Hot Night.......In "Hotlanta"...

I was........very tired last night.....

I think I might have even dosed off for a moment or two. Was I dreaming? The Atlanta Hawks were playing the Boston Celtics in game four of the NBA eastern conference playoffs.

The Hawks had lost the first two in Boston by scores of 104-81 and 96-77. Par for the course in match-ups featuring the number one seed against the number eight seed.

Then....in game three........Saturday night.....in Atlanta......in the Omni..........Did I say "Omni".......I meant Philips Arena. (It's been a long time since Atlanta was in the play-offs).

Something magical happened......There was ........NOISE! There was electricity in the building. These young, athletic, and talented Hawks played the Celtics even through three quarters and ended up winning ........102-93.

Which brings us to last night......The ESPN talking heads had said all the Hawks did Saturday was awaken a sleeping giant. Rookie Al Horford talking trash to Celtics' All-star Paul Pierce.....was just plain stupid. "Pierce might score 40 points in game four".

Well..........Game four.....was last night. And.....a funny thing happened ......in "Hotlanta". The crowd at Philips was even louder than Saturday. And these young Hawks..........were not intimidated .

Josh Smith was ....the ...... "intimidater "............blocking 7 shots.....and making Celt star Kevin Garnett think twice.......before entering the lane.

But Boston .....is Boston. In the third quarter, the Celtics executed on both defense and offense and surged to a 10 point lead.

This.......I think is when I dosed off. But.....I was awake when the Hawks outscored the Celtics 32-17 in the final quarter. But .....it was all so surreal ...........It was like a dream...Like being in the afore mentioned Omni........With Dominic Wilkins and Steve Smith.....in the '90's.


Joe Johnson........showed........out! The Hawks........talented.....but young......gave Johnson the ball......and the game in that final quarter. And Joe......wasn't average. He was spectacular! Johnson scored 20 of his 35 points in that said quarter.....and willed this young team to a stunning 97-92 victory over those heavily favored Celtics to even this series at two games apiece.

No...........it was not a dream. Yes.....this is real. The City of Atlanta is alive..........

You could see it in the eyes of the Celtics........You could see it in the eyes of coach Doc Rivers. (Doc played here in the 90's). There was a look of concern........and bewilderment.......

The Celtics had the best record in the entire NBA this year......They have 3 bona fide superstars..........Yet ..........this series is now tied ........2-2. And now.....the Celts are the ones thinking....and ..........wondering.

Who knows where this series will end up. Game five is in Boston Wednesday night. Then back to Atlanta.

Even if these Hawks don't win another game...........we here in the deep south.....say "Thank you .......young 'uns .....for bringing the "hot" to "Hotlanta"........once again."