RealGM

If the Hawks weren't feeling the playoff heat before Tuesday's debacle in Indiana, they're feeling it now.

They remain in control of their postseason destiny with a two-game lead over Indiana for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with four games to play.

But that sense of invincibility of the past three weeks took a major blow during a 112-98 loss to the Pacers. Atlanta trailed by as many as 29 points before suffering one of the worst losses of the season.

So instead of cruising into Friday's game in New York with a chance to lock up the playoff spot, the Hawks will have to sweat it out through the weekend before their fate is decided.

"It's a setback because with that [home loss to Philadelphia last Friday] and now this, we've gone from chasing a higher seed to trying to hold on to the eighth spot," Hawks forward Marvin Williams said. "We've been here, in this position, for a while now. In order to stay here, we have to play with a sense of urgency over these last four games, and we can't afford to get complacent."

The Hawks are two games ahead of the Pacers with four to play.

The Pacers, winners of eight of their last 12 games, have a more favorable schedule, with home games against Philadelphia and Washington and road games against Charlotte and New York. Atlanta travels to New York, plays Boston and Orlando at home, then ends the season at Miami.

"They've got four games left, and we've got four games left," Hawks captain Joe Johnson said. "So there's nothing magical going on. We've got to win games, man. We've got to show up and play ball, regardless of the opponent. We have to show up and get it done, whatever the circumstances."

A Hawks victory on Tuesday would have eliminated the Pacers as a threat. But Atlanta couldn't muster the energy or focus.

"We both came out with fire in the first quarter and then we just lost it," said Hawks forward Josh Smith, who, with Johnson, had good games against Indiana. "Obviously, our defensive effort wasn't up to snuff, and that's what cost us the game, more than anything."

In the Hawks' locker room afterward, Hawks coach Mike Woodson's focus was on the Knicks.

They pose a similar threat, although they're out of the playoff picture. But they are trying to impress a new boss, former Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who took over basketball operations last week.

"We've got to bounce back and just put this [Indiana] game behind us," Woodson said. "We've got to move on to the next challenge."

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Kosta wrote:Not to stir up anything here, but that Raps/Hawks game might end up having huge implications on the playoff picture. The Pacers could be 1 game down with 4 to go right now and could very well miss the playoffs by 1 game. As for Toronto, they could have been in the 6th seed right now and 1 game might be the difference between them playing the Magic or Pistons a week from now..

Not that any of it matters now though...

Kosta wrote:Not to stir up anything here, but that Raps/Hawks game might end up having huge implications on the playoff picture. The Pacers could be 1 game down with 4 to go right now and could very well miss the playoffs by 1 game. As for Toronto, they could have been in the 6th seed right now and 1 game might be the difference between them playing the Magic or Pistons a week from now..

Not that any of it matters now though...

High 5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Should have held the huge lead or showed up in OT. The Portland game for you evens out your situation, though, and I think we'll hold a multiple game lead on Indy.

atlsun wrote:By the way Raptors fans your team did lose to the bobcats at home is that not correct? and yall should have that one right?

Kosta wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I don't disagree the Raptors choked away that game, but the end result still should have been a W, regardless of how they got to that situation or what they did after it.

The Portland game? Um, Jose's 3 pointer? Not quite, first of all it wasn't a buzzer beater shot, IIRC it was with well over a minute to go, so it didn't have a direct impact on the game heading to O.T.

Multiple game lead as in 2 games or more? Maybe, I can see Indy winning out their remaining schedule with the momentum they have, ATL needs to take care of their business...

count55 wrote:Actually, that article has the home and road games reversed for the Pacers. The games vs. Philly & Washington are on the road, while NY & Charlotte are at Conseco.

Kosta wrote:Not to stir up anything here, but that Raps/Hawks game might end up having huge implications on the playoff picture. The Pacers could be 1 game down with 4 to go right now and could very well miss the playoffs by 1 game. As for Toronto, they could have been in the 6th seed right now and 1 game might be the difference between them playing the Magic or Pistons a week from now..

Not that any of it matters now though...

conleyorbust wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Yes it does. That difference is very big too because Charlotte is a mark anywhere and the Wiz and Philly are good enough teams to scare you at home.

High 5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I like it this way because they would have a better chance to beat Washington and Philly at home, now it's unlikely they'll win either of those games. Definitely not both of them.

reazun wrote:I dont think Kosta is trying to stir things up, he is just making observations. Hes not trying to be disrespectful like Rap fans were last week. So, we should calm down and not treat him like a troll. at least thats the way I see it, but yeah. That one game was important for both of us. It might have been a bad call (it probably was). However, I seriously doubt the call wouldve been reversed, but I am really tired of discussing the subject so thats all I have to say.

High 5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Kosta has said his fair share of negative things about the Hawks in the past. And anyone who starts their post with "I'm not trying to stir the pot (or whatever)" is trying to stir the pot. But it's all good. At least he's more subtle than the other Raptor fans that started trouble.