Hawks advance with one final blowout 91-78

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer May 3, 5:39 pm EDT

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ATLANTA (AP)—Joe Johnson was tired of all the double- and triple-teaming. So he put up a shot before Miami could get an extra defender on him.

From about 30 feet away.

Swish.

After a mostly disappointing series, Johnson finally showed up when the Hawks needed him most, making six 3-pointers and scoring 27 points to lead Atlanta into the second round of the playoffs with a 91-78 victory over Dwyane Wade and the Heat in Game 7 Sunday.

Atlanta got past the first round for the first time since 1999. Their reward? A matchup with LeBron James and the top-seeded Cavaliers, beginning Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Johnson, the Hawks’ top scorer during the regular season, was held under 20 points in five of the first six games by the Heat. It looked like more of the same when he missed his first five shots of the decisive contest.

Then, suddenly, he found his range. First, a 3-pointer from just outside the line. Then, on Atlanta’s next possession, he pulled up near the tip of the winged logo at center court—a good 7 to 8 short of the arc—and launched another one. Nothing but net, even after he got a bit of a hip check from a startled Wade, who looked off toward the stands in disbelief after the ball went through.

“I was just trying to be more aggressive,” Johnson said. “I haven’t put up a 3 that long in a while. I said, ‘Forget it,’ and just launched it. Making that got me into a little rhythm.”

He finished 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, leading the Hawks to the final blowout in a series that was totally devoid of any drama. Every game was decided by at least 10 points.

“When Joe is hitting 40-foot 3s,” Wade said, “it’s one of those nights.”

After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended with Atlanta ahead 20-18, the Hawks pulled out to a 49-36 lead by halftime. They might as well have started the celebration right then. There were only 15 lead changes in seven games—not one of them after the opening period.

The Hawks turned the contest into a laugher in the final quarter. Flip Murray hit a 3-pointer to give Atlanta its biggest lead, 85-66, and both teams cleared their benches in the closing minutes.

Things got ugly late while the Hawks fans chanted “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye!” Zaza Pachulia, who provided more quality minutes off the bench, drove to the hoop and was collared around the neck by Udonis Haslem. The Miami forward was tossed out of the game for a flagrant foul, while Atlanta coach Mike Woodson charged onto the court to make sure no punches were thrown.

The Hawks will need everyone for the Cavaliers, who have lost only two games at home all season.

Miami is done, its finale epitomized by Haslem’s inglorious exit. He ripped off his jersey on the way to the locker room, throwing it into the crowd before he disappeared down the tunnel.

Still, it was quite a comeback season for Wade and the Heat, which bounced back from a dismal 15-67 record to make the playoffs as the fifth seed in the East.

“I’m very encouraged by this season,” said Wade, who scored 31 points. “The team that won 15 games last year came back to win 43 games this year and took Atlanta to seven games in the playoffs. We’ve got something to build on.”

Wade scored 31 points but the majority of those came after the Hawks had already built a comfortable lead. Bothered by back spasms throughout the series, he didn’t have enough help from his young teammates to get through to a matchup against James in the second round.

Instead, it’s the Hawks moving on. Red and silver streamers fell from the roof of Philips Arena as the horn sounded, celebrating the team’s first playoff series win since a five-game triumph over Detroit in 1999. That team was swept by New York in the next round and then drifted into irrelevance, enduring nine straight losing seasons before this year’s 47-35 mark was good enough for home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

A year ago, the Hawks learned the benefits of playing Game 7 at home. After taking the eventual NBA champion Celtics to the limit, Atlanta was blown out in the decisive game at Boston. This time, the Hawks got to play at home, and they doled out the same treatment to Miami.

Mike Bibby might have been the Hawks most valuable player in the series. He averaged just under 15 points and 5 assists in the seven games. He even stood up to Woodson when the coach complained about Josh Smith (21 points) putting up an errant 3-pointer from the corner.

When Woodson called his point guard over, Bibby shot back with an expletive. “Y’all tell him to move,” Bibby growled. Woodson simply turned away, rubbing his goattee and smiling slightly.

This was the first Game 7 ever played in Atlanta. As if that wasn’t unusual enough, the Hawks had not won a Game 7 since 1961—when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

“It feel like the monkey’s off Atlanta’s back,” Smith said. “Not just the team’s back. The whole city.”

Notes

Joey Crawford was part of the three-man officiating crew for Game 7. About two miles away, his brother, Jerry, was the first-base umpire for the Braves’ game against the Houston Astros. … Al Horford had 7 points after missing Game 6 with a sprained ankle. … Jermaine O’Neal, who sat out the previous contest with a a concussion, played just 42 seconds after being cleared by doctors before the game. … The late-arriving crowd of 18,864 was just short of a capacity, ending Atlanta’s streak of six straight playoff sellouts.

Updated May 3, 5:39 pm EDT
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117 Comments

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  1. JASON
    117. Posted by JASON Mon May 4 5:50pm EDT

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    Cavs in 5 if Atlanta can win one! Could be another sweeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  2. BrandonM
    116. Posted by BrandonM Mon May 4 5:02pm EDT

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    Hawks in 7 Vs CAVS!!! You Know anything can happen yall! Lebron could like get injured or something!! Also no team is Invincible!!
  3. CarlosP
    115. Posted by CarlosP Mon May 4 3:38pm EDT

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    I agree with you 100% ChrisH. Ppl always talk about how Kobe cant go far in the playoffs withput Shaq or that he cant win a championship without Shaq, but yea what about Wade. He just lost in the first round of the playoffs and when he won his the championship it was with Shaq. The Celtics definently aren't going to the NBA finals because they are straight losers withput KG
  4. Roney
    114. Posted by Roney Mon May 4 3:36pm EDT

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    If the Cavaliers pack their bags for the NBA championship or conference finals prematurely, they will find themselves in the stands versus the sidelines.

    Atlanta is not showing a lack of discipline and immaturity that many sports teams and organizations display at this stage of the playoffs.

    I even believe that my UNC Tarheels' NCAA championship win is still boosting their chances as how to get things done:)
  5. <i>aidieeyll</i>
    113. Posted by aidieeyll Mon May 4 1:34pm EDT

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    one year older, one year wiser ? maybe they are, but i don't think they are ready for the title. i don't even think they will get passed against cavaliers.
  6. Some Dude
    112. Posted by Some Dude Mon May 4 12:25pm EDT

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    This could have been but one of many playoff wins for Atlanta . They were starting to put together a fantastic team in the early to mid 90's , But the owners decided to piss all over Dominique Wilkins and trade him right before the playoffs for Danny Crybaby Manning.
  7. dont have one
    111. Posted by dont have one Mon May 4 12:04pm EDT

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    i love wen folk complain wen things dont go right..... the news and media is all about wade. them clowns lost. that fool hit his head on the freakin floor wen he supposedly had back spasm but did he grab his back nope. he grabbed his head even tho his lower body hit the floor first. al horford played with a sprained ankle. marvin wiliam played with a sprained wrist. we beat wade wen he wasnt injured....... leave it at that cuz we won. now folk wanna count us out cuz the cavs blew out detroit. detroit sucked. the media wants the cavs to win and if the hawks stay focused we can beat them clowns. the heat is not a sorry team its just that atlanta had a problem keepin that intensity on.... i see a game one upset and we will win game two.
  8. Jeremy R
    110. Posted by Jeremy R Mon May 4 12:02pm EDT

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    wade aint goin no where!!!!!!!! wats weak is josh smith's ugly ass jump shot.. Atlanta goin 2 be beat by the cavs... Cavs v.s Nuggets in the finals!!!! Nuggets are my underdog... thier so hot right now..and I want to see melo v.s bron
  9. John
    109. Posted by John Mon May 4 11:41am EDT

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    Cavs will clean the clock off Hawks, 4-0. It will be Cavs and Lakers for the finals, with King James slammmmmmmming down on Kobe!! Cavs will be victorious. Much like Pacquiao knocked the hell out of Hatton. thegreat2432 won't be able to drink his tequilla and celebrate like he would, since Pacquiao is a Mexican Executioner. Bring on any mexicans to pacman and he will just eat'em alive!!Marquez won't even pass Mayweather Jr. Go eat ur tacos hefi and grow up.
  10. Beau
    108. Posted by Beau Mon May 4 11:07am EDT

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    “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye!”
  11. <i>blutrane56</i>
    107. Posted by blutrane56 Mon May 4 10:38am EDT

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    The Cavs ain't stopping for nobody this year. Every man on the team is visualizing hoisting the trophy to cheers of thousands of championship starved Cleveland sports fans. LeBron won't have it any other way. Atlanta is just a bump in the road to chanpionship victory. The Kobe-LeBron dual will match Bird- Magic or Jordan- Bird dual in intensity and entertainment. ANyone who honestly think the Hawks have a chance is dreaming or has a serious drug problem. The Hawks might get lucky and win one at home but this series is not going seven games. PERIOD.
  12. <i>dokimato</i>
    106. Posted by dokimato Mon May 4 10:23am EDT

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    hawks da @#$%
  13. Johnny Boy
    105. Posted by Johnny Boy Mon May 4 9:58am EDT

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    I agree, Im a Heat fan as well and they seemed as if they had given up for some reason. They weren't playing with the same intensity as they did in Game 6. The Hawks should be scared as hell to go against a well rested #1 seed. They gonna feel the HURT...lol.
  14. heat4ever
    104. Posted by heat4ever Mon May 4 9:31am EDT

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    heat kinda didnt even really played game 7...looked like they just kinda gave up....very disappointing...but im still a big heat and wade fan....but we need somebody else that can score man.....shame we lost marion - he was a great scorer...anyway at least now they wont get the hurt from the cavs - but the Hawks will!!!!!!!!
  15. mare
    103. Posted by mare Mon May 4 9:25am EDT

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    whats up~
  16. Jack H
    102. Posted by Jack H Mon May 4 9:24am EDT

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    I'm not a huge basketball fan, because the season is long, but when the playoffs are on, the best of the best is out there.Watching good stuff on the court is always a joy..I watched the Miami Heat game 7th game and this Wade, want to be a superstar, completly forgot about the other guys on the floor.A 8 second penality is highschool ball and shooting has left his body, is AWFUL..He has to live with it, and if I was a team mate..I would have taken him aside after the game, and have a few words with him..If he wants to be in a single sport, then be a golfer, swimmer, boxer, weight lifter, skier, etc..Team sport left this guys mind..He's not a superstar and probably will never be..Too bad for the TEAM..Bulls and Cerltics series was a wonderful example of team performance....
  17. fisheyelake
    101. Posted by fisheyelake Mon May 4 9:22am EDT

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    I'm a D Wade fan all the way. Love him.
  18. brochador
    100. Posted by brochador Mon May 4 9:11am EDT

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    JDMNSX, So u mean the 3 rings of kobe is fake bcoz he got that with shaq's help? And base on ur comment, u seem a big fan of dwade... So, that means Dwade only ring is fake also coz he got it with shaq's help... Dwade can't take his team beyond the 1st round, again, bcoz shaq is not around anymore to help, and even he's around, they still can't bcoz the diesel is arthritic and even with nash, wasn't able to carry phoenix even to the playoffs. Let me ask u, do u think the celtics will win last year's crown without KG? U and ur dumb a$$ comment. whahahahahaah! BLACK MAMBA RULES BABY!!!!!!!
  19. Doug
    99. Posted by Doug Mon May 4 8:59am EDT

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    i did not know there were so many cavs fans around i guess cleveland is really hard up for some sort of title hawks might be boring and probably wont beat cleveland. but cleveland is the most boring city in the world so who cares if cleveland wins you still have to live there
  20. Chrissy
    98. Posted by Chrissy Mon May 4 8:52am EDT

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    CAVS got this series & will win the championship this year!!!
  21. damians
    97. Posted by damians Mon May 4 8:48am EDT

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    Um plz dont doubt my atlanta hawks we will beat the cavs u saw wat happend last yr in the playoffs we took the boston celtics to round 7 tied series 3-3 but dnt ever doubt the underdogs for example the cardinals and the steelers the steelers almost got beat so be careful wat u say:)lets go hawks!!!!!!
  22. James
    96. Posted by James Mon May 4 8:41am EDT

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    ATL Hawks fan in tha building...shotouts to tha heats and i have 2 say Wade did what he could last night but
    it wasnt enought to stop Joe from shooting a 30 foot jump shot...lol...Good Game!
  23. <i>javierutuhujan</i>
    95. Posted by javierutuhujan Mon May 4 8:32am EDT

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    its ok for me .better nexttime heat.......god bless.................................................................
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Miami
D. Wade Dwyane Wade
10-25,  31 Pts
3 Rebs, 4 Assists
 Atlanta
J. Johnson Joe Johnson
10-19,  27 Pts
5 Rebs, 4 Assists

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