here - Score Atlanta

PE02 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
Team confident after easy playoff opener but wary of letdown in Game 2
shooting (including 5-of-6 from the line) in
he Hawks scratched and clawed throughGAME 2 …
out a marathon 82-game season, fighting
T
addition to grabbing 10 rebounds. It was not,
On Sunday, Atlanta proved that, when at
their way to 47 victories, all with one goal in
however, so much about how much Smith
its best, Miami is simply no match. In Game
mind: capturing home-court advantage in the
first round of the NBA Playoffs. As it turned
out, the team’s win total was good enough to
earn it the four seed and a first-round showdown with Dwyane Wade and the Miami
Heat. And with the right to play Games 1 and
2 in the friendly confines of Philips Arena,
Sunday night’s goal was about maintaining
such an advantage. Yet, by the time the Hawks
took the floor on Sunday, three teams—San
Antonio, Portland and Boston—had already
relinquished their home-court advantages and
a fourth, the Orlando Magic, was in the
process of squandering an 18-point third-quarter lead and control of its series.
The Hawks were most certainly aware of
these upsets going into their first game: “We
just wanted to come out with high energy and
keep our foot on the pedal the entire night,”
said point guard Mike Bibby after Sunday’s
lopsided win.
Keep their feet on the pedal the Hawks
would, racing out to a 20-point halftime lead
before cruising to a 90-64 beatdown of the Heat.
The demolition would go down as the team’s
biggest playoff win since an 89-69 win over
Detroit in May of 1999 and the 64 points scored
by the Heat tied a franchise record for fewest
points allowed in a playoff game, matching the
64 points Atlanta relinquished to the Charlotte
Hornets in one game of a 1998 playoff series.
TURNING OFF THE HEAT …
On the night, Josh Smith led the way,
scoring a team-high 23 points on 9-of-14
scored as it was about how he scored.
Running the floor with relentless vigor and
reckless abandon, J-Smoove was on the
delivering end of five earth-shattering dunks,
and an elated Philips Arena and deflated
Miami Heat were the results.
“Josh Smith got a lot of lobs and fastbreak dunks that helped with the energy in
the building,” Wade said after the game.
“When that happens, the game can get away
from you pretty fast.”
Despite all the flash and excitement,
though, the true difference in the game could
be found in the Hawks’ defense, not simply
because they only allowed a measly 64 points
on the night and just 19 to the NBA’s regularseason scoring champion (Wade), but more
because their stingy D provided the stops
that gave their explosive O the chances to get
out and run and score in transition. And, as
good as this Atlanta team can be, it is no
secret that it is at its best when flying up and
down the court.
“We are an up-and-down team,” JSmoove explained. “I wanted to get in the
fast-break and get some easy baskets. We ran
the floor well tonight for sure and got some
easy buckets as a result.”
Easy buckets was the name of the game on
Sunday and there is no doubt the Hawks will
look to ignite their offense primarily with stops
and physical, efficient play on the defensive end
of the floor, tonight and for as long as they are a
part of NBA playoff basketball this season.
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1 and throughout their regular season
matchups, the Hawks controlled D-Wade
and exposed Miami for exactly what it is: a
one-man team.
Still, for the Hawks, it is key that
Sunday’s cakewalk doesn’t negatively impact
their focus on Wednesday’s challenge. Simply
put, if the team doesn’t approach Game 2 with
the same intensity it harnessed in Game 1, the
Heat will be sure to leave Philips with the
series tied at one game apiece, a fact that was
not lost on the Hawks even as early as late
Sunday night.
“We need to keep our focus behind us
and not let them grasp any momentum,”
Smith proclaimed.
And when asked about the chances of a
Game 2 letdown, Bibby had the following to
say: “Zero [chance we have a letdown]. We’ve
got to come out on Wednesday and play again
just like we did tonight. I fully expect them to
bounce back in Game 2.”
From the sound of it, the Hawks will be
ready to soar once again tonight when Wade
and the Heat come searching for redemption.
And get J-Smoove talking about his confidence in this team and its focus, and suddenly the Hawks’ big picture, as far as Smith sees
it, begins taking shape.
“We’re not scared to play anyone,” he
says. “I have so much confidence in myself
and my team. I think we can win a series
against anyone in this league.”
Janovitz
can
be
reached
at
[email protected].
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STAY FOCUSED: Mike Bibby and the other
Hawks stressed the importance of avoiding a
letdown in Game 2 after cruising to victory in
the playoff opener on Sunday night. The cover photos are courtesy of David Carnes/Photographic Arts. The above photo
is courtesy of David McGregor/Photographic Arts.
HAWKS-HEAT PLAYOFF EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 03PE
Philips Arena crowd lifts Hawks to convincing victory over Heat in series opener
ome-court advantage. It’s something
PACKED HOUSE …
that every NBA team strives for when
For Game 1 on Sunday, the fans came to
Philips Arena early, sporting their blue and white
the season begins. In the Eastern
colors and making noise from start to finish.
Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured
Last year in the playoffs, the Hawks
home-court advantage throughout the playwent into Game 3 against the Celtics down 2offs, including the NBA Finals, after finish0 and looked as if they were going to get
ing with the league’s best regular season
swept. But the fans packed Philips anyways
record. The two, three and four seeds from
and guys such as Josh Smith, Joe Johnson
the East—the Celtics, Magic and our Atlanta
and Al Horford fed off the crowd’s energy
Hawks—will play four of the seven firstand led the Hawks to a victory. Needless to
round games in their homes.
say, after that series, more Atlanta natives
The Hawks finally got a piece of the
decided to lend their support more frequently, which led to more victories this season. At
playoff pie last year when they took on the
the beginning of the game on Sunday,
eventual world champion Boston Celtics in
Dwyane Wade threw down a monstrous jam
the
first
and the crowd
round
and
went silent. But
took them to The Hawks learned a lesson after they Mike
Bibby
seven games. lost to Boston at The Garden in that countered with
The
three
a 3-pointer and
games that Game 7 last year: to have playoff the
crowd
the Hawks success this time around, this young became vocal
won, not sur- team that feeds off its fans needed for the rest of
the game. In
p r i s i n g l y,
fact, the Hawks
were
at more home playoff games.
faithful even got
P h i l i p s
under Wade’s skin a bit, booing the superstar
Arena. The Hawks learned a lesson after they
whenever he had the ball. It seemed to work;
lost to Boston at The Garden in that Game 7
Wade only scored 19 points, 11 points below
last year: to have playoff success this time
his regular season average. With Wade strugaround, this young team that feeds off its fans
gling, the rest of the Heat offense could not
get anything going in the second half, only
needed more home playoff games.
scoring 25 points in the third and fourth
quarter combined.
After the game on Sunday, Josh Smith
talked about playing in the postseason and
playing in front of his home-town crowd.
“[The playoffs] mean a lot to me,” said
Smith, who scored 23 points in the win.
“Being from [Atlanta] and being able to represent my city and playing for the Atlanta
Hawks is a dream. You definitely have to elevate your play when the postseason comes.”
Joe Johnson loved how the crowd was
able to give the team that extra boost it needed to take Game 1 of the series.
“It was great,” Johnson said. “Once we
get on a rise and get our fast breaks and
Josh [Smith] gets those dunks, it gets the
crowd involved, which helps us extend our
defense and put a little more pressure on
the opposing team.”
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KEEP IT UP …
The way that the fans responded in
Game 1 was great, but tonight can be even
better. It’s clear that the Hawks do well when
the fans come and do whatever they can to
help the Hawks to victory. And with a stellar
performance in Game 1, Game 2 should
bring even more excitement. And we know,
Hawks fans will be right behind them, just
like they have been all season long.
Jones
can
be
reached
at
[email protected]
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ROCK THE HOUSE: Philips Arena was packed
for the Game 1 blowout against the Heat, and
the high-flying play of Josh Smith (23 points)
raised fan excitement to a new level. Hawks
fans have been supporting the home-town team
all year long and are still going strong at playoff time. Photo courtesy of David Carnes/Photographic Arts.
PE04 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
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HAWKS-HEAT PLAYOFF EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 05PE
Team photo by Scott Cunningham
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PE06 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
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HAWKS-HEAT PLAYOFF EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 07PE
Cleveland, Los Angeles dominating; are defending champions in trouble?
have in Games 1 and 2. But, after allowing
ast week, for our Game 1 preview, I took
road, winning the series in five.
WEST …
a look at the playoffs outside of Atlanta
L
rookie point guard Derrick Rose to dominate
San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6): The
L.A. Lakers (1) vs. Utah (8): I
and discussed what I expected would take
the playoff opener en route to a 36-point, 11Spurs got off to an early lead in Game 1
acknowledge that Utah is no typical eight
place. Now, with each series in progress,
here’s a snapshot of what has transpired and,
perhaps, what is still in store.
EAST …
Cleveland (1) vs. Detroit (8): Games 1
and 2 played out just as most suspected, with
Cleveland running roughshod over the visiting Pistons to the tune of 102-84 and 94-82
beatings. Thanks to a 25-4 fourth-quarter run
with LeBron James on the bench, Detroit
made Game 2’s final score look somewhat
respectable, but don’t be fooled: the Cavs led
77-50 after three quarters. This series was
over before it ever even started.
Boston (2) vs. Chicago (7): Few could
have anticipated the Kevin Garnett-less
Celtics would struggle to the extent they
assist performance and Game 1 overtime
victory, Boston needed 30 points and a virtual buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Ray Allen
just to even the series at a game apiece. The
champs are still favored, but the young Bulls
now have more than a shot.
Orlando (3) vs. Philadelphia (6):
Orlando became one of four teams with
home-court advantage to lose Game 1, as it
fell to Philly 100-98 on Saturday night
thanks to a game-winning prayer tossed in by
Andre Iguodala with 2.2 seconds remaining.
Even more incredible, the Magic lost despite
an 18-point, third-quarter advantage and a
14-point lead to start the fourth. Call me
crazy: Orlando should still comfortably dispose of the Sixers in either five or six games.
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seed, but the Lakers are still the better team,
by a considerable margin, and have demonstrated just that in two home-court romps. If
Utah has something to hang its hat on it’s a
33-8 record at home. The Lakers, however,
want this series over and done with and
should win Game 3 as a result.
Denver (2) vs. New Orleans (7):
Despite the all-around brilliance of one
Chris Paul, the hobbled Hornets simply don’t
have enough to hang with a much deeper
Denver squad now led by Mr. Playoff himself, Chauncey Billups. In a 113-84 Game 1
beatdown, the Nuggets contained Paul (21
points) and forced other Hornets to beat
them, a task they couldn’t execute. Expect
Denver to sweep at home and split on the
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before falling 105-97 to the Mavericks in
front of a sellout San Antonio crowd. Dallas,
however, has absolutely no answer for Tony
Parker and the deadly Spur spurned the
Mavs for 38 points in a 105-84 Game 2 victory. Now tied at one game apiece, the Spurs
have regained control of the series.
Portland (4) vs. Houston (5): I wasn’t
surprised to see the Rockets steal Game 1.
But a 108-81 road thrashing of the Blazers?
Fear not Blazers enthusiasts, because
Brandon Roy’s 42 Game 2 points saved
Portland in last night’s 107-103 thriller. Still,
look for the Rockets to take a 3-1 lead with
the next two games coming in Houston.
Janovitz
can
be
reached
at
[email protected].