I haven't blogged about the Hawks much this season because this year's team hasn't excited me. My lack of enthusiasm developed at the end of last season when the Orlando Magic embarrassed the Birds in the second round of the playoffs. My apathy further grew during the offseason when they overpaid to resign Joe Johnson and committed to bring back the same team - Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford - that struggled against elite NBA teams.
The Hawks finished the season 44-38 with little expectation and without much fanfare. They now start the 2010-2011 playoffs against the Orlando Magic; the team that previously killed their shine. Revenge is dish best served cold and this year's Magic isn't as good as last season's. The Birds beat them 3 of 4 times during the regular season; however, playoff basketball is a completely different animal and if the Hawks want to advance, Johnson must show up and play like an all-star, Smith must play within his skill set, Horford must continue to be consistent, Crawford and the rest of the bench must play strong, and somebody better slow down Dwight Howard.
Tonight, Atlanta proved that you can beat Orlando, 103-93, even if you don't slow Dwight Howard. What impressed me most was the fact that the Hawks actually won a road playoff game, something they haven't done in two years. Second, it was good to see them hold a lead in the fourth quarter and stop their opponent from rallying. Johnson led the team with 25 points, followed by Jamal Crawford with 23, Horford with 15, Smith with 13 and Kirk Hinrich with 13.
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