Atlanta Hawks 105, Miami Heat 90 or double digits
by hawksdawgs on Nov 18, 2009 11:41 PM EST
18 comments
Well, that happened exactly as I expected. As a Hawks fan, I have said that countless times over the years. It just has never been referencing a win. The Hawks are winning. Against good teams. And we expect it. So basically, you should feel weird right now, wonderfully, excitedly weird.
Style of play
On PTI today, Steve Nash pointed out that the Suns don't run the fast break that often. Instead, they just push the ball up the floor, penetrate in the half court, and open up quick shots. Atlanta is not Phoenix, but when they mix actual fast breaks with quick, open shots off penetration, they are deadly on offense. The team does not need to be a fast break team, but they no longer have to be a team that gets in their set with nine seconds to go on the shot clock. The offensive weapons at every position demand immediate attention and that creates mismatches quickly and open shots efficiently. Of course it also help when Mike Bibby can throw the ball near the basket like it is a medicine ball and allow Josh to dunk.
Al and Josh
The Hawks have something special going on in the front court. They are so improved it is tough to know how much of an impact they could have on the team, but right now, they are the difference in this year and last year. Sure, they might cool off a bit, Atlanta will play some stouter front lines, and opposing coaches will adjust, but watching Josh and Al hover over people, daring them to shoot, and then swallowing up shots that should be called something better than a block, seeing those two run the floor for dunks or follow each others' misses with dunks, own the post, draw fouls, it is hard to talk yourself out of asking, how special are these guys? Tonight? Just 26 boards and 32 points. Ho hum.
Victory Bullets
- I don't know if Joe Johnson is the most important guy on this team, but man is that dude vital to why the Hawks are as good as they are.
- And did I really see Joe with a put back dunk?
- Always nice to watch Dwyane suck.
- Even when teams make runs like the Heat did to open the second half, I don't even freak out. What is going on here?
- Josh Smith wimped out on Dywane Wade's dunk
- On a better Josh note, best possible first three point attempt of the season.
- On an even better note, Josh Smith is awesome.
- Zaza Pachulia and Greg Oden are probably not compared very often, but they both dare the ref to call their obvious traveling violations every time they touch it.
- Joe Johnson dribbled more in the first quarter than Jason Collins has in his entire career.
- Zaza's block of Shavlick Randolph was very close to the highlight of the game.
- Not sure Joe should shoot 11 three pointers every night, but it was nice to see a great mix of jumpers and drives.
Go Hawks!
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It does feel weird.
I am caught between expecting a dominating win and expecting the bubble to burst…can’t decide whether to scratch my clock or wind my butt.
I am so proud of Smoove, though, playing like a man who wants it instead of a talented child. I want to say, See? You are getting 12, 14, 17 rebounds a GAME. Because you can if you try, you are the Smoove!
Please keep it up, Hawks!
by rbubp on Nov 19, 2009 12:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I dont know who did it
But Im glad somebody finally got J Smooth to listen that he needs to not take 3-pointers and instead drive the ball. I have no problem with him taking them with 3 seconds left in the half when we are up by 15. This was a fun game to watch. Took me back to last April!
Oh… and its nice to see that Phillips was sold out. I may need to go ahead and get tickets for Friday and not wait till I get there!
by happyplayer23 on Nov 19, 2009 1:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ya know
It might be the fans that made the difference. I know, it sounds out there, but with someone of Josh’s mentality the last few years (i.e. extremely childish), I’d be willing to bet that constantly hearing the home crowd boo loudly everytime he spotted up for a long jumper might have actually made an impact on him. I’d get tired of my home crowd booing me and you combine that with the constant press about how he shouldn’t be out there shooting jumpers and it makes sense.
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 19, 2009 7:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The one thing I like about this team is how much they remind me of watching the finals in the past Olympics
When USA played Spain, Spain pushed the a focused and determined US filled with the absolute greatest talent in the world to the brink in that game. Spain had Delfino, Juan Carlos Navarro, a 16 year old, and the Gasol brothers, only Pau is a starter on a playoff team. The US clearly had more talent(Chris Paul and Dwade didn’t even start), but the fact that these lesser talented players had so much chemistry from playing together for so long gave them enough of an edge to challenge the US to the end of the 4th quarter.
That’s what I love about this Hawks team. Woody said it himself, he doesn’t really concern himself with the offensive side of the floor, so clearly his genius doesn’t have the Hawks at 2nd in offensive efficiency. And Bibby and Mo Evans are the only Hawks really lighting it up from deep. It’s just aside from JJ occasionally sucking up possesions, everyone on the team(Marvin might be a little behind on this) is making everyone else better and playing unselfish. It’s great to watch.
by dmortone on Nov 19, 2009 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Marv
Marvin actually had a decent game offensively. I will be taking all of the credit for that since it was I that had the piece of mind to switch my desktop background to Marvin Williams before tonight’s game.
But maybe I should switch it back to J-Smooth. The very game I take him off my background is the very game he takes his first Three.
In any case I kinda hope Marvin continues to struggle. If he does bad enough, he may grow a sweet bust-slumping mustache! If he did that it would finally give me an excuse to wear my fake mustache to a Hawks game. Plus I’m sure Phillips arena would do some bad ass free mustache night.
by axhfan on Nov 19, 2009 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
more on marv's game later today, and I agree much improved last night
and any analysis that involves mustaches is good analysis in my book.
by hawksdawgs on Nov 19, 2009 6:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hope Josh is still getting your all-star votes
I couldn’t make myself vote for him last year, but I’m hitting the ballots as much as I can this year. I’m a bit sad that there’s only 60 days left to vote.
by Bronn on Nov 19, 2009 12:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hate the Wade
And the reason you hate D-Wade is… because he is not a thug like your dearly loved no-class J Smooth?? Wait and see…wait and see.
by SoupNazi on Nov 19, 2009 5:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
you would not want to see what the orginal title of this post was
and Josh Smith is many things, but thug is not not of them. although i don’t think wade is a thug either. the exact opposite actually. he is a diva.
by hawksdawgs on Nov 19, 2009 6:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't hate Josh for his athleticism
Just be grateful he missed that dunk in game 5. That would have ended the Heat franchise.
by coachkcastellon on Nov 19, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
Josh Smith is classless, yet you have Wade on your team. You know, the guy that intentionally turns around and walks over someone so that he can posture like he is some kind of hard ass. The guy that after hitting a lucky half court shot runs the length of the court so he can jump on a table and pound his chest like he just won a WWE match. The guy that flops at the slightest hint of contact then incessently acts like his life is on the line if there is any actual contact.
You’re right, Josh Smith is the classless one…
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 19, 2009 7:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Josh Smith a thug???
You have to be kidding. He is more like Michael Beasley—a misguided kid. They’re both sofy as pillows.
by rbubp on Nov 19, 2009 8:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
why have we now twice attempted a Smoove to Bibby alley oop?
is this some sort of joke? some sort of funny haha joke?
But this is night, a talented and deep team, as solid as any top to bottom, capable of doing big things. Best Hawks team since Mookie, Smitty, and Mutumbo. And they’ve been together a while. The starting 5 is not only solid, but now has what, over 150 games together? Zaza has been a part of that rotation the entire time. Mo Evans is in his second year here, while Joe Smith, Jamal Crawford, and Jeff Teague have all seemed to slide into their roles seamlessly. McSmiles and Old Man Collins hold down the end of that bench like a pair of fine paper weights. It’s a great team, and we get to enjoy it.
by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 19, 2009 8:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
this is "nice" not night...
its great really, but damn I don’t know what goes through my head sometimes when I reread what I type.
by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 19, 2009 8:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
its almost surreal....
just hope our season ends where we think it’s going to…..you know…the finals
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
by maxxj3 on Nov 19, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Only thing
was minutes again. Teague only playing 2 and a half minutes (although he was sitting at the table for another 2) when we have a 17 point lead going into halftime and win by 15 is a little too ridiculous. Also, Mo Evans should be playing more
by acie4mvp on Nov 19, 2009 5:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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