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Preview and Game Thread #79: Toronto Raptors @ Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Game #79
  Atlanta-hawks_medium

  
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43-34
30-46
Air Canada Centre
April, 7 2009, 7:00 PM
FS South, Hawks Radio NetworkNBA Audio League Pass
Probable starters:
Mike Bibby PG Jose Calderon
Joe Johnson SG Anthony Parker
Mo Evans
SF Shawn Marion
Josh Smith PF Chris Bosh
Al Horford C Andrea Bargn

Hawks Injury Report: Marvin Williams is out, and Acie Law has a hurt back but probably would not play regardless. Speedy Claxton does not have a passport and cannot make the trip.

Raptors Injury Report: None that I know of which means there are probably four or five.

Blogging With the Enemy: RaptorBlog

Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: Jose, Jose, and then a little more Jose

Game Preview:

Every game is important from here on out. It is building/reclaiming momentum. It is securing home court. It is learning, at least a little, about how to win on the road.

Over at the ESPN preview, the computers have Toronto as a favorite winning 61% of the time. It just goes to show you how bad the Hawks have been on the road.

I have not watched any Toronto games except for when they played the Hawks, but is it weird that I would be more afraid to play them in the playoffs than Miami? Apparently, there is a lynch pen to their badness that I am not picking up on.

The Hawks are in a mini slump. They have five games to go. All five are winnable, and all five are important in their own way. This one is important for the psyche. Lets hope the team comes out strong, and attacks. I am even going to pull out a Niquism here and say the Hawks need to "put them away early so they quit."

Keys to the game:

  1. Horford attacking Bargnani on the inside (no jumpers).
  2. Help defense on Calderon.
  3. Please, please guard the three point line.
  4. Flip play the one and post up Calderon.

See you for parts of the game in parts of the comments where we can talk about how the great mystery of how the weather in Atlanta is the same as in Toronto.

Go Hawks!

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This Game

Makes me nervous. Again.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions  

also huge news

zaza is on twitter.

this is not quite davidson is in the elite 8 excited, but its close. it will deserve its own post later.

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions  

until that dunk

i love a dunk horford. always two hands.

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

This game is one where Al (or as my roommate calls him “The Weatherman”) can have a big night.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

why weatherman?

i have been looking for a reason not to call him “boss”

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

ha

maybe too random. but i like it.

that is like my buddies and i calling zaza “shrimp boat”

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

that raptor should be benched

for settling for a fadaway against bibby.

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:16 PM EDT reply actions  

bosh has every single rebound for the raptors

and joe waited for the defense because he can’t dunk

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions  

so noted so far

you have to guard calderon

joe in the paint bad

josh and horford in the paint good

box out bosh

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions  

I honestly believe

Woody is going to play a lot of Acie come playoff time. He was hitting a stride in his role before getting hurt. I think he is slowly gaining Woody’s approval.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

where is flip?

he is out there and he is not taking shots, not even bad ones

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:40 PM EDT reply actions  

i remember when horford was playing well

i hope he doesnt get four fouls in the second half and ruin all disdain i have in this stategy.

by hawksdawgs on Apr 7, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Josh and Zaza

Anyone notice that little heated exchange? Yikes.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions  

Smith's new love...

He dumoed his love of the 3 and has moved on to leading the break.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions  

Joe is having a rough one.

Seems to be happening a little more often lately.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions  

Not a bad end to the half.

How we’re only down 4 is a total mystery to me.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions  

And the lead!

I love Horford leading the break. Josh should take notes.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Our strategy...

Stop passing to Flip and give it to Joe? What the hell is going on? Flip is ON FIRE right now. So tough to watch.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions  

NBA refs...

Bosh: every call possible. Joe Johnson: None.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions  

Close game between Philly and Charlotte...

I’ve been telling myself it doesn’t matter who we play, but I find myself rooting VERY hard for the Bobcats right now.

by Buzzsaw on Apr 7, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions  

With homecourt

We want Philly. I really believe that.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

But the Heat are soo bad.

If one guy beats us, we shouldn’t be in the second round anyway. The Sixers are at least a team.

by Buzzsaw on Apr 7, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's what you call a TEAM win.

Great contributions all around tonight.

by Duff_Man on Apr 7, 2009 9:24 PM EDT reply actions  

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