Hawks knows talk is cheap

[JoshB914]

Players say reaching playoffs is no entitlement

Talking about a push toward the playoffs over the final 20 games is the easy part for the Hawks.

The hard part starts tonight with a game against Southeast Division leading Orlando at Amway Arena.

"We've talked the talk for a long time now," Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said. "Now we've got to put up or shut up. We've got what amounts to a 20-game season facing us, and the bottom line is this: if we win more than we lose our chances of making the playoffs go up dramatically.

"If we can't find a way, somehow and someway, to get the job done, we can pack it up and head to the house."

The last time the Hawks faced Orlando they left here with a huge win. They humbled the Magic 98-87 Dec. 10 behind the play of Josh Smith, who had 25 points, a season-high 16 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

The Hawks improved to 10-10 that night, reaching .500 early in a season that, at the time, held so much postseason promise.

"I think we had won three straight by then," Smith said. "We were really getting into a groove around then and just coming together as a team. It was a good feeling."

The Hawks led for all but the opening 90 seconds, holding the Magic to paltry .397 shooting from the floor while also capitalizing on 19 Magic turnovers with 29 points.

Those opportunistic and aggressive Hawks haven't been seen in recent months. Desperate for wins since, the Hawks snagged two in Saturday's double-header with Miami.

The wins pushed the Hawks (26-36) back into the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot

[JoshB914]

We hear the same thing every week from these guys. They say the right things, I wish they'd start doing the right things.

[BigAlHorfordROY]

Hawks Knows? More excellent grammar by suku Smith. Horrible

[Hawks]

We can blame Woodson all we want. Right now the failures of this team are on the players now. The only good thing the players seem to be consistent on is saying the right thing and making excuses. It would be nice if they could play the right way.

[HMFFL]

Hawks Knows? More excellent grammar by suku Smith. Horrible

Looks like he corrected it.

[Moses_Malone95]

Woodson is a bad coach, but the players are the ones who tread water rather than develop. Josh Smith is the only guy who has shown consistent progress. Besides, it's hard to claim a low playoff spot as a victory in the East. Do you want to face the Celtics?