Thread Tools

Display Modes

MickyEyez · 04-15-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Atlanta vs. Orlando

TIME: 07:00 P.M. EST
VENUE: Philips Arena

The Atlanta Hawks didn't get to clinch their first playoff berth in nine years in front of their fans, but that's alright with them.

Instead, the Hawks' final home game will be a celebration, as they face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, one day after Atlanta secured the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks entered Monday with a magic number of one, and even though they didn't play, their first trip to the postseason since 1998-99 was guaranteed when Indiana lost 117-110 at Washington.

"It's huge for our franchise, when you talk about a young team coming together," fourth-year coach Mike Woodson said. "It's huge for the guys that have put in their time and worked hard. We've worked hard to overcome some things as a unit to get this team where it needs to be."

The achievement caps a long stretch of rebuilding, but the last three seasons have seen steady improvement for Atlanta (37-43) after the team went just 13-69 in 2004-05. The Hawks will now face top-seeded Boston - another team that missed the playoffs last season - in the first round.

"Being here for my fourth year, and going through some of those rough times we went through, it feels great to have made it and to get a taste of what playoff basketball is like," Atlanta forward Josh Childress said.

Despite Saturday's 99-89 home loss to the Celtics, the Hawks earned their way into the postseason by winning 11 of their last 16 games, with former Boston draft pick Joe Johnson leading the way.

Johnson has averaged 25.3 points - more than three above his season average - in the last 16 games, and has three 30-point games in the last five.

"It's a great feeling, but we still have to worry about ourselves right now," Johnson said. "We have to handle our business for these last two games to get ready for the playoffs. Just because we're in doesn't mean we can relax."

The Hawks close the season Wednesday at Miami, but first they'll face a fellow playoff-bound squad in the Magic (50-30). Orlando is locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, and learned Tuesday that it will face Toronto in the first round.

With its games largely meaningless in the standings, the Magic have played erratically lately, dropping five of nine - a stretch that includes a home loss to Minnesota and losses at New York and Atlanta.

The Hawks beat the Magic 98-90 at home on March 22, and lead the season series 2-1, having also won 98-87 in Orlando on Dec. 10.

The Magic still secured their first 50-win season since 1995-96 with a 104-84 win at Chicago on Sunday. Hedo Turkoglu had 24 points and eight assists and Dwight Howard added 19 points as Orlando pulled away in the fourth quarter.

"I'm surprised we haven't won more than 50 this year," Howard said. "I think we should have won at least 55. To win 50 is big. Every year, we've progressed."

With Howard leading the NBA with 14.3 rebounds per game and Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis combining for 386 3-pointers - the most of any duo in the NBA - the Magic have clinched their first Southeast Division title and improved by at least 10 wins from last season.

"They have a powerful player inside, perimeter shooting and some bigs who run the pick-and-roll," Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan said. "That puts a lot of pressure on your defense."

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamece...080415_ORL@ATL

today and tomorrow, then we hit the postseason...

sorry for laggin on a couple of the previous game threads and what not, i been going through a nasty break-up and stressin over that ish right now. at least i will always have my Magic

thanks to Blue Magic for helping a brotha out.

ATLien · 04-15-2008, 02:22 PM

Fourth-year coach Mike Woodson said, "We've worked hard to overcome some things as a unit to get this team where it needs to be."

Haha. I think he was talking about himself right there.

Babir · 04-15-2008, 06:23 PM

Reddick looked good...
Evans continues to surprise...

Idunkonyou · 04-15-2008, 06:43 PM

Backups pretty much won this game for us. Our starters saw time in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Maybe a minute or 2 in the 2nd and 4th quarters. Our backups played great in the 4th.

9diamonds · 04-15-2008, 06:59 PM

Hopefully Evans will come around in the playoffs cuz we r gonna need him

MickyEyez · 04-15-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9diamonds

Hopefully Evans will come around in the playoffs cuz we r gonna need him

well he certainly had a coming out party tonight...

i still can't thank Otis enough for dealing Ariza for Evans and Cook, Evans has completely changed this team's image and i don't know why everyone keeps saying that we are still missing a solid 2... Evans is a great hustle guy that doesn't mind being a 3, 4, or even 5 option. Efficient on offense and he plays solid defense.

don't think our Big 3 are getting too much playing time tomorrow against WASHINGTON, but hopefully the bench plays as well as they did today to get their confidence going before the postseason...

Idunkonyou · 04-15-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickyEyez

well he certainly had a coming out party tonight...

i still can't thank Otis enough for dealing Ariza for Evans and Cook, Evans has completely changed this team's image and i don't know why everyone keeps saying that we are still missing a solid 2... Evans is a great hustle guy that doesn't mind being a 3, 4, or even 5 option. Efficient on offense and he plays solid defense.

don't think our Big 3 are getting too much playing time tomorrow against WASHINGTON, but hopefully the bench plays as well as they did today to get their confidence going before the postseason...

Evans and Dooling are the only 2 FAs I want back next year, while also adding a couple solid contributing players with the MLE and draft.

MickyEyez · 04-15-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idunkonyou

Evans and Dooling are the only 2 FAs I want back next year, while also adding a couple solid contributing players with the MLE and draft.

agreed... i could care less about Arroyo and Garrity (which should give us a lot of money when his contract expires)

are there any other guys that i'm missing?

**Blue Magic** · 04-15-2008, 07:50 PM

^^Bogans?? I like his D and he can knock down big shots.

But yeah. I always mention Evans when im talking about the Magic, but people laugh him off. Lol, good to see him backin me up tonight with a big game. I think he will be our x-factor in the Playoffs tho......if he heats up and plays like he has been recently, I dont think we will have to much to worry about but if not, it could become a bit of a battle....I have been impressed with game tho im not gonna lie....i never really heard much of him till he came here but im glad we got him.

MickyEyez · 04-15-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Magic

^^Bogans?? I like his D and he can knock down big shots.

But yeah. I always mention Evans when im talking about the Magic, but people laugh him off. Lol, good to see him backin me up tonight with a big game. I think he will be our x-factor in the Playoffs tho......if he heats up and plays like he has been recently, I dont think we will have to much to worry about but if not, it could become a bit of a battle....I have been impressed with game tho im not gonna lie....i never really heard much of him till he came here but im glad we got him.

Bogans is a solid player, but he's def not someone we need to resign and bring back next year, besides... JJ proved tonight that "He is the World's Greatest Shooter".

NikesNextDynasty · 04-16-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickyEyez

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamece...080415_ORL@ATL

today and tomorrow, then we hit the postseason...

sorry for laggin on a couple of the previous game threads and what not, i been going through a nasty break-up and stressin over that ish right now. at least i will always have my Magic

thanks to Blue Magic for helping a brotha out.

Dont' forget about us.
You have your Magic, and your boys from the forum. =]

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes