Atlanta Hawks/Milwaukee Bucks Game Review: Look in the Mirror
by The Human Highlight Blog on Apr 24, 2010 9:56 PM EDT
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Mike Woodson bristled after Game One when someone dared talk about the elephant in the room, that being the Hawks ability to be mentally unavailable for parts of games when the Hawks allowed the Bucks to come back in that game.
Wonder how he'll feel tonight when someone mentions that the Hawks, especially in the playoffs, are capable of such uninspired non-efforts such as the 107-89 stinkfest in Milwaukee Saturday night.
The Hawks have averaged a margin of defeat of over (20) points per road playoff loss over the last three seasons. That's no aberration, folks---that's a full blown habit.
Mike Bibby was quoted by ESPN as saying that the reason they are contenders this season is that "they've learned what it takes," but all Game Three showed is how much more they have to learn.
More after the jump (if you dare):
Worth Noting: Nothing.
Also: Smith pulled in (9) offensive rebounds, but could do nothing with it. Smoove was 2-12 with one assist and (3) turnovers making the Mbah a Moute on Josh defensive switch resoundingly successful. The frustration was in his head and it showed all over the court.
We saw it and we can't believe we saw it (again):
What we saw was what the Hawks can be when they are at their worst. No defensive energy, no easy baskets going the other way, attacking from the outside-in, poor player and ball movement--resulting in only (16) assists and a sub-40 percent shooting night. Combine that with the usual MIL energy in their house--and making early shots, and the Hawks lost heart and the game early.
Kudos to Mike Tirico for calling it out early---the Hawks looked as if they were playing at half speed. Marvin Williams, Al Horford, and Smith looked leg locked early on, and the front court tandem of Smith/Horford, who had combined for a nearly (60) percent shooting percentage, was only 7-19 in Game Three. Toss in Williams' 1-7 contribution and there was nowhere to go for the Hawks.
Part of the struggles were self-inflicted as the Hawks, after finding things so point-rich in the paint, decided to play high post with the bigs early on, and didn't get much other than tough, contested shots as a result. Once the Hawks got down, they never got up--and another blowout playoff loss was tossed on the pile.
When things looked bad after a Game Three debacle in Miami last year, the team came back and won Game Four. They have the physical talent to beat any club, so all that remains is whether they can overcome their long-time nemesis---themselves.
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tough loss
must win game 4 and close out at home in game 5.
can we play some basketball
in game five? I just want the team to care and go out with their best effort each and every night. I am getting sick of this no energy crap. I’ll send some Gatorades to Phillips if I have to. Please, Hawks, play hard, and play to win..
The future is the present. Jason Heyward has arrived.
Yeah....
So this only makes me want to get rid of Woodson anymore…I just don’t see him as a coach that can motivate a team. I believe the Hawks have become what they are by themselves and w/out that REAL coaching direction, you get nights like these…again and again…If we can dominate the post while in Milwaukee we’ll win… STICK WITH WHAT WORKS. (sigh)
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
-Michael Jordan, #23
by King_of_Hearts on Apr 24, 2010 10:56 PM EDT reply actions
Youre belief
Is only that not based on facts. The facts are they have improved in the win column every year under Woodson.
by Truthspitter on Apr 24, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Whatever Whatever
But it seams the Hawks bashing is in full force, ever blog you go to the Bucks now have big nuts. What happened to all the big bad talk in GM’s 1 and 2. The Bucks are jokes I maintain
before anyone else responds
http://internetseriousbiz.com/2007/03/19/the-art-of-trolling/
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
Keep on Maintainin'
Deep breaths, everybody. Deeeep breaths.
To quote the great philosopher Dennis Green: “The ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!!” Meaning, the hawks have a bad, bad habit of playing down to the level of their competition/taking teams too lightly once they know they can beat them. Factor in that teams who go up 2-0 in a 7 game series, and then go on the road, have something like an 8-17 record (really). And you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Don’t worry, this will still be over in 5. Like EVERYONE predicted before we won the first 2 games.
Oh, and also
We should be fresh for game 4…considering we stopped trying after about the 1st quarter. Just sayin. Rook looked pretty good, though. So that’s a plus.
ok, didn't see the game tonight...
but i followed briefly from my phone during the first quarter. And for some reason in the back of my mind I knew the hawks were going to have trouble being down 17 in the first quarter….lol. It doesn’t surprise me the hawks lost by this much….what surprises me, like everyone else here, is that it happens so frequently. We can blame this on the players and we can blame it on the coach. Truth is….it really doesn’t matter. The ceiling with this team is whatever is holding this team back from being blown out on the road, whether its leadership or determination.
No offence to the bucks, but I expected the bulls and thunder to make a serious upset run, not the bucks blowing out the hawks from beginning to end. Can somebody tell me if the hawks made any kind of run?
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
runs
They made a couple runs and could have knocked it into single digits a few times, including right after halftime. Instead they took poor shots or missed layups or threw the ball away
Typical Hawks on the road game winning plays!!
but u can come in
and try to call someone a troll even after you didn’t see the game, just shows how most people post a lot of worthless comments just to be posting around here. Go Hawks 4-1 that’s a lock
by Truthspitter on Apr 25, 2010 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions
The media sucks ass....I'm sure we'll wake up to reports that the Bucks can probably pull of an upset in the first round
Look at the differences in two story titles from SBNation:
For Lakers, Today Was Not A Good Day; Thunder Roll, 110-89
The Deer Shall Have Been Feared: Milwaukee Rolls Over Atlanta, 107-89
Why don’t we cut the BS and give Cleveland the title already. I’m sick of hearing about it all.
Bet it hit the rim!
Did you not get the memo?
The Hawks are about the most (elite) disrespected team around. Also if you could add that cover sheet to those TPS reports, that’d be great…but seriously, media coverage of the hawks has been awful all season.
I expected the Bucks to win this game
not by as much as they did, but I expected it, so I’m not terribly bothered by this loss. Now, if they lose Game 4, I’ll probably be a little irritated.
@cocoqt81
I did hope for a sweep
but deep down I knew they weren’t mentally tough enough to kick a team while they’re down. Series still shouldn’t go more than 5 games.
@cocoqt81
the problem now, mentally...
is this huge obstacle called a road win. We’ll need it next round. For whatever reason, they have constantly turned to crap away from home, and these guys aren’t exactly known for their mental fortitude.
by Mr. Sanchez on Apr 25, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Tough Night in deer land
We lost a game in the playoffs, away from the bird cage, no shame in that. But the way we lost it, to a team that must be admitted has less talent, opens Hawks for many questions.
The morning after, lets be rational. One loss in deer land, does not equate disaster. Does not equate wanting to get rid of coach. Does not equate wanting team makeup to change.
I never thought 4-0 was possible. The record of Hawks did not prove that away from Phillips all year. A split would be ideal. I had bought tix to game 5, being positively sure they be back. The first game away is always the toughest. Second game, on a Mon night is the one we have to try and steal. Let’s hope Hawks have learnt their lesson. Playoff intensity and crowds, can make an inferior team play with enough energy to defeat a better team.
Let’s remember one thing, Hawks have rebounded from tough losses all year with good fighting spirit. Here is hoping we keep that trend going. Go Hawks
If this loss was a one time thing, then you’d be right. But when the Hawks have been crushed on the road in the playoffs for 3 straight years with excuses about “energy” and “not coming out ready to play”, then you have to point the finger at the head coach.
Certainly that is one way of looking at it
The coach has been a constant and would have to take some blame for lack of being ready on the road. But then let’s remember this same coach is the constant who has improved Hawks every year.
Another constant is our team composition. That is bench, and lack of good defensive big men, perhaps a defensive seven footer. Those have also been constants which equte to toughness. My favorite player, Lion, last night was missing in action for majority of when game was on the line.
Regardless, my point is, Hawks will overcome this bump in the road. Let’s keep cool
I agree ATLpaul
I wished for a sweep but I gave this series 5 games max. Road has always been tough for the hawks. it makes me wonder about not only the coach but the mentality of the players. jj was trying all night and couldn’t do it alone which is expected. we have players that are suppost to step up but never did. but game 4 should be a lock for the hawks. We should win. Go Hawks!
IF YOU CANT ACCEPT LOSING, YOU CANT WIN.
by Hawksgirl on Apr 26, 2010 10:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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