A stirring Hawks’ playoff run dissolves in a familiar collapse
Another year, another head-in-a-towel ending in Round 2. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
If they’d done nothing else this past month, the Hawks made us recall how it was in 2008, when they took the champs-to-be to a Game 7 in Boston. They’ve reminded us what fun having a good NBA team in this town can be. They’ve allowed us to say the words “playoff basketball” without cringing.
Three years after that improbable Celtics series, the Hawks had again smacked into the East’s No. 1 seed and refused to retreat. They stole Game 1 in Chicago on a flurry of shooting, outfought the Bulls over the final minutes of Game 4 to draw even in the series. And the Hawks’ loss in Game 5 shouldn’t have perturbed them — down 15 early, they seized a fourth-quarter lead before succumbing.
Thursday brought the series back here. Many of these Hawks had done bravura duty in a Game 6 victory against Boston in 2008. The Celtics took a 15-point lead, and that seemed that. But the Hawks converted 17 consecutive possessions spanning the third and fourth quarter and won at the end, and that was the first night of the 21st century that Philips Arena felt like a real basketball building.
This Game 6, sorry to report, started in similar fashion, but this one never got better. The Hawks trailed by 10 after one quarter, by 17 midway through the second. This was the time during the regular season when these Hawks would roll over and lose by 30 or 40, but you shouldn’t roll over in the playoffs. (Although sometimes it happens. Remember last year’s Orlando travesty.)
Over the past month it seemed the Hawks had become a team again, not just a gaggle of wide-eyed jump-shooters. They’d fought harder, defended better, even gotten a bit smarter. But now they were down double figures on a night when the Bulls were guarding better and finding more scorers than at any time in Games 1-5.
For all that had come before, this was the test of the New Hawks: Could they hold themselves together at a time when little was going right? Could they give the home folks — Philips wasn’t packed, by the way — a finish?
Nope. It got so bad the below-capacity throng began leaving with eight minutes left. Just when you thought these Hawks weren’t the old Hawks, they uncorked a stinker. (And they wonder why we don’t take them as seriously as they think we should.)
Trailing 70-53 after three quarters, it soon was 76-55, the Bulls having reduced the Hawks to … er, a gaggle of wide-eyed jump-shooters. Sure enough, the Hawks’ first four shots of the period were standstill jumpers.
And then came the moment when you knew this playoff flurry was finally done. Luol Deng jumped Joe Johnson at the head of the key, and the $120 million man ducked his head and went into one-on-one mode. Deng stole the ball and threw long for Derrick Rose, who dunked to make it a 21-point lead.
Yep. Here was Iso-Joe, the thing Larry Drew had been promoted to help curtail, going kerplunk in a win-or-else game. Once again, a wrenching season-ending loss has called into question what we just saw: Were the Hawks as good as they looked against Orlando, or were the Magic just the right opponent? Were the first five games of this series a function of the Bulls’ relative playoff newness or a indication the Hawks had began to figure things out?
Said Al Horford, who missed eight of 10 shots and took only four rebounds: “You’ve just got to give them credit. You have to really execute on offense well against them, and we didn’t do that.”
Then: “They were the better team. They were more solid, more consistent.”
When you lose Game 6 on your floor by 20 points on a night when you never led, you leave your audience to wonder. For a few bright shining moments, these Hawks made us (almost) forget their tepid regular season, but then, just as we began to hope and maybe even believe, they got blown out.
Speaking before Game 6, Drew had said of his Hawks: “I think people saw us as a team that would make the playoffs and wouldn’t do well … [What his men have done] is truly a testament to their commitment.”
And it was, until finally it wasn’t. For all this team’s talent — and it has a boatload — there’s still something missing. Maybe a full season of Jeff Teague at the point will be the ticket. But it’s clear the separation between the NBA’s elite clubs and these Atlanta Hawks still exists.
The Hawks beat Orlando, and that was nice. They took the Bulls to six games, which was heartening. In the end it was another Round 2 exit, the third in a row, but give them this: At least they weren’t swept.
By Mark Bradley
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245 comments Add your comment
ugakev
May 12th, 2011
11:48 pm
im disappointed but two good things happened…josh smith stock went up so serious trade bait now. and we have a star in the making now at point guard with teague. we get a great true center and i really start to like this team. we have a lot of talent we can trade for a great center
Bulls win in 6
May 12th, 2011
11:49 pm
As mt name says there was no doubt. The better team won and my prediction of the Hawks playing golf Friday came through. All the talk here about the Hawks winning game 7 before even game 6?
Robert Luciano
May 12th, 2011
11:49 pm
Bradley is such a ridiculous fraud. Last night hyping this team of losers and tonight trying to distance himself like a rat jumping off a sinking ship. The “Highlight Factory” is a pathetic joke of a venue, any given night the “fans” are rocking the opposing team’s gear and out numbering “Hawk Fans”. Try wearing Boston gear in Madison Square Garden and see what happens. Atlanta is the worst Sports city in the country, bar none. Hawks are a perfect fit…
BulldogBen
May 12th, 2011
11:49 pm
Ho hum. Another Atlanta bed wetting.
At what point does it become the badge of honor ala the Cubs or the Red Sox prior to their World Series win several years ago?
Ant
May 12th, 2011
11:51 pm
The 1s thing that needs to be done is the current owners need to sell the team they are not capable of guiding this ship anywhere. 2nd get a real coach, I was shocked when Larry Drew was interviewed during the game and he had NO PLAN for what to do he looked like a deer in the headlights. There was no full court press on defense, The players looked like fans watching the game or at least who was to take the next worthless jump shot, and no one it seems can get it through Josh’s head that he is not the jump shooter he thinks he is. Thank God Marvin is not a horse so no one will have to put him out of his misery. Jamal every shot is not going to be a 4 point play shoot the ball and quit begging to go to the line.
Columbus
May 12th, 2011
11:52 pm
Yeah im with you Herschel, along those same lines, Dawgs will go 0-11!
BTW Jamal did not do ANYTHING in this entire series. I think Jamal might be back but if not I liked whats his name from a couple years ago? Flip Murray.
I liked what Hubie said during the game about how the Hawks were not getting ANYONE the ball in their “sweet spots”. I would go back in history and see what teams did to beat teams with an awesome defense and see what the common denominator was and then see if we have the personnel. From my experience you need a post up player and someone who can drive in and create his own offense, who can score on ANYONE like Dominique. Stupidest move the Hawks ever made, trading Wilkins when they had the #1 seed! You have to have offense that cannot be stopped when you play the BEST defenses. What happened that year? Hawks ran into a great defense and could not score, no Dominique and Danny Manning was helpless. Same thing this series, Teague showed flashes of what it takes and Josh could but wouldn’t do it.
Need a Kobe-type. Rose-type who cannot be contained. Hawks shoot all these jumpers just like Reggie Miller. I remember seeing Miller flying around the court to get open and our guys are trotting or standing still….they need to watch some old film….see how it’s done. How did teams compete with the Pistons when they were the Bad Boys? The Knicks when they had Ewing and Oakley? I assure you they did not stand around.
Hell what happened to clearing out the side? Posting up?
IllinoisRed
May 12th, 2011
11:53 pm
62-20 in the regular season, best D in the league, 3-0 against the Heat, 11 players deep (Thomas didn’t get off the bench, and he could start for ATL), home court advantage………I’ll take my chances against the Big 3 and the little 9. Oh, yeah, the Bulls reduced the Heat to tears the last time they played (kinda like the Hawks reduce their, what, 25 or 26 true fans? to tears every year). Who knows, these guys might be on the verge of a 4 or 5 peat. Have a nice summer……..basketball in June is great!!
NagoyaHawk
May 12th, 2011
11:58 pm
It’s another sad day to be an Atlanta fan. 150 seasons of professional sports and one lousy ring. Go Hawks and take the Thrashers with you.
Vick Supporter
May 12th, 2011
11:58 pm
MB:
PLEASE WRITE AN ARTICLE AS TO HOW BAD MARVIN WILLIAMS SUCKS. WE GOT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FROM HIM. PLEASE WRITE SOMETHING.
I GUESS MANAGEMENTT NEEDS TO BE REMINDED ON HOW BAD HE SUCKS. I LOVE THE HAWKS, BUT DAMN IT..ITS HARD TO KEEP ROOTING FOR THESE GUYS.
PMC
May 12th, 2011
11:59 pm
Alright quick, Sell tickets for this team next season…. give it your best shot.
What’s the most marketable you can get out of this season????
Hey Hawks fans come out and support….the team that didn’t get swept in the second round last year.
NagoyaHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:00 am
No way the Bulls beat the Heat. Keep dreaming.
Columbus
May 13th, 2011
12:01 am
Drew had no plan. Players had no plan. Josh still shooting jumpers cuz his team supports him and believes in his game. He listens to his teammates but not his coach and his coach was right.
Drew did not have no plan and if he did the players seem to do their own thing. I would have drove the lane ALL night. All night. The jumpers were the trap the Bulls set. Kept us from rebounding, kept us from scoring andeven then they were ALL over us! Except SELF-CHECK Josh. They let him shoot all the long J’s he wanted!
Coach, center, cant be stopped scorer. You nust have a scorer who cannot be defended who is a natural born scorer. Rose, Kobe, Jordan, Wilkins, or a BEAST at center who can be stopped in the post. Defenses get tougher and I have not seen a better defense without a dominating center than Chicago. It is impressive! What the Hawks going to counter with next year?
TheAntiMe
May 13th, 2011
12:03 am
Maybe if we’re lucky the Hawks will move to Canada with the Thrashers. I’m sick of supporting these spineless wimps who collectively as a team do not possess a half of a testicle between them all.
Cam
May 13th, 2011
12:03 am
The Hawks didn’t collapse; they got beat by a superior team. Atlanta should be given credit for winning two games and playing hard.
As for many of the folks on this website? Yeesh.
Hopefully, the guy who claimed yesterday that the Bulls would have a huge FT edge tonight noticed that the Hawks took 15 more while being dismantled. The Hawks shot 14 more FT’s over the entire series.
Don’t let the facts get in the way though.
MM
May 13th, 2011
12:05 am
Loserville again snatches a great defeat.
Boom Dizzle
May 13th, 2011
12:08 am
Mark, what can this team do with Joe taking up a big portion of the payroll?
Bulls win in 6
May 13th, 2011
12:08 am
“NagoyaHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:00 am
No way the Bulls beat the Heat. Keep dreaming.”
Yeah, they dismantled us all season…
Columbus
May 13th, 2011
12:16 am
Its playoffs…the season is over and Boston beat the Heat during the season Bulls win in 6. Catch my drift? The Heat are on a mission and while they can be beat, I would not want to lose the first one at home like the Bulls did in this series….Heat has what Atlanta does not, playmakers that will knife through the lane and get very physical, like the Hawks did not do either. Its playoffs, Conference finals. Should be close but could go either way. Heat are all healthy. Im very interested to see what the series will be like after 4 games.
Vick Supporter
May 13th, 2011
12:18 am
MB:
Please man, put that damn Marvin Williams on blast. He always slide under the bust radar. We all know he is, but there’s never been an article dedicated to his bust-ness that I can remember. We want his ass gone. He gave us less than 10pts for the entire series.
Columbus
May 13th, 2011
12:21 am
BTW Joe Johnson did not lose this series. NOBODY was scoring. Jamal did not score all series. EVERYBODY except Teague had serious difficulty. So it was a combination of great defense and an offensive scheme that was TOTALLY ineffective. When there were no fast breaks, the Hawks were hopeless except for penetrating. They should have drove the lane ALL night until the outside opened up… but still they were standing around without a clue on how to get an open shot. But Joe Johnson is not the problem. The problem was the offense we ran.
luangtom
May 13th, 2011
12:24 am
Geez, can Winnepeg support both a hockey-team and a basketball-team?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 13th, 2011
12:25 am
It’s easy to overreact after this loss. Aside from Teague cementing himself as the starting point guard for this team for the foreseeable future, though, I don’t take a whole lot from this series. The Hawks are what they thought they were — a collection of talented players who don’t quite mesh and don’t have a superstar, which means they are always going to lose to teams like the Bulls who do mesh and do have a superstar.
One thing I will say, which I also said after last season: if Joe Johnson doesn’t (can’t) get traded, at the very least his role on the team should be de-emphasized. He is not Kobe, and it’s about time the Hawks stopped running plays for him like he is Kobe. One could maybe make the argument last year that the defensive attention drawn by Joe opened up the offense for everyone else. But right now, between Smoove’s relatively solid post game and the emergence of Teague, there is no logical reason why someone who bogs down the offense as much as Joe should have plays run for him as if he’s the centerpiece of the team.
I don’t necessarily think trading him is the right move because it’s going to be impossible to get equal value for him. But the man plays big games like a role player and defers criticism like a role player; it’s about time he became a role player in the offense instead of the centerpiece.
Section 212
May 13th, 2011
12:32 am
The Hawks provided some moments of good entertainment this season and playoffs. Always better to always make the playoffs than to always miss the playoffs. The ATL is ready to fully support this Hawks team, but they always embarass us when the light shines the brightest. Bottom line, this talented team lacks an inspirational leader. Joe is not wired to be that vocal, “I take ownership” kind of player his salary requires. Horford needs to take the off season to improve his consistency and agressiveness in the paint. Why doesn’t Al roll to the basket after he sets a pick? He always prefers to shoot the jumper. Frustrating to watch Al defer to miss a jump shot, while on the same pick n roll play. the Bulls players agressively attack the basket. I have one off season request, please get rid of Marvin Williams. No longer is able to play basketball at a NBA level. Professionals do not consistently miss (badly) wide open 16 ft jump shots.
Lou
May 13th, 2011
12:34 am
Mark, I feel as though I were robbed after attending last Friday’s game and tonight’s. I thought last Friday was abysmal, but tonight was much worse. Last week to have an opportunity to go up 2-1 the Hawks came out and laid an egg, I don’t know what you can call tonight’s performance. There wasn’t one positive in it that I could find. I for one have no problem trading away some of these guys and taking a few steps back in order to be better in a couple of years. This series was maddening. I could care less if Josh Smith remained a Hawk. I hope I have seen his last 17 footer as a Hawk. Joe Johnson is not the guy to lead a team, he is a complimentary player at best. I don’t know what to say about Larry Drew…He was outcoached for the most part in this series and quite frankly I tired of watching him stand still with his arms crossed every time the Bulls went on a run in this series. I for one, have ZERO intention of dropping a penny at Philips Arena next year as long as this team remains the same. It also speaks volumes when your team is getting blown out and they aren’t getting booed. I booed and when I did, people looked at me like I was odd. They were outhustled, outcoached and outplayed, certainly in two of the last three home games when they had a chance to do something amazing.
Section 212
May 13th, 2011
12:36 am
Teague’s play gives us something to look forward to. He needs to know that he IS the starting point guard. Now Jeff, go lift some weights, and start shooting 1000 shots a day.
Dr. Warren
May 13th, 2011
12:38 am
At some point in the next 90 years, this franchise will get lucky with a superstar through the draft and another through free agency, and they will get to the 3rd round or the Finals. It won’t happen with this group, obviously. Talent is worthless without extremely hard work and extreme focus. Strategy is key, too. And I’ve never been convinced about the Hawks’ level of talent anyway.
Reality
May 13th, 2011
12:40 am
You really aren’t surpised are you? Joe Johnson is the most over paid franchise player in the league. Josh is a baby without focus and the surrounding cast are wannabees.
Mark this down, the Hawks will never win a championship until a new owner brings vision and commitment to the team…
Larry Drew tried, but he can’t refurbish the team that can’t shoot straight!
It will be the very same story again next year except we will not reach the second round.
CobbHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:41 am
Another second round bounce. Can’t say I’m surprised. OK Hawks, post-season is here. Time to move Marvin Williams, at least. And by God, if Josh Smith signs a contract in blood that he won’t take another shot from outside the arc, and actually move around the floor like he’s a player and not a spectator, then we MIGHT consider not trading his rear-end to Sacramento (or as I like to call it, Siberia) for a high first round pick. And if we don’t make a move for a center who is at least seven feet tall and can play BOTH offense and defense, well, I may just have to become a Celtics fan or something. Because this team is not getting it done.
Thanks Hawks, for another average season.
Section 212
May 13th, 2011
12:43 am
Hawks have talented players (Joe, Josh, Al, Jamal). But not one of these players elevate the play of others. Perhaps Teague can be that person who elevates the play of these guys.
CobbHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:50 am
Trade Marvin Williams.
CobbHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:51 am
TRADE MARVIN WILLIAMS!
shawn
May 13th, 2011
12:51 am
people teague played 6gms and y’all have made him a star lets see how he look after 82 games getting beat up and playing with injuries like the rest of the league and yeah by the way it was’nt like drose didnt avg 30pts and 10ast being double and triple teamed against him his fresh legs might be a trap hawks fans just something to think about!
CobbHawk
May 13th, 2011
12:51 am
Also: Trade Marvin Williams.
nono
May 13th, 2011
12:58 am
Larry Drew on his postgame interview after game six said the team made these great strides from last year just because they beat Orlando. For one thing Orlando was not the same team as it was a year ago, different players not the same. What’s so great Larry you still are out in the second round. You were suppose to be so great,
Harpie
May 13th, 2011
12:59 am
The Hawks will NEVER be winners with Larry Drew as “coach”; he hasn’t a clue!
tyger
May 13th, 2011
1:06 am
On to the next one…
1. The Hawks made a good run, let’s not forget that…
2. The team is fundamentally flawed and financially restricted…
3. Ownership/mgt. in flux and labor uncertainty further limiting…
4. Flawed core strategy has run its course…
5. Hawks have acquired assets, now is time to move them…
6. Must obtain more fundamentally sound players…
7. Too many guys that can only do 1 or 2 things well…
8. There is NO floor general, despite Teagues speed bursts…
9. Not sold on Teague, despite spurt of admirable, not the answer…
10. Prepare for a long off-season w/ no draft pick.
James
May 13th, 2011
1:08 am
The Hawks had no chance at winning the championship anyway so it’s best that they lost now.
James
May 13th, 2011
1:09 am
@tyger I agree with your comment.
Kelvin Frazier
May 13th, 2011
1:23 am
Too bad we traded away last year’s first round draft pick Jordan Crawford, our insurance policy in case Jamal Crawford leaves as well as this year’s first round pick for a point guard it turns out we already had on the team. It seems to me that you should have at least started Teague a couple of weeks to what he could do before you make that trade. That’s the difference between Championship franchises like the Lakers and Celtics and mediocre franchises like the Hawks.
Summerteeth
May 13th, 2011
1:29 am
Hawks owners want us to believe in this team because “we have a huge payroll” and “we make the 2nd round every year”. Well sorry guys, you shouldn’t spend your money on people who don’t give a rats A$$. I’ll support a team with talent and plays hard every night. Until then, I don’t care how much money you morons spend. LeBron took a PAY CUT to play for a winner. Joe Johnson took his money and ran to the bank.
mcgarrett
May 13th, 2011
1:50 am
They won’t compete. Why don’t they at least go down fighting? Damm they suck.
odogg32
May 13th, 2011
1:56 am
Al and Joe need to go. Tyson Chandler would have been a good sign and trade for Joe last year. Dallas proved to be smart and ahead of the curve for finishing their team. Nene for Al and Joe. Hire James Worthy to light a fire under Marvin. Make Marvin a big two. Josh at the three. Jeff the one. Nene the 5 and find a 4.
truth hurts
May 13th, 2011
2:33 am
dol banned me from commenting on the falcons message board becuase I called him out for trying to bait UGA fans and for pointing out he covers the most successful team but has the fewest hits on his blo by far. nothin profane nothing that wasn’t true. I did suggest he might be happier covering ohio state but does that warrant a ban? Is a so called professional journalist really that thin skinned?
Ray
May 13th, 2011
2:40 am
Give the Bulls credit– they were on fire. When the Hawks double-teamed Rose– Boozer kept hitting long jump shots– nothing but net. He hasn’t shot like that ALL year. Deng was also hot and played extremely well the whole series. I think the Hawks were really hurt when Jeff Teague got hurt in the first half– that’s when the game really slipped away. It wasn’t our night– but at least we were there and you didn’t expect it. We lasted longer in the playoffs than the Magic, the Lakers or the Spurs. So quit your whining!
Friday Morning Sketches: Where These Are The Hawks We’d Been Expecting. | Boston Celtics
May 13th, 2011
2:41 am
[...] ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION: Over the past month it seemed the Hawks had become a team again, not just a gaggle of wide-eyed jump-shooters. They’d fought harder, defended better, even gotten a bit smarter. But now they were down double figures on a night when the Bulls were guarding better and finding more scorers than at any time in Games 1-5. For all that had come before, this was the test of the New Hawks: Could they hold themselves together at a time when little was going right? Could they give the home folks — Philips wasn’t packed, by the way — a finish? Nope. It got so bad the below-capacity throng began leaving with eight minutes left. Just when you thought these Hawks weren’t the old Hawks, they uncorked a stinker. (And they wonder why we don’t take them as seriously as they think we should.) [...]
Fussball Fan
May 13th, 2011
2:47 am
To be totally honest, the beginning of the article says it all about what is “acceptable” or “expected” of teams in Atlanta. The team gave the “eventual” champion in 2008 a scare ,by losing in game 7 in the 1st round. SOME Atlanta fans and MOST of the media, just want teams to be competitive, if they win a championship, well….we’ll take that too. The media and fans need to expect more from their teams. Forget playing in the finals, the Atlanta Hawks have NEVER played in an eastern conference final game in 40 years??!! That in itself is a joke. Meanwhile teams like the Miami Heat (been around 23 years) have played in several eastern conference finals and won a championship and the Orlando Magic (been around 22 years) have been to the finals twice. It’s okay for the Braves to win 14 straight division titles, but only have ONE championship? The best Falcons team, by most people’s account is the 1980 team that lost in the first round to the Dallas Cowboys? If the local writers and fans continue to applaud mediocrity or being “just good enough” to lose, then the city will continue to be Loserville, USA.
PaulieOldSchool
May 13th, 2011
2:53 am
This team may have talent galore–I’ll grant you that point, simply on the times they play well. What they do not have, and never will, is heart. Yeah, they’re pros, and pros notoriously don’t have heart, they have millions of dollars instead. But when you get down to it, what marks great teams, or even consistently good teams, is heart. They refuse to lose. This team is always looking for a reason to lose. And always will be. They went further than I said they could. Kudos for that. But what now? Another off season of no movement, no new coach, and next year, surprise! same or worse result.
Fussball Fan
May 13th, 2011
2:58 am
P.S.- ANYONE, comparing Josh Smith (J-Smoove- LOL) to Lebron James ever again, should have their heads examined and be caned in Philips Arena, maybe the fans will show up for that. BTW, for should a under achieving team/franchise, the Hawks sure have a lot of catchy nicknames- J-Smoove, The Highlight Factory, are to that come to mind.. I laugh every time I hear either of those names. Well, Highlight Factory may be due to the fact that other teams do have a lot of highlights when they play the Hawks at Philips Arena.
zoxh01
May 13th, 2011
3:28 am
Joe
That’s NOT what he’s saying. If you watched the games it was easy to see that
when you’re a forward like Horford, that’s all you need. That’s the only way to take pressure
off his mid-range game. He worked on his mid-range game last year.
Oh, I can certainly understand the one-on-one thing. JJ does a lot of that. If you count the ISO
dribbling of JJ, it’s a lot than the one or two dribbles Al’s talking about.
If there was one word to describe what Al’s saying it would be “Explosive”.
You know,… One or two dribbles and go to the basket.
LakeDawg
May 13th, 2011
3:39 am
As currently constituted, I will never watch these Hawks again. I actually missed the whole regular season, but got sucked back in when they beat Orlando in game 1. These Hawks are either too selfish (J Smoove), lack a pair of nads (Joe Johnson), or are completely clueless (Marvin Williams). Now its starting to affect Horford. He has started to take games off and not rise to the occasion. I would much rather watch a bunch of talentless nobodies leave it all on the court, playing smart BB, than watch these talented losers play.I know the term “loser” gets bandied about way too cavalierly, but it truly fits these Hawks. They make me sick.