HAWKS: Blog Roundtable

Periodically throughout the 2007-08 season, Hawks.com will reach out to several Hawks and Atlanta-area bloggers to get their thoughts on the season. We are calling it the Hawks Blog Roundtable (hence the catchy banner above!). Have a topic you'd like to see discussed here, or have a blog and want to participate? Email us at hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com and let us know!

After the Hawks unbelievable win in Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7 in Boston on Sunday, we had to get some reaction from our panel of Hawks bloggers. Here are some of their thoughts on the series so far:

Bret LaGree from Hoopinion:

The Hawks have to possess more confidence on this trip to Boston than they carried with them on the previous two trips. There's no first-time playoff jitters to deal with or doubt about how to play as well as they did at home in Boston's building. The Hawks won Game 6 despite not playing all that well. Al Horford sat out the second quarter. Josh Smith sat out most of the second half (and committed 6 turnovers in the 29+ minutes he played). Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby shot a combined 10-30.

The Hawks won Game 6 because they played hard for 48 minutes. There's no reason they can't do so again on Sunday afternoon. The offense is unlikely to be subsidized by by 47 free throw attempts again but if Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Josh Childress attack the basket, convert their chances, get to the free throw line a reasonable amount, and create space for Joe Johnson, Bibby, and Marvin Williams to get open jump shots the Hawks can score enough to take advantage of a good defensive performance and, yes, shock the world.

C.C. from The Vent:

Now I know how Golden State fans felt last season! The atmosphere in Philips Arena has been nothing short of AMAZING!!! My biggest concern heading into the playoffs was that we would not have a real home court advantage because Atlanta is so full of people who’ve relocated here and brought their rooting interest with them. Those interests do not include the Atlanta Hawks most of the time. Fortunately we’ve managed to fill the arena with people who are pro Hawks. The fans have been excited and they’ve lifted this team to new heights this post season! There are a lot of games in the arena where you can find more fans on the concourse socializing and trying to be seen than you can find in the stands. This group has been the complete opposite of that. Everyone is in their seat from start to finish hanging on every shot taken. It’s been fantastic! There are a few Celtics fans, but honestly they aren’t even worth mentioning because they’re so outnumbered. .
Game 6 was a total team effort!

Everyone who played contributed in some way shape or form to the win. Marvin Williams finally started to hit that jump shot that’s been his bread and butter all season long. Za Za and Josh Childress were huge off the bench. Mike Bibby was everything we needed him to be. Josh Smith had a few turnovers, but he also had 3 blocks and we’ll take that. If you would have told me before the game that Joe Johnson would only have 2 points in the first half and finish with just 15 but the Hawks would win, I probably would have called you a liar. I still don’t believe it! The mental fortitude this team has shown at Philips Arena is worth applauding. Now, they have to bottle up those emotions and take them to Boston with them for just one day. We’re one win away from shocking the world! I’ve believed we could do it since this series started and I still believe they can. Hopefully they believe it too!