| Atlanta Hawks 08-09 Playoff Game #6 | ||
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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!