OK, how ’bout best two outta three?
Know what a Neuralyzer is? It’s that lil’ wand Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones would use in the Men in Black series to erase people’s memory. David Stern’s waved one of those babies in front of the basketball world focused on this series. A 2-2 count essentially means a do-over. Only in this case, the do-over calls for a best two-outta-three series with Heat leader DWade limping into Game 5. The Hawks don’t mind any of that, of course. Now, it’s time to see if they remember how to play in front of the home crowd.
Pregame
-Home Depot’s provided the home fans with complimentary white tees. It would look kinda cool if it were not for so many empty gaps in the stands.
-Keith Adams, tonight’s national anthem singer, has a familiar voice. Oh yeah, he sang the anthem before Game 2, too.
-Spirit the Hawk is still a part of the pregame fun- only tonight he isn’t flying from the club section but sitting comfortably on his trainer’s arm. Wouldn’t want the lady in Section 104 to get attacked again.
1st Quarter
-The crowd is fired up. They’re in full throat with the “Let’s go Hawks!” and “De-fense” chants and we’ve only played five minutes.
-There’s been another T.I. sighting on the front row.
-ZaZa Pachulia gets a ridiculously warm reception when he enters the game. There really is something to be said for being a big, scruffy-looking dude who wears a black eye like a badge of honor.
-Until you’ve been at the Phil and have heard 18,000+ say “Nooooo!” in unison when Josh Smithattempts anything beyond 10 feet, you haven’t lived.
-With about five minutes to play in the quarter, the aforementioned holes in the arena are beginning to fill. Wheew. It would be embarrassing to see gaps on the ESPN highlights, right?
-DWade is damn near motionless. Damn.
-This one tacky Atlanta fan in the second row is gesturing for Wade to get off the court. Umm, how ’bout you get a little class?
-With Dwyane down, it’s gonna be interesting to see whose shots pick up.
-Betcha I can name one group that’s (semi) happy to see Wade out: The International Chris Quinn Fan Club.
-Look at Mike Bibby showing the paint some love!
-10 first-quarter points for Jermaine O’Neal. He only had one 30+ game this season, and that was way back on December 26.
2nd Quarter
-With 10:25 left in the quarter, Flash makes a speedy return.
-Solomon Jones’ foul was a bit aggressive. I can’t front on that. But some of the shenanigans are stirred on by all the pushing.
-And J-Smoove, where is it written that you have to be in the middle of every single fracas?
-Let’s Get Physical… Physical!
-The energy here is almost feverish. Josh will either have the game of his life, or he’ll get ejected by the middle of the third quarter.
-Nothing against the out-of-shape guys dancing at mid-court during the timeout. It’s a recession. Everybody needs a check. But their shirtless routine is getting kinda dated. Many fans agree and send a cascade of boos onto the hardwood.
-On the low, JJ has nine points, three boards and five dimes.
-The cameras just showed a couple on the jumbotron during the kiss cam segment and they had a whole hand-slapping routine on display. All of a sudden I wanna watch What’s Happenin’ reruns now.
-Question: Why doesn’t Michael Beasley get more burn for the Heat?
-O’Neal’sthe only Heat player with any life in his step.
-Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is in the building, and she’s wearing the same red flower pendant she does in nearly every public setting. See… see… see.
-Hate to see Al Horford hobble off. But oddly, before the foul, he wasn’t really showing that young spark he often does when the crowd’s into it.
-A 22-point Hawks cushion with 1:11 left in the first half- who knew?!
-The DWade clank at the end of the half is fitting symbolism for his team’s play tonight. Man, if the Hawks lose this one, I swear to wear one of Mayor Franklin’s pendants for a full day.
Halftime
-Usually the halftime festivities are pretty uneventful. Not tonight. Some of the Heat players are out taking their usual warm-up shots. Beasley’s shooting rainbow threes from the top of the key. One attempt misses everything it’s supposed to hit and nails a cameraman square in the head. He drops his camera. I’m not sure if it breaks or not. In between chuckles, Beaz does go up to the guy to apologize.
3rd Quarter
-A 65% Dwyane Wade is still better than 85% of the League.
-Good time out, Woody. Keep No. 3 from warming up. Now, if he can only keep Mike Bibby away from James Jones beyond the arc, things will be cool for the home team.
-What are the Czar and Dick Stockton saying about Al Horford’s condition?
-Flip Murray is keeping Miami just out of reach.
-That makes three motionless players on the ground tonight. Are we approaching a record yet?
-Joe Johnson has 20 points for the first time since April 10.
-Move, Itch! Get out the way! Get out the way, Itch! Get out the way!
4th Quarter
-Somebody from the Heat is gonna have a few choice words for the officiating after this one.
-There’s a “DWade sucks!” chant coming from the upper section. Starts up after the missed dunk.
-You know you’re playing a physical game when Daequan Cook, Mike Bibby and James Jones have 11 fouls between them.
-Tonight’s sell-out attendance is announced at 19,051. That may be a touch generous.
-Oh no, Josh! If you try the circus shots, you can’t make a clown of yourself.
-A free shirt just hit my feet. The reporter next to me and I agree to hand it to a wide-eyed kid in front of us.
-The guy in the white No. 33 jersey is named Randolph Morris. He was a stud in high school. In ’04.
-Hawks, this is how you show appreciation for the home court. 106-91. Now you know… not my words. They’re the amazingly cheesy ones from the Hawks marketing department.
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