AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February
February 2007
Tough loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Unlike the other night, The Hawks faced an Oklahoma City team that is not as “well-oiled” as the Mavericks.
While the Mavs have great players, a great coach and great management, the Hornets certainly don’t have all three and it looked like the Hawks would be able to notch another win against a Western Conference opponent.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The good news , though, is that Joe and Josh Smith played another outstanding game. Even Zaza coming off the bench chipped in. Good third quarter by the Hawks to cut the Hornet lead. They kept it up untill early in the fourth when the Hornets just pulled away.
The bad news: Another loss
Raising ticket prices…AGAIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you haven’t heard, the Hawks are raising ticket prices for next year. This will affect the season tickets as well as single game tickets.
I guess they need some more money to help pay for the court costs.
Trade brings ANOTHER backup point guard
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you haven’t heard, the Hawks acquired Anthony Johnson from Dallas for a second round draft pick.
Johnson is probably listed as the third PG on the Mavs’ depth chart. If his name sounds familiar, it should. He was a Hawk before (‘98-‘99 and spending time with the Hawks and the Magic for two years after that).
Why does GM Billy keep getting backup point guards? Why? If no team is willing to deal their starter why can’t he sell this city and get one during free agency?
So is GM BIlly admitting that the “Great Speedy Claxton Experiment” is done?
Is this it? Is this all the trading deadline is gonna bring our NBA team?
Trade deadline is near
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The NBA trade deadline is tomorrow (Thursday) at 3 p.m. ET
To be honest with you, the way this team is playing, there are only three players that I wouldn’t deal if I were GM Billy: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Tyronn Lue.
Johnson is our leading scorer, Josh Smith is turning into a great go-to guy if Johnson has an off-night and Lue is the best point guard on the team. The players just seem to win when Lue’s on the floor.
Right now, the Hawks need a center. Zaza is the not the player he was last year and Wright is a back-up at best. Memphis center Pau Gasol might be a possibility. Memphis is trying to move him. Remember it was GM Billy who obtained Gasol after the Hawks drafted him along with Lorezen Wright for Shareff Abdur-Rahim.
Then again, GM Billy may be waiting for “the perfect deal.” If that’s the case, he may be waiting for a long time.
If you could play GM,Hawks fans, what would you do?
Burn the yellow uniforms
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have the Hawks ever won a game while wearing the yellow uniforms?
I don’t think the Hawks keep stats on wins in their different uniforms, but I gotta believe in the short time that uniform has been around, the Hawks haven’t won more than 3 to five games while wearing it.
The Hawks wore the yellow last night. Ugly game. Ugly uniforms.
Burn the yellow uniforms and never speak of them again.
The second half begins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year, the Hawks won 10 games after the All-Star break including two of the last three to end the season. Based on the way the Hawks played to end the first half, there is a good chance they could do that again this year.
Right now, the Hawks sit at about 11th place in the Eastern Conference. In order to be one of the eight conference teams in the playoffs, the Hawks would need to win, would need New Jersey to realize they can’t win without Jason Kidd and for the other teams just to beat up on each other.
The second half starts tonight with the Bulls. The Bulls have won both meetings with the Hawks (106-104 and 94-86). The second game vs. the Bulls, the Hawks didn’t have Speedy or Lue and Royal Ivey got the start. Most likely, that will be the case again tonight. In fact, besides Ivey and Johnson, Marvin, Wright and Josh Smith will probably be the other starters.
Since the Bulls have won nine in a row vs. the Hawks, a win tonight may be difficult, but making the playoffs is still not out of the question.
It’s about time!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Joe Johnson is a 2007 NBA All-Star!
Jason Kidd had to be injured for him to be put on the roster, but nevertheless, he’s an All-Star.
Let’s give it up, Hawk fans!
Traveling to La-La land
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the Hawks western swing continues, the team might be facing another opponent without its star player. On Friday, they beat Phoenix w/o Steve Nash. On Sunday, they faced a Warriors team with only nine healthy players in a Hawks win. Monday, Utah beat the Hawks even though it didn’t have the services of Carlos Boozer.
On Wednesday, the Clippers might have not have Elton Brand. He is listed as day-to-day with back spasms and didn’t play in the Clippers loss to Detroit on Monday. Brand is averaging 20.7 points per game and 9.2 rebounds a game.
The Clippers output vs. Detroit on Monday (74 points), matched their lowest scoring output of the season, set Jan. 6 at Atlanta.
Let’s hope the Hawks can give the Clippers another low scoring output in a sweet victory.
Utah up next
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nice win for the Hawks vs. Golden State in Oakland . The Hawks have now won five in a row away from Philips. The Hawks did turn the ball over a lot, though, and it almost cost them.
The Utah Jazz are next. The good news for Hawks fans is that Carlos Boozer (22.1 ppg) is out and will not play. The bad news is that the Jazz are still a good team w/o him.
The Jazz are ranked sixth in the NBA in offense (102.4ppg) and are 74.4% from the free throw line. More good news for Hawk fans: The Hawks have already beaten the NBA’s number one offense (Phoenix) and swept the season series against the NBA’s number three (Golden State).
Since the Hawks are in the top ten in NBA defense, giving up only 96.7 points a game, the trick will be to keep Utah close. If they can do that, they should be able to get another road win.
A win in the desert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Great win by the Hawks over a quality opponent.
Josh Smith had a great fourth quarter.
Golden State next.
Same old song and dance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks game tonight vs. New Jersey was pitiful. They didn’t deserve to win that game even if they had pulled it out.
It was like watching the Hawks from last year, not the past few weeks: They failed to adjust after halftime. They also couldn’t make their shots (40% FG in the first half, closer to 25% in the second).
Marvin Williams was the only bright spot in the second half. He adjusted and turned up his game by scoring 15 points after only scoring 4 in the first half.
Hawks-Lakers, second half
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is the third and final blog from “Blog Night” at Philips Arena.
As the second half started, J.J. only had 10 points, so everyone was looking for him to turn it up a notch.
A nice dunk by Josh Smith elecrtrified Hawk fans and gets the team within three, but the Lakers turn it up again. “Turn it up again” might be an oxymoron because the pace of this game is very slow. Remember the score was only 16-14 Lakers after the first period.
The pace of the game must have have fooled the Hawks because the Lakers went to the line numerous times in the second half. Luckily, the Lakers weren’t hitting those foul shots.
Everytime the Hawks would get close (i.e. within three), the Lakers would just pull enough away, but the Hawks would turn it on and come back. Eventually, the Hawks put up a good showing, but they ran out of gas and the Lakers were able to win by seven.
The Hawks might have lost the game, but they showed great tenacity in coming back so many times when they were down and I enjoyed the experience of “Blog Night.” It was great to talk to other bloggers who share the same passion for the Hawks as I do.
Go Hawks!
Atlanta loves the Lakers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well fans, This was supposed to be a live blog from Philips Arena, but due to technical difficulties, I had to take notes and report them back to you.
This is the first of three blogs on the Hawks-Lakers game. In this blog, I simply jotted down some observations throughout the first half.
6 p.m. ET — Met other bloggers who blog about the NBA’s ATL team. We were led on a tour of Philips where we even were greeted by GM Billy. Still not a fan.
7 p.m. ET — This game is billed as a sellout, but there a lot of empty seats at tipoff.
7:25 p.m. ET — Tim Allen is at Philips, enjoying the game. I point him out because he’s not a celebrity you usually see at Hawks games.
7:30 p.m. ET- Hawks tie the game at 10
7:35 p.m. ET — Hawks only score 14 points in the 1st quarter, which is good, ‘cause the Lakers only score 16.
7:40 p.m. ET— Now Philips Arena looks full. Unfortunately, Laker fans still outnumber Hawk fans.
7:42 p.m. ET — Little Harry the Hawk makes an appearance and outdances big Harry. Not a surprise there.
7:50 p.m. ET — Lue steps up and shoots a three. With what he’s done the past two years, I’m still surprised that GM Billy thought that Speedy Claxton would be a better option. Hawks within two.
8:10 p.m. ET — Lakers starting to pull away. The score at halftime reads Lakers 40, Atlanta 31. Kobe held to nine points, thanks to the Hawks “D” or maybe because it seemed he was favoring his right hamstring.
In my next blog from this evening, I introduce you to a fellow Hawks blogger.
Question
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Does anyone know why the Hawks shot a three-pointer at the end of regulation? All they needed was a two to win.
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