If you don't think the Hawks can beat the Celtics, you're crazy. Without Josh Smith, without Pachula, with Horford playing 20 minutes, the Hawks had the lead with 7 seconds left in this game.
I'll say it now: The Hawks are better than the Celtics. Period. Give these guys seven games and we win in 6. Period. Paul Pierce, a.k.a. Mr. I'll Create A Foul, hit a great shot to go ahead with half a second left. The Hawks, however, need to walk away feeling good about this. They have arrived, even in a loss. Without Smith, and with Horford's 5th foul coming in the third quarter, the Hawks pressed the Celtics to the end. Joe Johnson is an all-star, and a superstar. We will beat Boston soon, next time we play them as a matter of fact. The Celtics don't want to play us anymore, we are better than them, that's the facts.
Atlanta drafted their talent and developed it, with the exception of Johnson and Bibby, Boston bought their talent. Atlanta has arrived, Boston is leaving the building. Mark what I say, the Hawks will own Boston the rest of the year.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
It's Time: Hawks Edition
Wow, 5-0. There are 82 games in an NBA season. The Atlanta Hawks have won the first 5.
How did they do it? Win on the road. Check. Win at home. Check. Quality opponents...4 2007-08 playoff teams...Check.
What is impressive about the Hawks so far is their ability to play D. One opponent has scored over 90 points thus far - and we won that game by 10+.
Tonight, the Hawks sneaked out a win over the Thunder on the road but what was significant about this game was the fact that the Thunder are the Hawks of 3 years ago. They are young and learning how to finish a game in the NBA. It was a night full of past and future. Past: a young team that is talented but not quite ready. Future: an experienced team, willing to hang in and win a close game on the road in the NBA.
Past: Thunder. Future/NOW: Hawks.
How did they do it? Win on the road. Check. Win at home. Check. Quality opponents...4 2007-08 playoff teams...Check.
What is impressive about the Hawks so far is their ability to play D. One opponent has scored over 90 points thus far - and we won that game by 10+.
Tonight, the Hawks sneaked out a win over the Thunder on the road but what was significant about this game was the fact that the Thunder are the Hawks of 3 years ago. They are young and learning how to finish a game in the NBA. It was a night full of past and future. Past: a young team that is talented but not quite ready. Future: an experienced team, willing to hang in and win a close game on the road in the NBA.
Past: Thunder. Future/NOW: Hawks.
It's Time
That's right, fans, it's time to start talking about the Falcons as serious playoff contenders. To be fair, it was time to start this discussion at least three weeks ago but, the first division win of the season - a convincing one - definitely warrants discussion.
The Falcons' D was great in this game, and one can only fully appreciate that if they watched the game. 450 yards of offense or more usually does not indicate good defense but consider this - Drew Brees, the nearly unanimous midseason MVP, had 7 interceptions entering this game. That is roughly a 1 INT/Game average thus far...the Falcons forced 3 INTs in this game, including two key cases with NO threatening late. One might also consider that ATL was in prevent throughout the 4th quarter with the game in hand, prevent is a D that is willing to concede the yardage to save the points.
Whatever the case, Ryan had about a 150 QB rating, Turner had 96 + a TD, and the Falcons are 6-3. Playoffs are not unreasonable with 2 more division games AT HOME. Defend the Dome, Falcons, and we will be in the playofffs.
The Falcons' D was great in this game, and one can only fully appreciate that if they watched the game. 450 yards of offense or more usually does not indicate good defense but consider this - Drew Brees, the nearly unanimous midseason MVP, had 7 interceptions entering this game. That is roughly a 1 INT/Game average thus far...the Falcons forced 3 INTs in this game, including two key cases with NO threatening late. One might also consider that ATL was in prevent throughout the 4th quarter with the game in hand, prevent is a D that is willing to concede the yardage to save the points.
Whatever the case, Ryan had about a 150 QB rating, Turner had 96 + a TD, and the Falcons are 6-3. Playoffs are not unreasonable with 2 more division games AT HOME. Defend the Dome, Falcons, and we will be in the playofffs.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Previewing the Saints v. Falcons
As I watch the opening minutes of the Steelers v. Redskins, it becomes apparent that the Falcons will need to win the division in order to get to the playoffs. This may be unrealistic simply because the Panthers are that good and their schedule is depressingly easy over the next few weeks. In any case, let's get to this weekend's Falcons game.
The Saints were on a bye this week, after their London trip. Normally, this gives the Saints extra preparation for their biggest division rivals, but I think the Falcons did enough to remain mysterious against the Raiders. Sure, there will be plenty of film on the Falcons' offense after they ran three quarters' worth of plays, but the defense was only on the field for 15 minutes, consequently. This may provide the Falcons with an advantage. The defense vs. the Raiders was very efficient and, as a result, they did not reveal many tendencies. Hopefully, the Falcons can steal this home game from the Saints. The Falcons find the Saints after a bye and the Broncos get 3 extra games of prep following their Thursday night debut on the NFL Network. The deck is stacked against the Falcons when considering the schedule, but staying simple against the Raiders will help them to gain a slight edge.
The Saints were on a bye this week, after their London trip. Normally, this gives the Saints extra preparation for their biggest division rivals, but I think the Falcons did enough to remain mysterious against the Raiders. Sure, there will be plenty of film on the Falcons' offense after they ran three quarters' worth of plays, but the defense was only on the field for 15 minutes, consequently. This may provide the Falcons with an advantage. The defense vs. the Raiders was very efficient and, as a result, they did not reveal many tendencies. Hopefully, the Falcons can steal this home game from the Saints. The Falcons find the Saints after a bye and the Broncos get 3 extra games of prep following their Thursday night debut on the NFL Network. The deck is stacked against the Falcons when considering the schedule, but staying simple against the Raiders will help them to gain a slight edge.
Arguing for the Big 12
I am going to admit this for possibly the first time: The Big 12 is hands down the best conference in college football.
The SEC was overrated this year, and severely. Consider the preseason number 1, UGA, and their losses, then consider LSU and their losses, allowing a combined 103 points. SEC proponents say that the Big 12 does not play D, but LSU and UGA haven't shown any signs of doing that themselves. Their big defensive statistics came against the worst offenses in football, like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Auburn.
Florida and Alabama are the only teams that might be able to handle 4 Big 12 South teams, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. LSU and Georgia may play these teams close, but after that, there are no teams in the SEC that could come close to these 4. The topper is Missouri. Of the remaining 8 SEC teams, I would argue that none could beat Missouri.
If Texas played Georgia's schedule, they may have lost to the same two teams, but if UGA had Texas' schedule, you could see UGA with three losses (TT, OU, and Mizz).
The SEC's saving grace will be Florida. No one is going to come near beating this team again this year -- not even Alabama in the SEC Championship. Florida's D is so much improved from last year and the offense has so many weapons, I would be willing to bet that no team left on their schedule (Including a bowl) gets within 20 points of the Gators.
But one team does not make a conference. To settle all of this, we will need a Texas/Texas Tech vs. Florida Championship game. I would be especially interested in a Texas Tech/Florida matchup with those variations of the spread on one field.
Disclaimer: Penn St. vs. Alabama would be my ideal matchup by the way, because smash mouth football would be the story, and there would be blood.
The SEC was overrated this year, and severely. Consider the preseason number 1, UGA, and their losses, then consider LSU and their losses, allowing a combined 103 points. SEC proponents say that the Big 12 does not play D, but LSU and UGA haven't shown any signs of doing that themselves. Their big defensive statistics came against the worst offenses in football, like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Auburn.
Florida and Alabama are the only teams that might be able to handle 4 Big 12 South teams, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. LSU and Georgia may play these teams close, but after that, there are no teams in the SEC that could come close to these 4. The topper is Missouri. Of the remaining 8 SEC teams, I would argue that none could beat Missouri.
If Texas played Georgia's schedule, they may have lost to the same two teams, but if UGA had Texas' schedule, you could see UGA with three losses (TT, OU, and Mizz).
The SEC's saving grace will be Florida. No one is going to come near beating this team again this year -- not even Alabama in the SEC Championship. Florida's D is so much improved from last year and the offense has so many weapons, I would be willing to bet that no team left on their schedule (Including a bowl) gets within 20 points of the Gators.
But one team does not make a conference. To settle all of this, we will need a Texas/Texas Tech vs. Florida Championship game. I would be especially interested in a Texas Tech/Florida matchup with those variations of the spread on one field.
Disclaimer: Penn St. vs. Alabama would be my ideal matchup by the way, because smash mouth football would be the story, and there would be blood.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Falcons 24 Raiders 0
Wow, what a defensive performance for the Falcons. Check that, a total team effort. The Falcons had the ball for 45 minutes....thats three full quarters....The defense only allowed 73 yards of offense -- the entire game.
Halfway through the season, the Falcons are 5-3 and a game out of a wildcard playoff spot, due to tiebreakers. Great effort by the team, Turner, Ryan, Abraham, Lofton, Jenkins - yes Jenkins, all had great games.
Now for the second half of the season which starts with a bang: NO, Denver, Carolina.
GO FALCONS!
Halfway through the season, the Falcons are 5-3 and a game out of a wildcard playoff spot, due to tiebreakers. Great effort by the team, Turner, Ryan, Abraham, Lofton, Jenkins - yes Jenkins, all had great games.
Now for the second half of the season which starts with a bang: NO, Denver, Carolina.
GO FALCONS!
Bad Loss
Well, UGA got handled by Florida, again. Turnovers and possibly the greatest college quarterback in the history of the game did the Dawgs in. Enough said. On to celebrate the Falcons' rousing win over the Raiders.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
