Playoff Preview and Game Thread #2: Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks
by hawksdawgs on Apr 22, 2009 2:47 PM EDT
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Print| Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Playoff Game #2 | ||
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| 0-1 | 1-0 |
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| Phillips Arena |
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| April 22nd, 2009, 8:00 PM | ||
| TNT, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Mario Chalmer | PG | Mike Bibby |
| Dwyane Wade | SG | Joe Johnson |
| James Jones | SF | Marvin Williams |
| Udonis Haslem | PF | Josh Smith |
| Jermaine O'Neil | C | Al Horford |
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Hawks Injury Report: Acie's back is still injured. Still mixed reports on whether he is available to play.
Heat Injury Report: Luther Head is out.
Blogging With the Enemy: Penisula is Mightier
Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: Dwyane Wade
Predicted hero of the Hawks existence: Mike Bibby
Game Preview:
What's that thing called when you talk about moving your legs and it makes total sense and the more you yap about putting one foot in front of the other it is almost like you know how to move your legs and then it is time to move said legs and you actually start walking?
Well, that is what the Hawks need to do tonight. Both teams said the right thing. Only one team is going to walk the walk.
For as bad as the beat down was on Sunday, the Hawks did not come close to playing perfect basketball. Ok defensively it was pretty perfect, but the more I though about it, the more room I saw for improvement. Joe had a below average night hidden by some highlight plays. Flip and Mo provided very little on the offensive end. Marvin was effective but played limited minutes. Really only Josh played great offense which probably explains why I wanted to marry him following the game.
That is all to say the Hawks can't hope to replicate Sunday's performance. They have to play better. Because here is guarantee, Miami, and specifically Mr. Wade, will.
Keys to the game
- Continue to control the glass. The Hawks dominated this on Sunday, and I can think of exactly zero reasons why I would want Jermaine O'Neil to have more than four rebounds tonight.
- Keep moving the ball. The final possession of the second quarter was a thing of beauty. Any time Flip touches the ball as time is winding down, it is pretty much a guaranteed he shoots, but Sunday he drove and kicked and the ball found it's way to Horford for an easy, open jumper. More of that please.
- Someone new step up. Good work Josh. Feel free to dominate again. This time just have company.
- Don't think for a second Dwyane Wade is anything less than really awesome.
Hit up the comments and tell everyone what type of Josh Smith dunk you want to see tonight.
Point blank, outside of a game seven, this is the most important game of the series. Get excited, get loud, go Hawks!
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Yea Flip was driving me nuts in Game 1. At least he passed that ball but christ he was doing nothing.
I really actually am concerned about the complacency. I actually thought we got fairly complacent especially on offense in the second half on Sunday, and simply our fairly good defense was combined with the fact that the Heat had already given up so that our complacency didn’t really matter. I think if the Heat had anything in the tank they would have made a run at us, I’m expecting they will have something more tonight. We need to work the ball around, get it to Smoove and Horford and get quality shots, didn’t see enough of that in Game 1.
But of course Smoove dunking on every man, woman and child in the building would be alright again, feel free to repeat that one.
i am hoping the team was complacent because they could be
and that the crowd and the realization that home court is gone just as much with a loss here as it would have been with a loss in game 1, will have the team come out focused.
but these hawks still make ya nervous.
oh and as far as dunks
i want a “what is love”
maybe even that old one off that comes off the opening tip.
by hawksdawgs on Apr 22, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm feeling another beat down.
The Heat suck, period. Their blogs are complaining about wanting to see more Jamario Moon and Jamal Magloire … that’s desperate.
Wade tried taking over to start the game Sunday, it worked for a quarter, but the second qt shows what happens when he starts missing a few shots.
I think he’s going to have to get his teammates involved early, and that could be dangerous. If they’re missing their shots early, and Smoove gets a few dunks, the Heat are going to be completely demoralized.
Oh, and Beasley is going to be sporting cornrows for the game,
I’m a little worried that the Hawks will be distracted by how ridiculous that looks.
re: Beasley
He looks like Mr. Tumnus from “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”
you be the judge
Bloggers and Kenny Smith
I laugh at most bloggers while given them a pass because I feel they just like to type with know apparent knowledge of the topic they type about. On the other hand, Kenny Smith suprised me when he gave the coaching edge to Miami’s coach. Why is this guy starting Jones over Moon? Moon is obviously the more athletic and would cause more problems on the defensive end. Defense supposedly wins in the playoffs. The Hawks cant get complacent they haven’t done anything but get disrespected by everyone outside of the Hawks Nation.
Why waste Mo like that?
What a dumb strategy. What they did in game 1 worked and they’re going away from it. Trap over half court.
we look terribly out of sync...
but to only be 6 down is not bad at all…we’ll turn this around quickly
We decided not to hit FTs tonight.
Great.
We have got to start being more aggressive and taking it to Beasley, O’Neal, and Magliore. They all suck on defense.
We're going back into bad habits
Josh trying to handle, etc.
Are going to see that Mercury commercial every time out?
This is ridiculous...
If we don’t break his leg, this game is over
and we didn't get it.
Series over. This was a huge disappointment for me. No adjustments, no defense. Yikes, I hate being so negative, but this will be a huge loss for us.
GOOOOOOOD!!!
5 on Wade!
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
Joe Needs to Take this game into his hands.
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions
Why isn't Flip dishin!?!?
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions
omg...
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions
*Hate beginning to set in...*
Don’t do it to me Wade…
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions
Full blown hate now
He’s a bitch on every flop, then hits shots like that????
I need Joe, Mike and Smoove to start something
NOOOOOOW!!!! I’m not seeing what we’re doing wrong just yet…
Refs are full of crap
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:33 PM EDT reply actions
I'm not even worried...
There is no possible way the Heat can replicate this shooting bonanza…over 50% on 3s? Haslem hitting clutch shots? O’Neal with serviceable minutes? not a chance…
Hawks in 6, like my initial prediction…
Just left the room for a breather....
Where’s my Xanax?
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions
Flip got hosed.
As we did all game. We’re done. The NBA refs will kill us…unless our FT shooting gets us first.
Actually, I will say this...
This does remind me of 1993 or 1994 when the Heat (Smith Seikaly, Askins, Coles, etc)came in and took game 1 from us. Lets hope we can get one in Miami.
It was a perfect storm.
Wade went off. They couldn’t miss a three. Joe Johnson got taken out of the game by the refs (that 4th foul was horrific). But, we still had a chance to win.
Wade hasnt gone off yet. HE will demolish the hawks he has them figured out now just like he did wit hte mavs in the finals. The problem with the hawks is that they dont have anyone on their roster who is even half as good as Wade. Close the curtains on the hawks Wade is an NBA champion, The hawks are a one and done playoff team.
by CarolCityCartel on Apr 23, 2009 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Signs of the Times
Last Game Thread Post Count: 99+ Posts…
Today’s Game Thread Post Count: 60+….
The fans didn’t seem as into it to me as they were last game.. Too comfortable, maybe? I don’t know…. The refs stole one in Atlanta… Let’s steal it back in Miami.
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 22, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions
I had about 30 more comments in me,
but if I had posted them, I’d probably be banned from SB Nation.
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