Hawks-Cavs thread
Greetings, all-
Hope everyone is enjoying some time off. This will be brief, and we’ll get to game time. I just saw the most interesting thing. Well, maybe that’s overselling it.
The Hawks have a practice gym next to their locker room at Philips Arena, and I was walking through there from the locker room to the media room. Joe Johnson had just left the locker room to go shoot, and when I saw him in the gym, I saw him throwing a ball to the far end of the court.
When I walked in the gym, I saw who (I assume) he threw the ball to – Shaquille O’Neal, who was practicing jump hooks with a Cavs staffer. Johnson left and got another ball, and started shooting with a team gopher. Mike Bibby came in shortly after, to work with Johnson on something, and as soon as Shaq saw Bibby, he makes a joke about a fixed game. I didn’t hear what they were talking about, but I’m guessing it had to do with Tim Donaghy’s allegations.
Bibby went to Shaq’s end of the court, and they continued talking about that game, all in good fun, just two friends giving each other a hard time. Johnson, meanwhile, started taking 3-pointers. There was little to suggest an important game was about an hour away. It was a quiet gym with guys taking shots at either end.
I may remember that as much as anything from the time I cover this team.
Anyway, some brief thoughts. I don’t know that this game means as much to Cleveland as it does the Hawks. The Hawks are talking about these two games as measuring sticks, and apparently, the Cavaliers were talking about their Christmas Day game with the Lakers the same way.
My prediction is that Jason Collins will play. I don’t know how much Joe Smith can give, and I’m sure that Mike Woodson is going to spend a lot of fouls on Cleveland’s big guys.
Something to watch – how Joe Johnson does. It’s not quite the same thing, but Johnson has outplayed Brandon Roy, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams when they came to town. LeBron James is a different creature, of course, and a different position, but I think Johnson will want to perform, regardless.
Also, Al Horford. He didn’t play hardly at all in the playoffs – as I wrote in today’s notebook, he said in hindsight, he shouldn’t have even played and put himself at further risk of injury. He’s been on a roll and this, obviously, is a giant challenge (and also opportunity) for him.
Gotta start writing. Enjoy the game.
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419 comments Add your comment
Sautee
December 29th, 2009
6:35 pm
Geez, do I HAVE to say the F word?
Eman
December 29th, 2009
6:37 pm
First- I think!!!
Eman
December 29th, 2009
6:38 pm
Dam, miss it by that much!!!
Trembling Chihuahua
December 29th, 2009
6:41 pm
I think the Hawks will win this one handily. Lebron was out til 4 in the morning having a few drinks in ATL last night and should look a little sluggish. If he looks good, maybe staying out all night is his regular routine.
Ken Sugiura
December 29th, 2009
6:45 pm
Also, Joe Smith for sure is playing.
O'Brien
December 29th, 2009
6:50 pm
Hawks need to at least split these 2 games.
I think Woody will play his starters 40 minutes or more (except Marvin)if he has to, because he wants to win the game tonight (it is at home, and its the first game).
I hope the switching doesnt put Josh on LeBron, because Josh needs to stay out of foul trouble.
JeJe
December 29th, 2009
6:50 pm
“Mike Bibby came in shortly after, to work with Johnson on something, and as soon as Shaq saw Bibby, he makes a joke about a fixed game. I didn’t hear what they were talking about, but I’m guessing it had to do with Tim Donaghy’s allegations.
Bibby went to Shaq’s end of the court, and they continued talking about that game, all in good fun, just two friends giving each other a hard time. Johnson, meanwhile, started taking 3-pointers. There was little to suggest an important game was about an hour away. It was a quiet gym with guys taking shots at either end.”
What the heck does this have to do with anything?
Blast
December 29th, 2009
6:50 pm
If the Hawks bring their A game, which they should, this should be a Thriller in Manilla, or a Thriller in the ATL.
Go Hawks!!!!!!!
beau gust
December 29th, 2009
6:56 pm
I hope Joe doesn’t try to take over the game. The Hawks will win if they move the ball and move without the ball. Iso-Joe = a big loss.
BONE
December 29th, 2009
7:00 pm
Lets not have a meltdown this game
I MUS WRITE
December 29th, 2009
7:01 pm
Marvin will get his shot blocked and or stripped atleats twice during this game. Also watch Marvin try to post Delonte West, and not be able to move a man who weighs 50 pounds less….
Lebron is the second best player in the league IMO but i cant stand his whinning azz,and I used to really like him as a player now not so much…….Can sumbody set the Lebron and Kobe puppets on fire Jeezuz…….. Shout to Blitzen and The Houf Gang LOL
Lets Get ready To rumble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:03 pm
lets get it…
Wabe
December 29th, 2009
7:06 pm
Been siked all day.
Lets get this W!
Blast
December 29th, 2009
7:06 pm
It was around the same time last season that Hawks snapped Cav’s 11 game winning streak. Can they do it again?
BONE
December 29th, 2009
7:15 pm
Bibby hasn’t made a layup in years lol
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:16 pm
Abusive
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:16 pm
LeBrick
O'Brien
December 29th, 2009
7:17 pm
Exactly what I was afraid of. Josh ending up on LeBron…
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:18 pm
Go Hawk’s sixteenth what the Hell does the number thing mean
BONE
December 29th, 2009
7:19 pm
Josh stop taking jumpersssssssssssss
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:19 pm
that should be josh’s last junpshot of this game
Andy
December 29th, 2009
7:20 pm
Is there a blackout restriction on this game?
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:20 pm
Is he gonna confiscate that videotape too?
BONE
December 29th, 2009
7:20 pm
LOL Marvin barely got off the ground
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:22 pm
all day penetrate and kick cavs are too slow
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:23 pm
wow Shaq is fat
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:24 pm
I think we’re athletic and talented enough to beat this team in a series if we play HARD AND WITH CONFIDENCE the entire game…each game
Blast
December 29th, 2009
7:25 pm
Love the way Joe is balling right now. Under control, but deadly efficient.
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:25 pm
why does lebron get five steps when everybody else is only supposed to get two?
Blast
December 29th, 2009
7:25 pm
Effecient.
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:27 pm
Crawford is about to wreck $hi+
Melvin
December 29th, 2009
7:28 pm
Did anybody else feed of the game went out
Melvin
December 29th, 2009
7:29 pm
WTF happen to the game feed on NBATV
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:29 pm
Joe was killing em wit d flow right there… missed the shot though…
cracks me up when he starts dribbling to the music…
Dajackyl
December 29th, 2009
7:29 pm
Gotta watch it on Sportssouth
Melvin
December 29th, 2009
7:30 pm
Now the audio and the sound is off… WTF
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:30 pm
Boss.
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:31 pm
Marvin was feelin it against lebron
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:33 pm
why does everyone in the league seem to bite on the Varejao if he wants that shot give it to him… just contest…
Blast
December 29th, 2009
7:33 pm
NBA TV free stuff is over. Gotta pay to see it now.
Josh needs to stop buying on those pumpfakes. 2 fouls on pumps! GRRRRRRR!!!!!
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:33 pm
*Varejao fake…
the best pump fake in the world belongs to Sam Young.
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:35 pm
i hope Joe guards Lebron.. my worst nightmare is Mo on Lebron…
Sautee
December 29th, 2009
7:39 pm
WTF was THAT, JJ?
Wabe
December 29th, 2009
7:39 pm
Not such a great ending to a pretty decent 1st quarter. Ball hasn’t moved as much since Smoove went out. Too much one on one. We need to continue moving the ball.
Blast
December 29th, 2009
7:39 pm
Notice how the ball is suddenly sticking with Joe or Jamal when Bibby went out? Now Joe is dribbling before passing the ball with clock running down.
Melvin
December 29th, 2009
7:39 pm
NBA TV need to fix thier feed for the game. This borrowing the feed from Sportsouth is not working…Audio and picture is out of sync…
Melvin
December 29th, 2009
7:42 pm
LOL. NBATV has given up. Now audio and pic feed from Sportsouth….
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:43 pm
in trouble with this back court…
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 29th, 2009
7:44 pm
how does this happen so much???? Teams gettin wide open drives to the lane
bigdave
December 29th, 2009
7:45 pm
no fronting Shaq. .. no double team… !!!