The Hawks finally put the ball through the hoop with 31.1 ticks left in overtime yesterday. Prior to Cam Reddish’s short stab, they proved unable to score in 10 straight offensive sets dating back to the last minute of the fourth quarter. And through seven missed field-goal attempts, two trips to the charity stripe, and two turnovers, they managed to snatch defeat from the throes of victory. They hitherto looked to be en route to reaping the benefits of 47 minutes of outstanding hoops in hostile territory, only to get in their own way and ultimately absorb their 18th setback in 24 outings so far through their 2019–20 campaign.
To be fair, the Hawks were up against the red-hot Heat, and at the raucous American Airlines Arena to boot. Under the circumstances, they knew well enough to match the invariable never-say-die disposition of the competition from beginning to end. Unfortunately, they were unable to meet the challenge; that the outstanding coverage on top scorer and playmaker Trey Young compelled them to turn to other sources of points made the endeavor even more difficult. With pressure building and the set-to on the line, it was as if they suddenly succumbed to the very thought of exceeding themselves.
A loss is a loss, of course, and yesterday’s will simply be another in a long line throughout a long season. And even as the official ledger will show a close encounter that turned into a blowout, it discounts the effort the Hawks exerted versus bona fide contenders. They just didn’t have enough to close the deal — certainly not in the face of record firsts by the host Heat. Not with Jimmy Butler going for 18 rebounds and Bam Adebayo putting up 30 as part of their side-by-side triple-doubles. Not with Duncan Robinson exploding for 10 triples. And not with head coach Erik Spoelstra staying flawless in nine homestands.
For the Hawks, there are no silver linings to an unproductive stop. They were hopeful on opening tip, having just claimed a convincing win over the Hornets at Spectrum Center. They wound up crestfallen and contemplative, admittedly crushed by their failure to make a statement. Nonetheless, the season is young. There will be more opportunities, and, if nothing else, yesterday’s experience should prove instructive the next time they find themselves in a similar situation. They’re growing — perhaps not as fast as they’d like, but enough to cast moist eyes on a brighter tomorrow.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
