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Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 111, Knicks 102

11:51 pm January 28, 2011, by Michael Cunningham

Marvin went out swinging. (AP Photo)

Marvin went out swinging. (AP Photo)

  • The fisticuffs and flexing at the end shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the Hawks nearly blew this game with their usual twin sins of poor shot selection and sieve-like defense on the ball.
  • “That was almost a similar situation like we collapsed fourth quarter against Milwaukee,” L.D. said. “Losing focus of what got us the lead. I threw the challenge down at halftime. We played well, let’s see what we are made of the third quarter because we knew that team was not going to quit. But we got into a situation of trading baskets and against a team like New York you can’t do that because they have a lot of firepower.”
  • But the shaky play also shouldn’t obscure how the Hawks earned an emotionally-charged game in large part because they got plays at both ends from Smoove and an unexpected emotional lift from Al.
  • “I’m proud of the way our guys responded,” Drew said. “They did not lose their composure. They got back into a rhythm. Josh Smith did a great job when we were struggling somewhat for a basket and we were able to post him and he took advantage of it, made some really nice moves down low.”
  • With all that out of the way. . . Man, I’ve never seen Marvin so mad. “This is the second time,” Josh said. Can you help me out on that one, blog people?
  • “I’ve never seen him snap like that,” Drew said.
  • Even after Marvin connected on Shawne Williams, he was raging to get another shot at him.
  • “It kind of escalated so quickly,” Al said. “I was running by and I tried to get in there without getting hit. Marvin is a great guy. Shawne really had to get under his skin for Marvin to react like that, or do something to him.”
  • There’s probably no chance Marvin doesn’t get suspended for that punch since it was above the shoulder.
  • “I really can’t speak to that; I will let the NBA handle that,” Smoove said. “Emotions was running high and it got chippy out there. It just happens.”
  • In the end, competent play means more than alpha-male posturing but the Hawks did show some fight.
  • “We are definitely a team with a chip on our shoulder,” J.J. said. “You act out of anger sometimes. It is what it is.
  • Al said he didn’t really notice Knicks fans making noise for most of the game (probably because the Hawks dominated for two-plus quarters). But he heard them when he was at the line for free throws with 4:24 to play and he didn’t like it.
  • “It was kind of overwhelming,” he said. “I was like, ‘Wait a minute, we are at home. Regardless of if there are a lot of Knicks fans here, our fans have to get up.’ That’s what I tried to do was hype the crowd up. They definitely gave us a lift to get us over the hump.”
  • “Al got fired up,” Josh said. “That surprised me. He’s normally a calm dude. That got everyone’s adrenaline flowing, I think.”
  • The Hawks are human and have egos so of course it bothers them when they don’t get support in their building. (And yeah, I know J.J. didn’t help their case with this last spring.)
  • “It’s a little disheartening being at home and you’ve got so many fans cheering for the opposition,” L.D. said. “I know our guys, they want to play well, they want to give the fans a good show, they want to give them their money’s worth. But when you get the cheering for the home team on your court, it’s a little disheartening. I’ve been in this a long time, and it’s been like that. I just tell them to play through it and just be proud of that name across the chest.”
  • J.J. was fantastic in the first half: 16 points, 6 of 10 shooting, five rebounds, five assists, one turnover. Neither he nor the Hawks were as efficient in the second half but he still finished with a nice line.
  • “Everyone looks at his scoring but I look at his assists and rebounds because those are areas we really need help in,” L.D. said. “And he’s been defending like crazy. He guards ones, he guards twos. I’ve always stated that he’s a very underrated defender.”
  • Smoove showed how much of a force he can be when he decides to work over inferior defenders inside. I didn’t have a problem with the 3-pointer he launched (and made) late in the game. The shot clock was winding down, he caught it in rhythm on a pass from J.J. and, hell, he’s second on the team in accuracy.
  • Marvin (six free-throw attempts, four rebounds, 12 points on six shots) was aggressive even before he decided to try to knock out Shawne Williams.
  • Big minutes for Al (45) and Joe (41) with a game at Dallas tomorrow.
  • The Hawks dominated the Knicks in the first half using the formula that works best for them: Move the ball for good shots, rebound the misses and run. They also kept Stoudemire from attacking the rim and controlled New York’s shooters.
  • “We got the best of them in the first half,” Joe said.
  • Then Stoudemire, Felton and Shawne Williams went on the attack in the third quarter, the Hawks had a few bad possessions early in the fourth and it was a game again.
  • “As a team that’s just an area where we have to grow,” L.D. said. “We’ve done a lot of good things this year as far as accomplishments. We’ve really shown an ability to play on the road. We’ve shown an ability to play against good teams. As coach you are always looking for that consistency in putting four solid quarters together and it is not always going to work out perfect. You are searching for it. But I’m proud of how our guys responded,”

Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat

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91 comments Add your comment

slimjr

January 28th, 2011
11:58 pm

First…………………………..

Marvin you done lost your mind tonight?????????????????????????????????????????

Jae Evolution

January 29th, 2011
12:00 am

Good write up MC, I for one am happy two of our most calm-headed players pumped up the crowd and played with fire.

We lost our edge the second half, but we did exactly what we needed at the end, NOT SETTLE FOR JUMPERS, aside from Josh’s three (No complaints from me on that one) we got all our looks from inside the paint or got fouled. Take this win and study it good play at the end.

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
12:03 am

Did you guys see how far Marvin pushed LD??? About 10 ft!!! The Hawks should fine and suspend this buster on top of what the NBA will do. He really is pissed about the benching he got before he injured his backside!! It looked like his teammates were ignoring him for the most part….Poor Marvin not getting any love……

BTW Marvin, you fight like MARVINA.. Time to go hit a Strip Club and release your frustrations dude..It’s only a game???????

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
12:08 am

““This is the second time,” Josh said. Can you help me out on that one, blog people?”

Sekou tweeted that Marvin got into it with Joe at practice once a few years ago. Maybe that’s what Smoove was talking about.

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
12:08 am

Hawks nearly blew another 4th quarter lead, but held on only because they were playing home. This would have been a road loss know doubt….Josh did not shoot them out of this one. He attacked the rim..Good for him!

It was a terrible pick!!! Wow..What was the Hawks #2 lottery pick thinking or not thinking near the end?????

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
12:09 am

“of course it bothers them when they don’t get support in their building. (And yeah, I know J.J. didn’t help their case with this last spring.)”

Forget Joe last spring — losing by 41 in their previous home appearance is a lot more fresh in people’s minds right now.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
12:10 am

When the Hawks run it through the low post, they succeed. When they set up Al with mid range jump shots, they succeed. When they don’t do either one of those things, they fail. It’s that simple.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
12:10 am

“Time to go hit a Strip Club and release your frustrations dude.”

Yeah, but you gotta pay extra for that.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
12:11 am

Michael,

Sekou Smith said that Marvin went after Joe Johnson once in practice. I think that is what Josh was referring to when he said tonight was the second time.

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
12:12 am

““Time to go hit a Strip Club and release your frustrations dude.”

Yeah, but you gotta pay extra for that.”

I hear ya…………

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
12:13 am

A’mere is talking a lot of crap after this game. Lot of noise for someone who is now 0 and 2 agianst the Hawks this year.

I am looking forward to the next game against these d-bags. That would be Feb. 16, @ MSG.

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
12:18 am

Sund= take notes, Chicago is looking really good right now with two of their bigs hurt.. If your squad meets these guys in the playoffs its going be real ugly..You better step up and do your freaking job.

Sund=31 years…………………………………………………………YAWN………………………………………

K.W.

January 29th, 2011
12:23 am

I’m so glad I went to this game very intense. Now I’m hearing Amar’e is talking ish about Al.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
12:27 am

Section 303, which Knicks beat writer were you referring to on Twitter? I’m trying to search for what Amare said and I can’t find anything.

Worldwide Clyde

January 29th, 2011
12:48 am

*yawns*

I Heart Atlanta

January 29th, 2011
12:51 am

i remember Marvin got mad at Kirk Hinrich last year but nothing to that extent

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
12:56 am

HAWKS FANS MAKE SOME NOISE!!!

Kudos to the Hawks on a gutsy win; LD must have forgotten his long standing message, “Hey, this is the NBA, teams will make runs, the thing to do is don’t panic”. Perhaps that is the reason why he said this, “I’m proud of the way our guys responded,” Drew said. They did not lose their composure.”

Regarding Marvin, clearly he is a beast when he gets that mad. Kind of like the incredible hulk only he doesn’t turn green. When he’s that angry, he’s clearly in a zone. I watched the re-play in very slow motion (on my DVR) and I did notice that Marvin retaliated after Shawne Williams elbow made connect with him as they were running close together. Perhaps he thought it was intentional. Nevertheless, Marvin retaliated, squared off and pushed him and that initiated the altercation. Shawne retaliated back and got in Marvin’s face to the point where he made lip-to-lip contact (In slow-mo, look like they kissed). This is where Marvin took his arm and planted it on Shawne chest near his neck area and push him back (as if to say, get the fc!k out of my face). Shawne then retaliates again and goes back in Marvin’s face to make another lip-to-lip connect (as if this man enjoys kissing Marvin or something). I can only imagine that Shawne must have said something at that point to reinforce his intention. With the lip-to-lip connect, action speaks louder than words. It is at this point when Marvin turns into the incredible hulk and throws a punch. Almost equally about that time, Shawne throws his punch. Who knows, maybe Marvin was trying to beat that hidden “cat man” out of Shawne (LOL)

K.W.

January 29th, 2011
1:01 am

Amare’s comments about Al: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/012811_Knicks_put_up_fight_in_end_before_falling_to_Hawks_111-102.html

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
1:19 am

“Al Horford irritated Stoudemire by egging the crowd to cheer while he was at the foul line, then screaming after blocking a Stoudemire shot.”

Maybe Al Horford got (equally) irritated earlier when Stoudemire attempted to quite the Hawks crowd (in their building) by putting his finger on his lip during the time the Kicks made their run. Seems like he’s trying to turn sour grapes into grape juice but the numbers don’t lie, Hawks up 0-2 over the Knicks.

Tweets that mention Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 111, Knicks 102 | Atlanta Hawks -- Topsy.com

January 29th, 2011
1:20 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Atlanta Hawks Buzz, Michael Cunningham. Michael Cunningham said: Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 111, Knicks 102 http://bit.ly/h1hXNg [...]

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
1:21 am

You gotta be kidding me. I just saw the end of the Heat-Pistons game. The Pistons missed a game winning alley oop dunk. What the f-ck man…

Jae Evolution

January 29th, 2011
1:28 am

Najeh he was blocked/fouled one of the two but I doubt you’ll get that crucial of a call on the Road especially against the Heat.

As far as this Amare/Al beef goes I can’t wait until their next game at the Garden, the Hawks don’t back down no more we’re starting to develop a lil swagger and I like it.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
1:40 am

Najeh, I was talking about Frank Isola. He was tweeting quotes from Amare and also talking his own noise.

Worldwide Clyde

January 29th, 2011
1:42 am

“As far as this Amare/Al beef goes I can’t wait until their next game at the Garden, the Hawks don’t back down no more we’re starting to develop a lil swagger and I like it.”

People wasn’t saying that last week when we got blown out by New Orleans.

Freshfromatl

January 29th, 2011
2:10 am

“I don’t know what Horford’s thinking,” Stoudemire said. “He needs to calm down. He’s not the type of player. He doesn’t want to see me on any night, so he’d better relax and calm down.”

HawkZSolJa

January 29th, 2011
2:13 am

Where is the link for Sekou’s report about Marvin going after Joe in practice? Thank You.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
2:21 am

http://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA/status/31183733033803776

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
2:22 am

Funny that Amare would say that Horford “doesn’t want to see him” when he quite clearly went toe to toe with him all game and outplayed him in crunch time. Maybe Amare forgot that the Marvin fight started right after Horford absolutely owned Amare in the post defensively.

Jae Evolution

January 29th, 2011
2:23 am

Damn Clyde…you just blasted me brosef, not cool.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
2:24 am

“Najeh, I was talking about Frank Isola. He was tweeting quotes from Amare and also talking his own noise.”

I saw that dude’s Twitter. It looked more like a fan twitter feed than a beat writer twitter feed. I’ll take MC’s dispassionate professionalism over that any day of the week.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
2:27 am

“Najeh he was blocked/fouled one of the two but I doubt you’ll get that crucial of a call on the Road especially against the Heat.”

I’m not complaining about the call. That shouldn’t get called in crunch time anyway. I’m complaining about the fact that he missed the dunk. Even if he was blocked/fouled, if you see the replay he just leaves it short and gets blocked by the rim. Cost the Hawks a chance to pick up a game on Miami.

Jae Evolution

January 29th, 2011
2:46 am

I’m not complaining about the call. That shouldn’t get called in crunch time anyway. I’m complaining about the fact that he missed the dunk. Even if he was blocked/fouled, if you see the replay he just leaves it short and gets blocked by the rim. Cost the Hawks a chance to pick up a game on Miami.

Austin Daye is SCRAWNY I’m talkin one of the skinniest dudes in the NBA period. So he’s not going to be powering through any contact which there was, Jones undercut his arms so in my eyes they should’ve called that, because after watching it again it was cleary a foul.

Paradise Lost

January 29th, 2011
3:48 am

Nice win, Hawks! JJ’s pass to Smoove for that dunk just made the “Play of the Night” on our local paradise news station. Glad to see some of us are still thinking basketball despite the Peyton and Michael sightings this weekend…Arian who??? GO HAWKS!!

I Believe In This Team

January 29th, 2011
4:09 am

What an amazing game.

There would be more fans in the stands if the tickets were less expensive. I put the lukewarm attendance solely at the feet of ownership. Winning isn’t enough, you gotta become part of Atlanta’s heart. Love the city!

Al you are a beast!

northcyde

January 29th, 2011
4:20 am

Those of you mad at Marvin for fighting, need to think about this.

Just about everyone around the league thinks that the Hawks are a SOFT TEAM. And when you see them play sometimes, they do very little to dispute that fact.

So if a guy like Marvin has to go off every now and then, just so other teams don’t think they can punk us, so be it.

Marvin’s actions were stupid, ONLY because he could’ve gotten hurt again. Grandad broke how the situation escalated. So as a man, sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

As for when was the first time Marvin went off, it may be vs JJ in practice, as Sekou said. But I was thinking along the lines of when he committed that Flagrant 2 foul in Game 7 up in Boston in the 2008 playoffs.

If the future role for Marvin will be that of ENFORCER, then I’m all for it. He’ll just have to “enforce” a little better, without throwing fists. Maybe a few cheap bows, ala Kevin Garnett or Ron Artest.

northcyde

January 29th, 2011
4:39 am

@ I believe . . . it’s hard for the team to “love the city” when “the city” only shows up for the big name teams, or see thousands of fans from other teams invade the arena.

The only way the Hawks are going to bring out more fans, is if they beat one of the big name teams in the 2nd round of the playoffs. ATL isn’t a passionate enough city to simply support a good basketball team. You have to show borderline greatness ( or have a must-see type player ), in order to have the fans come out on a consistent basis.

You could lower ticket prices to $10 and provide rides to and from the games for people, and you’d still have the same lack of fan issues, because the passion for the Hawks just isn’t there. It’s just not a hardcore basketball town.

I don’t blame Al for doing what he did. It was probably 5 – 7,000 Knick fans in the building tonight that were very vocal. They have to go through that ish every time a NY, or a Chicago, or a LA Lakers, or a Boston comes to town.

I’ll never forget that first playoff game vs Boston 3 years ago, where literally 30% of the crowd was Boston fans. By Game 6, that number had dwindled down to 5% or 10%, because ATL finally “rose up” and supported the team.

Don’t blame the Hawks team for people not coming out. They’ve won over 100 home games in 3.5 years. Blame management for passing on a few players that could’ve made us better . . and passing on popular players that really could’ve brought the fans out.

But the fans themselves must take some blame as well. This isn’t a perfect team by any stretch of the imagination. But they have consistently been a good home team that will win 70% of their home games And they’ve beaten the best teams in the league at home as well.

If anything . . fans should go to Hawk games, because you never know what to expect out of this team, even when they win.

Hawks Fan In New Orleans

January 29th, 2011
5:29 am

LOL @ Sekou’s tweet.

Paradise Lost

January 29th, 2011
6:17 am

I Believe and Northcyde, very good points about attendance and fans. I posted on this in a previous blog. It takes some commitment on the part of the fans to even be a fan. We live in a state that has ZERO pro sports teams (Pro Bowl notwithstanding) and the nearest pro game to us would be a 5.5 hour flight for a west coast game. We have to DVR every Hawks game on League Pass because they usually start in the early afternoon our time, which means I have to avoid the blog and Twitter till after we watch the game if I want to be surprised at the outcome. I don’t mind doing it because our family loves to watch the Hawks play. We make little sacrifices because we’re f-a-n-s.

Our family was in ATL for a few days over the holidays and had tix to the Hawks/Magic game. Our kids loved watching the players warm-up and all the pre-game festivities. We had such a good time at a really exciting game that we rearranged our plans and got last-minute tix to watch them play the Cavs 2 days later. At the Cavs game, hubby and son got to go on the floor for one of the fan games (sadly, no autographed Bibby jersey for them). Of all the things we did right before the holidays, we all agree the Hawks games were the most fun we had as a family. That’s the kind of experience that can’t be created sitting at home on the couch.

Hawks PR folks, are you listening? You need to find a way to make that family memory creation experience affordable so fans want to come out and keep coming back! I noticed the upper bowl of Bradley Center was nearly empty (or looked that way from the Bucks’ broadcast angle), but the lower bowl was packed with fans. $10 seats in the lower bowl? Or lax security that doesn’t check tix? Either way, that Bucks crowd had the energy up and the cheering loud (and they still really hate Josh….).

Like I said in my previous post, ATL fans have been this way for over 20 years through big names and unknown names. Clearly, outside of winning a championship, not much can draw fans to games. As for the ones who do come, I guess it takes Al, aka 6th cheerleader of the year, to get them fired up!

Keep the great posts coming and remember we have to show some love for our guys… even when they frustrate the @#$! out of us!

Big Daddy

January 29th, 2011
6:18 am

I am glad the Hawks won the game. I knew New York was going to make a run to try to get back in the game. They were down by 9 against Miami in the fourth quarter and came back and won that game in the final minutes. I was filled with dread when, with us being up by 24 points that the guys let them get back to 10 and then single digits. It is good that the team held on to get the win.

As far as so many Knick fans being in the crowd, I am also a Falcon season ticket holder and for years I have seen so many of the other teams jersey highly visible in the crowd. Part of it, I think, is that there are so many people from other cities here and they have remained loyal to their home town teams. I believe the problem is that although the Hawks have been winning more games each year they aren’t consistent. Also, Josh is probably the only player who really get everyone excited and jumping out of there seats. And, like Najeh said, the sting from that 41 point loss is still in people’s mind.

Marvin will surely get at least a one game suspension and hefty fine. I don’t know what made him go off like that but dang, couldn’t it have been ignored for another 45 seconds. With some of the hard fouls the players were getting, Shawne must have been doing something for a while to get him to go off like that.

Hopefully, the guys will have a good game tonight and they will play with fire and win. It will be tough, but they have won on the road before. Dallas is playing like a top tier team right now and we definitely need them to bring their A game. Finally, kudos to Smoove for getting in the low post in the 4th quarter. It was his inspired play down low and rebounding that kept us in the game. I complain when he stands out on the perimeter so I want to praise when he goes down low.

sam'l

January 29th, 2011
6:27 am

could we just suspend Marvin without pay for the rest of the year for being dumb?

Forget this man up business…..we need to be smart……okay swagger if necessary….but cool enough not to get suspended.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 29th, 2011
6:28 am

“There would be more fans in the stands if the tickets were less expensive. ”

Hawks tickets are relatively inexpensive as far as NBA tickets go around the league. Northcyde hit on some key points, but it’s real simple — the ATL knows that the Hawks, while good, ultimately have next to no shot at a title. Atlanta fans get behind a) superstars and b) teams that are legitimate title contenders. In basketball especially the two go hand in hand. The Hawks have neither. Essentially they are like the early-2000s Braves — they will win plenty of regular season games and they will lose in the playoffs. We have had enough teams in this city that are good in the regular season and destined for failure in the postseason to know exactly what such a team looks like. The day an Atlanta pro sports team looks like it can be a legit title contender, the city will get behind them.

If the Hawks were to trade for Nash, I wouldn’t go as far as to say the Hawks would be title contenders, but they would be improved to the point where fans who know where the Hawks’ current ceiling is would show out to see what the new team’s ceiling could be.

Also, it doesn’t help that the DASG doesn’t know a damn thing about how to market their franchise.

dap01

January 29th, 2011
6:56 am

Great game by our starting PG. 5 points and 1 assist in 32.5 minutes. I am not ripping on Bibby. I blame Larry Drew.

The Hawks are going no where in the playoffs. We are playing the season in vain!

Albert Patterson

January 29th, 2011
6:58 am

I blame the officials for the fight between Marvin and Shawne Williams. The officials allowed the Knicks to mug the Hawks without calling fouls. One play in particular was when Jamal Crawford was underneath the basket and grabbed by his throat by a Knick player and nothing was called even though the referee was able to clearly see this!!!!!!! When this type of climate occurs in a basketball game a fight will eventually occur.l

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
8:02 am

The Hawks need to win a ECF and participate in a finals if you want sellouts..NOT…………..Never been done down here in 43 years…………….The epitaph of a dysfunctional franchise in so many ways…. This team as presently configured will get waxed in the playoffs again..Hang in there Hawks fans, the BEAT DOWN is coming……

Sund=fail

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
8:06 am

“could we just suspend Marvin without pay for the rest of the year for being dumb?”azz

Your Atlanta Hawks passed on CP3,DWILL,RAYMON FELTON in 05 for this buster…Marvin just sit your fat azz down…. Duck has not been shown any love by fans, teammates and Coaches..Poor Marvina……..

Nilotic Silvan

January 29th, 2011
8:54 am

Stay classy J-Smoove. Way to grab your crotch and run down the court like Serrano from Major League. Idiot. But at least he played well.

lewis

January 29th, 2011
8:57 am

Hawks one this game when JJ decided to stop his iso bull ish in the 4th and post up josh n al

KevinM

January 29th, 2011
9:23 am

Marvin decides to push a guy in the back after the game was decided…what did he expect the guy to do, walk away?
Punk move by Marvin, and sit him down and make him watch while healthy.
His actions look purely selfish to me…once again, Marvin being Marvin.

Marvin just cost himself game time in Dallas, and possibly more if Larry is going to back his talk up. You don’t push your head coach.

Da Vinci Code

January 29th, 2011
9:43 am

slimjr

“Your Atlanta Hawks passed on CP3,DWILL,RAYMON FELTON in 05 for this buster…Marvin just sit your fat azz down…. Duck has not been shown any love by fans, teammates and Coaches..Poor Marvina”

I can understand on “some” occasions curious non-Hawks fans would check into this blog and participate. But if you’re not a Hawk Fan, why do you waste your time here 24/7? You bring your lunch pail here, flop and rant (non-stop). Instead, why don’t you support the team and players that you love? Exactly what is your purpose here? It would be pathetic if didn’t have one.

westurd

January 29th, 2011
10:00 am

Best game of the year last night……I think we saw some heart from the Hawks and maybe a little swagger. Love it. Intense game. Lots of ish being talking and felt good to be a Hawks fan last night…..our team had an identity last night.

STRETCH

January 29th, 2011
10:23 am

MC,

Eventhough they are 2 and a half games out of 1st, they still need to make a move by the deadline. Im hoping they do. Do you think they will, or have you heard or are you sensing something happening soon?

superiorblogman

January 29th, 2011
10:29 am

Yeah, I am disappointed that Al kinda escalated the situation. The Knicks are rookies at being relevant we are vets. We did not need to do anything other than continue to push that lead from 20 to 30 when we had it at 20 and none of this would have happened. That is what is getting lost. We let another team come back when we had a big lead.

Doc

January 29th, 2011
10:35 am

Hopefully this will be a turning point in Marvin’s career. He needs to prove everybody wrong, and it starts with emotion, intensity and swagger.

Doctrapu

January 29th, 2011
10:46 am

Atlanta does not deserve a winning NBA team. The people here are the least passionate and supportive in the nation. So sick of front running bandwagon prop
E that lve in this city. So quick to root for some far away team. These idiots cheering for the Knicks are not from NY. They wanna be from NY. Hawks should relocate to a medium sized city that is starved for pro hopple. These lousy people in this town do not deserve a winner. Glad to see Horford and LD call out these sorry bums that attend games and don’t cheer for the home team while a bunch of fake wannabes root loudly for some team playing in a city one thousand miles away

niremetal

January 29th, 2011
10:53 am

MC,

I think the first was Marvin’s flagrant 2 on Rondo in Game 7 of the Hawks-Celtics series in ‘08. Even in that, Marvin seemed much more frustrated than angry. That was the only other time that I remember Marvin getting that physical with someone.

O'Brien

January 29th, 2011
10:57 am

I’m glad Marvin was the one who acted up, because out of our top 7 players, he is the one least missed. So a 2+ game suspension should not affect the team much.

I do like the fire he showed though (even if it was ill-timed). Fans like to see emotion from their players (remember ZaZa’s head butt of KG in the playoffs), and Marvin has played soft sometimes.

Maybe this will get him fired up when he comes back, and will help him to be more aggressive. I wouldnt mind seeing this kind of emotion out of Teague too.

Sautee

January 29th, 2011
10:59 am

superiorblogman,

About this from the last blog:

“Flip average 15 a game the last year he was with the Hawks. Crawford does not average much more.”

Not even close. Flip’s last year here he averaged 12.2 points per game. Not even close to the 15 that you claim.

I think that there is a decent argument about Flip’s production for his pay, vs. Jamal’s , but don’t be making ish up to try to prove a point.

In fact, what would you say if someone was claiming that Jamal averaged 18.8 (when he’s at 16.0 this year)?

Wouldn’t you call them out? That’s what YOU did. You inflated Flip’s numbers by 2.8 per game. Nothing “superior”about that.

Keep it real, please.

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
11:02 am

I wish Marvin would go after rebounds the same way he went after Shawne Williams; with a vengeance. We all know the dude plays much better when he’s mad. During a Hawks Live Show, “The Stinger” made a joking remark that Marvin’s teammate needs to step on his foot before the start of every game just to get him angry to prep his mindset.

O'Brien

January 29th, 2011
11:03 am

As for the game, I’m happy for the win. But their bad habits caused the game to be closer than it should have been.

I’m not too concerned about the starters playing heavy minutes, because it has not bothered them all year (Hawks are something like 11-3 on the second night of back to backs).

But I’m concerned about letting the Knicks back into the game (like we did to Milwaukee). Without a shot from Mo and Josh, Hawks might have lost this game.

But they found a way to get the win, so they deserve some credit for that. I am looking forward to a good showing against Dallas.

I look for Dallas PGs to have huge numbers against Bibby, but I think Hawks find a way to win.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
11:23 am

Najeh, I agree on Frank Isola. He is a beat writer, but goes about the job like an abnoxious fan.

I can’t wait for the Hawks/Knicks on Feb. 16. I’m sick of talking heads (Kenny Smith), writers (Frank Isola), and players (Knicks) acting like it’s the Hawks that have to prove themselves to the Knicks. The Knicks have been a nonfactor in the league for about a decade now. The Hawks are coming off a 53-win season and back-to-back trips to the 2nd round. Hawks are not the ones with something to prove.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
11:26 am

O’Brien, I hear you with the concern on the Hawks blowing the lead las night. I sat in my seat, when the lead was 20 +, knowing that it was only a matter of time before it started to evaporate.

However, it’s just the way things go in the NBA. Almost all the games I’ve seen where one team jumps on the other (say by 20 or more) has the team that is down come back. It just happens. Of course….didn’t quite work out that way last Friday against the Hornets.

lewis

January 29th, 2011
11:31 am

Stoudemire’s just pissed he doesn’t know how to rebound or play defense.
He’s really not that big of a deal against Al and Josh.
Lol @ his 3 rebounds

5th generation Atlantan here, can’t stand the huge influx of obnoxious new yorkers. get out of my arena please

O'Brien

January 29th, 2011
11:33 am

Section 303,

I feel like it happens with the Hawks more often than it does other teams (but that could be because I watch mostly Hawks games).

I guess we should be happy with the win, because the Knicks are a semi-good team. The Lakers lost at home to the Kings last night, so anything can happen any given game in the League.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
11:35 am

lewis, my wife and I took a trip to NYC this summer. We loved the place! I’m even going back in March to catch the Knicks/Pacers at MSG. However, being around the Knicks fans when they play the Hawks makes me hate them, too. I love the city, but I hate all their f’ing sports teams.

terrell

January 29th, 2011
11:41 am

I heard Shawne Williams called Marvin Mr. #2 overall, and then started laughing.

terrell

January 29th, 2011
11:43 am

lol 2 people sying this might be the turning point of Marvin’s career. Hell, he nearly fell down(again), when he threw a punch.

terrell

January 29th, 2011
11:44 am

lol @ people. My bad

terrell

January 29th, 2011
11:46 am

Sec 303, NO TEAM IN THE NBA BLOWS BIG LEADS LIKE THE HAWKS. It’s been happening to us for years.

yodaddy

January 29th, 2011
11:49 am

THere was an article on AJC not too long ago…

“Since big-time professional sports arrived in 1966, teams sailing under the Atlanta flag have completed 149 seasons. (We won’t count baseball in 1994, when the World Series was canceled by a players’ strike, or the 2004-2005 NHL campaign, which was scrubbed due to a lockout.) Only one has yielded a championship. That’s a batting average of .007, which is nice if you’re James Bond, less nice if you’ve invested financial and emotional capital in any of those 148 misses.

The history of major Atlanta pro sports is of the cosmic whiff. Our teams build us up to let us down. The Hawks have never won more than one playoff series in any season since moving from St. Louis.”"

REPEAT!!! The Hawks have never won more than one playoff series.

Just as in anything…winning cures all. Maybe if we won 2 playoff series and appeared in ECF or the Finals…the fans would believe more. But we are a show me town and won’t blindly waste money on a team when there are a million other things to waste money on (Strip Clubs!).

Atlanta teams embarass the city in unusual ways. Take just a few weeks ago with the Falcons debacle (Blank is STILL depressed about that as are many people)…Take the 41 point historical loss to the Hornets….take the historical playoff beatdown by the Orlando Magic….Brooks Conrad…enough said….take the Braves winning 14 straight divisional titles and only winning one measly championship when we should have been a dynasty.

Section 303

January 29th, 2011
11:51 am

terrell, yes they do. You’re just like me, and about everyone else on here, it just hurts when the Hawks do it.

Although, I’ll give you this, whenever the Hawks get a big lead (last night), I just know it won’t last. Like, I’m so confident it won’t last I would bet my house on it. It’s never easy.

terrell

January 29th, 2011
11:53 am

Yo daddy, Strip Clubs are everywhere.

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
12:01 pm

Al Horford:

“Great win over The knicks tonight. Everyone came out an did their part. And YES! I am that kind of player, who does what he needs to win”.

Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter.html#ixzz1CRcFxFJw

heartofdarkness

January 29th, 2011
12:18 pm

I think I spotted a trend change in interest in Marvin Williams around the league last night.

MsDee

January 29th, 2011
12:25 pm

@The Truth,

I think Horford is responding to Amare’s comment about, “who does Horford think he is, he isnt THAT kind of player”..

I love Horford and what he brings this team..KEEP IT UP, AL!!

Hummon

January 29th, 2011
12:56 pm

I’m not there much, but I was there last night. The game seemed to embody all there is to like and dislike about the Hawks. I LOVED Al’s antics on the free throw line. The large and vocal Northeastern / Rust Belt rooter contingent is one of the most tiresome aspects of being a sports fan in this city. Contra Amare, Al does not need to “calm down.” I want to see more of that when the crowd that has a Georgia license plate but a Cubs cap gets noisy.

Ra'mon

January 29th, 2011
1:12 pm

Around the league, did anyone see KG’s low blow last night? Is he trying to be Ric Flair?

Also the Kings beat the Lakers in the Staple Center. Cousins went 27 pts/10 reb. I guess LAL’s big lineup doesn’t help either.

cp

January 29th, 2011
1:12 pm

The Hawks blew the lead because they continue to make the same mistakes in crunch time plus guards attack Bibby when he is in the game. I wouldn’t be shocked if Barrera and Jason Terry have big games tonight. LD has to realize that Mo is not this good defender he seems to think he is. Sund has to get another pg in here or LD just has to live with Teague’s mistakes because the Hawks cant keep playing Bibby all these minutes.

kwooden1

January 29th, 2011
2:24 pm

I’m proud of how the HAWKS played late and I’m glad LD went with Marvin over Crawford for the final 4mins. (before he got ejected) I know they blew a big lead in the 3rd and part of the 4th, but a lot of that lead was built with Amare on the bench. New York is a quality team and the HAWKS showed some nice ball movement to end the game. I actually don’t really mind Marvin going off, because he probably needs to rest his back some more and someone needs to show some some fire on this team! (Marvin was +22 for the game!, don’t like +/- stat but that still says a lot for him) Hopefully Jamal will have a better shooting game tonight, I think NY was doing a good job of being physical with him. Also, night job by the HAWKS getting the ball in the paint. Al, Joe and Josh shot a least 50% of their shots in the paint and they combine for 17 of the teams 22 assists.

Hopefully tonight they can keep getting the ball in the paint and not depend to much more jumpshots. With Marvin out, looks like Wikins and Mo are going to have to step-up their games.

GO HAWKS!!

O'Brien

January 29th, 2011
2:44 pm

I like Jamal, but he can give leads back in a hurry (bad defense, bad shot selection, not staying within the offense like he should).

Which is why the Hawks need Marvin to be more consistent on offense, because he is the better option (instead of Jamal) down the stretch of a close game.

Marvin is not the defensive liability that Jamal is, so if Marvin can knock down shots on offense, that will be great.

It would be nice if Teague can step up (defensively) too. Because a team of Teague/JJ/Marvin/Josh/Al in the closing minutes has the potential to play very good team defense.

But Marvin and Teague must step up for that to happen. As long as Bibby and Jamal are in the game down the stretch, the other team wil always have a chance.

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
2:52 pm

“As long as Bibby and Jamal are in the game down the stretch, the other team wil always have a chance.”

Agreed; Long ball misses = Fastbreak chances for the opponents

Booo!

January 29th, 2011
3:00 pm

Shawne Williams CLEARLY Connected with the left punch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjLY-kc1DYQ

Booo!

January 29th, 2011
3:06 pm

CLEARLY Amare has never seen Horford in action before last night. This is not the Sissy Western Confrence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8iqxmKCmLc

The Truth

January 29th, 2011
3:13 pm

Shawne Williams has a long rap sheet; makes sense for him to be in the mix of controversy:

“On September 11, 2007, Williams was arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana on a charge of possession of marijuana. Two passengers in Williams’ car were also arrested. One was charged with possession of marijuana, the other was charged with possession of a stolen handgun.[5][6]

In January of 2010, Williams was arrested in Memphis on felony drug charges for selling a codeine substance. Williams later pleaded guilty in April to misdemeanor drug possession. He was placed on six months’ probation, ordered to undergo mandatory drug testing, attend a drug offender school and make a $10,000 contribution to the Shelby County Drug Treatment Court.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawne_Williams

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
4:48 pm

Go get em Marvin..!!!!!!!

Marvin Williams and Shawne Williams receive suspensions for rough housing | ProBasketballTalk

January 29th, 2011
4:49 pm

[...] via Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 111, Knicks 102 | Atlanta Hawks. [...]

slimjr

January 29th, 2011
4:51 pm

Sund= your on the clock now.So what cha gonna do??The deadline is approaching……TIC TOC……

Native Son

January 29th, 2011
5:42 pm

It seems to me that we should rejoice when our Hawka show some fire. I liked what they did last night to a eastern conference foe. Stoudemire has a rude awakening on the east coast. Now let’s go get Chicago.

Blast

January 29th, 2011
6:55 pm

Great win last night! Can Hawks do it tonight?

Until Amare and his team beat the Hawks, he better close his mouth and stop yapping. Records don’t lie. New York-0, Hawks-2.

Imagine if all those Knick fans were Hawks fans. Hawks would sellout every game.

ILL-Logical

January 29th, 2011
8:05 pm

According to the DMN , jason Collins will start tonight:
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/hawks-will-be-missing-starter-marvin-wil.html

HawkZFan

January 29th, 2011
8:47 pm

can someone tell me what al did to fire up the crowd yesterday?

Atlanta Fawkers

January 30th, 2011
10:13 am

TRADE NOW!!!!

LOSERS!!!!!