Atlanta Hawks at Clippers, AKA Back to Work
Los Angeles–Another beautiful day in So Cal. Sorry to keep blabbing on about the weather but, man, since leaving Miami I’ve been desperate for some real winter sunshine (not that fake Atlanta sun where you see it but it has nothing to do with the actual temperature). I thought I would get some real weather in Dallas but of course they had record snow. So, yeah, I’ve been soaking in the So Cal sun.
I’m sure the Hawks have, too, but Woody likes the way they’ve been working while on the clock. The Hawks ran and ran and ran on Monday, then went hard again Tuesday. If any Hawks came back from the break lethargic, Woody shook em out of it.
“Guys are focused and there’s been no whining for all the running and stuff we’ve done,” Woodson said. “Everybody is just doing what they have to do.”
Hawks won't have to deal with him again. (nba.com)
— The Clippers traded Marcus Camby to Portland for Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake during the day Tuesday and then lost at Portland that night. Camby didn’t play for Portland and Blake and Outlaw didn’t play for the Clippers though those two are expected to be available vs. the Hawks tonight.
You might recall it was Camby’s 20 rebounds, not All-Star Chris Kaman’s unconscious 7-for-21 gunning, that gave the Hawks the most trouble during that hard-fought 103-97 victory on Feb. 3.
Apparently neither Camby nor his old Clippers teammates are happy he’s gone to Portland. Clippers GM Mike Dunleavy said the Clippers could make another deal before tomorrow’s deadline.
– According to statistician Harvey Pollack, Hawks players missed 14 games due to injury before the All-Star break, the lowest total in the league. Only four Hawks players have sat out games with injuries, the second-lowest total behind Minnesota’s three. Pollack, the director of statistical information for the 76ers, annually produces the “NBA Statistical Yearbook” so his stuff is gold.
This tidbit brings us back to Stan Van Gundy’s contention last month that the Hawks have had “no adversity whatsoever” when it comes to injuries. I’m thinking you should knock on wood, Hawks people. And don’t blame me if a Hawks player pulls up lame tonight.
– Zaza is mourning his Georgian countryman, Nodar Kumaritashvili, the luger who died during an Olympic training accident on Friday. He said he didn’t know Nodar but his wife did, and that such connections are not uncommon in a country with a population of 4.3 million.
“It’s a small country, so it felt like my friend died,” Zaza said. “Just like me, when he is outside the country he is representing the country, especially at the Olympics. I can imagine how excited he was. It’s so sad.”
– Slam highlights ‘Nique’s All-Star weekend. ‘Nique loves the kids.
Late adds:
– As Najeh and other blog people note below, the Cavs have agreed in principle to a three-way trade that gets them Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair. It looks like Cavs got tired of waiting on the Suns to pull trigger on a deal for Amare Stoudemire and moved on to Jamison, who is the so-called “stretch four” they’ve sought.
Like Amare, Jamison isn’t a tough, defensive-minded type but he doesn’t need to share the post with Shaq and he’s another guy to convert those open looks created by LeBron. Yep, the Cavs are scary good.
– Almost forgot this disclosure: I’ll be flying with the team to Phoenix after tonight’s game and also on to San Francisco and Salt Lake. It’s not the normal procedure for newspaper writers, at least not for the last three decades or so, but it’s something the AJC is trying on a trial basis for this trip. If not for this arrangement I wouldn’t be here due to the significant costs involved with sending a writer on the road. The Hawks didn’t like that, so that started a conversation with my bosses about getting me on their plane. We’ll see how it goes.
I still plan to cover the team like normal but it’s something you need to know. That is all.
– Talk amongst yourselves, Hawks fans.
MC
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132 comments Add your comment
AG
February 17th, 2010
10:11 pm
I think the Hawks have to make a deal. What about B. Davis for M. Williams and M. Bibby. The trade will work! Give the a couple of picks too!
Big Ray
February 17th, 2010
10:11 pm
Ilgauskas coming here. We’re still dreaming about scraping somebody else’s barrel. Unreal. Not that Z can’t play, not saying that at all. But why do we wait until they’re 45 to try and get them?
AG
February 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
They have to make some type of deal. Get J. Hayes out of NJ. Get Thorton from the Wizards. There are deals the Hawks can make to improve.
Hoops
February 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
I just feel that the Hawks would be sending a real message to Joe that they will go after the necessary players to win a Championship by trading for Stoudemire. I’m just not sure though that Stoudemire is much of a upgrade over J. Smith.
RIGGED
February 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
Hawks management don’t want to spend the money, I’m all about winning titles myself, screw a luxury tax lol would love for them to resign Joe and try to lure Wade or Bosh here also
Rod from College Park
February 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
I realize now whiIe this at home with Marvin Williams is on that one of these clowns who keeps supporting Marvin is actually his dad. I’m sorry Mr. Williams, but your son is just not that good.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
For those of you who asked how I knew about the trade already, if you have a Twitter, I strongly suggest you follow some of these NBA writers. Adrian Wojnarowski on Yahoo Sports (@WojYahooNBA) tweets everything that happens. Sekou comes correct with breaking news pretty often too. And from what I know Chad Ford and Marc Stein on ESPN do pretty much the same thing.
terrell
February 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Everyone’s always hollering “run, run ,run. This team is built to run.” And now they want slow azz Ilguaskas? Whatever.
RIGGED
February 17th, 2010
10:16 pm
Face it teams that win in the NBA titles other than the Spurs spend the money to get the right players, Hawks management can make a great statement by trying to bring better players here to help Joe and resign him
Hoops,
I agree, wouldn’t trade Josh for Amare, not much of a upgrade and you lose much more on Defense
RIGGED
February 17th, 2010
10:17 pm
Rod from College Park
Too Funny
Rod from College Park
February 17th, 2010
10:24 pm
Please don’t make us relive the Marvin Williams draft again.
Rod from College Park
February 17th, 2010
10:26 pm
No Billy don’t do it. Take Chris Paul or Williams. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Astro Joe
February 17th, 2010
10:31 pm
LOL @ Rod. I’m shocked that you are even watching that show, I figured it would be much too painful for you to watch.
terrell
February 17th, 2010
10:32 pm
Rod, think about this lineup: Deron Williams , JJ, Chills, Smoove, Horford(possibly). What coulda been. lol! I picked Deron, because he’s the one they actually chose Marvin over. CP3 wasn’t even in the discussion. Haha!! Btw, would you rather have Chills at sf this year? I would. We let the wrong sf get away, and then turned around and signed the other one for 4 freakin years.. Another Sund blunder.
Steven A.
February 17th, 2010
10:35 pm
Move Al Horford…Pleeaassee!
Anyone who suggest we trade Josh Smith obviously knows “nothing” about basketball. Smith was truly
the only bonafide allstar on the Hawks roster. Rest of those clowns, except Jamal Crawford are simply
“Dow Jonse-rs”, up one day, down the next. If the general manager was smart, he should be shopping
AL ” tito” HORFORD. We all know he and Josh are truly both 4s. You do not need 2 STARTING 4s.
bigdave
February 17th, 2010
10:36 pm
lets get it..
Rod from College Park
February 17th, 2010
10:40 pm
terrell,
I always liked Chills better than Marvin. I never liked Marvin’s game. Watched Ismail Muhhamed destroy him in college. Never understood the hype.
STRETCH
February 17th, 2010
10:42 pm
ATL IS A JOKE!!!!
bigdave
February 17th, 2010
10:47 pm
Marvin with the “Mail Man”
O'Brien
February 17th, 2010
10:51 pm
All 5 Hawks have scored already. Thats good. And Marvin with a style dunk. And a nice drive. Can he keep it going? maybe he heard his “At Home with Marvin Williams” was on TV right before the game.
I sure wish Josh would stop taking those shots. He takes about 2 of those every game.
BONE
February 17th, 2010
10:58 pm
Damn Josh
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
10:58 pm
For those of you who doubt Horford’s ability, there is no other center in the league who can run the floor, handle the ball, and throw a perfect dish on a fast break like he just did on that play.
O'Brien
February 17th, 2010
10:58 pm
Rod,
Marvin has a good start to the game. I hope he keeps it up.
I like how the Hawks have been passing the ball.
Blast
February 17th, 2010
10:58 pm
Great defence, Hawks! Great runouts! Keep it up!
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:01 pm
The Clippers announcers are killing Bibby. They said if Andre Miller was on the Hawks instead Bibby they would be a mucher better team b/c of his speed and passing ability. They said Miller is two years older than Bibby but seem to keep his level of play up whereas Bibby has seem to gone the other direction… They also mention that Marvin seems to missing in action sometimes although he started this game off well…
BONE
February 17th, 2010
11:03 pm
ZAZA sucks
BONE
February 17th, 2010
11:04 pm
They’re right Andre Miller is better than Bibby
niremetal
February 17th, 2010
11:05 pm
JJ just doesn’t sell contact at all. I respect a guy who doesn’t flop, but “highlighting” the contact that he draws would get him to the line more and JJ just can’t/won’t do that.
Clyde
February 17th, 2010
11:07 pm
Zaza averages 3 illegal screens a game
bigdave
February 17th, 2010
11:08 pm
Larry Drew: put Joe (Smith) on him
Coach Woodson: “Joe?” (stupid face)
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:09 pm
Why does Woody continue to take a timeouts at the of 1st qtrs? My goodness, he took a timeout just to have Jamal shoot a turn around 3pt shot of the corner….
Rod from College Park
February 17th, 2010
11:09 pm
Melvin,
Hopefully they will tell us something we don’t know.
O’brien,
Really I can’t put any stock in this game. This is like a glorified scrimmage. Clippers are terrible after the trades. Marvin usually excels in these type of games.
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:10 pm
Nire,
I been saying that about Joe all year. Now duck before bigdave hit you with a roundhouse punch…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
11:12 pm
What the hell is that thing growing on Brian Skinner’s face?
O'Brien
February 17th, 2010
11:12 pm
Woody calls a TO with 3.7 seconds left. Do we really need a TO to run a ISO?
And with MC and Bob Rathburn talking about Hawks only missing 14 games combined due to injury, I will not be surprised when somebody gets injured within the next few games. Knock on wood, I hope I’m wrong.
And what was that play that Woody drew up? How many of his plays coming out of timeouts have worked (especially with so little time left)?
Melvin,
Although Andre Miller signed for $7 mil per year (compared to Bibby’s $6 mil), Miller’s contract is only 2 years (team option 3rd). I would have preferred a deal like that for Bibby. That way we could trade his expiring contract during next season if he doesnt produce.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
11:13 pm
Andre Miller may be better than Bibby, but I find it hard to believe that he’s any quicker. Even in his prime, quickness was never his strong suit.
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:14 pm
Baron Davis said he didnt want any part of this foolishness in Clipper land today. So he decided not to come to work today…
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:16 pm
Najeh,
Quick or not, Miller has made a living driving into the paint….
Webster's Dictionary
February 17th, 2010
11:17 pm
Irrational – [e - ra - shon - al] (adjective) – Descriptive of persons who think the Hawks MUST make a trade.
Thanks to Sund’s offseason work, the Hawks are one team that does NOT need to make a trade. Watch how the Cavs, Celts, & Mavs will have setbacks while trying to integrate new teamates. Our familiarity will be an assest in a playoff series against Cavs. I like our team! Go Hawks!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
11:21 pm
One of Al Horford’s main goals this offseason should be to develop his mid-range jumper to Chris Kaman’s level. If he knocked that down with consistency out to 16-17 feet it would open up so much for him and the Hawks offensively.
Blast
February 17th, 2010
11:21 pm
I always feel good when Josh is in the game. Teague played well, more relaxed.
BONE
February 17th, 2010
11:21 pm
LOL @ Zaza’s sorry self
Blast
February 17th, 2010
11:22 pm
Zaza with yet another dumb foul. Oh, my. Double sigh…..
terrell
February 17th, 2010
11:23 pm
Zaza is absolutely horrible!
Blast
February 17th, 2010
11:24 pm
Are the Clipper fans rooting for Hawks or are just sad when Hawks miss a run out? They seem to be having more fun watching the Hawks than their team. Must be one of the reasons Hawks are drawing a better crowd on the road than at home.
bigdave
February 17th, 2010
11:26 pm
Josh w/ Drew Brees like accuracy…dropping it in right over Kaman…
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:33 pm
The Clippers broadcasting crew are goshing over every Hawks play… Too Funny. I like these guys…
Blast
February 17th, 2010
11:33 pm
And some “so called fans” actually doubt Horford’s heart and capabilities. I don’t believe they are true Hawks fans. Al is schooling Karman right now.
Josh is getting even better with his passes. In fact, his overall game is blossoming.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2010
11:40 pm
Excellent low post move by Josh. When he uses his left hand he is terrific.
Melvin
February 17th, 2010
11:40 pm
A Jason Collins sighting….(in the 1st half)