Preview and Game Thread #76: Atlanta Hawks @ Philadelphia 76ers
| Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Game #76 | ||
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| 43-30 | 37-35 |
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| Wachovia Center |
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| March 31, 2009, 7:00 PM | ||
| Sports South, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Mike Bibby | PG | Andre Miller |
| Joe Johnson | SG | Willie Green |
| arvin Williams | SF | Andre Iguodala |
| Josh Smith | PF | Thaddeus Young |
| Al Horford | C | Samuel Dalembert |
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Hawks Injury Report: Craig "five million to the cap" Claxton and Marvin Williams are out. Acie Law has officially entered "mysterious" injury land.
Sixers Injury Report: Elton Brand is out. Samuel Dalembert is a game time decision, and only played seven minutes against the Pistons. He may pull a Royal Ivey tonight.
Blogging With the Enemy: Liberty Ballers
Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: Considering I hate the match up problems the Sixers bring to the Hawks, I am tempted to name multiple people, but I will go with a home town pick, Louis Williams.
Game Preview:
While over the top, I tend to agree with Josh Smith's latest quote (but really that caveat sums up much of my one sided relationship with the Inspector):
"I can’t tell you the last time we played a game that didn’t seem like our entire season was on the line at the opening tip. Philadelphia is an interesting team for us because they match up pretty well against us."
Philly is really in no position to challenge the Hawks fourth seed so its importance lies in the fact that neither Josh Smith or me want to see the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs. It is not that Philly is better just that they are scarier. That makes this game not "entire season" important, but certainly, control your own destiny/message sending important.
I just spent 134 words defining the importance level of the 76th game of the season. See I told you the season is not too long.
Keys to the game:
- Slump buster Al. Partly because the Hawks need him to be more efficient, partly because, with Dalembert injured, this is a mismatch in favor of the Hawks.
- Full 48. The Hawks are pretty anti 48 minutes of effort on the road. This should be a playoff like atmosphere so lets hope we see playoff effort.
- Joe Johnson punishes Willie Green.
- This game ends with my only reason to dislike Thad Young remaining that he attended Tech. I kid, I kid...sort of.
Join me in the comments where we can discuss how scary that huge bridge is in Philadelphia, the ways Nique has criticized some Hawks strategy as the season has gone, and of course whether or not Randolph smiled in the documentary "Under the Lights."
Go Hawks.
0 recs |
163 comments
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Comments
how weird is it
that the sixers have two players in the starting line up with the first name Andre?
also i forgot royal ivey was on the sixers when i made that reference.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ah, Sixers Pregame Show
Us here in PA get treated to the Sixers announcers (Mark Zumoff, Bob Salmi, and Dei Lynam – Jim Lynam’s daughter). And I am not being sarcastic, they’re really good. I do love Rathbun and Nique, but I can live with the local guys for this one.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What's G?
It’s a series of god-awful commercials.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the big one
if you are heading from down town to the arena.
its the one that makes you feel like someone is going to run you off of.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whoops
replied to the long thread.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can't really blame Mike Woodson for his playcalling,
When the guy draws up an alley-oop his PG thinks he’s the -ooper.
by Buzzsaw on Mar 31, 2009 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hey bibby can almost dunk.
so dont be too hard on him.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
internet problems
but i am here.
undoubtedly not missed. but here
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was supposed to go to this game
What was I thinking staying at home?
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
josh is so much better at offense
when he is dunking.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
good post up by josh
at the three point line.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
bibby single handedly
can ruin the best defensive scheme.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
not that the hawks necessarly have one
i am just speaking hypothetically.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has there been any updates on Marvin lately?
by Buzzsaw on Mar 31, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
no
we went from progressing nicely to no word.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope we get Hot Flip
And not something that more resembles a Hot Carl.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the guy from liberty ballers says he has one
but you need to email him.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well now i feel bad
about my thad young comment in the preview.
that doesn’t look good.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thaddeus was just helped off
by the “Washed Up Twin Towers.”
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nice work josh
he just beat that dude by 3 steps.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so i guess that was a one game
defensive performance
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not worried at this point
Until Joe keeps throwing up bricks and nobody else picks up the slack.
This would seem to be a game where Acie could really do some damage against Miller in there, but I guess his alien abduction is still going on.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately
that wasn’t surprising to see in the first quarter
by ejamma25 on Mar 31, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
weird
horford actually expending some effort
by ejamma25 on Mar 31, 2009 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ahhh i see
ok that was even too dry for me.
but i like it.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
considering
the hawks do not like working in the post.
we basically have two offensive weapons on the court right now.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
mario needs scorers around him to be effective.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mario needs 5th graders around him to be effective
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but i mean
he would dominate fifth graders.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it helps...
D Rose is playing pretty well for my fantasy team right now. Talk about clutch with the playoff pressure
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
is James Verret serious? wow I never would have guessed that Flip wants to win even though he is from Philly
by ejamma25 on Mar 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone else ever feel like zaza is our best free throw shooter?
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
there needs to be a name
for the a foul committed on mario west that is strictly out of annoyance.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FLIP!
He waited so he could dunk on Lou!
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Like the one I gave your mom
OOOHHHHHHH!!!
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josh Smith could cold clock a towel boy and still whine about people being upset about it
by ejamma25 on Mar 31, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
"The Hawks haven't one a 7-game playoff series since 1970"
The Sixers announcers just said that, I didn’t realize it was that bad.
by Buzzsaw on Mar 31, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
does this mean we can expect more jumpers from Josh?
by ejamma25 on Mar 31, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
at the rate JJ and Bibby are playing why not?
by xavip on Mar 31, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have wet dreams about Josh hitting the three
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We can't get a call
That mixed with the turnovers is killing us. Honestly, down 14 isn’t that bad if we can re-group out of the locker room.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
By which I mean
Re-grouping in the locker room. Or getting calls
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
prediction
if the hawks don’t stop them on offense, the hawks will not win.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Josh just hit another three? My nights are getting more and more embarrassing
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Classic example
Dalemaert just blatantly elbowing Horf in the face.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Basically, that and the JJ offensive foul
Pretty much show that the refs have it in for us right now.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the refs will not lose the game for the hawks
but they may keep it above a ten point loss.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Horfords gone for the rest of the night
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mo Evans needs to realize when he is hot and when he is not
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if mo has not caught the ball under .5 seconds ago
he should not shoot it.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
correction:
The Hawks need to realize when they are hot and when they are not
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This game is like taking NyQuil
Just boring. The crowd sucks and there’s just not much going on.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
does mike woodson know he is allowed to adjust
his offense?
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why is anyone other than josh shooting the ball?
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
^ something i never thought i would say
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or have a foul called on them
or a carry.
or i cry.
it is one of those things.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they turn it over
before anyone but josh can shoot the ball.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
JJ has to get something going.
It’s become unacceptable that we can’t get him an open shot.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
maybe the hawks just assumed they
would only allow 77 points again tonight.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hardest shot joe had all night
and he made it.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
trading 2's
and then missing our free throws and letting them score probably is not going to help
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
josh for another three.
and the hawks can stop n one.
and joe for a three.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
new prediction
if the hawks only shoot threes and make them. they will win.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DAMMIT FLIP!
Or was it a bad pass? We should be down 5.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that was on flip
that was anti hot flip.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sometimes called
chilly flip. not to be confused with chill flip
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josh...
Walk back to the corner and pick your balls up like a man.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, Smith...
I was just sayin’. No need to get mad at me.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
josh smith dunked so powerfully
i didn’t know it went in until the sixers passed the ball in.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought he just threw the ball on Dalembert's head
by Buzzsaw on Mar 31, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right now...
If I came down the floor and had jesus on one side, and Josh Smith on the other, i’d pass it to Josh Smith.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder what comment will be the comment of the day? This one? Maybe? Hell no it better be one of mine
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the man is 11-12
if joe or bibby were breathing, we would be calling for another extension.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he would be a top 10 player in the league
if a top 3 athlete, hits 95 percent of his shots, that is a good combo.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't even wrap my mind around this.
And now Theo Ratliff is coming in. I am now in the looney zone.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is anyone else
slightly disappointed that this no horford strategy actually is sort of working
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
offensive rebounding
is getting ridiculous
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 8:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
zaza has to get that one
how do the refs call a touch foul with 0 sec on the shot clock for the sixers.
and either josh runs over or is tripped and nothing is called?
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there is so much going on
i dont know what to comment.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have been watching the Sixers for years now
And I can honestly say Dei Lynam’s rack has easily doubled in size.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he's back!
and we don’t score. and they get another o-board which they convert into two points. Sounds familiar
by acie4mvp on Mar 31, 2009 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if you are that scared about al getting in foul trouble
dont switch him on to louis williams.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We're getting hosed on fouls
Josh got humped by TWO defenders
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The comeback was nice while it lasted
Did Nique say we blew our load?
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
in no way was that offensive
and i think zaza fouls most times he touches the ball
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it is time for woodson to get kicked out fo the game
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
honestly
that zaza foul was a hug for zaza’s standards.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they just showed the bridge that scares me.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i am very upset
solo is not going to help.
by hawksdawgs on Mar 31, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Solomon Jones' nickname is Ipecac.
Because he makes me want to vomit.
by Duff_Man on Mar 31, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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