Confounding Hawks are a game from making Magic disappear
Joe Johnson: A big game at a big time. (AP photo)
Say what you will about these Hawks, and by now we’ve said it all, usually with a few choice words interspersed. That they’re sloppy with a lead. That they often act as if basketball was a sport scored on degree of difficulty. That they lead the world in keeping both teams in the game.
But here’s something we haven’t been able to say about any Hawks team since 1970: That it leads a best-of-seven series 3-1.
Also this: That it’s one game from winning a playoff series in which it didn’t hold the homecourt edge for the first time since 1996.
Also this: That in taking Game 4 on Sunday it made you want to tear out your hair.
The Hawks are so much better than the Magic that the wonder isn’t that Orlando is facing elimination; the wonder is that the Magic still have a game to play. The Hawks have led by double figures four times running, and in Game 4 they jumped ahead by 16 points on a night when Jason Richardson, Orlando’s second-leading scorer, didn’t play and when Dwight Howard, the only Magic man worth his wizard hat, was in foul trouble inside the first six minutes.
Orlando never led, but inside the final six minutes it was tied. And you noted that the Hawks had limited the Magic to two 3-point baskets — Orlando would finish 2-for-23 — on treys, and you thought, “How in the name of Jumpin’ Joe Caldwell is this even close?”
Had the Hawks blown this one, we’d have cussed and fussed and damned them with the enduring kiss-off: Same Old Hawks. But they didn’t lose. They steeled themselves and let Joe Johnson earn some of his $120 million and saw Al Horford again turn Hedo Turkoglu to jelly with the game on the line.
Said Larry Drew, the coach: “This team has shown it can respond to adversity.”
Never mind that much of the adversity is self-inflicted. Never mind that the Hawks haven’t yet found a jump shot not worth taking. Never mind that Josh Smith had one of the least impressive near-double-doubles in playoff annals. Never mind any of that.
Playoff basketball is a bottom-line entity, and the scoreboard tells us that the Hawks lead 3-1 over a team that finished six games ahead of them, the same team — well, the same but different — that once embarrassed them. Should we quibble over style points when these Hawks were beaten by 101 real points over four games by Orlando only last spring?
Said Horford, who poked the ball from Turkoglu on the Magic’s final possession and rendered the subsequent 3-point try another forlorn hope: “The only thing was disturbing about this was that we weren’t able to hold the lead. During the year, we’d probably have lost. That shows poise and growth.”
It does. It also shows that the Hawks, who couldn’t figure a way to match up with the Magic a year ago, now enjoy mismatches all over the place. Horford on Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson? Johnson on Jason/Quentin Richardson? Jamal Crawford on anybody?
Crawford had 25 points and six assists in Game 4. He has scored at least 20 points in each of the four games. He has become almost as tough a take for Orlando as Howard is for the Hawks. Even as the lead was diminishing and the Hawks were doing their usual goofy stuff, there was one ray of hope: Surely Crawford would think of something.
“Jamal gave it to us for three quarters,” Smith said, “and Joe said, ‘I’ll take it from here.’ ”
Johnson scored the Hawks’ final 10 points, giving lie, at least for this night, to the notion that he’s a small-game player. And now the team almost nobody liked 10 days ago is within 48 minutes of the Eastern Conference semis. It’s a team that has profited against the one worthy opponent it proved it could handle this regular season, but that’s part of the charm of the postseason. Sometimes you get a break.
Credit the Hawks for taking their break and wringing three victories from it. A fourth should be forthcoming, but here we emphasize “should.” Because these are the Hawks, and they’re a strange crew. They’re so strange the 50-win Magic haven’t yet found a way to handle them.
By Mark Bradley
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116 comments Add your comment
Kansas Yellow Yacket Fan
April 24th, 2011
10:51 pm
Go Hawks!
Billdozer
April 24th, 2011
10:52 pm
Dang it
DERRICK
April 24th, 2011
10:54 pm
You heard it here first. Hawks beat the Bulls.
Aaron
April 24th, 2011
10:55 pm
I can’t watch this team. Too stressful.
Cliff Levingston
April 24th, 2011
10:56 pm
Bring on the tired-ass janky Bulls and their 20 turnovers a game.
Jamal Crawford is making himself some serious $$$ in this series. Whether it’s with Atlanta next season or somewhere else. And for good reason.
tyler
April 24th, 2011
10:57 pm
Man, stressful is right…..This is as surprising as it is fun to watch, Gotta finish these guys off Tuesday.
Josh Smith
April 24th, 2011
10:57 pm
My basketball IQ is 0
DERRICK
April 24th, 2011
10:58 pm
That’s what I’m talking about. We are too long, too athletic, and as of late to physical on D for the Bulls to deal with. Plus D-Rose seen in a walking boot. Hello Eastern Finals.
Aaron
April 24th, 2011
11:00 pm
As nice as a 3-1 lead is, it’s too early to be talking round 2. Just ask Jameer Nelson.
UGASlobberknocker
April 24th, 2011
11:02 pm
I gotta hand it to Mark..he said the hawks could.should wincalled this series win before Game 1.
I thought he was nuts.That still may be true but he does know is hoops
The Falcon Jedi
April 24th, 2011
11:02 pm
Is Jamal Crawford a Star?
will i see any extra grant money from a private nursing school? | Scholarships and Grants
April 24th, 2011
11:02 pm
[...] A strange Hawks team is one game from making Magic disappear … [...]
BPJ
April 24th, 2011
11:04 pm
Anything can happen; that’s why they have to play the games to see who wins, no matter what the experts say.
Go Hawks!
DERRICK
April 24th, 2011
11:04 pm
@Aaron. Sorry dude but I’ve been waiting since about 1986. Gotta talk some smack today,
Shawdaddy
April 24th, 2011
11:05 pm
I believe.
The Falcon Jedi
April 24th, 2011
11:06 pm
This series is far from over. The question is can the Hawks put this away, or will they take the next game off.
Teedub
April 24th, 2011
11:07 pm
Great to JJ getting to the line and finishing strong. Go Hawks!!
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:07 pm
Thanks, Slobberknocker. But this one isn’t over.
RA
April 24th, 2011
11:09 pm
Wow Bradley, you have a way of trivializing the momentous and overstating the obvious, as per usual. Anyway, this is a game that the Hawks would have lost in the regular season, but here’s the thing, the Hawks may be waking up and realizing that they’re strong. The most frustrating thing for Hawks fans has been the fact that this team has all the talent in the world, but heretofore has not had the heart to make it work. Look at it like this, some players come into the league great, but for others it’s just a matter of one day having the light bulb come on and it’s off to the races from there. Well, that can go for teams to. Now, I don’t know if the lightbulb is all the way on, but it’s definitely flickering.
playmeortrademe
April 24th, 2011
11:10 pm
It will go seven. Hawks may win, but it will go seven. If you don’t know why you obviously have not watched Atlanta pro sports for very long.
SD Dawg
April 24th, 2011
11:10 pm
Been here before with the Hawks. I am impressed, but need to see them close out someone of relevance out before I get too excited.
J Clay
April 24th, 2011
11:12 pm
MB – If Hawks can win one more…wouldn’t you have to say season a success regardless of what happens in round 2? I mean no one nationally thought they had a chance and really the series should already be over…Not sure what they might have for the Bulls, if anything, but a round 2 loss this year would feel different than what happened last….
The Falcon Jedi
April 24th, 2011
11:12 pm
From past history, the Hawks will not win this next game Tuesday. They will blow it. Then they will try to win the next game, and lose a close one. Series tied 3-3. Then Game 7… and that will be the game to watch.
The Falcon Jedi
April 24th, 2011
11:13 pm
It doesnt matter, the Hawks wont get past Round 2
Kelvin Frazier
April 24th, 2011
11:15 pm
Mark, you summed it up pretty well. The series should be over, but would it surprise anyone if the Hawks lost the next two? They are better than Orlando in every position except one, but sometimes the Hawks don’t play with a high basketball IQ. The game tonight should have been a blowout, but I guess we should be thankful that they didn’t blow it at the end.
J Clay
April 24th, 2011
11:15 pm
Separately, Celtics look real good and playoffs schedule benefits them greatly with all the off days…I’d think they are the team to beat in the East….
Dawgfan
April 24th, 2011
11:18 pm
Love the win, but just can’t help think how they’re going to screw this up. Heartbreaking last second loss in game 5? Blown leads in game 5 and 6 which give way to a Magic game 7 blow out in Orlando?
Ah the possibilities. Just win!
SickandTired
April 24th, 2011
11:20 pm
Does the beast that calls himself Dwight Howard think he has ever made a foul in his entire life. He cannot take contact from anyone without throwing an elbow long after the echo of the whistle has left the arena. He probably commits 30 fouls a game but is only called from less than the maximun for expulsion. He pounds our guys when they come in the lane, but never a call. He gets the ball and they need a backup box of whistles as the score table for the broken ones.
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:25 pm
I just told some of the Hawks’ PR people: “Nothing about your team surprises me — but I’d be surprised if you don’t win the series.”
Dr. Warren
April 24th, 2011
11:25 pm
Crawford was a disappointment this year but has returned to last year’s form in these playoffs. Has Drew shifted the offense to suit him? Is the impending free-agent market giving him that extra boost of motivation?
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:26 pm
I don’t think we can say this season would be a success with a Round 2 loss. A Round 2 loss got Mike Woodson canned.
hawkfan
April 24th, 2011
11:26 pm
Game 6 (if necessary) now becomes a must-win for the Hawks. Although this was a great individual performance by Crawford, the offense would seem to benefit more if the the team played a little bit more inside-out. The size/strength advantages (aside from Howard) are there, but the commitment to exploit them is lacking at times.
That being said, the Hawks are in complete control. They can’t lose 3 in a row now … can they?
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:29 pm
Losing three in a row has been done, I should note. Though not by the Hawks. The Sixers have blown 3-1 series leads a couple of times in their history.
Crawford scores 25, Hawks beat Magic for 3-1 lead – USA Today | Sports Latest News Wall
April 24th, 2011
11:29 pm
[...] scores 25, Hawks beat Magic for 3-1 leadStarNewsOnline.comWTKR Your NewsChannel 3 -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -UPI.comall 1,033 news [...]
Mark Bradley is a hater
April 24th, 2011
11:29 pm
just so u knw not everybody was on your bandwagon and hated the hawks. Lets go hawks u will always be a hater right
hawkfan
April 24th, 2011
11:31 pm
hey Mark … how long have you been writing on the AJC now? I remember reading your hard-copy columns since I was a little boy … ‘91? ‘92?
Teedub
April 24th, 2011
11:31 pm
@J Clay – I hope you’re right but the Celtics beat a really inured Knicks team. Game 1 and 2 probably should have gone to NY. After that, Chauncey and Stoud were done. I’m afraid the whining Heat will win that series without too much trouble. Hope I’m wrong.
Greg
April 24th, 2011
11:36 pm
I’d like to give the Hawks more credit, but they don’t deserve much. Outside of Howard, the Magic have been incredibly inept in this series. They way they are playing right now, they couldn’t beat the Clippers in a best of 7 series. The Magic shoot 2 for 23 from 3 point range and the Hawks still manage to let them hang around and almost win on the Hawks home court. The last couple of minutes were ridiculous…well, ridiculous for a real TEAM, but normal for the Hawks. 7 point lead so let’s take the ball down the court on every possession after that and dribble the ball for 20 seconds before jacking up a 3 point prayer. This is where it hurts having Drew as the coach. This ISO crap is boring and just poor basketball yet Woodson and now Drew have not done anything to make this group of knuckleheads play team ball. That kind of selfish play won’t get you far in the playoffs. Amazingly, it might get them a series win over the Magic, but that will be as far as it goes. Make no mistake, the Hawks find themselves in this position due to the very poor play of their opponent more than any outstanding play on the Hawks part(other than Crawford.. I’ll give him his due).
One more thing – Josh Smith Is the dumbest player in the NBA. He has no peer when it comes to making bone-headed plays. Shouldn’t he be making better decisions after 6 or 7 years in the league.
NorCalHawk
April 24th, 2011
11:38 pm
Since I’ve been all over their case the 2nd half of the season, I must admit now I’m impressed with the intensity of the Hawks’ play. There were so many games they looked disinterested; maybe they’ve been saving all their energy for the postseason. Would be a true shame if they let this series get away.
Dr. Warren
April 24th, 2011
11:42 pm
Only the Sixers lost from being up 3-1, but the Hawks did lose 4 straight by 100 points a year ago to the Magic. So as much as I’d hate to see it, 3 straight losses is not unfathomable by any means for this Hawks team.
gt84
April 24th, 2011
11:44 pm
123
dunkfucious
April 24th, 2011
11:47 pm
I ain’t been this excited since tree rollins bit danny ainge’s mangie arse….
Reggie
April 24th, 2011
11:49 pm
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:26 pm
I don’t think we can say this season would be a success with a Round 2 loss. A Round 2 loss got Mike Woodson canned. Umm wrong Mike Woodson got Mike Woodson canned,this is the same team as last year thats on the verge of knocking out the same team that set a record of points margin on them last year. By the way before you say this Orlando team is worse than last years please remember that last years 53-29 Hawks were probably better than this ones. Woodson being stubborn when it came to his rotation really did him in, last year he play Collin’s in game 2 in the first half and the Hawks actually lead that game at halftime…ofcourse Collins didn’t see the floor in the second half and the rest is history.
Tony
April 24th, 2011
11:53 pm
I watched this team do everything possible to give this game away the Magic are just not a good team.
The Hawks remind me of a woman when she gets dressed up she looks good. However you know sooner or later she is going to break your heart it just a matter of time….she has done it before. You do everything you can to stay away but she keeps doing something to get you interested in her again..YOU know she is going to break your heart that is what she does…
rally
April 24th, 2011
11:54 pm
Your right 2 for 22 from three point land and you don’t think refs are playing the spread in vegas. These refs were the refs I have ever ever ever seen call an NBA game. They are one of the biggest reasons I quit watching basketball. David Stern ought to be firing every ref out there the calls tonight were just laughable. What’s worse is the fans take it and think its part of the game. Shame on the fans for not speaking out to the integrity of the NBA. I certainly don’t want my kid thinking its okay to throw elbows in basketball and not be called for a foul.
Mark Bradley
April 24th, 2011
11:56 pm
Been working here since March 5, 1984.
chem
April 24th, 2011
11:59 pm
blog form of Brad is much better than the old days print form
JASon
April 25th, 2011
12:03 am
Mark, I think many people will be tempted to pit the loss on poor play by the magic, but you have stuck by the correct assertion that the hawks are just a better team, with a gutsy defensive attack. Many will downplay Joe’s late game contributions; you highlighted them. No one should gloss over the four straight foul shots when we needed every last one of them; that was pure clutch execution. Horford and Hinrich’s contributions should not be overlooked in game 4. Well done by coach drew to utilize so many guys- we could not have gotten here without resilient play by each and every one of them. And well done by you in your level-headed perspective on tonight’s game.
JeJe
April 25th, 2011
12:03 am
The Magic blew a 3-1 lead to Detroit in 2003. That was the year McGrady brilliantly said it felt great getting to round 2
WE GOTTA GET THE BALL INSIDE. TOO MANY AWKWARD JUMPSHOTS. JOE’S FLOATER WORKS. GET THE BALL INSIDE
JOSH ATTACK THE BASKET. STOP TAKING THE DAMN JUMPSHOTS
rally
April 25th, 2011
12:06 am
David Stern needs to rethink his position as commissioner of basketball if he really think his refs are “the best at what they do”. the fouls tonight were the worst officiated basketball game I have ever seen and if I didnt know any better I say the refs were trying to make a point spread. Sorry but I call it like I see it. Stern needs to do some serious checks into the refs and clean it up. That wasn’t basketball tonight that was street ball.
IceColdATLien
April 25th, 2011
12:07 am
A round 2 loss in game 6 or 7 to the #1 seed would be a decent finish to the year. I even think we might have a fairly good chance to beat the Bulls… given what they’ve shown against the Pacers. They’re one Rose injury from being out, with the Hawks in the Eastern Finals. Who would’ve thought that? Can you imagine if it’s Boston? Wow.
Agent Negative One
April 25th, 2011
12:08 am
I had a pretty good game tonight, time to celebrate. Anyone know where the nearest Krispy Kreme store is?
IceColdATLien
April 25th, 2011
12:10 am
Let’s just play silly right now. If, say, Rose gets injured and we get to the East Finals, would that mean Drew gets an extension? Is that a good thing? I’m confused as a Hawks fan. Win and we keep Drew. Lose and, well, you lose. This sucks.
DP
April 25th, 2011
12:13 am
I don’t care that all the games in this series have been close, they have been brutal to watch. This is a series to determine which team stinks the least. Dwight Howard is the only Orlando player who has had a good series. It’s amazing how much Orlando has declined since last season. Down the stretch it appears the only thing the Hawks know how to do is give the ball to Johnson or Crawford to beat the ball into the floor before launching a prayer at the shot clock buzzer while everybody else stands around.
And If I see Joe Johnson dribble it between his legs 3 or 4 times in a row while going nowhere one more time, I think I’m going to vomit.
IceColdATLien
April 25th, 2011
12:14 am
Drew does deserve some credit for the strategic decision to change up coverage on Howard. It was obvious we needed to do something given last year, but he did choose the right thing.
TruthSeeker
April 25th, 2011
12:14 am
It’s hard to know what to make of this series. The Hawks are clearly better than the Magic, which sounds strange to say considering the way Orlando has dominated them in recent years, but there’s just something off about this Magic team. They have a lot of good players, but it’s like they don’t know how to play together. Even though the game was tight throughout the fourth quarter, I never felt the Hawks were in any danger of losing, although they did their best to screw around and give Orlando hope.
I don’t want to downplay the magnitude of this for the Hawks, because I really am ecstatic to be up 3-1 in a series we weren’t expected to win. Assuming we put the Magic away, I could even imagine us taking the Bulls to 7 games. Then again, I could also see us getting swept, because the Bulls, unlike Orlando, are a team that will make you pay for not stepping on their jugular when you have a chance.
bigstack19
April 25th, 2011
12:15 am
Going back I believe I said the Hawks would lose this series so if they manage to finish them off I will gladly eat my words.
Sleepy
April 25th, 2011
12:18 am
DP I take it you u havent ever watched a nba playoff game . Please tell me one team in the playoffs who down the stretch doesnt give the ball to its best offensive players and ask them t make something happen ? .
Do you understand that by the end of game two after having played each other 5-6 times that we know the magics plays and they know ours . It all comes down to how good your best players are at creating something out of nothing .
IceColdATLien
April 25th, 2011
12:21 am
Sleepy, you’re right, but I do think they could be a little more creative (maybe more guard-guard screens to accentuate mismatches?) Just taking a guy straight up is only going to work so many times, but with guys like JJ and JC, you can understand how Drew wouldn’t want to get in their way.
IceColdATLien
April 25th, 2011
12:22 am
good for you bigstack!
Tom
April 25th, 2011
12:23 am
Get the ball inside? To whom?!?!?!?!
Josh Smith? The lane is his Kryptonite.
Al Horford? Every time Horford posts up in this series, he dribbles 3-5 times and when he’s done dribbling he’s farther from the basket than when he started.
Collins? Zaza? LOL!
PMC
April 25th, 2011
12:23 am
The Drew Plan has been a good one. Love the Big Man rotation. Joe Johnson really came through tonight like a leader too.
Sure am glad for Jamal Crawford.
Agent Negative One
April 25th, 2011
12:28 am
Hey, I was one fire tonight! How should I celebrate – pizza or doughnuts?
Atlanta Hawks – The team you thought you knew | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
April 25th, 2011
12:31 am
[...] Orlando truly that bad, despite the dominating performance of Dwight Howard? Just how accurate our incredulity is, is a testament to how confusing this team can be. After losing the final six games of the [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
12:57 am
“I don’t think we can say this season would be a success with a Round 2 loss. A Round 2 loss got Mike Woodson canned.”
A round 2 BLOWOUT — a historic one at that — got Woody canned.
I think if the Hawks can take the Bulls to 6 or 7 games, LD probably stays, in light of the fact that he’s the league’s cheapest coach.
Ryder
April 25th, 2011
1:02 am
Great win. If not for a two minute collapse by Atlanta in Game 2 this series would’ve been a sweep. Is this really more about Orlando not being able to score on offense or it is about Atlanta finally realizing their own talent, Josh Smith notwithstanding?
Hinrich’s presence has gotten this team to play more of a defensive mindset during the playoffs, and I don’t see why it can’t continue in Game 5. Avoid the typical letdown that we’re used to seeing from them and they should walk out of Amway Arena victorious.
tjhook
April 25th, 2011
1:59 am
Enjoyed the article, Mark. The truth about the Hawks is they haven’t met a team that will make them pay for their mistakes; the Bulls can make that happen because they play great D andRose is super quick. We will be witness to Larry Drew’s true coaching ability next round because we will need a lot of players to combat the Bulls’ roster. I hate his offense, BTW
P. Bull Terrier
April 25th, 2011
2:26 am
Now that the fans are excited again, it’s time to pull another disappearing act. Which would hurt fans more: letting the Magic take the next 3 games for another dramatic Round 1 flop, or winning this series, then getting blown out in Chicago? I vote for the first round flop.
csmny63
April 25th, 2011
4:04 am
First, I have to admit I thought it’d be 3-1 Magic at this point. Hawks have shown WAY more fight in this series than I would have guessed they had in them. Chapeau, guys…
I am going to give the Hawks the benefit of the doubt about winning the next game because Orlando looks totally discombobulated and seem to be getting to the point of resignation. They know they’re out of sync. As to the Hawks season being a failure if they can’t win the second round series, that’s a tough call.. It was only a week ago LD was genius for getting the team to buy into his scheme for dealing with Howard…It’s not been pretty, but we’re AHEAD! I think that’s enought for now…
MitchC
April 25th, 2011
4:40 am
Again, I only saw parts of last night’s game. However, it is nice that the Hawks are one win from winning this series.
I believe they will win.. What will probably happen is.. the Magic will have a very sustained effort in Game Five in Orlando, and then the Hawks will finish them in Game Six. I never understood why all the other rounds in basketball, have the extra trip for Game Five. It would probably be more.. prudent to play it like it is in the Finals, or the World Series. Games 1 and 2 in one city, 3-5 in the other city, and then back to the team with home court advantage for Games 6 and 7.
I dont know if the Hawks will beat the Bulls, if both teams get that far.. I think the bloggers on this page are planning for a Heat-Hawks Eastern Finals. We are a long way from that.
It also makes me.. uncomfortable.. when Mark Bradley.. who I jokingly call “Mr Negative”, says that the season would be considered a failure even if we beat Orlando, but end up losing to the Bulls. What he is really saying is.. that he expects us to stare down Boston or Miami in the Eastern Finals. With the way this Hawks team played Jekyll Hyde throughout the regular season, I’m not sure we can expect that.
The Morning After – April 25, 2011 | The Victory Formation
April 25th, 2011
7:14 am
[...] shocker has been how Atlanta has continued their in-season form against the Magic. They’re one game away from advancing (c/o Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Yup, they won their latest without Zaza [...]
bob from account temps
April 25th, 2011
7:34 am
i don’t understand why drew doesn’t just bench smith? this guy won’t rebound, go to the basket with howard in foul trouble and thinks he is a great shooting guard. he is a primary cause of the quarterly breakdowns the hawks have every game. can nobody on the team get thru this thick skull? he could be such a great player, but his mental shortcomings will keep him from making the all star team he so thinks he deserves.
phil
April 25th, 2011
7:38 am
Bradley was at his zenith in the late 80s when the Braves and Falcons were about as wretched as could be. Also had the Hawks to jump on for managing to blow the Celtics series in ‘88 and don’t even get me started on the Moses Malone/Reggie Theus face plant. At any rate, it didn’t get much worse overall for Mark than it was back then. He loved it.
As happy as I was to thankfully see the final 3 pointer miss, I was quickly overcome again with disgust at this team for the way it plays. They are beyond frustrating with the terrible, stupid things they do to try to give games away. One missed free throw down the stretch and we probably would’ve lost. Thank goodness JJ decided to focus for a change.
Smith just stinks in general. He’s so dumb that it overcomes his talent. Overwhelms it in fact. Wild, crazed shots. Stupid, stupid fouls like trying to tackle Howard to draw a charge. Are you kidding us Josh? And JJ in general just heaving wild shots at the basket is almost more than I can take. At least Jamaal’s wild, undisciplined shots mostly went in, except for the horrific three he tried late in the game that drew air. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
3-1 lead and people now thing we’ll take the Bulls? Put away the drugs and the liquor and try waiting to see if we actually win THIS series first. Orlando has as much given this thing away as we have won 3 games. If Orlando shows up in the last 3 games, we’ll lose all three the way we play. Idiot Josh, lazy JJ, worthless and absent Marvin, can’t make a tip in collins, etc, etc….Horford is the rock for this team. thank goodness for him.
Walker, Texas Ranger
April 25th, 2011
7:56 am
The Magic beat the Hawks at their own game….of being Mediocre
phil
April 25th, 2011
7:57 am
And I said Magic would sweep us. I eat those words gladly but do not believe we win the series until we actually do.
Of course what about those 6 straight losses to end the year would give one any confidence?
Paddy
April 25th, 2011
8:12 am
rally…….it is correct to question the integrity of the NBA. It is so wrong to blame the entire referree staff. NBA basketball is nothing like high school or college in the way the game is called. They enforce the rules they are supplied. It is not basketball the way I remember it but it is the NBA game. You either like it or hate it. It is what it is!!!
Billdozer
April 25th, 2011
8:25 am
It’s never a success unless you win it all. Plain and smiple.
Atticus
April 25th, 2011
8:26 am
They still have 0 chance to advnce past this. Orlando is playing horribly and yet almost tied the series. That offense at the end of the game was pathetic and typical Hawks. Even Steve Kerr couldn’t understand why they stood around for 20 seconds and then took a poor shot at the buzzer. If this team ran the offense and had more discipline the sky would be the limit. The Bulls will school this team 4-1 if they play the way they have played Orlando.
Nick
April 25th, 2011
8:30 am
well they did win 3/4 against orl during the reg season so not sure why there’s so much a surprise
Joey
April 25th, 2011
8:33 am
Like Fredi says, “you gotta tip your cap,” to Joe Johnson. Swishing those free throws under intense pressure, while D Howard clanked 3 of 4 under the same pressure, was great to see.
We Hawk fans are being treated to a sight that we all knew could happen, if only the team would all play like they care.
Whatever the reason, they obviously care now, and it is fun to watch.
Go Hawks!
Joey
April 25th, 2011
8:37 am
phil, you make me as sick as the Hawks apparently make you.
Change your channel dufus!
NoleinDC
April 25th, 2011
8:50 am
Go Hawks!!!!!!!!!! heating up at the right time..this is OUR time!
Van Gundy flopped again
April 25th, 2011
8:56 am
Be a man Van Gundy, ……… quit the flopping.
Peter
April 25th, 2011
8:58 am
When the ball stops moving and JJ and Crawford want to dribble out the clock and then shoot, we are the Hawks of old.
The coaching is not to blame for the team behaving badly. I enjoy watch Boston when they have a team down, they apply the pressure to keep them there.
I don’t see the same type of attitude with the Hawks….when they have a team down, they turn to ISO basketball, and lose their momentum.
We should beat Orlando, but the next round has to be different, or they get blown out.
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:00 am
I saw several times a player got shoved to the floor and no foul was even called. Did Stern see the pushing with no calls ? A slap on the wrist is a fould but pushing a guy out of bounds isn’t ?
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:02 am
If the Hawks will double D.Howard (on defense) in the paint then the Magic can’t score. Force them to shoot perimeter shots which they’ve missed the whole series thus far.
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:04 am
I also hated seeing all the jump shots taken by the Hawks with no Hawks under the basket for offensive rebounds. That happened all night. But luckily the Hawks hit a majority of those jumpers.
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:06 am
I hated seeing all those Hawks jump shots with no Hawks players under the basket for rebounds. That happened all game. But luckily most of those jumpers went in.
Go figure
April 25th, 2011
9:09 am
When the pollen count is high, I am fine. But when it gets below 100-200 I sneeze like crazy
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:12 am
Gilbert Arenas is actually alive ? I know the Magic are sick about trading away Rashard Lewis and how poorly Arenas has played. But Arenas showed up last night. I’m tired of all the credit to Hawks big men for slowing down Howard. They aren’t doing anything really. Howard is getting his points and rebounds. Its just that Jameer,Turkoglu,and Bass aren’t helping Howard.
Sir Slamalot
April 25th, 2011
9:14 am
You can retire can’t you Mark ?
john
April 25th, 2011
9:14 am
Another great win for this hawks team, and for the hawks fan base. I have not seen Jamal come out with this much intensity and fire since last year. Let’s put the magic out on their own court and hope their own fans boo them all the way out the building. The hawks are riding high on their momentum, and nothing is sweeter than revenge.
Steve
April 25th, 2011
9:22 am
Drew is very smart coach, but I wonder if he will ever be able to get these players to listen.
no justice
April 25th, 2011
9:42 am
We lead 3-1 and you guys still don’t believe we are good enough to win this series. Did you go to church on Easter Sunday? Did you hear that story about believing? Haven’t you seen a big enough sample to believe that the outcome will be a positive one for the hawks? Do you choose to believe that the magic is bad by themselves or do you believe that hawks are making them look bad? I see every night those experts trying to justify ignoring the hawks. I say to all of you don’t make that mistake. We expect better of our FANS?
Glenn
April 25th, 2011
9:58 am
I’m glad we’re up 3-1 and all but what is up with us blundering 4th quarter leads . We need to be smoother late . This series is anything but over .
Man Man
April 25th, 2011
9:59 am
But everyone wanted to trade jamal!Um!He is the X-Factor
phil
April 25th, 2011
9:59 am
Joey – Sorry i make you feel ill…..get your head out of the sand, cross your fingers, and hope that the same stupid play we’ve been seeing is somehow miraculously absent on Tuesday so we can close this thing out….
I think we have every reason to doubt the hawks given 40 plus years of doing little….
Glenn
April 25th, 2011
10:07 am
To funny , Jamal has made some clutch shots but boy has he missed a ton as well .
Tale of Woe
April 25th, 2011
10:13 am
I am not surprised that the Hawks have handled the Magic up to this point. We played them well during the regular season. The post-season is all about match-ups and the Hawks match up well against them… It would be more surprising if we lose to them (though, really, that wouldn’t be that surprising). I don’t think we should make this out to be more than it is. The Magic are not that good and the Hawks just match up well against them. Watch the Hawks offense is tough to do. It is abysmal. Where is the ball movement that Drew spoke so highly of? Did we pay Joe Johnson $140 Million just to make a couple of free throws? This team isn’t going anywhere and LD needs to get fired as soon as the Hawks are eliminated. We need a coach who can light a fire under Joe’s butt and get J Smith to understand that he belongs on the low block.
I was pulling my hair out last night watching this team play. It was atrocious (and we somehow won which is really beyond belief)
jesse
April 25th, 2011
10:38 am
GOOD LUCK IN GAME 5
Will
April 25th, 2011
10:38 am
Because the hawks are up 3-1 in this series, there’s a lot of people out there saying the magic is not a good team, they made bad trades, they’re on the decline, and the excuses go on and on.
First off, the magic won at least 50 gms again this season, again they were tops in 3 pt shooting fgs, they beat most of the elite teams at least once during the season, they have the top defensive player of the yr again.
My point is, there is nothing new or different about the magic, the laker actually showed the blue print on how to beat this team, during the championship a few yrs ago, and the celtics did it last yr in the playoffs.
The magic is who we thought they were!!!!
feudfinder
April 25th, 2011
10:47 am
This hawks team is not going to seven against the magic. The series is probably going to end tomorrow, or at the worst, Thursday. They can win the series against the Bulls also, but they will have to completely shut down DR, KK and also go inside the paint at all times against the Bulls. No treys from Josh Smith please!!!
Jake
April 25th, 2011
10:54 am
The curse of Atlanta will hit! Hawks will lose the next 3 games!
heartofdarkness
April 25th, 2011
11:16 am
Is there any conceivable theory (or dream team defense) under which Dwight Howard is not committing a foul on Joe Johnson in the picture that accompanies this blog?
Chill
April 25th, 2011
11:16 am
Two points.
The hawks are a much better team when Joe johnson decides to take the ball to the hoop. It forces the D to collapse and it opens it up for other teammates to get shots, like Horford’s 15 footer. However that rarely happens. Mostly he dribbles in place and puts up Jumpshot after jumpshot even though he has a weak defender on him. When he plays this way as he did the first 40 minutes of yesterdays game he needs to be on the bench. The better backcourt is Hinrich and Crawford. One for their defense the other for their offensive versatility and ability to get to the free throw line.
Secondly. The hawks have played well in spurts but Orlando’s struggles have as much to do with the Hawks being up 3-1. Even though Orlando played horrible, if they make two more Three’s they win. Food for thought.
long gone
April 25th, 2011
11:17 am
It sucks that Jamal will be leaving after this season considering that we could have signed him for half of what we gave Joe. I can see Jamal returning to Chicago next year.
Also, it was fun hearing Larry Drew mic’ed up. He sounds like a he’s knows what he’s doing- now getting the players to listen is another matter.
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2011
11:21 am
Drew has coached a good series. His team’s leading.
BBIB
April 25th, 2011
11:22 am
Stern’s goons did everything they could to take that game away from us in the 3rd quarter especially
BBIB
April 25th, 2011
11:23 am
How many people are willing to man up and eat crow like Mark Bradley just did?
Going into the playoffs these blogs were filled with nothing but hate for the players and the coach
Dickie
April 25th, 2011
11:31 am
I guess I am just not an astute basketball observer. Can someone please enlighten me as to what Joe Johnson does that makes him “The Quietest Superstar” in the NBA? also, i
f I remember correctly the Hawks were not a real contender till Al Horford showed up.
bfred
April 25th, 2011
11:36 am
I would venture that most teams this season doubled Howard and the Magic’s shooters got much better looks than they have in this series. The Hawks are contesting every single shot and the Heinrich trade is finally paying defensive dividends the way we expected it to. THAT’S why the Magic aren’t shooting well. I don’t care if Howard averages 40 for the series if everyone else is forced to take deep contested jumpers.
As for the Johnson/Crawford dribble-then-jack offense, that’s hardly specific to the Hawks. I see that in game after game across the NBA, usually with the same poor result. It’s like the prevent defense – all it prevents is winning, yet it is commonplace. So frustrating.
truth
April 25th, 2011
12:13 pm
The defense is not working
The Magic players are getting OPEN shots but they are missing them. I recall Hedo and Reddit getting 6+ OPEN looks from 3 pt but missed them
Paddy
April 25th, 2011
12:30 pm
BIBB, you sound like rally. It is so “primary school age” to always blame the referrees. That argument never flies and it makes you look, well, immature.
C from Marietta
April 25th, 2011
1:54 pm
phil = another negatice nancy. not happy unless he is whining like a little b*itch.
BBIB
April 25th, 2011
2:26 pm
“BIBB, you sound like rally. It is so “primary school age” to always blame the referrees. That argument never flies and it makes you look, well, immature.”
Even LD had to call them out. How many moving screens per game do the Magic get away with?
And Dwight Howard basically gets 12 fouls a game this series
Just saying..
April 25th, 2011
6:00 pm
Hawks: The team it hurts to see win.
And Mark: I remember it as Pogo Joe.