Maybe the Hawks really aren’t just paying lip service to the notion of playing rugged defense.
It’s too early to tell since neither of their two victories this season came against opponents with many scorers. But the Hawks looked the part while blowing out New Jersey in Tuesday night’s season opener and again during a 101-83 victory against the Wizards on Wednesday night at Philips Arena.
Still, Hawks coach Larry Drew said he wants more.
"There were parts of the game where we lacked defensive intensity,” he said. “You’ve got to put teams away, especially a team like that. They never stop playing. I never felt we had a total grip of the game even when we were up 20. A team like Washington, you have to take away hope.”
Defense allowed the Hawks to close out Washington even though they missed their first 11 shots of the fourth quarter. The Hawks’ 23-point lead was down to 90-78 with about four minutes left, but center Al Horford scored back-to-back baskets to help hold off the Wizards.
"That's when we rely on our defense to bail us out," Horford said. "We held the lead and hit some key shots."
A night after the Hawks held New Jersey to 31 percent shooting, Washington made only 39 percent of its field-goal attempts. The Hawks turned Washington’s 18 turnovers into 18 points, including 11 in the first half, and blocked five shots.
The Hawks controlled the glass for a 35-22 rebounding advantage. Horford and Josh Smith each had 10 rebounds, and Marvin Williams added eight.
All five of the Hawks’ starters scored in double figures, led by 18 points from guard Joe Johnson. Williams had 17 points and Smith 15, and Horford and Jeff Teague scored 11 each.
Washington guard Nick Young scored 21 points off the bench. Hawks reserve Tracy McGrady helped Atlanta’s bench keep pace with 11 points.
No Hawks starter played more than 27 minutes in the 106-70 victory at New Jersey, so they had plenty of energy from the start against the Wizards. The Hawks ran to 19-4 lead behind aggressive defense and hot shooting.
After Washington clawed back, the Hawks held a 13-point lead at halftime and took control for good with a 13-4 run to open the second half.
Williams stole the ball from John Wall and finished the fast break with a layup to open the scoring. Teague made a 3-point basket after a Wizards miss, and another Washington turnover led to a 3-pointer by Williams.
The Hawks finished the 11-0 burst with back-to-back 3-pointers by Johnson. They made four of five field-goals with four assists during the run.
"I think it had partly to do with the first game at home and our adrenalin was going," Horford said of the strong start.
The Hawks never let New Jersey back in the game Tuesday after dominating at the start. It took them longer to bury the Wizards because they stopped scoring, and Wall, last year’s runner-up for league Rookie of the Year, heated up after Teague went to the bench in foul trouble.
Wall’s dribble penetration caused problems for the Hawks as Washington used a 27-14 run to cut the Hawks’ 19-4 lead to 33-31.
"It's tough to guard somebody that has freedom like that," Teague said. "At any time he can take off and do what he wants to do. But when it's like that, if we can hold everyone else down we can get wins."
Initially Wall’s aggressive play seemed to get his teammates going. Young came off the bench and made his first five shots, and high-flying center JaVale McGee started scoring in the post and denying Hawks shots at the basket.
But the Hawks never surrendered their lead and extended it to 55-42 at halftime behind Williams and Smith. Smith had 10 points and four rebounds, and Williams added seven points and four rebounds during the period.
Hawks draft pick Jordan Crawford returned to Philips Arena for the first time since he was traded to the Wizards last season. He scored just one point while missing all six of his field-goal attempts.
Wizards forward Chris Singleton, a Dunwoody High product, had seven points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
