Recap Of The Entire Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic Playoff Series

What a series it was. What a series it was. Can’t say it any better than that. If you’re not a Hawks fan, it probably wasn’t the most watchable or enjoyable playoff series in the first round, but if you are a Hawks fan, this series was great. I’d go out and say that this is the best Atlanta Hawks playoff series win in the “Josh Smith” era. Granted, the Hawks have only won 3 playoff series, but this is easily the best one.

It had everything a Hawks fan wanted in a playoff series: Big performances, big shots, exciting plays, altercations, trash talking, and most of all, upset wins.

The Hawks had the underdog label on them in the first round, something they haven’t had since 2008 when they were asked to face the Celtics. The difference between the Celtics series in 2008 to this playoff series against the Magic, the Hawks got to finish their “shock the world” statement. The Hawks were the clear underdogs by the media and they proved a lot of people wrong. Always fun to watch a team that everyone counts out be successful.

See me switch point of views and then switch back after the jump…

However, as happy as I am that the Hawks did finish the upset, I’m still unsure that this Hawks team is clearly better than the Magic team. The series could have easily gone Orlando’s way. Look back at all the wins….

Game 1: Dwight goes for 40+ and none of his teammates (Jameer showed up for one quarter) show up. Hawks win by 10. If the Magic got some contribution by another player, the Magic could have won.

Game 3: Jamal Crawford couldn’t miss and made some impossible shots, including a three pointer to clinch the win. Hawks only won by 4. It can be argued that any other day, all the shots Jamal made that night would have missed.

Game 4: The best shooters of the Orlando Magic couldn’t hit water even if they were on a boat…or something like that. The Orlando Magic missed quite a few open jumpers that normally would go in. Hawks only won by 3 that game. Easily could have been Orlando’s game.

Game 6: Same problem again. The Magic’s shooters couldn’t hit a jumpshot, but yet, they were in it in the closing minutes. They even had a chance to tie the game with a wide open JJ Redick three that (fortunately for the Hawks) missed in the second to last possession of the game.

The Hawks should be happy about the playoff series win, but they shouldn’t be too confident about how they won it. A lot of abnormal things had to happen in order for the Hawks to win. Can the Hawks rely on the same things to happen all the time when they face a caliber team like the Orlando Magic?

But you know what, I’m not here to rain on the parade. I don’t want to be one of those people who talk badly about a team that had success. I want to be one of those people who celebrate and party with the fans. Let’s switch back from the negative talk to the positive talk.

One of the things that I loved about this series -and I’m sure people will agree- the Hawks team seemed focused at the task they were given and they showed that they wanted to accomplish that task. To simplify, I love the effort the Hawks showed. Effort has always been a problem for this Hawks team. A longing problem that has lasted for countless seasons. This team is talented enough to compete with anybody in a nightly basis, but at times, the effort isn’t there and they look like a lottery team, which they are completely not. They put on their hard hats and went to work in every game and win in this playoff series. Even if the Hawks did lose this series, I wouldn’t have been too mad about it because they seemingly gave it their all.

It was nice seeing the team grow right in front of our eyes. Before the series started, everyone and their mothers had questions about whether the Hawks would be able to “flip the switch” as the Hawks finished the regular season with their longest losing streak, six. Whenever a playoff team finishes off that way in the regular season, it usually spells trouble or despair for the team in the playoffs. That didn’t happen for the Hawks. They were able to “flip the switch” and win their most impressive playoff series to date in the “Al Horford Era”

Props have to go to Larry Drew. He was criticized all season long in whatever he did, whether it be his rotations, his plays, his gameplan, his body language, his quotes, his demeanor, his son. He was under a microscope all season long with Hawks fans. He wasn’t perfect in this series (there isn’t a coach that is…), but he did what he could and he was successful. His gameplan of giving Dwight single coverage and surprising him with a double team from time to time, worked amazingly. Even when some people questioned if that would work all series long, he stuck to it and refused to change it. Kudos Larry.

Extra kudos to Jamal Crawford as well for being Jamal Crawford.

Anyway, you can’t single out a person for this win (maybe Lady Luck?), this was a team effort. You take out Zaza out of this series, Hawks probably lose. You take out Joe out of this series, Hawks probably lose. You take out Jason Collins out of this series, Hawks probably lose. You take out Jamal out of this series, Hawks probably lose. You take out Marvin out of this series, Hawks probably lose. You get the idea.

The Hawks soar to new heights with this playoff series win and by proving Jameer wrong, let’s hope they continue that in the 2nd round. I don’t want to see this team “soaring down south” anymore.

One final thing…..

If you take out Hedo out of this series, Hawks probably lose. ZING!