GAME TWO: ATL @ BOS (April 23rd)

[fo_o_fo_404]

Oh well Hawk fans!

Game one is in the books.....thank GOD!

I am going to try my luck and get this thread started. The last one I started, we gor a much needed win vs. Chicago. But that was then...and this is the playoffs.

Hope our team got the message tonight....it's win or go home!

Hawks have GOT to have a better showing from Bibby, Smoove and Marvin. They were a combined 7-27....and that's NOT going to cut it!

Horford played like a MAN tonight. Big ups to him...no doubt! Any wonder as to who the ROY is?

This game two will be pivotal if there's to be a sweep or not.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

Give Marvin more touches and have JJ play the point. Forget Bibby.

Starting line-up should be:

JJ
West
Marvin
Smith
Horford

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

ha starting west might not be a good idea, g.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

Why not? We get beat by 20+ anyways.

[ATLfan]

Mario needs to start the next game. His energy and defense will help us.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

^ Agreed. More helpful than Bibby. Heck ever since we traded for Bibby, JJ's assists actually went up. That shouldn't happen, Bibby is the PG, right?

[evildallas]

Shouldn't be too surprised or overreact. Nothing has really changed. Yes, the series is 1-0. Boston has a lot of confidence, but they did before the game. Woodson has a couple days to game plan and work on the team's confidence to try to steal one. Will he be successful? I doubt it, but I think he sucks (I'd feel better if Fratello was on the bench instead of announcing). This is Woodson's chance to prove people like me wrong (hopefully, his last chance).

Am I sad about the outcome of game 1? Sure, but it's one game. Hawks weren't going to win the series tonight. Everyone except Al needs to come out Wednesday and prove that Game 1 wasn't the real example to judge them by. Al needs to build on his big game 1. Hawks have to win 4 games to advance. Losing game 1 in Boston didn't change that. They still have chances to win 4, however unlikely.

As for JJ's assists going up since the trade. That is mainly do to the other guard (Bibby in this case) hitting open shots when JJ gives up the ball. Bibby did stink tonight as he has in several games since being acquired. He's also had some real good games shooting the rock. He's an up and down player. If he was money every night, I doubt he would have been on the trade block. Just gotta hope that he's on next game and more games than he's not.

[HoopsGuru25]

It's 0-1 but you really can't judge the series by wins and losses. I want to see the Hawks play well even if they lose and that wasn't the case tonight. This was not like the GSW game where they went on an 18-0 run or something. The Celtics outscored us in every quarter and only allowed us to go on one real run at the start of the 2nd with KG out. The Hawks have failed to score 90 in all 4 games against them this season. The Hawks actually had some success in the game vs Atlanta. In that 3rd quarter they just kept going to Horford and I guess KG assumed that Al couldn't shoot. Horford hit 4 jumpers in the 3rd quarter alone that game but KG really took that shot away from him in game 1. Al did all his work inside which is a positive sign. I love when he faced up against KG went hard right and just dropped the hook right over him.

Another reason I think the Hawks offense is sucking is because we play too much on on one. What happened to the pick and roll the Hawks were using where it seemed like he would get an open shot or Horford would be open just about every time? I think Kenny Smith made a good point in the last Knicks game where he said that Robinson should be pressuring Bibby instead of just letting him go where he wants to go. I think Bibby is actually afraid to bring the ball up the court against Rondo because of how much pressure he puts on the ball. The Hawks halfcourt offense looked pretty embarrassing to be honest. It seemed like we just brought the ball up the court and passed it a random player who drove the whole only to be met by 2 Cetlics at the basket. It seemed like the Celtics were just setting screen after screen to get Allen open for a 3 or to get Pierce a mismatch at the top of the key with Bibby.

[Joe Kleazy]

Even though the game didn't go as well as you would have liked, I saw a few things that could play into your favor.

Obviously horford is a beast and was a surprise for boston THIS GAME, but you can bet your azz that there will be a game plan for him in game two. Regardless of whether or not they think they can beat you they still will handle things by strategizing for the next game.

Using joe in the post against ray allen will put him in foul trouble early or force them to put pierce on him.

If you think about the rosters outside of the big three, on the wings they have only posey who has the size to match-up. The thing about this is that you will HAVE to take a few hard fouls in order to make this happen. Look at how Philly beat Detroit, Penetrating the lane. If you go hard enough you will either score or get fouled. ATL took too many jumpshots and didnt hit even half. Unless you drive you will not earn any respect from the refs which will allow boston to control the game.

Once in foul trouble the will have a better chance defending the big three and it will allow you to be able to wear them down. They need to forget their struggles offensively from game one and expect to do better. JOE and BIBBY need to be aggressive from the start and lead by example.

Josh just needs to calm down and play his game.

Coaching seems to be the issue more than anything and luckily for ATL, if things dont get at least respectable there SHOULD be changes in this department for next season.

[gsuteke]

I thought I had read a thread stating the board was going to "step up" the game threads for the playoffs.

I must be imagining things.

[fo_o_fo_404]

I thought I had read a thread stating the board was going to "step up" the game threads for the playoffs.

I must be imagining things.

No, HMFFL asked if some of us would step up and help do the threads. I'm doing games two and four.

Sometimes you have to "do-away" with all the fancy/silly pictures...and just talk basketball. I know you are the thread guru, with all the illustrations....but I don't know how to do all that.

[HMFFL]

Boston favored to win by 15 points.

O/U is 189.5

[They Call Me Cash]

Bibby is GARBAGE, there's no way around it.

dare I say... Lue > Bibby

I wish we kept Anthony Johnson instead of giving this bum (that's only here to collect checks) the starting PG position.


Note to future management: Atlanta hates U of Arizona PG's.. that means NO Brandon Jennings in 2000-whatever draft.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

^ Well, while I agree that Bibby is my least fav on this team right now, he is nowhere near how Lue was. I was very happy to get rid of Lue.


BUT, again B.K. choosed a PG, so of course it is going to be a "vet" shooting PG. Man I have had enough when he says "Vet". Why does the PG have to always be a vet? Is that just a reason to keep drafting fowards or what? We need to develop a real, young, PG with our young talent at the other positions.

Oh and vets suck.

Examples:

Paul>>>>>Kidd
Rondo>>>>>Bibby

NUFF SAID.

[ATLfan]

If Bibby stinks the joint up again Acie needs to play.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

Where is Ivey when you need him? Give a good punch to Rondo. lol. I shouldn't of said that, since I am a UK fan.

[JoshB914]

Ya'll love to rip on Bibs now. We'd be watching the Pacers and Celtics in this series if not for him. Let's see what the guy can do next year with a working ankle, thumb and a better understand of our offense (hopefully with a new coach running it).

[JoshB914]

And I know it was in garbage time, but J-Rich looked good in limited minutes. I just don't get why he doesn't see the floor when Boston's second unit is in?

At least give him a few minutes and see if he heats up, we need guys that can score outside of the offense with jump shooting, because we are never going to get much of an offensive flow going against the C's.

[Harry10]

please please... if Bibby just has a decent game, i think the Hawks will be fine.

[JoshB914]

If Bibby stinks the joint up again Acie needs to play.

I agree in principle, but I think Salim has earned the first shot at spelling Bibs.