The season was supposed to go off the rails for the Hawks a month ago Saturday.
That’s when All-Star center Al Horford suffered a pectoral injury that would require surgery. He’s a versatile talent on offense and defense and the team’s “glue,” coach Larry Drew said at the time, so skeptics wondered if the Hawks would come apart.
Instead, they’ve held it together.
The Hawks recovered from three consecutive home losses to earn back-to-back victories over likely Eastern Conference playoff teams Indiana and Orlando. The Hawks (19-8) are 11-5 since Horford’s injury and entered Saturday tied for fourth in the East, with defending conference champion Miami visiting Philips Arena on Sunday night.
“I think we are just trying to hold our heads above water,” Hawks forward Marvin Williams said after the Hawks’ 89-87 overtime victory at Orlando on Friday. “I think when Al went down, everybody collectively really tried to put forth a little bit more effort and fill that void.”
Skeptics wondered if the Hawks could do it while missing a player who produced in so many areas at a position where they are thin. The Hawks ran off three consecutive victories in the wake of Horford’s injury, but they came at home against lackluster competition.
Then the Hawks defeated Portland, a quality West team, but that was at Philips Arena. Road losses at Philadelphia and San Antonio raised questions about the Hawks’ ability to beat better teams. Three consecutive home losses to Memphis, Philadelphia and Phoenix put the Hawks’ season in crisis for the first time.
The Hawks responded with defensive-minded victories against Indiana and Orlando. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson have been the constants, but the team also has benefited from timely contributions by Williams, Jeff Teague, Kirk Hinrich, Tracy McGrady and Zaza Pachulia.
Winning at Orlando improved the Hawks’ road record to 9-5, the second-best mark in the East behind conference leader Chicago. After playing host to Miami, the Hawks have a five-game trip that starts Tuesday at the Lakers.
“We are a veteran ballclub, and we are figuring out ways to win on the road,” Smith said. “We still have to stay consistent at home, but I think we like the feeling of everyone against us when we come out [on the road] and play.”
Miffed by snub?
Smith was upset when he wasn’t among the All-Star reserves announced Thursday, then proceeded to post 23 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots against Orlando. Smith used perceived All-Star snubs as motivation in each of the past two seasons, but he didn’t want to talk about the All-Star issue after the game Friday.
Earlier Friday, Smith seemed to take offense when an Orlando reporter asked if he thought Orlando sharpshooter Ryan Anderson also should have made the All-Star team.
“He’s played good, but he also plays my position, so I felt I deserve it over him, too,” Smith said. “Maybe he deserves to be in the 3-point contest.”
Etc.
The Magic won 10 of 12 games against the Hawks from the start of the 2008-09 season through the 2010 playoffs, when they swept the Hawks by an NBA-record margin of 101 points. The Hawks have won seven of the past 10 against Orlando, including a six-game series victory in last season’s playoffs. ... Hawks center Erick Dampier, who was signed to a 10-day contract Thursday, had two rebounds while playing 1 minutes, 46 seconds against Orlando.
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