The Heat showed up; the Hawks (and their fans) left early
It was a no-go night for All-Star Joe. (AP photo)
Even by the Hawks’ careening standards, this has been a turbulent season. With shifts in conventional wisdom attached, we offer a recap:
• Opened by winning four of their first five games, including a victory over the Heat in Miami. And folks thought: “Hmmm.”
• Blew a 19-point lead and lost in Chicago. Lost in triple overtime here to the Heat without LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. And folks thought: “Same old Hawks.”
• Won the next three games but saw Al Horford injured — and subsequently ruled out at least for the remainder of the regular season — in a loss at Indiana. And folks thought: “Stick a fork in ‘em.”
• Won nine of the next 11 without the man considered their most indispensable player. And folks thought: “Hmmm.”
• Came home for a four-game stand and lost the first three games by a total of 39 points. And folks thought: “Same old Hawks.”
• Went to Orlando and won. And folks thought: “Nice win, but didn’t the Hawks prove last season that they could handle the Magic?”
Against this backdrop of forth-and-backing, the regal Heat again arrived at Philips Arena with LeBron’s corporate partner ESPN in dutiful tow. Speaking before Sunday’s game, Hawks coach Larry Drew said: “It shouldn’t take a motivational speaker to get guys ready.”
In professional sports, motivation tends to matter rather less than talent. This game wasn’t one quarter old when it was apparent that the Hawks sans Horfy would offer no resistance. The star-spangled visitors led by 12 points after one quarter, by 22 at the half, by 32 eight minutes into the third period. (For those keeping score, it marked the second time in 10 days the Hawks had trailed by 30 at Philips.)
Yet again, the temptation is mighty to pronounce these the same old Hawks and move on to spring football. That’s not quite accurate. Even with Horford, the Hawks had found their ceiling — Round 2 of the playoffs. Without him, we need to lower the overhead by a couple of feet. No matter what the record might suggest, this isn’t a team capable of challenging the Heat or the Bulls for Eastern eminence.
It is, however, a team of enough skill and depth to make the playoffs and maybe, if it’s lucky enough to draw Orlando in the first round, to slip past. But that’s about it. To hope for anything more is to deny the aggregating reality.
Over the past 10 days, the Hawks have lost four times at home, and none of the losses have been close. What lifted them to 16-6 was a nice bench and a nicer schedule, but you can’t play the Nets and the Wizards every night. The Hawks are 13-1 against teams that are under .500, 5-9 against those above it. In sum, they’re better than the bad teams.
And now you’re saying, “This is news?” In a way, yes. It has taken 28 games to reach some sort of conclusion about this odd crew, and the verdict isn’t necessarily damning. Without Horford, many among us had visions of a total surrender. That hasn’t happened. On most nights, they’ve hung in there.
But you cannot expect a team minus its anchor to hang in against the Heat. Not that there are many, if any, like this. Wade, who’s Miami’s second-best player, destroyed Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ $120 million man, in the first half, outscoring him 21-8. Chris Bosh, third-best among the Heat, put up a first-half double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) against Josh Smith, who fancies himself an All-Star.
Midway through the second quarter, the Hawks had ducked their heads and were looking for the exits. Drew conceded the point: “They were obviously the aggressor. We did not respond.”
An obviously disgusted Smith played 11 minutes in the third quarter and managed more fouls (three) than points (two). Jeff Teague was pulled 3 1/2 minutes into the second half, Drew having seen more than enough. Marvin Williams put the finishing touches on one of those horrid Marvin games — six points, three rebounds — we’ve come to know and hate.
On what was billed as a big night for this franchise, the crowd left early and the Heat didn’t break a sweat. The home side was outrebounded 31-13 in the first half and yielded 63 points in 24 minutes, which doesn’t speak of dedication to duty. But you know what? The Hawks could have played their best and tried their hardest and still lost by 10.
For what they are, they’ve done well this season. But what they are is a cut above middling.
By Mark Bradley
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110 comments Add your comment
Kontract
February 13th, 2012
12:26 am
Mark: AGREE AGREE AGREE.
On a side note I saw Macy in the studio talking college basketball…I feel older seeing him with a bald head and aging and not in a UK uniform…strange eh?
painter
February 13th, 2012
12:30 am
Hawks are who we thought they were. No championship banners will ever adorn our halls. It’s the NBA, domain of the kings and we are the peons. Nice write-up btw.
superiorblogman
February 13th, 2012
12:32 am
Josh Smith, Marvin Williams to the Celtics for KG’s expiring and there 1st rd pick.
Kirk Hinrich to LA for trade exception and a 1st rd pick
Those 2 deals will get us under the salary cap for next year. After signing our 3 1st rd picks we would have about $12 million to throw at Brook Lopez, Hibbert, or Javal McGee if we did not get lucky enough to get Drummond.
PG Teague/
SG Joe/
SF Perry Jones III/Barnes/MKG/Quincy Miller
PF Horford
C Brook Lopez/Hibbert/McGee/Drummond
Go play ball with a regular sized NBA team for a change.
Jed
February 13th, 2012
12:34 am
Well …
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7429623/the-city-atlanta-worst-sports-town-america
I think this sort of explains it. What came first? The crappy fan base or the crappy teams? You decide.
Mark Bradley
February 13th, 2012
12:34 am
I remember when Kyle Macy’s hair was famous for never moving, Kontract.
Jed
February 13th, 2012
12:37 am
Oh, AND,
I love the Hawks, but they sure as (bl_nk) give up as soon as they think they’re out-gunned. They don’t even try, lazy arse over-paid children … even as MB pointed out, they still would have lost … but at least work for it.
if... if... if
February 13th, 2012
12:58 am
“I think this sort of explains it. What came first? The crappy fan base or the crappy teams? You decide.”
Atlantans have never seen consistent, good championship-or-die teams in this town, so it’s clearly the organizations. (Ain’t give me garbage about the Braves, raising division title banners? SMH)
Fred
February 13th, 2012
12:58 am
Ron in Vegas
February 12th, 2012
10:09 pm
Very frustrating to watch this team over the long haul……..first???
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No you were second asshat. But Mark gave you kudo’s anyway so be proud(?).
Walt Frazier on the otherhand who is more concerned with the team rather than being “first” was ignored……..
Dreamer
February 13th, 2012
1:10 am
Your team is not that bad. Your players don’t know their place thats all.
Its the fault of the coaching staff. And,im in cali but there is word spreading that Larry Drew will not be the head coach for long.There is steam coming from the owners to fire him now!
But they don’t have anyone to replace him with now.And they sure as heck don’t wanna hire from within.
if... if... if
February 13th, 2012
1:24 am
“It is, however, a team of enough skill and depth to make the playoffs and maybe, if it’s lucky enough to draw Orlando in the first round, to slip past. But that’s about it. To hope for anything more is to deny the aggregating reality.”
No guarantees vs Orlando, either. Besides, if this team can’t win the East, what’s the point? Didn’t they make “NO EXCUSES” the mantra for 2012? Yet fana always hear the same excuses from players and coaches. And a few fans on this web site (they know who they are) talking like that one little playoff victory is something to be proud of. Such idiots.
superiorblogman
February 13th, 2012
1:49 am
The front office needs to fire themselves first. Fire Drew, Sund, Nique, ASG need to sell.
Kontract
February 13th, 2012
1:51 am
LOL,,Mark: Do you remember Dwight Anderson? May have been a snot-nosed 10 yr old kid…but I remember him as one of the most amazing and electrifying players in college basketball…and then one day..pooof..he disappeared!
Don Mills
February 13th, 2012
2:03 am
I was at the hawks town hall meeting. I wanted to throw up, all he (Geraon) did was talk and talk so people could barely ask questions. It was mediocrity at its best. He went on about how the hawks are the most succesful atlanta franchise over the last five years, how dwight howard hasnt help Orlando win a championship and his value is overrated. and just continued to justify all of their decisions. but it was all BS and everybody was to uncomfortable to tell the truth and was kissing his ass.
WELP
February 13th, 2012
2:32 am
Hawks are garbage. Give it up.
Dr. Warren
February 13th, 2012
3:31 am
MB—what are your thoughts on Jeremy Lin and his future?
Big Daddy
February 13th, 2012
5:18 am
For the first time in a long time, I turned away from a Hawks game to look at something else (the Grammy’s). I don’t expect the Hawks to win every game, even at home. I do expect them to come out and be competitive, especially at home. In this game the competitiveness lasted about half of the first quarter.
Some time during the third quarter, Hubie Brown noted that four of the Hawks starters were a combined 3 for 28. ESPN’s “WIRED” showed LD admonishing the guys that the Heat was consistently getting to the rim and they were not even trying to stop them or attack the rim themselves. Part of that seemed like when ever they came into the paint there were at least 3 Heat players around them at the rim. That is what happens when you can’t hit your outside shot.
We need a player like Dominique who could find a way to get to the rim and dunk over people who got in his way. When I look at the group we have now I don’t see anyone in that mold. Those players are out there and we should be able to get one.
Next, if the coach lets everyone come down on offense, go to their spot on the floor and stay there or only have one player in motion at a time, that is their fault. It seems Marvin comes down and get’s in that corner spot Josh, Joe, Jeff are on the perimeter. When he was healthy even Al was around the free throw line. We have got to have a presence in the paint both on offense and especially on defense and we don’t. That is coaching. We feast on the bad teams and end up being the feast with the good teams. With the talent we have we should be much better. That tells me that the chemistry of the team is not what it is supposed to be. That is the GM’s fault.
Go Go Pilots
February 13th, 2012
6:25 am
Sure ASG are upbeat they are losers and it shows i was waitin for the Fans who were not throwin bottles at owners sittin on the court side seats,…wearin old flames jersey n thrashers uniforms chattin we want hockey back We want hockey back chant….This team will never win a Title ever due to The three stooges of ASG n marx brothers as owners…Joe Johnson a all star poop you say Jose Smith Mr classless here McGrady all wind bag al hartford hey don’t give me ball….are coach Lost in a brothel with the mayor of atlanta who do not care we lost NHL team.And yes i goin keep sayin it to..To all Hawks Fans ASG is the worst owners in NBA …Like the old song that was used by CBS along ago for theme…You see the worst in basketball if u watch them play at Phillips arena….The Nba on sportssouth….Lets all stand up for the hawks remove shirt show thrashers jersey and then after the ushers try to remove we all turn towards and walk out arena so owners can have a Private game alone before ushers and janitors and the toilet bowl cleaners!
Matt
February 13th, 2012
6:46 am
Joe Johnson all star???? What a joke. Hawks GM should be fired for resigning this over rated player to max deal. What a joke
GTT
February 13th, 2012
6:57 am
The most telling statement in this piece … the one about Horford being “the anchor” of this team. Max Joe? No so much.
PT Barnum
February 13th, 2012
7:34 am
Once again a pro-sports team from Atl is in the spotlight and lays an egg. Our town needs to stay OUT of primtime. Braves give a mlb historic collapse. Falcons score 2 points inna playoff game after getting crushed in the playoffs the year before. And finally the Hawks are the laffing stock of the East for their abyssmal primetime play and their handling of joe johnson since day 1. Will the shame never end?
Jimmy Crack
February 13th, 2012
7:40 am
The Hawks are indeed a “nice” team, but luckily in the NBA nice teams don’t finish last, they make the playoffs and then lose in the early rounds.
If you have just moved to this town, I suggest you stay a fan of your old team while the ASG still has the keys. Nothing will change for the better until these money managers leave.
Rick Farley
February 13th, 2012
7:46 am
It’s time to revamp the HAWKS! Trade Josh & Marvin or Ellis for Joe Johnson.. What do you think?
HAWKLESS
February 13th, 2012
7:59 am
The hawks game against the Heat was a total disgrace. The ownership, general manager, coaches and players are a disgrace to profesional sports. The current organization and players need to be fired. If you are getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball and not get motivated then you need to hit the unemployment lines and see the other side of life. The average hard working family of four will drop a minmum of $ 200 for a basketball game. The hawks basically stole money from the fans last night. If the hawks had any kind of management they should be offering some type of incentive to the fans who were present for the whipping last night,
Reality hurts
February 13th, 2012
8:04 am
Bring back HOCKEY!!
HAWKLESS
February 13th, 2012
8:05 am
The hawks need some more announcers for the telecasts because they are both “house” people. They intentional ignore bad plays or down play bad plays or over hype the so-called super star status of Joe and Josh. The hawks have not had a good annoucer since the late Skip Carey. He would tell it like it was good or bad which most fans could appreciate.
Commo di Surquesa
February 13th, 2012
8:05 am
Grotesquely overpaid thugs, just like UGA.
Peter
February 13th, 2012
8:16 am
Really do folks still watch the Hawks ?
If so why ?
The Owners are terrible, the GM worse, the players are mediocre at best, and lack heart……..but the get a wonderful paycheck now don’t they !
Sorry these guys deserve the lack of support.
last year I saw 6 free games via my girlfriends job, and I didn’t spend a dime in the arena… Or “low light factory”….. ate and had a few beers in the CNN center, then saw the game. I refused to even buy a water in there.
All should go that way…..pretty soon the team will be broke and the NBA will have to take the team away.
Road Scholar
February 13th, 2012
8:22 am
Josh Smith an all-star?! Yeah, that’s rich. Ask him how many mansions he has built with all those bricks he has thrown up through the years. Lazy….you betcha!
Joe Johnson..Walt Frazier said it best.
STRETCH
February 13th, 2012
8:24 am
After the time in the 2nd quarter the camera was in the huddle and Drew was trying to get them fired up and i noticed the looks on their faces:
Towels over their heads,
Josh still whining,
Joe with that blank stare,
Teague looking like he did NOT want to go back out there
T-Mac probably saying “Im the star of this team”
I heard LD telling them, “lets work the ball inside.” And what happen as soon as they came out of that timeout?
The next few possesions:
T-Mac jacked up a shot, Ivan jacked up two straight, Marvin running the baseline getting airborn with no place to go, then Josh started shooting while JJ looked slower than ever trying to take the defenders.
Then when he passed it, people were standing around not ready for the pass.
They came down the court and contnued to shoot with NO rebounding at all, that was pathetic. I counted about 10 one-and-dones! And LD couldnt come up with anything else? They were playing street ball out there!
And stop Zaza from passing the ball up top. Also, the commentators said it, the Heat trapped whoever brought the ball up the court all night and the did nothing to counter. What a joke!
STRETCH
February 13th, 2012
8:25 am
City of Atlanta doesn’t deserve win!!!
blazerdawg
February 13th, 2012
8:32 am
In what other market would the headline of the article about the game refer to “fans leaving early”? Heck, the Heat were only up by 30 most of the game. Fans would be gone anywhere, but here it gets a headline.
Oh well, still have hope. The Clippers used to be the worst organization in sports, and now they are one of only two or three NBA teams I will pay attention to. One day the Hawks will get their star and become interesting, and Atlanta will go wild again.
nasty
February 13th, 2012
8:37 am
trade sorry Al horford and get us a real center. What did you expect?
STRECH
February 13th, 2012
8:48 am
I am not classy enough to live here!!!
Mo Joe
February 13th, 2012
8:51 am
after the all star selection, Max Joe willl be wanting a lot more money next year–the hawks need to pay up!
No Mo Jo
February 13th, 2012
8:54 am
if we could blow-up Drew-Chris-Roundfield, Rivers-Wilkins-Willis, and Mo-Smith-Mutumbo, then we certainly can blow-up this – UNLESS ASG can find a CENTER!
Trojan
February 13th, 2012
8:59 am
A poorly coached team. A horribly constructed team. A horribly managed team. Who would give JJ $20 million more than the next highest possible bidder?
ASG is a joke.
JROLL1
February 13th, 2012
9:00 am
HAWKS REMIND ME OF THE FALCONS…GET ON NATIONAL T.V. AND WET THE BED!!!!
Ross E
February 13th, 2012
9:12 am
Mark,
When are ATL sports teams going to be worth a d@mn? This has to be the most underachieving sports town in the US.
DP
February 13th, 2012
9:25 am
If there’s any justice, Mark Bradley has been sentenced to covering the Hawks until Joe Johnson’s max contract (which Bradley advocated) expires.
The NBA is dead to me for at least this season. Jamming a 66 game schedule into 3+ months has made this regular season a joke.
PMC
February 13th, 2012
9:29 am
You’re making too much out of wins and losses in the regular season. The Hawks don’t have a superstar so they are going to have nights like this. It’s a very good basketball team. They will be in the playoffs and that’s all that matters in the regular season. It would benefit them if they could play more playoff games at home, but they can win on the road. Horford should be back in the playoffs.
It’s a short season, this is a very good basketball team. They are at least 2nd round worthy, and they could make the EC Finals this year. I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
This is a good basketball team with some flaws and it’s the regular season, forgive some bad nights.
whit
February 13th, 2012
9:37 am
The hawks have no fire. They take losing like it does not matter to them. Where is the person on the team that will not accept the way they are playing and raise some cain. Every time I am at the game and they get drilled I see the bench. They just sit there with no emotion. They need a leader. I like Joe but he does not have the personality that allows him to make others play harder. What would happen if Kobe’s teamates laid down. He would rip their tail. We need some guys that hate losing and get offended by getting blew out. The last game I went to was the Memphis crap and the Hawks were out worked and out hustled. They laid down, and now its happening on a regular basis.
BGH
February 13th, 2012
9:53 am
Adding Al wouldn’t have mattered. This is typical atlanta sports teams. They beat crap oppoents and get bullied by the elite. Put Joe J on the bulls or heat or celtics or lakers or clippers and he’s the 3rd or 4th best player.
ASG Sucks
February 13th, 2012
10:07 am
This is why I go to 1 game a year…no effort whatsoever with a packed house and national TV audience. Stuff it ASG…you and your team are losers!
Ted M
February 13th, 2012
10:10 am
Mark – you hit the nail on the head. Glad I didn’t waste any time watching this game on TV.
Dude, Dave
February 13th, 2012
10:15 am
saw Adele on the Grammy’s instead, “Rolling In The Deep” was apparently on both channels.
Mark Bradley
February 13th, 2012
10:18 am
Oh, and if you’re inclined, here’s another little post about the Hawks.
duronimo
February 13th, 2012
10:21 am
So we’re still interested in professional basketball? 120 million for a man to play a game? Look at what Cecil Fielder got to play baseball. Remember when you had to hit 300 to play first or outfield for a professional baseball team? (Aaron, Carty, Alou etc. – pick any teams years ago) And what is professional sports really? Usually during a regular season it’s up and down … not many games are played with passion. The real seasons start in the playoffs. So who is getting their money’s worth in regular season …. I give you the Hawks to support the thesis.
duronimo
February 13th, 2012
10:24 am
I believe one year contracts based on the prior year’s performance will cure what Mark has highlighted today. But that mirrors real life too much to have a chance. Nice piece Mark.
Chi-Town BBaller
February 13th, 2012
10:26 am
Since moving hear, I decided to support the Hawks, GT, and the Falcons(never uga). It’s really hard to support those teams because being average is the norm. This is why people from different places supports their hometeams.
The Hawks couldn’t beat themselves if they were alone in the room with a magazine with a bottle of lotion
Bob Cousy
February 13th, 2012
10:27 am
Smith wonders why he’s not an ALL Star? R U kidding? Lamebrain may be the dumbest player in the league always choosing the wrong play and aklways making a critical mistake in a game. A lousy fre throw shooter, and two turnovers a game do not equal being on the floor with allstars which he certainly is not