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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > April > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHawks 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.
Permalink | Comments (30) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By A Real Fan
April 22, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
The Hawks got their noses bloodied, but now it’s time to fight back!
By jts in dallas
April 22, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Now is the time for Woody to wake up and smell the coffee. Woody, what you are doing is NOT working and shouldn’t work. Grow up and realize that you just ain’t got it. When things are going badly, it is clearly time to make changes.
First, I have very REAL problems with your substitution patterns (all year & in the Boston game). When BK drafted Acie Law in the first round, the intent was for him to play! Now with Woody’s great mind being clouded by having shaved too close to his brain, he replaces Bibby with a 2 guard, then with a forward. I think both are very able players, but how about playing your players where they are suited to play. Replace your point with a point. I have gotten really frustrated by the none movement of the ball in our half court offense. Maybe, just maybe you should run the ball some. ASG, I’m not surprised that Phillips can’t sell out. Knight tried to replace Woody during the season and you showed that he has not been given the authority to actually do his job. There are many able coaches out there in the lurches. Hire one and give the fans of Atlanta a good product to come watch. You have the players, now we need a coach who knows how to develop them and use them in actual game situations. Heck, Avery Johnson will be available as soon as New Orleans gets through sweeping them. This team should have won at least 50 games, if the current players had been coached properly.
While working here in Dallas, I actually had the luxury of watching the Hawks without my co-workers having to endure the mess. Since the last game was on national TV, they all asked me if Woody coaches this inaptly always. I’m sorry to say, I had to agree with them. The secret is out now. I really did not intend to rip the coach in this blog, but my fingers just got going and would not stop. I’m forcing myself to stop now. In parting, let me just say: FIRE WOODY
By Tonight's the Night
April 22, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
It is likely too late to do anything that will make a difference in this series. That is why Woodson should go - he has not developed the players. But if anything could make a victory possible, it would be that Marvin W becomes very aggressive offensively. It is not his nature apparently. But he needs to step up and move on offense so that he creates passing lanes for himself. Joe and Bibby will get him the ball if he makes himself available. He then needs to drive at the teeth of the defense. IF he had been doing this all year - as Woodson should have demanded - it would be more likely to work. As is, the Hawks defer to JJ and he can’t do it by himself. And wouldn’t it be nice if Acie got some time against Rondo? Oh well….
By BigBadWolf
April 22, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
I argee with everyone: it’s time for a change. THESE ARE YOUNG BIRDS!!!!! Let them fly!!(up and down the court, that is) If your half court sets aren’t working, SWITCH TO AN UPTEMPO PACE!!!!!!!!! This team DOES have an advantage over Boston…It’s their youth!!!!! Damn it, Woody let them play!!!!!
By nope
April 23, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
Im sorry to say but Marvin will not step up. We have been calling on this guy to step up the last two years and it has not happen. Just time to admit we blew the pick. I mean he is solid but when you see Chris Paul putting up 32 points and 17 dimes in game two and you see Marvin barely score 9 then you know it’s hard to be a fan with the front office blowing it like that.
By Kevin
April 23, 2008 2:09 AM | Link to this
Yea n pears grow on vines…get real the Larks (hawks) will show up n lose by 25 again blame The atlanta fans….like bibby is sayin on tv we fair weather…Dear Bibby n soon be ex-coach Bye bye!
By No Dawgs Here
April 23, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
Hawks will be swept. Not enough talent and heart on that team..
By By A Real Fan # 2
April 23, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Right On Real Fan # 1, I too have to say that Woody sucks. Look I don’t believe we can beat Boston for the simple fact that we don’t have a bench deep enough. I am crazy enough to believe that we can get a game or two however it starts with the front court. Unfortunately BK was dumb and passed on Paul. We now see the results however we have a young and a talented core. Boston is not young. We need increase the pace of the game that is going to be our only real chance of winning a few. Regardless Hawks, just as I support the Falcons during bad years I will support you all. Hey bloggers her in ATL lets get the Arena sold out so we can give them hell during game three. I got my tkts!
By Whopper Dawg
April 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Chris Paul is rapidly turning into the Michael Jordan of this era, and we are tuning into the Portland Trailblazers. The NBA is a players league, thus is success is based on your selection of players through primarily the draft and occasional trade. When you are a constant lottery participant like the Hawks, by just that presence even a 5 year old can put together a middling group of players that can barely ease into the playoffs in the weak sister of the NBA the eastern conference. Don’t take that as a mark of success, it is not. Fire the GM and coach right after the playoffs. You can’t keep making these types of decisions.
By McRly?
April 23, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Too many jumpshots. Noone is driving to the basket. All the shots we take are well defended shots because noone’s open when they shoot them. Josh Smith airballs his 18’ jumpers and all the Celtics do is crowd the boards and pick the rebounds. If you want to stay in this series this army of forwards has to do what their size and athleticism allows them to do: Drive the basket, get fouls, kick to open teammates for GOOD looks, turn this into a dog fight (no Vick puns, please). Come on Hawks. It’s gut check time. And on a side note, we can’t play our bench is this series (or any other this offseason, if we were to make it) including Acie, because our bench never got any real playing time during the regular season. They are not prepared for this, and that is undoubtedly Woody’s fault. Sorry Woody, I’ve tried to be supported but you’ve shot yourself in the foot on this one. It’s your job to have Salim, Acie, Solomon and that nice defender from GT (dang I can’t remember his name right now) at least somewhat ready for this, and you did not. They could be adding some uber-tempo spark plug minutes off of your bench, letting your other boys breath and stay strong to compete, if that bench had seen ANY hardwood this year. Your failure. So if you draw a pink slip this year, you can’t say you don’t understand why. Hang in there Hawks, get scrappy. One win changes everyone’s outlook on you.
By The Scoop
April 23, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
My sources tell me that Mike Woodson has already been fired. He just doesn’t know it yet. Oh wait, gotta go. Ice puckey’s on!
By Reggie L
April 23, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Maybe we can draw Lenny Wilkins out of retirement. He would be able to COACH these young guys, and get much better results. Woody is a nice guy, but not the right guy. He lost the respect of the players somewhere along the way, and that will forever compromise his ability to succeed with this team.
By Marc
April 23, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Bibby vs. Rondo
Bibby is mouthing off because he knows he can’t do his talling on the court. Woodson should recognize this and pull him at the earliest possible moment. Not convinced Smith cann be successful guarding Garnettn either. KG just shoots right over him.
By g-thang
April 23, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
i don’t understand why, at this level, guys are sayin’, “we need to come out and play hard.” i mean, i thought comin’ out and playin’ hard was automatic!! especially in the playoffs. jordan, kobe, barkley neva woulda made these comments.
after every hawks loss this year, they all said the same crap…“they wanted it more than us…”we weren’t hungry enuff”…”we got out played.”… i am sick of them and the coach. they all have hearts of a loser. no true killa’ speaks this way, can you imagine jordan after losin’ a game to the pistons in ‘89 sayin’ we didn’t play hard enuff?
By Ben
April 23, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Marvin is due for an extension this offseason, right? LOL!
Struggles to get 9 points off 3 jumpers and a few free throws, and does that “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHATS MY NAME!” GARBAGE when he gets an And1 or an uncontested dunk. Anyone know what I’m referring to?
By Ryder
April 23, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
All of you are missing the main point: in the playoffs it becomes near impossible to run an up-tempo offense all the time, as teams who are successful in the half-court are the ones who play deep into May. why do you think San Antonio and Utah are always contending for the title?
Simply put, Atlanta is not a team that knows how to execute well in the half court, because they lack the personnel to do so. Josh Smith is not the kind of player you want in the playoffs from an offensive standpoint because he doesn’t know how to move without the ball in the half court offense. Defensively he’s great.
Thus far the only person who has shown that ability is Al Horford, who dropped 20 and 10 in his first playoff game! Why you ask? Because he was able to get good looks at the basket off screen and rolls, which is what Atlanta should focus on if they want to neutralize Boston in any way.
If Woodson was really a half court offense kind of coach he would call for an inside outside offense of Horford, Bibby, and JJ at all times. Keep Marvin on the wing and have Smith around to rebound the ball down low and create some havoc with his quickness. Otherwise if I’m Woodson I make sure not to call his number for a basket and call more plays for Al.
Even if it’s for only 10 minutes a game, it is imperative that Woodson get Acie in the game. He needs to get that playoff intensity feeling and it’s beyond ridiculous to have your swingman bringing in the ball as the backup.
If this post doesn’t convince the ASG that Woodson is not the long term answer for the Hawks nothing will.
By josh Stieneker
April 23, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
All i have to say is no matter what just keep your heads held high hawks cause any other team could be playin in the playoffs right now and they are hungry to play there. You guys have the chance of a life time just like the nuggets versing the sonics in 1998. So this is your chance you can either give it away to the cocky celtics or shut them the hell up, your choice, enough said by me.
By Love the Hawks
April 23, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Give it a rest. What did you expect. The Hawks are very young and have been getting better every year. If Woodson had played the bench all year and didn’t make the playoffs, would you be happier? Resign Woodson and pay off the players in the off season. Enjoy this learning experience in the playoffs. In two years we’ll have a team to reckon with. Go Hawks.
By Mark Bradley
April 23, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
I’m not, as some of you know, the biggest Woodson fan. That said, I don’t think Phil Jackson could take these Hawks and beat these Celtics.
By jts in dallas
April 23, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
To Love the Hawks, I too love the Hawks. However, if we re-sign Woody, we’ll still be contending for the #8 spot with a losing record. I would think that if you love the Hawks, you would want a coach who can push the team to the next level. Four years and still a losing record. Four years, and even the Pop Warner teams can predict what the Hawks are gonna do offensively. Let Woody go so he can pursue an assistant coaching job that he is a lot more suited for. I hope you have noticed that his results are very poor when he plays his guys out of position (Childress at the point, etc). What will he do next, sub Salim for Horford at center. That’s about the sense it makes to place a forward at point.
Anyway, Go Hawks, and Woodson, just go.
By Ryder
April 23, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Bradley, you are in the words of Lex Luthor in Superman Returns…..WRONG!
Let’s see: low post threat who can pass (horford) an SG who can hit the jumper (JJ) and a PG who can make the precision passes (Bibby) Phil Jackson would make the Hawks a World Championship team.
First off he would teach Atlanta how to win the mental game. Secondly, Atlanta has the pieces in place to run the triangle offense, which predicates on having good shooters from the wing. Salim Stoudamire would get a lot of playing time, and Atlanta would be more committed to crashing the boards.
By richbrave
April 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
BRADLEY:
Offense for show, defense for dough (to steal a golfing axiom). The Hawks gotta’ play CONSISTANT in your face defense. Can’t learn that in one game.
By Ken Strickland
April 23, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
FACT-the Atlanta Hawks cannot beat the Boston Celtics at playing their gm. They’re too tall, too big, too experienced, too talented and too well coached. However, the Hawks are faster, quicker and more athletic. Therefore, Woodson has to find a way to force the Celtics out of their confort zone.
I’ve suggested on many occasions that the Hawks need to take advantage of their superior athletics, speed and quickness by employing more full court pressure. Creating steals, deflections and taking time off the clock to reduce their half court options, is what full court pressure can create.
TONIGHTS GAME WILL TELL IF WOODSON IS A THINKING, FLEXIBLE, INOVATIVE HC, OR JUST A FIGURE HEAD THAT NEEDS TO MOVE ON.
By g_from_dooluth
April 23, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
First, lack of playoff experience is NO EXCUSE!! See Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, and Dwight Howard…
And, was anyone else angry when KG fell on top of Josh Childress and Childress just laid there smiling/laughing. Not sure about the rest of you, but if I’m getting blown out the way they were, I wouldn’t be smiling!!!
By HB Ando
April 23, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Is it just me, or would this blog have gotten a much stronger response if the headliner had been:
BRADLEY MUST HANG SELF TO ATTRACT FANS!
By Najeh Davenpoop
April 23, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley — if Phil Jackson was the Hawks’ coach, they would be a lot higher than the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, so they wouldn’t be playing the Celtics yet. You’re right, they wouldn’t beat the Celtics, but they wouldn’t get completely embarrassed either.
By Whopper Dawg
April 23, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
The first half is coming to a close, 5 minutes left. What an absolute joke. White towel please. If this coach and GM keep their job past one second of the gratefully received final buzzer of game four, it will be an absolute sin. How can something that is so painfully obvious continue to be accepted is beyond me. I have been in a position to hire and fire most on my life, and these clowns wouldn’t have a chance to clean out their desks.
By Big Red
April 23, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Mike Biggy ain’t s**t. After this year, we need to get rid of him and give the point to acie.
By JL
April 23, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Call me old fashioned BUT from my friends in Boston comes reports of the players extra curricular activities that may be impacting their ability to “play”. What ever happened to “bed check” and “rules”? Do you think that these guys don’t “want” the extra playoff money OR are they just not willing to play to win for Woodson? Any comments?
By lilman916
April 23, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
The Hawks have not won one single quarter of these two games. Even though they made the playoffs, they’re not a playoff team. They didn’t even win half of their games during the regular season, and you expect them to compete against the team with the best record in the east. This year is for experience only, and how many of these guys will be back next season. Move on to round two.