The Hawks’ Game 2 task: Win when they’re supposed to win
Josh Smith exults in the Hawks' emphatic Game 1 victory. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The greatest favor you can do the Atlanta Hawks is to discount them. They hate that, which is to say they love it.
“[Pundits] help us out a lot by counting us out,” Josh Smith said Monday. “We like to prove people wrong. [Being summarily dismissed] is disrespectful.”
The Hawks are playing the Boston Celtics in a 4-versus-5 series, which by definition should be seen as a coin flip. This one was projected to be a Boston walkover — even though the Hawks held the homecourt edge in the sport where playing at home matters most.
It was as if these were still the callow Hawks of 2008 — the No. 8 seed lugging a losing record — and their opponent was an in-its-prime Boston team that had won 66 games. Neither of those things is true. These Hawks lost Al Horford, heretofore considered indispensable, in the season’s 11th game and still won more than the Celtics.
To the chattering class, that mattered not one whit. Boston was still Boston, which it demonstrably is not, and the Hawks were still the Hawks, whatever that means. To be fair, it can be hard to know exactly what the Hawks are.
This has been a pretty nice team for a while. This is its fifth playoff run in succession, and it has advanced to Round 2 the past three seasons. They were fourth in the East in 2008-2009, third in 09-10, fifth last season, fourth this time. No, they haven’t become a gold-plated colossus, but they’ve won a lot of games. Trouble is, not many of those victories seem to have registered.
“Boston has just been talked about in that [exalted] way ever since the Big Three [Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce] got there,” Smith said, speaking the day after the Hawks had led wire to wire in Game 1. “It’s been Boston, Chicago and Miami. It’s like no other Eastern Conference team existed.”
That’s overstating, if just. Cleveland was a big deal before You Know Who took his talents You Know Where, and Orlando was seen as a power until Dwight Howard’s whining began to override Dwight Howard’s playing. Still, there’s a difference between being a Brand Name and Brand X — the latter struggles for shelf space.
Said Smith, sarcasm rising: “We’re not concerned with what analysts –quote-unquote ‘analysts’ — think. It all kind of ties down to what kind of sports town this is. You go to Boston and every game is sold out. Go to Chicago and every game is sold out. If you don’t have the title of being a sports-fanatical town, they’re reluctant to talk about you.”
There’s truth there. The Celtics and Bulls played to 100 percent capacity (or more, in Chicago’s case) even in this post-lockout season; the Hawks played to 81.9 percent of Philips Arena’s capacity, which ranked them 24th in a 30-team league. But the national disdain for the Hawks isn’t so much data-based as perception-fueled: Put simply, the Hawks are seen as a screwy team.
Which brings us to our second Talking Point: The worst curse you can hurl at the Atlanta Hawks is to suggest they’re ready to take a step up in class. Because every such forecast to date has gone unfulfilled.
From being swept in Round 2 by Cleveland in 2009 to swept (by 101 aggregate points) by Orlando the next year to losing in six to Chicago last spring after stealing Game 1 up there; from beating the Heat with all hands on deck in Miami on Jan. 2 to losing to the LeBron-less, D-Wade-less Heat in Philips three days later … this is a team that lives to confound us. And that’s why the Hawks are in both a good and bad place as they approach Game 2.
If they grab a 2-0 lead, it will be difficult for an opponent of advanced age to claim the series by winning the requisite four of five. And the Celtics will be without their best player, Rajon Rondo, who has been suspended for bumping ref Marc Davis at the shank of Game 1. (Wait a second. Isn’t it the Hawks who were supposed to lose their cool?)
Without Rondo, you’d have to like the Hawks’ chances. You’d like them until you recall that January loss to depleted Miami, or the home loss this month against a Toronto team that included three men working on 10-day contracts. The simple reason the Hawks aren’t taken more seriously is that, over time, they’ve contrived to lose in ways that suggest they aren’t as good as their record. Here’s their chance to win a big game they’re supposed to win. Here’s their chance to shut some yaps.
By Mark Bradley
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93 comments Add your comment
DeeTOWN
May 1st, 2012
12:04 pm
I’m a native of atlanta, born and raised. I support my team no matter what. What I don’t understand is you whinning blow hearts that say you won’t spend your time or money on this team until ASG is gone. You are not a FAN! If that’s all it takes for you to disappear then just don’t watch.
Whoever said Josh Smith was lazy??? This guy is a ball of energy. He has played every position from Sf, PF, to center. He has always blocked shots, he has always run the floor, and he has always played defense when the rest of the team didn’t know what defense was. He may have struggled finding his role offensively on this team but he did everything else. Now that he has matured and all other options are either hurt or gone we get a chance to see how good he really is.
So I send this message out to all of the fair weather fans, the transplants, migrators, and even the haters…. If you don’t like this team then go find one that fits you, because we true native atlantan’s don’t want you here anyway!
GO Hawks… win or lose!!!!!!
Pete
May 1st, 2012
12:18 pm
Here we are…………….again.
An Atlanta team in the national spotlight, all dressed up for the dance, favored to win.
And what will we get ??
Another flop. Dismal performance. One more in a L….O….N….G line of hyped up failures. Oh, and then we get to hear the word FRUSTRATING…………….for the 9,847th time.
Some things NEVER change.
No thank you, I’ll read a book.
Ricky
May 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
I tell you Pete what really frustrates me, are fans like you. A real fan dies hard every year! EVERY YEAR!!!! We will win this series and if we dont then I will die like a real fan! Not one of these fake, trumped up pretend Atlanta fans who always find the negative! Sick of fake fans!!!!! Jump on the bandwagon and cheer and stop poor mouthing and whining about here we go again! I say the same thing when I see these post from fans who dont know how to DIE HARD!
Heisenberg
May 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
Rondo got 2 games earlier for throwing a ball at the ref but only gets 1 for physical contact. Considering this was his second offense and more egregious than the first, he got off easy.
For all the complaining about the poor offensive game Joe Johnson had, Paul Pierce was just as poor for the Cs. Those two cancelling each other out works in Hawks favor. Keep up the D on Pierce Joe.
Ricky
May 1st, 2012
12:37 pm
THATS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT DEETOWN! We roll hard in the ATL. DO OR DIE BABY!
Just up the Street
May 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
Maybe Joe Johnson will decide to show up and play some ball instead of count his money. ASG = JERKS.
Heisenberg
May 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
I am counting my money………………………OK now I am done counting my money.
John
May 1st, 2012
1:00 pm
Eb,
Josh Smith has never been lazy. He can be maddening but he has always played hard, often when the rest of the team is not. He can let the refs affect him too much but he is not lazy. In the offseason he always works hard on his game. He has a solid post game that he did not used to have, plus he stayed in great shape and even shed a ton of weight this past off season which I think helps him big time. Josh Smith does deserve league wide respect even with maddening shot selection at times.
CDOG
May 1st, 2012
1:07 pm
EVERYONE WATCH THE OFFICIATING TONIGHT.I SMELLED A SHAFT JOB COMING AGAINST THE HAWKS AFTER THE RONDO INCIDENT. THEY CHEAT THE HAWKS, WATCH FOR IT
Born2Buzz
May 1st, 2012
1:08 pm
Win this game easily and Sir Charles will have to start admitting that the Hawks can play. Well, of course he will never admit he is wrong. He will blame the refs for making turrible calls.
Make the conference finals and he will have to give some respect.
Come on Hawks, show you belong!!
Kelvin
May 1st, 2012
1:12 pm
If the Hawks lose tonight everyone will go “see this is why we don’t trust this team.” They will get killed on TNT because those guys all picked the Celtics to win this series. But to be frank about it, if the Hawks do lose tonight they deserve to be criticized.
Trojan
May 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
Josh has worked on his game. He gained weight one year, he lost weight the other year to fit a role.
Can you imagine how good the Hawks could be if Hortford would bulk up this offseason in order to fill a role. He a Paculia would be good together.
Go Hawks, ESPN and TNT may rip on you but the Hawks can play with anyone.
Gray Mule
May 1st, 2012
1:44 pm
Celtics will win game 2. They must. We all know that they must.
And, if they don’t, can they really overcome being down 0-2? Yes
they can, but it would be hard.
Paul Pierce is an expert at drawing the foul. He knows exactly how
it’s done. Don’t believe me? Watch him tonight and see.
Josh can just be disrespected if he wants to. Celtics win in a walkover.
(And, I’m a big Hawks fan who hates Boston. Just full of pessimism, I suppose)
Watch for silly turnovers, missed free throws and a lot of sleepwalking. Ugh.
If we play down to the competition, which I fear, we will get burned.
Please prove all this wrong!!
GO HAWKS!!!
DawgNole
May 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
Can I get me some painkillers?
May 1st, 2012
7:03 am
If only Joe could dribble, he might be worth the money they are paying him. Leave him wide open, he’s deadly. Guard him and he’s average at best.
____________________________
He was left wide open a number of times in game 1, but he was the polar opposite of deadly.
luv Josh Smith
May 1st, 2012
1:55 pm
“The simple reason the Hawks aren’t taken more seriously is that, over time, they’ve contrived to lose in ways that suggest they aren’t as good as their record. Here’s their chance to win a big game they’re supposed to win. Here’s their chance to shut some yaps.”
Here’s the chance in the next game, in this series, and the next series to quiet all the critics on this blog and in the national press. Josh Smith Hawks MVP and All-Star. Go Hawks.
Micheal Turner
May 1st, 2012
2:14 pm
Hawks should make the East Finals against the Heat
If they dont its a failure. they will get swept by the Heats (losing by an average of 25+ points per game)
eddie
May 1st, 2012
2:17 pm
I think the celts will pull off the upset and win in the face adversity!! i wrote about this on my blog so come check it out and read why and enjoy! http://nbawagers.com/2012/05/the-fun-continues-for-nba-betting-fans-tuesday-evening/
DawgNole
May 1st, 2012
3:22 pm
luv Josh Smith
May 1st, 2012
1:55 pm
“The simple reason the Hawks aren’t taken more seriously is that, over time, they’ve contrived to lose in ways that suggest they aren’t as good as their record. Here’s their chance to win a big game they’re supposed to win. Here’s their chance to shut some yaps.”
Here’s the chance in the next game, in this series, and the next series to quiet all the critics on this blog and in the national press. Josh Smith Hawks MVP and All-Star. Go Hawks.
________________________
I believe that’s already been established (see below)–at least twice.
DawgNole
April 30th, 2012
10:13 pm
“The simple reason the Hawks aren’t taken more seriously is that, over time, they’ve contrived to lose in ways that suggest they aren’t as good as their record. Here’s their chance to win a big game they’re supposed to win. Here’s their chance to shut some yaps.” — Bradley
________________________
Pretty accurate summary of their history in ATL.
Here’s their chance . . . again.
Pete
May 1st, 2012
4:34 pm
The series comes down to tonight.
John
May 1st, 2012
5:47 pm
Prediction: Hawks win 88-84 tonight, and ATL fans and media whine and complain that they should have won by more.
Taco
May 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
This is totally unrelated to the story but I saw the story about the kid being killed at FAMU in a hazing incident. That all smells like a bunch of horse manure. He was no kid and should have been able to take care of himself. He was a grown man! 26 freaking years old. Why is he still in the dang marching band? Is there no age limit? How about get a job and get out of the band.
Sad and Depressed Atlanta Fan
May 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
Joe Johnson absolutly disapears every time we need some one to be clutch. A chocker for sure!!!
Bradley Curse
May 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
“We like to prove people wrong”
doing a good job of that tonight … for the C’s, letting them prove they can still compete (and looks like win) without a few of their starters. Choking in the 4th sounds about right
Bradley Curse
May 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
nice 4th quarter choke Hawks
way to prove people wrong … prove them wrong that the C’s can’t compete without some of their starters. I’m not surprised, this team can never be elite or even great … it’s not in it’s veins
Kelvin Frazier
May 1st, 2012
10:09 pm
This is why the national media doesn’t respect the Hawks! Pathetic! They make it hard to be a Hawks fan.
George Stein
May 1st, 2012
10:09 pm
Does the national media still wonder why this city won’t fully support this team?
Bill
May 1st, 2012
10:11 pm
The big let down..never played like they wanted to win..Now to Boston and kiss it good-bye.
elroy
May 1st, 2012
10:12 pm
you never fail bradley, jinx the home team with your “clear path to conference finals” & “win when the hawks should win!” bradley, do the city of atlanta & state of georgia a favor & move away, far away!
Choke hawks
May 1st, 2012
10:13 pm
What a big choke. Series over now as most have expected. Losersville USA
phil
May 1st, 2012
10:13 pm
Pete
May 1st, 2012
12:18 pm
Here we are…………….again.
An Atlanta team in the national spotlight, all dressed up for the dance, favored to win.
And what will we get ??
Another flop. Dismal performance. One more in a L….O….N….G line of hyped up failures. Oh, and then we get to hear the word FRUSTRATING…………….for the 9,847th time.
Some things NEVER change.
No thank you, I’ll read a book.
********
yep.
Same crap.
Past Hawks Fan
May 1st, 2012
10:14 pm
How long can this team continue to be this disappointing. I would trade JJ for a second pick and pick up half his salary just to get rid of him
arrowhead1959
May 1st, 2012
10:15 pm
I live 5 hours away from ATL but still try to support the ATL. I was at the Braves game Sunday; go to Braves and Hawks when I can and spend more money than I need to. Braves hot, Phillies struggling; Hawks hot, Celtics depleted. Braves lose, Hawks lose. It gets so frustrating. Not losersville, just agonizingly average, which may be worse.
phil
May 1st, 2012
10:15 pm
John
May 1st, 2012
5:47 pm
Prediction: Hawks win 88-84 tonight, and ATL fans and media whine and complain that they should have won by more.
*******
not very bright are you, john?
Haven’t been paying attention the last 47 years?
Hope you’ve learned your lesson.
phil
May 1st, 2012
10:17 pm
Well said, arrowhead….
After so much of the same, it still stinks. And it gets so old…
moboman
May 1st, 2012
10:18 pm
Once again we get an 11 point lead and the offense comes to a screeching halt. No movement, just dribble up, waste most of the shot clock trying to play iso JOE, and then fling up a prayer with time running out. When they kept pulling 3 guys to the top of the key why didnt anyone break to the basket? No adjustments. And when Josh went out hurt why no Tmac??? What did we sign him for if not 4th quarter in the playoffs???????????
OldTimer
May 1st, 2012
10:22 pm
B-Towns B-Team beats A-Towns A-Team.
We call that suck.
think about us
May 1st, 2012
10:31 pm
Hawks ….. BAHA HA HA HA….. Go Green
GregD
May 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
The hawks are terrible, how do can they possibly explain tonight’s lose. No Allen, No Rondo, really? I hope the next game in Atlanta has an attendance of 5,000 max, let Joe Johnson wonder why the fans dont support them like he did last post season. Major Disappointment!
Eb
May 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
I knew Hawks would lose when Josh went to show off on an open dunk and missed it. That’s the story of this team in a nutshell. Never quite ready for primetime.
chuck
May 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
Time to trade Josh Smith. He throws up 21 shots and doesn’t get a single free throw. What can we get for hi?
Jim R
May 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
Looks like ol’ Lucy pulled the football away again…………….
KZ
May 1st, 2012
10:44 pm
If the Atlanta area is lucky, they will move to Seattle and become the new Supersonics. or move to
Anaheim. 40 years in Atlanta, and no appearances past the second round is enough endurance.
Tired Tired Tired
May 1st, 2012
10:56 pm
I have watched this sorry excuse for a basketball whatever(not a team) for thirty seven years. I am Tired of watching millionaire pretend to be players collect a check and do absolutely NOTHING. Lousy players, Lousy coaching, Lousy management, Lousy ownership about sums it up. Get out of town LOSERS. Don’t let the million dollar door hit you in your sorry a$$ on the way out of town. Go embarass some other city LOSERS. Tired Tired Tired