HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Outside perceptions, preseason goals and prior year results mean nothing in the present if a team fails to execute when it’s all on the line. The Atlanta Hawks entered the season answering a plethora of questions on whether they could finally get past the second round of the playoffs after suffering consecutive demoralizing sweeps in the round over the past two seasons. It was all about baby steps.

In comparison, the Orlando Magic entered the 2011 campaign with championship or bust ambitions – a team penciled in as a legitimate league elite player in everyone’s power poll.  Fast forward eight months and the Hawks have unexpectedly pushed the Magic to the brink of elimination in the first round of the postseason.

The Hawks hold a commanding 3-1 series lead and travel to Orlando attempting to accomplish one of the hardest feats in sports – to close out a team on the road.

"Man it’s going to be tough, nothing short of tough," Hawks forward Marvin Williams admitted to HOOPSWORLD. "Trying to close a team out is always hard, especially on the road. Orlando is a good team. I mean they’re struggling a little bit and we’re forcing some of those struggles but it’ll be tough because Orlando is not going to lie down so we have to be ready."

While the percentages greatly favor the Hawks to advance to the second round, teams have overcome 3-1 deficits in the past and those facts of history aren’t lost on Hawks veteran guard Jamal Crawford’s mind. The 2010 Sixth Man of the Year doesn’t want any of his teammates booking a flight to Chicago (or planning for Indiana) prematurely. 

"We got one more game," Crawford told HOOPSWORLD." A series is [about winning] four games. We’re in total control of the series but we can’t slip up. We can’t take our foot off the pedal. We have to continue to be aggressive and continue to do the things we’ve done to get the lead in the series in the first place."

Maintaining attention and focus for a full forty-eight minutes is something the Hawks have routinely struggled with throughout the season, looking like world beaters capable of beating any team in the league one moment – a team destined for the lottery in the next.

Hawks head coach Larry Drew, who has been with team in some capacity for the past seven years, believes the team’s focus is at one of the highest levels of his tenure.

"Yeah, I would say that," Drew said. "The other game that really comes to mind was game six in Milwaukee (2010 playoffs) where our backs were against the wall. We had to go to Milwaukee to bring it back to Atlanta. I saw a focus then and it’s pretty similar to what I’m saying now with the team. I think looking back again at the regular season and the success we’ve had with Orlando our players are in a good place mentally when they play this team. They understand and know that first of all it’s going to be a physical game. It’s a game now because of the way we defend and the way we play on the offensive end it gives them a chance. That makes them feel good. "

"With the strategy of how we play them it puts us in a [solid] position at the end of the game," Drew continued. "You can clearly see when we go through our walkthroughs and minor adjustments; the game plan pretty much stays the same. You can see that everybody is dialed in and everybody’s focus is there. You can feel the players are very confident about what we’re doing with Orlando."

Some players were quick to agree with Drew’s assessment of focus from the sideline.

"Yeah we’re locked in," Crawford said to HOOPSWORLD. "I think we handle adversity better than we have since I’ve been here over the last two years. We can take a team’s best punch and comeback. We find ways to step up. It’s different people at different times, but that’s what we do."

{AUTHOR_BOX} Others were in agreement on Drew’s newfound strategy in defending Orlando from years past when the Magic dominated their head-to-head to matchups. The strategy to play Dwight Howard one-on-one in the low block has allowed the Hawks to keep hands in

"Last year we were forced to double Dwight but this year coach came up with a different game plan to play him straight," Williams said to HOOPSWORLD. "That’s why their perimeter guys did so well against us last year. This year we’re able to stay at home on them and guard them a little better. So it’s definitely helping us out for sure. If you go from shooting wide open threes, and those guys are lights out shooters over there, to always having a hand in your face it’s a big difference man. It’s a big difference. The shots they were making last year, they’re not getting those shots this year and it’s really helping us."

If the Hawks fail to close the show on the road in Orlando on Tuesday, they’ll head back to Atlanta where they won games three and four behind a raucous and vibrant crowd at Philips Arena.

Excluding the team’s diehard fan base, Hawks support is often classified as inconsistent. But the fans who’ve packed the house during the playoffs have served as extra motivation and their energy is being appreciated and welcomed by everyone on the roster.

Everyone asked was singing the same tune.

"I was telling Jeff [Teague] that this place comes alive in April man," Williams commented on the atmosphere in Philips Arena. "It comes alive. Sometimes during the regular season it’s not as full as other times but you better believe those Atlanta fans are going to be here when it’s time for the playoffs. It really helps us definitely."

"It feels good," Crawford said. "When our fans are supporting us like that it means everything. When we get that from our fans it’s just unbelievable. It gives us so much energy."

"It feels good to have a crowd like this behind you," reserve center Hilton Armstrong told HOOPSWORLD. "Especially in the playoffs, that’s what you need at home. To have that support, knowing people are behind you just gives you a little more energy to keep pushing and play a lot harder."

Despite the love and energy from the fans on display, the Hawks don’t want to play in front of them again – versus Orlando at least.

"Not in game six," Williams responded with a laugh. "Not against this [Orlando] team."

Hilton Armstrong Looking For More Minutes, Bigger Role

Fifth year center Hilton Armstrong didn’t receive a lot of press when he was included in the trade deadline deal in which the Hawks acquired point guard Kirk Hinrich from Washington, but he’s been effective in limited minutes guarding Howard in the team’s first round series.

Armstrong averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in twelve regular season contests with the team and has logged only 14 minutes the entire postseason up until this point. The unrestricted free agent to be is enjoying his time in Atlanta, but will ultimately be looking for an opportunity that may come with more playing time opportunities.

"Honestly, just wherever I could find a good spot to get a little more [playing] time," Armstrong told HOOPSWORLD on his free agency plans. "But I love Atlanta; I have family down here also. When I got traded here I was very happy."

For now, Armstrong is buried on the depth chart behind Jason Collins, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Powell and All-Star center Al Horford. But he’s relishing his role of being able to contribute whenever coach Drew calls his number.

"It’s something you get use to after awhile," Armstrong said regarding limited minutes. "You just know what your role is on the team. Come in and be a big body and take hard fouls when need be and just try to play solid defense."

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