SB Nation Atlanta - Hawks Fall Two Wins Short Of Conference Finals, Bulls Win 93-73https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2011-05-16T07:30:29-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19060892011-05-16T07:30:29-04:002011-05-16T07:30:29-04:00PHOTO: Atlanta Hawks Goin' Fishing At Stone Mountain Thanks To TNT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>As is tradition, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> were officially seen out of the 2011 NBA playoffs Sunday night, when the TNT crew presented its Hawks "goin' fishing" Photoshop. Fishing with Kenny Smith: it's a rite of passage, and if we're going to laugh at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>, we have to take our medicine too. </p>
<p>Photo via <a href="http://twitter.com/jose3030">@jose3030</a>. Click to make it much bigger:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/613129/299462116.png"><img width="300" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/613129/299462116_medium.png" class="photo" alt="299462116_medium"></a></p>
<p>That's Atlanta hero Cee-Lo Green wearing a 13.1 Atlanta shirt and joining Atlantan (Atlantan? Atlantan!) and apparent ASG critic Ed Helms in Stone Mountain Lake.</p>
<p>If you can't make out the details, <span>Joe Johnson</span>'s sporting an "Overpaid" T-shirt. <span>Josh Smith</span> has a General Sherman shirt and a can of Coke while Smith shows his support for Ted's Montana Grill. <span>Al Horford</span> has the prize catch but nothing funny on his shirt, though of course that short-sleeved denim button up is the most Georgia shirt in the entire collection.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/16/2172934/atlanta-hawks-nba-playoffs-going-fishingJason Kirk2011-05-13T08:00:57-04:002011-05-13T08:00:57-04:00Hawks Vs. Bulls Series Recap: Chicago Makes Last Adjustment, Wins It In Six
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Sometimes the game of basketball is also a game of chess. And if you use <a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/4/29/2142048/hawks-vs-bulls-series-schedule-scores">the recently completed series</a> between the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> and the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a> as an example, Bulls coach <span>Tom Thibodeau</span> finally forced Hawks coach <span>Larry Drew</span> into checkmate.</p>
<p>Not that it was an easy task for the first-year workaholic Chicago tactician.</p>
<p>Atlanta took control in the first game of the series, shocking the so-called experts with an impressive 103-95 road win. In that one, the Bulls went to single coverage on <span>Joe Johnson</span> and <span>Jamal Crawford</span> and the duo combined for 56 points.</p>
<p>But Thibodeau quickly made the adjustment. Johnson and Crawford were never the same.</p>
<p>"After the first game, they just started trapping me,and Jamal, not giving us a chance to play," Johnson said shortly after the Hawks were eliminated in Game 6. "We were forced to do a lot."</p>
<p>Chicago also was much more active on the boards in Games 2 and 3, as <span>Joakim Noah</span> and <span>Carlos Boozer</span> were all over the floor. </p>
<p>But it was Drew who came up with the next adjustment, changing his lineup by going "big" with <span>Jason Collins</span> in the middle. That gave the Hawks the edge inside and allowed them to even up the series.</p>
<p>It was NBA's reigning coach of the year that put the Hawks in check by blowing the game open in an otherwise even Game 5 by going to a suffocating defensive alignment in the final quarter and took the series back to Atlanta with a 12-point win.</p>
<p>A combination of defense paired with a very active offense that finished off the series in Game 6 -- something that definitely wasn't lost on Atlanta's players in the locker room after the series was over. Chicago dished an astounding 34 assists on 41 field goals in a 93-73 win.</p>
<p>Checkmate.</p>
<p>"I think they're the best team in the league," center <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> said after the loss. "They play like it defensively and offensively. Guys accept roles."</p>
<p>Of course, it also helped that the Bulls have a budding superstar in <span>Derrick Rose</span>, who can not only score on offense, but also dish the basketball. The NBA MVP leads all Chicago scorers with an average of 28.8 points and 9.8 assists over his first 11 playoff games.</p>
<p>If there's one knock on the Jekyll-and-Hyde Hawks, it's that "Team Jekyll" is very active on the court, distributes the basketball and it's that movement, that creates spacing and allows Atlanta's shots to fall. When those shots fall, it's a heck of a lot easier to get set on defense.</p>
<p>"Team Hyde" is less active offensively. They take bad and rushed shots. Their transition game suffers and the other team gets easy buckets in transition.</p>
<p>In the NBA, that's usually the difference between winning and losing. Especially against a good team like the Bulls in a hotly contested chess match in the postseason.</p>
<p>"We've been preaching all year long about ball movement and spacing," Drew said. "You have to space the floor, you have to move the ball, you have to force the defense to shift. And then you have to look to attack. You cannot settle against a team like (the Bulls). They zero in on that pretty well."</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Atlanta, they did just that on Thursday and for the third consecutive year, they will be "goin' fishing" after making it to the second round.</p>
<p><span>Josh Smith</span>, for one, thinks the future is bright for Atlanta's basketball team.</p>
<p>"This team does (have more than second-round talent)," he said. "We're a veteran group. We understand and know what it takes in order to be successful. We maybe need a little more added help, and we'll be fine."</p>
<p><i><i>For more on the series, visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>, <a href="http://peachtreehoops.com/">Peachtree Hoops</a>, <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog-a-Bull</a>, and <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>.</i></i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/13/2168640/hawks-vs-bulls-series-recap-chicago-makes-last-adjustment-wins-it-inPhil Foley2011-05-12T22:36:30-04:002011-05-12T22:36:30-04:00Bulls Vs. Hawks Final Score: Maybe Next Year For Conference Finals
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> didn't exactly look like that version of the Hawks that we all dread -- the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a>' 93-73 Game 6 victory was just that imposing. The Hawks fell back on many of their worst habits, of course, but they've looked much worse while still avoiding this kind of blowout.</p>
<p>Chicago advances to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> in their first Eastern Conference Finals trip since the Michael Jordan years. The defense-centric, team-minded squad led by MVP <span>Derrick Rose</span> vs. <span>Chris Bosh</span> and <span>LeBron James</span> ... I think your rooting interests are pretty clearly defined, America, but I'm kind of starting to like Chris Bosh for some reason.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Boozer</span> was given free run through Atlanta's defense, left alone for much of the night as he shot his way to 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Derrick Rose pitched 12 assists in perhaps <span>Jeff Teague</span>'s shakiest game as a starter, albeit one that involved the Hawks point guard leaving with a sprained wrist.</p>
<p><span>Al Horford</span> was invisible, turning in seven points and four rebounds, while <span>Josh Smith</span> filled up his stat line but showed anybody who thought he'd gotten over taking poor jumpers that ... well, he hasn't. <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> balled out -- 13 rebounds, nothing easy.</p>
<p>This Hawks' postseason will be remembered by too many as as failure. This team exorcised its <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> demons, found its best point guard in over a decade just sitting right there on the bench and took the potential NBA champs to six games. That's a success, though whether it was worth <span>Joe Johnson</span>'s contract is an issue I'll leave to you. </p>
<p>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the series, visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #002c66; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #002c66; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://peachtreehoops.com/">Peachtree Hoops</a>, <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #002c66; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog-a-Bull</a>, and <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #002c66; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>.</i></i></span></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2168581/bulls-vs-hawks-final-score-eastern-conference-finalsJason Kirk2011-05-12T22:09:36-04:002011-05-12T22:09:36-04:00Hawks Vs. Bulls Game 6 Score: Chicago One Quarter Away From Clinch, Leads Atlanta 70-53 Through Three
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> need a lifeline if they want to avoid goin' fishin' this season.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Boozer</span> has 25 points and <span>Derrick Rose</span> added 15 points and 10 assists to post the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> to a 70-53 lead over Atlanta through three quarters in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup on Saturday night at Philips Arena.</p>
<p><span>Luol Deng</span> has 13 points and <span>Joakim Noah</span> added nine for Chicago, which has an astounding 25 assists on 30 field goals.</p>
<p>That in a nutshell is why things look bleak in Atlanta. Chicago is shredding the Hawks' defense, making the extra pass and draining shots. The result is a game that's teetering on a blowout. In a game that's based on intensity, the Bulls did what they had to do to come out with it in the third quarter. It's looking like the curtain is going to fall on the Hawks' season.</p>
<p><span>Joe Johnson</span> has 17 points and <span>Josh Smith</span> 14 for Atlanta, which is shooting just 35-percent (19-for-54) from the field.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2168548/hawks-vs-bulls-game-6-score-chicago-one-quarter-away-from-clinchPhil Foley2011-05-12T21:26:48-04:002011-05-12T21:26:48-04:00Hawks Vs. Bulls Game 6 Score: Hawks Fight Back, Trail 45-35 At Break
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>If the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> do end up losing this Game 6, one thing's for sure, they won't go down without a fight.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Boozer</span> has 13 points and <span>Derrick Rose</span> and <span>Luol Deng</span> added nine each to post the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> to a 45-35 lead over Atlanta in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday night at Philips Arena.</p>
<p><span>Josh Smith</span> and <span>Joe Johnson</span> netted 10 each for the Hawks, who will go home with a loss in this one.</p>
<p>Let's just say that it's amazing that Atlanta still even has the remotest of chances in this one. They looked like a defeated team, very much deflated and downtrodden.</p>
<p>But second-year point guard sensation <span>Jeff Teague</span> -- who got hurt 53 seconds into the second quarter -- came into the game to give the Hawks a spark. And then Smith happened.</p>
<p>The Atlanta forward stole the ball, ran the court with Johnson and finished with an alley-oop where the Hawks star took off from Winnipeg to cut what was once a 42-25 lead down to 12. </p>
<p>One has to wonder if this young Bulls team is a bit rattled. Remember Hawks fans, this same Atlanta team rallied back from a 20-plus point deficit to win the first game between these two teams by an 83-80 score on March 2. There's no reason not to believe if they look like the club that closed out the second half that they could do it again.</p>
<p>Yes, folks there's hope at Philips Arena with the basketball team. Here's to hoping that the same will happen for the hockey team as well. While Smith's shots should come from Winnipeg, the Atlanta Thrashers shouldn't move there.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2168492/hawks-vs-bulls-game-6-score-hawks-fight-back-trail-45-35-at-breakPhil Foley2011-05-12T20:55:36-04:002011-05-12T20:55:36-04:00Jeff Teague Injury: Hawks Guard Leaves Game Vs. Bulls With Right Arm Injury But May Return
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>More bad news <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> fans, point guard <span>Jeff Teague</span> left the game with an apparent sprained right wrist just 53 seconds into the second quarter. </p>
<p>The sensational point guard, who has been a sparkplug for Atlanta in their best-of-seven second round against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a>, appeared to hurt his right arm when he landed awkwardly while slashing to the hoop.</p>
<p>After getting helped off by the trainers, he went to the locker room for X-Rays. While the tests are still pending according to ESPN, the team expects the Teague to return. </p>
<p>Obviously, Hawks fans will be sitting with baited breath until they see Teague back in the game. And with results still pending they have reason to worry.</p>
<p>As if they didn't have enough to worry about right now. The Hawks are down 39-25 with 5:05 left in the second quarter. They're going to need a lot of help if they want to avoid going fishin' after this game.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2168453/jeff-teague-injury-hawks-guard-leaves-game-vs-bulls-with-right-armPhil Foley2011-05-12T20:43:07-04:002011-05-12T20:43:07-04:00Hawks Vs. Bulls Game 6 Score: Chicago Takes 27-17 Edge Through One Quarter
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Things aren't starting very well for the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>. </p>
<p><span>Carlos Boozer</span> has nine points and <span>Luol Deng</span> seven to post the charging <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a> to a 27-17 lead through one quarter in pivotal Game Six of their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup at Philips Arena.</p>
<p><span>Joakim Noah</span> has six points and <span>Derrick Rose</span> five for Chicago, which shot a blistering 63-percent (12-for-19) in the first 12 minutes.</p>
<p>Atlanta also shot well, connecting on 8-of-16 shots (50-percent) in the frame, but Atlanta seems to be missing that something extra tonight.</p>
<p><span>Josh Smith</span> netted seven points and <span>Joe Johnson</span> six for Atlanta, which needs to win this one in order to stay alive.</p>
<p>However, keep this in mind Hawks fans, the team that lead after one quarter has won every game of the series. That doesn't bode well for Atlanta's basketball team.</p>
<p>Here's to hoping that they break the trend or the Hawks will be going home tonight.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2168431/hawks-vs-bulls-game-6-chicago-takes-27-17-edge-through-one-quarterPhil Foley2011-05-12T15:12:14-04:002011-05-12T15:12:14-04:00Is Jeff Teague's NBA Playoff Success Sustainable For The Hawks Point Guard?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span>Jeff Teague</span> has been quite impressive thus far for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> during their second-round series in the NBA Playoffs. The 6-foot-2 guard stepped in when <span>Kirk Hinrich</span> wnet down with a hamstring injury and is averaging 17.0 and 4.4 assists while turning the ball over just once per game despite playing nearly 42 minutes per contest, but will he be able to sustain it past this series?</p>↵<p>That's exactly what Jason Walker of Peachtree Hoops went looking to find, and after looking at all of the facts, <a href="http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2011/5/12/2167293/jeff-teague-playoff-sensation-or-the-real-deal" target="_blank">the answer is a bit more convoluted</a> than it should be for Hawks' fans.</p>↵<blockquote>↵<p>Jeff Teague may be both the playoff sensation and the real deal, but unless [head coach <span>Larry Drew</span>] let's go and lets Teague play in a regular role, even with the presence of Kirk Hinrich, this fantastic run in this series will be reduced to a footnote and not the revelation it might have been.</p>↵</blockquote>↵<p>If the Hawks have it their way, this is probably a question they're not looking forward to answering anytime soon as they have more pressing things on their plate with Atlanta trying to force a Game 7 tonight.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/12/2167861/jeff-teague-nba-playoffs-hawks-bulls-game-6Scott Schroeder