<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby aren't the only Hawks willing and able to take and make big shots with the game on the line. They're usually the only two players who Hawks coach Mike Woodson feels comfortable taking such shots, particularly from beyond the 3-point line. But Woodson had no choice but to watch Josh Smith do exactly that, stroking two deep 3-pointers in overtime to cap the Hawks' 127-120 overtime victory over Toronto on Wednesday night at Philips Arena. "I've been on him taking three's anyway," Woodson said after his team's fifth straight win, "and he stepped up and made two big ones tonight. So what's that tell you? Coach just needs to shut up, I guess?" Smith's shots came after Bibby drained a monster shot of his own to cap the Hawks' comeback from a 17-point deficit with a minute to play in the third quarter. The Hawks got three opportunities to force overtime and made good on the third, when Bibby sank a 3-pointer with half of a second to play to tie the game at 107-107. The Raptors had what looked like a game-winning layup on a fantastic play from T.J. Ford at the basket, but after he initially counted the basket, lead official Mark Wunderlich overturned the play after watching it repeatedly on replay. "They ran it perfectly," Smith said. "We were just hoping that it wasn't good. And thank goodness it wasn't." The Hawks can thank goodness that they had Smith, Bibby and Johnson. All three played huge roles, along with Josh Childress, Marvin Williams and Al Horford, in helping the Hawks (35-40) strengthen their hold on that final Eastern Conference playoff spot. They're now four games ahead of Indiana and New Jersey.</div> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Glad to see Bibby getting into the grove with the Hawks. I'm very curious to see how this team handles the pressure of the playoffs.
Most likely the Hawks will get the 8th seed, which we all know matches them up against the Celtics. That works, in my mind, in the Hawks favor. All the pressure will be on the Celtics to preform and sweep the Hawks, which I don't see happening. The Hawks could go out and play loose basketball and have fun. If they win, amazing. If they lose, we'll now they got that playoff trip, and they can build on it next year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Apr 3 2008, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Most likely the Hawks will get the 8th seed, which we all know matches them up against the Celtics. That works, in my mind, in the Hawks favor. All the pressure will be on the Celtics to preform and sweep the Hawks, which I don't see happening. The Hawks could go out and play loose basketball and have fun. If they win, amazing. If they lose, we'll now they got that playoff trip, and they can build on it next year.</div> ^^Agreed
First of all, raps were robbed, but none the less Hawks are just a feel good sory of the season just like philly, but unlike philly I dont see them doing much in the playoffs
