Atlanta Destroys Miami in Game 1
One extremely impressive win does not define this season. One win does not guarantee this
series. In the grand scheme of things this win means very little. It is a means to an end. Advancing to the next round is the goal. This victory is merely a stepping stone.
The leaders of this Atlanta Hawks team are cautious. They understand that while the victory is huge, Game Two presents a different set of challenges. The mood following Atlanta’s 90 – 64 thrashing of the Miami Heat was a reserved one. It is clear to this bunch that there is still plenty of work to be done.
I asked Coach Mike Woodson to talk about the Game 1 performance.
Jerold Wells, TSF: “You couldn’t have had a better start to this series. Talk about your performance offensively and defensively. What did you see in practice and on film that made you and your team so confident?”
Head Coach Mike Woodson: “We expected to play well but I didn’t know it would turn out this well. Our focus was there tonight. Our defense was there. We shared the ball and made shots (In reference to preparation and team confidence). We have guys that are hungry. They are playing for something. The Boston series last year taught us how to play playoff basketball. I told the guys that if we give consistent defensive effort and don’t take possessions off that we’d give ourselves a chance to win.”
Atlanta executed their offensive and defensive plans to perfection in the first half. Offensively, the Hawks practically lived in the paint and scored on a variety of lay ups, dunks, short jumpers and put backs. Joe Johnson (15 points) and Mike Bibby (10 points, 9 assists) facilitated the offensive sets effectively and the Hawks transition game was nothing short of spectacular. Josh Smith (23 points, 10 rebounds) was especially effective in transition, scoring on a variety of alley-oop dunks, put back bangs and fast break jams.
I posed the same question to Josh Smith as I did to Coach Woodson but I added a 2nd part about the team’s hot start, the contributions of Marvin Williams specifically, and their aggressiveness offensively to start the game.
Josh Smith: “Marvin means a lot to this team. Having him makes us better and you could see that tonight. He was aggressive and it definitely spread through the whole team (In reference to game plan and focus for this game). We were definitely focused tonight. We still feel as though nobody is giving us a shot to win. We just focused on leaving all the distractions behind and ignoring the critics. We feel that if we play together we can beat anybody.”
Neither team looked terribly interested in playing any defense in the early going. The 7:30 mark of the 2nd quarter proved to be a key moment for the Hawks defensive momentum. Marvin Williams forced a Daequan Cook turnover off of an attempted in bounds pass and the proverbial flood gates were opened. Atlanta used the spark from that play to stifle the Heat and essentially put the game out of reach in the first half.
The home team was also successful when it came to slowing down Dwyane Wade. The MVP candidate finished with 19 points on 8-21 shooting. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists but his 8 turnovers were the most telling sign of the Hawks defensive effectiveness. Wade never really found a groove in this game and without his normal input the Heat lacked the firepower to compete.
JW: “Talk a little about the defensive job you did on Dwyane Wade.”
MW: “Our game plan was to keep bodies in front of him at all times. We focused on getting back in transition and keeping a wall of bodies in front of him at all times. Our personnel also allows us to switch when he’s in pick and roll situations. I told the guys to take pride in defending when you’re on the ball. I think they did that tonight.”
Game 2 of this series should be much more competitive. Atlanta will look to carry over their positives and defend home court. Miami will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing.
I asked Miami Head Coach Eric Spoelstra what went wrong and how they would improve for the next contest.
JW: “How was Atlanta able to bottle up your offense tonight?”
ES: “Atlanta’s athleticism and size bothered us tonight. Also, we didn’t show the patience to get the results we wanted offensively. Our energy wasn’t there and our spacing on offense wasn’t consistently where it needed to be.”
JW: “Wade didn’t have a good game but I think we’re all pretty sure he’ll bounce back. Where will you look for scoring outside of Wade going forward?”
ES: “We’ll look the same places we did all year. Our 3 point shooting will have to improve (the Heat shot 4-23 for the game) and we’ll need some inside scoring as well from Jermaine (O’Neal, 5 points), Udonis (Haslem, 6 points) and Michael (Beasley, 10 points). Also, a faster pace and more energy will help us a lot as well.”
Whatever the case, we should anticipate two teams with something to prove. We should be certain tha neither squad will be thinking about this contest. The next game is simply the opportunity to move closer to the ultimate goal.
Good stuff Jerold. It was a great atmosphere last night. Hope to see you again real soon!
If Miami pulls out this series, you can send D-Wade to the Hall of Fame right now.
Miami is at its best jacking threes, getting to the free throw line based on transition plays and turning opponents over. Atlanta is just a nightmare matchup for them.
Wade is arguably the only guy on the Heat who could crack the rotation in Atlanta. That says it all.
Wade needs some help…………PERIOD!
The Hawks are definitely in the driver’s seat right now. And for now, the Hawks’ defense has been kyrptonite to Dwayne Wade and the Heat team. Miami have a few veterans who have been through the playoff wars such as Udonis Haslem and Jermaine O’Neal. However, Wade doesn’t have that perimeter lieutenant who can hit shots on a consistent basis and down the stretch of contested games. For Cleveland Mo Williams has emerged as the ‘other guy’ who complements LeBron when he draws double or occasional triple teams. Right now for Miami Daquan Cook isn’t the answer. He got talent, but he left his heart at Ohio State– for now. Mario Chalmers has set rookie records for three-pointers and steals. However, he has yet to raise his level of play in much the same way Derrick Rose has with the Bulls.
The TNT crew with Charles Barkley, Chris Webber and Kenny Smith are collectively rooting for Miami and have been critiquing the Hawks’ weaknesses.
The Hawks are undersized, shoot too many jumpers and don’t have that killer instinct. However, that can change.
This may be Atlanta’s time– to get past the first round. The alignment of the stars, moon and other things are apparently in place and this Hawks’ team have an opportunity to get past a formidable, yet young Miami team who is still trying to find themselves as an unit.
Now many people had picked Miami before the series and felt that Wade could carry this team on his back. Anything is possible– especially if Marvin Williams becomes a passive spectator for the majority of the game or if Josh Smith becomes enraged with a referee’s apparent bad call and allow himself to be taken out of the game. And of course Mike Bibby who is prone to turn the ball over and become a defensive liability which leads to the opposing team making mini-runs during the game which may cost the Hawks momentum or the lead.
The national media expects the Hawks to crack mentally, leaving the always ready Wade to bust through the door like Superman and carrying his team to victory.
A much-hyped Cavs-Heat series is what ABC/ESPN want, but the Hawks can be definite spoilers.
The Hawks must play with a chip on their shoulder and carry over that Game 1 momentum. Joe Johnson has to lead the way and he must have his supporting cast show up and make significant contributions.
This second game is a crucial game, and could be a LETDOWN game. ESPN commentators had mentioned the Hawks have always lost a playoff series whenever Atlanta had won a game by 20 points or more (i.e. Boston, 1986, Detroit..)
I like the way the Atlanta crowd was booing D-Wade last night, but the whole Hawks’ team got to have the mindset to blowout the Heat..20 points isn’t enough (we saw what happened with Orlando blowing a lead to Philly..)
And if we have a bad call or two from the refs.. in the words of Mark Jackson: ‘don’t get mad at the refs, get mad at the rim..’ The Hawks must stay focus and continue to attack and pressure the Heat..