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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > March > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHawks hope to make a little playoff noise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Prepare yourselves for a dangerous thought involving the Hawks’ short-term future, and here’s why: Sports folks are perennially into that cliche about taking things (all together now) one game, one day, one whatever at a time.
Consider, too, that the Hawks have more than a few issues right now. After missing the postseason for an NBA-high eight straight years, they are among the underwhelming but competitive group of four teams battling for that eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Most immediately, they’ll meet one of those teams tonight at Philips Arena, where the Chicago Bulls will join the Hawks in trying to become the least mediocre bunch on the court for an evening.
As for that dangerous thought, what if Harry The Hawk joins that cow in jumping over the moon and the Hawks really do make the playoffs?
Good news. At least one Hawks player has the correct response to what logic says would be a massacre for his team in the first round against the Boston Celtics, the NBA’s most gifted powerhouse in years. Suggested Josh Smith: Who would listen to logic if Harry The Hawk and an acrobatic cow actually did that lunar thing?
“We’re most definitely hungry, and we’re not just satisfied with making the playoffs, because we want to be a Golden State in the playoffs,” said Smith, referring to the Warriors’ clobbering last year of the supposedly mighty Dallas Mavericks. In that first-round matchup, the Warriors played out of their minds by forgetting they were only a No. 8 seed and eliminated their No. 1 seeded foes in Game 6 with a 25-point blowout.
The Celtics would be a No. 1 seed, and the Hawks would be a No. 8 seed. Which would mean what compared to Warriors-Mavericks of 2007?
Well, not that, but who knows? Maybe the youthful Hawks would discover ways to make the veteran Celtics huff a little more between puffs. Added Smith, “We want to resemble Golden State in that they came out [against Dallas] with the passion and the intensity that showed that they knew that they were going to play heads up with anybody that they faced.
“In regard to just making the playoffs, we talk about it pretty much about nearly every day to make sure that everybody stays focused on the task at hand.”
We’re back to that cliché about staying in the present, where the Hawks have fluctuated during their playoff run between dandy, decent and dreadful. They’ve done so, not only from game to game but from quarter to quarter. You can blame inexperience, the adjustment to new point guard Mike Bibby, a bench that coach Mike Woodson uses only as a last resort and a flawed roster that still needs a talented big man and a strong leader.
You can’t blame the schedule. With the 31-40 Hawks holding a half-game lead over the New Jersey Nets for that last playoff spot in the East, the Hawks will spend the next three games against opponents with lesser records (the Bulls, the New York Knicks and the Memphis Grizzlies).
Then again, none of that helped the Hawks earlier this week when they vanished after halftime in Chicago before re-appearing too late near game’s end.
Thus the reluctance of most Hawks to think beyond this second.
“The main focus and the main goal for us is just getting there [to the playoffs] first,” said Josh Childress, the Hawks’ splendid sub. “Obviously you look and you see who you’re potentially matched up with, and that’s something that we have to keep our eyes on. But the biggest goal for us right now is just getting there.”
Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ most valuable player, agreed, saying, “If we did make the playoffs, we could be a scary team. It’s only up to us. It would be a tremendous accomplishment knowing that this franchise hasn’t been there in, I mean, what? I don’t even know how many years it’s been. We just have to come in and really focus in on what we have to do.”
Then Johnson sighed, adding, “We just have to take …”
You know the rest.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By Darrin "The Vent King"
March 27, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Somehow I don’t think the Celtics will losing any sleep over the Hawks any time soon. Having said that, just making the playoffs could give these guys some insight into what it takes to be the best because that’s exactly what they are heading for should they make it. It’ll be a couple of years before this team can really be thought of as scary though. You can’t struggle against the lowly Bulls and put fear into any real contenders. Hopefully IF the Hawks make the playoffs, the experience will at least make them want more.
GO HAWKS
By T
March 27, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding? I can’t think of any teams in the west or very few in the east that would fear this team… IF they get in, they will face the Celtics and be lucky to win one game. And I mean lucky. Their chances are better to not make the playoffs than win more than one game in the playoffs… i stand by that.
By Big Red
March 27, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
I really like the hawks chances because of their easy schedule. I just wish joe had consistant help from his supporting cast and also woody needs to do a better job resting joe. I would bring chills in for joe for offence and mario for marvin. He has options on the bench but is not doing a good job using his options. Mike Bibby is finally doing what we got him for.
By Keeping it Real
March 27, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
IF and that still is an if, the Hawks make the playoffs, the Celtics will sweep them and that’ll end the whole “we could be a scary team” discussion.
Case closed.
By A Real Fan
March 27, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
I just hope the make the playoffs!
One step at a time.
By A Real Fan
March 27, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
I just hope they make the playoffs!
One step at a time.
By Rutuger
March 27, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
That is hilarious. You just got smoked by the sorry a— Bulls and you’re talking a big game about scaring the Celtics.
I admire the gusto, but baby steps fellas… baby steps. One trip to Boston, one trip back. It’ll be quick if we make it, but good for us if we do. As long as Woodson and Billy Knight are still gone afterwards, I don’t really care what happens in this latest meaningless season.
By drmaryb
March 27, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
When the HAWKS make the PLAYOFFS?!
It will take the lid off the jar, and that - my - friends? - Is a Start! -by drmaryb-
By Hawks Fans
March 27, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
How fitting if the Hawks at least advanced to the second round of the playoffs, by beating the Celtics, on the 50th Anniversary of the franchise’s sole NBA Championship …OVER THE CELTICS!! LET’S GO HAWKS!!!
By Najeh Davenpoop
March 27, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
Golden State matched up perfectly with Dallas — this is why they won last year. The Celtics are a terrible matchup for Atlanta. Unless Kevin Garnett decides to take a vacation, the Hawks don’t really have a chance against Boston.
Really, the only hope the Hawks have of doing something in the playoffs is to go on a crazy winning streak to finish the season, hope Washington and Toronto start losing, make the 6th seed, and play Orlando in the first round. Orlando is the one team the Hawks seem to match up well against, for whatever reason.
By Terence Moore
March 27, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
I’ll tell you something interesting. I was at Wednesday night’s game at Philips Arena against Milwaukee, and I sat in the stands. I like to do that from time to time to get a sense of the fans.
Anyway, I just listened to people, and I was amazed at how many folks were excited about the Hawks’ playoff chances in general and about the Hawks in particular.
A 45-year-old Hawks diehard named Sinclair Neal Sr., a warehouse worker who lives in southwest Atlanta, told me, “Win or lose, I still follow them, and I come to about 11 games or so a year. If they make the playoffs, it would be great for the city, but it really would be great for me.”
He was speaking for the masses.
By Mugsy101
March 27, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
If the Hawks can’t win 41 games it doesn’t matter if they make the playoffs because they are nothing but a bad sub-500 team playing in the weak Eastern Confetrence.
Making the playoffs in the east is no accomplishment. If it makes some feel “better” about this terrible franchise…from ownership, to management, to the coaching, and to the team, then good for you.
By T
March 27, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
I’ve seen it all now.
First, an article about the Hawks striking fear in potential playoff opponents… and then, Terrence Moore trying to convince everyone he is “a man of the people”.
HA-Ha-HA-Ha-Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
By BATMAN
March 27, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
I HOPE THEY WIN ONE PLAYOFF GAME.
By Bravesfan79
March 28, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
The only thing the Hawks have in common with the Warriors is neither have a true center!
I think winning 1 home game in the playoffs would be a success for this bunch. Go Rockets!….Mutombo is the man…
By Orlando
March 28, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
See it’s idiots like Mugsy who don’t get it. Regardless of the regular season record, the fact is that you get in you get in. At the beginning of the playoffs EVERYBODY’s 0-0.
The NBA is not about what you do in the regular season, it’s about the postseason moron.
Terence is right, if Atlanta ever figures out that you actually do have to play in the third quarter and not wait until the 4th, they would be set already.
All you TM haters need to realize that up until now there’s been no reason to enjoy this race. It takes a lot to erase the cynicism of the city from years of losing.
Even if Atlanta ends up 37-45 in the playoffs it’s a step. Get over yourselves and either support the Hawks or move to whatever bandwagon team is hot at the moment.
By Matt
March 28, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this
I’ve had more than my share of disagreements with what Terence has written over the years, but I doubt most columnists even look at the reader responses, much less respond to them.
So props to Terence for posting a response - and if Mr. Neal speaks for even a few thousand other people in metro Atlanta, I’ll just be happy to know that I’m not alone!
By J.T.
March 28, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this
i know it seems impossible for them to win but dont be suprise if the hawks beat the celtics if they make it to the playoffs, crazy things happen in sports these days i mean the giants beat the almighty powerful patriots why couldnt the hawks beat the celtics and become that scary team in the playoffs im not saying they are going to win but watch put u may be in for a suprise
GO HAWKS! IM BEHIND U 110% PROVE THEM WRONG
By Lamont
March 28, 2008 3:46 AM | Link to this
I’m a homer and will stand by the Hawks no matter what. We just got to play hard and stay focus. This is a tlented team that’s on the rise. Just making the playoffs would be huge, then we think about what happens next. Now, why J. Smith is always the guy being interviewed and has a nice speech when he messes it all up on the court like he did in Chicago ? He’s so overrated.
By Dr. Warren
March 28, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
If the Hawks continue to improve 6 or 7 games per year, they will be at 50 wins by 2010. Let’s have some patience, people.
By Rutuger
March 28, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Mr. Moore, despite my previous post, I do agree with Mr. Neal. As irritating as this franchise has been in my lifetime of dedicated fandom, and as disgruntled as I’ve been with its decisions in recent years, I can’t deny the fact that if we got into the playoffs I would feel something I haven’t experienced in NBA basketball in nearly a decade.
And hell, sweep or no sweep, bad record and all—making the playoffs is a mark of progress. Maybe we could even scratch out a victory in the series. In any event, it puts Atlanta basketball on the national stage for the first time this century.
GO HAWKS!!!
By Rutuger
March 28, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
And let me clarify the above post—by “a victory,” I meant one game, not the series. I’m excited, not deluded.
By Swatguy
March 28, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Without a doubt, making the playoffs is major. The accomplishment and experience of the playoff push is of great benefit for this young team. Support from fans, new fans, ex-players and others will inevitably join in the atmosphere missing since Mookie, Deke, Steve and Hawks or yore.
Regardless of coaching, this is still a players league. If the Hawks do not make the playoffs, it is on the players first and most. Guys gotta step up, I say They Gotta Step Up.
By Barry
March 28, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Hey Y’all:
Don’t laugh. If the Hawks get in they are going to cause some serious problems for whoever thay play. Bibby is the factor due to he is continuing to learn the palys and get comfortable with the type of players around him. And we know he has a lot of No 1 draft chices surrounding him in addition to the preenial All-Star Joe Johnson. They will play with excitement, thrill and confidence in getting over the huno in making the play off. I can’t wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! This is a SECRET from a HAWK FAN!!! TELL EVERBODY!!!!!!!!!!
SEE YOU AT PHILLIPS
Ringold
By Vick Supporter
March 28, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
The hawks definitely have the athletes to scare Boston. If the hawks would use their bench, they could challenge the Celtics. Hopefully Marvin Williams won’t pull his disappearing act