Hawks-Jazz

Mustache is finally living up to his promise of covering Atlanta teams. After attending a Falcons, Hawks, and three Braves games, I am a fully integerated Atlanta sports denizen.

Anyway, I went with a small group of people to Phillips arena last night to catch the latest come-from-behind Jazz victory (although the margin was much smaller last night than in Florida). The arena is sort of connected to the CNN center, and in an indoor courtyard between the two is the world's best food court.

What makes it world class? They had enormous beers (I'm pretty sure they were 36 ounces) for like $8. Needless to say, we were a little late for the game.

Oh, did you want actually game commentary? Josh Smith didn't shoot threes very well, Joe Johnson is pretty good and Kirilenko of the Jazz gets a lot of rebounds.

Also, according to some kids in the elevator, the Falcons are going to the Superbowl.

After I got home I watched some of the Thunder-'Blazers game. Russell Westbrook for MVP.

NOTHING EASY!!!

Zaza Pachulia and the Hawks overcame their fear of the deer in game 6 in Milwaukee and have pushed the series to the fateful game 7. Zaza knows better than anyone else that nothing's easy, but it might be a little easier this time around now that the Hawks will have the actual support of their fans on Sunday afternoon. Oh, and they'll be playing the Bucks rather than the Celtics. But still, Zaza knows... NOTHING EASY!!! GAME 7, BABY!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! WOOOO!!!

Josh Smith's Buzzer Beating Putback Dunk

Just a week ago, Josh Smith was on the "NOT List" of Dank Games's HOT or NOT Column (I know this doesn't exist, but it could?) for his busy hands rubbing all over Mike Bibby. This week, he put his busy hands to good use with a buzzer beating putback dunk to defeat the Magic. It's hard for me to say this play should vault Josh Smith from the NOT List to the HOT List, but it is an amazing play.

Josh Smith's Busy Hands

So this is probably the weirdest NBA-related video that I've seen in a long time. During a timeout, Atlanta's Josh Smith gets a little too friendly with teammate Mike Bibby. As Hawks' coach Mike Woodson talks to the team, Josh Smith gently touches Bibby's shoulders and head. You definitely see borderline homoerotic stuff in the NBA on the sidelines during timeouts quite a bit, but usually it doesn't seem so affectionate and drawn out. Typically it's just a quick pat on the head or butt, or an arm resting on a teammate's shoulder. Clearly this isn't normal conduct, as Smith's gentle caress eventually makes Bibby uncomfortable, prompting him to push Smith's hand away and say something to the effect of "Stop touching me!"

Upon further inspection of this video, it seems the rest of the Hawks must have been fucking with Bibby, because after he pushes Josh Smith's hand away, Zaza Pachulia picks up right where Smith left off. When the camera angle cuts to a wider shot at the end, Pachulia begins massaging Bibby's shoulder, who looks back at Pachulia in disgust.

via Trey Kerby of Ball Don't Lie

Playoff Picture: Top of the East

Cleveland became the first team to clinch a playoff berth, and it looks like they'll be able to maintain their #1 spot in the East. With 5 games separating them from the Magic and a relatively light schedule, the Cavs are in good position. Nine of their remaining sixteen games are at home, and their toughest competition will be a game against the Magic and two against the Hawks in April. They do have two more against Boston (one of which is on ABC tomorrow at 3:30) but the Celtics have been so out of sorts lately that it's hard to consider them a threat to the Cavs right now. I can't completely write off Boston though, especially with Cleveland missing Shaq. They also play the Spurs at the end of March, but San Antonio seems to be fading away similarly to Boston. I'll go ahead and assume the Cavs can handle them.

Although the Cavs will likely finish the season strong, there are concerns heading into the playoffs. The primary concern is how Mike Brown will utilize Cleveland's frontline. Antawn Jamison (who has missed some time with knee stiffness) has had minimal time to play alongside Shaq since his thumb injury and the return of Big Z could complicate matters even further. Power forward Leon Powe recently returned from knee surgery three weeks ago, so that's another piece to work in. Powe has started in Jamison's absence but might not see much playoff action. Cleveland will have a very deep frontline, but only so many minutes to go around. A lot of these players haven't even been on the court together, so chemistry is a concern.

Projected Record: 64 - 18

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Toronto Raptors

The Magic are the hottest team in the East right now with seven straight wins. They'll likely maintain the 2nd seed in the East, as Boston and Atlanta are both four games behind. Their toughest competition in March includes games against the Spurs and Nuggets, although they do play Miami, who has beaten them twice this season. I expect Orlando to put them in their place this time around, though. In April, they'll face Dallas (the hottest team in the league), San Antonio again, and Cleveland. I think they can beat Cleveland if Shaq is still out, while the game against the Mavericks will be one to watch. Mark your calendars for April Fool's Day.

Orlando seems to be hitting their stride at the right time. Vince Carter is bringing it together after a questionable start to the season and Matt Barnes is providing a nastiness they sorely missed in the playoffs last season. I am personally hoping to see more of Brandon Bass, who was signed from Dallas in the offseason. He has been seeing more playing time lately after having been out of the rotation through much of the year. He's a monstrous power forward with the ability to hit the mid-range jumper. Unlike Cleveland, Orlando will be able to evaluate their rotations down the stretch of the season, as everyone seems to be pretty healthy right now.

Project Record: 59 - 23

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Miami Heat

As mentioned earlier, Boston has been pretty awful lately. They recently lost to possibly the worst team ever in the Nets, got destroyed by the Grizzlies, and were two Ray Allen three-pointers away from losing to the Wizards. If they keep this up, there's a good chance Atlanta could slip past for the third seed. They are coming off a blow out win against the Pacers, but that's to be expected. They have some tough competition in March with the Cavs, Mavericks, Jazz, Nuggets, Spurs, and Thunder. Despite another game against Cleveland, April looks pretty manageable for them. They play the Bucks twice though, who have been hot and beat them just the other night.

It seems everyone is beginning to completely write off Boston, but I'm hesitant to do so just yet. I am close to joining that camp though, as the trade for Nate Robinson seems to be a stupid move. Eddie House fit in nicely and often hit big threes in the playoffs. It surprised me to see on Basketball-Refence that they have the best defensive rating in the league, because I was under the impression that they had been slipping on that end. The Celtics success in the playoffs will hinge on their aging superstars' health and ability to get back on the same page. Rondo will have to take it to another level like he did in last year's playoffs, too.

Projected Record: 51 - 31

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Charlotte Bobcats

The Hawks have been very inconsistent lately, with no "statement wins" and plenty of losses to teams they should beat. They recently lost to Miami (second time in two months! Go Heat!) and New York. They also lost to the Warriors back in February, which just shouldn't happen. The rest of March looks pretty light for them other than games against the Spurs, Magic, and Lakers. April also doesn't look too bad besides playing Cleveland twice. With that said, they have the Bucks and Raptors twice more this season, which are hardly guaranteed wins for this relatively shaky Hawks squad.

Atlanta is one of the more interesting teams in the NBA, because they are one of few teams that have improved mainly from internal growth. The addition of Jamal Crawford certainly has bolstered their roster, but they have improved season after season largely with the same team. This year's playoffs come with very high stakes for Atlanta, because anything short of reaching the Conference Finals will be considered a failure. Playoff success is especially crucial with Joe Johnson's impending free agency. If the Hawks are bounced in the first or second round, it could very well be the end of this core's run.

Projected Record: 52 - 30

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Milwaukee Bucks

Veteran Move

Drawing contact has long been considered a veteran move in the NBA. For instance, doing a shot fake to get the defender in the air and jumping into them while shooting to get to the line, or pulling up for a shot to draw contact when a defender is playing close. But leave it to the veteran of all veterans in the NBA, Jason Kidd, to draw contact on a coach.

Down the stretch of the Mavericks/Hawks game on Friday night, Dallas was trailing and needed points to get back into the game. Kidd was bringing the ball down the court and noticed that the Hawks' coach Mike Woodson was on the floor giving defensive instructions. Being the savvy veteran that he is, Kidd darted towards Woodson with the ball and initiated contact with him before he was able to get back on the sideline.

After words were exchanged between Kidd and Woodson, the officials determined that Woodson's presence on the court was a technical foul. Dirk Nowitzki would hit the free throw and the Mavericks would make an improbable comeback to tie the game and send it to overtime after having trailed by 13 in the 4th. Kidd made several other key shots and plays to help the Mavs rally back. Dallas would go onto easily win the game in overtime 111-103.

Well played, Kidd.

Oh, and did I mention that Kidd had his 104th career triple double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists? Dude's still got it.

"The Dayton Kid" Daequan Cook leads the Heat past the Hawks

And a new Dank Game nickname is born! Arising from the abyss of a poor shooting season that has put him out of the Heat's rotation, "The Dayton Kid" Daequan Cook is officially back!

Maybe it was Dwyane Wade's recent comments that coach Erik Spoelstra needs to "mix it up" on offense, maybe it was an opportunity allowed by point guard Mario Chalmers' absence, or maybe it was encouragement for Daequan to represent Miami with pride in the Three-Point Contest. Whatever it was, Spoelstra let Daequan play and the Dayton Kid responded.

Cook was instrumental in opening up the Heat's lead in the fourth quarter while Dwyane Wade rested. The Dayton Kid hit back to back three-pointers to take the Heat up 77-71. Cook would continue to strive throughout the fourth as the Heat closed the game out in convincing fashion. He finished the game going 7-12 from the field and 3-5 from distance for 17 points.

Equally instrumental in Miami's win was center Jermaine O'Neal and power forward Udonis Haslem. Jermaine made big plays down the stretch, finishing the night 9-13 for 19 points with 10 rebounds, while Haslem also helped keep the Hawks at bay going 7-9 for 14 points with 12 rebounds. A great night for the Heat's front court, despite Beasley having an off night. No matter how much Heat fans (myself included) question coach Spoelstra's use of Haslem over Beasley in fourth quarters, you can't deny Haslem's consistency in rebounding, defending, and shooting the ball. The guy is committed to this team, and I'd hate to ever see him leave.

Dorell Wright continued to make a case for the starting small forward position, as he hit 4 of 5 shots for 10 points and dished out two assists. Quentin Richardson's decline from his impressive start to the season continues, as he shot poorly from the field and finished with just 2 points.

Dwyane Wade was unable to score 20 points for the second night in the row, scoring 18 on 7 of 15 shooting. But who cares if other players can pick up the slack. Despite being held in check most of the first half, Wade did help seal the deal down the stretch while also contributing a double-double with 11 assists.

What a great win for the Heat heading into the All-Star Break. For the first time in a while, I feel relatively proud to be a Heat fan. They held the Hawks to 37.5 percent shooting while shooting over 50 percent. They also held Atlanta's marquee player Joe Johnson to 16 points on 7-21 shooting, with the Dayton Kid guarding Johnson for many stretches. What stood out most was that the Heat bench outscored the Hawks 48 to 8. In Atlanta's defense, they were without Sixth Man of the Year favorite and notorious Heat killer Jamal Crawford, but a win's a win.

The Heat are now just a game below .500 (which sucks, but it could be worse), lead the season series against the Hawks at 2-1, and now hold the 7th seed in the East after the Bulls fell to the Magic tonight.

I just want to point out the Hawks' "every guy" names: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Joe Smith.

Miami of Ohio Heat

The Heat have finally come back down to earth after an unexpected 6-1 start, but first I want to address something else: that dick Teenage Mustache spreading lies about me. In his recent Thunder vs. Heat Dank Game Showdown post, 'Stache claims that as a child I thought the Miami Heat were a local team based in Oxford, which is widely known as Miami of Ohio. While it was meant to be fun and games, more people than I'm comfortable with have taken 'Stache's silly joke seriously. So let me clear the air and make it known that I have always been aware that the Miami Heat were based in Miami, FL. I'm sure 'Stache is off in Newark, OH (pronounced "Nurk") cackling with satisfaction as he reads this. Now, back to the Miami of Ohio Hea... I mean... the Miami Heat... of Florida. I swear, I've known all along.

The Heat have dropped two straight back-to-back games, which seemed due to happen at some point. In the Dank Game Showdown between the Heat and Thunder, Oklahoma City's height was just too much for the Heat. Thabo Sefolosha has been gaining a reputation as a lockdown defender, and he looked the part guarding Dwyane Wade who couldn't seem to get a good look at the basket. Sefolosha's length pestered Wade, as Thabo kept Wade in check and at one point stripped the ball from him as he was driving which led to an easy fastbreak dunk. Another matchup in which height gave OKC the advantage was 6'9" Kevin Durant against 6'6" Quentin Richardson. I thought that coach Spoelstra should've utilized 6'9" Dorell Wright against Durant, who's played some good perimeter defense when given the chance. Dorell guarded LeBron better than anyone else on the Heat. With the young point guard showdown, Russell Westbrook picked up where he left off last season in murdering Mario Chalmers. Westbrook more or less finished the Heat off halfway through the 4th after hitting a deep three to put the Thunder up 87-72. The only bright spot was that Daequan Cook found his three-point stroke in the fourth quarter, almost making it a game. But of course, it was too little too late.

I only watched the second half of last night's game against the Hawks, so I don't have much insight on this one. With Udonis Haslem out and Beasley finding himself on the bench due to foul trouble, Shavlik Randolph (pictured above) played a lot more than I would've liked. By the way, I mainly just used that image because Shav (which I can only assume he likes to be called) has that certain white bread look that you can't find outside of Oxford's campus. Anyhow, Shav had yet to play a game this season and he looked pretty shook out there. Again, coach Spoelstra went with a lineup at the beginning of the fourth that made no sense to me. For some reason he saw it fit to throw Shav, Carlos Arroyo, Daequan Cook, James Jones, and Joel Anthony on the floor together. The Hawks' lead would go from 7 to 12 in a matter of minutes with this group. By the time Spoelstra put a real lineup on the floor, the Heat looked like they had already accepted a loss. This team really needs to get it together, as the past few games they haven't played with any urgency.

Also, I knew I would regret not putting the Hawks in the playoffs. Wishful thinking, I guess.