Blazemore

I thought we make the playoffs. 5th, maybe 6th seed. Probably get knocked out in the first round and if we made it past the first round we would certainly get destroyed in the second round. I remember thinking "If we made it past the first round I would be happy with this season". I'm seriously, curious what everyone expected at the start of this year. I never DREAMED of a championship at the start of this year. I did later, but really, the team never changed. We were humiliated in this series and it was painful to watch. I was disappointed at this series. But let's seriously look at this in context. I remember a LONG time we had a thread when we first reached the #1 seed. Very, VERY few of us expected us to keep it. Remember? We thought the Raptors would take it from us shortly, but this team overcame our low expectations and held onto it. What I'm trying to say is, this isn't the end of the world. This team was more or less constructed in 2 1/2 years. We didn't use the draft. We failed to attract super-stars. We just made due with what we got. And the fact that we made it this far, no matter how horrible the ending was, is something to, maybe not be proud of, but something we can look at in a positive light. Anyway, where did y'all think we would be at the start of season?

Man, I feel like Bleacher Report is one of the few news media groups that don't rag on us. We were in Game of Zones 3 and they do this. It's just nice that someone is putting us in a positive light.

I watched the replays and I wasn't really 100% sure that he didn't shoot it in time. It looked like he didn't, but I wasn't sure. Then they showed Paul Pierce's face. You could tell he KNEW he didn't get it off in time. The SECOND they showed his face I stopped pacing the room and just sat down and smiled. If that cocky dude didn't think he got it off in time than he DIDN'T. Glad we are done with Pierce and the Wizards. Onto another challenge, Lebron. This is the PLAYOFFS BABY! Great teams against great teams, again, and again. God it feels GREAT to get this far. Here's to eight more wins!

A lot of that is the 3 point line is the same it is in college, so the 3 is a higher percent shot. Honestly, I wanted us to do it to, on the basis of 'they have Paul Pierce' but at the end of the day...good thing we didn't. We won. And to reiterate: WE WON! YES! YES! YES! YES!

My favorite part of that shot was how the SECOND Horford made it, he went to the other end. He wasn't letting them slingshot a pass for an easy point on the other end. He INSTANTLY started playing defense. That's a veteran play. That's a low ego move. THAT is the kind of attitude that this Hawks team was built around.

I like what I'm seeing from our team offensively would be nice if Paul Pierce would miss...

MOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!

THIS is the bench I've been WAITING to see.

I'm honestly finding myself rooting for the Clippers in this series. I like the Spurs more, it's just hard for me to root for a team that all ready won the title around. Also I'd like to see CP3 get somewhere in the playoffs for once, I've always really liked the way he played the game and it's puzzling to me that he's never gotten past the second round.

Anyone catch that moment at the end with Jeff and Joe? Nice to see that kind of thing.

I like this idea because I like Al at PF. Thing about Joakim is I worry about his health, he's been having a rough year due to that and I'm just not sold on the fact that he'll be healthy enough. Love his defense and rebounding though.

When I checked the Bulls@Bucks score I looked it up on another site to make sure my phone wasn't messing up. Bulls MURDERED them. Also anyone else checking out the Clippers/Spurs series? Not sure how many Squawkers have my work hours and have been able to catch this series but man, it's been an intense series.

I really didn't plan on booing him when I arrived at Philips today. I knew he would be booed, and I had decided not to do it to him. Was he overpaid by us? Certainly, but who wouldn't take that money. Did he never take us very far in the playoffs? Yes, he never did. But he did his best, he just wasn't good enough. Then I got to Philips and was completely engulfed in the atmosphere and booed him every time he touched the ball. It's really as DJ says, it's not personal. Just business.

Is this real or a joke? I really can't tell. That video starts by saying "True hero ball..." while showing the spurs playing... Does TNT not realize the connotation surrounding hero ball? Does no one in their marketing department actually watch basketball? Either I'm very confused or they are...

Is it bad that even though they are bank robbers my first thought was, 'I hope they enjoyed the game.'?

It could honestly be a lot of things, and I think that's a good thing. Yes, we've had injuries, but I don't think that's it. It's probably the fact that we have more or less clinched the first seed in the east, so we are focusing on not getting injured (Exception: Dennis). Honestly, there is not much on the line for us. I would've been shocked if we had beaten the Thunder, they had SO MUCH MORE to loose than us. We are just on cruise control until the playoffs and honestly, that makes sense. The players have earned it. Yes, I would honestly like us to step it up and get some more wins just to comfort any doubts I have, but frankly, I'm just waiting for the playoffs and I think the team is in that same mind set. (For the record: We clinched our division with this loss to the Thunder, just to put how far ahead in the standings we are in perspective)

The Spurs. Sure, the media would care more about us beating the GSW and it would even help us more in the standings....but honestly, I REALLY want to beat the Spurs. I can't even remember the last time we beat them. Also, while I find the "Spurs East" title we have been dubbed very flattering (See: The Spurs' championships) it's not really our identity and I think beating them is just a step in the right for the team in general.

Pero is cold right no offensively and there is no denying it. But that's FINE. He's cold NOW but it's not like he's going to be cold for the rest of the season. Pero is streaky offensively, always has been, always will be, but that's OK. We have 4 players that can play center on our team come playoff time, (Maybe 3, Moose may not be ready for prime time). So if he's cold then we have options. Even if he isn't cold then, he gives a LOT on defense. It may not show on the box score, but Pero is a versatile defense player that doesn't make mistakes. Also when his 3 is going down, our bench offense is a monstrosity that can't be stopped. Between him and Scott sinking 3's and Dennis cutting to the basket our bench unit it straight out of a horror show for opposing defenses. Pero is worth everything he gives us. We have depth. Pero isn't a starter, we can afford a bench player being cold offensively for a stretch during the regular season.

Hey man, I've been lurking here for about 2 years and also just made an account, and while some posters are can be negative (not calling any names) there are also some that are optimistic and some in-between. A little bit of criticism of ANY player is expected with a group of this size and there is nothing wrong with that. I actually like this dynamic of people. Sure, there are some people who's negativity can annoy me, but overall I think it's a great group of people. You have got to remember, a lot of those people who seem 'negative' have been supporting the Hawks for longer than either you and me.

I was there at the game so I didn't really get a good perspective. I sat in 319 Row A so I couldn't really tell what was a foul and what wasn't from way up where I was sitting...but honestly, I thought the calls were fair. Mind you, there was a lot of calls and they seemed to have been made with some inconsistency...but they seemed to be calling them fair. Of course, sitting where I sit, you just gotta believe in the refs. (There was a 'Refs you suck' chant going there for a while, but honestly, I hear that chant in Philips more than any other stadium)

Has it? It wasn't too great today but I haven't really noticed it slipping...something about 17 wins.

He sets great picks, is great at boxing out, and plays pretty good defense. Those things just don't really show up on the box score. Also when his three-pointer is dropping he rips the opposing team's defensive strategy to pieces. When it's off he looks TERRIBLE but again, he still does all the things above.

It will never happen (And on the 1 in 1-million chance it does feel free to quote me on saying it will NEVER happen). But yes. Of course. Not only is he an all-star player, one of the best in the league, a true MVP, but he also plays a game that would fit wonderfully in our system.

I'd agree with you a year ago, but frankly this year he's been playing out of his mind on both ends of the court. I'd still say Steph has my MVP vote but you can't dismiss how great of a year Harden is playing. Of course, I'd take a team as cohesive as the Hawks any day over an MVP. After all, 5 > 1.