Peachtree Hoops: Hawks Fans Don’t Fear Deer, Just The End

With Milwaukee’s 91-87 win over Atlanta Wednesday night, the series isn’t over, but it feels that way to a lot of Hawks fans.

This team, this rebuilding process seems over (not done but certainly a chapter complete). We will certainly get into more analysis of the game. More talk about match ups and poor shots and player mentality and coaching strategy and all those things we love to debate and find witty ways to lampoon.

But tonight, you can know when I hear “fear the dear” I do not get angry or trivially upset. I get it. I really do. If I was a Bucks fan, I would be somewhere beyond happy land right now. But for every national media and opposing blogger that sees the Hawks as one more moving piece in their playoff meme, you can know for us Hawks fans it is not some intriguing way of talking about tomorrow’s news cycle or unexpected match up for the next round of the playoffs; it is our heart and soul.

So for all you Hawks fans that bleed from this loss, who feel worse than angry, who actually feel sad. For all you who have railed Mike Woodson, who have lamented Joe Johnson’s skills, who have called out Josh Smith’s maturity or Al Horford’s “go to” status, for those who have mocked Marvin’s draft status or wished Jamal Crawford tried on defense, I know this is no joyous moment of redemption. I know this is no “I told you so” moment about your least favorite player or coach. This is fan rock bottom. This is hours of loyalty and miles of hope that feel worse than wasted, they feel over.