Hawks Squawks: Hawks 110, Clippers 92
Al had his way with Craig Smith and the Clips. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Los Angeles– All the Hawks’ talk about refocusing after the All-Star break wouldn’t mean much if they lost this game. The Clippers were shorthanded, still spinning from recent trades and had played at Portland the night before. The Hawks were fresh, back at full strength and had a chance to start their four-game Western Conference trip in style.
– The Clippers were ripe for a beating, and the Hawks obliged. “This game was a challenge for our mental focus,” Smoove said. “We couldn’t worry about who they had playing.”
– The Clippers pushed the Hawks while losing at Philips Arena on Feb. 3 but this wasn’t the same team. Baron Davis sat out with a sore back. Marcus Camby was traded on Monday. Al Thornton and Sebastian Telfair were traded before the game on Tuesday.
– Al Horford, fresh off his first All-Star appearance, went for a career-high 31 points. He was 12 of 15 from the floor as the Hawks shot 54 percent and scored 70 points in the paint. “The guys were finding me and I was getting a lot of good looks,” he said. “I was finishing plays and making them pay.”
– No one paid more than Clips forward DeAndre Jordan, who had all kinds of trouble with Horford. Al didn’t look like he needed a break over the weekend. “I had two really good practices,” he said. “I felt good coming into the game.”
– The Hawks led from seven minutes into the game until the final buzzer. “We got off to a pretty good start,” J.J said. “One thing we’ve got to get better at is jumping on teams and putting them away really fast. We’re still learning to do that but we’re getting better.”
– “We knew we really couldn’t give this team confidence early or we’d be in for a long night,” Smoove said.
– Smoove had 20 points, nine boards and seven assists. As complete games like this become more and more common it shouldn’t be lost that he’s having a great year.
– Zaza was back from his hip injury and looked good while getting eight points and five rebounds in 18 minutes. He looked to have good lift in his legs, which is a good sign. Zaza said he felt pretty good, too. “I can’t say all the pain is gone but I will take this one,” he said. “I will keep an eye on it.”
– Jamal came back from a shoulder injury and had 12 points and five assists. “It’s a real good start to the trip,” he said.
– When the Clippers threatened to get back in the game in the second quarter, the Hawks turned up their defensive pressure. They got six of their 16 steals in the period and held the Clippers to 18 points. “In the second quarter we came out and established the way we wanted the game to be,” J.J. said.
– The Hawks next head to Phoenix for a Friday night game. They face the Warriors on Sunday and the Jazz on Monday. Energy shouldn’t be a problem. “We are fresh,” Zaza said. “The couple of days off really helped us.”
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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151 comments Add your comment
Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
Jeff Schultz
Going after Ilgauskas would be right move for Hawks
3:28 pm February 18, 2010, by Jeff Schultz
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19 comments Add your comment
Gilley
February 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
1st. Not going to happen but wishful thinking
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Mountain Man
February 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Jay-uff, maybe ewe kin straighten this out fer me. Washington traded fer this here feller. Now, they’s a-gonna pay him a bunch o’ money ta go back and play fer Cleveland? Thet don’t make no sense.
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ChippersLoveChild
February 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
Why sign with Atlanta only to be eliminated by Cleveland, when you can re-sign with the Cavs and win a ring? I’d say he will pass, especially since that is the only city he has ever known in the NBA and I’m sure has a home there, etc.
Why get Ilgauskas? I vote that the Hawks just go out and sign Arvydas Sabonis, I’m sure he has something left in the tank.
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Tale of Woe
February 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
The Hawks don’t strike me as a very strategic team (or one with any more money to spend). No way do we go after the Big Z. He will resign with Cleveland.
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Fed Up With Wren (Again)
February 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
Hey, Jeff, can Cleveland really re-sign Z and have him for the playoffs? I think they would have to wait 30 days since they just traded him, right?
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Give the man some credit
February 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
SIXTH!
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Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:01 pm
Jeff I hope this isnt some political posturing from Sund to keep the Hawks fan base appeased. With us thinking that we… he tried, when he actually doesn’t intend to make it happen. Its like you said earlier. You can always make a deal if you want to . I agree 100%
Good reporting, keep us posted Jeff. I feel better already.
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Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Mountain Man — Because Wizards don’t care about Ilgauskas. They’re rebuilding and just wanted the expiring contract. They’d rather buy him out for less, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to play in D.C., either.
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Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
ChippersLoveChild — A very good question.
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Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Al would be a better small forward than Josh, Josh is a true power forward and one of the best in the game. We could trade Horford and increase our bench strength.
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Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Fed Up With Wren — Not aware of a 30-day rule.
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Mountain Man
February 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
Thankee Jay-uff. You’re a goodun, no matter what JSS sez.
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Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
Truth Serum — I think Hawks/Woodson really want him. Whether they get him is another matter. I’d think Cavs would be favorite.
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Schultz Do Your Homework
February 18th, 2010
4:06 pm
0% chance Ilgauskas ends up in ATL. Actually -0%. He is re-signing in CLE. He is a good friend of Cavs GM Danny Ferry. Ferry would not trade him with out knowing that Z would be coming back. Plus he has no reason to leave. This has been very carefully orchestrated for months. There is no “mix” of teams. These teams might be delusional, like you, but I assure you its not happening.
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Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:06 pm
Are you agreeing that we cant win a title with Ilgauskas, Schultz?
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Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:11 pm
Hummm, good insight but going back to your previous statement, deals can be made. How much time would he get with Cleveland? Even less now. What would his role be with Jamison and Shaq on the front line? Hed get much more burn here and hed be right in the hunt for the title too. Besides, how much more money can Cleveland spend to keep him happy? I actually think we could make a very good presentation.
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BRUCE LEVINSON
February 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
Where the heck have you been?
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BRUCE LEVINSON
February 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
Got to get you some ZA ZA Pa trool lee e ah.
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Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
* Nate Robinson
* #2
* Guard
E-mail photo | Buy photos
2009-10 Statistics
PPG
13.2
RPG
2.40
APG
3.7
EFF
+ 12.13
Born: May 31, 1984
Height: 5-9 / 1.75
Weight: 180 lbs. / 81.6 kg.
College: Washington
Years Pro: 4
How did this guy get 100 points at the rim against us?