Sixers matchup may be playoff preview

Post #1 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:34 pm

The Hawks could meet the 76ers in a first-round playoff matchup.

“This is our version of March Madness,” said Woodson, whose team can finish off yet another winning month with a win. “And this is what these guys signed up for. This is what we all signed up for. You want to be playing meaningful games this time of year as opposed to the alternative.”

Miami is busy trying too hold off the 76ers for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks have to keep an eye on both. The team that secures the fifth spot will face the Hawks, who have a 4-1/2 game lead over the Heat for the fourth spot and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

“I can’t tell you the last time we played a game that didn’t seem like our entire season was on the line at the opening tip,” Hawks forward Josh Smith said. “Philadelphia is an interesting team for us because they match up pretty well against us. And the way they play that up-tempo style, they’re going to challenge you to either run with them or put your own stamp on the game. We have to make sure the game is played the way we want it played.”

“There’s no way you’re going to make any noise in the playoffs just winning on your home court,” he said. “There’s no question that’s what you play for, the right to have that advantage. But the good teams, the teams that move on, they have to find a way to win in a hostile environment. And we have just enough road test left to see if we can’t be that kind of team.” http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports ... hawks.html

JoshB914 · Post #2 » by **JoshB914** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:10 am

Love that last quote from Woody. This road trip is our last chance to prove that we can go win in a hostile environment. If we could even just get a split out of this trip and play good basketball it will be so encouraging.

I think we'll see the Hawks play these next two games at playoff intensity. They don't want to be viewed as a soft team that can't win on the road heading into the postseason. Whether we're good enough to win on the road is another story, but I think we can count on this team being very motivated against Phili and Boston. It will be interesting to see what we're made of.

ATL DirtyBird · Post #3 » by **ATL DirtyBird** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:20 am

JoshB914 wrote:Love that last quote from Woody. This road trip is our last chance to prove that we can go win in a hostile environment. If we could even just get a split out of this trip and play good basketball it will be so encouraging.

I think we'll see the Hawks play these next two games at playoff intensity. They don't want to be viewed as a soft team that can't win on the road heading into the postseason. Whether we're good enough to win on the road is another story, but I think we can count on this team being very motivated against Phili and Boston. It will be interesting to see what we're made of.

Woody isnt clueless all the time. Its hard to say even if we do win some road games going into the playoffs that we can say were cured, and are ready for the playoffs. I would love to say if we win in Boston that were ready to take on anyone and anything, but most likely we will be playing Cleveland who has lost only 1 game and that was to the Lakers, and we are not the Lakers. There isnt much else we can prove this season. We are exactly who everyone thinks we are, and are a horrific road team. But hey who knows if the Hawks can get cookin like last year, and take that into the 2nd round, we might be able to win a few games. Our athletisicm will bother anyone, but that requires us to fast break, which we havent done much off lately. If our defenseive intensity is there, we are the real deal.

JoshB914 · Post #4 » by **JoshB914** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:38 am

^^^ Oh, I agree with you. If we have a good showing on this trip it certainly doesn't solve anything. But I think it would still be important for the team's psyche heading into the postseason. The last thing we need is a team that not only had a terrible record on the road, but also plays with no confidence or swagger away from their building. This trip is our last chance to gain the latter.

That being said, I just don't know if the team is good enough to win on the road. If you look at the teams in the EC with similar records to us they also have similar struggles on the road. The only teams that have shown the ability to win consistently away from home are Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando and we aren't anywhere close to those guys.