs!!!!!
Joe for 3
April 22nd, 2011
9:21 pm
TC. Completely agree. Bob by himself is pure entertainment. He is the biggest homer and I love it.
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:21 pm
Why are my comments being blocked again???? What is up with the AJC?
Joe for 3
April 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Nique: “Joe Johnson with the heat check. That’s the heat check right there.”
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Ha, now I punch through….
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Mike Jay…its so much more fun to listen to Bob Rathburn….if only the stinger was still working the games
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:23 pm
We need to win the 3rd qtr and go into the 4th with at least a 15 point lead. Keep foot on their throat!!
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
9:24 pm
WHAT?
WHAT?
WHAT? The HAWKS are MAKING some NOISE in ATL.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:24 pm
Joe for 3, hilarious!! Funny cause I believe it was a fall away jumper that he called a heat check…
Mike Jay
April 22nd, 2011
9:25 pm
Bob and the Stinger???? Oh my.
Hawford though? I mean come on ESPN, the guys been to a couple of All Star games. I guess it’s good the did not spell it Whorford.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:25 pm
Section 212, I tried to use a WT…..F and it didnt go through
GT Alum
April 22nd, 2011
9:25 pm
I used to really like Rathburn. Not sure if he’s actual gotten worse or if it just took me a while to realize that he’s such a homer that he can’t acknowledge the faults of the local team.
Mike Jay
April 22nd, 2011
9:27 pm
Yea Section 212 I tried to spell Whorford with a e after the r and Bradley said no no and ate my post.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:27 pm
Bob: Joe Johnson just hit a remarkable shot stinger…what do you think about that?
Stinger: Huh Huh Huh!!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:28 pm
GT Alum…now he such a homer he is actually funny…like a hockey announcer
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
Nique after Joe (I believe) hit a 3 in the third quarter….”Joe with the dagger!!” Magic promptly went on their run to take over the game.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
Hawks have 23 hoops to Orlando’s 14. Orlando lucky to be this close.
CONservative Johnson
April 22nd, 2011
9:32 pm
Joe for 3, Steve Holman makes Bob Rathbun look like Hawks-hater Jon Barry . . .
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:32 pm
Free throws Mark, free throws..
CONservative Johnson
April 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
thwg, that was one of the weirdest things I’ve heard from Nique, which is saying a lot . . .
As much as I don’t like Rathbun and Nique, Jon Barry was bordering on making me smash the tv.
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
Need a strong start….go to Horford early
Joe for 3
April 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
Guess I should turn on the radio, Conservative Johnson.
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
9:35 pm
THAT looked UGLY
Big Benn
April 22nd, 2011
9:35 pm
Please find someone to replace Nique & Ratbun talk about homer.May be the worst play by play announcer around . i can watch paint dry instead of listening to them.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2011
9:36 pm
Orlando cuts it to five. Home team goes 2 1/2 minutes without scoring.
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
9:36 pm
Idiots!!!
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:37 pm
uhhhh 5 horrible shots to start the half. Only the Hawks…
BravesFaninAugusta
April 22nd, 2011
9:37 pm
Same old Hawks…..giving them points with lazy play
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
9:38 pm
Man we needed that timeout drew has to be putting a foot into these guys this game is far from over stick to the freakin stinkin gameplan already. Geez
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:38 pm
We should get Brian Jordan…would that make it better…lol
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:40 pm
terrible shot by Josh…lucky it went in
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
Throws the elbow!! Throws the elbow!!!!!!! says rathburn…lol
GT Alum
April 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
OK, so leaving Richardson open is a bad idea.
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
pathetic
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:42 pm
Lets get in the paint Hawks!!!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
9:43 pm
nice D
GT Alum
April 22nd, 2011
9:43 pm
LOL…dunk after the shot clock.