Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 93, Heat 89
Hawks put up a fight against Wade's Heat. (Hector Gabino / el Nuevo Herald)
- Miami–This wasn’t the soft team L.D. described after the Hawks barely bothered to play defense against the Rockets and Kings.
- “We showed up tonight,” Drew said.
- The Hawks won at Miami for the first time since Dec. 12, 2008. It was their fifth straight road W and they know have 14 on the season, second only to the Heat’s 15.
- The Hawks improved to 4-6 in road games against teams with winning records.
- “Guys knew that this was going to be one of those games that sometimes you get measured on,” Jamal said. “It’s a good barometer. They are not fully healthy, but we aren’t either. We just had to kind of go with it.”
- The Hawks went into the Heat’s building and beat them at their rugged style. They won despite losing Al in the third quarter, facing a 29-14 deficit in free throws, Le Bron’s 34 points and 27 from D-Wade.
- They did it by continuing to grind when the Heat made one final push to force overtime.
- “You have to be able to play different styles, especially against the top teams,” Jamal said. “To win, we had to gut it out.”
- Every guy who made a mistake going down the stretch–J.J.’s bad turnover, Mo’s bad foul, Smoove’s bad shots, Jamal’s forced runners–did something later to win the game.
- “It showed a lot of heart, determination, growth and maturity,” J.J. said. “It was a hard-fought game. Their rotation on defense was phenomenal tonight. We just made the extra pass and were getting open shots.”
- The Hawks didn’t make many of them. The shot selection was suspect at times. They had lots of careless turnovers, especially in transition.
- Atlanta’s team defense, however, was spirited, physical and exceptional.
- “That is how you have to play a team like this, because they are going to force you to play like that,” Drew said. “If you don’t they are going to run you out of the building.”
- No Bosh for a team without much offensive depth to begin with certainly helped the Hawks’ cause but they made things difficult for Miami from start to finish. Miami shot a season-low 36 percent from the field.
- “I’ve been saying since I got here, when we help each other and everybody is on a string we are one of the top teams in the league,” Bibby said. “We did that tonight. We helped, and we rotated out and everybody was moving. When we are that active, we are real good.”
- Smoove, arms waving and feet moving, stalked James to all corners of the court. He helped make James a jump shooter and it paid off.
- “I thought he did a real good job against him,” Drew said. “He’s out there flapping around, but I do think his length bothers people. And he has the ability to erase a mistake when he gets beat off the dribble when someone goes to the basket.”
- At one point of the third quarter, Josh looked like he could barely stand while chasing LeBron through several screens on the perimeter. He stuck with it and LeBron eventually missed a long jumper.
- “It’s so hard to be able to guard so many re-screens,” Josh said. “You find your legs getting tired. They beat you up on the screens. But it’s all mental for me and I just fought through it. I wanted to suck it up and be able to stand up for my team.”
- Josh’s thunderous dunk over Joel Anthony late in regulation gave the Hawks a jolt and quieted the crowd after it looked like they would fade like last time they were here.
- “I kind of looked to the right and still saw him coming,” Smoove said. “I knew I had to finish hard because he’s a pretty good shot-blocker.”
- “We needed something to motivate and energize us,” L.D. said. “That gave us a little life. Everything we got tonight we really had to earn. We needed something to spark us and Josh came up with the big play.”
- It was clear early that J.J. was locked in for his duel with D-Wade. He shadowed the Heat’s All-Star around the court, using his size and strength to keep him away from the basket.
- “I think Joe got us going with that,” Drew said. “Watching him those first few possessions of the game against Wade, I thought he played him with his speed and played him with a physicality and started banging around in there.”
- Joe hurt the Hawks with too much iso play in the second quarter. He also threw the ball away with Atlanta up 76-75. But then he tied it on a classic Joe move: Hesitate, dart into the lane then score on a floater.
- “I knew there was a lot riding on me,” he said. “I just wanted to come up big for the squad and somehow get it into overtime and then it’s our will against theirs.”
- The Heat was disorganized after tying it at 84-84 and Joe smartly set up Jamal for a corner 3. Jamal made it, one of his six baskets after halftime. “The last two games I wasn’t as aggressive as I would have liked,” he said. “Tonight I got back on track.”
- The Hawks needed someone other than Jamal to produce off the bench and Mo delivered. After standing in the corner and missing a wide open 3 in regulation, then compounded that error by fouling James 40 feet from the basket, Mo scored the first five points of overtime for Atlanta.
- LeBron, back after missing two games with an ankle injury, got lured into taking long jumpers. The Hawks didn’t allow him many of his devastating runs at the basket.
- “LeBron started to make some shots there toward the end, but that was a game plan we decided to stay with,” Drew said. “If we were going to give up anything, let’s give up a contested jump shot as opposed to him getting to the basket. We executed that going down the stretch in the fourth quarter and in overtime we did a great job with that.”
- Al didn’t return after suffering the sprained ankle. He wasn’t in the locker room when I got in there. “I don’t know how bad it is or if he’s going to be out,” Drew said.
- It was kind of surreal to see JC2 suddenly checking into this game late in regulation. He missed a 3-point try.
MC
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164 comments Add your comment
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
11:53 am
“LOL, does Ellis have a really lame daytime TV show too?”
HAHA.. If Marvina keeps pouting he’ll be hired to work the NBA Basketball Wives set. Lots of drama you think?
Rev in Tampa
January 19th, 2011
11:55 am
Grandad,
You do seem to be especially chipper today. Have you been smoking some of ILL-Logical’s “pot game euphoria”? You know that stuff only helps cancer victims; not heart patients…
dukester
January 19th, 2011
11:57 am
@ DR MARYB Just becasue Jason Thompson got his shot blocked doesnt mean he is not a upgrade over Twin and Zaza. Yes he has played both forward positions and center for Sacremento. Bottom line is the kid is 6′ 11″ 250 lbs. Check his size and compare him to average centers in the league. Start with Dwight Howard.
And yes Joel Anthony got 16 rebounds last night with Al Horford out. And if Al would have played the whole game he would have got 13. LOL
My point in identifying Thompson was because we lack 2 things that wins championships. Tough interior defense and rebounding. Our opinions may vary on who we want to fill that roll but you must agree that is our problem. Again check our points in the paint and rebound stats. By the way who do you suggest to fill that roll??
dukester
January 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
@ DR MARYB Sam Dalembert is not worth 13 million dollars but he is much better than twin and Zaza. I trust his shot blocking and rebounding over Twins and Zaza. With Josh playing SF he will be further from the basket. Now if the Hawks stay the same with out a CENTER they will be feeling the same way about them as we feel about the falcons.!!
SteveW
January 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
44 minutes @ HOU + 45 minutes @ SAC = Tweaked ankle in Miami for Al
I still like how LD intimidated/psyched LeBron with the Jordan Crawford move. Actually, priceless. Could you imagine if JC2 would have dunked on LeBron again?!
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
12:03 pm
Did ya’ll hear DICK Chaney has no heart pulse?? That sounds like Marvin Williams
it was a terrible #2 Lottery Pick!
JeJe
January 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
They key to beating NOH Friday is that ZaZa needs big minutes and has to be physical and productive.
I am guessing we win Friday then lose by 18 at Charlotte
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
ZaZa=JOHN CONTRACT(Atlanta drafted this ‘Big Stiff’ over Charles Barkley in the 85 draft! He averaged 1 point and 1 rebound per/game for his career and was paid over 40 million!
SteveW
January 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
From now to the All Star break, we’re entering the easiest part of our schedule, both in teams, and with rest. I hope we take advantage of it to get healthy, and soar. We could easily win most if not all of our games until the break.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
Where IS the Logic?
Carlos asked this:
“drmaryb – for someone who loves logic so much, how can you say that a big part of why Joel Anthony had 16 rebounds is because Al got injured, when in fact Anthony had 5 boards in the first alone (meaning he was on pace for 20 after 1 quarter of play) and 9 total all before Horford’s injury?”
————————
Based on this flawed logic, let’s clear one thing up: Joel Anthony has NEVER had 20 rebounds in his ENTIRE life! He got four boards on one possession late in the fourth, when the Hawks had their smallest line-up possible on the floor and Josh was playing Center. Joel Anthony IS a Forward and NOT a Center.
Now, if we use your brain? Anthony had 5 boards in the 1st Qrtr, with Al playing and 4 boards in the Second. So, with Al out almost the entire 2nd half, then Anthony should have had 7 boards in the 3rd and 4th! So, he should have been on pace for 24 boards total, with Al out of the way!
____________________________
Where is Your Logic? Shouldn’t he have more than 5 boards per qrtr with Al gone? 16 boards was his CAREER high! You’ll never see that on a regular basis, Ever!
Turthspitter
January 19th, 2011
12:18 pm
Slimjr,
Southern Sudan has just voted for its independense from the North. Southern Sudan is Christian and has a wealth oil reserves. United States and the Obama adminstration has done a beautiful job along with the CIA creating the opportunity for the birth of a nation which will benefit the USA greatly.
Now as for the Hawks, the need for a legit Point Guard is even more paramount after last night’s game. A point would have able to drive into the lane; thus, creating more open shooting/scoring opportunaties. JJ, Jamal, Al are all good open floor jump shooters, but Josh Smith opportunaties would be greater if he were allowed to slash to the basket. The offensive stops because of the floor spacing and the inability of the PGs to create open shoots.
Nash and D, Harris are clearly available and the hawks need to be proactive.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
Dukester
I read a ton of scouting reports on Dalembert during the FA period this Summer and posted it on here, because his name kept coming up!
Dalembert was ran out of Philly for some serious and problematic reasons:
He is ExTREMELY lazyn and refuses to go near a basketball in the off seasons. He was reported to be a cancer in the locker room and the consummate complainer during the season. He refused to work on his game weakness and was averaging 8 pts per game. Never developed ANY post moves whatsoever from year to year. At 13M per year, the fans said,”We should give his salary to a terrorist organization than him, and it would be put to better use!”
He was a coaches night mare! They ran him out of town, when they needed a center the most!
____________________
You can take him home and put him in YOUR basement, I would NEVER want him here. He is already in Sac-Town complaining to the local media, just last week!
Go back and read their articles! He can’t even get PT behind Cousins right now!
JeJe
January 19th, 2011
12:43 pm
FIRE SUND
NO POINT GUARD = NO PLAYOFF SUCESS
BIBBY HAS GAMES LIKE LAST NIGHT ONCE EVERY 2 WEEKS OR SO.
NO BACKUP PG.
WE HAVE AN OVERWEIGHT INFERIOR PG AS OUR STARTING PG WITH NO BACKUP
FIRE SUND
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
12:48 pm
Dukester
We blew our chances to get a true Center, in the Summer! I lobbied hard for Shaq or Daimpeer. Those were my choices based on what was available, which wasn’t much! We got a re-newed Collins and Etan for all the fussing I did.
Right now, our greater need is a True PG. I would move in that direction right now, since my desires were ignored at Center! I am with Al, when he said, “I will go to war, with what I got!” So, unless we can do better than Twin? Good Luck with the Big Man Quest! I don’t see anything available that we can afford!
Nor, do I see anything available that can bother the:
Lakers
Celtics
As currently constructed, The Hawks are NOT a contender for Any Title, any time soon! So, just enjoy what we are and what we have. Keep the expectations realistic and stop dreaming! That’ls Life! It’s just basketball anyways and NOT the end of the world by any means!
Just Entertainment! Not that serious!
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
12:54 pm
dukester
I’ve read your stuff in the past…c’mon now – J.Thompson.
Okay, on my soap-box again:
Basketball is a Team sport, and relies on chemistry amongst
the players more so than other sports. Here we are after the
biggest road win since ‘drmaryb’ wore a training bra and all
we do is want to change it up. [myself included] But! We don’t
need wholesale changes, we do need a couple of tweaks.
Nash would be a trancendent -But- overwhelming change where all
chemistry might be destroyed. Why mess with that now.
A pg is not our biggest need. As evidenced last eve, we need a
rebounder. A rugged, bruising, intimidating, Ass kickin’,
head knockin’, name takin’, no non-sense lane cleaner outer.
His name is Nene, or Dorsey, or bring Oakley out of retirement.
Okay I’m finished. Yep Rev feelin kinda spry!
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
1:00 pm
@Turthspitter,
“Southern Sudan has just voted for its independense from the North. Southern Sudan is Christian and has a wealth oil reserves. United States and the Obama adminstration has done a beautiful job along with the CIA creating the opportunity for the birth of a nation which will benefit the USA greatly.”
Good for them! We should be paying 35 cents a gallon like the citizens of Saudi Arabia……The worlds largest oil reserve which covers 16 million square miles in Wyoming,Utah and Colorado lies at a depth of only a thousand feet. With today’s technology would cost about 10 dollars a barrel to pump up and refine..A true world changer..We fixin to pay 5 dollars for gas by end of next year is outrageous!!
JJ for President!
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
1:02 pm
Dampier played 5 min last eve.
Did anyone even notice?
Nothing but 0’s across the board ‘cept fot the O-fer 1 fg.
Sorry Mary Ellen.
Collins is better!
Dept. of Unintened.....
January 19th, 2011
1:08 pm
Who am I? Sund?
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
1:16 pm
Who told Josh Smith that he has a jumpshot????? 4-20 last night!!.. Keep that up Josh and you guys will get swept in 4!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
1:19 pm
Hey Grand-Daddy!
great and insightful posts as always! great to have you back and feeling better. i will call you in re:
to thursday and all, so pick up the phone later today. i am charging my cellie right now.
you are right, these ASKG people ain’t gonna “bust a grape” and make no moves. we are set to the core! oh well! we tried.
dukester
January 19th, 2011
1:22 pm
@DRMARYB LOL you talk about lazy SHAQ!! LOL and you want to talk about washed up Eric Dampier!! Like i said we may never agree on who we should choose for this most pressing need and thats fine.
Grandad yes I said Jason Thompson who would you suggest we get at center?
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
1:24 pm
LeBron was 8-30 last night!
you should go read their blog re: LeBrick! He is hated for Iso-Bron over there and ball hogging! both teams played lights out defense. Last night was a true grinder and Josh was incredible down the stretch, he does need to stop chucking all them bricks though and drive the ball a whole lot more, with time left on the shot clock. a true weakness in his game is shot selection!
but, hey we won – right? and, his team mates are throwing him the ball too. aye Josh! drive the ball and dunk that thang!
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
1:28 pm
Josh u shoot the rock like a 5th grader dude!!! JUST STOP IT. Your shot is called a set shot not a jump shot. Go with your strength not your weakness. Too late to teach how to shoot the rock. That should have been addressed at least 10 years ago!! Your set shot is cryptonite……..
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
1:28 pm
dukester
Not gonna re-post.
It’s well documented.
Scroll back, add Ajinca.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
1:30 pm
Dukester!
Nothing was available, like i said! Shaq is not lazy, just old, he dropped 25/10 last week and his team is what? 30 – 9? You got a problem with winning? Looks like Boston made out like a bandit, they only need him for 13 games come June! Shaq is not an everyday player any more.
Dampieer is a true Center, washed up and all is better than what we got! Jason Thompson is NOT a Center for the 100th time! Dalembert? You can got to Sac-Town and put him in the trunk of your Honda Accord and drive him to your basement! We don’t want his carcass here!
If you’re gonna dream? Dream Big! Why not say, go get Dwight Howard and call it a day?
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
1:32 pm
Sund bring Dwight back home!!!
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
1:33 pm
slimjr;
read my earlier post re Josh.
Educate yourself.
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
1:37 pm
take your own advise
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
1:38 pm
Grand-Daddy
I dont want Daimpeer here now. I was telling Dukester that back in the Summer I lobbied hard for Shaq and Daimpeer during FA period. But, nothing happened and we got Etan Thomas for all the fussing I did! So, I was telling Dukester I have moved on from Center Dreams and am now only interested in us getting the greater need at PG: Nash or Billups are my wishes for us now.
I told Dukester, Twin is doing good and I am like Al, when he said, “I will go to war, with what I got!”
___________________________________
That’s what I said. I don’t see any Center out there available that we can get, nor afford. That ship has already sailed a long time ago! That’s all I was saying, this morning!
PG! PG! PG! – PG! people … listen … There are some opportunities out there! See Sund. We all know that Bigs don’t grow on trees!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
1:55 pm
Dukester
Ipersonally like Jason, his uncle is my X-Ray technician here at the office. He sold me my machines and did the installation and life time service on them. So, trust me I like Jason T. My problem with him is, like AL, he is NOT a True Center. Unlike, Al he is awfully thin and frail. He is tossed around like a rag doll!. That size at Center might fly out West, but in the East?
We BANG – HARD ’round here! Dwight and Perkins would fold him up like a cheap lawn chair. Dalembert too! I’d rather have Collins with some beef and someone, who can stand there and be in the way and bother people. Somebody, you got to go around to get to the basket, not a telephone pole that you can run through! LeBron and DWade would beat him down like a mexican pinata!
That’s all I’m saying mane. Besides, we ain’t getting no Center anyways! They are like butt-holes – everybody needs one! Good ones aren’t just lying around and besides, we ain’t got no money!
Camby, just went down for surgery with meniscus tear, and opted for surgery yesterday and is gone for 3-6 weeks. Plus he cost 9M this year and 8.5M next year! Oden done for the Year, Pryszbilla hasn’t played more than 10 minutes per game since he returned and is very old. Portland need a Center worse than us and they got Three! Yao Ming’s career is over, so, Houston need a Center too.
Like I said, get in line for that dream. At least we got AL (All-Star at Center) and Twin! That might not mean much to you, but it’s more than what most teams have!
look it, we are gaining ground on the #2 spot in the Eastern Conference. We are not that bad. We are just ungrateful and love to complain after every WIN!
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
1:56 pm
Fallacy:
Josh doesn’t block as many shots due to playing the [3].
The [3] is an offensive position. However, Josh has guarded the
[3] quite a bit this year.
(even though some folks on this board argued that he was incapable)
As a matter of fact, Joe has played the [3] more than most on here realize.
Last yr with all the switching Josh would end up guarding the pg sometimes ~ for crying out loud ~ and people don’t take that into consideration.
One thing opposing Coaches may be doing is having Josh’s *man
(whomever that may be) draw him away from the basket [by design].
Another thing – Josh can become a DPOY candidate by being a -GOOD-
defender and not just by blocking shots. He gets steals by getting in the passing lanes and last eve showed that he can defend the best [3]
in the game today. (points notwithstanding) LbJ was 4 for 60 FG,
and attempted 400 FT’s to get his pts.
Also Josh’s jumper probably was mis-firing somewhat due to jelly legs
from chasing LeBoink all night.
Josh is tied for 3rd within our 6 most important players.
Ken Strickland
January 19th, 2011
2:00 pm
GRANDAD-Thanks, and back at cha.
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
2:03 pm
slimjr;
Okay, I’m advising you to read my stuff and educate yourself.
Ken Strickland
January 19th, 2011
2:12 pm
I forgot to mention the excellent coaching job that was done by LDrew, especially a move he made in the 4th quarter. They were double teaming JJ whenever he touched the ball, and he put JoCrawford in the gm, which forced them to back off. Teams know his potential, and what he’s capable of doing.
EmirS.
January 19th, 2011
2:15 pm
@slimjr
“..A true world changer..We fixin to pay 5 dollars for gas by end of next year is outrageous!!
JJ for President!”
Lol that last one got me laughing. Thanks bud! I’m feeling very much down and stressed. That helped alot.
EmirS.
January 19th, 2011
2:19 pm
The Hawks are a team that won in Utah by 23 and lost to the Pistons by 23. Their true identity swings between those extremes. They’re solid some nights, soft on other nights. They didn’t make any major off-season changes, besides the coach, and therefore no reason to expect the final outcome will be much different, either.
They’re built to win 45-50 games, not to beat the Big Four in the East in the playoffs.
– Shaun Powell
{ They’re built to win 45-50 games, not to beat the Big Four in the East in the playoffs. }
Sadly, I think thats the best way we can put our Hawks as.
http://www.nba.com/reportcard/midseason/2011/hawks/
JeJe
January 19th, 2011
2:21 pm
FIRE WOODY
tyger
January 19th, 2011
2:21 pm
Huge win for the Hawks…
1. Hope they can bottle that just-win-baby attitude…
2. Hope they don’t revert to their win one-lose two approach…
3. Drew needs to figure ZaZa out, he’s regressed, but has so much potential…
4. Drew is doing a great job with what he has…
5. PG is still an issue…we need someone to slow Rondo, Rose, Nelson…
JeJe
January 19th, 2011
2:28 pm
http://www.businessinsider.com/john-wall-flip-saunders-washington-wizards-2011-1
I DON’T SEE JOSH SMITH DOING THIS EVER
drmaryb (*_*)
January 19th, 2011
2:29 pm
Grand-Daddy is Back!
Didn’t these kids Mamma teach them to respect their elders and to learn how to spell or use spell check, if they’re dumb?
Slimjr said this to Grand-Daddy:
January 19th, 2011
1:37 pm
“take your own advise”
______________________
He can’t even spell advice!
You shouldn’t use words that you can’t spell, and yes, we can tell when it’s a “TYPO”.
Next Blogger Please!
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
2:31 pm
@Granddad
10-4…
dukester
January 19th, 2011
2:31 pm
@ DRMARYB Well we agree to disagree you can take Daimper to your basement and I will take Thompson to mine. LOL Let’s define “true center” 7′0″ tall or 6″11″? Or is it defending the paint and tough rebounding? I will take the latter. Hey look we can go back and forth on choices of our liking to get the job done. As far as the “Horford” comment “go to war with what you got” will have us dead in the 2nd round again.
So for the record Dr mary like Dampier more than Thompson that settles it.
@Grandad i like Ajinca also he is tall and long but I is the physical presence we need in the paint.
I will take him over twin any day.
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
2:33 pm
@drmaryb (*_*)
LOL..See I can laugh at myself..Question is can you??
peachimport
January 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
I am a huge basketball fan, and closely following this team (for better or worse). Minimal knowledge of all the positions, stats etc…but LOVE reading the blog after each game. I’m learning while being thoroughly entertained!!
Mike is back
January 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
MC, good stuff…I’m sure it was nice to get back to some old stomping ground.
Very impressive win by the Hawks…I thought the Hawks played with PERSERVERANCE and TANACITY…again very impressive win.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandad
January 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
slimjr
I’m glad you knew I was only messin’ with you a little bit.
Hoops
January 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
northcyde,
I’m with you on the Hawks and the Vols winning on the same night. That’s awesome!
This was a great win for the Hawks! Mo Evans really played well down the stretch for the Hawks!
If there is a trade coming for the Hawks @ this point, I don’t know who the Hawks should make available. Teague maybe? Who else is not contributing that other teams would be interested in? GO HAWKS!!!
Mike is back
January 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Drmaryb, U R…really something…Keep doing Yo thang…Folk!!!
Rev in Tampa
January 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
peachimport,
You probably know about as much as most on this blog. I’m still trying to learn how to have one of those smiley faces you used on your post.
slimjr
January 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
@Grandad
Cool..Its all good..Josh had a great night regardless of his shooting.. He gave LJ fits.. It was fun to watch..