The Hawks had a great chance. Being the Hawks, they blew it
Yet again, the Hawks' reach exceeded their collective grasp. More's the pity. (AP photo)
For all the lip service that will be paid to the Hawks’ perseverance through injury and their rousing efforts in Games 5 and 6, let’s call this what it was: a massive missed opportunity. These NBA playoffs weren’t 34 hours old when the team that has never reached the Eastern Conference finals had been graced with two strokes of fortune: Derrick Rose hurt his knee and Rajon Rondo misplaced his marbles.
With Rondo suspended for Game 2, the Atlanta Hawks were staring at the likelihood of a 2-0 lead with the reality of either a weakened No. 1 seed or, better still, an unimpressive No. 8 awaiting in Round 2. Being the Hawks, they tossed their gifts in the trash can. They lost Game 2 here after leading by 11 points with 15 minutes left. They were outscored 18-15 the rest of the way by the 34-year-old Paul Pierce.
This series was lost in Game 2. In NBA history, teams taking a 2-0 lead have won the series more than 94 percent of the time — odds even the schizo Hawks would have been hard-pressed to defy. And, even though we didn’t know it at the time, the Hawks were about to become an oddity in these debilitating playoffs: They would get key guys back. Josh Smith reappeared in Game 4 after missing Game 3, and Al Horford, out since Jan. 11, was alongside. (Had the Hawks advanced to Round 2, Zaza Pachulia might also have been available.)
Add it up: Home-court advantage in the series; Rondo suspended for Game 2; the All-Star Horford making an unbilled return. And what happened? They were eliminated in Round 1 for the first time since 2008, beaten for the first time this century in a series in which they held the home-court edge.
Given their injuries, the temptation is to give the Hawks a pass and say, “Better luck next time.” But every team lost players in this overstuffed regular season — Rose worked only 39 games; Dwight Howard was done by Easter; the Celtics spent the last couple of weeks resting their Big Four — and the Hawks hit the playoffs in a strong position that should have grown only stronger. As Smith said after Game 6: “The road was paved for us, probably as good as it’s ever going to get.”
But they lost in Round 1 because, for all the advances made these past five years, this team hasn’t become anything more than a talented tease. The Core Four — Smith, Horford, Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams — has been in place since 2007, and what we’ve seen the past two seasons suggests that the days of diminishing returns are at hand.
The Hawks’ winning percentage in their final two seasons under Mike Woodson was .610. Their winning percentage in two seasons under Larry Drew, the Woodson assistant promoted to tap untapped resources, is .568. Johnson hasn’t been the same player under Drew, and the Hawks haven’t found a workable mesh to replace the Iso-Joes.
On the key possession of Game 6, the Hawks found themselves with nobody but Smith inside the 3-point arc with seven seconds on the shot clock. The play had been designed for Johnson, but he wasn’t open and nobody else knew what to do. “We didn’t execute the play,” Drew said Friday. “Guys did not go to the right spots.”
Smith hoisted a 20-footer that had no chance. Watch the tape and you’ll see Horford raise his arms after the Celtics rebounded as if to say: “What was that?” It remains a question asked far too often of these Hawks.
“I was upset,” Horford said, speaking Friday morning. “I thought it was a really tough shot.”
He wasn’t blaming Smith — “We’ve seen Josh make tough shots” — so much as he was the breakdown. But that, alas, is what the Hawks have come to do: They draw within sight of a summit, and then they break down.
Too much scar tissue has formed among the Core Four. Drew isn’t a terrible coach, but he hasn’t been able to break this team of its bad habits: When in doubt, look to Joe; when Joe’s not open, hoist a jumper. (And Johnson isn’t even the Hawks’ best player anymore. Smith is.)
I wish I could tell you I see better days ahead, but I see a coach who hasn’t been able to do all he proposed to do. I see a Core Four already already past its collective prime. I see addled ownership and a caretaker general manager, and I see no reason to believe this management won’t be content to keep banking on a team that has already written a lengthy legacy of disappointment, this latest installment being the most galling.
“We thought it was a great opportunity for us,” Smith said Friday, and it was. The Hawks could have been preparing Friday for a Game 7 or, better still, a Game 1 against the eighth-seeded Sixers. Instead they stuffed some sneakers and basketballs in plastic bags and went home for the summer.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
231 comments Add your comment
David McDavid
May 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
,…is laughing his a$$ off.
LoyalDawg
May 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
Did anyone expect a different result??????
JayD
May 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
Mark Bradley isn’t hopeful about anything….. The Hawks will be fine. People in Atlanta will complain, and not support them…. Business as usual!
Kevin
May 11th, 2012
5:38 pm
Drew left his starters in too long and the Celtics put this game away in the second quarter. That’s not what got them to where they are. Joe’s miss in the final minute gave Boston the opportunity they needed and is an example of what keeps him from superstar status. But this series is over in 5 if Josh doesn’t get injured. All other injuires aside, he is to the Hawks what KG is to Boston.
Jon Koncak
May 11th, 2012
5:43 pm
As arguably the most-overpaid players in Hawks franchise history prior to Sleepy Joe, I am especially appreciative of the moronic Hawks ownership rewarding the NBA’s 35th to 40th best player with the NBA’s top $$- max contract. It takes a great weight off my shoulders. Also, the NBA obviously did not want to see a Hawks – 76ers match-up. The refs made sure that would not happen, awarding the Celtics with 14 more free throws in Game 6 and 24 more for the series. Last night’s calls are best described as bizarre. But such is the NBA.
Delbert D.
May 11th, 2012
5:44 pm
Another distraction out of the way. Let’s discuss college football.
mountain_jim
May 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
You think maybe Drew or one of the players could have mentioned to Al he had to miss that 2nd shot? I can’t believe he was not aware of the situation there.
ShoNuff
May 11th, 2012
5:55 pm
Until someone forces Josh Smith to play in the paint most of the time we will not go far. I have no beef with him shooting the jumper occasionally, but to camp outside on offense 24/7 as a PF? I don’t get that…but that’s coaching. And Joe Johnson…..pure hot mess. He needs to be fair and re-do his deal so the Hawks can get him quality help…not has-been like Stackhouse, Collins, Dampier and MAYBE T-Mac. We need to make some real changes….or we will be the usual team…fail to get to the conference finals every year.
Peachtree John
May 11th, 2012
6:03 pm
Face it people: the Celtics are old, but at least they know how to win. The Hawks don’t know how to win and as long as this group is together, they won’t win. This group is not coachable. Josh should have to sit every time he launches one of those rainbows. Also every time he brings the ball down the court. If he is ever made to play under the basket, maybe he will become an allstar. Al is playing out of position. We need a big man who can shoot and move to play center. Joe will never make a winner of the Hawks. He is better than average, but he is not great by any means. The rest are also rans. It’s all been said before, but ownership doesn’t plant to do what is necessary to win. That’s it. Winning is not their motivation.
Felix
May 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
Mark, you almost called it as last night’s game was a lot closer than I thought it would be. Too many times on offense, it seems like there is no rhyme or reason to what they are doing. They did play pretty good defense most of the game.
atltodolavida
May 11th, 2012
6:06 pm
Mark, the city needs to change its negative tune about the Hawks. We all read your blog. Lead the way. Sportswriters here make it a constant uphill battle for our teams. I know we don’t have banners in the rafters yet, but a bit of team pride might go a long way toward getting one.
kbatuc
May 11th, 2012
6:13 pm
I listened or watched almost every game this season from OH, and the Hawks had a great season, especially considering what happened to Al. Teague and ZaZa became true NBA starters. Yes, the Hawks still have problems that keep them from reaching the Conference finals, but they were a few terrible calls away from winning game 6 and returning for game 7 in ATL. They would’ve taken the 76ers easily with Al and ZaZa back. The officiating in Game 6 was the absolute worst ever. The lopsided free-throw attempts the Celtics had in Game 2 and Game 6 is unbelievable (and those were the two most critical games). The final minute of Game 6 was almost laughable, it was so bad. Even Fratello could not gloss over their mistake on the inbounds pass.
Anyway, I get tired of reading so many complainers on this blog who just watch the highlights on ESPN and have no idea what really happened this season because they don’t go to the games (I drive down for at least a couple every season) or listen to Steve Holman, who knows this team better than anyone. It’s pretty pathetic that people just like to kick a team in the city where they live when they don’t even support them in the first place.
Keep LD! He did a great job this year. Nobody thought they’d make the playoffs when Al went down. Yes, there are decisions to be made about some of the core. But even with their erratic offense, Johnson, Williams, Smith and Horford are remarkable defensive players. You don’t finish fourth in the East without outstanding players. Teague is developing and has great potential. So is Josh. Josh could be a league MVP in a few years. Marvin has redeveloped his shot but will never be an all-star, but what would we get in a trade for him? I’d rather keep him. ZaZa became a first-rate NBA center this year. Horford will be a perennial All-Star and THE team leader. Joe Johnson simply cannot be allowed to be the singular focus of the offense, especially in every critical play when teams are keying on him. The iso-Joe game is what kills our offense. But Joe can also fill it up when the chips are down.
Also, kudos to Danpier for his inspired play when he was called on to step up and play against the Celts. He responded like the champ he is. T-Mac in Game 3 as well.
OK, I’m done ATLANTA. Support your damn teams, and then–perhaps–you’ve earned the right to and actually have the insight to be critical.
D-Man
May 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
It wouldn’t have made a difference anyway if we had made it past the Celtics anyway for TWO reasons. One, if the Hawks had advanced to the Eastern Finals EVERYONE would have said “awww, they only made it because…” and two, the ultimate goal is to win a championship, which no one, not even the most rabid Hawks fan can truly say they thought that was a possibility from we’ve seen from this group of guys the last what, nearly TEN tears now? C’mon bruh. So if winning the championship is THE goal, who cares about just getting to the Eastern Finals, they don’t crown the world champs there. Getting there because everyone else worth battling for the East crown is either too old or injured to play you square up for it, then what glory is that? How does that make you a championship caliber team? Is that how the Spurs did it? No. The Lakers? No. The Pistons? Bulls? the easy route, yea never saw it sorry. It’s not about taking advantage of, it’s about having the advantage just because you were the best team…that’s what I want in a Hawk’s team, not just for being known for not even being capable enough to take advantage of the old and hurt. Be good enough to earn that championship, instead of laboring over the fact you missed an “easy” route to losing in the Eastern Finals. IF you were good enough (which you were) and played that way the entire time (which you DID NOT), you would have blown the green right off the Celtics jerseys in the condition they were in today (20212) AND back in the day (2008). Until you get you “squirrel pile” up Hawks, they’re going to keep asking for and taking your cornbread no matter the weather, time of day, bandaged up or not. Barely beating a Miami team a few years ago, almost getting beat by the Bucks, and how about getting the hinges blown off by the Magic two years ago setting a record for most consecutive blowouts by 30 or more points ending in a sweep in a playoff series ever and I KNOW that wasn’t even a category before we accomplished that one. I say it may be time to start over, this squad minus Horford and Teague, just has it stuck in their mind that they’ll get em some other day ho hum attitude and then when the heats gets turned up, they get turned off and start doing the galactically stupid and weak. Get a big lead, then a big head, and when things start getting to easy just go up and miss a wide open 360 reversethegameain’toverstupid dunk badly. Yea, start lofting Sesame Street type rainbows jumpers from all over the @#$&*% place. Why not? Okay sorry for that last rant, that’s just what it is to be a Hawks fan. Despite what Stephen A. or Barkley thinks, we sadly do exist.
Bluesin
May 11th, 2012
6:38 pm
The Hawks didn’t get out-played. They were out-smarted. Let’s cut through the BS and say it. The Hawks suffer breakdowns because they are not smart players. When you lose to a bunch of old guys, you have been out-smarted. Period. Josh Smith is as athletic as a kangaroo, but he is a knucklehead. Get rid of him first, because he made enough strides this year to sucker the next team who only sees his athleticism. He is a cancer on the court, so you know he is a cancer in the locker room.
tjhook
May 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
The Hawks need to get a coach who will make the current group run offensive sets and not try to win games one on one so much when game come down to the wire. The athleticism is there and there are enough weapons to win. The coaching is the problem. There should be an effort to get a new shooting guard and move Joe Johnson to small forward, but the most important thing is to move Larry Drew and get a coach who is into on court discipline.
tjhook
May 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
If players cannot get with a new leader, trade em away and start over. I recommend Eric Mussleman – he is a great offensive coach but never had teams with a bunch of talent
kbatuc
May 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
I hear you DMan. Been watching the Hawks since they came in ‘68. But winning it all ain’t easy. Stockton and Malone never won a championship and they had some damn good teams at Utah. Ask LeBron about Championships?
If they are your team, don’t listen to what they say on TNT or ESPN. They have no idea who the Hawks are, even when half of the “experts” live in ATL. Why aren’t they coaching? Who listens to Barkley and Stephen A about championships? Barkley’s got no rings! And who the hell is Stephen A. anyway? They just run their mouths to piss people off to improve ratings so there is a lead-in for another crappy original show on TNT. They were a better team than the Celtics. Things will get better. Josh was much better this year than ever before, even though he still makes many mistakes and cant’ keep his head in the game all the time. This is far better than 2006. Five years in a row of the playoffs is not bad and this is coming from someone who wants a banner more than anyone.
STRETCH
May 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
Bluesin,
Yes josh is athletic and you are right he is a knuckle head. But to pinpoint the under lying factor which is Sund/ASG, they are constantly in awe of Josh’s highlights instead of looking at getting him into the concept of team first.
For every great play he makes, theres definitely one dreadful dumb disasterous one to follow.
Management and coaching is the problem. The Phil Jackson’s, Avery Johnson’s, Doc Rivers’ and George Karl’s of the league would sit Josh’s behind on the bench until he got the picture.
But under Larry Drew, Team Jumpshot will continue to do what they do. Nothing really against Drew, but he has no control over these guys, cause they are a bunch of individuals doing individual things on the court.
Lets just hope they make a move, but i really think its for the Josh Smith evolution to end. As far as Al Horford and Zaza, i would keep them both cause they both have heart.
JJ, they are stuck with him folks.
So, next season:
JT/Pargo
JJ/JJ Reddick/Willie Green
Gerald Wallace/Marvin Williams
Al/Ivan J
Bynum/Zaza/Collins
K Money
May 11th, 2012
8:23 pm
Terrible, terrible, terrible team, owners, and players. Year after year these delusional owners and gm continue to think this core group of players has the tools to go to bring Atlanta a championship. It is pathetic beyond words, and I definately agree with the guy who said he wishes the national media would shine a light onto just how bad ASG is as an ownership group. The have wasted high first round draft picks on Sheldon Williams, Marvin Williams, and Josh Chilldress. They gave Joe Johnson a Max contract of 6 years and 120 million dollars, yes Lebron James and Kobe Bryant type money for Joe “dissapears in the playoffs” Johnson. Sadly, they messed up for a 2nd time signing Marvin Williams to a ludicrous 5 year/ 35 million deal to essentially be a sixth man who averages 10 points and 5 rebounds, not pathetic, but hardly worth that type of money for a guy as inconsistent, and who no-shows against quality teams as much as Marvin does. Then they trade a young, talented guard Jordan Crawford and a 1st round pick for Kirk Hinrich. Since we drafted Crawford with our 1st round pick that year, they essentially gave Washington 2 first round picks for Kirk Hinrich. Again, Hinrich is not terrible, he is mediocre….and no other sane organization would have even given Washington 1 first round pick, let alone 2. Then they let Jamal walk for pennies, and decide to fill the entire bench with over the hill guys with bad knees like T-Mac, Dampier, and Stackhouse. Then they have the gall to tell fans they are serious about competing??? Really?? Me and my friends have boycotted Phillips, despite the fact we are HUGE Hawks fans. We refuse to EVER support with ONE DIME, ASG or Rick Sund. They both should be drenched in shame and embarrasment for what they have done to the city of Atlanta. Between me and my 4 friends, they probably lost about 2 thousand dollars from the 5 of us that we would have normally spent, and not to mention the bad press I tell every person I meet who asks about the Hawks….Sad day Atlanta
Wink
May 11th, 2012
8:37 pm
Hey guys we got from the Hawks what they always give us:
Josh getting a technical while sitting on the scorers table in the 4th…that’s one point given away!
Joe going 6 – 17 in a big game!
Joe driving to the hole at end of the 4th and getting no call….has not earn ref respect!
Ref fail to make the correct call with 3.1 seconds left when Horford was filed before the ball was inbounded…ref took a one point opportunity away & possession of the ball!
Joe deferring at the end of the shot clock at crunch time and passes to Josh with 7 seconds left!
Josh being Josh took the 20 footer instead of going to the basket!
Horford missing free throw with game on the line…that was unexpected…but it happened.
The let the old guys beat them…Garnett 28 points…unstoppable!
Pierce driving the lenghth of the floor and beating Joe to the basket to put Boston up late in the 4th!
Hawks offense dried up with no one but Horford trying to get us back to Atlanta.
Drew playing the wrong personnel at the end of quarters allowing Boston to extend their lead!
I have a great idea!
Forget the Hawks, their players, coaches & management.
Why don’t we just get someone to bring another team to Atlanta and force them out. LA has two teams, New York has two teams…..why can’t new owners bring in another team. Maybe, Belkin, McDavid, & the Pizza man join forces and get a new franchise here…..What Say You Fans!
amondi
May 11th, 2012
8:52 pm
the hawks are losing money with all these obscene salaries and bad attendance–they will be jacking up prices big next year to pay for all this. pay up chumps.
cdog
May 11th, 2012
8:53 pm
yes they blew by losing on their home floor then listen to the meda. they failed to play up to their potential. overall, they need to cut the dead weight, keep josh, joe, teague and al but send marvin, hinrich, stackhouse, collins and dampier packing
loserville
May 11th, 2012
8:54 pm
1 fluke title since 1966 — all the rest of the years—choke. it never ends in this miserable city. I may move back to california next year if the economy is better.
Barney Strickland
May 11th, 2012
9:05 pm
Josh Smith is LAZY in transition and takes forever getting on defense. He’s an IDIOT for getting hit with a technical in a PLAY – OFF game. Pouter. Lazy. Poor shot selection. No discipline. If he’s our best player….we’re screwed. Blow up this team. Hire Jeff or Stan Van Gundy and start over. Indiana or Miami is gonna win the east anyway. Boston looked so creaky and spent- to bad we absolutely SUCK. The Celtics will never get to the finals….. However, we still suck… BAD. Go Braves!
governor404
May 11th, 2012
9:35 pm
well it has finally arrived the end of
Billy Knight’s dream team, to proceed with this core intact would defy all logic and raise the front office’s status to beyond insanity (you cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again ……) the reasoning should now be so clear y JSmoove has NEVER been voted to an all-star team, for all his athletic exploits and there are many, his deficiencies were on full display for the whole basketball nation to see, his basketball iq and the fact (no secret around the league) that he is a terrible on ball defender render him useless in trying to build a championship team he must be traded now. Joe Johnson (i will never fault him for signing for 120 million who among us wouldn’t) is a Robbin not a Batman no disrespect but a salary only raises expectation not the level of heart in the competitor. Al Horford should be the centerpiece going forward. Larry Drew (to have a point guard’s perspective on the game of coaching) must go, he got the job promising change (offensively) however his much promoted motion offense only produced 84points a game when it matter most, his inbound play selection, clock management and failure to have a home run play (can u say Bryce Drew) that every good team has up its sleeve in a time of emergency seals it for me that he is not championship coaching material. These changes must be made, i am and will always be a true Hawk fan but it would be beyond insane to bring this core back together. P.S. for all his critics given the opportunity Marvin stepped it up when it mattered most.
RA
May 11th, 2012
10:08 pm
Sorry for all the typos but you really ticked me off with this one.
JC
May 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
HAWKS DID WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO DURING “BIG” GAMES..THEY CHOKED!!!! WHAT ELSE DOES ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH ATLANTA SPORTS TEAMS EXPECT??? THEY HAVEN’T BEATEN BOSTON IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE THEY WERE THE ST.LOUIS HAWKS BACK IN THE ‘50′S FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! I SAY SHIP EM BACK TO ST.LOUIS!!!!
JC
May 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
BARNEY: YOU SAY START OVER WITH STAN VAN GUNDY??! ARE YOU KDDING ME?? (BESIDES NOTHING, WHAT HAS HE DONE IN HIS COACHING CAREER?) REMEMBER IN ‘06 WHEN PAT RILEY FIRED HIS SORRY ASS, THEN TOOK THAT SAME TEAM TO THE FINALS AND WON? NO WAY VAN GUNDY WOULD HAVE WON THE FINALS THAT SEASON..
heartofdarkness
May 12th, 2012
12:03 am
Imagine a team where coaches had real power and distributed playing time based on how well players carried out their assignments. The game might not last 10 minutes, as the Hawks would not have five players who knew their assignment.
northcyde
May 12th, 2012
2:17 am
I normally bypass anything Mark Bradley writes about the Hawks, because 80% of the time he only writes about them when they’re going through troubled times. But with this article . . . he’s right.
“The Core” has had 5 years to get this right. To at least make a legitimate run at an Eastern Conference title . . or at least play in the EC Finals. Boston would’ve been the ultimate 1st round hurdle to get past . . and they couldn’t get it done vs a less than stellar Boston Celtics team.
Joe Johnson didn’t elevate his game, other than the 4th quarter of Game 3, in wihch he almost shot us to a victory . . then missed 3 of his 4 shots in the OT. He complained about his touches in Game 4, only to play the same non-aggressive game he’s known for in Game 5.
When Bradley said that he hasn’t been the same player under Drew, he’s right. What Drew essentially did, was de-emphasize JJ in the offense the past 2 years, until the very end of games, in which he had free reign to take his shots. This season, despite having his 2nd most efficient year as a Hawk, JJ only took 15.5 shots a game. As a scorer in Drew’s offense, JJ’s talents were never maximized, and Drew reverted back to ISO sets for JJ.
And JJ is to blame himself, for not striving to be an elite player. He’s basically added nothing to his game offensively. No emphasis on being a better post player. No looking to draw more fouls on his shots. JJ was good, especially after the All-Star break. But Boston reduced him into a mere mortal once again.
That dude disappointed me in this playoff series.
Bradley says that Josh Smith is the Hawks best player. And this may be true. But his game is flawed to the point that his flaws sometimes outweigh his talents. He’s essentially the Hawks version of Antoine Walker, when he was with the Celtics. Walker was a great talent, but his flaws were MAJOR ones that hindered his game, and how people perceived him.
For all of Woodson’s flaws as a coach, the one thing he almost did, was purge the jumpshot out of Josh’s game. And Josh responded in 2010 with his most efficient season of his career. Once Drew took over, the jumpers came back with a vengence.
Josh took 7 three pointers in the 2009 – 10 season. In the two years under Drew, he took 263 threes.
Two hundered and sixty-three.
Drew is to be commended and condemned at the same time. He’s to be commended for finally winning a few 2nd round games, and doing his best to maximize the talent of a team consisting of 6 – 8 minimum contract guys.
He’s to be condemned because the Hawks as a whole regressed, not improved. The dominant home team that we saw in the last few years of Woody, pretty much disappeared. The team was more schizophrenic than ever under Drew. His rotations were baffling at times. And guys who could’ve helped the team had they played more during the season ( Tracy McGrady ), were neglected.
The door was wide open for the Hawks.
Get past a Boston team possibly making their final run at a title, and go into the semifinals NOT having to face Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls . . but a young Philadelphia team ( that did handle us 3 times during the regular season ), that might not be ready for “primetime”.
Get past them, and we’re probably playing the Miami Heat in the EC Finals, with the spotlight firmly on us. It would be an accomplishment that no Hawk team has accomplished since they moved to Atlanta.
But it’s all gone.
And the sad thing is that we may never have a path like this again with this group. So if change is going to occur, the time is NOW. And it doesn’t matter WHO gets traded. Just trade them to possibly create better chemistry on the team as a whole.
No one on this team is untouchable.
NO ONE.
Jim
May 12th, 2012
6:20 am
Never bet against Boston. When crunch time comes, everybody knows Boston has been there before…and often won. Difficult mental thing for opponents to deal with when the game is on the line. Pierce would not have missed that free throw with 3.1 seconds left. Winners come through under the gun.
Sorry
May 12th, 2012
8:07 am
Quit with your crying everybody and everyone of you know how sorry your Atlanta Sports team’s are
cdog
May 12th, 2012
8:13 am
remember,the same was said about the braves in the 80s until they went out and hired 2 proven winners in bobby cox and john shurholtz and the franchise took off including a world championship. the same has to happen with the hawks. rick sund and larry drew is not the answeer. both have done nothing and their players reflects their personalities, losers
RA
May 12th, 2012
8:32 am
My comment is awaiting moderation? What the deuce is that about? What does that even mean?
Road Scholar
May 12th, 2012
8:34 am
The Hawks need to “hire” some officials like Boston did! Kevin Garnett getting his FIRST foul well into the 4th quarter and the call on Horford at the end was 2-3 seconds LATE. The ball was not inbounded, so there would have been 2 foul shots instead of inbounding it from the side…which screwed the play they called from the baseline during a time out! Granted Horford missed one free throw, but…
I will never attend another NBA game…ever! And I used to attend them before.
falCANS
May 12th, 2012
11:18 am
you all are idiots to give up Josh!!! 19 pogo 10 RPG 5apg (career average )1.9 Atlanta. WTF DO YOU REPLACE HIM WITH!!! IDIOTS the problem is he is under utilized. With a point guard that can’t pass. Smoove is the only 4 in the league expected to create his own shot
Sid
May 12th, 2012
11:20 am
Falcons Fans: Don’t waste your time blogging with Ledbetter, the writer protects and supports the trolls and may actually be a troll himself. Move somewhere else to speak freely and not be deleted by God himself. Hitler’s own SS had more freedom to speak.
Thank you for allowing me to interrupt your Hawks obsequies.
David McDavid
May 12th, 2012
12:30 pm
A T-own of L-osers
Pete
May 12th, 2012
12:51 pm
Look, the Hawks have a few thousand loyal fans inside the city limits of Atlanta………………and That’s It !!! Period. You drive 20 minutes out of downtown and there is ZERO interest. ZERO.
The average person on the street would have no idea who owns the team or could name any of the players. It’s so pathetic it’s sad.
With a franchise like that how in the world would any rational person expect anything from them ???
Really.
Double Secret Probation
May 12th, 2012
2:54 pm
To anoint Josh Smith as the Hawks best player is to state the greatest indictment of how pitiful they really are!
WhoCares?
May 12th, 2012
3:26 pm
There are truly some wacked-out dreamers here. They imagine a team that could win if only if got the ref’s calls… if only it hadn’t had key injuries … if only the fans had supported it…. Well, no ways fans should support this franchise as presently constructed. Management, coaches and players deserve no respect or admiration or support, honestly. They are and have been mostly pitiful. And inconsistent. Inconsistently pitiful.
Hosed!
May 12th, 2012
4:00 pm
ATL got hosed by the cheating refs or they would have won that series. the nba protects teams like boston and LA for ratings. ATL never gets a break. the owners need to protest and threaten to sell the team if they don’t start getting the calls.
dry dirt road
May 12th, 2012
8:06 pm
To David McDavid: you must be referring to the ATL sewer system needing a billion dollars of improvements, the ATL public education system test taking scandal with the teachers answering the questions for the students, the Falcons never going to the Superbowl, and the Hawks being the Hawks like Bradley said. Lets not forget the Flames that are now defunct. Only the Braves have lasted in ATL, riding the coattails of tyhe FSU Seminoles and their tomahawk chant to achieve national recognition. So what is ATL left with? Mainly alot of freeways and Spaghetti Junction- just passin’ thru, with no plans to stay. ATL has high air pollution levels in hot Summers which is also undesirable. But the fact hat they are 1000 feet in the air offers some respite during Winters if frozen precip is in the air.
teedub
May 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Bradley – how in the world can write this article and bring up Josh’s shot with absolutely no mention of the refs major gaffes the last 2 minutes. There’s a reason that play broke down and Josh had to shoot. KG had him in an absolute bear hug. Go look at it. Or read this from SBNation http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/5/10/3013327/josh-smith-video-celtics-vs-hawks-nba-playoffs-2012/in/2775502
It’s not sore losers and making excuses and blah blah blah. It DOES matter and it’s significant. Most championship runs are made on the smallest of margins. The league has already admitted their mistake regarding the foul before the ball was inbounded. Not even a mention from our local media??
It’s irresponsible journalism that is part of perception problem for this franchise.
It’s sounds strange to say, but Gearon was right the other day. He’s a boob of an owner, no doubt, but sometimes even boobs are right once in a while.
Walt Frazier
May 12th, 2012
11:30 pm
Life’s too short for excuses. If-a-woulda-shoulda-blah, blah, blah. That’s what this franchise is all about-excuses. Don’t waste your breath in this Atlanta Losersville Hawks city.
Walt Frazier
May 12th, 2012
11:44 pm
The Hawks don’t get the respect of the NBA refs because they haven’t earned any such “respect” to be worthy of getting it. The management doesn’t get respect-ie, Gearson’s 35K fine for opening his big mouth and igniting a KG spark that put out the fire of his own team-how stupid is that? The Atlanta GM Sund-who made dumb aquisitions time after time-ie. Bust azz Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson ($$$$$$$) decline, with a big fat azz contract. And a dumb & dumber coach Larry Drew, who cannot control these clowns.. I mean, what do you expect? Atlanta fans don’t deserve this. We don’t like the product on the court. And yes, our standards are high………..so we expect these immature high priced overpaid spoiled “too kool” Atlanta Hawks core-to advance in some sort of way-to at least-the second round of the playoffs. And when they didn’t make it-yes I (we) were disappointed. Mediocrity embraces mediocrity. That is why no player on the Hawks will say that there is something is wrong with their early exit. IMHO-GTFOH-in my most heaviest loudest NY accent.
Walt Frazier
May 12th, 2012
11:52 pm
I’m in the wind New York, later.
Hawks......lol
May 13th, 2012
8:11 am
Smart money sez that no one in Hawks organization from ownership down to last player on bench has an IQ above, oh, let’s say 90. Please someone, prove me wrong.
Hawker1
May 13th, 2012
8:31 am
In 2012, with a couple of additions, the Hawks will explode! Look for the Hawks to beat miami next season and win the east and play Ok City in the finals!!
Mothers Day
May 13th, 2012
9:24 am
ASG needs to sell this team to Canada. ASG are a ship of fools.