AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 04
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Sucker punched
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW YORK - If the Hawks aren’t careful, they’ll be forced to sign members of their television and radio broadcast teams (Steve Smith and Dennis Scott) to 10-day contracts to finish off the season (and before you laugh, it worked for Kevin Willis).
Seriously, though. The news of Josh Childress going down was perhaps the strangest of the season, even more so than Joe Johnson’s injury (which we knew happened) and the hernia surgery that sidelined Josh Smith for a couple weeks after Christmas.
I don’t think anyone saw this coming, Childress has to feel like he got sucker punched. But when the MRI was done on his right foot, it revealed a clean fracture, which means he had to be shut down immediately before things got worse (I saw where the question was raised on yesterday’s gabfest about Childress having some chronic issue with his feet. It’s probably too soon to go there).
Not sure yet, but the new starting five could be Anthony Johnson at the point, Marvin Williams shifting to shooting guard, Josh Smith at small forward, rookie Solomon Jones at power forward and Zaza Pachulia at center. For those of you counting, that would be the Hawks 16th different starting lineup this season.
It’s only eight games and you figure that the Hawks should be able to survive without Johnson, Childress and Speedy Claxton, right? Well, a friend who covers a Central Division team asked me if I “think the Hawks are going to win another game this year?” Tough question. They’ve already lost six straight. Now they’ll play their last eight severely shorthanded. It’s going to be a struggle. They’ll have to overachieve a bit down the stretch to shake off this latest funk.
WOW! Breaking news. Grambling coaching legend Eddie Robinson has passed away. That’s a blow. The man was a pioneer and an icon. WOW!
Whatever my train of thought was, it just went the other direction …
Before I get out of here, I have to mention a few things that have plagued my brain the past 48 hours:
The Pacers’ free-fall continues and now they’ve locked up their first losing season in more than a decade. It’s a thin line between the top and bottom of the NBA standings. And if they’re not careful, franchises that have run like clockwork for years, will be hanging out in the basement. Strangely enough, the Pacers still aren’t out of the playoff mix (they were two back as of this morning) and that season-ending game against the Hawks could actually be a factor. Unbelievable.
Speaking of the standings. It looks like the Heat might be back on the playoff scene in a major way. Not only have they passed the Wizards for the top spot in the Southeast (if it holds that would mean a major reshuffling of the seeds for the playoffs - including an intriguing Detroit-Orlando matchup in the first round), they’re also close to seeing the return of reigning Finals MVP Dwyane Wade from injury. They’re going to be trouble for someone in the playoffs.
Speaking of the playoffs. Did you know that only two teams have been eliminated from playoff contention so far (Boston in the East and Memphis in the West). Other stragglers will soon join them. But for a few hours at least, there is hope.
I’m no women’s basketball expert, but is Pat Summitt the best basketball coach in the country right now? She might catch John Wooden’s record of 10 Division I titles. Like Wooden, Summit has won titles with and without transcendent talents on her roster. I don’t know where she ranks on my list. But I had to ask.
I forgot to mention talk about him after Sunday’s game, but how about Chicago rookie Tyrus Thomas? He looks like he’s going to be another player from last June’s draft to make a dent this season (and there have been few). Apparently it’s taken him some time to get comfortable in the system up there, but he could be a huge playoff factor for a Bulls team that will need a lift if they face the Heat in the first round.
A couple of non-basketball related travel items:
Finally made it to B. Smith’s restaurant near the Theatre District on Restaurant Row here in Manhattan. It’s a trip that was years in the making (I tried at the 2005 draft only to find out that the spot wasn’t open on Wednesday, a policy that has since changed). I’m not embarrassed to tell you that I came all this way to eat ribs and plantains (I don’t care they don’t go together, I like what I like). One of the best meals I’ve had here. And to top it off, B. Smith was in the house and went from table to table thanking everyone for frequenting her spot. Classy lady.
I hit the Virgin Megastore in Times Square to walk off some of that good food and raised the $10 dollar DVD racks. Added School Daze, Hotel Rwanda, Like Water for Chocolate and Conan The Complete Quest to the home collection. There was plenty to choose from but only classics make it into the home collection. If you’re a bargain hunter, like your boy Blog-Z, you have to check out the massive selection the next time you’re in Gotham.
