Hawks/Celtics Playoffs Rivalry Game 8 - Hawks superb but "the Truth" prevails; Hawks 102 Celtics 103

Truth Hurts

But just as the close and competitive as that game was, thats how close the Hawks are to the Celtics level

Box Score

The Hawks are earning some respect big time after this one, the whole world knows the odds were all against the Hawks, Josh out, second night of back-to-back, the significance of the rivalry that has become with us game the Hawks all the skill, energy, and adrenaline they needed to win. But, time was not on our side, its just not quite our time yet, it would have been TOO big a shock to the world, a little unbelievable that the Hawks would beat the Celtics in that circumstance, and then, if the Hawks did win, it wouldn't have been "Hawks WIN!" it would have been, "Celtics Lose" and people would be more reluctant to praise the Hawks, because now, they're just getting lucky, everyone knows they're not better than the Defending Champion Celtics, not yet. But with the game unfolding the way it did, it makes people give the Hawks credit like "Wow, that was a great game, hey, the Hawks are pretty good now"

The Atlanta Hawks VS Boston Celtics is the most exciting rivalry in the Eastern Conference right now, Although Kevin Garnett doesn't agree, (there are a number of reasons for that), the general public, sports fans vehemently agree, look at this infomation from the great Sekou Smith:

“A year ago a game between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks was hardly worth a second look. On Wednesday night, the telecast of the postseason rematch was the highest rated regular season game in Comcast SportsNet history.

The final half hour, which included Paul Pierce’s game-winning heroics, was the top rated program on Boston television, beating out network hits such as House and Law & Order. The game drew an estimated 245,000 households in New England and 163,000 in the Boston market alone.”

Yahoo! Sports behind the boxscore game review

AJC's Sekou Smith first loss recap

the Al Horford summer interview; Team USA, PlayoffsHawks, and the Joshes

i just want to say that Sekou Smith gets the best interviews from Hawks players and coaches than any other writer in Atlanta. I want to give mad props to the AJC and their beat writers from Sekou Smith, Mark Bradley, and the whole Atlanta Sports Writers team. With that being said i bring you the AJC exclusive interview of Al Horford with Sekou Smith, with a little color commentary by yours truely at playoffshawks:


By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/17/08

With an excused absence from the Hawks' rookie/free agent minicamp last week, Al Horford could have headed for the beach in his native Dominican Republic for a little rest and relaxation after his rookie season.

But there he was Monday, on the Hawks' practice court with everyone else.

Horford showed up ready to work, eager to get some practice work in before leaving for Las Vegas and his stint on the USA Basketball Select team. Horford will be part of a group of young NBA stars charged with preparing the Men's Senior National team for the Beijing Olympics.

He sat down with Hawks beat writer Sekou Smith after practice to talk about his whirlwind rookie season, his busy summer and the future of the Hawks.

Q. Didn't you have a doctor's note for this thing, what are you doing here?

A. Honestly, I needed to get back on the court and get some work in before going to [Las Vegas]. I've been working. But this was a chance to get out here with our coaches and guys like Acie [Law IV], Speedy [Claxton], Mario [West], Jeremy [Richardson] and these other guys and that was something I knew would help me get ready for dealing with those guys on the Olympic team. I definitely wanted to be out here getting some good quality time in with these guys.

PlayoffsHawks: Its good to see our bench is really grinding, improving, motivated to really make some noise in the Eastern Conference this season, i expect road winning streaks and a great home record.

Q. The level of competition with the Olympic team will certainly be higher than it will be at the Rocky Mountain Revue, is that what appeals most to you about spending time in Vegas over Salt Lake City?

A. I think I'll benefit more as a player from that. When you get a chance to go against the best guys, you can't go wrong. This is my first taste of USA Basketball and that's huge, too. But that elite group, the chance for me to go out there and get that experience, that'll help me out when I'm back in a Hawks uniform.

playoffshawks: this will help Horford's game tremendously, its a whole 'nother level of discipline and commitment to play for the USA, it forces a player to improve their specialty skills and strengthen their weaknesses, while working on their basketball mind by making them adapt to the games of their familair NBA friends.

Q. Will you spend some of that time in Vegas picking the brains of Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh on how to come back for your second NBA season with some new tricks for teams to deal with?

A. Of course. That'll be a good chance for me to talk to some of those top guys, and not just the bigs, but also all of those guys, LeBron [James], Kobe [Bryant] and Dwyane Wade and the coaches, too. I want to know the things they did and didn't do coming off their rookie seasons to get better. I'll try to get as much good advice as I can.

playoffshawks: this is another reason why Al Horford was the best rookie in the NBA in the 07-08 season, he came in a winner and he was and still is eager to learn and grow as a player induvidually and he already has shown his ability to make his teammates better. His rookie season stats of 10.2 ppg 9.7 rpg only tell half the story of his impact on the Hawks.

Q. For so long you've been known as a Florida Gator. Has that changed now with the Hawks making the playoffs and the exposure you guys received from that series against Boston?

A. It's funny, that's all anyone [in Gainesville] wanted to talk about when I was down there. I've been home and other places and it's all anyone wants to talk about is the playoffs. It used to be all Florida all the time. But lately it's been about the Hawks. It's weird, it's like some people have actually forgotten that I went to Florida, and it's only been a year [laughing]. I realize that the playoffs was the first chance a lot of people had to see us since we didn't have any nationally televised games before that, so we're still sort of basking in that glow. But everywhere I go people want to talk to me about the Hawks and what we did in the playoffs.

playoffshawks: the young Atlanta Hawks pushed the NBA Champion Boston Celtics as well as any team in the playoffs did, and they believe more than anyone else that they are not that far from the Celtics level. Our 'Big Three' of Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson is the foundation of the 'new-jersey'Atlanta Hawks, and when all three or even one is having a good game, we can beat any team in the league.

Q. Are you worried at all that you guys are will be leaning on that momentum going into this upcoming season rather than pushing harder to improve upon what you did in the playoffs?

A. That was a good run but it's a new season now. We can take some of the momentum from that but we also have to realize that we didn't accomplish anything other than having a good little run. The sizzle of what we did will fade if we don't play well to start this season.

playoffshawks: Hawks Haterz continue to harp on the 07-08 record of 37-45 and how badly we seem to play on the road, demonstrated in playoff games 1,2,5, and 7. So, the Hawks are coming in this season commited to playing the right way TOGETHER to improve that record and maybe even get home-court advantage in these 09 playoffs. The Hawks are coming in with a newfound swagger, confidence we never had before from game 1 all the way through the end of the season, i feel and the hawks feel they are going to continue to shock the world all the way to the Finals (at some point).

Q. Was it tough watching the rest of the playoffs after realizing how close you guys were to pulling off that upset of the Celtics?

A. Yeah it was tough. I learned a lot from watching the playoffs and it showed just how well we played. I looked at other teams and how they played the Celtics. When they blew the Lakers out in that deciding game I didn't feel so bad losing to them after all. I thought they were the best team, but you have to prove it on the floor. They proved it.

playoffshawks: That game 6 Lakers loss proved was a defining game for the Hawks just as much as for the Lakers, becaue even the Hawks played better in their decisive 34-point game 7 loss than the Lakers historic 39-point drubbing at TD Banknorth Boston Celtics arena. It just shows that anybody can get blown out by a great team if your team is not clicking on all cylinders, it shows a team has to overcome the hostile situation of an away crowd or use that to their motivation to play better, instead of just ignoring it, because the crowd's energy is undoubtedly is a factor, it just all depends in how a player uses it.

Q. So much has been made about you playing out of position at center last season, but where are you most comfortable and where do you see yourself being move effective now that you have a year under your belt?

A. I could play a little more [power forward] if they need me to, but I feel comfortable playing at [center] and [power forward]. That's actually one of the reasons that I feel getting Josh Smith back here is so crucial. Because I feel like we have some great mismatches when the two of us are out there together. I think it's what makes both of us more effective, being out there together. We never got totally overwhelmed by anybody. And I can't imagine being out there and him not having my back on every play. What we really need is for [Zaza] to come in and play big minutes so when we do decide to go with different lineups, me playing some at power forward and even Josh playing some at small forward, we have guys that are up to the task.

playoffshawks: See, this guy knows his team. He knows that he and Josh Smith are unstoppable out there together but can stop anybody, the only thing i must question is the 'big minutes' for ZaZa he is campeigning for...i would rather see Kwame Brown in a Hawks uniform playing center than ZaZa 'Big Minutes', as a matter of fact, i take that back, PLEASE no Kwame Brown, but the Hawks already tried ZaZa starting with big minutes and they went 26-56 that season (05-06) so please, let's just sign Randolph Morris and call it a day.

Q. So much is being made of the free agent status of both Josh Smith and Josh Childress, do you look at the landscape and start peeking ahead to what that's going to be like in a couple of years when you're in the same position?

A. It concerns me because I want to know what I'm working with and where we're going. I don't want to be in a situation where I have to drag something out into training camp and the season starts and you don't know what's going on with your teammate and stuff like that. I'd rather that everything be done, they take care of business now and we're good to go without any unnecessary distractions.

playoffshawks: Al Horford should be an all-star with Atlanta, Horford should be there after Mike Bibby, after Joe Johnson, and when Chris Paul leaves New Orleans for Atlanta (HEY, we can all dream, can't we?) He should get a huge contract from Atlanta to fortify our future for however much his agent asks for (or whatever we can afford). We can only hope the Atlanta Spirit Group can get their business together to be able to do that in the 3 year future, because Al Horford is the future of the successful Atlanta Hawks, when he's a bonafide all-star force in the paint and avging 24.4 pts 12.3 rbs 3.0 asts 2.1 blks on 62% FGs 78% FTs and the Hawks are a 50+ win team, he will be an MVP candidate.

Post-Playoffs, Newly Extended Coach Mike Woodson in-depth interview, Hawks future

This is a great feature of the Mind of Mike Woodson, and why he is in-fact the best coach for these Hawks in this position. Even if the team hasn't played up to potential and we just hadn't RUN the way the Hawks need to run to be an elite team in the east, WOODSON KNOWS DEFENSE, and apparently DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS (Congrats, Boston). If we can get an offensive great assistant coach to replace David Fizdale we will be a good team in the east. I will comment on a few things throughout this interview:

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By SEKOU SMITH

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/20/08http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/stories/2008/06/20/woodson_0620.html

The first-round playoff series between the Hawks and the Celtics was a turning point for both teams.

The Hawks shook off the funk of a nine-year playoff drought by pushing the series to seven games, winning three dramatic home games. They energized their fan base and served notice that their doormat years might be over.

The Celtics pushed on to win the NBA title, No. 17 for a franchise neck-deep in championship banners. They completed a one-year turnaround from the worst team in the Eastern Conference to the best team in basketball.

It's a link that was on Hawks coach Mike Woodson's mind this week when he spoke with AJC Hawks beat writer Sekou Smith about the team's past, present and future:

Q. In a league notorious for copycat tactics, what will the rest of the league take away from what Boston did this past season and particularly the playoffs?

A. Their team is unique in that, and you can really go back to the Detroit team we had [in 2004], the foundation was defense and rebounding. In addition, you just didn't know where it was coming from on a given night. We just had different weapons on that Detroit team. And when they all were clicking we were incredibly hard to beat. Even when they struggled to score points they didn't get blown out and that's a product of a foundation built on defense and rebounding. What was also a given is that they had three guys that could get you in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. You go in trying to figure out how you were going to stop those three guys. The Lakers caught all three of them playing well. We caught Paul and Garnett playing well and Ray struggled. In the end, I think people will look at the Celtics and realize that you can have three key guys and a nice supporting cast and build your foundation on defense and rebounding and you have a shot at winning it all.

PlayoffsHawks: We have our big three - Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Joe Johnson, in that order. Josh Smith as a SF/PF can score at will around the basket, he should be our leading scorer, shot-blocker, Al Horford at PF/C can bang with any bigs in the league, and he has a sick jumpshot, he's always been a beast defensively and with rebounds, but he should be our 3rd leading scorer. All-Star Joe Johnson has shown he is the great consistent player, now he needs to show that Steve Nash influence in how to make his teammates better, and still average 18-22 ppg, maybe 6 apg.

Q. What then becomes priority No. 1 for the Hawks in pursuit of that goal?

A. The first priority has to be [Hawks general manager Rick Sund] getting Josh Smith and Josh Childress back in Hawks uniforms. I don't even think you can think about anything else until you resolve that matter. From there we have to figure out our ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th guys and who they are. Teams will pattern themselves after Boston in that regard. I think back to last summer this time when [Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers] and I talked about how his team needed to make a big move and not draft another younger player to take that next step. And they did exactly what he was talking about, and probably a whole lot more. I don't think it's to our benefit to add another young guy. We need some veterans to add along with our eight core guys. We're still young enough in certain spots, with guys three and four years into the system, that our core group will continue to get better next year and beyond. What we have to do is build around them, give them an opportunity to shine by putting veteran guys around them that know what it takes to win in our league.

PlayoffsHawks: Woodson is right on, trade Marvin Williams.

Q. More specifically as a coaching staff, what will you tweak and revamp in order to make sure you're growing along with your talent next season?

A. Having Mike Bibby go through veteran camp will be huge for our team. Bibby still doesn't know my system like I want him to know it. When we acquired him at the trade deadline I turned the ball over to him and he ran it the best he could, and he did a [heck] of a job with it. But going to veteran camp and learning what we're about is huge for him. I think as a coaching staff to go back to our offensive system and tweak some things is extremely important. And defensively we have to go back to how we played in those home games during the Boston series. And I know the playoffs is different, but being defensive minded from the first day of camp all the way through is what carried them. We've tried to build that in our players and they've gotten better. I'd like to think after a playoff round they know how they have to intensify their defensive approach to be successful. Although we made shots in the playoffs, it was our defense and rebounding that really held us together to win those playoff games.

PlayoffsHawks: Bibby will be much better for the Hawks next season, 12-15 ppg 5-7 apg, grooming Acie Law to soon takeover the starting position.

Q. Guys who had sporadic roles or production during the regular season seemed to come to life in the playoff for you. Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams both played crucial roles in the playoffs, as did rookie point guard Acie Law IV, albeit in limited action. How do you build on what they did in the postseason going forward?

A. All those guys, along with everybody, your game has to go to another level. Everybody across the board has to take their game to the next level. This is a very pivotal summer for Acie Law as far as getting him back going, and that starts really in summer league. Zaza coming back with a better mental frame of mind to accept his role and play is just as crucial. And Marvin building on his last two years and maybe taking that next big leap in terms of getting where Joe [Johnson] and Josh Smith and Bibby are in terms of being a consistent scorer has to take place. Marvin has to step into that role where he can be that third guy or even that second guy some nights that we rely on night in and night out.

PlayoffsHawks: the Hawks really do have a decent coach, if Doc Rivers then why not...

Oh, but we really do gotta trade Marvin Williams though, he is not a 2nd or 3rd man MAN! He is a complementary role player at best, and if he doesn't get a sick jumpshot he'll be useless, because he will never have a slashing game, we already got the best, Josh Smith. I'm glad Woodson reminded the world of ZaZa's role as a back-up big, he is a good role player, just not a good starter like the season the Hawks went 13-69. Acie Law is a starter in this league, but only if he learns to distribute, he scores well though.

Q. The one player everybody seems to be wondering about is Speedy Claxton. Where does he fit with this team right now and beyond?

A. I don't really know where his future is. We're still handling him from a rehab standpoint and we'll get a chance to sit down with him in the next couple of weeks and map out his position in terms of where he's going with our basketball team. I know he still wants to play. Our job is to make sure he's getting proper treatment and make sure he's ready to go. But only time will tell.

PlayoffsHawks: Speedy Claxton is cap space, that's all he is, in the off-season of 2009.

Q. You've lost David Fizdale from your staff to Miami. Is there going to be continuity to allow some of this growth and development you're talking about or will a new set of faces cause some upheaval there?

A. We'll be fine. We'll continue to teach and make sure guys know and understand what needs to be done. We'll interview some guys in Fiz's absence since he's gone to Miami. I have enough veteran coaches around me. We'll add another coach in Fizdale's position. I feel comfortable, though, with the fine coaches we have coming back.

PlayoffsHawks: get a great offensive minded assistant coach, anybody.

Q. With so much pressure on everyone last season to get to the playoffs in the fourth year, is there any sense of relief now with a new two-year contract that you can go about the business of developing some new chemistry, between players and between players and coaches, for the future?

A. Everybody is excited being back. We've gone through the tough times. When you start from the bottom trying to build a team its just not easy. I never experienced anything like what we went through. But in tough times you grow as a team. Last year going into veteran camp guys came back early and we built chemistry and carried that over into preseason and the start of the regular season. We felt that early on and then stumbled in January and February. I think the taste of the playoffs makes guys want to get back to camp sooner. I think the awful times are behind us. Expectations are always high when you're trying to win basketball games. That's just the reality of our sport. But if you don't want the expectations to be high you just shouldn't be a part of our sport. Blame it on whatever you want in the past, it's just a hard road to travel to get to this point from where we started. I've watched NBA teams go from zero to where we are today and I can't help but think we're going to continue to grow. I promise you I'm going to continue to demand and push our guys to play at a high level every night.

Alright.

The Hawks 07-08 season was a big step forward, the 7-game Boston Celtics series was a giant leap in the ranks of the best teams in the east, and now there's is no team, especially not the NBA Champion Celtics that we are afraid of or intimidated by. We will watch the Bulls, Knicks, and Heat as they try to ascend in the east next season, but the Hawks will not slip. if the Hawks sign a big 7-footer to start at center so we can move Horford to PF (DESANGA DIOP!!), i guarantee the Hawks will win 50 games next season and if by some crazy appointment, we meet the Boston Celtics again in the playoffs, i GUARANTEE we'll beat them boys. Now, thats a tough bet, yes? and it's not just because i'm a die-hard fan, shoot, i thought the Lakers were gonna beat the Celtics in the Finals, we all saw the Celtics step their game up through every round of these playoffs in 2008, but that Celtics swagger can be broken, and an new-old rivalry has already been reborn. The arrogance, entitlement of the Celtics (Hillary) against the young, swift, resilient Atlanta Hawks (Obama), we all know what happened in that battle don't we? LOL and maybe that ain't fair, but i don't care, and maybe it all happens opposite to my prediction, they meet again in #1 vs. #8 and the World Champion Celtics SWEEP the young Hawks like they should have done last year. But, our team is on the ascention, the Celtics have plateaued, yes, they'll be the best team in the east for at least 3-4 years, but the Hawks are flying for that number one spot, and seeing the Celtics celebrate that championship motivated and showed them that they are not that far away.

Peep this feature about the youngest Hawks, the 3 rookies by Jon Cooper of Hawks.com

The 2007-2008 Atlanta Hawks season recap, best told by Jon Cooper of Hawks.com

Here's a Post-Finals Q & A with ESPN.com Mark Stein who believes the Hawks were just practice for the Celtics

the 2008 Boston Celtics are NBA Champions! Paul Pierce NBA Finals MVP

Yes, it is finished. the Boston Celtics have been the best team in the NBA all season, and they had to go through the best coach and the best player in the game today to prove that. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games, this clinching game 6 victory score being 131-92, a 39 point defeat, the biggest defeat in NBA Finals history.

The Celtics become only the 4th team in NBA History to go from out the playoffs, to champions.

Peep the ESPN Recap HERE, it's an amazing story of the journey of "The Big Three"

Paul Pierce, if there's any reason i'm glad the Celtics won the Championship, its for Paul Pierce and all he went through to get to this point. This is one of the toughest players in the NBA, there aren't many other players that would get into a scuffle at the club, get stabbed ELEVEN times, drive himself to the hospital to get surgery got a collapsed lung. He overcame the stabbing and was starting at SG for the Celtics against the rival Pistons, and he scored 28 points and willed his team to victory (Antoine Walker scored 33 pTS 13 RBS). Fast forward to 2008 and the "Big Three" era and Paul Pierce proved himself to be the biggest of the "Big Three" leading his team in scoring in the NBA Finals, almost ending the finals in LA, when he scored 38 points the most of any player in these NBA Finals. In the series clincher, he scored 17 points and had 10 assists, making sure his teammates got theirs. It turned into the biggest margin of victory in NBA Finals History, and the Celtics win the Championship, with the man who has been there for 10 seasons, the rightful NBA Finals MVP, Paul Anthony Pierce.

You know what's the coolest thing about this season, the most overlooked part of the Celtics journey to the championship is the 7 game series played against the Atlanta Hawks. The HAWKSproved that they are not that far from the Celtics level in game play and additude. The Hawks have a "Big Three" as well, and they are ways away in age and experience, but not too far at all in talent and passion for the game.

Josh Smith - for Josh Smith to be his potential he must be more shot efficient, he must know his game and play to his strengths, while improving his weaknesses. Don't believe the pundits that say this guy cannot shoot, even if that's not his strength, he can hit open shots from the perimeter, and sometimes the 3-ball. However, in order for Josh Smith to be his potential, and the Hawks to be the best they can be, Smith should be the leading scorer on the team with at least 24 PPG 8 RPG 4 APG and 3 BPG. He should be a beast in the paint and be a 82% FT shooter like he was in the playoffs. He can do it, and he will.

Joe Johnson - Joe is the definition of consistent, he defines reliable, and he is in the prime of his career. He is sort of like Ray Allen or Kobe Bryant by the way he can either slash to the basket or spot up and hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. Now, he scored 20 PPG 4 RBG and 4 APG, if he averages 20 PPG and at least 6 APG, and do his part to make Josh Smith an All-Star, he will have solidified his status as a top 10 SG in this league, and a great franchise player to lead this team to a championship someday.

Al Horford - rookie of the year outside of the award, one of the best young bigs in the league, averaged a double-double as a rookie (10.4 PTS 10.0 RBS) and stepped his game up in the playoffs (14.5 PPG 11.5 RPG). When the Hawks get a shot-blocking center that doesn't demand the ball (Desanga DIOP!) Al Horford can be a 20-10 PF with a mean jumpshot, he has one of the best all-around games for a big we've seen in a rookie, he is a future all-star in this leauge.

So, congratulations to the Boston Celtics, the NBA is proud of you, but if you ever meet the Atlanta Hawks again in the playoffs, its a wrap.

the World ain't ready to be Shocked, and our Hawks aren't ready to shock them on the road - Game 7

Game 7

On the Basketball world's biggest stage, against the NBA's best team, with history and numbers all favoring the home team, the young Hawks had a chance to completely destroy and dissemble the order of the power of a team. The young, inexperienced #8 seed Atlanta Hawks(37-45) whom the national media was not familar with, versus the in-prime, wise #1 seed Boston Celtics(66-16) with the best record in the NBA, and the Atlanta Hawks wanted to "shock the world"

In Hawks world, the youth and inexperience liability becomes as asset as raw skill and determination to prove you are on the level of your opponent makes plays for you. Wild shots fall, lay-ups and dunks find you, the teamwork ball-movement is crisp, and the shots are falling through the net with natural ease. But unfortunately, that's about the way the Celtics played at home this sunday.

In Celtics world, the age and experience speaks for itself, natural basketball instincts are acute and aware increasingly on a situation-by-situation basis. Passes are whipped around as each player is constantly looking to assist, and receive an assist. The order of power is established, and doesn't need to be reiterated, everybody knows their role and plays it to the best of his ability, if not better.

Everybody knows in the playoffs, every possession counts, and every play is magnified. Strengths are shown, weaknesses are exploited, and the journey through the playoffs whether it goes games 4 or game 7, is to adjust and PLAY UP to the circumstances which your team is in, game-by-game, and so in a GAME SEVEN (7), your team should play to the MAXIMUM ability, yes? the most basketball-intelligent shot selection, the most suffocating defense, the designated leader should lead his team in play and in confidence, and EVERYBODY should play well, yes?

Well, the Boston Celtics did just that, they played great like the great team with great players they are and they not only deserved to win, it was their RIGHT to win. But the Atlanta Hawks are really killing themselves right now, showing our deep-rooted bad habits and poor play that has plagued this franchise for the past 4 years. I mean even beyond that, but we have got to remember, 4 years ago the Atlanta Hawks were the worst team in the leauge(13-69) and we have made steady progress since then.

the Atlanta Hawks SHoCK the WOrLD aGaiN at Phillips arena, Hawks actually DOMINATED the Celtics at home, here's how

the Atlanta Hawks are the best young, improving, and soon be history making(with a win in boston on Sunday) team in the NBA. I mean, people have got to really start looking at this team in the eastern conference.

seriously though the atlanta hawks completely outplayed the great big celtics and their "big three" without even using our big three like that! the Hawks won that game by better offense, defense, and situation handling tonight at Phillips Arena. Are we talking about a great home team now?

Game 6 was the most impressive win of the three in these playoffs. and the celtics played even better in this game than in game 4, except ray allen missing all his shots (1/8 3pt), its so cool because we won this game playing hawks basketball, they heard kg say celtics basketball in game 5 well game 6 was a BETTER showing of hawks basketball to them at home.

No Atlanta starter scored in double figures, but our sixth man was our second leading scorer

THIS IS THE ONLY GAME SEVEN (7) OF THE 2007-2008 NBA PLAYOFFS.

big shout out to mike vick (7)

i like to see the espn guys, the so called expert analysts lol they might say, "who would have thunk it?" but i say WE the fans of the youth KNOW BETTA ya dig? this is so coincidence funny, let us count the ways:

• the 07-08 atlanta hawks (37-45) have the lowest winning percentage of any playoff team of all time
• the atlanta hawks are the youngest team by average age (25 years 193 days) in the playoffs and in the NBA
• the atlanta hawks have made the biggest improvement progress from the bottom up in recent years : 04/05 worst in leauge 13-69, 26-56 in 05/06, 30-52 in 06/07, and 37-45 in 07/08.
• the atlanta hawks would make the biggest upset in basketball and really all sports history if they could win in boston on sunday, may 4, 2008.

seriously thought, lets recap and look at how this series has gone:

game 1: Celtics 104 Hawks 81
game 2: Celtics 96 Hawks 77
game 3: Hawks 102 Celtics 93
game 4: Hawks 97 Celtics 92
game 5: Celtics 110 Hawks 85
game 6: Hawks 103 Celtics 100

game SEVEN?

INTERESTING GAME 6 STATISTICS:

pts 103 pts 100
fg made/att 38/82 33/69
fg pct 46.3% 47.8%
3pt made/att 4/13 1/7
fts made/att 20/25 36/47
ft pct 80% 76.6%
fast break pts 11 9
assists 25 25
biggest lead 12 7

• hawks balanced scoring makes difference in the clutch, first home game of series with no starter with 20
• this is the first time a #8 seed took #1 in the eastern conference since atlanta hawks vs boston celtics in 1988

and this could have been a MUCH better game for Atlanta! Josh Smith was in foul trouble, had 11 pts 6 rebs 3 blks, still good, but this was a team game tonight

PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME:

Mike Bibby:
17 pts 7 assists 6 rebounds (even though he was a dismal) 6/17 fgs 0/4 3pts and 5/8 fts - mike came through in the clutch, a little, but enough to win


MARVIN WILLIAMS!


18 pts 4 rebs 2 asts 6/9 fgs 6/6 fts - yes, yes, this was a good game by the kid, this is good for him for now, this is probably about the best he can do, he came through in replacement of Smith, so we appreciate him.






and of course, JOE JOHNSON -


15 pts 4 reb, 5 asts 4/13 fgs 1/2 3pts 6/7 fts - that one three, the one and only three of the game to make it 100-95...yes.











Yes, the Hawks are going to win game 7 in Boston soo...

BRING ON LEBRON!!

2009

1

Home Court Advantage, Celtics win by 25

Alright so the Celtics won at home, no problem with that right? It would have been great and fun to REALLY upset the series and have us win in their arena, but the NBA sent Dick Bavetta to officiate the game to make sure the Celtics take it. No matter, the home team was supposed to win, and they did, but it wasn't a blowout at all like the first two games, the Hawks just never really got a run, they didn't lead in the game at all after the first quarter.

It's no question that the Celtics are the better team, because they are older, wiser, whatever. We got youth on our side, and you can ALWAYS counter the know-how, wisdom, and experience of a veteran with the passion for learning, will to win, and skill and 'athleticism' of the youth. Why exactly do the Hawks keep being classified as a good 'athletic' team. ARE WE NOT ALL ATHLETES?! They say, oh, the Hawks are good when they run the ball and make plays above the rim, but they dont do well in a half-court offensive set. Yes, it is the Hawks brand of basketball to run, run, run like the suns (the old suns, the joe johnson era), or we can play like the spurs with al horford as our big fundamental.

aiight but lets discuss the game last night, the good things and the bad:

JOSH SMITH - 18 pts 5 rebs 1 blk 4/13 fgs 10/10 fts

Josh was okay in this game, it was frustrating to see him throw so many jump shots instead of driving to the hole like he did in game 3 and 4. But he did get to the foul line often and he made all his free throws.

JOE JOHNSON - 21 pts 3 rebs 2 asts 6/11 fgs 2/4 3pt 7/7 fts

They double-teamed Joe every time he touched the ball, from the opening tip, all throughout the game, that SHOULD have resulted in at least 6 assists. The Hawks KNEW he would be doubled in this game and did not have a backup plan, oh yeah, apparently Woodson asked Marvin WILLIAMS to step up.....Marvin Williams.....Yeah. *garbage*

AL HORFORD - 14 pts 10 rebs 5 asts 7/11 fgs 0/2 fts

the Leagues REAL Rookie of the Year was pretty good in his 5th game of the NBA playoffs. He recorded his 3rd double-double of this series, and the only game he didn't have a double-double was the game 4 win when he had 4 pts 13 rebs, a playoff career-high. Not bad. My only problem with Al Horford is when he stepped to the free throw line and...*sigh*

MIKE BIBBY - 6pts 1 asts 2/5 3pts

I don't understand why this man, this veteran cannot put together a good game in this building. We know he is hated by the Celtics fans, but doesn't that motivate a man to do well? Bibby is not playing like the floor co-leader he could be. forget Bibby, the Atlanta Hawks BIG THREE is Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Al Horford.

the Atlanta Hawks have been a good team from 06-07, but in 07-08 they have become a very good team. Now, if we can get a 7 footer and a great (instead of good, er, lucky) coach, we will be a playoff team in the east for years to come.

Oh, but yes, this series is definetly going seven games, i, myself will be at Phillips Arena for game 6 and its going DOWN!

HAWKS WIN AGAIN! Series tied 2-2, History in the Making?

player of the game: JOE JOHNSON - 35 pts 6 ast 14/24 fGs 2/6 3 pts



JOSH SMITH - 28 pts 6 rebs 7 BLOCKS 8/16 FGs 12/13 FTs

This is Huge. Bigger than 2007 Dallas Mavericks (67-15) getting beat by Golden State Warriors (42-40) because this team is the 'least' of all 'leastern conference' teams. FOOLS! The Hawks aren't just a group of young guys with potential, these are induvidually talented men and they play well as a team on the court. We have our ALL-STAR duo JOE JOHNSON and JOSH SMITH, and although he didn't make the all-star team this year, he SURELY will as he leads the league in blocks for many years to come.

Can we say nobody, i say, NOBODY expected this situation to occur? The Hawks had been thrashed in Boston by 23 and 19 points, respectively, then came to Phillips Arena and won by 9 and 5 points, even MORE respectively. DO PEOPLE SEE AND REALIZE HOW THEY WON GAME 4? The game 3 we won was a statement, a glory road to take off the 'roadkill' label, the 'lowly' hawks perception, and now game 4 will take us off the disrespected highway, the 'underrated' label, and now people are forced to take another look at this team, the passion, skill, and opportunity these young guys are in.

An interesting observation: Now who got the better of the suns/hawks trade?

boris diaw - 05-06 most improved player award (in the absense of Amare Stoudemire, the same year nash got his second MVP award when Kobe should have got his first)

joe johnson - 2-time all-star, avg. 22.0 ppg 5 ast shoot 43% Fgs and 40% 3pts while leading his team to the biggest playoff upset of all time.

the two best records in the NBA this year, the Boston Celtics 66-16 and the Detriot Pistons 59-23 are both tied with the worst records in the playoffs owned by the Philly Sixers 40-42 and the Atlanta Hawks (the worst winning pct in playoffs of all time) 37-45

Boston Celtics 66-16 vs Atlanta Hawks 37-45 - -- -- 2-2 tied
Detroit Pistons 59-23 vs Philly Sixers 40-42 ----- 2-2 tied

ZAZA PACHULIA! ZAZA PACHULIA! ZAZA PACHULIA! ZAZA PACHULIA!

fNow, I will give this man some respect. Understand that we, the fans, have HATED this player since he came to our team, for many and no reasons. It wasn't his fault his 3rd year from the country of Georgia he was forced to start for the Hawks and was blamed for our 13-69 record that year. But that player has risen from the ashes, he went through the storm and he experienced his glory moment in the NBA.



We in da house! GO HAWKS! ATL STAND UP!

HAWKS WIN AGAIN! the could be the biggest upset in NBA History...series 2-2

player of the game: JOE JOHNSON -

4/26 ATLANTA HAWKS (37-45) BEAT the Boston Celtics (66-16) in GAME 3 of ROUND 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs!!

Player of the Game : Josh SMITH 27 pts 9 reb 6 ast 1 blk

runner-up: Al HORFORD 17 pts 14 rbs 6 ast

Joe Johnson 23 pts 7 rbs 6 ast

ATLANTA (AP) -- Led by high-flying Josh Smith, the Atlanta Hawks finally showed they can beat the Boston Celtics.

Good timing.Smith scored 27 points grabbed 9 rebounds with 6 assists -- and give him a perfect 10 in his own personal dunking contest -- to lead the Hawks to a 102-93 victory Saturday night that breathed life into their long-shot playoff hopes, cutting Boston's lead in the opening-round series to 2-1.

Atlanta earned its first playoff win since May 16, 1999, a Game 5 clincher over the Detroit Pistons. The Hawks were swept by New York in the next round, then spent nine long years trying to get back to the postseason.

After getting blown out twice in Boston, Smith and the Hawks seemed to take out all their frustrations on a 66-win Celtics team that finished 29 games ahead of eighth-seeded Atlanta during the regular season. When the buzzer sounded, streamers fell from the ceiling of Philips Arena as if the home team had just won a championship.

The Hawks, who went 37-45 during the regular season, are still huge underdogs. But for one night at least, Smith had the rim rockin' and the sellout crowd of 19,725 on its feet.Smith, one of the NBA's most athletic players, showed it off with five dunks -- none better than the last one. After a Boston turnover, Joe Johnson took off down the right side of the court and passed off to Smith breaking down the other wing. He took off a good 10 feet from the basket and slammed it through over Ray Allen.With the crowd still buzzing over that one, Smith pulled up behind the arc and hit a 3-pointer that gave the Hawks a 94-79 lead with just under 7 minutes left. He backpedaled all the way down the court, then slapped hands with the playoff-starved Atlanta fans on the baseline.Johnson added 23 points and Mike Bibby -- who riled up the Boston faithful with his comments about "fair-weather" fans -- bounced back from two dismal games by doling out eight assists.

Showing much better ball movement and a willingness to run with the Celtics, the Hawks improved from 10 assists in Game 2 to 28 on Saturday.Smith, Johnson and rookie Al Horford all had six assists.Kevin Garnett led Boston with 32 points, but the NBA's youngest playoff team had him kneeling over, looking totally exhausted, by the end of the game.

The Celtics had manhandled Atlanta all year, beating the Hawks three times during the regular season -- none of the games was closer than 10 points -- then routing them twice in Boston by an average margin of 21 points to start this series.With everyone thinking sweep, the Hawks made sure the series will at least get back to Boston for a fifth game. They'll try to even it up in Game 4 Monday night at Philips Arena.Horford, a rookie who knows a thing or two about winning from his two straight national championships at Florida, tried to fire up his teammates by showing them a video of Muhammad Ali's stunning win over George Foreman in 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle."This upset was hardly of that magnitude, but it did give the Hawks a glimmer of hope in a series that already looked to be over.

Horford even showed a bit of contempt for the big, bad Celtics after hitting a clinching jumper with 22 seconds remaining. He got right in Paul Pierce's face, prompting the Boston star to walk toward the Atlanta bench, jawing and flashing hand gestures before he was yanked back.Horford danced away and kept right on talking.

source - http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280426001