Live from Game 6: The Hawks try again to close the door
An example of the Hawks' tenacious D in Game 5. (Photo courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel)
After Game 4, a really dumb guy — OK, yours truly — told the Hawks’ PR folks: “Nothing surprises me about your team, but I’d be surprised if you lost this series.”
I stand by that statement, at least for the next couple of hours.
I think the Hawks will win tonight. Others don’t. They believe that Game 5 was the truer measure of these teams than the first four games, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to this reporter. (Four games were an aberration, but one game reflects the truth?) But I have been known to be wrong.
I wasn’t shocked by what happened Tuesday. The Hawks aren’t very good when they’re not very interested, and they played in the manner of a team that knew it had three chances to win once.
“It would have been a huge step for us a ballclub,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said, speaking moments ago. “We’d never been in that situation before, at least not since I’ve been here. It was unfamiliar territory for us.”
Now the Hawks are back at Philips Arena, the series again theirs to take, and there’s somewhat more pressure on them than there was two days ago. Lose tonight and they’d be in position to become only the ninth NBA club ever to waste a 3-1 lead. Which would, even by Hawks standards, be a major reversal.
But let’s accentuate the positive. If the Hawks win tonight — and I say they will — they’ll have taken a series almost nobody believed they could win. They’ll be headed for Chicago and Round 2. They’ll need to apologize to no one.
And with that, the figurative floor is open for questions, comments and NFL draft updates. (Kidding about that last part. It’s hard enough for me to keep track of any one thing.) I’ll be here until the Hawks have celebrated. Or, failing that, until they’ve gotten all glum. Join me, won’t you?
As ever, I thank you in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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278 comments Add your comment
Steve
April 28th, 2011
8:04 pm
Howard must be the dirtiest thug in the NBA.
eddie long
April 28th, 2011
8:05 pm
This live blog is like old-timey radio without the sound.
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:06 pm
Panthers pick Cam Newton.
Jesse
April 28th, 2011
8:06 pm
When will Joe show up consistently in the playoffs?
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:08 pm
Hawks 23, Orlando 18. One quarter gone.
Nothing wrong with that period.
DF
April 28th, 2011
8:09 pm
Come on JJ…
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:11 pm
Howard has eight points, two caroms, four floor errors.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:13 pm
Another four-point play for Jamal Crawford.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:14 pm
Actually a five-point play. Ryan Anderson got a T.
H
April 28th, 2011
8:15 pm
A chance to close out a series and empty seats all over the place….pathetic.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:17 pm
Hawks up 30-24, 8:41 left in Half No. 1. The Magic look no different than in the first four games. They’ve hit only one 3-pointer.
Sid
April 28th, 2011
8:18 pm
I don’t know who is the dumbest….Johnson or Smith.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:21 pm
Ten-point lead.
Steve
April 28th, 2011
8:23 pm
Mark, how realistic is it that the Hawks can get past Chicago, in your opinion? I am still dumbfounded that they have never been past the second round, even with those amazing teams from the 80’s and early 90’s.
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:24 pm
The AJ Green Dream is over
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:25 pm
It’s possible, Steve. But Chicago’s a lot better than the Magic.
And this series isn’t over.
blazerdawg
April 28th, 2011
8:27 pm
Why the criticism of the crowd MB? It looks enthusiastic & packed on my 47″ HDTV. Wish I were there.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:28 pm
Hedo: 0-for-6.
Steve
April 28th, 2011
8:28 pm
Just being positive here : ) AJ went to Cincy!
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:28 pm
Julio jones is not worth drafting up for. Falcons should stay put. AJ Green will be a difference maker, Jones will be out of the league in 6 years
todd grantham
April 28th, 2011
8:30 pm
Mark, my wife doesnt believe that I’m one of your elite bloggers.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:31 pm
Neither team doing anything now. Hawks ahead by nine, 4:24 in the half.
Hawks have missed 25 of 38. Magic have missed 14 of 26.
Coach Dooley
April 28th, 2011
8:33 pm
flop flop
Sid
April 28th, 2011
8:34 pm
Johnson is a JOKE….Smith is a JOKE….this team should be up by 20…..will come back to haunt them.
Coach Dooley
April 28th, 2011
8:34 pm
the biggest flopper in the whole league
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:35 pm
Falcons just made a HUGE mistake. UGH
Jesse
April 28th, 2011
8:35 pm
FYI: Falcons traded up to #6 to get Julio Jones
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:35 pm
Go Hawks Go!!!!
Abe the Fan
April 28th, 2011
8:36 pm
This is ridiculous and almost embarrassing…10 point lead then miss 4 shots in a row…no killer instinct…com’ on Hawks. And Joe can’t keep deferring to Jamal because Jamal seems to think he’s at the carnival.–just jacking em up!
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:36 pm
Woh! re: Falcons. i do NOT think it is a mistake, dependent upon what they gave up…. What did they give up?
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
JOSH=IDIOT!
Coach Dooley
April 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
wow look what they gave up
Abe the Fan
April 28th, 2011
8:38 pm
It’s was worth it…the boy is a BEAST!
Coach Dooley
April 28th, 2011
8:38 pm
gave up a 2nd and 4th this year and a 1st and something next year
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:40 pm
1st, 2nd, 4th this year. 1st and 4th next year. For Michael Jenkins 2.0. This is as mad as I’ve been at a Falcons draft… and that takes something.
Not A Hewitt Fan
April 28th, 2011
8:40 pm
Julio Jones to Falcons they moved up to 5……..idn understand. We need defense.
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:40 pm
I’ll take being up by 6 at the half. Magic get the ball @ beginning of 3rd quarter.
Sid
April 28th, 2011
8:41 pm
the lead should be 15-18….they better hope the Magic guards don’t get hot……Josh Smith really needs to go after the season is over….stuck with Johnson.
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:42 pm
Didn’t Julio have some sort of injury, also??/
Jesse
April 28th, 2011
8:42 pm
Jones is better than Jenkins…. by far. It’s a shame that the Bengals dropped out of the trade at the last min. They could have had Green. Now back to the Hawks…
Not A Hewitt Fan
April 28th, 2011
8:43 pm
Idiots sda moved up one more spot and got PP. He will be next big DB in league. Did the Smiths re-purchase the team and no one told me?
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
8:43 pm
Yeah Coach, he was always nagged by injuries. In addition to dropping a lot of passes. But hey, have a good combine and you can accomplish anything.
5manattackmachine
April 28th, 2011
8:43 pm
I hope the Hawks can overcome Josh’s bird brain plays.
CoachT
April 28th, 2011
8:44 pm
Watching the game with my two daughters….During the last 3 minutes of the 1st half, they observe J Stoop’s turnovers, bad shots, no hustle play and one asks….but daddy you say he gets paid to play this bad? the other “Can’t the coach sit his butt on the bench?”
Roger
April 28th, 2011
8:44 pm
OK, I’ve watched the 1st half. Josh has 2 dunks; 1 off-balance luck shot; 2 successful free throws; and how many missed shots out of his 2-foot range? I would think at least 6, and a couple of bonehead turnovers. This guy is a joke!!!!
mrs. todd grantham
April 28th, 2011
8:45 pm
Mr Bradley, i believe my husband spends more time talking to you than he does me.
Coach Dooley
April 28th, 2011
8:46 pm
atl leads reb 26-13 leads orb 10-1 Orlando only has one off reb wow
Coach D
April 28th, 2011
8:46 pm
Just recently he had a lower body fracture as well, I think. He’s a stud, but obviously has to stay healthy which is going to be a lot tougher in the pros.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:46 pm
I wouldn’t be too mad. I think this is a nice move.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2011
8:47 pm
The Hawks let Orlando linger. But these are the Hawks, and that’s what they do