atlhawks4life

Thanks! I hope our boys pull it off!

New and improved! Lol I tried to fix it as best I could to get ready for game 7. Hope you guys like it. Go hawks!!!

Because even though this team is special, that Boston series was one to remember. Regardless, our team is always proving the doubters wrong!

Hey squawkers. Haven't been on here in a while but I figured I'd make a video seeing how are birds are shocking the world. Unfortunately something happened while the video was uploading but I'll fix the gaps when I get back from Philips! For now, enjoy it for what it is. Go hawks!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpeBmqVF-MQ&sns=em

Happy birthday Gray Mule!

http://www.iamagm.com/news/2012/05/04/rajon.rondo.about.hawks.it.felt.we.won.series.alreadyRajon Rondo gives the Atlanta Hawks the ultimate bulletin-board material for the rest of the series. Their first-round series is tied 1-1, but in the Celtics eyes the series feels over.According to Boston Herald:Doc Rivers had told reporters that Rondo thanked his teammates for defeating the Hawks without him and evening the series at 1-1 on Tuesday. But the petulant point guard wasn’t carrying any contrition when he stepped onto the practice court and into the firing squad of pens and microphones and cameras yesterday.“The end result is all that matters,” Rondo said. “If there had been a different result, it would have been very difficult. But since we won, it felt like we won the series already.”

http://hawksbasketblog.com/2012/05/01/game-2-defending-home-court/ Game 2: Defending Home Court Tuesday, May 1, 2012By Jon Newberry With Rajon Rondo suspended for Game 2 tonight at the Highlight Factory, many are anticipating an easier road to victory for the Hawks. Joe Johnson knows better than to take anything for granted, especially during the playoffs. “This is a totally different time of the year,” Joe said this morning after shootaround. “We understand that if one guy goes out another one can step up and play big. We’re very aware of that.” Then Joe added an emphatic promise: “There won’t be a letdown tonight.” The most significant piece of Rondo’s game that will be missed by the Celtics is his ability to set up his teammates. His ability to get into the lane and deliver the ball to players in position to score is a unique skill set in basketball, and the players that will be handling the ball in his place (Bradley, Pierce and possibly Allen) will provide a different challenge. “Now whoever is at the point is probably more of a scorer than anything,” said Joe. “So some of the coverages are going to change a little bit.” MATCH-UPS TO WATCH Johnson vs. Pierce Both All-Stars struggled through poor shooting nights in Game 1, and you can count on their production increasing tonight. Joe scored only one point in the second half on Sunday, finishing with 11 points and missing all nine of his attempts from long range. Paul was not much better, scoring 12 points and finishing 0-for-6 from behind the arc. “We’re anticipating (Pierce) handling the ball more and him having more shot attempts,” Coach Drew said this morning. “We just have to be ready for it.” Ivan vs. KG Playoff games are almost always physical, but Garnett and Ivan Johnson take things to another level. The Celtics use KG for a lot of ball screens, which early in the season would have caused problems for Ivan. Early in the year he would get lost after forcing the dribbler wide with a hard show, and would be late recovering to his own man. Johnson was not hurt by these sets on Sunday, and should be ready again tonight.

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http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/1697-atlanta_citywide/deals/329926-ticket-to-a-hawks-playoff-game

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/01/13/dont-write-the-hawks-off-just-yet/?ls=iref:nbahpt1 By Sekou Smith HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Hawks All-Star Joe Johnson is either crazy or a man of serious basketball faith when he says his team “still has enough talent” to be one of the Eastern Conference elites after losing Al Horford for the remainder of the regular season with a torn pectoral muscle. No one was sure they were “elite” even with a healthy Horford. And no team in the league causes more head-scratching than the Hawks. Who else follows a rousing road win in Miami, handing the Heat their first defeat of the season, with two of the more remarkable meltdowns of this young season in back-to-back losses to the Bulls and Heat? And then they rebound by the weekend and run the Bulls off the floor in Atlanta? While most everyone assumes that the Hawks will struggle just to make the playoffs without their two-time All-Star center, I think the Hawks become an infinitely more dangerous team without him. Before you spit that coffee all over your computer screen, walk with me for a minute (and remember that this is the Hawks we’re talking about, a team that has found a way to become a postseason staple the past four years in spite of all of their Draft gaffes, enigmatic play and general dysfunction). Despite Johnson’s belief in the Hawks’ elite status, I can promise him they wouldn’t have been considered elite by outsiders even if they did finish in the top three or four of the standings this season. Honestly, that might not matter anyway. To succeed in the playoffs during an abbreviated season such as this one, a team’s regular-season finish might not be the most telling factor. The Hawks proved that last season, faltering during the regular season and then surprising with a win over the Magic in the first round and pushing the Bulls to the brink in the conference semifinals. What the Hawks do have that can’t be measured is the undeniable ability to defy all expectations and common sense. They’ve been doing it since Horford entered the league, backing into the playoffs during his rookie season and then pushing the eventual champion Celtics to seven games in a first-round series. Every season since then, the Hawks were supposed to stumble and fall back to the pack or fall out of the playoffs completely … and each time they’ve made a mockery of those predictions. Every metric, measurement and statistical analysis designed to study this team has been turned inside out. For better or worse, the Hawks never follow the script. Never! I panned this team a bit in the preseason, suggesting that their refusal to tinker with their core all these years would finally cost them this season. So it only makes sense that they would race to 8-4 during their first 12 games and score significant wins over the two teams that played in the conference finals last season. (After seven years of watching this crew up close, it warms the heart to know that the Hawks continue to confound at every turn). Still, this is a wicked blow for a team and a town that is currently reeling from the failings of its professional sports outfits, as Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution states clearly here. Only a fool would dismiss what they’ve lost in Horford, a player that Hawks coach Larry Drew described this way Thursday night: “He’s kind of a glue for us. He’s a stabilizer. He’s a guy who huddles the team, who talks in the huddle. He’s a guy who’s not afraid to call people out. Certainly the guys respect him. You can see how guys respond to him.” The Hawks are losing more than just the numbers (12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists), leadership, presence and stability. They’re losing the one player on their roster that is universally regarded as their most “important” player. Yet, their top scorer (Johnson), rebounder and shot blocker (Josh Smith), assist man and steals leader (Jeff Teague) remain healthy and ready to go. By all accounts, Smith (and not Hoford or Johnson) has been the Hawks’ best player this season and really since that series loss to the Bulls in the playoffs. (No matter how many times you get frustrated with him, that’s the way it is. Go back and watch the games and see for yourself.) Truth be told, the Hawks’ supporting cast is arguably the best it’s been since Horford entered the league. And Drew gives the Hawks a measured presence in a crisis that will pay dividends in ways that won’t be obvious to the casual observer. The same teams the Hawks were going to jockey with for playoff position if Horford was in uniform – the 76ers, Pacers, Celtics, Knicks and Magic –will be the exact same teams they deal with without him. Bottom line: Don’t assume anything with these Hawks. My guess is they aren’t going anywhere. And it would be a foolish move to write them off now, before we know exactly what they will try to do to compensate for Horford’s absence.

Nice to see Boss in good spirits and cheering on his guys... Al_Horford Hey everyone I'm doing good. Just trying to get back on the court as soon as I can. Proud of how the guys played tonight. Go Hawks! 43 minutes ago

Saw this on rotoworld: Kirk Hinrich apparently is not ahead of schedule to return from surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder, and will miss about another month, according to Hawks VP Dominique Wilkins.

Merry Christmas squawkers!

Firstrowsports.tv always has links for the games. Make sure to check there ;)

Happy belated birthday!

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6841180/atlanta-hawks-sold-california-businessman-report-saysATLANTA -- A person familiar with the deal says controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena will be sold to California developer and pizza chain owner Alex Meruelo.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because no official announcement has been made. The deal, subject to the approval of the NBA, is to be announced on Monday.The Hawks ownership group, led by Michael Gearon Jr. and Bruce Levenson, also recently sold the NHL Atlanta Thrashers to a group that has moved the team to Winnipeg. The Thrashers deal, for a reported $170 million, was announced on May 31.The Hawks will remain in Atlanta.Meruelo founded La Pizza Loca, which has over 50 franchised and company owned restaurants in Southern California.Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

http://hawksbasketblog.com/2011/06/21/a-quick-update-on-gladyr/

LOL @ Zaza with the 2K dunk and Etan making scola bleed!

http://www.nba.com/hawks/video/2011/05/03/Game1ChicagoPostF6HQflv-1670695/index.html

Thanks for the props guys

Are you sure? I embedded the video in the post. It works fine on my computer.

http://hawksbasketblog.com/2011/04/28/crawford-i-want-the-confetti-to-fall-tonight/

I'm pretty sure there'll be some links ;)

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-hawks-blog/2011/03/07/atlanta-hawks-is-disarray-here-to-stay/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_hawks_blog A tale of three team captains When the Hawks lose, you can ask Joe Johnson what happened. He is likely to tell you he doesn’t know. You can ask Al Horford. He’ll likely tell you what the problem was, and all but name who was responsible for it. You can also ask Josh Smith. He’ll tell you that the team will get their heads together, they are a tight knit group, and everything will be okay. Is any of this confidence inspiring? Why are they all saying different things? Let us get one thing out on the table, and it is something that some of you/us have already been saying since the beginning of the season. It was a mistake for Larry Drew to name three team captains. Or do you disagree? Let’s extend that even further – it was a mistake to name Josh Smith as a team captain. Perhaps you disagree more vehemently with this than the first assertion. Perhaps not. Either way, can anybody prove this was a successful venture or even a good idea? These three team captains don’t think alike. They don’t play alike. They don’t react alike. In fact, I’m feeling a bit hard-pressed to come up with something that they have in common at all. It seems that Larry Drew tried to force this team into forming its own locker room and on-court leadership. But his idea of putting three guys into such a position resulted in what looks like more confusion, which has done nothing to increase leadership. Three guys, one position. One seems like he never really felt destined to be a leader, and maybe he should have had that burden thrown on him. Another doesn’t know how to follow, so how can he lead? The third can’t lead if others won’t follow. How was this supposed to work again? From the Sidelines Mike Woodson’s tactics, leadership, and his overall body of work was questioned, and it led to him parting ways with the Hawks. General Manager Rick Sund then proclaimed that the Hawks needed to “hear a different voice.” So, he brought them (perhaps at the behest of his host of bosses) a familiar voice and placed that voice in the big chair. Perhaps the results have spoken for themselves. You hear a familiar but previously quiet voice saying the same things the old voice used to say. It seems the “different” voice begins to show signs of strain and frustration. The different voice seems to have given in. The different voice doesn’t know what to do. The different voice screams accountability, but can’t follow through. The different voice…doesn’t seem so different after all. Of course, its not just about the voice. Here is where one of Larry Drew’s biggest problems may be brewing: with Josh Smith. We used to not like it when Mike Woodson and Josh Smith got after each other. But, at least Woody got after him. And, Josh got after Woody. It wasn’t good. Josh doesn’t get after Drew. Why? Maybe because Drew doesn’t get after him. Drew has agreed to disagree with his team captain on how to play the game. Worse, he’s made this known through public quotes. How in the world can you get an entire team to listen to you when one of the team captains is allowed to disagree with you and do what he wants to do? That’s not to say that Josh isn’t a good player, or even a good person. He has shown more maturity (or at least it seems like it) in most areas, and has put up some pretty good numbers. But….can a team operate like this, when one of its best players is constantly at odds with the head coach on such basic things as when to take certain shots or when to let the point guard run the break? Let me put this another way – if you can’t convince a team captain not to take long jumpers at the wrong times, then how can you convince the rest of the team to not do so? Just watch the games. See how many long jumpers are being taken, regardless of how unsuccessful that venture turns out to be. Then watch how many times Larry Drew talks about taking too many long jumpers after a loss. And, it’s not just Josh Smith by a long shot. It’s a bunch of guys. Unfortunately, Josh is a team captain, which puts things in a slightly different light. This isn’t the only problem. Maybe this isn’t really a big problem. Maybe it is. What do you think? Breaking in the new guys The arrival of Kirk Hinrich really helped Atlanta on the defensive end, but as scores and fourth quarter numbers have indicated, that’s not all there is to the story. The problem with the offense is that this is where the leadership of this team (or lack thereof) really suffers. A guy like Hinrich knows how to play the game. How long before he becomes frustrated with the way the Hawks play? Everybody within the organization and the fan base can talk about Hinrich’s leadership and toughness until they are blue in the face. It won’t matter. Why? Because we have three team captains already. How is a guy like Hinrich to have a positive effect when all he can do is try to lead by example (something we’ve recognized as a good but incomplete form of leadership)? Can Hinrich even say anything in the locker room? Who will listen? On the flip side of the coin, Hilton Armstrong has it easier than his backcourt teammate. All he has to do is provide energy, defend the rim and the paint, and grab some rebounds. Maybe even set some screens on offense and be ready to score at the rim if he actually receives the ball. Of course, Armstrong can’t be certain of his role, as neither can Zaza Pachulia (who is very playing-time sensitive) or Jason Collins. Drew doesn’t seem to know what he wants to do with his bench or his frontcourt some days. More confusion, more disarray. If Larry Drew and the Hawks aren’t careful, they’ll stunt their own internal growth. The Final Word…. ……comes from General Manager Rick Sund. The normally quiet Sund stated before the deadline that the onus was on this team to prove who they were and what they were capable of. He said that this team would show itself and be judged on what they did through the final stretch of the season, and in the playoffs. By saying this, Sund also put the burden on himself and his bosses. After all, if the proof is in what this team does, and the team falls below expectations, or simply last year’s accomplishments, then who else can be responsible for the final product? Sund says this core is at the witness stand. He’s right. And after they testify, he’ll be going to the stand next. This summer, in fact. Call it Now Hope springs eternal, but its not the offseason yet. Forget gaining ground for now, can the Hawks even maintain their current position? Is this just a late season rut, or is the writing on the wall? If patterns hold where they are, the Hawks face the Magic in round 1 of the playoffs? Can they survive that? Your call…