AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 05
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
So much for the sneak attack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW ORLEANS - The Hawks won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.
Not after a 3-0 start that includes impressive wins in Orlando and New Orleans, Wednesday night’s win over the Hornets here registering an 8.5 on the jaw-drop scale.
And not after they wiped out a 23-point deficit in their home opener to thump a Philadelphia team forecasted to push its way into the top four in the Eastern Conference.
I almost feel a little a foolish now for warning all of you to worry so much about the Hawks’ early season schedule. Sure, they still have a ways to go. But if they travel the next 16 games anything like they have these first three, there’s no need to fret.
They’re doing it with defense, doing it together and doing it without a hint f smoke and mirrors.
Go ahead and pinch yourself, folks, these Hawks might actually be for real.
If you don’t believe me, check out the reaction of the Hornets after Wednesday’s game.
“They just beat us up,” Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul said. “We thought we could just turn it on whenever we got ready … they were just the better team than us.”
Hornets coach Byron Scott wasn’t nearly as diplomatic regarding his own team, paying the Hawks a huge compliment along the way.
“They played harder than we did,” Scott said. “They were more aggressive, more physical. The M.O. of our team from last year was ‘beat them up,’ and that’s basically what they did. They took liberties against us and we took a step back because we accepted it instead of fighting fire with fire. Sometimes you just got to step up and be a man.”
FLIP THE SWITCH: Hawks’ reserve guard Flip Murray couldn’t have asked for a better start to his career in red, white and blue. Once again he was the man on the spot when the Hawks needed it - Murray was on the floor in place of Mike Bibby during crunch time.
Murray scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 75 percent (3-for-4) from the floor, including a 2-for-3 showing from beyond the 3-point line.
“I love what he’s giving us,” Joe Johnson said after leading all scorers with 24 points. “With him and Mo, that’s exactly what I was talking about [last preseason] when I said we needed to add some more vets to help out. They’ve been huge for us.”
FRENCH (FOURTH) QUARTER: Just how good were the Hawks in the final 12 minutes on both ends of the floor Wednesday night?
They shot 58 percent (11-for-19) from the floor, including a 5-for-9 showing from beyond the 3-point line.
They limited to the Hornets to 28 percent shooting (5-for-18) from the floor, including a 2-for-9 showing from beyond the 3-point line.
The Hawks’ 14-3 run (they went from trailing 62-58 at the end of the third quarter to leading 72-65 with just over seven minutes to play) was the game-clinching run.
The Hornets didn’t have the wherewithal or the tools to fight back against an aggressor like the Hawks Wednesday night.
PERFECTION: Tell me you didn’t notice Marvin Williams and his 3-for-3 showing from beyond the 3-point line, I dare you.
I wrote about it before and I’ll say it again right now, if he can consistently be a threat from that distance this team becomes a totally different animal.
