Upon Further Review: Hawks still win Game 1!
by Jason Walker on Apr 17, 2011 7:00 AM EDT
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Surely some will come with very reasoned.....ummm...reasons why the Hawks still won't win the series, but that's for Tuesday and Wednesday. Let's keep dwelling in the Game 1 goodness.
Leftover stats/notes that didn't make the Instant Reaction post:
Hawks shooting percentage in their own private winning time (2nd and 3rd quarters): 24-33/5-8/15-19, 68 points in 24 minutes. Ballgame.
I would expect to see more Quentin Richardson in Game 2, as Stan Van Gundy tries to find better defensive combinations than to have to switch Howard out on Horford away from the hoop and Jason Richardson to wear himself out trying to check Joe Johnson. I would expect to see more Q, but he might have cost himself by turning the ball over twice in 7 minutes.
Dwight Howard got Zaza'd in the third quarter. And yes, I did ask Zaza about that and the Hawks' defense overall, which I will have in a separate post as we head towards Game 2.
Joe Johnson made much quicker decisions when the Magic ran a double team at him. The Hawks, comparative to their normal passing out of doubles, were more crisp.
The Hawks had 5 turnovers in the first quarter and 3 the rest of the way. Big reason for building and holding that lead.
I made a note that said: I don't miss Vince Carter in these games. Would have been a killer third option, as he always was against the Hawks.
Jason Collins: 17 minutes, 6 fouls, 1 point, no rebounds, and one sweet step around steal. And yet, you still feel like he did his job.
Larry Drew worked the officials unmercifully on Howard's time in the lane, which worked as the Magic drew a few 3 second violations. Those helped Howard accumulate his total of (8) turnovers.
Side story to watch: With this loss and Howard's obvious solemn post game demeanor, will the Dwight to _______ start to really gather steam this round, and will that affect Orlando in a negative way?
Every Hawk I asked said they felt like Orlando's biggest adjustment in Game 2 is that they will be much, much more aggressive than they were tonight.
I can definitely see that, but the trades they made sent out a couple of the more physical players they had (Pietrus, Gortat) that gave Atlanta problems. I don't necessarily see Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, JJ Redick, and Gilbert Arenas being able to muster serious physicality. Maybe more Brandon Bass and Q. Richardson, but that's all I can come up with.
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After final evaluation, you don't need to go back to room with white walls
You were right all along. Hawks match-up well vs. this team, and we have a chance.
The offense carried the day, and we may not shoot lights out again, but clearly, with the exception of muscleman, Orlando can NOT defend JJ and Jamal. This only means good things for games to come. JJ is really pissed, and I have not seen that unless when JJ is focused, which only happens a few times a year and that means good things. Don’t play JJ on Jameer LD, we need his offense.
But last night’s revelation to me was all about LION. I learnt something as I laid in bed with a smile on my face. He is too valuable on offense to defend the bigs of other teams on D. He needs to score, and he needs to be free of care of having to defend centers. He has become a deadly offensive force if he is allowed to roam. For that we need twin to do this thing. And then Zaza and if we have to Etan.
And let’s hear it for Kirk. There was one Michael Jordan move he made on offense that showed me his versatility. But it is his D that is amazing. He totally stopped Jameer while he was in the game. And if one can argue with LD, it was only that Kirk was sitting out too long in the fourth.
With Marvin and Teague and Damien on the bench, that is a strong bench. And finally, please don’t play Powell on muscleman.
by ATLpaul on Apr 17, 2011 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
While I am admittedly
Still skeptical, the Magic are easily the best match-up for the Hawks of the “top” teams.
That said, we’ve followed up big wins with stinkers before. If we play like we did today, even the Bulls need to be nervous.
Go Hawks!
I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.
by Jman781 on Apr 17, 2011 7:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Well, I meant last night.
If they play like today (i.e. take the night off), we lose…big.
I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.
by Jman781 on Apr 17, 2011 7:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I am still beside myself.
We saw last night, this is the Hawks team we have been waiting for. Aggressive, deadly, smart…it was all there last night. Aside from some head scratching coaching decisions and some ill-advised Jamal long distance calling, the Hawks played perfectly. What a message to send in game 1!
I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl
by Duff_Man on Apr 17, 2011 8:07 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 2 recs
Agreed
But you have to admit that one rainbow of a shot by JC in the 2nd was B-A-U-tiful. Both my wife and I both exclaimed our excitement at the same time watching that thing float and drop like the yarn dart dagger it was.
"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.
Joe and Jamal aren’t going to shoot 50% every game. This series is by no means over. But I certainly like the way it started.
According to many...
(Not on this site) the series was over before it began, for the Magic were going to win easily.
Thus, while the series isn’t over, at least some around the league will acknowledge that the Hawks aren’t the pushovers advertised in the final 6 games of the regular season…
Who knows? Maybe winning 80% of the games against a particular team means something…
Quick question: would the Hawks winning against Orlando but falling against the Bulls, in say 6, be a good playoff showing? Or do the Hawks have to advance to the Eastern Conference Championships to have a successful playoff-run? While a first round win over the Magic would be more satisfying than a win over the Heat or depleted Bucks, the second round is still the second round…
Talk amongst yourselves.
I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.
Anything better than "record breaking losses" is a win in my book.
Let’s face it…last year was embarrassing. If we make it to round 2 and compete, it’s been a great playoffs win or lose.
I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl
by Duff_Man on Apr 17, 2011 8:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Still hoping the players want to win each game
I don’t want Game 2 being a flip of game one because the team is content to take one on the road. We need the killer instinct to keep taking it inside and stick with the 3 point shooters on D.
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