| The Hawks Are Back On The Scene Authored by Patrick J. Austin - May 5, 2008 - 2:26 pm
“There will be no miracles here, and Atlanta will slink out of the playoffs, making a farce of its first appearance since 1999.” – Nathaniel Friedman
“Celtics vs. Hawks: This series ends in 4 games” – Stephen A. Smith
“The Celtics are superior on every level.” – Michael Wilbon
"I'm happy to see Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Al Horford, and Mavin Williams in the playoffs for the first time, but this is a nightmare to be matched up against a veteran Boston team." - Chris Reina
“Boston Celtics Draw a First Round Bye with Atlanta Hawks Matchup” – Dennis White
It feels so good proving the national media and so-called “expert” analysts wrong.
No one predicted, or even fathomed, the Hawks would take the heralded Boston Celtics to the limit in a winner-take-all seventh game. Most people believed the Hawks would be sacrificial lambs to the Celtics inevitable ascension to basketball greatness. No one even took the time of day (except for yours truly) to give the Hawks a chance to say, “Hey, this athletic team could give the Celtics some problems.”
But that doesn’t matter now. The Hawks are back on the scene.
The effects of this first round battle with the Celtics is going to reverberate for years with this young club. The experience gained for the likes of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford will be invaluable and points to a sea change for the franchise.
Beating the supposedly superior Celtics three times was great, but the best thing to take away from this series is the professional basketball renaissance taking place in Atlanta. The scene in Philips Arena for the Hawks home playoff games was a sight for sore eyes: sold out crowds, high energy, raucous chants, and true support for the hometown team.
For a moment, I sat back and took it all in. For those of us who remained loyal to the team during the dark days truly appreciate the newly found support in a city that was deemed apathetic and disinterested in basketball. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Atlanta is a basketball city. All that’s needed is a consistently good team. That’s when the fans show up.
Now, as a journalist, I need to remark on the outcome of game seven. The fact of the matter is the Hawks got walloped by a score of 99-65. The game was pretty much over by the end of the 2nd quarter. Certainly, I would have loved to see the Hawks put up more of a fight in such an important situation, but the mere fact that we took the best team in the league to a game seven is enough.
The message has been sent loud and clear: the Hawks are back on the scene.
Johnson, Smith, Horford and the rest of the team should hold their heads up high. They overachieved and did more than anyone thought possible. I was hoping to use the David v. Goliath metaphor, but that would have required David (i.e. the Hawks) to win. That’s okay considering there will be plenty of playoff battles with many so-called Goliaths in the future.
Be rest assured, if the Hawks can maintain their core, this team will make the playoffs again next year…and the year after…and the year after. We have a group of players that could do something special if they get the chance to truly gel and become a cohesive unit. Let’s see what Mike Bibby can do with a full season playing alongside JJ in the backcourt. Let’s see a stronger, more refined Horford cement his place as one of the best young big men in the game during his sophomore campaign. Let’s see Smoove (re-signed to a new phat contract) average 20/10.
If management (yes, that’s you Billy Knight…for now) doesn’t get too crazy this summer, the Hawks will be an improved, more seasoned ball club heading into next season and ready to join the top-tier teams in the East.
No doubt, the Hawks are back on the scene. Now it’s time to take the scene over. |
