Atlanta Hawks 99, Portland Trail Blazers 95 or see photo

by hawksdawgs on Nov 16, 2009 11:03 PM EST

First off, no reason for the Hawks to win this game. No reason except Joe Johnson decided to prove me wrong and go shot for shot with Brandon Roy and it worked because Josh Smith jumped as high as he could as much as he could and wore Velcro gloves in the meantime.

Seriously, how did the Hawks just win? That was an NBA haters delight. If I did not know the Hawks and Blazers were trying, I would agree. It was as if the fourth quarter was all that mattered, and the Hawks mattered most. I don't watch Portland enough to know how bad they played but since I know they are good I will assume it was bad because the Hawks were horrible for three quarters. They were not missing bad shots, they were missing wide open shots. The turnovers were less bad passes and more assists for the other team. The whole thing was horrible, but more than bad , it was weird because the Hawks kept staying in reach and then, before anyone knew it, Josh and Joe started quoting the game thread and said "screw it, let's be special." And they were, and the defense followed suit.

Second off, and I mean this in the best and most complimentary possible way, screw you Rudy Fernandez. When is the last time someone scored nine points on buzzer beaters in a loss? Now that we are done playing the Blazers, I have a new play for them, and it involves counting down from three and giving Rudy the ball.

Third straight freaking off, the rebounding by the Hawks is filled with the passion of a 1,000 enraged bulls. Period. End of story. Where did it come from? I have no idea, but like alcohol, I don't care.

Where should we focus? Joe Johnson's horrendous performance for most of the game or his dominating performance for the part that mattered? Marvin Williams ineffectiveness on offense or his perfectly necessary effort on defense? Mike Woodson understanding match ups for most of the game or not fouling Greg Oden at the end of regulation? Jamal Crawford being awful or winning with Jamal being said awful? Josh Smith's awesomeness or his really, really good awesomeness?

I stand by being number one in the power rankings is bad, but for one night, in one win, look at the plus side, this Hawks team might be for real.

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Well, in your preview, at least #'s 1 and 4 proved true.

Honestly it seemed like JJ was interested in padding his “clutch” statistics-playing so badly that the team needed him to make shots at the end, and then making a ton of them.

I’m learning that, despite all the supposed depth and quality backcourt options, what really makes this team special (more than any other facet) is the starting front court. We can get away with switching on every screen because we’ve got mobile, athletic guys in the front court-and Josh and Horford are both really good with the help. Speaking of which, I’m a bit peeved with the scorekeeping-Smoove had to have had at least 4 blocks in this one, but only ended up with 2 in the official stats, and I’d like for him to lead the league.

On the same day that we see a poll about Woody’s good coaching, he does the Horford to Horford (sitting him for the rest of the first half with 2 fouls, over 15 minutes) and the Hawks’ defense immediately suffered. It improved so dramatically when Horford was back in there.

by Bronn on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

you are speaking truth

and i cussed that woody poll more than once in the first half.

by hawksdawgs on Nov 16, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Also, in regards to best photo ever

You must have missed the one where Greg Oden explored Zaza’s navel.

by Bronn on Nov 16, 2009 11:16 PM EST reply actions

that will certainly headline the second of the game recaps

by hawksdawgs on Nov 16, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

Speaking of this photo

Gillette should use Zaza to show why five blades are better than four (in Zaza’s case, much worse, but for the average man, better). I assume he recently made the upgrade.

by eyy on Nov 16, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

You are right.

That trick where the crowd counts down the shot clock several second in advance to throw off the other team would be ill-advised against the Blazers.

by eyy on Nov 16, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Wore out but-

I was screaming the Hawks had reverted to the Hawks of old and then an amazing thing happened. JJ got hot. I was cussing everybody but the big’s and then JJ go hot. As the game was fading and I was ready to fire Woody an awesome thing happened the team simply shut down the blazers and JJ got hot.

This team is not the same team of last year. Our big’s are talented and our other pieces play great but when the stuff hit’s the fan JJ gets hot. Tonight is no night for minute counting, complaining or explaining coaching moves. This was a game won by grit and determination. I will be honest – I did not see this coming but you got to love it when JJ gets hot.

Lets be honest Smooth the MVP of team.

by RivBoatGambler on Nov 16, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions

smooth is mvp

no doubt. no mind.

by hawksdawgs on Nov 16, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions

Good win - weird game

It was great for the Hawks to overcome a serious challenge, but it seemed like they had to manufacture the challenge. We’ve seen them miss dozens of open shots, playing iso-Joe whether he’s hitting or not, but I’m not used to seeing them win those games.

Smoove is playing great!

by BeauGust on Nov 16, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions

joe freaking johnson!!!!

but seriously why not foul greg oden in the final seconds?

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Nov 16, 2009 11:45 PM EST reply actions

On a night when even

Sky Hawk was missing dunks, the Hawks came out flat but played mediocre the 1st 3 qtrs (they played bad vs. Charlotte) turned it on in the 4th and OT and they keep winning and thats all that matters. JJ had a Kobesque line 13 – 31 , 35 pts, 9 assts, and clutch play to win the game. Bring on the Heat.

by xavip on Nov 16, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions

Winz

awesome win JJ was clutch tonight next game against Miami lets get us another win. Thea team will hopefully by then be shooting better then tonight

by Erihury on Nov 17, 2009 12:20 AM EST reply actions

Maaan.....

This stuff’s not good for anybodys blood pressure lol. Way to steal a win from the clutches of fate. We couldn’t have played a more horrid game. J-Meezy was ice-cold and it seemed like eveyone who tred to hold on to the basketball had dipped thier hands in crisco before tipoff. We just couldn’t hold on to the darn thing, and suprisingly, the Blazers STILL ended up with more tunovers than us…..just wow..

by Ariose on Nov 17, 2009 12:21 AM EST reply actions

The Bench....for the most part

was absolutely useless. It’s like they just thought the Blazers were pushovers. Our bench is ot talented enough to coume out with a lack of defensive intensity like that. Shoot, it’s bad enough when our starters do it and get us into trouble heh…All the leak outs were particulary frustrating to take. Especially when we’re supposed to be the running team.

How about J-Quick? We really needed that basket from Teague and he almost got 6min of PT….much deserved I say. But he needs to stop missing so many layups and just go up spike the darn thing lol.

We get an Injured Miaimi off a back to back on Wednesday?…Looks like we will be at the top of those power rankings for at least another week. No way we loose to Dwayne and the band-wades

by Ariose on Nov 17, 2009 12:28 AM EST reply actions

That’s a badass picture

by coachkcastellon on Nov 17, 2009 12:52 AM EST reply actions

From a Blazers fan - congrats Hawks!

Got us twice already in this young season and I’m glad we don’t have to play again. You have a lot to look forward to this season and several more to come.

I had a sinking feeling in that third quarter when neither team was doing squat but the Blazers seemed to be giving away opportunities to extend a lead. For sure – the Hawks were doing the same thing themselves at the time. But for whatever reason my gut was telling me the game was slipping away. I believe that was when we lost it.

I hope you have a great season and keep those ratb*stird Celts or Cavs from the #1 seed.

put a body on 'em

by RayBourque on Nov 17, 2009 1:09 AM EST reply actions

Thanks, and good luck to y'all too

You have a lot to look forward to when you get Outlaw back and if you keep giving Rudy touches.

by coachkcastellon on Nov 17, 2009 1:15 AM EST up reply actions

Congrats,I have been looking for a team in the East

that I could enjoy watching and get behind,I think I have found them.

by southern oregon on Nov 17, 2009 1:28 AM EST reply actions

one thing i didn't like about this game

as i saw the photo gallery. damn!why is it that there are many empty seats? come on guys. show some support for our team

by bibbY10 on Nov 17, 2009 2:56 AM EST reply actions

In a moment of joy, this is what I came up with

“We ain’t come to play
Get outta the way
Or where you stand
Is right where you’ll lay
I wanna see your arms moving from side to side
You wanna win, then be on my side”

We Ain’t Come To Play by Rehab

Corey Zickefoose: I think they should still be able to play football, regardless. Tennessee is my place. You know, it's my football team.

Reporter: Even after they put a gun in your face, you say let them play football?

Corey Zickefoose: Yeah. It's Tennessee. That's the way it is sometimes.

Welcome to the SEC!

by Jesse28 on Nov 17, 2009 7:46 AM EST reply actions

Can I just show Zaza some love??!!!

Zaza is the epitome of a work horse. Scrapping for rebounds, diving on the the floor for loose balls, not to mention that sequence where he tipped the ball out three times on the offensive end. He does the little things that makes my heart skip a beat…Go Zaza!! What can I even say about Smoove?? MVP! MVP! MVP!! Somebody must have told him to grab rebounds like his life depended on it. Go Hawks!!!!

by dstdeelite on Nov 17, 2009 8:25 AM EST reply actions

I thought the play that was most typical of the first 38 minutes of the game....

…was the one where Bibby took the routine pass at the top of the key and proceeded to long snap it through his legs out of bounds. It only would have been funny if Michael Koehen had been sitting in the front row and caught the ball.

Teague’s missed layup would have been a close 2nd.

by JJDawg on Nov 17, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions

Mine was Josh Smith lobbing an alley oop to Bibby...

apparently they forgot who was supposed to be on which end of that play.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 17, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

One quick question

Does John Hollinger literally hate the Hawks? Every compliments he gives the Hawks are following by a but. He ripped JC. Jeez the guy has been absolutely superb for 10 games. He has one bad game and Hollinger is like: “Jamal Crawford had an awful game-shocker!” He ripped the crowd at Philips. It looked crazy packed by the end of the game. I get the whole crowd participation thing, but when I look at a game on TV, the crowd is not the first thing I notice. I attend a lot of games. But I can totally understand why people don’t. Games aren’t free and if I have to choose between paying a bill or sitting in the 100 section at Philips, I’ll choose paying bills hands down. Another thing is week day game that start at 7 are extremely difficult to make it to on time. If you leave work at 5, go home and change, then turn around and fight the traffic coming back downtown. It is BRUTAL. Most people live OTP or in BFE….not downtown.

by dstdeelite on Nov 17, 2009 9:37 AM EST reply actions

Jacksonville, Florida here

Last I checked, it’s still impossible for me to make the game if I leave work at 4pm. Eventually I hope to move back to the A, then I’ll buy season tickets and be there for every single game.

Corey Zickefoose: I think they should still be able to play football, regardless. Tennessee is my place. You know, it's my football team.

Reporter: Even after they put a gun in your face, you say let them play football?

Corey Zickefoose: Yeah. It's Tennessee. That's the way it is sometimes.

Welcome to the SEC!

by Jesse28 on Nov 17, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions

i'ts gotta be the shoes

the biggest difference from last year is the number of guys who can get a rebound. And Josh’s commitment to getting double rebounds. He is creating extra possesions with his dominance on the boards. He wasn’t doing that last yr, not to the same degree he is now. And he has bought into being a rebounder 1st, then getting his points……and maybe Marvin needs to go back to wearing Reebok’s…..the Nike’s ain’t working

by Cmart34 on Nov 17, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions