A playoff series doesn't start until the road team wins a game. LET'S GO HAWKS!!
Here are some things that the Hawks need to do and/or not do to have a chance in this game:
1. "Don't be satisfied." Maintain intensity! The Hawks love to start halves slow and have to make up a double-digit deficit. They need to want it for 48 minutes, and it starts with Horford and JSmoov, guys who provide energy through leadership and insane dunks, respectively. It's hard to measure intangibles like leadership, but Horford's effect on the team since the playoffs started cannot be understated. Playing that Rocky video, showing up Paul Pierce who could only respond by flashing menacing hand gestures, backing up Zaza's foreheadbutting, all of these and so many more things are influential on a young inexperienced team with a bad inexperienced coach.
2. Be mentally and emotionally strong. Do not waiver to the raucous Gardens crowd or the stifling physical Celtics defense. You know the crowd will be into it, and the Big 3 and company will come back with a vengeance at home. The Hawks were affected in the first two games and backed off when confronted with a hard foul or negative reaction from the crowd, but they need to just focus and play their game. The ATL home crowd really lifted the team and provided so much energy, esp. for JSmoov, but without the Sixth Man, the team has to keep a strong will without the help of twenty thousand fans. No one will expect Woodson to help the team in this aspect (or any other aspect?), but once again, the likes of Horford need to keep the team going when the going gets tough. And no matter how much momentum the Hawks gained at home, they'll most certainly be playing from behind in a hostile environment on the road. The Hawks weren't good playing from behind in the regular season, but showed they have the toughness in Games 3 and 4. I hope they can pull it off again on the road.
3. Continue doing what's been successful. Well, duh. But nevermind other NBA teams, the Hawks need to be reminded. Push the pace whenever possible; feed the ball into the post and let Horford and JSmoov force it to the rim or dish out to open shooters; play smart, hustle defense. Boston's offense will come out with more spark and aggression on their home court, and will probably run more crisply at home with the extra pass or strong drive. That will most likely mean lots of open shooters since the Hawks haven't really been playing the long range shot that well, Boston's shots just weren't falling in at Phillips. So it'd be good to see the Hawks players not miss their defensive assignments and give up easy baseline dunks or wide open shots to Rondo, Allen, or Posey.
4. Let the bench play. Acie has looked great all series even though he hasn't played at all the entire season, Zaza has brought toughness and timely rebounding, even Solomon can block a shot or two even though I have a heart attack everytime he goes near the ball. This is esp. important on the road, when the starters will be tired and worn down by the defense and crowd and the bench will need to give them a lift.
5. Give the ball to Joe. Enough said.
Here are some things that the Hawks need to do and/or not do to have a chance in this game:
1. "Don't be satisfied." Maintain intensity! The Hawks love to start halves slow and have to make up a double-digit deficit. They need to want it for 48 minutes, and it starts with Horford and JSmoov, guys who provide energy through leadership and insane dunks, respectively. It's hard to measure intangibles like leadership, but Horford's effect on the team since the playoffs started cannot be understated. Playing that Rocky video, showing up Paul Pierce who could only respond by flashing menacing hand gestures, backing up Zaza's foreheadbutting, all of these and so many more things are influential on a young inexperienced team with a bad inexperienced coach.
2. Be mentally and emotionally strong. Do not waiver to the raucous Gardens crowd or the stifling physical Celtics defense. You know the crowd will be into it, and the Big 3 and company will come back with a vengeance at home. The Hawks were affected in the first two games and backed off when confronted with a hard foul or negative reaction from the crowd, but they need to just focus and play their game. The ATL home crowd really lifted the team and provided so much energy, esp. for JSmoov, but without the Sixth Man, the team has to keep a strong will without the help of twenty thousand fans. No one will expect Woodson to help the team in this aspect (or any other aspect?), but once again, the likes of Horford need to keep the team going when the going gets tough. And no matter how much momentum the Hawks gained at home, they'll most certainly be playing from behind in a hostile environment on the road. The Hawks weren't good playing from behind in the regular season, but showed they have the toughness in Games 3 and 4. I hope they can pull it off again on the road.
3. Continue doing what's been successful. Well, duh. But nevermind other NBA teams, the Hawks need to be reminded. Push the pace whenever possible; feed the ball into the post and let Horford and JSmoov force it to the rim or dish out to open shooters; play smart, hustle defense. Boston's offense will come out with more spark and aggression on their home court, and will probably run more crisply at home with the extra pass or strong drive. That will most likely mean lots of open shooters since the Hawks haven't really been playing the long range shot that well, Boston's shots just weren't falling in at Phillips. So it'd be good to see the Hawks players not miss their defensive assignments and give up easy baseline dunks or wide open shots to Rondo, Allen, or Posey.
4. Let the bench play. Acie has looked great all series even though he hasn't played at all the entire season, Zaza has brought toughness and timely rebounding, even Solomon can block a shot or two even though I have a heart attack everytime he goes near the ball. This is esp. important on the road, when the starters will be tired and worn down by the defense and crowd and the bench will need to give them a lift.
5. Give the ball to Joe. Enough said.
1 comment:
number 3 pretty much outlines a logical, effective offensive scheme...one that is obvious to halfway observant fans everywhere but somehow oblivious to mike woodson. sigh.
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