Having blown Game 2, Bizarro Hawks are in … good shape?
Don't dismay, Coach Drew! You've got 'em where you want 'em! (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
As we’ve again been reminded, the Hawks are unchallenged masters of the cosmic flop. Less widely realized is this: Once the Hawks get their collapse out of the way, they tend to play some pretty good ball. Citing cases:
Game 5, Round 1 against Milwaukee, 2010: The Hawks blew a nine-point lead in the final 3:55 at Philips Arena in Game 5, handing the sixth-seeded Bucks their third consecutive victory and leaving the Hawks facing elimination in the Bradley Center. They won Game 6 on the road by 14 points — the intractable Mike Woodson even threw up a zone defense — and Game 7 by 21 back here.
Game 4, Round 1 against Indiana, 1996: With a chance to close out the higher-seeded Pacers at the old Omni — Round 1 was best-of-five then — the Hawks managed 11 fourth-quarter points and lost to force a decisive game at Market Square Arena. They fell behind 6-0 in as a loud a building as I’ve ever experienced, prompting me to tell colleague Jeff Denberg: “They’re gonna get murdered.” The Hawks won Game 5 by a basket behind the 3-point shooting of the legendary Matt Bullard.
Game 6, Round 2 against Boston, 1988: This one we know. The Hawks had taken games 3,4 and 5 and were poised to eliminate the mighty Celtics on a Friday night at the Omni. The home side played as if the game was too big for it, the end coming when a shot to tie was taken not by Dominique Wilkins or Doc Rivers but by the sub Cliff Levingston, whose touch was so deft he bore the nickname “House.” (Because he tossed up enough bricks to build one.) Everyone expected the Hawks to lose Game 7 by 30 in the Garden; they lost 118-116 in maybe the proudest moment in franchise history.
The Hawks in the spring are more difficult to handicap than the 3-year-olds running at Churchill on the first Saturday in May. This team handles adversity, much of self-inflicted, more adroitly than prosperity. If the comic-book Bizarro World — on which the credo is: “Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness!” — had an NBA franchise, this would be it.
Which brings us to current events. The Hawks had a chance to take a 2-0 lead on a night when the best Boston player was suspended. Being the Hawks, they blew it. As tempting as it is to suggest the Hawks have blown the series with it, they really haven’t. Josh Smith, hurt at the end of Game 2, figures to miss Game 3 but no more, and it would be just like the Hawks to win in Boston on a night when their best player doesn’t play.
Asked Wednesday how crushing the misdoings of Tuesday night had been, Marvin Williams — who has done nothing in the series, FYI — shrugged. “It stinks, obviously,” he said. “But it’s a seven-game series. You can’t get too high on the wins and too low on the losses.”
That’s boilerplate stuff, but it happens to be true. The Hawks aren’t out of this. They’ll need to blow three more games to be eliminated. (Wait. That didn’t sound right.) Their mission is the same as Boston’s was in games 1 and 2: Steal one and flip the home-court edge. The Celtics did the deed, but the Hawks are not incapable of winning at TD Garden. Especially when nobody expects them to win at TD Garden.
The Hawks could have packed it in when Al Horford was lost in the season’s 11th game. They could have slid to the No. 7 or No. 8 seed — although with Derrick Rose gone, being No. 8 doesn’t look so bad — and been content just to make the playoffs. They finished with the East’s fourth-best record, which was better than they did last season with Horford, and they’ve hung (relatively) tough even after backup center Zaza Pachulia hurt his foot.
The Hawks’ own Bizarro credo: They never take the easy way in, and they never take the easy way out. They confound supporters and detractors — at the same time! If you were among the few who liked the Hawks’ chances in this series coming in, you shouldn’t dismiss them now.
They did, let’s note, beat the Celtics with Rajon Rondo on the floor. It was only after he was suspended that they wobbled. They should have Smith back for Game 4 and maybe Pachulia for Game 5, and any Game 7 would still be played here. Even after the ritual collapse of Game 2, it would be no great shock if the Hawks won this thing.
Neither would it be a surprise if they didn’t. (How’s that for waffling?) Of the Bizarro Hawks, nothing is so deceiving as your most recent impression of them. Given that the last impression was horrid, better days must be ahead. It makes no sense until you remember that these are the Hawks, and then it makes perfect sense. Or not.
By Mark Bradley
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87 comments Add your comment
PMC
May 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
It stinks that Marvin Willams was ever drafted to come here. He has provided exactly NOTHING in his entire career.
He’s one of the worst draft picks in history.
dean
May 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
Wow. 9 minutes and I’m first? Would that be a sign of apathy from the Hawks fans?
dean
May 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
No I’m not. Work got in the way.
J.J.M.
May 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
cant get far in the playoffs with a superstar point blank…joe will not carry this team anywhere he has no athletic ability to drive the ball and look for contact…hawks gave the big contract to the wrong person
Calibre Springs Dawg
May 2nd, 2012
4:02 pm
Good read. This could be applied to every sporting franchise in the city. I’m an Atlantan through and through…losing is the easy part;)
GT Alum
May 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
I didn’t like the Hawks’ chances going in, and I really don’t like them now. I suppose Ivan will take Josh’s starting spot in game 3, which leaves the likes of Vlad Rad and Damp coming off the bench unless ZaZa can make a recovery.
This just seems to be a bad matchup for the Hawks, and I really just don’t think they have enough talent left to beat them in game 3 without Smoove and Horford. I’m not predicting a 5 game series, especially if Josh can return, but throwing away home court made an already tough task a lot tougher.
Blow It Up
May 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
I’d love to start fresh and would rather have a couple of really down years prior to getting on track than to continue winning 0 or 1 playoff rounds and then calling it a season. As upsetting as losing was last night, anyone who follows this team wasn’t a bit surprised. I can’t think of another team in sports that before the season even begins, you know exactly how they’ll finish.
GT
May 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
They froze while the ball was out of Teague’s hands. They kept choking it into Johnson’s hands when he was doubled teamed. You could see the offense dying. They cannot figure out how to use Teague or Smith who was hurt half the second half.
Section 303
May 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
Mark, though I appreciate you being positive about the Hawks for a change, the team is finished. They will drop the next the next three and bow out like the losers they are.
Larry
May 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Coach Drew: “No worries Atlanta Hawks fans. I’m going to like a little, bitty, baby birdie on their shouders and whisper in their itty, bitty ears to please play hard for me sweet little basketball players…pretty please!”
What an absolute joke!
day old fries
May 2nd, 2012
4:24 pm
i named my dog marvin just so i could run over it in the driveway
only milicic, bowie and thabeet were worse #2 picks
Born2Buzz
May 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
PMC, you are right, but don’t blame Marvin. He didn’t force the Hawks to take him with the #2 pick.
Still, it would be nice if the guy could at least be someone that the Celtics would have to guard.
Maybe Rondo being on the court actually helps the Hawks. Without him, the C’s relied exclusively on the high pick and roll with Pierce and Garnett, which obviously wore down Joe (since he is the only Hawk that can guard Pierce – see comment about Marvin) and just made things simple.
Of course the Hawks still have a chance. But we all know what to expect. Another disappointment for us ATL fans.
BS
May 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
I would trade Marvin Williams straight up for Milliac in a second!!! Marvin is bow legged and needs to have butt reduction surgery!!
Dawg Haus
May 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
I wish I shared your optimism, Mark. I’m not saying it’s over, but last night didn’t help.
LakeDawg
May 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
I’m sticking with my original pick…Celtics in six.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
Quit talking about yesterday like it was a collapse. They collapsed after their best player got hurt. Until then, they had blown a lead, but they did that in Game 1 and still managed to win. They very easily could have won if Josh had been healthy.
This isn’t like their playoff collapses of years past. This is just what happens when your best player gets injured. It is not something they can overcome until Josh gets healthy.
AlanFalcon
May 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
A miracle is needed for the Hawks to be champions, they are lazy, don’t play the team game and exhibit selfisness, c’mon the Joe Johnson signing was a joke and if it wasn’t for a lot of luck they would’
Sage of Bluesland
May 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
Please. The incompetence of this wretched organizations starts at the very top–and works its way down nicely.
I wish this forlorn basketball franchise would move. I’ll never subsidize this product; no-one else should, either.
What a sad, pathetic joke.
Rickster
May 2nd, 2012
4:55 pm
What the Hawks need is to be put on double secret probation.
That’ll motivate ‘em!
biz
May 2nd, 2012
4:55 pm
No great shock to you Bradley but it would have many others screaming “Im coming home Lizabeth!”
GT Alum
May 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
Najeh -
So I take it you disagree with Bradley’s assertion that Rondo is the Celtics’ best player?
reebok
May 2nd, 2012
5:04 pm
The fact that the ‘proudest moment’ in team history is a LOSS in 7 games to a physically inferior Celtics team is all you need to know about this pathetic excuse for a franchise.
Reality
May 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
Good shape? No
Bizzaro? Yes
As Always
May 2nd, 2012
5:11 pm
The Hawks were finished as soon as the pairings were announced. The Hawks winning a playoff series against the Celtics? It has never happened. It will never happen.
Charlie Brown
May 2nd, 2012
5:12 pm
Nice try Lucy
BoBo
May 2nd, 2012
5:16 pm
Larry is such a sad person…
Pete
May 2nd, 2012
5:27 pm
You would have to be BEYOND delusional to believe this assembly of spare parts called the Hawks actually belong in the playoffs, let alone win against the storied Celtics.
The Boston franchise has forgotten more about winning than these pathetic Hawks would ever hope to know. All aound the national talk shows today they were actually laughing out loud at the prospects of the Hawks winning……………………..anything.
PMC
May 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
The NBA should start thinking about retraction.
Braves fan who gets annoyed with Mark Bradley
May 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
The only thing “bazarro” is Mark Bradley who wrote a column about how the Hawks had an easy road to the championship because Rose went down.
The Bradley Curse
May 2nd, 2012
6:26 pm
The Hawks’ Game 2 task: Win when they’re supposed to win
Game 2 Result: … loss
Having blown Game 2, Bizarro Hawks are in … good shape?
Game 3 Result? As if you don’t already know that answer
“Josh Smith, hurt at the end of Game 2, figures to miss Game 3 but no more, and it would be just like the Hawks to win in Boston on a night when their best player doesn’t play”
no, in this situation, what would be just like the Hawks would be a huge blowout loss in game 3. They energized the Celtics, their fans will be pumped, they’ll have the same attitude the Hawks didn’t have in Game 2 (”if Josh isn’t playing this should easy, the rest of their teams stinks! Did you see their bench? Marvin? Joke Johnson?”) and they can back it up.
Bradley Curse
May 2nd, 2012
6:29 pm
“The Hawks’ Game 2 task: Win when they’re supposed to win”
loss
“Having blown Game 2, Bizarro Hawks are in … good shape?”
nope, blowout loss coming. Trust me, that would be just like the Hawks
Dooley
May 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Its Funny How Everybody Is Like Josh Is The Miracle Now……..But The Last Two Years Josh Has Been On Every Bloggers Trade Block And Was A Burden To This Team…..I Knew Josh Was The Best Player Then And Now…..I Always Took Up For Him Because If He Hurt Us On The Offensive End He Wouldve Made Up For It On The Defensive End….Im Glad You All Are Starting To See The Light
LakeDawg
May 2nd, 2012
6:59 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
It was a collapse. All you had to do was watch the game. It had already started when Smooove got hurt. He wasn’t doing anything. Until the collapse, the Hawks were pushing the ball and moving on offense. Then, inexplicably they reverted to 4 guys standing around while the guard tried to dribble around double teams in order to launch a bad, contested shot before the shot clock buzzer.
LakeDawg
May 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
BTW The Celtics are WAY over the hill. I don’t think Pierce and Garnett knew if they were going to make it through the whole game at halftime. All the Hawks have to do is commit to playing hard and push the ball at every opportunity, but that won’t happen.
What the Celtics do have, however, is a lot more heart than the Hawks and a champions mentality. I will be pulling for them in the second round.
atlienforlife
May 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
Najeh, I couldn’t agree more, say what you want about josh in the past, but this year he is clearly the hawks best player, and they come and go as he does. I have watch virtually every game this year and joe johnson couldn’t be more of a none factor, the hawks win when josh plays well, period. Furthermore, a lot of the close games the hawks lost was because at the end of games the hawks continue to go iso-joe a basically take josh out of the game. I pray the hawks use the amnesty clause on joe. I hated the idea that they resigned him, he is terrible.
Cedrick
May 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
Hey Mark Bradley, this is the headline for your next article ” Will Joe Johnson show up?” I can truly say I liked the guy even though he got that crazy contract but this year has really turned my opinion of Joe J. The guy seems to have the worst timing for having a turnover or pulling up for a shot from the 3pt line. We were only down 2 points before Josh got hurt then our boy Joe immediately turned the ball over on the next possession then missed a pull up 3ptr instead of trying to set up the offense. Not to take any heat off Larry Drew for not getting the “STARTERS” back in the game at the beginning of the 4th qtr. When Boston had his starters in Drew should have done the same!! But now this is water under the bridge. I can say right now if J-Smooth does not play this series is O-V-E-R!!!!!!
CashIn
May 2nd, 2012
7:50 pm
maybe rondo or another good player will get thrown out again so the hawks can pull the upset!! Rise up!
SOS Hawks
May 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
Cream rises to the top (Celtics). Crap sinks to the bottom (Hawks)—and (Braves, BTW).
Eb
May 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
David McDavid and Steve Belkin are still laughing their way to the bank. McDavid was paid $200+ million for unfair dealings by Time Warner when he was negotiating to buy the Hawks and Thrashers and must believe he got the better end of the deal. Belkin is just happy to be out from under those Spirit bafoons and probably gets a good laugh from being right about that loser Joe Johnson.
atlhawks4lyfe
May 2nd, 2012
9:08 pm
I think the only reason I can agree with this headline is because I’m so rooted in ATL franchises that I have learned to block out the pains of the past and look optimistically ahead….as if doing the same thing every year will create different results……OH YEAH, THAT’S THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY!!!! Plus, I feel like routing for another city’s team is like treason!
Also, the ASG have sold us a dream that a Star (Josh Smith) along with a “good” player…definitely not a STAR or ALL STAR (Joe Johnson) along with a collection of decent 2nd/3rd tier players can actually have a chance to get beyond the 2nd round of the Playoffs! I mean I have really willed myself to believe this ish! Dang, I wish that deal to sell the Hawks would have gone through. I have never seen a quote where the ASG state that they are focused on building a Championship Team!!!!!!!!!
aldog
May 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Let’s see what Joe does Thursday night. Way too early to panic. And Ivan Johnson starting, the Hawks just might have found something.I really do believe this is our year.
ATLtodolavida
May 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
Paul Pierce is the Celtics best player.
elroy
May 2nd, 2012
9:49 pm
bradley, please you moron! go ahead & say the hawks will lose the series. if you make that statement they will most likely win the series, you are a jinx in atl teams & ga teams.
NUNNA!
May 2nd, 2012
10:07 pm
Yall get off Marvin!! When u look at him and how he has played in games this season and he starts off on a roll and looked unstoppable,LD would send him to the bench and he would not go back to him the rest of the game..
Marvin is the most,and i will say it with caps,THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYER ON THIS TEAM!!
Inside,Outside,Offensive and Defensive rebounds,ball handling,perimeter shooting,3 point shooting,and yes, a lil shaky on defense but unless we open it up for him and tell him that he is the man,then we won’t see what we saw a few years back when Joe went down and Marvin was averaging 24ppg,8rb,and getting to the line..
He has always been a garbage player.Its time to open it up for him and jump on his back instead of Joe’s..Joe is what he is..
A great 3rd or maybe 4th OPTION!!
Lets make Marvin the go to guy!! And let Josh sit out till we come back home..
We will be ok..
beone
May 3rd, 2012
12:14 am
Sad, very sad this team of ours.
Dr. Warren
May 3rd, 2012
2:00 am
We should copy these comments and run them every year at this time. They’ve been the same since ‘09. And yes, the Hawks will lose Game 3.
sam'l
May 3rd, 2012
2:00 am
Dont agree at all, with either the premise of the article or any conclusions. Hawks are not in a good position and no ragged surprise solutions offered by Bradley mean anything whatsoever. We know the Hawks should have won game 2. like so many times in the past they didn’t show up to win. Apparently, Josh Smith was horrible to start the game. Why would this be so? Then, he gets injured. Why again would this be so? Joe Johnson with the ball and no movement, no cuts, no passes. Why ? Why would Paul Pierce do so much damage when you could assign someone stronger, faster and younger (Smith) or someone faster and quicker (Teauge) to get him out of his game?
It stings (not stinks) that the Hawks COULD have won this thing. I think Josh Smith knows the real reason why they didn’t. I don’t think Larry Drew knows, because he had the players who could pull it off and they weren’t coached to their ability.
There are no trick endings and no more silver linings.
What may happen is that the remaining Hawks who are well enough to play will be forced to reach into themselves for the strength to compete, and it may be that that focus will make the game close. But there will be no margin whatsoever for error.
Hardly Bizarro…..more probably easily explainable unprofessional behavior followed by fear followed by inability to create followed by loss. Bad article. Wrong take.
South ga boy in the atl
May 3rd, 2012
5:19 am
The Hawks are a laughing stock around the country. They have a career assistant for a coach. The owners spend pretty well on salaries. They have been top 6 or 7 in salaries the last 4 or 5 years but they go cheap on a coach. How stupid !!! And the players are viewed as immature and juvenile. Here we are, as Hawks fans, hoping Smoove can come back and play. LMAO. Josh, backward throw the ball over the goal Smith. And guys like Najeh are probably praying for his knee. Lol. Some Hawks fans just don’t get it. BRAINS AND MATURITY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TALENT. YES YOU HAVE TO HAVE TALENT BUT WE CAN’T GET PAST THE 2ND RD. BECAUSE OF SOME 9 YEAR OLDS LIKE SMOOVE. AND HE’S THE BEST WE GOT, LMAO, BUT PEOPLE LIKE NAJEH WOULD CRY A RIVER IF YOU TRADED HIM. BRAINS MATTER, BUT SOME PEOPLE THINK TALENT IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HAWKS FANS, LOL
Trojan
May 3rd, 2012
8:13 am
Keep the ball out of JJ’s hands. Let him play off the ball coming off of screens. Let Teague run the offense.
The offense bogs down with JJ. The Celtic’s defense simply stiffles JJ and the entire offense as JJ dribbles down the clock and is too slow to actually break down a defense.
Trojan
May 3rd, 2012
8:16 am
Everyone rips on Marvin but Marvin is not pounding the ball into the ground on every possession and shooting 33% while eating up the entire shot clock.
Surely LD is not wanting JJ to handle the ball everytime down the court?
Eisendawg
May 3rd, 2012
8:59 am
Maybe we need to hire Bobby Petrino. He’s available and is an offensive genius! Of course, we would have to outfit the Hawks cheerleaders with chastity belts. lol
DawginLex
May 3rd, 2012
9:10 am
Game 3
Celtics 98
Hawks 73
It won’t even be that close
Game 4
Celtics 94
Hawks 87
Game 5
Hawks 92
Celtics 76
Game 6
Celtics 88
Hawks 83
BYE
Ted M
May 3rd, 2012
9:32 am
Mark the overall jist of this blog seemed to be that “you can never tell with the Hawks…a lot of times they lose but sometime they win when you don’t expect it” But the Hawks never “win” in the playoffs.
The bottom line is: The Hawks are the better team but they are gonna lose anyway.
joey1
May 3rd, 2012
10:10 am
all the negativity bc the hawks lost one game is unreal.. we are the better team we will win the series against the celtics.. it is a best of seven not of one or two games… when we count the hawks out the always impress us… lets wait til after games 4 til we start makeing assumptions…
Max
May 3rd, 2012
10:17 am
let josh and max joe take over the game—jack 3s and take control—the hawks should win easy!!
heartofdarkness
May 3rd, 2012
10:34 am
BREAKING NEWS: NBA Manual entitled “Play Winning Playoff Basketball” discovered spray painted on overpass underneath CNN Center.
“The game flowed, back and forth. The ball moved beautifully up and down, side to side, in and out. Despite the Nuggets’ best effort, the Mavs spaced the floor and continually found open men, for 33 assists on 45 buckets. Players ran, cutters cut, everyone passed and shots fell.
The Denver fans were in the game too, because their Nuggets were also racing down the floor, cutting and dishing. For much of the game, the crowd was making the whoosh-whoosh sound more familiar to great tennis rallies.
After the game, Dirk Nowitzki testified, “We’re really shooting the ball well, moving the ball. It’s fun to play out there. When we were doubled, we passed it out and we made shots. It’s a fun way to play if everybody touches it.”
Coach Rick Carlisle couldn’t hide his pride and joy in his team’s ball movement: “It was one of the smartest played games I’ve seen in the league all year long. Very disciplined, aggressive, but not frantic and moved the ball the way we had to.”
This is one of the bigger goals of HoopIdea: to encourage a style of play that (a) is well coached, (b) gets more players involved and (c) allows talented players to do their thing.
Fun to play, fun to watch … that’s what basketball should be.”
Working smart involves five players using foot and ball movement, legal obstruction, and cunning to find defensive weakness and produce high percentage shots on offense. On defense, the same five must confuse offensive players by varying pressure, trapping weak offensive positioning, making adjustments as a unit so that offensive players must beat multiple tiers of defenders to score each time and to discourage opponents into taking shots they don’t want to take do to mental fatigue. In many cases, it is the willingness to concentrate longer than the opponent.
Hope the Hawks have read the manual.
bali
May 3rd, 2012
11:04 am
think the hawks are toast..
Eb
May 3rd, 2012
11:29 am
South Ga Boy: Hawks in top 10 for team salaries, but largely because they significantly overpay players like Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, and Josh Smith. these owners rank at the top of the stupidity charts in professional sports history.
Brian
May 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
WOW proudest moment in franchise history is LOSING game 7 by 2 points in ‘88 to an aging and depleted Celtics team? That speaks volumes. Game 2 was given to ATL by Marc Davis and David Stern and they refused to take it. Pierce skewered them for 36 when everyone knew that was only way Celtics could win. Now your going to face an inspired and motivated Rajon Rondo for two straight games on National television after he’s been getting raked over the coals in Boston for losing his composure. Hawks will not stay within 20pts Fri or Sun and it will take more heart than they’ve shown so far to stretch this series to six games.
falCANS
May 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
i understand the frustrations but honestly guys we played a pretty good game. Nothing to b embarrassed about especially with zaza horford AND Josh Smith out
rock
May 3rd, 2012
11:55 am
Coach Drew blew the game. He left the non-starters in too long in the 4th quarter. The non-starters were not productive and played poorly. This allowed Boston to re-group and gain control of the game.
JayInAtlanta
May 3rd, 2012
12:20 pm
I’ve been a Hawks fan for over 30 years. Being a season-ticket holder and Hawks fan in Atlanta is easy. But I’ve sat in the most fanatical opposing stadiums — including the REAL Boston Garden — worn Hawks gear, and shouted my ass off cheering for them. There are few Hawks “fans” who could say that.
And I’ve got two things to say.
1. We are the better team, and we’re going to win this series.
2. If there’s something I’m sick of — other than the Hawks blowing relatively easy opportunities — it’s Marvin Williams being called one of the worst draft picks in history.
Folks, there are dudes in the top three picks who collected a check and basically never played. Or left the league a lot earlier than 6 years.
And then there’s Marvin. He’ll give you about 10 points and maybe a double-double if you’re lucky. But this year especially, *** I do not believe we would not be seeded this high — with home court advantage — in the playoffs *** if it weren’t for Marvin.
He missed five games with injury, but he stepped up and had some very nice games that kept us in the hunt or arguably gave us home-court (e.g. New York in late April). He also had a few games this year very near his career high. Plus, he’s a percentage shooter who’s pretty damn good from three, not bad from mid-range, and close to automatic from the stripe.
Very few days go by without me thinking what this team would have been like with CP3 instead of Marvin. But I don’t hate on Marvin for what he DOES give us. More important, I certainly don’t think he’s anywhere near the worst decision the HAWKS have ever made, never mind the entire NBA!
Let’s go Hawks. Time to dig even deeper in a very tough year.
JayInAtlanta
May 3rd, 2012
12:33 pm
Response to recent comments:
Brian – your comment is laughable.
a) Rajon Rondo handed Game 2 to Atlanta by himself. Blaming an official or Boston-loving David Stern (who gave Rondo an All-Star slot almost immediately after assaulting another ref) is beyond childish. And by the way, Rondo SUCKED in that All-Star game, whereas if Josh Smith had been given his rightful slot, the East would have won.
b) I really wish I could bet you about the ridiculous assertion that the Hawks will not stay within 20 in the two games in Boston. But betting is illegal and I’m not sure whether could afford to lose such a stupid bet.
falCANS is not far off, though I admit I was pissed at the time. Josh Smith’s knee had been bothering him for much of the game, and he left at the right time to at least ensure that he’d be healthy for later in the series. I was there, and when he left, we were down by 2. For the next five or so minutes, had he been in the game with an unaffected knee, we’d have won and none of this sniveling would be necessary.
I agree with ROCK’s well-stated comment, except that he didn’t have all the options in the world after Smith left. In any case, Coach Drew probably cost us this game.
tom
May 3rd, 2012
12:44 pm
it’s better to get kicked in the face early in a series than later. Hopefully this jolts the team into playing with some desperation. It’s the absolute truth when people say “you’ll never know what you’re going to get” with this hawks team.
South ga boy in the atl
May 3rd, 2012
4:26 pm
Eb. My point with the owners was that they have been willing to spend money, BUT YES I AGREE THEY HAVE SPENT IT STUPIDLY, and then they compound it by going with the cheapest coach they could find. Spending 70 mil on salaries but not willing to spend an extra 2-3 mil on a coach is THE HEIGHT OF STUPIDITY. And Falcants- josh was not out. He played in this game and was brilliant and stupid all in the same game. As Coach Mike Fratello said last yr “He just doesn’t GET IT .” And he plays such dumb basketball that he doesn’t even REALIZE THAT HE DOESN’T GET IT
Howard
May 3rd, 2012
5:39 pm
I think it is interesting how so many fans have finally come to realize the value of Josh Smith. Seems like this time last year everyone was wanting to get rid of him. Now, if he doesn’t play we lose. I have always thought he was the best player on the Hawks even if he does take some bad shots,
On the other hand Joe Johnson is what is killing this team. He thinks he is an elite player and the Hawks reinforced that with the contract they gave him. So, when the game is on the line he wants the ball and dog gone it, even if he is double teamed he’s going to try to score. He tries but he fails. Hawks lose. If he would play like just another player he might actually be good. But he is determined to prove he is the man and he isn’t.
John
May 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
Solid column. I think the Hawks steal one in Boston and then who knows what happens.
John
May 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
JayInAtlanta,
I agree with you when it comes to Marvin. He did have a bad game Tuesday, but he is solid most nights and would be better with more minutes.
Eb
May 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
South Ga boy: we’re on the same page with regard to the owners.
Howard: I don’t agree with your assessment of JS’s value but am onboard with your take on JJ not being an elite player. I thought it interesting that LD said in his game 1 presser that the Hawks don’t have any superstars. I wonder how JJ took that.
Loon
May 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Fire LD!!
MattInAtl
May 3rd, 2012
8:47 pm
I was hopeful coming in, so I guess Hawks lose the series.
Anton
May 3rd, 2012
11:28 pm
Hawks have a solid defensive team. Sund has done a great job on our second unit… so we have a court of much more reliable shooters then Smith, rebounding could be a wash if Marvin locates the paint and then Pargo, Green, Rad & McGrady play like they have all season [an outstanding bench] Dont tune out Hawks fans…ps try not to destroy stuff around u when the refs screw us on the road as they surely will
Dbo
May 3rd, 2012
11:47 pm
Dbo
May 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Surprised and shocked you haven’t said boo about concussions in football in light of Junior’s death.
What is going on?
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will
May 4th, 2012
7:24 am
look you can stop talking about josh. he do make mistakes but at the same time you don’t have a power forward in the league with his skill set. josh produce if u haven’t notice when playoff come. jj choke everytime. it time to run the offensive through your point and not joe he use too much time on the clock to get things set up. the hawks are a better team when they pass the ball around. and not watch joe play one on one. they have too many veterans on the bench that knows how to get it done. why pay them and you dont use them
theoilchannel.com
May 4th, 2012
8:10 am
Bottom Line; NO HEART
NO BACKBONE
Not the Team that you would want in a FOXHOLE with you.
South ga boy in the atl
May 4th, 2012
8:18 am
Will- when it comes to Josh, I would say yes that he does produce. But that just tell half the story Will. Josh giveth and Josh taketh away ! Josh will make an incredible dunk and then he will let his man run right by him on the way to a fast break dunk because wait for it…..Josh is still back down court CRYING to the official that he got fouled. Josh will make an incredible “thread the needle” pass to a teammate for an easy layup and Josh will throw the ball away twice for every one time he gets the pass thru. Josh will make a beautiful drive to the basket, make the shot and get fouled and Josh will jack up a 22′ jumper (well he really doesn’t jump) with 15 sec to go on the play clock and no teammates near the basket only to brick it off the back iron. Josh will make a great steal for an easy dunk (unless he tries a reverse) and Josh will get burnt going for a steal and his man goes in for an easy layup. You see, Will, Josh is all about THE LOOK AT ME PLAYS. HE’S NOT ABOUT TEAM AND THST WHY YOU CAN’T WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE JOSH’S OF THE WORLD.
Kelvin
May 4th, 2012
10:49 am
Wait, the proudest moment in franchise history is a loss by 2 points in game 7 to the Celtics because everyone thought they were going to lose by 30? That statement just symbolize just how pathetic this franchise has been over the years and it is continuing to this day and into the foreseeable future.
chris
May 4th, 2012
11:33 am
Mark you make me laugh…..You want so bad to believe the Hawks are finally going to do something. We had an 11 point lead at home with the Celtics two best players on the bench and could not win it. This team is too inconsistent and they can’t handle prosperity. This team isn’t going anywhere….They are not worth getting excited over because all the fans know the end result.
Tim
May 4th, 2012
12:16 pm
@south ga boy in the atl
Please dont tell me you are another negative ass sucker! I know the dunk that josh tried to do was was bit goofy at that time..but he has been really outstanding this season for them.So dont start trying to say all the negative things he’s done this season and think otherwise.I dont think he goes out there and does look at me plays and is not about team,he’s been a pretty mature and improved person this year and you can win a championship with JOSH SMITH ON YOUR TEAM HES A PHENOMENAL TALENT SO JUST FALL BACK ON THAT CAUSE YOU HAVE NO CLUE.Its just hard when dont have a respectable coach on the sidelines operating things.I think this team can BEAT THE MIAMI HEAT WITH A HEALTHY AL HORFORD AND ZAZA PLAYING THEY PROVE THEY COULD ALREADY THIS SEASON.
South ga boy in the atl
May 4th, 2012
12:47 pm
Tim Tim Tim. Read my post again, sir. I said josh does a lot of positive things but because he’s immature and wants to make the spectacular play ( do you like that characterization better, I feel like I know his motivation “look at me” because he’s done the same things for 7 years now and continues to make “BONEHEAD PLAYS” every game) he follows up the great play with a STUPID play (ie the ridiculous dunk attempt the other night). It’s not just about talent Tim. If it was, then Lebron would have gotten his first ring last year but HE DIDN’T, and the reason why is because the Mavericks played SMART BASKETBALL. Yes they had talent but they were the smarter team. Smart is not the first adjective people think of when they hear the HAWKS. AND, UNFORTUNATELY JOSH IS THE FIRST HAWKS PLAYER EVERYONE THINKS OF WHEN THE HEAR “HAWKS” AND “IMMATURE” IN THE SAME SENTENCE. And don’t pull that “you don’t have clue” juvenile argument card. I watched “sweet” Lou Hudson and “pistol” Pete Maravich in the old Omni.
yodaddybrother
May 4th, 2012
5:31 pm
I have a strange optimistic feeling about this game.
However, Larry Drew will fail to make adjustments and matchup decisions. At least two starters need to be in the game at all times.
Bradley Curse
May 4th, 2012
9:50 pm
“Having blown Game 2, Bizarro Hawks are in … good shape?”
down by 11 with just over 6 min to go in the 4th (need we be reminded how game 2’s 4th went?), good shape indeed. MB with the great call as usual
Bradley Curse
May 4th, 2012
10:33 pm
Hawks now in really good shape …. just a couple of games from elimination
coacht
May 5th, 2012
10:12 am
With depleted roster…..is Stackhouse not able to do anything?. 16 years experience…I’d like to see him on the floor. Great Hustle and Intelligence. Always seems to make something good happen…why is he not playing more in the playoffs?
rt hawk
May 5th, 2012
1:44 pm
with josh back in game 4, the hawks will tie the series, win in atlanta and finish it off in game 6—book it. JJ can’t be stopped!
andrew
May 5th, 2012
3:16 pm
This article was spot on with every sporting team in this state! WE HAVE A CURSE ON SPORTING TEAMS IN THIS STATE!!!! That is why atlanta fans are the way they are, because each time a team gets close to winning it all they fall. The Hawks are not a good team they are a OK team. Josh Smith is the biggest baby in professional sports! All he does is turn the ball over, and whin about getting fouled and not getting the call! If he would stop playing to his weakness and play to his strengths he would be a better basketball player! And then maybe make the allstar team! 93 million to Joe johnson is a complete waste of money! The Hawks are terrible!!!!!
Rickster
May 7th, 2012
9:29 am
Having blown Game 2, Bizarro Hawks are in … good shape?
3:48 pm May 2, 2012, by Mark Bradley
If 1-1 was in good shape… being down 3-1 should make them unbeatable!