The NBA's Longest Playoff Drought Is Over

[Mitchell]

Tonight, due to the 117-110 loss by the Indiana Pacers, which eliminated them from playoff contention, the NBA's longest playoff drought, nine years, has come to an end, as the Atlanta Hawks clinched the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

I used to follow the Hawks in the 1980s, in the days of Dominique Wikins, who was a superstar, when they were a great team. Now, I cant really claim to be a fan, like I am with the Braves, but I'm happy to see their playoff drought end, even though I know that the Boston Celtics will likely make short work of them in the playoffs. The Hawks have had the pieces for a good young team for several years, and have underachieved. Even though they will finish the season with only 35 to 37 wins, I think it will be a good experience for the players to be in the playoffs. This is a talented team, that should only get better.

Mitch

 

[primetime]

Congratulations to the Atlanta Hawks for making the playoffs. They were perennial jokes, but they made the playoffs. Fortunately for them, they play in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for them, they get the Celtics in the 1st round. Should be a quick visit...

The NBA Western Conference playoffs will be a crazy dogfight every single round. In the East, you will have Boston vs Detroit. In the West, there will be no upset as every team has a legitimate shot at winning the West. Looking at the standings, teams 1-7 in the West would ALL be at least #3 in the East. The #11 team in the West (Sacramento) would be in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This is going to be a war of all wars in the West.

 

[Mitchell]

I agree with you prime, and, unless either the Celtics or the Pistons make the Finals, the West is virtually guaranteed of home court advantage in the Finals. My personal picks right now for the Finals would have to be the Lakers and the Celtics. Boston has had it going all season, and the Lakers seem to be hot right now. It would be amazing if Boston won it all, one year after they won 24 games. It reminds you of the Minnesota Twins winning it all in baseball in 1991, one year after being the worst team in the American League.

Mitch

 

[MWhoTklsFemFeet]

Congrats to the Hawks and hey who knows, they might give the Celtics a run, never doubt the energy of a city where the team in back in the playoffs, they're arena could be insane by the time it shift, sadly just ask us Mavericks fans.

Hey prime, quick question, how would you feel about a Lakers / Mavericks first round match up?

 

[primetime]

I am hoping it is a Lakers/Celtics Finals. The two most storied franchises going at it? Talk about RATINGS!!! Then you have a plot twist. Kevin Garnett was *this close* to being a Laker last year until that evil twisted rat Danny Ainge nixed the deal. He reminded me why I always hated him. It would be sweet for the Lakers to beat the Celtics giving Phil Jackson his 10th title passing the Celtic's own Red Auerbach. How sweet it would be.

As for a possible Lakers/Mavericks 1st round matchup, it scares me. In fact, any matchup scares me. As long as Dirk plays, the Mavericks will be tough. I think the Lakers can get past them, but it wouldnt surprise me if it goes 7 games. Your thoughts?

 

[MWhoTklsFemFeet]

I wouldn't mind drawing the Lakers in round one, simply because I have been dying to see a Kobe Bryant / Dirk Nowitzki shootout alla Michael Jordan / Larry Bird where they trade big shot after big shot with each other and it become a classic showdown between the two the caused it to go seven games.

But I would rather see the Spurs and Mavericks because its a great rivaly and if there's one team the Mavs can get by in 2 vs. 7 match-up, I'd have a little more confidence going against the Spurs.

 

[Mitchell]

The Hawk-Celtic playoff series has been a great one so far. Atlanta got blown out last night, and has to win tomorrow night to avoid elimination, but, even if they lose, I dont think anyone expected this series to go six games. The Hawks played great in Games 3 and 4, and it will be interesting to see if they can come up big again tomorrow night.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

Is this Hawk-Celtic playoff series awesome or what? What a finish tonight by Atlanta, as the number eight seed has now forced a Game Seven. They have throughly outplayed the Celtics in the three games in Atlanta, but have been blown out in Boston three times.


Even if the Hawks lose Game Seven big, they have had a very good year. To go from a nine year playoff drought, to playing three fine games in the playoffs, and forcing a 66 win team to play a 37 win team in a Game Seven, is quite an accomplishment. They should only get better, and should make the playoffs with their young talent for many years to come.

Mitch

 

[primetime]

GO HAWKS GO!!!! Man, I am loving this series. This was the one series that EVERYONE predicted was going to be a sweep. Now, it is going 7 games. Hilarious, absolutely hilarious.

The Hawks will probably lose game 7, but if they win, I don't know when I will stop laughing. This series is exposing the Celtics. Really good team, but they are OLD in key spots. Plus, they do not have any "winners" on their team. Only Sam "I am an alien" Cassell has championship experience. Garnett is a beast, but he really hasn't been a clutch player in his career. Ray Allen is the pure definition of a choker. I can't even remember a time when Ray Allen carried his team. He seems to always disappear in crunch time. Paul Pierce? He's seen so many bad seasons, he must still be in shock to be on a winning team.

I hope the Hawks win. I need a good laugh. Unfortunately, the Celtics will probably "eek" by.

 

[Mitchell]

Well, as we know, the Hawks were routed today in Game 7. Not surprising. Still, the Hawks had a great season. They took a 66 win team to the 7th game of the playoffs, and beat them three times in the series. I would say, that qualifies for a successful year.

What angers me is the comments on AJC.com, about Coach Mike Woodson. The fans are screaming that he should be fired. Get a grip, people. The Hawks are a young team, that hadn't made the playoffs in nine years, and rallied from a 2-0 series deficit, to push the Number one seed in the conference, to a seventh game, and the fans are calling for his head? The mandate for this season was "Make the playoffs, or he goes". Well, the Hawks did that. Additionally, they played much better in this series than anyone could have predicted. The "experts" were forecasting a four game sweep by the Celtics. I cant see how a team makes the playoffs for the first time in nine years, pushes the top seed to a 7th game, and then fires the coach. I think Woodson should be retained. Now, hopefully, this extremely young team can build on this successful year, and strive for more regular season wins in 2008-2009, and to advance past the first round. I think the potential upside for this Hawk team is unlimited.

The Hawks had a fine year. I cant wait until 2008-2009. I think this team will give its fans many exciting seasons to come.

Mitch

 

[primetime]

Are you kidding? The Hawks fans are calling for Mike Woodson to get fired? Are they nuts? The Hawks have been a long running joke of an organization and they finally make the playoffs and Woodson should get fired?

This is the same team that forced the overrated Celtics to a game 7 in the FIRST round, when EVERYONE thought this would definitely be the one series that ends in a sweep. This is the same Coach Woodson that got the Hawks to get the city of Atlanta excited again about basketball. When was the last time Atlanta was excited about the Hawks?

The moronic fans have no idea on what they are talking about. Woodson deserves an extension after what they almost pulled off. Atlanta Hawks.... Don't become the LA Clippers and botch up a good thing....

 

[Mitchell]

Prime, I agree with everything you said. It isnt as if the Hawks had missed the playoffs one or two years, and had a great history. Nine years is a huge amount of time to miss the playoffs in the NBA, especially when you have teams who are habitually under 500 making the playoffs in the seventh and eighth seeds.

The posts on the AJC.com website about the Hawks are appalling. I hope that management doesnt listen to the fans, and gives Woodson a one or two year extension. He achieved the mandate for the season, and deserves a reward. I believe that the Hawks, if they stay healthy, should only improve, and should win 40 odd games next year, move up a couple of seeds, and just maybe, if they avoid the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, have a chance to get out of the first round. Give Woodson and this very young team a chance to build on this incredible first round playoff experience.

I hope the Hawks dont fire Woodson. It will be sad if they do. The guy didnt do anything this year to deserve to get fired.

Mitch

 

[primetime]

I was actually pulling for the Hawks against the Celtics. I knew they would lose, but it would have been fun to see them upset the Celtics.

I still don't get it. Why fire Woodson? What on Earth could they reason why he should. Your team has sucked for ages, they make the playoffs and extend the Celtics, and the coach needs to get fired? When the Clippers made the playoffs 2 years ago, the coach got an extension. In Atlanta, the coach needs to get fired. Amazing....

The one thing Atlanta fans have to remember is how they felt during those home games. When was the last time there was that much passion and emotion during a Hawks game? You may never see that again. Fire the Coach? Sad...

 

[Mitchell]

I agree, Prime, but the Atlanta LL Sprit is the worst ownership known to man, even worse than Time Warner, or Ted Turner . As bad as Time Warner was, they left the coaches alone, even when the team was mediocre. Lenny Wilkens coached a mediocre Hawks team for years. I can see firing a coach if a team disappoints, and doesnt make the playoffs, like the Knicks. The team makes the playoffs for the first time in nine years, Atlanta is fired up about the Hawks again, and Woodson loses his job? Not right. I say, even if you dont want to make a long term commitment to him, renew him for one year, as a reward for this year, and see how the Hawks fare.

Hopefully Woodson will be back. If not, he'll probably get a coaching job somewhere.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

Prime, Hawks GM Billy Knight resigned this morning, effective July 1. It seems a pretty good bet now with Knight gone, that Woodson may follow him out the door as well. It looks like the Hawks may well have a new hirearchy next fall. Hopefully they will stay on course with the young talent they have built, to take this team to the next level.

Mitch

 

[P[a]pi]

Well, if Atlanta had home court advantage they would have beat the Celtics, so I think the team could be promising.

 

[Mitchell]

I agree, Papi. This young, emerging team should only get better. I have a feeling that the Hawks will have a great year next year, and finish with a higher seed in the playoffs.

Mitch