I hope you're ready... 'casue he is.
Now that the match-ups are set, everyone is preparing to face the toughest games all year. For me, it’s a time of excitement that my team, the Atlanta Hawks are back in the playoffs with very nice placement… 4th Seed. Which means homecourt advantage in the first round for sure – and for all of us who watched last year, we’re really good at home.
Then there is caution, the 5th seed Miami Heat are our competition… and if anyone thinks this will be a walk in the park, they’ll be needing to follow these instructions:
Step 1. Get in your vehicle.
Step 2. Drive to your nearest Sports Authrority
Step 3. Buy a punching bag
Step 4. Bring said punching bag home and install it near your couch.
Step 5. Watch the Hawks vs. Heat playoff games and get ready to let your aggression and frustration out in a healthy way. Because at times…. you will be frustrated.
I really want to be able to say that the Hawks will 4-game sweep the Heat, but wow… Dwayne Wade is a force to be reckoned with. He could win a game all by himself, and he has a ring…. To an NBA player in their prime getting a ring is like a dog tasting blood… After they have it the first time, they want it even more the next time.
One thing that I don’t see people focusing on is the fact that D-Wade had an amazing Olympic performance right after everyone said he was done forever… Right after they said he’d never be the same again, after they’d put him down and cast him out to the dogs he came back and slammed on every single critics head. You can’t tell me thats not going through Wade’s mind right now. I can’t be sold the lie that this is just another game for him… That he just hopes they beat the Hawks and maybe he’s just really, really praying that they’ll beat the Cavaliers… Dwayne Wade is determined to prove every single critic out there wrong again. He’s looking for revenge. He’s looking to say, “I told you so” to everyone who doubted him. He’s a dog that’s tasted blood and wants more. It’s up to the Hawks to euthanize him.
Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and a few others have been through some of the worst on the Hawks in the last decade… Smoove was present in the infamous 13 win season (yikes!), Joe has helped bring the team to where they are now and Marv….. well I just like Marvin. These guys have a HUGE vested interest in this team and winning. These guys (specifically J-Smoove) help Philips to live up to it’s nickname, The Highlight Factory, every home game and rarely get the spotlight they deserve. This team get a whopping… amazing…. stupendous… ridiculous… crazy… spectacular… 3 games nationally televised.
Are you joking me!?
But thats why Smith will dunk as hard as he can… Thats why ZaZa will get those O-Boards and stare you down in the process… Thats why Al always checks to see if they’re still there.. Yes… his muscles…. Thats why Joe looks at that video of himself shaking Leon Powe into oblivion before every game. They long for the national spotlight, and maybe… just maybe… If we win a Playoff series they’ll give it to us.
That’s in the back of every one of their minds… Thats why they’ll play hard… That’s why they’ll win. For the fans.
Oh, and that Ring..
Needless to say… Hawks in 7 – We won’t lose at the Factory.
Go Hawks!!!!!!!! (hawksdawg said it best, please don’t make me hate you Dwayne…)
