The Hawks win a wild Game 3: They’re the better team, folks
That's how it's spelled: H-A-W-K-S. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It’s not easy being an Atlanta Hawk. The whole wide world expects you to fail. Because you lost a playoff series by 101 points last spring. Because you spent much of this regular season getting blown out at home. Because your ownership promoted an assistant coach who was supposed to make you better and instead saw you slide from 53 wins to 44 with the same personnel.
But then the new season began, the one that matters, and you went to Orlando and took Game 1. Heck, you almost took Game 2. And what did the Magic’s Ryan Anderson tell reporters after those two games?
Why, this: “Atlanta’s a team that if things aren’t really going their way, they’re going to struggle a little bit. We’re different in a sense where if we’re down, we kind of know how to fight our way back into it.”
You’re an Atlanta Hawk, and you essentially got called heartless by Ryan Anderson. (Ryan Anderson, for Pete’s sake.) But it’s not just one Orlando sub who has come to doubt you. It’s pretty much the whole wide world. Because the Hawks’ way for a quarter-century has been to get people excited only to do something goofy. Like watch Cliff Levingston take the biggest shot in franchise history — Game 6 against Boston, 1988 — and miss the rim. Like trade for J.R. Rider. Like draft Marvin Williams. Like draft Shelden Williams.
But here’s the thing: To be an Atlanta Hawk now is to sit in a strangely sweet seat, after an 88-84 victory Friday night. Nobody expects you to win, and yet you’re gifted enough to beat anybody. Indeed, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was asked before Game 3 on Friday about his announcer brother Jeff’s stated opinion that the Hawks are more talented than the Magic. “That’s of no consequence,” Stan Van Gundy said.
It isn’t, but it is. This is basketball. Talent does matter. At issue in this series is whether the better team can keep its head and hold its nerve. Because if that team does, the Hawks will be playing in Round 2.
Three games have been played in this series — a total of 144 minutes. The Hawks have won at least 100 of those minutes. They lead 2-1 on merit.
Loading ...They made Game 3 much harder than it needed to be, wasting a 14-point lead and falling behind with 11 minutes to play. They wobbled, but they didn’t fall. Jamal Crawford conjured up a four-point play to put the Hawks back in front. Al Horford, who had done little, drove the baseline for a reverse and then made a jumper. Zaza Pachulia drew a charge from Dwight Howard, then took a key offensive rebound.
Said Crawford, who would make a bigger shot: “We showed we could handle adversity tonight. We showed resolve.”
Ahead by eight, the Hawks again let the Magic clamber back. Pachulia fouled Howard, and then he got himself ejected for squaring off with Jason Richardson. Howard had two free throws to tie with 2:22 remaining. He missed one. The Hawks still led, if just.
Then Joe Johnson missed. Jameer Nelson stole an offensive rebound and hit to put the Magic ahead by a point. Johnson drove and got fouled, making both. Hawks again by one, now 1:22 left.
Hedo Turkoglu drove and fed Brandon Bass. Crawford drove and fed Horford. Hawks back ahead, 42 seconds to go.
Said Horford: “I struggled with my shooting tonight, but Jamal had confidence in me.”
Turkoglu hoisted a 3-pointer from the dead corner trey over Horford and missed. Said Van Gundy: “Horrible shot.”
Crawford dribbled the clock down and, with 5.7 seconds remaining, banked home the clinching trey over the itsy-bitsy Nelson. Said Josh Smith: “Unbelievable shot.”
The team that couldn’t stay on the floor with the Magic 12 months ago had again taken a series lead. If you’re an Atlanta Hawk, you’re starting to make people wonder if they’d pegged you wrong. Said Crawford: “Thank God we won. That was probably the most important game of the series. The pressure’s on them now.”
Or is it? If you’re an Atlanta Hawk, the hard part comes now. You have to finish what you’ve started, lest your reputation as talented-but-heartless be cast in bronze for perpetuity.
And you’re capable. Orlando has been chasing you for 2 1/2 games now, and only in Game 2 did it catch you. You’ve outscored the Magic by 24 points from the floor in the series. You’ve held a double-digit lead in each game. You’re the better team. You need to take the wind from this pulsating victory and ride it into Game 4 on Easter Sunday. You need to ride it all the way into Round 2.
By Mark Bradley
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140 comments Add your comment
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:47 pm
1
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:48 pm
Oh man finally after 2 years. My life is complete. The elusive first comment. It’s only downhill from here.
SteveW
April 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
We can beat this team 4-1.
Way to go Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
SteveW
April 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
We better be ready to fight Sunday. I think Orlando will be
soldierman
April 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
now to the article. Well said my friend. This is where we make our mark as a legit contender. Once we get josh to play team ball we will see the whole team blossom. Very excited for sunday,
No Woody for Me
April 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
There was no team meeting. There was no formal announcement. But Josh Smith has officially become irrelevant to the Hawks’ offense.
He just stands at the 3 point line and watches the rest of the team play. And god forbid the ball rotates to him out there.
Bradley – any stats on what Josh’s plus/minus numbers are in this series?
Obama's Teleprompter
April 22nd, 2011
10:57 pm
Geez, very quick turnaround on the article… Something tells me you wrote it before the game started and just filled some of the plays later.
No Woody for Me
April 22nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Does Dwight have to sit out game 4, or does the max technicals per season reset when the playoffs start?
bsg3003
April 22nd, 2011
10:58 pm
okay right now forget anything and everything for a moment… HOW THE HELL DID JAMAL CRAWFORD MAKE THAT SHOT!!!!!!?????!!!!!!! (excuse the language)
Obama's Teleprompter
April 22nd, 2011
10:59 pm
Smith was +/- 0 today, +7 Game 2, and +6 in Game 1.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
10:59 pm
This was an epic win for the hawks and if we had competent ownership we would now be starting the search to trade JJ so we could keep Crawford. Crawford is the freakin man in the clutch…not lookin for a stupid iso…he will take on anyone…just needs the ball in his hands.
bsg3003
April 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
crawford is just flat out dirty in the clutch….
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
9:58 pm
I think the Hawks will win by 4.
ATLtodolavida
April 22nd, 2011
11:02 pm
Resign Jamal.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:03 pm
I know dude!!! I am amazed at him man…
Angus
April 22nd, 2011
11:03 pm
The Hawks definitely have the better collection of talent.
If the Hawks had a remotely decent offensive plan, this wouldn’t even be a contest.
ISO Joe, ISO Jamal, ISO Al, blah blah blah – luckily we have better players (obviously with Howard being the exception).
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:04 pm
“Resign Jamal.”…..huh….
tt
April 22nd, 2011
11:05 pm
Dwight Howard is a chump!
51WTGW50
April 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
I just watched a MMA fight and there were not as many good shot landed in those 3 3min rounds as the Hawks v Magic basketball game. AHAHAH THE TRUTH.
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!!!
April 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
The Magic must have fairy dust in their eyes. Imagine that.
Seeing Dwight hunched over in defeat = WINNING!!!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
There is no such thing as iso jamal…lol…he creates his own game…thats what I like. ISO JOE is what only exists because that the only way he can play his game. If you look at JC…that dude can just flat out score
Dawglasville
April 22nd, 2011
11:12 pm
Zaza baby. No fear. Josh has got to go. He is a coach killer. Somewhere there is a coach out there who thinks he is Henry Higgins and he can turn Josh into the bell of the ball. Dump him. New ownership. Get Dwight. We would have as good a shot as any team to win it all. Man, I’m glad we don’t have to watch Bibby getting beat everytime. They are in Howard’s head. Keep pounding him.
Oh, good read Mark. This game has me a little excited.
Mike
April 22nd, 2011
11:13 pm
But I think that we don’t know what to do about Josh Smith, his 3s almost killed the game for the Hawks, its looking that he need to be traded away or tell him to stop shooting 3s
Gary
April 22nd, 2011
11:14 pm
When you have no expectations, 2 wins in three games is a shock. I still think that each game the Hawks play, I have no idea which Hawks team will come on the floor. I had all expectations for the Falcons and you see where that went. So GO HAWKS!
The Falcon Jedi
April 22nd, 2011
11:15 pm
Im not impressed. This team wont get past round 2
J-Smoove
April 22nd, 2011
11:16 pm
No Woody – Very perceptive. It took less than two minutes to see that J. Smith is +19 for the series and he’s averaging almost 16 per game on over 50% shooting. Good call. Have you watched any of the games?
Pistol Pete
April 22nd, 2011
11:17 pm
Great Win, it’s really exciting to watch inspired, hardnose ball in Atlanta. After last year, watchin us play like this is extreme payback. We are gonna be hard to deal with. I love it!! Go Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:17 pm
I am dreaming here but…..if we can play the kind of defense we are capable of playing with the clutch of JC….can we do it???? ala detroit pistons of a few years back…its a stretchhhhhh
blazerdawg
April 22nd, 2011
11:18 pm
LOVE the fight in the Hawks! Proving me wrong.
Dawglasville
April 22nd, 2011
11:18 pm
Josh wants no part of Howard. I don’t want to hear about their friendship. Their friendship didn’t stop Howard from cuing up on Josh’s head last year. In Josh’s mind he is like aluminum siding – He doesn’t need the paint.
Underground Atlanta
April 22nd, 2011
11:19 pm
…… Great shot CRAWFORD !
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:20 pm
Seriously…jsmoove, pistol pete, blazerdawg, mike…what are your thoughts..
the ghost of John Battle
April 22nd, 2011
11:20 pm
Re-sign Jamal you idiot owners! WAY TO GO HAWKS
Blackoutanyone?
April 22nd, 2011
11:24 pm
Will someone explain to me why for the love of all that is right.. we can’t run an offense that keeps Josh Smith in and around the paint? Watching him hang around the 3 point line he just looks out of position.
Dawglasville
April 22nd, 2011
11:25 pm
Rodman bought into his role and he is a hall of famer. Why can’t Josh get it into his head? What can we get for Josh and Marvin? If he had Horford’s brain and heart he would be scary.
Timbo
April 22nd, 2011
11:26 pm
Good job Hawks.
savannah swamp rat
April 22nd, 2011
11:26 pm
jedi let’s get out of round one then this team will work on round 2. Go Hawks!
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:27 pm
Blackoutanyone?….I have said it before and I agree..Drew wants him on the outside to get the ball and penetrate..not have his back to the ball…but the idiot decides to throw up the 30 footer…not sure why Drew hasn’t beat his ass for it
Coach D
April 22nd, 2011
11:27 pm
If the Hawks want any chance in the second round they’ve got to win this series quick. Am shocked that I am talking of beating the Magic in a playoff series!!! This ain’t your 2009-2010 Orlando Magic!!!! Thank goodness!
let's go hawks
April 22nd, 2011
11:28 pm
Zaza worked his butt off…dude’s getting beat up by Howard and keeps battling…Jamal is clutch…give the guy his $10M a year and re-sign him. Him, Kirk, and Joe out there is pretty nice….trade Josh for a nice piece and find a center who can score and demand a defender….we have a nice core…don’t need a slam dunk champion though who thinks he’s a 3pt shooter….that being said, let’s go Hawks!!!!!!
Pistol Pete
April 22nd, 2011
11:28 pm
TC, I think this team can be very dangerous, our players have stepped up in every aspect of the game. Playing Defense, getting rebounds and seriously getting in D. Howard’s head. Go Hawks!!!!!!
Mike
April 22nd, 2011
11:30 pm
My thoughts is that J-Smooth is better in the paint area or heck mid range jumpers but he is no 3-pont specialist, but he keeps on plant himself there. If he was the J-Smooth of last year, he would attack the glass more and less 3-pointers. Those miss 3s is going to get Hawks in deep trouble if that contiunes.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:30 pm
orlando is a 1 player team
Underground Atlanta
April 22nd, 2011
11:31 pm
Don’t give me any of that jazz.
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!!!
April 22nd, 2011
11:32 pm
Trade Josh, Joe, and Marvin for Dwight.
Tonight.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:33 pm
Pistol Pete…I just look at the Pistons teams of late and I see the same thing…great defense..not just with overall defense..but with ball control…and timely clutch shots…not saying the same will happen but wow I am impressed. When…and I say when we advance..our game plan will change because Drew seems to have had this game plan in place for years Woody just didnt want to hear it….but it will be interesting what changes.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:33 pm
Mike I agree but the situation is when we try to put a real center in Al moves to the 4 forcing josh to the 3 where hes on the perimeter. If he stayed in his 4 position hed be closer to the basket and play the Smoove who is a great defender, a very good scorer and a dish artist.
With Al you get a ball hog who has to be set up and plays no recognizable defense.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
Drew is only using players Woodson did not have at center. Woodson did a much better job of coaching these hawks than Drew
Drew sucks.
MitchC
April 22nd, 2011
11:37 pm
Mark, wouldn’t you say this is a rather “boastful” column.
Granted, I didnt watch all of Game 3, just parts. I wasn’t sure who was going to win in the end. Back and forth, back and forth. Not until the Hawks made the final 3 pointer, did I have confidence.
All tonight really did it to put the Hawks in position to win this series. They can now win the remaining games in Atlanta, and lose Game Five in Orlando, and still win the series four games to two. In my gut, if the Hawks do win this series, I think that is what is probably going to happen.
Oh.. one more thing.,. isn’t it a bit.. I’ll say.. “overconfident” to say that this team can beat “anybody”? Do you think we can beat Miami, Boston or Chicago in the Eastern Finals, or Semifinals? Do you think we can beat.. the Lakers.. or San Antonio.. in June?
I say,. let’s focus on this round first.
We escaped tonight. :Let’s see which Hawk team shows up to play on Sunday.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:38 pm
Im not surprize the hawks are betting the magic. they are a one player team and the hawks grabbed big bodies just for Howard. I will be surprise if the hawks do well in the second round.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:39 pm
We what talent do the magic have besides Howard?
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:39 pm
no no no no…Bubba…we have no real center..that is what is the delema…if we had one..Al and josh would be fighting for the 4 spot…which Al would clearly win because…well we all know why. Josh just needs to look at AL…stop slippin behind the arc all the time and thinkin…Ive got this
Mike
April 22nd, 2011
11:41 pm
So at the end of the day, one of them has to go, no matter what. they got the same skill set(Curse you, BK), but since Al has signed that contact beginning of the year, it looks like JS is the odd man out unless we can trade J.J.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2011
11:41 pm
MitchC These hawks are just like last years. 1 and done. They wont make it out of the second round….Its actually time to rebuild the pucked up team.
Blackoutanyone?
April 22nd, 2011
11:41 pm
Anyone heard if Zaza will have to sit a game?
puff
April 22nd, 2011
11:42 pm
Bubba, Turkoglu disagrees with you about Horford’s D
carnac the magnificent
April 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
van gundy smells like fine mahogany.
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
TC
Josh is a five tool player.
Al is a decent player but not as talented as Josh.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
Mitch C….Id say you defenitly didn’t watch the game based on your comments. I don’t truly think that the Hawks could win it all, but based on the defense that they have displayed with the Magic it is worthy of discussion. You need to watch it to understand it. As I have said in my older posts…it just looks like the recent pistons days..
Bubba
April 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
Actually they were trying to trade al during a time out today but nobody was interested.
Dude played 43 minutes and was 6 of 14 with 2 rebounds and 1 was a long rebound on a missed 3
hawkfan
April 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Smoove played counterproductive at times … but the Hawks still need him to be at the top of his game to make a strong playoff run. No other player can match his excitement and all-around contribution when he plays SMART and FOCUSED. Now if only that were the case more often than not …
John Berry was right though … when the ball is in the post he needs to be on the weak-side and look to cut to the rim or anticipate a rebound … not on the 3-pt wing as the first option off a double-team.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Bubba…when can we quit saying Josh is more talented….
No Woody for Me
April 22nd, 2011
11:53 pm
J-Smoove. If Josh is so valuable, why is Drew keeping him out of the 4th quarter of playoff games?
I’ll admit he plays good defense and that likely leads to a positive +/-, but he is absolutely lost in the half court offense.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
The above post has been updated with quotes, if you’re into such things.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:56 pm
I think Smoove is what he is which is good…lets just not expect him to ever to be GREAT
Great Job Woodson we miss you!
April 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
Said Horford: “I struggled with my shooting tonight, and I never play defense. Im on my way to midtown you guys coming?”
Greg
April 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
No one questions the fact that the Hawks have talent. Unfortunately, the cumulative basketball IQ and mental toughness of this team(I use that term very loosely) would be less than zero if it weren’t for Horford.
Even though his prayer was answered, that last play by Jamal is exactly what is wrong with this team. Guys dribbling the ball for 20 seconds and then throwing up a 25 footer. Happens all the time with this group of frauds.
tommystice@yahoo.com
April 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
Bubba, Horford plays really good defense and rebounds really well. He led the league in shooting percentage outside of 10 feet. That means he was even better than great perimeter shooters. I am going to go out on a limb and say his interior shooting was pretty good too. If there is anyone on this team that needs to take a larger role in the offense its him. Drew is showing that he is a much better coach than woodson using something called gameplanning which woodson never did and he makes adjustments which woodson never heard of. He is using Zaza and Collins both of which were on the team last year so your comment about centers that woodson didint have is incorrect.
TC
April 22nd, 2011
11:58 pm
And no….Al might not ever be great either…but we will never now until he is a prototipical 4 man
yodaddy
April 22nd, 2011
11:59 pm
a few months ago it was
trade Jamal, Zaza & Marvin for Carmelo
True Story
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:00 am
We have to draft 5’s or trade for one….as well as a point…..but seriously I think we may see something special this year
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:06 am
Modration?? My comment is awaiting moderation baby!!! Woohoo!!!
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Am I in the same room as the NFL guys???
This time
April 23rd, 2011
12:08 am
If horford had Zaza’s resolve wed make it out of the second round
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
Yo daddy…I know…I was that dude..but the more I watch JJ pee his pants and JC do his thang..I wish we could do something to keep JC and trade JJ…you know??
Sleepy
April 23rd, 2011
12:14 am
Yeah Greg they showed no mental toughness in this game at all ……rolfmao what ?
YOU MAD ??? !!!!!!!!!!
I saw someone posted that Jamal has made over 1,300 three pointers in his career so I had to look that up and they were right .
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_career.html
Thats 24th all time so I dont get why people thinks its some kinda fluke . Its time for people to start respecting the mans shot .
From looking at that list hes already passed Allan Houston ,Dell Curry,Dennis Scott,Hersey Hawkins and will probably finish in the top ten all time by the time hes done .
When someone has made that many shots I dont consider them lucky when someone also holds the record for making the most while also being fouled I dont even know why its being questioned at all.
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:20 am
Larry Drew earned my respect tonight. He benched J Smoove after he launched a trey at a critical juncture (which of course he missed) and then threw the ball away. He would have never re-entered the game if Zasa hadn’t been tossed. When the Hawks rebuilt the lead to 8 points after his benching, he got off the bench and asked to be put back in the game. Drew patted him on the head and sent him back to his seat. Good going coach. The two stupidest players on the team or J Smoove and Marvin. If I were the coach they would only see limited minutes at the end of quarters or to give my starters a blow.
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:23 am
Here is why coach Drew is better than Woody. He has already benched Marvin, who only gets limited minutes. Tonight he benched J Smoove after another failed trey at a critical juncture and a turnover. He wouldn’t have seen the court again if Zasa hadn’t been bounced. Good going coach!
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:24 am
Sleepy..you the man for throwing out those kind of stats…he nee to be recognized more…
TC
April 23rd, 2011
12:25 am
Thats why I say..try to trade JJ and keep JC
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:25 am
hey
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:28 am
Coach Drew showed why he is a better coach than Woody tonight. He has already severly limited Marvin’s minutes and tonight he benched J Smoove after another horrible trey attempt at a critical juncture and a turnover. Smoove wouldn’t have seen the court again tonight if Zasa hadn’t been bounced. Good job coach!
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:28 am
yo
LakeDawg
April 23rd, 2011
12:28 am
J Smoove sucks!
JeJe
April 23rd, 2011
12:41 am
Great blog, MC.
Do you think Z will be suspended? I hope not – his headbutt was a joke. He did the same thing vs. KG
And can someone please tell the players to get rid of “the pressure’s on them” mentality? That’s exactly why we lost Game 2. There is no DESPERATION
JeJe
April 23rd, 2011
12:46 am
I’m still waiting on Kirk to get into an altercation, but it seems like he and Jameer are pretty cool with each other
Dr. Warren
April 23rd, 2011
12:47 am
Typical Hawks move would be to get blown out on Sunday. We’ll see. Let’s hope part of this surprise is that they’re playing with more heart for LD than they did for Woody, because with this talented team, “more heart” is what has been required all along.
chem
April 23rd, 2011
12:53 am
If the hawks signed another center, Horford would slide to power forward, and Josh Smith would be on the perimeter all day. This is what everyone has been clamoring for, and it just doesn’t make sense.
Texas Hawk
April 23rd, 2011
12:53 am
Good Job Hawks!! All I can say is enjoy Crawford because the “Spirit Group” lied to him last year and its gonna cost them dearly to try and sign him after these past few playoff games!!!!
morris day
April 23rd, 2011
12:57 am
I have to agree with you guys on all three points. this team was better under woodson, it sucks now, and its time for horford to go!
chem
April 23rd, 2011
12:57 am
ALSO: Josh Smith is uncoachable. His ego won’t let him cede his personal goals for the betterment of the team. Larry Drew and the entire arena were begging him not to settle for jumpshots. His problem is that he never cuts hard without the ball. You can see it in his body language. He loafs around the perimeter when he’s not handling the ball.
pay it up
April 23rd, 2011
12:59 am
this series is over—the hawks are in control—mark it down–the hawks will upset the bulls in round 2 in 6 games! the hawks are back!!!
JASon
April 23rd, 2011
12:59 am
After tonight, I think its clear the hawks are just a better team- 5-2 vs. Orlando. Also realized Dwight Howard is just a jerk. He throws an arm on practically every play. Apparently he thinks no team should actually defend him.
Tim from EP
April 23rd, 2011
1:13 am
I’ve been sticking up for this dude for too long. Josh Smith you got to go.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 23rd, 2011
1:37 am
“Drew is only using players Woodson did not have at center.”
Uh… no. Woody had Collins and Zaza at his disposal too.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 23rd, 2011
1:42 am
Smoove was the only Hawk in double figures in rebounding and was +5 for the game, but of course he takes a few bad shots and everyone goes ape sh-t. Dude shot a better percentage today than Joe, Jamal, Al, and Kirk. Just sayin’.
Y’all are so busy trying to find something about Smoove to criticize that you don’t even criticize him for the thing for which he deserves criticism in this game. If you want to single him out, pick on his defense today, which was sub par and well below his usual level. Granted, this big lineup puts him out of position and forces him to defend on the perimeter and close out on shooters, neither one of which is among his strengths defensively, but he should still be able to keep up with Turkoglu better than he did.
bad dawg
April 23rd, 2011
1:45 am
Now that I hear the hawks are making an effort, should I watch? I’ve watched or listened to more than the majority of their games since 1970.This year I watched 5 minutes of one quarter and it looked like the same guys in last years playoffs, glad to hear their checks were all good and they are competing with the rest of the grown-ups in the NBA,maybe in a few years when the roster turns over I won’t have to watch the team that QUIT in the play-offs. Good luck and GO BRAVES!!!
MJC
April 23rd, 2011
1:55 am
@Najeh:
Co-sign
Harry Hawk
April 23rd, 2011
1:58 am
The only thing that matters to me is whether these guys will show up and fight in the second round. I don’t think they possess the talent to make an Eastern Conference final, but if they’ll show the necessary fortitude to do it, I’ll have a newfound respect for this group of men.
Looker
April 23rd, 2011
2:36 am
Way to go Zaza…just keep fightin dude!! You might not be the most skilled player on the floor but you got the heart of a warrior! Hey Glenn “Big Baby” Davis you got to give it up, Dwight Howard is the real deal! Funny just watching him laught and wine at the sametime…dude thinks he never fouls and but some how manages to get fouled every time and I do mean everytime he touches the ball! Btw way Howard we all saw you throw that cheap shot forearm that started the whole deal! I’m sure your wallet will feel a little lighter by Sunday. Hawks by 10 on Sunday…mark it down!
K.W.
April 23rd, 2011
2:36 am
Best game I’ve been to. The crowd was hype. Let’s get it on Sunday Hawks!
Kelvin Frazier
April 23rd, 2011
6:13 am
You are right Mark, the Hawks are the better team, but that doesn’t mean they will win the series. These are the Hawks we are talking about after all. A lot of the analysts on ESPN of predicting this series is going seven games, it shouldn’t. If it weren’t for some questionable coaching decisions in Game 2 the Hawks could be up 3 – 0. Sunday’s Game 4 is the pivotal game for the Hawks, win that game and the series is all but over. A side note, I know the Hawks have been stuck with some bad contracts over the years, but how would you like to be stuck with the Gilbert Arenas contract. He is owed $62M over the next three years. He didn’t even play in Game 3, coach’s decision.
GT
April 23rd, 2011
8:10 am
This is not the same Orlando team they played last year. They have been beating them all year not the case last year. “talented-but-heartless” is not necessarily the case, talented but dumb is closer to it but you can’t write that as a home paper or really say it as a national reporter. The shot that won the game last night was a prayer, it banked in if my eyes served me right. They were doing the standing around on offense like a pre game shoot around. Maybe they are heartless it takes guts to drive to that basket, the kind of guts Wilkins or Jordon had as much of as they had talent, but it took brains to mess with the defender too. When you spot up three feet outside a three point line you are a long way from the fight, and you are about as clever as a 12 year old, who is doing every thing Orlando has asked of him. Who knew God even liked teams like this more less answered their prayers.
MDG
April 23rd, 2011
8:11 am
The biggest difference between the teams this year is no Vince Carter. He always lights Atlanta up! They can let Dwight do his thing, which is unstoppable, and lock down the perimeter like they have been doing. Hawks in 6.
Greg
April 23rd, 2011
8:13 am
Throwing in a lucky 3 pointer off the glass doesn’t equate to mental toughness. Over and over again in this game and most others of any consequence, the Hawks play one on one basketball. They fail to execute even the most basic principles of team ball. But all is forgotten for one night because of the shot that fell. As bad as the Hawks played in the 2nd half, a team with more than one player would have beaten them by 20+. Thank the Magic for last night. The Hawks certainly didn’t do much to earn it.
Gamer
April 23rd, 2011
8:16 am
GLAD FOR THE WIN…BUT A LUCKY SHOT BY JAMAL!!!!! AND I DON’T BELIEVE IN LUCK!!!! SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT LUCK IS THE DOG THAT JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF A MOVING VEHICLE LOSING TWO LEGS, ONE EYE, AND SEVERAL TOOTHS; SUFFERING A FRACTURED SKULL AND A BROKEN TAIL-BONE BUT WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!!!!!
JAMAL CRAWFORD GOING ONE ON ONE AT 3′POINT!!! EXCUSE ME WAH!!! HE’S ABOUT THREE FEET BEHIND THE ARC?
NOT GOOD COACHING OR JUST A BONEHEAD PLAY THAT GOT LUCKY? PROBABLY BOTH!!!
LD’S COACHING IS REGRESSING IN POSTSEASON. HE’S NOT COACHING SET PLAYS AT CRITICAL JUNCTURES IN GAMES…HE’S NOT COACHING DISCIPLINES WITH PLAYERS LIKE JOSH SMITH!!!
HOW MANY TRIPS DOWN THE FLOOR DID WE WITNESS JOSH SMITH LAUNCHING JUMPSHOTS OR TRYING TO MAKE ENTRY PASSES TO POST-UP PLAYER? HE WASN’T DOING A GOOD JOB ON NEITHER ONE!!!
COME ON LARRY DREW, YOU GOT A RED-HOT HORFORD AND A DOUBLE-TEAM THREAT IN JOE JOHNSON, BOTH PLAYERS HAPPENS TO BE LEGITIMATE ALL-STARS… BUT YOU RUN YOUR OFFENSE THROUGH JOSH SMITH AT CRITICAL JUNCTURES IN A POSTSEASON GAME!!! TERRIBLE COACHING!!!!
EITHER JOSH SMITH ISN’T LISTENING TO LD OR LD ISN’T COACHING EFFECTIVELY…TERRIBLE PLAY SELECTIONS…NO BRAINS OR SMART PLAY IN CRUNCH TIME….
THE BALL SHOULD BE IN JOE JOHNSON’S HAND AT CRUNCH TIME, DRIVING THE BALL FOR FLOATER OR TEARDROP SHOT OR MID-RANGE JUMPER OR FORCING DEFENSE INTO DOUBLE TEAMING HIM, MAKING QUICK PASSES TO WEAKSIDE SLASHERS(josh smith or horford) GOING TO BASKET!!!
NOT HAVING JOSH SMITH CONSTANTLY STANDING AROUND PERIMETER FOR JUMPSHOTS~~~THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OPPOSING TEAMS WANT THE HAWKS TO DO!!!!
THE HAWKS GOT LUCKY BUT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPEN TO THE DOG CALLED LUCKY….
BY THE WAY, WHERE IS JEFF TEAGUE??? YOU CAN’T DEVELOP A TALENT ON THE BENCH!!!
Hollywould
April 23rd, 2011
8:38 am
Good to get the win but as Jon Barry was saying all nite “If you are going to have a guy take the long jump shots why not a jump shooter?: Time and time again Smith is taking (not 3 pointers) but 23 ft 2 pointers. Does anyone know another player on any team who slows down the offense like Joe Johnson? dribbles for 15 seconds the throws it out where somebody has to take a terrible shot. I have never seen anything like it. Congrats to the Hawks for being able to overcome iso Joe.
UGASlobberknocker
April 23rd, 2011
8:39 am
Has anyone noticed how large Zaza’s head is? In his faceoff against Garnett a couple of yrs ago, Garnett’s head looked like a grapefruit next to Zaza…Last night, he was passing out head butts..those had to hurt. I love it..nobody is pushing him around.
UGASlobberknocker
April 23rd, 2011
8:40 am
@Gamer
WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?
W Reid Whitaker
April 23rd, 2011
8:40 am
Let’s see ….How many points do you get for a headbut ????
xemployee
April 23rd, 2011
8:49 am
am so used to hawks losing when they blow any lead, it was a pleasant surprise friday night
jgsbrids
April 23rd, 2011
9:21 am
great job hawks! love him or hate him–josh smith that is–the hawks need him! worry about next year, next year! he has worked on his jumper and it is much improved but he has to learn when to take them. if i were the coach–he would have to attempt atleast five post ups to every jumper.
let’s go hawks–get game four and get a couple of chances to wrap this up in five or six.
Gamer
April 23rd, 2011
9:33 am
USUALLLY I DON’T REPLY TO WHINERS!!! BUT THIS ONE TIME EXCEPTION FOR YOU, UGASLOBBERKNOCKER!!
I’M NOT SHOUTING JUST WRITING IN UPPER-CASE LETTERS WITH EXCLAMATIONS TO GET POINT ACROSS TO PEOPLE OF INTEREST?
DON’T BE A SENSITIVE BLOGGER, UGASLOBBERKNOCKER!!!
THIS IS NBA SPORT AT ITS BEST(POSTSEASON)…ONLY THE STRONG AND INTELLIGENT BLOGGERS SHOULD BE HERE….
CALM YOURSELF, DON’T BE A SENSITIVE BLANK.
Hard to Believe
April 23rd, 2011
9:35 am
What amazes me is that there was alot of talk about trading Crawford during the season. Getting Crawford was one of the few really great moves by the Hawks in the last few years.
Mitch
April 23rd, 2011
9:42 am
Josh Smith sucks………Period !
BJ
April 23rd, 2011
9:47 am
Jamal Crawford needs to be a starter
Grammar Patrol
April 23rd, 2011
9:53 am
Well Gamer, based on your strong and intelligent critique of the Hawks, I feel it’s my duty to point out:
USUALLLY SHOULD BE SPELLED USUALLY!
YOUR SECOND SENTENCE SHOULD END WITH A PERIOD OR EXCLAMATION POINT INSTEAD OF A QUESTION MARK!
IF YOU TRULY FEEL YOUR BLOG IS THAT INTELLIGENT, IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO WRITE IN LARGE CAPS TO MAKE YOUR POINT?
honest_abe
April 23rd, 2011
10:01 am
the people that defend josh smith just don’t see the same guy as me. josh is awful only because he could be so much better. (does that even make sense?) he settles for jump shots when he should be driving it to the basket… he leads the break when he should be filling the lane.. (i.e. the 3 point play courtesy of j.smith) he’s always looking to make the flashy play when boring but right play would be sufficient. turnovers, careless possessions, stupid shots are reasons teams lose games. the hawks won despite of josh smith last night.
Beast from the East
April 23rd, 2011
10:05 am
Great game last night. Solid effort by all and I love the way Zaza never backs down! I picked the Magic in five……boy was I wrong. Keep it rolling, Hawks!
JeJe
April 23rd, 2011
10:12 am
My bad MB, called you MC earlier
Do you think Z is suspended? His “headbutt” was hardly anything. He did the same thing vs. KG 3 years ago. Also, J-Rich instigated it and shouldn’t Dwight be suspended a game for throwing that elbow?
just wondering
April 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
@gamer
Myself and the people I know don not read ANYTHING written by ANYONE in all caps! It’s not an attention getter other than this is something to skip!
NorCalHawk
April 23rd, 2011
10:34 am
I give team a lot of credit for getting it together in the 4th quarter; they looked awful in the 3rd, had no answer when Magic doubled-teamed the point. Jon Barry’s comment about Josh camping at the 3-point line was right on. Why doesn’t he position himself for offensive boards, with JJ or Heinrich out high?
GT
April 23rd, 2011
10:37 am
It takes guts to drive to the basket. Wilkins or Jordan had as much guts as talent.
Dap01
April 23rd, 2011
10:48 am
Crawford hit the game winning shot for us. He is a fearless shooter but he did bank a 3 point shot from the top of the key. Luck was what went through my mind, not clutch.
A better shot would have been him driving to the basket instead of dribbling out the clock 30 feet from the basket.
Scott
April 23rd, 2011
11:05 am
Howard is a dirty player and a whiner. He throws elbows and flings his arms all the time after a play. look at the cuts on zaza’s arm. and that hood rat who jumped into zaza should be out the next game. holando is going down.
Marvin Willliams fan
April 23rd, 2011
11:08 am
@Mark
Marvin will be a 20ppg scorer in the NBA..once he leaves ATL…
HG
April 23rd, 2011
11:08 am
If josh smith keeps throwing up 3’s and marvin keeps playing, they won’t win.
Wink
April 23rd, 2011
11:30 am
Good game Hawks and I am eating crow now. Like Jamal with the ball in his hand, has the ability to break down his defender, get his shot or drop a dime, without the stagnant iso. When he breaks out his MJ (Michael Jackson dance routine)the defender is in trouble.
Resign Jamal at all cost. Trade Josh & Marvin for JaVale McGee & Blatch & JC2…make it happen in off season ASG.
Boo Josh Smith
April 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
It’s sad to have to boo your own player in the middle of a competitive playoff series, but Josh is such a waste of talent. He had a terrible game and still posted a decent stat line. NO reason he shouldn’t be a 20/10/5/3/3 guy… I hate watching him walk 0.5 mph, crossing his legs slowly over each other on defense after HE misses a shot…. Take a little pride in what you do Josh Smith…
clay
April 23rd, 2011
11:36 am
to be honest i really dont care what goes on. I dont care how they get the W just as long as they do.
H
April 23rd, 2011
11:37 am
Post was deleted..for saying what?? Josh Smith is useless and needs to go?? His utter lack of hussle is unreal. Play no defense, stand around the 3 point line and jog back and forth on the court. Trade him in the offseason. If you don’t like it, too bad. Oh wait, I’m not from the south so I need to be nice about it. No thanks. Work hard, fight and win. you don’t do that…goodbye. Sorry Josh Smith is a waste of talent.
Hawks Fan From Day One
April 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
@H, shut up. Really.
@Wink: I agree we should be trying to see about getting JC2 back, but they aren’t giving up McGee. Blatche, maybe.
@Dap01: I have to disagree with you. The play that Jamal ran was the best play FOR THE TIME ON THE CLOCK AND THE SCORE ON THE BOARD. Reason being, he drives to the basket and a) turns the ball over, Magic keeps it in play and scores on a fast break. They take the lead or, b) Jamal drives to the basket, gets fouled and doesn’t get the call, Magic takes the ball back up the court and scores. They go up. If anything, he could have dribbled the clock out and got inside the 3 pt. line for an easier shot, but I’m not complaining today.
Ted Mp
April 23rd, 2011
12:20 pm
It was a fun game to watch but the Hawks didn’t play that well. I wonder if Josh Smith will watch video from that game because he played like crap (I don’t think he will).
Before the series started I thought Nate McLouth had a better chance at winning the NL batting title then the Hawks had of winning this series but as it turns out Orlando sucks. So the Hawks will win this series and revert to their norm and cave against the Bulls.
Time
April 23rd, 2011
12:51 pm
Josh Smith does need to quit taking as many outside jumpers as he does. But on the flip side, people need to lay off of him for taking some of them. First, he has actually developed the jumper to where he makes a decent amount of them. Second, most of the time, he’s taking jumpers when he gets the ball wide open somewhere with the rest of the team standing around. What in the hell is he supposed to do all you Smoove hating geniuses out there? You’re the same lot that hated Nique for taking crazy shots but never acknowledged that most of that was due to the same thing. HIm getting the ball with the shot clock running out and everyone standing around.
Of course, you same people who hate Josh just unconditionally love Al. Who spends all his time on the perimeter. And he’s the CENTER.
moboman
April 23rd, 2011
1:44 pm
No need to hate on Josh. He does hit jumpers on some nights, and we gotta realize that Orlando was daring him to shoot. It wasnt his quarter to shine, and perhaps he should have taken some of those jumpers to the rim and drawn fouls. Credit LD for pulling him, not for punishment, but because it wasnt his moment. He had already done major damage to Orlando in the 3rd period inside the lane. LD juggled his chess pieces in response to what Orlando was giving on defense. It worked. Josh will have more moments in this series as well. Thats what playoff basketball is about, adjusments, and going with what works at the moment against that opponent. Zaza and Twin are KEY in this series, even though their roles were diminished and sometimes non existent during the regular season. Let the chess game continue. We can win this series. If we make it to the next one, a completely different mix may be uitilized.
papadawg
April 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
Mr. Howard would you like to come home and play with the Hawks
Gamer
April 23rd, 2011
2:26 pm
IT’S GREAT TO BE AN AMERICAN…LIVING IN AMERICA WHERE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ANY FORM IS ONE’S INEVITABLE RIGHT!!!!
ALL YOU CRITICS AND SENSITIVE BLOGGERS HAVE MY BEST WISHES….
TO ALL FUTURE CRITICS OF MY STYLE OF SPEECH,,,SINCERELY I APOLOGY FOR STEPPING ON YOUR SENSITIVITIES….
OH BY THE WAY, OCCASIONALLY I MAKE TYPO’S.
Philip Ponder
April 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm
Braves, Falcons, Hawks: Who has had the most consecutive winning seasons? Who has gone further in the playoffs the last few years? The Hawks and the Hawks… but despite this, they consistently get much more negative press than the Braves and Falcons… I still haven’t figured out why.
Philip Ponder
April 23rd, 2011
2:45 pm
Braves, Falcons, Hawks: Which team has the most consecutive winning seasons? Which team has gone deeper in the playoffs the last few years? The Hawks and the Hawks… but despite this, they consistently get much more negative press than the Braves or Falcons… and I still haven’t figured out why.
Gamer
April 23rd, 2011
2:50 pm
CORRECTION,,SINCERELY I APOLOGIZE FOR STEPPING ON YOUR SENSITIVITIES….
SEE, I TOLD YOU THAT I MAKE TYPOS…HA-HA
KEEP SMILING AND LAUGHING IN LIFE BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE OPPRESSORS IN YOUR SURROUNDINGS…LOVE LIFE ENOUGH TO HAVE FUN….EVEN IN THE FACE OF CRITICISM…PEACE