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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > December > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHawks finally have home-court advantage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The transformation continued Friday night at Philips Arena, where the overwhelming majority of those among the 16,366 kept acknowledging that the Hawks are the home team and that the Knicks aren’t from around these here parts.
It’s about time. Too much needless Southern Hospitality was directed from Hawks crowds to visiting teams. That’s a polite way of saying Hawks crowds made fools of themselves until recently.
This Hawks crowd, for instance, kept increasing its level of noise for the home team throughout the evening, but there was nothing like its racket down the stretch of what evolved into a Hawks’ 98-95 victory and a 12-6 record. They cheered themselves silly after the Hawks’ Mike Bibby nailed a 3-pointer, and then another. They cheered even louder after the Knicks’ Chris Duhon lofted a shot that hit only air.
Then, at the end, with the Knicks preparing for a potential game-tying shot inside the final six seconds, there were cries of “defense, defense” before the Knicks left their huddle after a timeout.
Granted, the Knicks are a dysfunctional franchise (Stephon Marbury, dismantled roster to entice LeBron James to come two years from now, zero defense). Still, this was another indication that Hawks crowds finally get it.
For just shy of forever, whenever the Hawks played anybody from Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Boston or New York, those in Philips Arena delivered sloppy hugs and kisses to the other guys.
That was before the Hawks nearly scared the lordly green off the eventual world champion Celtics last season in the first round of the playoffs. That also was before the Hawks brought all of that momentum into this season. They have the best starting lineup in the NBA’s Southeast Division. If you combine that with a bench for the first time since the Bush administration (the father, not the son), the Hawks are flirting with decency and beyond.
We’re back to the Hawks’ true home-court advantage — you know, compared to whatever they had before.
“When I came here, it didn’t surprise me, because of the teams I’ve coached in the past, like when I was at Philly, and we would come in here with [Allen] Iverson, and they would pack the place, and there would be nothing but Philly fans,” said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, in his fifth season. “Then, when I was with the [Detroit] Pistons, it was the same thing. They would root for us. It was very strange, so I wasn’t as shocked to that when I took the job.
“All I was thinking, ‘How in the heck can I get all the people next door [at the Georgia Dome], watching [Michael] Vick and that crew, to come over here to watch us?’ That’s the only thing that ever has been on my mind. And I knew that we had to win in order to get that accomplished. I thought we turned the corner last year.”
They did. It actually started before the Hawks’ near postseason miracle against the Celtics. Try two months earlier, when Philips Arena became Staples Center East for the Lakers. “Everybody was chanting ‘MVP, MVP,’ when Kobe Bryant was at the [foul] line,” said Hawks forward Josh Smith. Then he recalled how the masses quickly showered the Hawks with a loud dose of love as they surged to victory after entering the fourth period with an eight-point deficit. Added Smith, “We were able to overcome [the Kobe chants], and we definitely got everybody involved, and we just ran with it.”
They’re still running with it, and they’re winning with it, too.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Categories: Hawks/NBA
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By Show me state
December 6, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
Go Hawks!!!
By merbert moover
December 6, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this
me like hawks….they very good team and make me happy…i glad they be in atlanta…
By The Grinch
December 6, 2008 2:37 AM | Link to this
Home court advantage is like racism in a way; it’s sad we have to comment on it. But it’s still progress. It wasn’t all that long ago when the conversation usually went: “Want to go see (insert good team here) play the Hawks? We can see (insert their best player here), and maybe get seats close to their bench.” And not for the purpose of heckling; just to see what real basketball players looked like. Nice to see a decent product on the court, and nicer to see Atlantans finally acting like this is our city.
By Moweignman
December 6, 2008 6:12 AM | Link to this
I am originally from New York,& was a crazy fan of the Knicks. When I came to Atlanta,20 yers ago, I then started rooting for the home team. I looked real STUPID at the Hawks games. I would be yelling at the refs & opposing teams. I would make alot of noise. People in my section would stare at me, as if I was a leper. Now Atlanta gets it. You cant go to Madison Square Garden & root for the visiting team. Not a good idea! Now there is joy in the ATL
By Greg
December 6, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Really…home court advantage…I went to my first Hawks game last night after setting up a business in ATL 4 years ago and I kept thinking to myself throughout the game…where are all the people because it appeared that half the seats were empty and that they have no home court advantage. 16,000 people…I wonder who’s counting. A home court advantage is what you get in an ACC game and this is nothing and I mean nothing like that. I quess everything is relevant so it must have been just horrible in Phillips the past few years when the Hawks were the worse team in sports. BTW the game was a good one and I enjoyed it very much…especially because I had so much room to move around because of all the empty seats in section 114.
By James
December 6, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Philips Arena is still pretty dead inside for most of the game. If an enthusiastic fan can come and cheer the whole game without everyone looking at him that would be one thing, but it doesn’t work like that here in Atlanta. It’s just a bunch of people who feel like chillin’ and lookin’ tough in the stands. I would rather watch the game on tv than get the life sucked out of me by my fellow Atlantans and the worthless ushers who do not let you move down in a 3/4-empty arena. Wouldn’t want the lifeless lower-bowl crowd getting disturbed would we? Stop treating enthusiasm like it doesn’t belong. Bring back fanatical fans/Hawkalicious.
Terrance, maybe you got too used to the old way, where even the last two minutes were dead, but Friday’s crowd was nothing about which to write.
Atlanta, get a life. If you aren’t at the game out of interest in the Hawks, leave, give your tickets to someone who cares.
By greg
December 6, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
home court advantage….really…ever been to a ACC game…that’s home court advantage….I went to my first Hawks game ever last night…moved here 4 years ago…and kept thinking to myself…where are all the people and the Hawks have no home court advantage. I guess it must have really been pathetic around here before. Anyway, I enjoyed the game especially with all the empty seats around me in section 114 that allowed me to be nice and comfortable.
By Mob
December 6, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Why is it foolish for fans to not support a bad product? What was there to cheer for until recently? Will you ever write a positive column that does not also insult Atlanta teams or fans?
By TheATL
December 6, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
*Good article Terence! I guess winning always solves many many problems. Good to have a competitive again. GO HAWKS!!!
By Rock Preston
December 6, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Just your typical fairweather onion hugging fans. They cheer everyone else but the hometown team.
By Connie Lingous
December 6, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
nice column T-Mo - (I appreciate your refraining from your traditional race-baiting) - Hawks are looking strong for sure
By Astro Joe
December 6, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Terrance, remember when you put Mike Conley in the same category as Chris Paul and Deron Williams (and not because they weren’t picks of the Hawks but because Conley is supposed to have comparable skills)? So, how’s that working out after around 100 NBA games?
By Dr. Warren
December 6, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Wouldn’t it be, “…so I wasn’t as shocked BY that…”. Just saying…
By SlimG
December 6, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Dude, don’t hate the late arriving crowds, that’s just how we roll. Next, we are winners now versus what we used to be with Nique. Keep playing team ball and the fans will keep supporting you guys.
I remember a few years back in the playoffs against the Knicks. It was a New York home game, what a sick feeling. We have changed that. I should say Mike Woodson has changed that. Keep up the good work Woody.
By RA
December 6, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Yea, I just hope that our boys keep winning. The Atlanta fanbase is notoriously fickle.
By NYC Hawk
December 6, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Woody’s got to play the bench! Come on man, think long term. He’s already down to a 7th-game-playoff-style and we’re playing the F——ing Knicks in early December. I don’t see how we can have a productive season, if we don’t get more rest for the starters (JJ is already tired) and more experience for the bench. Regardless of the score, the bench should play extended minutes during the first three periods, even if it means losing a couple.
By Murphy
December 6, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
Well spoken…..
By KevinA
December 6, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
The Hawks are winning when their supposed to, they won a few that supprised. If they win 2 out of the next five I will be happy. While the Hawks are better and should make the playoffs, they are no powerhouse. The upside is that they are young and will continue to improve. Lets not get to high when they win and get to down when they lose. A great year would be to win 50 and get into the second round of the playoffs. Go Hawks.
By Fred B.
December 6, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
Woodson answered his own question…when you win people will come. I think there will always be fans rooting for the other team to some extent because we live in a transient city but if there is a quality product on the floor the support will be there. Look what happened to the Celtics last season. The year before you could have walked up to the ticket window on the day of the game and basically bought any ticket you wanted because the team was not very good. The fans in this city have proven we will support our team. We did it in the 80’and we will do it again!