AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2005 > October > 25
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Interesting, even if it’s preseason
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not sure who should be more concerned, Hawks fans because their team couldn’t hold on to an eight-point lead with 1:20 to play, or Heat fans because they needed a shot at the buzzer to beat the Hawks.
I know, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t play and Dwyane Wade wasn’t even on the floor when the game was decided. But the Hawks played without Joe Johnson and according to the experts, shouldn’t be able to stay on the same floor with the Heat.
The ending aside, I saw two teams with far different attitudes Monday night. The Hawks seem like a team eager to prove something while the Heat appears to be ready to implode — like the star-studded Lakers team of two years ago — on their way to the coronation ceremony. Now, that won’t take away the sting of the loss for the Hawks, who needed this win far more than the Heat.
So it’s only an exhibition game — when you’re trying to develop a winning mentality, every little bit helps. Even when the games don’t really count.
Oh, one last thing. Keep an eye on Esteban Batista. El Toro (as he’s been nicknamed by members of the Hawks training staff) got under the skin of Heat forward Antoine Walker. It got so bad that they traded ‘bows and barbs before game’s end, with Walker scalding the Hawks bench for cheering Batista on (“This guy’s a bum” Walker said. He later apologized to Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
But Batista’s relentlessness around the basket and his willingness to mix it up with anyone in his way is what will keep him in the rotation and in his coach’s good graces.
