Back in the Playoffs

The Wizards beat the Pacers 117-110 in Washington last night to put the Hawks in the playoffs for the first time since the 1998-99 season. If there's a new regime installed in the Indiana front office and they decide not to retain Jim O'Brien he could be a candidate for (what should be) the open head coaching job in Atlanta. After the game he demonstrated a familiarity with Mike Woodson's favorite post-loss theme:

"We didn't bring it, that's the bottom line. It's not a matter of being surprised, it's irrelevant whether I'm surprised or not. Big game and we did not defend."

Reactions from the locals...

Sekou:

...there’s no reason to fret over how they got in. The Hawks (despite all their failures) worked hard to get here. So not even a cynic like me (or even that rascal Blog Z) can knock them for the potholes they fell into along the way.

Show them (especially the players) some love for having the guts to get up off the canvas two months ago and make this push (the Hawks have gone 15-13 during this late season push with two games to play).

Give them some love for getting here despite all the hurdles, self inflicted and otherwise.

Drew at Hawks, Dawgs, and Jesus:

You may say who cares? You just bought yourself a four game sweep. You have a terrible coach. You are the youngest team in the NBA. Who cares?

I don't disagree. But tell me the last thing that has stuck with you that you can't remember. Tell me the last thing that you know that happened, that matters to you, that you have no recollection of?

And I will tell you that thing matters.

As for me, I think I'm more appreciative of the hard work of the players than I am frustrated about the obstacles put in their path by management and the head coach. I do not want to see the Hawks swept easily by the Celtics but I think it's a probable outcome.

Six weeks ago, I predicted 35 wins and the eighth seed. I got the playoff berth right but underestimated the schedule's remaining wins by at least 15%. In the comments of that post, you'll see that Joe and Bronn were both more right than I. Not that anyone should be surprised by that.