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
Astro Joe
February 17th, 2010
11:47 pm
Hawks defense was very crisp in that half (save for a few possessions). I was straight giddy when Joe Smith made his first jumper, but naturally, his next clanked off the front rim. Everyone seems to have an extra bounce in their step.
Astro Joe
February 17th, 2010
11:51 pm
Oh yeah, and Horford’s hands are working again. Dude catches everything that comes near him. He had problems after that Houston game a few eeks ago. Tonight, he looks to be back to his usual sure-handed form.
And despite the above comments, even Zaza looked like he came to play tonight.
That Kaman ain’t no joke… I’d love to know if we really had a trade made to acquire him and if the ASG truly nixed the deal. His game would like butta with our squad.
Blast
February 17th, 2010
11:53 pm
Joe said it right. Cleveland is just plain ass greedy. They already have the best player in the game, they have the best record in the league, yet they are not satisfied. They just keep adding players and re-tooling. How many All Stars are on their team right now? I understand you have all the $$ to spend, but that does not make it right!
It’s not over till the end of season, though. Remember how Cavs ran through the league last year and still came up short in the playoffs? We’ll see if they are able to keep James by winning it all.
I like Hawks efforts so far. Defensive intensity, getting into passing lanes, reading the offence and picking up multiple steals. These guys came in focused tonight. Now they have to keep it up!
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:00 am
why does josh shoot those???????
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2010
12:03 am
In the case of Cleveland, LeBron James literally doubles the value of their franchise, according to Bill Simmons. Even if they have money problems (which I don’t know that they do), if I were running that team, I would be doing everything to try to keep LeBron happy. It’s not greed when the possibility of losing the best player in the game and half the value of your franchise is staring you in the face.
Blast
February 18th, 2010
12:08 am
I know the main reason Cavs are spending all that bread is to make sure they can resign James. So if they can make those trades, spend all that $$, then good for them. Just hope they get the returns for it.
Wabe
February 18th, 2010
12:11 am
How can you be watching tonites game and suggest moving Horford or Smith?
Wabe
February 18th, 2010
12:12 am
I think Cleveland was thinking a bit more about that Laker team they’d see in the finals a bit more when they started trying to make a move. I don’t think they made the move to get out of the East, but to better their chances to win it all.
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:15 am
Zaza took 15 steps lol
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:17 am
Al is puttin in work
richbrave
February 18th, 2010
12:18 am
WIZ win their first (as a new team) against one of the worst (T-Wolves). JAMISON gone, Z in. GOODEN almost finished his coffee before leaving. Al THORNTON and BRIAN SKINNER along for the ride on D.C. transit.
The blow-up is almost complete. Only the ultimate irony remains – GILBERT ARENAS’ contract is intact. I’m sayin’ he stays and he plays for the next two years until his player option year. The club will be hoping he re-establishes himself as an elite league player so he will have options that don’t need to be exercised in D.C.
BTW, the luxury tax was eliminated according to my calculations by this latest trade. IRENE POLLIN breathes a sigh of releif as the asking price to TED LEONSIS skies.
Oh, and the WIZ get the CAVS first, somewhere between pick # 28 and 32.
Blast
February 18th, 2010
12:18 am
And 1 AL! Go for a career high tonight! Shut up your haters!
Josh
February 18th, 2010
12:22 am
al is seriously killin’ it
Big Ray
February 18th, 2010
12:22 am
Al is straight ballin’. I won’t discount anything because it’s against the Clippers. Yeah they’re missing Camby, but nobody ever feels bad for anybody in this league.
Wabe
February 18th, 2010
12:23 am
I HATE MO EVANS
Useless guy. Can’t stand him.
Sid
February 18th, 2010
12:25 am
13-20 from the line at the end of the 3rd .
buick59
February 18th, 2010
12:26 am
can’t even put away a bunch of scrubs. truely pitiful. GOING NOWHERE
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:30 am
Al is a monster and it’s halloween
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:31 am
LMAO @ MArvin gettin decked by Al. Duck down!!!!!
BONE
February 18th, 2010
12:34 am
Damn Chris Kaman is ugly
bigdave
February 18th, 2010
12:37 am
2k series video game numbers…
68 pts in the paint…
Ree Roe
February 18th, 2010
12:40 am
Really proud of Al tonight…I think him playing well in the AS Game will do wonders for his confidence the rest of the season. Good way for him to start off the 2nd half of the season.
-REEleasing the Roe!!!
doc
February 18th, 2010
12:44 am
buick 59 go back in your hole, 20 points up into the mid fourth. yah pretty sloppy.
Rod from College Park
February 18th, 2010
12:47 am
6′10 and you get your shot thrown by a guy 6′5. Marvin is awful.
Ree Roe
February 18th, 2010
12:53 am
@ Rod, Duck Williams has got to be the most awkward looking/playing SF in the NBA today. It seems like Mighty Quack gets his shot swatted moreso than any other 6′10 player I’ve ever seen. Quacks Up…
-REEpeatedly Roe!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2010
12:56 am
4 steals for Teague in 10 minutes of playing time.
Astro Joe
February 18th, 2010
1:05 am
I wonder if Teague plays that matador defense in practice, allowing his man to get by him and then poking the ball away from behind. That certainly isn’t the way to learn how to play defense in the NBA. It worked tonight for some steals but more often than not, it will expose his bigs to potential foul trouble. With his quickness, it’s inexcusable for him not to move his feet and instead rely on his hands to play the ball. Bad technique that needs to change.
Nice win!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2010
1:29 am
Kevin Martin to Houston, T-Mac traded.
terrell
February 18th, 2010
9:39 am
Did Horford just put up 30 on a guy who alot of people on this blog wanted to trade him for? Defensive presence my azz. lol! Yeah, Horford’s the problem. lol!
terrell
February 18th, 2010
9:40 am
Blast, if you have all the $ to spend, it DOES make it right.
terrell
February 18th, 2010
9:42 am
$ rarely buys championships. Just ask Karl Malone and Gary Payton. I almost forgot they even went to the Lakers. Worked for the C’s, but it usually doesn’t.
terrell
February 18th, 2010
9:44 am
The Yankess have been spending trillions for years and it took hadn’t won a ring in 10 years, before last year.