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Posted by: Micah Hart at 1:50PM EST on May 28, 2008
Sorry, I felt the need to give this blog post a clever header, and that's the best I could come up with on short notice.
Sometime in the next few days, the Hawks will officially announce the hiring of Rick Sund as the team's new general manager.
Sund was replaced in Seattle when the team was sold to Clay Bennett, but before that had some successes (won a division title in 2004-05, turned an aging Gary Payton into Ray Allen) worth mentioning.
We don't know much more at this point other than that he is the choice, but as soon as we have more info we'll post it here.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 4:25PM EST on May 13, 2008
I won't pretend to speak for all Hawks fans, but I know most of us were
disappointed when Al Horford was denied Rookie of the Year honors in favor of
Kevin Durant a couple weeks ago. That's not to say we were surprised at the
outcome of the voting - it was pretty clear most people had decided for KD
despite our protestations - but we held out hope until the end that the people
voting on the award would look a little deeper than just points per game to make
up their minds on a winner.
It may not have happened in the ROY voting, but it did happen, just ever so
slightly, in the coaches' voting for the All-Rookie teams.
The All-Rookie squads were announced today, and the Hawks'
Al Horford was impressively the only unanimous choice. I realize this
isn't the most amazing thing to happen since sliced bread, but there is a part
of me that takes just a tiny bit of pleasure in seeing Durant go (slightly)
unrewarded for putting up empty stats on a terrible team. That's not to say I
really know how you could leave him off the first ballot (nor is it to say that
I don't think Durant has a bright future in the league), but I love that someone
took a look at Seattle's team record and decided he needed no further
information.
Congrats to Al for this final honor to top off his terrific rookie campaign.
In other news, I worked at TNT last night helping out with the coverage of
Game 4 of the Celtics-Cavs series, which Cleveland won to knot the series at
2-2. A discussion began regarding the Celtics performance in this series and
what it said about the Atlanta-Boston first round affair. Some think the
Celtics' continued road troubles dulled the shine a bit off the Hawks surprising
first-round run, while I submitted that the Cavaliers' ability to rally in this
series is based in large part on reading the Hawks earlier success against the
East's top seed.
As I stated after Game 7, even though the Hawks lost they were still able to
shatter the Celtics' air of invincibility. A team that won 66 games in the
regular season, barely breaking a sweat on the way, was suddenly unsure of
itself and scrambling for answers. This theme has been repeated in the last two
games in Cleveland, and has many people once again asking if this Boston
team has what it takes to even reach the finals, let alone win the title. I know
the Celtics never really thought they'd lose to the Hawks, but they better be
careful against Cleveland. LeBron James still hasn't had
a good game in this series, and yet the Cavs are one road-win away from sending
the Celtics to the golf course for the summer.
And if they do, I think the Hawks deserve some credit for softening them up a
bit first.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 11:58AM EST on May 8, 2008
It's been a few days now, and we've had a little time to digest the events
that drew the 2007-08 season to a close. It was an up-and-down year to be sure,
but I think it's safe to say it ended on an emphatic upswing. Maybe the Hawks
didn't win the series against the Celtics, but despite the loss they managed to
capture the nation's attention and put themselves on the map as a team to watch
out for going forward.
With Billy Knight's departure there are many decisions that have to be made,
but we'll save that for later posts throughout the summer. For now, let's take a
final look back at the season that was.
Best Win (Regular Season):Hawks
98, Lakers 95 - The Lakers are perhaps the odds-on favorite to win the
NBA title right now, but they were the second best team at Philips Arena back on
Feb. 6. LA led by 8 entering the fourth quarter, but the Hawks rallied to
outscore their opponents 30-19 over the final twelve minutes to claim the
victory. Joe Johnson won his personal battle with Kobe Bryant, scoring 28 points
and forcing Bryant into a turnover in the final seconds to preserve the Hawks
win. Al Horford had arguably the best game of his rookie season, scoring 15
points and dominating the glass for a career-high 20 rebounds.
Best Win (Post Season): Hawks
97, Celtics 92 - Game 4 of the Hawks-Celtics series. This was Joe
Johnson's national coming out party, the game that cemented his status as an
All-Star caliber player. JJ scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, putting his
team on his back and rallying them from a 10-point deficit to start the 4th to
tie the series at 2-2. Boston boasted the best defense in the NBA this year, but
for one quarter Joe made them look like a high school team. It truly was one of
the great playoff performances in franchise history.
Worst Loss (Regular Season): Trail Blazers 94,
Hawks 93 - When I think back on which games kept the Hawks from
improving their seeding in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, this is the one
that stands out the most in my mind. The Hawks led by 14 midway through the
fourth quarter, but couldn't hold on as Brandon Roy sank two free throws with
2.3 seconds left to win the game for the Blazers. Atlanta was trying to build
some momentum on a five-game West Coast trip at the time, having won 99-90 at
Seattle, but the loss deflated the team and led to a 1-4 finish.
Worst Loss (Post Season):
Celtics 99,
Hawks 65 - Overall, the Hawks should be very proud of their work in the
first round against the Celtics, but I'd be lying if I said Game 7 wasn't a huge
disappointment. Atlanta could never get it going offensively in Boston, but in
Game 7 in particular every shot seemed to rim out or fall short. The Hawks would
have made the Celtics sweat if they'd been able to keep it close, but they never
had the opportunity after scoring only 26 points in the first half. Hopefully
the bitter sting of the loss will be ample motivation for everyone to work
harder in the offseason so they come back seeking revenge in 2008-09.
Best Offensive Performance (Team): Hawks 116,
Grizzlies 99- Maybe the Hawks weren't the best road team in 2007-08,
but that doesn't mean they didn't have some great performances away from Philips
Arena. In the midst of the team's late-season playoff push came this gem in
Memphis, when the Hawks blitzed the Grizzlies from the very beginning,
outscoring them 40-19 in the first quarter and putting up a season-high 73
points in the first half. Josh Smith led the way with 26 points, while Al
Horford and Joe Johnson had 19 apiece.
Best Offensive Performance (Individual):
Joe
Johnson vs LA Clippers - JJ had higher-scoring games in 07-08, but
nothing quite matched his third quarter against the Clippers on March 14. Joe
drilled 6 three-pointers in the stanza, including one from roughly 30 feet (and
it wasn't a buzzer-beater). He finished the game with 28 points, but 21 of them
came in the 3rd as the Hawks evened their season series with the Clips at 1-1.
Best Defensive Performance (Team):
Hawks at Spurs,
First Quarter: I know the Hawks eventually lost the game, but any time
you can hold the defending champs to a franchise low for points in a quarter you
have to celebrate the occasion. Atlanta held San Antonio to only 5 points in the
first quarter of their game at the SBC center on February 25, the worst output
in the Spurs illustrious history. Unfortunately, the Spurs defense played well
that night also, and the Spurs rallied for an 89-74 home win.
Best Defensive Performance (Individual):Josh Smith
vs Philadelphia 76ers - Josh Smith has altered many games with his
defense, but none this past season like the Hawks-Sixers game on Feb. 4. The
Sixers ran out to a 20-point lead early in the contest, but Smoove's amazing
shot-blocking skills led the Hawks rally to a 96-91 win. Smith finished the
night with a season-high 9 blocked shots, adding in 6 rebounds and 4 steals for
good measure. He also put in work on the offensive end, scoring 19 points and
dishing out 9 assists.
Shot of the Year (Regular Season):
Joe Johnson beats the Minnesota Timberwolves- Showing the kind of
clutch shooting that has been a trademark of his time in Atlanta, JJ helped the
Hawks avoid a disastrous loss to the lowly T-Wolves with his buzzer-beating
15-footer at the buzzer. Marko Jaric scored on a lay-up with 2.2 seconds left to
give Minnesota the lead, but Johnson took the ball at the top of the key,
dribbled right, and buried the game-winner over the outstretched arms of Michael
Doleac. It was early in the season, but it ended up mattering plenty as the
Hawks held off the Pacers for the final playoff spot by a single game.
Shot of the Year (Post Season):Joe
Johnson seals Game 6 with a 3 - JJ's performance in Game 4 was
legendary, but it was his 3-pointer with time winding down in Game 6 that will
stick in my mind throughout the offseason. The Hawks led 97-95 with just over a
minute left in the game, and with the shot-clock winding down Joe had to fire
one up from distance with James Posey and Ray Allen draped all over him. The
shot hit bottoms, giving the Hawks a 100-95 lead that the held onto to force an
improbable Game 7. (Close second - JJ's wait-for-it three with Leon Powe layed
out on the court in front of him in Game 4)
Have other suggestions for highlights from the season just ended? Share your
thoughts in the comments...
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 5:14PM EST on May 5, 2008
A sad day around the office today, as the Hawks players cleaned out their
lockers for the season and completed their exit interviews with the Hawks
coaching staff before taking off for the summer. It's always disappointing when
the season ends, but of course this year it's a little less so. Yes, Game 7 on
Sunday was bad. But as rough a game as it was (and it was rooooough), it's
important not to lose the overall good vibes of the series. Maybe we didn't win
the series, but we did shock the world.
The mood today was pretty jovial. I think the guys were pretty unhappy
yesterday, but with a night to think about it they realize that overall, this
postseason was a success. Now it's time to get back in the lab and work on the
things that need fixing.
One thing I got to finally take care of today was a ping-poing match against
Marvin Williams. I played Al Horford earlier in the year, and though he beat me
21-17, I still think I could take him (I'd say based on one game I think I could
take him 4 of 10 or so). Marvin beat Al earlier this season for the team title
(and has the trophy to prove it), and he and I have been talking smack to each
other about a game ever since.
Sufficed to say, I don't plan on quitting my day job around here any time
soon. Marv beat me 2-of-3 (you happy Marvin? I told you I'd post about this),
winning the first game before I returned the favor in the second, then beating
me in a 3rd game tie-break. He puts a ton of spin on the ball, and it took a
while to adjust to it, but now that I know his game, I'll have to try him again
when he gets back for training camp in October.
I had a chance to talk to Al Horford
and Acie Law
today about their rookie seasons, and it was very interesting. They each took
very different paths this year, with Al capturing a ton of attention and
becoming a major factor in the Rookie of the Year race while Law battled
injuries and a lack of playing time. Still, with the season over, both sound
like they know they are still unfinished products and are anxious to begin
putting in the work that will make them and the team successful in 2008-09.
So what next for the team, overall? Obviously, there are a lot of decisions
that need to be made around here, and we'll keep you posted as things happen.
For now though, it's time for all of us to take a deep breath and try to
decompress after a long, trying, but ultimately satisfying run in 2007-08.
Marvin Williams shows off his special ping-pong paddle, the one he used to beat
me 2-of-3 (but I'll have my revenge!)
Al Horford talks to the media one last time in 2007-08
Acie Law signs a few items for some of his fellow teammates
-- The Hawks' magical playoff run came to an end in Boston on Sunday, 99-65.
-- Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 16 points, while Salim Stoudamire added 10 off the bench.
-- After one, the Hawks trailed 27-16 as Paul Pierce scored 9 points ... Atlanta had trouble making shots in the 2nd period (scoring just 10 pts), and fell behind big at the half, 44-26 ... The 10-point second quarter and 26-point first half set Hawks franchise record lows ... Things didn't get much better in the third, as Atlanta trailed, 79-43, entering the fourth.
-- The Hawks hit just 29.9% from the field, while Boston made 49.4%.
-- Despite the loss, the Hawks became just the 2nd number 8 seed in nba history to force a seventh game against a number 1 seed (Detroit vs. Orlando, 2003).
-- Marvin Williams started the contest despite a sprained left knee, but was ejected for a flagrant foul in the third quarter.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 3:10PM EST on May 4, 2008
Not a whole lot to say as the Hawks enter the final period trailing 79-43. It's been a rough, rough afternoon. The last quarter will be entirely garbage time ball for both teams, as each has several starters off the court.
It's disappointing, but the Hawks can still leave with their heads held high. No one expected them to get this far, and though it would have been nice to make this game close, the fact that they are playing it at all is a testament to Atlanta's mettle and resolve.
The Celtics deserve a ton of credit for the way they've played today. They never let the Hawks in it, and as such will move on to the second round to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the luster is off their star, no matter what the final score is today. This is a beatable team, no longer the favorites to win the title (or even the East), and the Hawks are responsible for showing that.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 2:26PM EST on May 4, 2008
11:05 - Paul Pierce scores 5 straight to start the quarter, and the Celtics push the lead to 23. They are really playing well right now.
10:13 - Marvin gets a putback off a Joe miss, and I have to say I am really impressed with the way he is playing today. He struggled for much of the series, but the last two games have shown he still has a very bright future.
9:09 - Oh boy. The Celtics get a break off a Marvin miss, and as Rondo goes up for a lay-up Marvin comes over to try to give a hard foul to prevent the bucket. The problem in these situations, when guys are running full speed, is that it's hard to commit that kind of foul without your momentum making the foul worse than you intend. Marvin Williams is probably the most easy-going guy on the Hawks, and there is no doubt in my mind he intended no harm on the play. But he pretty much tackled Rondo in the air, and after conferring, the refs gave him a Flagrant II and ejected him from the game. I'm not surprised that was the call, but it is devastating for Atlanta as Marvin is really the only guy having a decent game right now other than Joe.
5:17 - Well, the outcome is pretty much decided, as Pierce hits a jumper to make the score 62-32. Anything that could have gone wrong for the Hawks has pretty much done just that. I really feel for the guys, who have scratched and clawed their way to this seventh game and deserve a better fate that what they are getting. You can give a ton of reasons why the score is what it is, but above all else, the Hawks just can't score. They are 12-50 from the field. Some days, it just ain't your day, you know?
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 2:18PM EST on May 4, 2008
Ok, I am trying not to sound too frustrated. We aren't even supposed to be playing right now, so let's try to step back from the ledge a little bit.
How can they make this competitive in the second half? It's gotta be on the offensive side of the ball. The defense is doing a decent job (as they have, to their credit, for most of the games in this series), holding the Celtics to 42% shooting and 44 points.
Offensively, it's pretty simple. The Hawks aren't sharing the ball, and it's forcing Joe Johnson to try to do it all himself. They have only 5 assists in the first half, though they've scored only 10 baskets all together.
They need to get the offense moving earlier in the shot clock, and they need to be aggressive. After gaining a huge edge in foul shots throughout the first six games, they've taken only 4 FTs so far. They have to try to get some shots inside or in transition. The longer each possession takes, the harder it's going to be to come back from an 18-point deficit.
The Hawks shot 26.3% from the field in the first half. The law of averages says they will improve upon that in the second. There is still the nerves factor for Boston - if the Hawks can just get the lead back within single digits, they may be able to make the Celtics sweat. But they are going to have to execute on offense to make that happen.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 1:34PM EST on May 4, 2008
11:22 - The Hawks get a stop on defense, but turn the ball back over on the first trip down the court. Turnovers are going to be killers today - every possession is precious, especially when you are in the hole.
10:43 - And as I write that, we do it twice more.
9:38 - Leon Powe scores for Boston to make it 32-18. Still, Paul Pierce is the only starter on the court for the Celtics. Atlanta needs to take advantage.
8:59 - Timeout on the court, and things aren't looking good right now. The first quarter I thought the Hawks played ok but couldn't shoot straight, but now they are just being sloppy. Josh Smith has picked up two fouls in the last two minutes, one on an unnecessary charge. Zaza has 2 as well, but otherwise we are ok foul-wise. Gotta keep our composure.
8:10 - Al Horford takes it to the rack for 2, and its 34-20. I want this to be in single digits at halftime.
7:21 - Celtics take a timeout. Doc Rivers, with such a big lead right now, is actually being smart to get rest for his stars, ostensibly so they will be fresh for the 4th quarter. It's a risk though, and the Hawks need to make him pay for taking it.
6:43 - Marvin Williams is flying around the rim impressively for a guy with a bum knee, as he gets fouled on an offensive rebound. He hits one of two, and it's 36-21.
5:11 - The Hawks do a good job of getting an open shot off the double on Joe, and Marvin hits to make it 38-23. Those opportunities have been few and far between so far, unfortunately.
3:47 - Joe Johnson is not going out without a fight. He's hit four threes in this game and has a game-high 12 points.
2:34 - Hawks ball after a timeout, down 42-26. We need a basket here!
1:30 - Didn't happen. Give the Celtics credit, they are making the Hawks take jump shots almost exclusively.
0:00 - JJ misses at the buzzer and the Celtics lead 44-26 at the break. I'll try to gather my thoughts and tell you what we need to do in the second half to give ourselves a chance.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 1:04PM EST on May 4, 2008
11:36 - JJ for 3 to start it off!
10:25 - Nerves? Ray Allen misses an easy lay-up. The Hawks need to take advantage here early, the Celtics look a little rattled.
9:02 - Celtics get a tip-in and it's 6-3. Come on Hawks, keep it together...
8:27 - Josh Smith hits a feathery jumper, 6-5.
7:45 - Marvin is trying hard, but I think he is struggling to keep up with Paul Pierce defensively. This bodes watching.
7:07 - Hawks take a timeout, and it's 10-5 Celtics. I think there are some nerves on both sides right now, but it's the Atlanta basket that seems to have the lid on it right now. No reason to panic - just continue to execute and keep it close - the shots will come.
6:53 - Marvin takes it to the rack, which is a good sign in terms of his fitness to play. Josh Smith gets the offensive board and draws a foul on Kendrick Perkins - we gotta get to the line tonight, it's been the one thing that has been in our favor all series.
4:44 - The Hawks cut it to 10-8, but the Celtics have reeled off 6 unanswered to build their largest lead of the game now at 16-8, causing Mike Woodson to call a second timeout. Atlanta is 3-13 from the field right now, and many of the shots are falling short, which leads me to believe they are trying to over-shoot them instead of just letting them fly.
3:54 - Two straight shots have gone halfway in and then come out. Cut that out!
3:04 - Nice move inside for 2 by Mike Bibby, and on the other end Zaza Pachulia commits a tough, smart foul on Kendrick Perkins to avoid giving up an easy basket. Nothing easy, says Zaza.
2:15 - Ray Allen scores in transition, and it's 20-10. This game is much closer than it seems - the Hawks can't hit the ocean if they fell off a boat right now - 4-18 from the field. Atlanta is actually getting some decent looks, more so that I've seen for much of the series here in Boston, but they just won't drop.
1:40 - JJ hits a huge three out of the corner off a designed play, a big lift for the Hawks. Let's see if that gets the offense going.
1:14 - Another three from JJ!
0:00 - The Celtics come right back with two baskets from Paul Pierce, and it's a 27-16 game at the end of one. I hate the fact the Hawks are shooting so poorly right now, because every little run they make silences the crowd. Joe's two 3's had them a bit stunned, but the Celtics offense responded. The other big problem so far? Rebounding. Boston had a 17-8 edge in the first period, including 5 on the offensive end. Atlanta has to tighten up on the boards going forward if they want to get back into this thing. 36 minutes to go - it ain't over yet.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 1:02PM EST on May 4, 2008
The Hawks starters are introduced, and Marvin Williams' name is called. He has a brace on his knee, but for now at least he is going to make a go of it.
The key to today, as it's been all series, is to get out and go. The Celtics are old, the Hawks are young. We have seen Boston wear down in the fourth quarter in each of the last two games in Atlanta, but we haven't seen it here because they haven't had to play meaningful minutes in late game situations.
The Celtics fans are nervous, even moreso than they were in Game 5. Sure they are loud, but not as loud as they were when this series started.
Keep is close, get out and run, and maybe we'll see some history today.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 12:46PM EST on May 4, 2008
The bus entrance into Boston Garden is a piece of work. To get into the building, the bus has go up a steep ramp, backwards(!) no less, through an entrance that leaves about 6-8 inches on either side. Every time we have gone through the entrance over the past two weeks, I've held my breath, waiting for the inevitable accident. Not today though, because today we had the accident before we got that to that part.
As I said, the bus is coming in backwards, making it difficult to see anything behind. So if, for example, the garage door to the entrance is still down, and you are trying to back into the arena, there is gonna be trouble.
Without going into all the details, we've got an early score to report: Atlanta bus 1 - Boston Garden 0.
We backed right into that sucker, putting a huge dent in it and forcing us to make our way back down the ramp so arena staff could figure out how to rectify the situation. This was the second bus, so all of the players were already inside...except for one - Joe Johnson.
While the staff discussed what to do (my guess as to the conversation: "Who put this stupid entrance here in the first place?") and we waited down below, JJ and broadcaster Dennis Scott decided that walking was perhaps the path of least resistance, so they trudged up the ramp by foot to make their way to their pre-game duties. It was surreal.
I like to think the whole event was a sign of things to come - the Atlanta Hawks, coming into Boston to do damage.
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Posted by: Micah Hart at 3:21AM EST on May 3, 2008
What a win for the Hawks! What a night at Philips Arena!
Let's get right to the core of why the Hawks won tonight. It's not because
they shot well (47% - not bad, but not earth-shattering). It's not because they
shut down the Celtics (Boston had 14 offensive rebounds, and the Big Three
combined for 59 points). And it's not because they had a better game plan (they
didn't go inside-out with Horford, and they rarely got open looks for Joe or
Mike Bibby).
No, there is only one reason the Hawks won on Friday night - heart. No, make
that Heart. It deserves to be capitalized for this team, because what they did
tonight was will themselves to a Game 7 showdown in Boston on Sunday. In Game 3,
the Hawks were the better team. In Game 4, it took a performance of the ages
from Joe Johnson to get a win. The Celtics can look at those two games and make
excuses.
But not tonight. The Celtics had this game. There was no reason for them to
lose this one, not after leading almost the entirety of the first three quarters
and forcing the Hawks to play the kind of offensive basketball that played into
their hands. But once again, the Hawks stepped up when it counted in the fourth
quarter, and because of that a series most people assumed would be over in four
is now the only one in the first round to go the distance.
What a gutsy performance by the Hawks. The bench, so often mentioned
as a liability this season, came up huge tonight, mostly manifested in the play
of Josh Childress and Zaza Pachulia, with a little Acie Law thrown in for good
measure (with every game, I am more and more optimistic about his future with
the team). Marvin Williams, who the Celtics have dared to beat them all series,
finally took them up on their offer and led the team in scoring with 18 points
on 6-9 shooting. We knew Marvin could hit his mid-range jumpers, but he took it
up a notch tonight, getting into the paint, hitting his free throws, and
giving the team its first lead of the second half on an offensive rebound and putback early in the fourth quarter.
I guess it was easier tonight, having to come back from only 3 down to start
the fourth instead of 10. But it didn't feel that way, at least not for the
first 36 minutes. Every time the Hawks tried to rally, the Celtics had an
answer. It was exasperating. If it wasn't Garnett, it was Ray Allen. Or Paul
Pierce. Or James Posey, or Leon Powe, or Rajon Rondo. For the first 36 minutes,
I was saying to myself, well, we tried - the Celtics are just that good.
But something changed in the 4th quarter, just like it did in Game 4. If it
happens once, it's a coincidence. If it happens twice, it's a trend. And if I am
the Celtics, I am asking myself some tough, tough questions right now. Questions
like, why did Paul Pierce lose his cool when he picked up his sixth foul (even
though it was on an admittedly terrible questionable call),
picking up a technical foul that gave the Hawks a crucial extra point? Why were
the rims a little tighter for Ray Allen in the 4th quarter? And why did Kevin
Garnett, who should be able to score at will on Atlanta with his size advantage
inside, repeatedly pass up open looks in the lane late in the game when
every possession was so crucial to both teams?
For the next 36 hours until Game 7 tips off at 1:00 ET on Sunday, all people
are going to talk about is this: how in the world did the Celtics get themselves
into this mess? I'll tell you how - because the Hawks have proven to be the
stronger, more resilient team in this series.
Does that mean they will win on Sunday? Not if they play the way they did in
Games 1, 2, and 5. All the testicular fortitude in the world won't matter if
they lose by 20. But if Hawks can keep it close? I really think they can win it.
When the going has gotten tough in this series, it's the Hawks who have stepped
up and the Celtics who have blinked.
No matter how this series turns out, the heart and determination the Hawks
showed tonight and over the course of the past two weeks will make this team one
of the most memorable in franchise history, regular season record be damned. The
way people talk about Dominique Wilkins and his teammates in '88 against Boston,
that's how they'll talk about this squad too (though we certainly hope the
outcome will be different).
Maybe I'm only speaking for myself when I say that, but I have a feeling
there are 20,425 others who feel the same way right now.
-- The Hawks fought back from 12 down, showing a tremendous amount of guts in a 103-100 win over the Celtics in front of 20,425 screaming fans at Philips Arena on Friday ... The win forced a seventh and deciding game in the series (Sunday, 1 p.m., ABC, 790 The Zone).
-- Marvin Williams led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points, while Mike Bibby added 17, Al Horford had 16, Joe Johnson and Josh Childress tallied 15 each, and Josh Smith finished with 11.
-- Williams left the game in the third quarter with a sprained left knee, but returned late in the contest.
-- The Hawks fell behind early, trailing 32-20, after one ... But Atlanta rallied behind a 29-18 second quarter to pull within one (50-49) at the half ... Following the pattern of games 3 and 4, Boston surged ahead in the third, pushing the lead back to nine ... But again the Hawks made a move, cutting the deficit to three (82-79) through three ... Early in the fourth, the Hawks too the lead, riding a 10-0 run midway through the fourth to take a 96-89 lead ... Boston eventually cut the lead down to 2, but the Hawks hung on.
-- Atlanta got their best bench contribution of the series, totalling 26 points and 13 rebounds from the reserves, including 15 and 6 boards for Childress, and 9 pts, 6 rebs and an emotional lift from Zaza "Balboa" Pachulia.
-- Tonight's attendance (20,425) was the most ever for a Hawks game at Philips Arena, and 2nd in the arena's history to the 20,596 drawn for a U2 concert on 3/30/01.
I won't pretend to speak for all Hawks fans, but I know most of us were
disappointed when Al Horford was denied Rookie of the Year honors in favor of
Kevin Durant a couple weeks ago. That's not to say we were surprised at the
outcome of the voting - it was pretty clear most people had decided for KD
despite our protestations - but we held out hope until the end that the people
voting on the award would look a little deeper than just points per game to make
up their minds on a winner.
