Hawks at Suns, AKA Stoudemire’s Still With Suns
Phoenix– There’s no doubt the Hawks caught a break on Wednesday when the Clippers traded away half their team and Baron Davis decided his back was too sore to play. Props to the Hawks for handling their business, but they will get no such break tonight.
After what seemed like months of speculation, the Suns didn’t trade Amar’e Stoudemire before the deadline. He talked with Suns brass over dinner last night and says he has no hard feelings.
So the Suns are at full strength except for Leandro Barbosa (wrist). They are also trying to hang onto a playoff spot in the Western Conference. No doubt they also remember this (dang that was my first game as beat guy and it seems like a year ago.)
The Hawks have to know what’s coming.
“We can’t come in here thinking it’s going to be like it was the other night,” Woody said.
– The Hawks want Zydrunas Ilgauskas. A lot still has to fall in place for that to happen. First, Ilgauskas has to be bought out. He’s not playing for the Wizards tonight, a sign that he will get his wish.
Once that happens, Z (don’t make me spell it anymore) somehow has to decide he doesn’t want to return to the Cavaliers, who drafted him 14 years ago and are tops in the Eastern Conference. If Z surprises everyone and passes on the Cavs, he then has to decide he wants to play for the Hawks.
And if that happens, it will mean less playing time for the Hawks’ current Z, Zaza. He said he wants burn like all guys do but he’s a pro and so he’d be cool with the another Z around.
“I know ‘Z’ personally,” Zaza said. “He’s a great guy, a good person. Everyone knows what he can do. He’s been in the league a long time. If the (Hawks) organization thinks that’s the right thing and it will help us, that’s fine with me.”
– More ASG drama this week. The AJC’s Kristi E. Schwartz reports that Bruce Levenson thinks Steve Belkin is evil. And Belkin must pay $2 million by Thursday to keep his stake in ASG, which he plans to do.
The most interesting part to me, because I’m not into drama, is that Schwartz reports “court documents say the Hawks and Thrashers have lost more than $174 million since the 2002-03 season, including $50 million in the past two years alone.”
That’s something to remember if the Hawks must decide whether to pay J.J. max money this summer.
– Talk amongst yourselves, Hawks fans.
MC
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332 comments Add your comment
Hoops
February 19th, 2010
10:44 pm
We need Joe Smith!
falcons pick spoon
February 19th, 2010
10:44 pm
Why is everyone so critical on Marvin? He’s an average scorer and a superb defender what’s the problem, i mean I know we drafted him over Deron but we have to get over it sometime. On another note mite as well call Bibby Mr Waldo cause we sure as hell can’t find him on defense
Melvin
February 19th, 2010
10:44 pm
Too many jumpshots… Go back to the pick n roll….
iREPATL
February 19th, 2010
10:44 pm
JAMAL AINT GOT IT TONIGHT BUT ID RATHERT HAVE HIM N THAN MARVIN
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:45 pm
this reminds me of the OKC game… w/ combined efforts from Josh and Joe equaling Joe’s solo performance… we need this win though… but we have to find consistent baskets from someone…
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:45 pm
Astro Joe ,
Heh, heh, heh…..ever hear of a bad shooting night? Nah, never happens…. But yeah, I’d love to chalk that up to our switch defense. If only that was a consistent explanation.
Hoops
February 19th, 2010
10:46 pm
Anyone think Marvin will get traded this Summer?
Where Is Jeff
February 19th, 2010
10:46 pm
Not claiming to be an NBA coach but isnt this the type of game where Jeff Teague would flourish a little, would like to see more of the lil’ guy
iREPATL
February 19th, 2010
10:46 pm
MARVINS D IS OVERRATED AND SO IS HIS O, HE USED TO BE MY BOY, LST YEAR B4 HE GOT HURT I THOUGHT HE WAS TURNIN THE CORNER TO BECOME SOMETHING MORE, BUT NOW HES NOT “EVEN” AN AVERAGE SCORER
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:46 pm
Everyone other than Joe and Josh is stinking it up from the floor. The rest of the team is shooting under 25% for the game. I know Joe bricked it on that last possession, but the ball needs to continue to move the way it did there.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:47 pm
Ray…
absolutely, i agree. being tall helps him against everyone he faces. like i said must be a blessing… but the skill level… mmmmmm…i dunno… he’s missed quite a few bunnies, and looked bad ok… ugly in the process…
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:47 pm
Since Phoenix doesn’t employ the all-powerful switch defense, I wonder why Jamal and Bibby are shooting a combined 2 for 13? Huh….
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
let josh inbound…!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
You can criticize Robin Lopez for “just being tall” if you want, but tall, athletic effort players like him have always had a place in the NBA. A player like him on the Hawks certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
bigdave,
I hear ya. Dude is still a project. But he’s a better center than Frye, which the Suns have finally figured out.
niremetal
February 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
What the hell kind of a pass was that?
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:49 pm
Najeh…
thats exactly my point.
Blast
February 19th, 2010
10:49 pm
If Jamal can catch fire, Hawks will be good, but they have to take advantage.
Hoops
February 19th, 2010
10:49 pm
If the defense knocks the ball out of bounds, the shot clock should be set to 5 seconds if there is less on there. JMO
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:49 pm
Phoenix scores on the offensive board. That’s 10 offensive boards for them today. Probably the most unacceptable stat of the day right there.
Melvin
February 19th, 2010
10:50 pm
Woody is being school again tonight. Nash and Amare are resting on the bench for the 4th qtr stretch run and we have our best lineup in at the end of the 3rd qtr.
Where Is Jeff
February 19th, 2010
10:50 pm
HEEEEEEEEEEEERe’s Marvin
iREPATL
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
ID TRADE BIBBY FOR DRAGIC STRAIGHT UP LOOOOOOL
Hoops
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
Nice shot by Hill.
Where Is Jeff
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
Gotta love Marvin lol
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
Marvin actually defended that pretty well, I know he jumped, but he jumped straight in the air. Pretty late whistle.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
i cant believe Woody with all the doubling… i thought he only doubled D. Howard…
i like.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
damn what a shot.
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:51 pm
I don’t know about Jamal catching fire. Dude’s shoulder is clearly hurting him still.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:52 pm
Big Ray…
Frye a center…?…??…?
Where Is Jeff
February 19th, 2010
10:53 pm
man while nash and amare are on the bench, put in Teague and pick up the pace, but ya gotta let him play pg
Hoops
February 19th, 2010
10:53 pm
Give Teague some burn!!!
Where Is Jeff
February 19th, 2010
10:53 pm
Man gotta win this one to close the gap on the magic
Astro Joe
February 19th, 2010
10:54 pm
Big Ray, but why is it when we have a “bad shooting night” bloggers blame it on the head coach and his lack of interest in offense? Can you have it both ways?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:55 pm
By the way, for those of you who are still in the camp that says playing Teague is not important, just look at tape of Goran Dragic at the beginning of last year compared to where he is now. Last November I would have said he can’t even start in Europe. Now people are suggesting he’s better than our starting point guard (not saying I agree, but the point is he’s good). That kind of improvement only occurs with playing time. Dragic started out getting DNP-CDs and garbage time minutes early last year, but as the year went along they played him more, and that resulted in building his confidence. Teague’s minutes, on the other hand, have gone in the opposite direction.
Astro Joe
February 19th, 2010
10:55 pm
Which “second” All Star shows up big in 4th quarter? Both Horford and Nash are struggling while Joe and Amare are doing well. Game goes to team whose 2nd All-Star plays best for last 12 minutes.
Melvin
February 19th, 2010
10:55 pm
What do you know, we scored on a pick n roll play to start the 4th
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:55 pm
Big Al!
niremetal
February 19th, 2010
10:56 pm
Grant Hill pulling the Pierce – waiting until the defender jumps straight up (which he’s allowed to do), and then sneaking under him so it looks like the defender jumped at him. Joey Crawford was closest and didn’t call anything. The official with the worst angle then came in with the late whistle.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2010
10:56 pm
Nice move Big Al.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:56 pm
there u go Al!!!!
he letting someone on the Suns bench know…
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:57 pm
Astro Joe ,
Of course you can! This is a blog, where YOU been?
Blast
February 19th, 2010
10:58 pm
AL, Josh, and even Marvin gets more fouls on the block than Joe does.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:58 pm
i thought Joe was going to have to take himself out…
Big Ray
February 19th, 2010
10:58 pm
By the way, for those of you who are still in the camp that says playing Teague is not important, just look at tape of Goran Dragic at the beginning of last year compared to where he is now. Last November I would have said he can’t even start in Europe. Now people are suggesting he’s better than our starting point guard (not saying I agree, but the point is he’s good). That kind of improvement only occurs with playing time. Dragic started out getting DNP-CDs and garbage time minutes early last year, but as the year went along they played him more, and that resulted in building his confidence. Teague’s minutes, on the other hand, have gone in the opposite direction.
Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign, Co-sign….
Melvin
February 19th, 2010
10:58 pm
Najeh,
Forget playing Teague can we see ZaZa and Joe Smith on the court in the 2nd half….
niremetal
February 19th, 2010
10:58 pm
Woody giving JJ a breather early in the 4th while he was laboring a bit. Good.
bigdave
February 19th, 2010
10:59 pm
damn what a pass…
J.J.M.
February 19th, 2010
10:59 pm
hawks gonna lose
BONE
February 19th, 2010
10:59 pm
Now the hawks are just playin stupid