Hawks Game Anyone?

So I am in Atlanta for the weekend, and found out last night that I may have tickets to Game 3 of the Hawks Cavs series. I was ecstatic to say the least. NBA playoff game, four rows from the court, and I get to see LeBron! Then I found out that the Hawks got spanked for the second game in a row. Suddenly my response turned into, “I guess I’ll go if I’m not doing anything.” It’s not that the Cavs are just that good, but the Hawks didn’t show up for this series.

Sure the Hawks are playing with a depleted roster. Al Horfrod and Marvin Williams were forced to watch the game from the bench due to injury. That still leaves Atlanta with their top scorer in Joe Johnson, big man Josh Smith, and a talented veteran point guard n Mike Bibby. That leaves them with the three guys who were I instrumental in pushing last year’s series against the Celtics to a Game 7. I’m starting to believe that this group of guys is going to be one of those teams that continuously crack under pressure. No expectations and they can win you a bunch of ball games during the regular season like the ’98 Bulls; when playoff time hits they compete like the Clippers.

Every player needs to step his game up this time of year, particularly the star. For the Hawks that would have to be Joe Johnson. Just one problem…Joe can not be located for this series. There is a guy playing each game that looks like him, has his name on the back of the jersey, but surely isn’t performing like the All-Star. The team’s anchor who averages 21.4 points during the regular season, has contributed just 10.5 points per game this series. If he keeps this up I am officially going to name him Joe McNabb.(sorry Donovan but you deserve that jab)

Hopefully the Hawks are just homesick and can make this a series when they return to Atlanta on Saturday. The numbers are not on their side to win this thing however. Teams down 0-2 in the playoffs have only won 13/204 series. If the Hawks are going to add one to that number, they are going to have to start playing seriously.

Nuggets Take 2-0 Lead

It appeared as though the Dallas Mavericks were going to have an opportunity to even the series at one game apiece last night, but the Nuggets defensive intensity down the stretch was just too much to overcome.

Denver won the game by a score of 117-105 to take a two game lead. Carmelo Anthony was the driving force behind the win as he scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Despite his play, he was willing pass the praise to the team’s most recent addition Chauncey Billups. In the fourth quarter, Billups dove to save a loose ball that would eventually lead to a layup by J.R. Smith. In a post game interview, Anthony was quoted saying, “That play right there was the biggest play of the game.”

Dirk Norwitzki’s 35 points was not enough to get the Mavs over the hump. As he did after game one, he conceded to the defensive efforts of the Denver Nuggets. He received a lot of heat for his statement that forward Chris Andersen has what it takes to shut him down. Analysts Chris Webber and Charles Barkley felt as though a player of his caliber should never show that much respect to their opponent.

Norwitzki received very little help from his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. Josh Howard was not a factor at all. He was sent to the bench after just six minutes of action with two sprained ankles. Antoine Wright was the only other starter to score in double digits with just ten points and Jason Kidd provided a mere four points to go along with seven assists.

The series will move to Dallas on Saturday where the Mavs are 17-1 since the All-Star break. The Nuggets have been on a tear since the start of the playoffs. They have lost only one game with their margin of victory at 24.8. This includes a 58 point win over the Hornets in round one.