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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > April > 22
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Hawks must hang tough early in Game 2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Boston — The Hawks entered TD Banknorth Garden for Game 1 speaking of shocking the world, and they exited hugely shocked and a little awed. Just the pregame hoopla, Al Horford allowed, “was overwhelming — it got me hyped,” and then the real deluge began.
“It was hard to control my emotions,” said Josh Smith, who scored three baskets. “I was too excited.”
From boldly averring that they had nothing to lose in this series, the Hawks arrived at practice Tuesday saying nothing even the slightest bit bold. They’ve already begun to hedge their verbal bets. Said Smith: “It’s going to be hard for us to win if we don’t play at our highest level.”
Said Horford: “We honestly can’t think big on this series. We’ve got to concentrate on getting one game — the next game — if we’re to have any kind of chance.”
If they’re to have any kind of chance, the ground work must begin Wednesday night. The Hawks don’t have to win Game 2, but they have to hang close enough to prove to themselves and to the Celtics that the imbalance between teams isn’t as vast as it would appear. Another blowout would essentially confirm every doubt this callow bunch has clearly begun to harbor.
“They’re a talented team,” Smith said, “and they have an advantage. They have all this playoff experience. We’re young, and for most of us this is the first time.”
It showed Sunday. The Hawks’ stated mission was to hit the Celtics hard and make the home team burn the first timeout. Three minutes and 17 seconds in, the Celtics led 9-2 and Mike Woodson called time. He would signal another stoppage not four minutes later, the deficit having grown to 13 points. So much for Plan A.
Smith again: “It’s a learning experience. If we play hard, we’re able to play with these guys. If we don’t, they’ll destroy us every game. We need to get one [win] under our belt to give us confidence.”
Self-esteem is running low. Even the most seasoned Hawks did little in Game 1: Mike Bibby scored two baskets and made one assist, and Joe Johnson needed 22 shots to muster 19 points. By way of vivid contrast, the Celtics took the floor in a focused frenzy, feeding off a crowd that screamed so loud that even the home side pronounced itself surprised and impressed.
Asked if he’d ever worked in such an environment, Smith said: “No, I haven’t. But they’re die-hard fans. I don’t think there was a single Atlanta fan in the building other than our families. They’re big fans, and it showed in their intensity and their emotion.”
It might be nice, someone suggested, to play before such a home gathering. (The Hawks haven’t yet sold out Philips Arena for Games 3 and 4.) Said Smith: “You can’t blame the fans of Atlanta for not coming out — this is the only year we’ve been able to do anything. But I can’t wait to get home for [Game 3] Saturday night.”
But first: Game 2. The Hawks must match the expected early Boston flurry, must keep going when the substitutions begin — for a team with only one first-class reserve, this is the toughest part — and must give themselves a fighting chance come the fourth quarter. If they do all that, they’ll go home with something even if they don’t win. They’ll go home thinking they have a shot to extend this series beyond the minimum four games.
“I don’t necessarily think we’re overmatched,” said Horford, the one Hawk who played well in Game 1. “I feel like we can play with them.”
Nothing that occurred Sunday gave the Hawks any hope. Something better needs to happen Wednesday, or the rest of this series will be the merest of formalities.
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