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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > April > 12
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Hawks give little cause for optimism
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If the idea Saturday night was to gauge how the playoff-bound (still, probably, we think) Atlanta Hawks might have a prayer in the postseason against the potentially title-bound Boston Celtics, we didn’t get an answer so much as a headache.
They went from even midway through the second quarter to 11 down at halftime in part because 220-loss coach Mike Woodson chose to rest Mike Bibby with two fouls. (Woodson in hindsight: “I goofed,” or words to that effect.)
They outscored Boston, 21-8, to start the third quarter to take the lead and make a game of it — only to lose a six-point lead and the game, 99-89, despite the fact the Celtics kept their starters on the bench the entire fourth quarter. The game meant nothing to the Celtics, but that didn’t stop Sam Cassell from channeling the energies of those senior citizens who swam in the magic pool in “Cocoon.”
Bottom line? The Hawks’ magic number to reach the postseason is down to one, only because Indianapolis lost at home to Charlotte. But when a win is sitting there for you on your home floor and the opposing coach isn’t moved to put a starter back in the game, what does that say for your chances in a potential first-round matchup?
When asked if this loss was deflating, Woodson said later: “You can’t put it like that… . It’s not discouraging. We’ve just got more work to do.”
The Hawks went to Indianapolis Tuesday night knowing a victory would all but clinch a playoff berth and eliminate the Pacers — a potential four-game lead with four games remaining. Instead, they got smoked. They trailed by 25 points in the third quarter and lost by 14. The lead for the eighth seed was down to two games.
The organization, as one would expect, has been trying to fire up the masses for this late-season run, putting playoff tickets up for sale and running a blur of radio ads to promote this new era. The long playoff drought would soon be dead, yes?
A win Saturday would’ve ended this suspense. Instead, we merely have prolong speculation. Woodson is aware his job is on the line. The scrutiny and the playoff scramble must be getting to him. Before Saturday’s game, I attempted to ask him a question in a group setting about trying to clinch a spot. But he cut it off.
“I’m not taking no comments from [you],” he said. And then he turned to the others, saying: “Go ahead guys.”
There was no further explanation. I can only assume it’s because I had not yet put down a deposit for playoff tickets.
Some of the players tried to paint Saturday’s loss as no big deal, but Josh Childress said: “This was definitely a game we should’ve won.”
Little things would’ve helped. How about doubling on Cassell? Woodson later said only, “We didn’t have an answer for him.”
Of having Bibby, his starting point guard, on the bench early in a relative must-win game, he said: “If I had it to do over again, I probably would’ve had his butt on the floor.”
The last time the Hawks played an extended season actually came in a shortened season. An owners’ lockout limited the 1998-99 season to 50 games. The Hawks made the playoffs at 31-19. They won a five-game series over Detroit, then got swept in round two by the New York Knicks.
The Knicks series turned out to be significant foreshadowing. Atlanta tumbled to 28-54 the following year. It was Lenny Wilkens’ exit song. The Hawks haven’t had a winning season since.
Still, probably, we think, they will be in the playoffs this season. But the foreshadowing for round one didn’t get any better Saturday.
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