AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 27
Friday, April 27, 2007
It’s a different world …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ORLANDO - The playoffs, that is. The atmosphere, the intensity, the overall level of force that everyone operates with, it’s a totally different world from what we’ve see in Atlanta on a regular basis.
I’ve only dropped in here for Game 3 and 4 (and after the Pistons’ tail-dragging of the Magic tonight it appears that’s all that is left) of this series. But all it takes if five minutes of the playoff atmosphere to understand why so many people that have experienced this struggle when they’re not a part of it.
As I was walking down a corridor of Amway Arena before game time, I spotted Tyronn Lue at the loading dock entrance to the arena. He played here, so everyone treated him like family. I didn’t have to ask why he was here (he and Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups are super tight, have been for years and they have the same agent, Andy Miller, who was also on the scene along with Tiger Woods, Thurman Thomas and a motley crew of other celebrity and pseudo-celebrity types that turn out for the good stuff no matter where it’s going on). The smile on his face said it all. (Hey, it was good enough for Tiger Woods, too)
He misses the playoff vibe. And the only way he can get it these days is by showing up to the playoff series his friends are involved in, because the Hawks lack currently lack many of the essential elements to join this party (need we go on and on about what it is they lack? Or can we let the venom rest for at least one night).
I totally understand now why Hawks coach Mike Woodson escorted Josh Childress and Josh Smith to playoff games after their rookie season. He wanted them to get a taste of the playoffs first hand (as funny as the TNT studio crew is, nothing beats the electricity of being in the arena during a game. The crowd either rises or falls on every play, every shot, every turnover and every dunk).
To be honest, I’m not sure there’s any way to do it justice without you showing up to one of these games on your own. That’s tough to do, I know, with the Hawks being out of the playoff mix for eight straight years. Trust me when I tell you, though, it’s a different world (and one Hawks fans deserve to experience for themselves).
