Playoff Preview and Game Thread #6: Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat
by hawksdawgs on May 1, 2009 4:26 PM EDT
in Game Threads
124 comments
| Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Playoff Game #6 | ||
|---|---|---|
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@ |
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| 3-2 | 2-3 |
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| American Airlines Arena |
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| May 1st, 2009, 8:00 PM | ||
| ESPN, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Mike Bibby | PG | Mario Chalmers |
| Joe Johnson | SG | Dwyane Wade |
| Mo Evans | SF | James Jones |
| Josh Smith | PF | Udonis Haslem |
| Solomon "oh my lord" Jones | C | Jermaine O'Neal |
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Hawks Injury Report: Marvin Williams and pass the tissues, Al Hoford are out with real injuries.
Heat Injury Report: Jamario Moon and Luther Head are out with real injuries.
Blogging With the Enemy: Peninsula 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 him.
Predicted hero of the Hawks existence: Joe "freaking" Johnson
Game Preview:
The Hawks are in the Heat's head.
Scan the internet. The Heat have gone out of their way to make sure everyone that the Hawks are bad people from Mario West, to the 24 year veteran play play radio announcer, to Josh Smith and his dunk that enraged the Heat so much when it happened they let Joe Johnson dunk 12 seconds later.This is not about winning. This is about what things being right in the world.
When you have to play the respect card regarding Mario West, you know you are not feeling good about a series. That being said it is not like this complaining is some sort of mind game death blow. The Heat are going to come out with intensity. I am assuming they are going to knock Josh Smith on his butt early and possibly often. The Hawks have to be ready, patient, and focused.
But if they survive, if the Hawks hit back, those Hawk voices inside the Heat's head will quickly go from motivational to back breaking.
Still, this reality should be real scary for us Hawks fans. Mostly because the energy, disdain, and retribution the Heat want to respond with are not emotions Josh Smith or Solomon Jones have shown they can handle maturely. Technicals are going to be issued tonight. The question is can the Hawks keep their focus and decide they would rather win it tonight than risk a game seven I think it is there for the taking....it's just not going to be easy.
Keys to the game:
- Flip Murray leads all bench scorers in points and takes no more than four extra shots to do so.
- No Hawk is ejected.
- Solo and Zaza stay out of foul trouble and pull down at least 17 combined rebounds.
- Joe, Josh, or Mike steps up in a hostile environment.
Turn your tv down and radio up and join the place where homerism reigns supreme in the comments.
Go Hawks!
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I have a glimmer of hope
that Solo will play better than expected. Perhaps he has enough “experience” to “not mess anything up”.
considering they have gone to oneal with success early in games
with horford on him.
i am quite nervous this one could get out of hand quickly. but i have no problem being proven wrong.
if you told me solo would start a playoff game
a month ago, i would have punched you in the face and not even felt bad about it.
Against All Odds
Against All Odds. Everyone picking against the Hawks. Everyone talking bout missed Dunks. ESPN billing the game as a battered Dwayne Wade must stay alive like the Hawks aren’t actually down 25pts&15rebs. The media wanting the Hawks to fall apart and get blown out so they can try to blame it on Josh. All that BS and this will be the close game of the series.
no doubt
josh smith will be ridiculed with a bad game.
i think we are either going to see 20 and 10 night or an all time performance by pouty josh.
The Evolution of J-Smoove
The spotight is on him and I’m betting Josh will step up tonight. But I just wish he would attempt the same dunk again in Miami and make it this time.
On the plus side, Horford contributed very little the last 2 games but the Hawks won anyway, so it shouldn’t be impossible to win without him. I’m still failing to see why Solo gets the start ahead of Pachulia, but I guess that’s why I’m a fan and Woody is an NBA coach.
I doubt THAT is the reason Woodson is an NBA coach
But don’t expect a straight answer from Rick Sund about why Woodson is still an NBA coach.
I think that it makes sense to start Solo w/ JJ, Josh and Bibby etc cause the first unit’s offense doesn’t take that much of a hit. And I think the second unit will perform better w/ Flip and Zaza instead of Flip and Solo.
I'd be more tempted
to throw the four guard line-up out there, with Bibby, Flip, Mo, JJ, and Smith.
It still gives you two options to guard Wade, and it reduces the likely help side fouls. On offense, you have a few match-up nightmares as covering Flip and JJ is going to strain the Miami defense, hopefully providing some open looks for Bibby or Mo. And they’d be hard-pressed to find a use for JO on defense against that line-up.
Josh Smith is always your strongest shot deterrent
Regardless of who starts, I’m still expecting/hoping to see Zaza play 35ish minutes.
Feel Better Without Marvin
I do, they say he might play.
Wouldn't hurt if he can help though
On second thought, if he can go it want hurt.
It's just nice to hear Marvin this close to returning.
I’m guessing they’ll only use him if we get in real bad foul trouble or something, which is very possible. But I was worried he wasn’t going to be healthy for a potential Cavs series … hopefully he can get his shot back quickly, wrist injuries are tough.
Gonna stick to Rathbun
it worked for me last game.
Besides, the difference between TNT and ESPN coverage is noticeable.
Back and Forth
Im gonna start with one, if it starts going downhill I will switch
Can't say the timeout was too late
since they had just come off a TV timeout…but still, Heat are hitting jumpshots, and it’s like the Hawks are trying to respond the same way.
It’s not like there aren’t opportunites to get looks closer to the basket, they’re definitely just settling for the jumpers right now.
Not so bad
if we can keep the deficit around 10 til the 2nd qtr., we got JJ to get us back into the game.
Refs setting the tone again
That’s what it was. They do it so obvious every game and the Hawks always get the short end.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on May 1, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, Mario got embarrassed there.
Really thought Wade would use the screen.
Of course, at least Josh was in position to keep him out of the paint.
How?
How did Mario get embarresed? It was a high pick and roll takes 2 players to defend and run a pick and roll?
No
We arent seeing the same things. That’s quite natural though. The man obviously screened made contact with Mario, rather Wade used it or not.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on May 1, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Same ole Same ole
Heat get every single call. The Hawks are gonna be tough as nails when they get there breakthrough because noone will ever give them anything. Home or Away.
Beasley All-Defensive Squad
Or he just foul Josh with no doubt.
Missed opportunities
We are killing ourselves tonight. Josh Smith has been rendered useless on the offensive end.
rick sund should watch this game
bibby’s carrying the load.
Box score at halftime
Solo has only one foul, but 4 rebounds and 6 points on 3-3 shooting. Nothing wrong with his game so far tonight.
It does help that he’s not looking at Jermaine O’Neal, but still.
Gosh, in comparison, Zaza has been a nightmare
but you have to love the 7 rebounds we’ve gotten from Josh. Normally when his offense suffers, his defense and rebounding does as well because he can’t keep his game together. But tonight, he’s playing good defense, with some highlights, and he’s attacking the boards.
Hot Flip
Doesn’t seem to be on the menu tonight. 0-5 shooting with a turnover, and hasn’t been to the line yet.
Whistles definitely seem one-sided, but if Atlanta can get some momentum to start to third, things may even out.
He's Coming
Flip is coming in the second half just like the rain seems to be on its way here. I think its gonna be close one way or the other.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on May 1, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Reasons for optimism (soon to be followed by Reasons for doubt)
1) Josh Smith is playing hard, and it’s unlikely his offensive woes continue to such an extreme.
2) Mike Bibby has been a MAN all series, and now’s he really taking over.
3) Joe Johnson isn’t struggling.
4) Flip the switch Murray could light up at any point.
5) Whistles can be a fickle friend.
Reasons to doubt
1) Hawks trail by 9
2) Dwyane Wade has been the Wade we were scared of-driving and getting to the line.
3) Haslem is the best available Heat big, and he only played 6:38 in the first half.
4) Michael Beasley already has a double-double….there’s no way Josh Smith should be outplayed by Beasley.
5) Miami, and Dwyane Wade, will continue to get the benefit of the whistles at home, regardless.
Ugh
Some of the worst no-calls i have seen all series in this game so far.
Sorry I’m not in the game thread, but I’m watching with my wife and oldest son. He’s five and he wants to play basketball when he gets bigger.
GO HAWKS!
"If Woody were Captain of the Titanic, he'd argue the boat sinking speaks to how effectively they put rich people in life boats and lock the poor folks below."
-jrauch commenting at Hoopinion on Woody's (non)logic in his post-game comments
Tell him to drink his milk and eat his veggies
He’s gonna need the strong bones and balanced nutrition ;)
will do
"If Woody were Captain of the Titanic, he'd argue the boat sinking speaks to how effectively they put rich people in life boats and lock the poor folks below."
-jrauch commenting at Hoopinion on Woody's (non)logic in his post-game comments
Also
Anyone notice Jalen Rose say that Wade’s performance is a true indicator of his health? Hope we seal this thing tonight so I can laugh when he makes up another lame excuse for the horrible Heat.
"If Woody were Captain of the Titanic, he'd argue the boat sinking speaks to how effectively they put rich people in life boats and lock the poor folks below."
-jrauch commenting at Hoopinion on Woody's (non)logic in his post-game comments
Disappointing that two of my 5 optimism points are complete garbage
Heat still benefiting from the whistle, and Josh still struggling mightily on offense.
Unacceptable
I think at the end of Sunday night I will be making my 2nd Edition of Hawks Draft Board 2009 because our season will be over. Im so unsettled even thinking of the Hawks playing a pressure packed game where they will take Joe completely out the game for the whole game.
They've done it. The Hawks have ruined beer.
Somehow, this Dos Equis that was so good in the first half tastes likes crap in the fourth quarter.
My universe is collapsing.
Why does Woodson still have these guys on the court.
What if one of these guys does something stupid and gets suspended?
Bork bork bork!
It's hilarious listening to Van Gundy praise Hawks ownership
for keeping Woodson when the Hawks are down 25. Looking for a job?
definitely avoiding
media coverage of the series until game 7.
can’t stand listening to ‘em rave about wade and dis ATL anymore.
Hawks earned the right to have game 7 in Philips and that’s that.
What the hell was that garbage?
Come in the game off a timeout, intentionally foul, and immediately come out? Just so you can get a standing ovation? REALLY?
Who knows?
Maybe Game 7 will be the most epic, knock-out fight ever. Like the Syracuse/UConn game, 6 OTs, JJ and Wade going off for 60 points each.
But maybe not.
Hawks Fans
LMAO where are all the mouthy Hawks fans at tonight. Hawks got there asses handed to them. I guess D. Wade wasn’t faking tonight LMAO. Oh and 1 more thing…..Josh Smith is TERRIBLE!!!!!! The only thing that weed smoking, immature clown can do is block shots and dunk. He couldn’t hit an open jumper to save is life ROFL.
win or lose
MIA is FLOP CITY. Deal with it. Wade fakes it/falls down like a lil bitch… ALL THE TIME. If he was REALLY hurt, he wouldn’t have that smug grin on his face all the time.
probably
at the same place as the Heat fans. clearly not in the arena.
Ohhh Reaally
I thought you ladies my be all huddled up together crying on each others shoulders.
If you're here to talk about basketball, I'm more than happy to discuss this series.
If you’re here to taunt fans following a victory, you really could find a better way to celebrate.
No Thanks
This is my second time on this site and I haven’t found anyone with enough of a brain to talk rationally with. Nothing on here but a bunch of butt hurt, whinny lil babies.
you're actually describing Heat fans
you go on their site, all you see is “LOL…hahahahahaha….u see daatt?…woawh, d-wade shit be hot! TRUE” (and evidenced by your “LMAO,” which is the equivalent to “I’m a retarded 13 yr old”) — it’s like a bunch of Neanderthals grunting at each other. But that’s fine, gloat for your last win of the season. Hope it stays fresh on your mind until October…
3 Key factors
-Josh Smith felt sympathetic for his actions (Thus terrible game)
-Mike Woodson allowed the game to get out of hand
-Phantom fouls galore
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