Playoff Preview and Game Thread #4: Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat
by hawksdawgs on Apr 27, 2009 4:55 PM EDT
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Print| Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Playoff Game #4 | ||
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| 1-2 | 2-1 |
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| American Airlines Arena |
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| April 27th, 2009, 8:00 PM | ||
| TNT, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Mike Bibby | PG | Mario Chalmers |
| Joe Johnson | SG | Dwyane Wade |
| Marvin Williams | SF | James Jones |
| Josh Smith | PF | Udonis Haslem |
| Al Horford | C | Jermaine O'Neil |
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Hawks Injury Report: Marvin Williams is a game time decisions.
Heat Injury Report: Jamario Moon and Luther Head are out.
Blogging With the Enemy: Penisula is Mightier
Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: I have decided it is stupid to pick anyone but Dwyane Wade. In some way or another, it will always be
Predicted hero of the Hawks existence: Bronn has convinced me that math says this should be Joe Johnson
Game Preview:
If Marvin Williams was healthy and had some sort of aggressive agent placed/put in his body (like tequila), I have no doubt he would score 36 points tonight. Mark it down. And since I do not think either of these criteria will happen, lets just assume I would be right. With Jamario Moon out though, the Hawks are missing out on a huge advantage at the small forward position if Mo Evans has to start. Regardless, Joe needs to take advantage of one less defensive minded player focusing in on him.
Keys to the game:
- Whatever the defensive strategy is, whether it is "the wall" or forced jumpers or double teaming Wade, the Hawks need to play with all out effort. Yes, you may leave a three point shooter open due to a certain strategy, but you better close on that shooter like your life depends on it.
- Play team offense. Ball movement. Inside out. Outside in. And then trust you will hit the look the defense gives you. Just run plays where the Heat can't predetermine that look to be a Josh Smith three.
- Win.
One game and the Hawks have home court again. One game. I will be in the comments either shouting joyfully that this is true or lamenting horribly that this is true. If that is not a party, I don't know what is. Come one, come all.
Go Hawks!
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and this just in from the tweet of speedy claxton
“have faith hawks fans we gonna get this one tonight”
i feel better already.
Marvin
Marvin will probably not even play. That’s the easy way to not step up and be aggressive. The guy is giving double figure points in less than 20 minutes the 2 games he played. Even if his wrist is sore, he can still tape it up heavily, rebound and play defense. Not a team guy IMO.
Considering the Hawks’ playoff road track record, and their immaturity (not inexperience, really, just immaturity) this is a must-win. If there’s any chance of Miami letting up and the Hawks stealing one, it’s following two consecutive blowout wins-and especially following the horrific previous game. This is as important a game 4 as any other in the playoffs.
Follow-up on your key to the game #2: Would love to see Horford involved in the offense from the very beginning-and not just on offensive rebounds. I certainly would not mind an ugly Zaza double-double where he pads his own stats by rebounding his misses, as long as it’s frustrating to the Heat interior players.
zaza is one of the only players in the league
who can demoralize a team while simultaneously frustrating his own fans.
it is truly incredible.
If he finishes with a score
it helps the Hawks, on balance, while making him look bad, yet seriously causing problems for the other team. I wonder if his thought process goes like “if I keep getting my own boards, eventually someone is gonna foul me.” Because that’s what often happens, and it’s useful.
Way to come out with energy
Not only does JJ stroll up the floor with the ball, but Josh Smith lingers along behind him.
At least they forced the airball on the first possession.
Well, I don't MIND Horford contributing on offensive rebounds
Especially when it looks like that. I don’t exactly like the ugly miss that set it up.
If I've taken anything from this series thus far,
it’s a new found hatred of Jermaine O’Neal’s free throw stroke
HATE HATE that
Josh Smith…shooting the three…deliberately. Wasn’t even a case where he caught it and was like “Ah, hell, here it goes.” He shifted back behind the line, then threw up the shot.
was that the longest no cut shot
of a coach without the coach saying something in the history of the nba
Here's a trend I dont' mind
Make Miami score all their points at the line. Why not? Let’s go ahead and let Solo and Mario use up all their fouls.
Was that a double by Bibby, or did Atlanta just switch without even a screen?
I’m glad Wade didn’t drive it there…
i am liking this double of wade in the corner
it seems obvious, but i like it that the obvious is being done.
Ashamed
The refs should be ashamed of themselves
these are some serous touch fouls
happening on only one side of the court.
although the hawks are not helping themselves when they turn it over with 20 seconds left on the shotclock.
Foul trouble
Al Horford, Mo Evans, and Mario West have all already fouled out of the first half.
I kid, of course. But Woodson is down to five guys that he’s going to use with confidence. Please, don’t let us see any of Solomon Jones.
Ashamed
Joe should be ashamed of himself.
this is the longest quarter ever
my only non bias reason (without seeing replays) as to why the refs are calling a bad game.
Here's that illustration of the difference between pace and tempo
It’s fast paced-lots of possessions because of the fouls. But all the fouling has slowed the game down.
He doesn't even have to be all-star Joe for us to win
Just a reversion to his statistical mean would probably be perfect.
It's actually encouraging
that the home crowd was that enthusiastic cheering for a wide open dunk that closed the deficit to 7.
I need something to get my spirits back into this series.
That quarter was a good start. Mario’s layup and Smith dribbling to the hole has been great. Gee, Josh…nobody on you…you drive and get the Heat to foul you. Genius!
FT's and Joe
FT’s, missed by us, giving to them by phantom calls, and Joe not producing will kill us in the end.
I like that they played off the fact that Woodson
is apparently repeating the exact words of Larry Drew.
With the cut on Josh Smith's eye
And Zaza’s Shiner, we really look like the walking wounded.
We just need Marvin Williams to take the floor with a hard cast on his wrist, and maybe we’ll generate some sympathy calls.
Thngs I DO like about Woody
I like the way he battles for calls. I like the way he conducts those little lame interviews. I like his glares and his odd looks when Josh does something goofy.
Josh Smith was feeling that
I’m frightened to death, right now. Nothing can kill a Hawks run like Josh Smith feeling his jump shot.
Put in perspective
Atlanta is having some great defensive possessions. Zaza is doing a job against Jermaine O’Neal and on the boards. Josh Smith is involved. The double team is crashing in on Wade.
The Heat are only hitting 73% of their free throws, also, a serious drop off from game 3.
Can't fault it when we've been extending the lead.
Shockingly, Jermaine O’neal is less of a problem with Horford on the bench.
no this is one of those "i hate you woodson, i hate you"
i love you woodson i love you.
like a josh made three.
if you make an aggresive play on the defender slightly out of control
the offensive player has decided his best option is to fall over.
thanks refs.
you have created bad basketball.
There's an element of luck
but they’ve decided that simply letting him take jumpshots is not advisable without some manner of contest.
yeah
that’s a nice job. wade is forcing it.
what i think they are doing is not biting on the pump fake
and wade is not hitting bank shot three/mvp caliber shots so far.
noooooooo
keep zaza on the floor for the rest of the 1st half
Wow
It’s tough for me to remember when the Hawks did such a good job taking advantage of a defensive mismatch and creating a turnover.
They've already got him with 10 boards, 7 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal.
Great stat line for the first half.
Offensive FOUL
FOU FOU FOU FOULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ,,, they sure get pumped up about their fouls in Miami.
The award for most oustanding performance, ensemble
Goes to the Miami Heat, for game 4, second quarter.
i really have a hard time taking the nba very seriously
after watching that
that was insane
by get swoll yunel on Apr 27, 2009 9:22 PM EDT reply actions
I hope they come out at half with an us against the world mentality,
that’s the only way they can overcome this ridiculousness
I'm a Phx fan and this is insane
it’s so easy for the Heat to get fouls and not for the Hawks?
I hate these refs.
one reason if we lose this game
is because of the fcking refs!
I can't imagine a scenario
Where the Hawks don’t come out and commit a couple of silly fouls, and perhaps even a technical, in the first minute of the third quarter.
Hawks let the refs get in their heads too much
They played wild man’s ball those last few minutes instead of settling the game down.
Bork bork bork!
by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 27, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions
i would contend having solo out there
and no josh smith or joe johnson does not help you calm down though.
Notes from the boxscore
Solo is -15 in 3:26. Not entirely his fault, as he was subbed in right when the officials decided to take over…but he was culpable for a stupid foul and being out position defensively.
tnt does not even mention the refs as they run through those last few minutes of hightlights
considering how much they can tear down a player it is official. They are on david stern’s payroll and not the consumer.
You want them to say “wow, those calls sucked, they have it in for the Heat?”
Bork bork bork!
by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 27, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Not even Mad at the Hawks
I new by the way the game started the refs were going to take this if they could.
He said...
They can’t let the refs take them out of the game. He said it was unacceptable and that he will be one to stand up and grab the Hawks by the neck. He said the way we closed out the half was inexcuseable.
What he said
I remember a bench of words like unacceptable, and inexcusable. I seldom pay attention to those in-game interviews, but he looked and sounded pretty pissed off.
We need a pissed off Josh Smith if we are going to win this game.
And Al Horford needs to remember how to shoot.
With all the fouling and stoppages
he sat on the bench for a LONG time. Probably couldn’t get loose again by halftime.
But he really needs to put something together in order for the Hawks to hold on to this one.
Also
feel like my prediction came to fruition somewhat. Horford sat for too long, and was extremely ineffective over the last 6 minutes and 9 seconds of the half.
Well, at least ISO Joe worked as planned, there
Wait 10 seconds, isolate on the left wing, hit a fade-away.
Yes, that’s actually the plan.
they gotta set up for bibby's 3
he’s perfect from beyond the arc. but just 2-2
Despite how obviously disgusted I am with the offense
the defense has been great so far this quarter.
Why they keep referencing this road playoff losing streak is beyond me
it includes 3 from last year, then goes back 11 years with a completely different roster, coach, ownership. The fanbase has even had some serious turnover since then.
Fixed
This game is fixed. The Hawks are being robbed.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on Apr 27, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions
no hawk has stepped up
someone needs to say, “you know what I am taking over this game.”
hawks still have the lead. refs suck. shots are not falling. just keep composure and take over.
who is it going to be?
Is it possible that the officials are not so much giving the game to the Heat
as they are punishing Josh Smith for arguing every call?
What is wrong with Joe Johnson
Joe is killing us out there. NO ENERGY FROM HIM !!!
flip played the
of course this will be a foul slow move on that fast break.
he forgot wade was guarding him.
Real-speed
I thought it was a goaltend on Wade. Replay shows it was a clean block.
First time I felt bad for thinking the officials messed up.
C'mon hot flip
Zaza has singlehandedly kept our energy in this game
Refs are gonna pull out ALL the stops this quarter
nothing has worked for them thus far…
I think that was Haslem basically pushing Mario West
Just pushing him toward the baseline. Not even pretending to do anything else.
If anyone has this on DVR
rewind to that replay of Wade shooting over Zaza. I thought it was stupid to switch there, but Mario was trying to double, and he was seriously being shoved in the opposite direction by a 6’9 player. Competely basketball horse-bullocks.
joe needs to keep looking for that open man
when he see that the heat were doubling him
The refs haven't used the Technical foul as efficiently as they could,
I think they’ve been saving it for the 4th … Josh is screwed.
Great timeout by Eric Spoelstra.
Might not have been necessary if he hadn’t kept his only chance of winning on the bench to start the 4th quarter … down by 8, at home, in the biggest game of the series.
nice play
they should be like that. be patient, find the open man, if you couldn’t find the open man, at least take a good shot.
You guys want to become furious?
Go over to Hawksquawk and read the game thread. There’s people actually defending the refs.
+1
Baseball is a game where a curve is an optical illusion, a screwball can be a pitch or a person, stealing is legal and you can spit anywhere you like except in the umpire's eye or on the ball.
James Patrick Murray
It's crazy
It was nearly a miracle for him to even get that shot up, weaving through defenders. He lost anyone who had any chance of blocking his attempt, was nearly by himself, and yet thought someone was there to foul him?
that timeout
was luckily ok.
but that josh smith jumper had me patting myself on the back and crying at the same time.
Seriously, he knows better than that
Wade is actually costing him team the game by shooting jumpshots over a man he could easily drive past.
Is he afraid of taking a hard foul?
my inner commentary on that play
flip your an idiot
flip your an idiot.
josh your an idiot
flip do it.
your both awesome. i want to hug.
Flip Murray is one of the most patient guys I've seen.
I know that sounds weird, but he’s been great.
josh smith!
josh smith’s way off jumpers = john smith’s hustle play
well that’s a relief
I feel more like it's been a 65-64 game
Both teams showing surprisingly bad stretches of offensive execution.
Is Steve Smith in the building?
He lost 8 of those. Of course, he went on to win like a dozen playoff games with Portland.
Curse of Mutombo
His career ends, Hawks finally win a road playoff game.
Certainly it’s no coincidence.
I can actually sleep through the night tonight
five sleepless nights has left me ornery
yeah!
I new they had some heart. Atleast Zaza and Flip do.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on Apr 27, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions
By the way...
The “Nature Boy” was selling that back in rare form tonight. I nominate D Wade for a Slammy.
Had company so I couldn't contribute to this AMAZING
Thread!!!!
300+ Posts!!!
WHERE DA FANS AT!?!?! Good win boys…
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Apr 27, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions
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