Game 3: Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks

[ATL DirtyBird]

Biggest game of the year. The Hawks are a mess, but this is still our a team. Lets support them and hope we can atleast get a W at home. No pouting, no ball hogging, and no brain farts. Lets go Hawks!

[HMFFL]

Favored to Win:
Orlando by 2 points

Over/Under:
195.5

[betta1]

Let's go Hawks...put together a good game like we all know you're capable of.

I would take the under here.

[azuresou1]

I will be in the Bahamas and will miss the rest of the series - please give me some positive news when I return.

[gino_giode]

Can someone explain to me the whole Jekyll and hide story behind Atlanta's home and away records? I expect their defense to be more aggressive as they feed off the crowd energy, but does the offense completely change gears and feature less ISO?

[betta1]

Can someone explain to me the whole Jekyll and hide story behind Atlanta's home and away records? I expect their defense to be more aggressive as they feed off the crowd energy, but does the offense completely change gears and feature less ISO?

The upped defensive intensity leads to more forced turnovers which leads to more fast break points which leads to less ISO plays.

[JoshB914]

Saw this on the Orlando board, I thought it was a very accurate and concise depiction of our team from someone without any biases.

The Hawks might be hurt having weak defenders at the center and point guard positions, but when I was watching them play they looked like a team that would be competitive with us if they didn't have stretches where they temporarily lost the ability to score. I think their problems stem from a lack of effeciciency. If the offensive and defensive sets Woodson is running don't optimize the talent it's being run with, the players need to work harder to achieve a satisfactory result. Eventually that fatigue causes players to miss shots or rotations. Damn shame, because otherwise we might be looking at a real competitive series. (Which it can still be, depending on the results of games 3 and 4.)

[raleigh]

I will be in the Bahamas and will miss the rest of the series - please give me some positive news when I return.

Screw you.

[evildallas]

When Dwight is switched on to Joe, Joe has to drive not settle for a fade away jumper.

Motivation video rocked the house.

[ATL DirtyBird]

This team sucks, end of story. Its the playoffs, what are you doing?

[betta1]

Marvin is useless.

Joe forgot how to shoot.

Josh can't play anymore.

Bibby can't defend for his life.

Zaza gets out-rebounded by the opposing PG.

Not looking good.

[HMFFL]

Change will be needed if our ownership intends to be competitive against Orlando during both the short and long-term.

The fans are booing the team off the court as the first half ended. Coach Woodson won't make the proper adjustments needed to compete and there appears to be a gap between his players.

[Hawkeyes]

It's time to move on with this team. We tried it for 3 years, and it's more than clear that this team is nothing more than a decent team that doesn't have what it takes to make any noise in the playoffs. We beat Miami in 7 last year, then got swept by Cleveland. Beat the Bucks in 7 this year, and are going to get swept by Orlando. This team hasn't changed a bit, and our best player has choked and turned invisible in the playoffs again. Anyone that gives him a max is going to be hurting in the future unless they're just pleased with making the playoffs.

[betta1]

This may be 3 trips in a row to the 2nd round ending in a sweep (Knicks in 1999, Cavs in 2009, Magic 2010(?)).

I think that above all, we need a true PG that can drive and dish to our wings. Is Teague that person? Perhaps. Tough to tell until he can show what he's got.

[Hawkeyes]

I'm just disgusted with Joe Johnson. He plays so lazy and emotionless. He shoots whenever he fells like it, loses his dribble all of the time, and doesn't seem to give two craps. We may drop off without him next year, but we'll be screwed for a long time if we give this guy a max.

[ATL DirtyBird]

It's time to move on with this team. We tried it for 3 years, and it's more than clear that this team is nothing more than a decent team that doesn't have what it takes to make any noise in the playoffs. We beat Miami in 7 last year, then got swept by Cleveland. Beat the Bucks in 7 this year, and are going to get swept by Orlando. This team hasn't changed a bit, and our best player has choked and turned invisible in the playoffs again. Anyone that gives him a max is going to be hurting in the future unless they're just pleased with making the playoffs.

Amen. Ive loved the change over the years. We obviously prefer to win 50 games then to lose 60, but with the talent we have, this hsouldnt happen. Our coach sucks, our star player doesnt show up for the playoffs, and our spark plug is a pouty queen. Ive enjoyed it, but another ass whooping in the playoffs is unacceptable. I dont care about how bad the matchups are, the Hawks cannot be down by 20 at half, at home. How many times have we been down by 20 at home this season, 3 or 4?

WHy wont Woody take the ball out of JJs hands?

[betta1]

It's time to move on with this team. We tried it for 3 years, and it's more than clear that this team is nothing more than a decent team that doesn't have what it takes to make any noise in the playoffs. We beat Miami in 7 last year, then got swept by Cleveland. Beat the Bucks in 7 this year, and are going to get swept by Orlando. This team hasn't changed a bit, and our best player has choked and turned invisible in the playoffs again. Anyone that gives him a max is going to be hurting in the future unless they're just pleased with making the playoffs.

The best thing about this may actually be realizing that JJ is not a max player, so either the F.O. a) let's him walk for nothing, b) signs him to a less than max deal while leaving options available for more help, or c) can swing a sign and trade for someone that fits our need better for that money.

Also, let's consider ourselves fortunate that Woody was only extended for 2 years after the Boston series. Pretty nice move looking back. It was good that we didn't jump to conclusions about him after excitement brought on by those first playoffs.

[MILFSTA]

what happend to JJ damn!

as a suns fan i still love him, i hope he comes back to the suns

[betta1]

what happend to JJ damn!

as a suns fan i still love him, i hope he comes back to the suns

I think a Suns-Magic finals would be great! If you guys can finish off SA, then I really hope you can beat LA.

[ATL DirtyBird]

It's time to move on with this team. We tried it for 3 years, and it's more than clear that this team is nothing more than a decent team that doesn't have what it takes to make any noise in the playoffs. We beat Miami in 7 last year, then got swept by Cleveland. Beat the Bucks in 7 this year, and are going to get swept by Orlando. This team hasn't changed a bit, and our best player has choked and turned invisible in the playoffs again. Anyone that gives him a max is going to be hurting in the future unless they're just pleased with making the playoffs.

The best thing about this may actually be realizing that JJ is not a max player, so either the F.O. a) let's him walk for nothing, b) signs him to a less than max deal while leaving options available for more help, or c) can swing a sign and trade for someone that fits our need better for that money.

Also, let's consider ourselves fortunate that Woody was only extended for 2 years after the Boston series. Pretty nice move looking back. It was good that we didn't jump to conclusions about him after excitement brought on by those first playoffs.

I though it was a foregone conclusion that ownership was gonna do everything in its power to sign him back? Like Hawkeyes said, we either let him walk, and suffer, or sign him to a long max deal and regret taht contract for the rest of his tenure. What are you willing to deal with? Ill take the former, please.