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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hawks in need of a boost
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
MIAMI - For a team in need of catharsis this seems like an odd place to practice the morning after being bushwhacked on this same floor Monday night by the Miami Heat.
But the schedule dictated that the Hawks would practice here at AmericanAirlines Arena before departing for New York.
I don’t know if they’ll get the emotional purging they need by game time against the Knicks, but the physical boost they need joined the line for drills 40 minutes into practice.
Just the sight of Al Horford in line had to boost the spirits of Hawks, a beleaguered bunch after back-to-back losses.
Horford is still clearly a few days away from coming back. But the need for a solidifying force, on and off the floor, is evident.
Heat coach Erick Spoelstra talked about it before his team dismantled the Hawks Monday night.
“Horford is a strong element they’re missing,” Spoelstra said. “We noticed that the last time we played. He’s one of the very best team defenders in the league. He really is amazing.”
The Hawks could use a shot of “amazing” right about now.
* EXPLANATION TIME *
Flip Murray had what was easily the best explanation for the Hawks’ putrid first half offensive showing against the Heat, and he wasn’t the least bit testy when he said it.
“We missed [expletive] shots, man,” he told me after the game. “It’s as simple as that.”
For sure.
Someone had the audacity to complain about the Hawks not having any assists at halftime and all I could do was laugh.
Uh, they made just 8-of-26 shots from the floor and went SCORELESS for 13 minutes and 24 seconds people.
You’re not going to have any assists or anything else when you go SCORELESS for 13 minutes and 24 seconds (I just wanted to make sure no one missed that part).
* BIBBY’S BUMPS *
If Mike Bibby is going to break out of his current slump (3-for-19, six assists and six turnovers in his last two games) he couldn’t find a better place to do it than Madison Square Garden.
And since Bibby loves the big stage as much as anyone, his teammates are expecting nothing less.
“He’s earned a couple of off shooting nights,” Josh Smith said. “We’ve all struggled at times this year, so why should he be immune. But if there’s anybody on this team that you expect to break out of it in a big way it’s Mike Bibby.”
