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
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:16 pm
Za Za……would want him on my side in a fight.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:16 pm
Horford!!!!!!!!
Coach D
April 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
+7 since Williams came in for Smith.
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
when you go the basket usually good things happen…..repeat……
Thor !
April 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
horford is 3-10 and 2 rebounds and 1 rebound was a long bounce out from a missed 3
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
Sid…it appears by his neanderthal eyes…he can be punched fifty times to his one
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
LD needs to keep Josh on the bench until he realizes he is a freakin post player
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:18 pm
Didnt see that foul on hymlick
Thor !
April 22nd, 2011
10:18 pm
Wheres Big Al on the boards? Play some freaking defense Al
Thor !
April 22nd, 2011
10:19 pm
You cant put Josh at PF when you have Al and Zaza in the game it moves josh to the perimeter.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
Thor…I like this debate…just look at Horfords numbers against the magic over the years…he just doesnt match up well.
Bill
April 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
You might quiet Mark!
Bulldung
April 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
Al needs to be traded. Ill take josh over the fake allstar any day of the week.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
NBA is a game of match ups
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
Al does not play perimeter D very well
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
DAMN the HAWKS can WIN this game if they will BURN the clock and move the ball to get an 8 ft shot or a FOUL. HAWKS THINK and control the PACE.
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
is Howard a free agent after this season? would he consider playing in his hometown?
2 FOR JOHN DREW
April 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
WOW Thor .Are you AL’S jaded lover or what MAN ?
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
damnit man what the hell!
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
Crawford to the bench? Hope he doesn’t stay for long
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
takes out Jamal?
Bulldung
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
T C its not just against the magic. Al does play well against anyone that has a legitimate center.
Putting Josh in as a 2 guard or 3 takes him out of his game.
Coach D
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
Why change the line up now Larry???????
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
Bob Rathburn just gave me an insider scoop telling me that he is going to put the sleeper hold on josh smith
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
Because he is not a CENTER!!!!!
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
Josh Smith is either dumb or too lazy to go the basket.
G
April 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
Josh Smith STOP shooting 3’s!!!
Bulldung
April 22nd, 2011
10:24 pm
Does Al horford ever play defense?
G
April 22nd, 2011
10:24 pm
Take Smith out of the game
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:24 pm
there you go…..sit J smoove or whatever he is the rest of the game
Coach D
April 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
Put DUck back in!!!!!!!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
The fact remains Horford is a PF and until we have a pure center we will never see his true potential. Its amazing that he has gotten Allstar consideration given what he has to do
ORACLE
April 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
IF JOSH COULD PLAY HIS POSITION AT THE POWER FORWARD HE WOULD NOT BE ON THE PERIMETER BUT TO ACCOMMODATE AL JOSH HAS TO MOVE TO THE PEREMETER
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:26 pm
I want some Pachulia cologne
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Get em pach!!
EARL
April 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Yea how in the heil is Horford an allstar? the dude is a loser and is forcing everyone out of their game.
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Richardson just threw a punch…..double T….should be.
Col. Angus
April 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
JJ 2 points in second half. He is a girl.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Pachulia: I will break you!!
Coach D
April 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
ZAZA!!!! : )
thwg
April 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
That was a punch to the face on ZAZA. Kick him out!
EARL
April 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Zaza is fighting, something al doesnt do
Bill
April 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Both will pay..
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Yeah Earl…Horford is the coach as well as a player…..whacko
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
zaza is the toughest dude we have on the team hands down
chipontheroad birdsrus
April 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
bring it home tuff ATL
Chuck
April 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
JJ is the most overpaid player in the NBA
G
April 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
Can someone tell me how the ref standing right there did not see the punch by Richardson?
Section 212
April 22nd, 2011
10:30 pm
Richardson got in zaza’s face/space, so he should not be kick out if there was any head to head contact. But they will throw both out.
Sid
April 22nd, 2011
10:30 pm
that’s what I was saying earlier…would want zaza on my side in a fight….he might get his butt kicked but he would do it fighting.