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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > November > 01
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Pachulia, Hawks impress
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks’ home opener began as if Philadelphia was Florida and the Hawks were … well, you know. But a funny thing happened on the way to a fairly colossal letdown: From 23 points down, the Hawks roused themselves and delivered a fairly emphatic beatdown.
And now they’re 2-0, having whipped two of the East’s better teams, which leads us to believe that these Hawks might themselves be one of the East’s better teams. “I think we’ve shown something,” said Josh Smith, who had no points in Saturday’s first half but was terrific again late. “We’ve matured.”
“Maturity” wasn’t the first word that seemed to describe the Hawks when Philadelphia led 44-21. “Mediocrity” seemed more fitting, or “maddening.” How could a team play so well in Orlando on Wednesday and lay such an egg back home?
But then, just as everyone was beginning to ponder that metaphysical stumper, the game changed and another question leapt to mind. Namely, what in the name of the Mvktari River has gotten into Zaza Pachulia?
As good as the center from (the other) Georgia was against the Magic, he was better this night. “We gave him the game ball, and he deserved it,” Mike Woodson said. “He changed the whole game.”
Said Smith: “He’s just playing great. He has a newborn son, and that’s made a difference. And we’re loving it.”
Davit Pachulia was born Oct. 9, and let the record show that his father’s team is unbeaten since the blessed arrival. “It’s made all the difference,” Davit’s dad said, tactfully omitting that other life-changing moment of calendar year 2008 — staring down Kevin Garnett in Game 4 of the Hawks-Celtics series.
Eight months ago, Zaza Pachulia had gotten really good at fouling and falling down. Now he’s playing so effectively that you can’t believe it’s the same guy. There came a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter Saturday when everything the Z-man did was — I ask your forgiveness in advance — zensational.
An offensive rebound and a feed to Smith underneath. A follow after Flip Murray missed. A defensive clearance after Andre Miller missed. A muscled-home layup off a Murray pass to bring the Hawks within two. Was this Zaza Pachulia or Vlade Divac? Zaza Pachulia or Bill Walton?
“Zaza,” said Horford, who closed his day as both a happy Gator and a happy Hawk. “Ah, man. He came out and changed the game.”
Whereupon Smith and Murray and sublime Joe Johnson won it. Johnson put the Hawks ahead for the first time off Smith’s rebound and precise outlet. Then Murray, who’s nothing if not fearless, drove to give his team a lead it would keep. And then Johnson, whose prowess as a last-second shotmaker was doubted by an unnamed NBA scout quoted on SI.com, bounced off Thaddeus Young out high and drained the killing 32-footer.
That’s correct. A 32-footer. Nothing but net.
Said Smith: “It shows the relentlessness of this team.”
Said Horford: “It shows we’re growing as a team.”
Yes, these are just two games, two of 82, and this is but the first week of a six-month regular season. But those among us who wondered if the Hawks had banked anything from their Boston experience now have an answer. They did. They have taken what they learned and begun to run with it, and good for them.
“Team basketball at its best,” said Pachulia, the sudden star. And then, when it was suggested that he has become a major part of this rising team, the bullish Zaza almost blushed.
“When I hear something like that,” Pachulia said, “all I can say is, ‘Thank you.’ “
Don’t mention it, Z-Daddy.
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