Atlanta Hawks: Amar’e Stoudemire promises ‘very, very intense’ game for post-fight rematch
New York–And so it begins.
It’s Round 3 of Hawks vs. Knicks at Madison Square Garden tomorrow, and of course the storyline in New York is focused on Atlanta’s 111-102 victory in Round 2 on Jan. 28. An intense game climaxed with Atlanta’s Marvin Williams coming to blows with Shawne Williams. Afterward, Amar’e Stoudemire called out Al Horford for his chest-pounding exhortations to Hawks fans at Philips Arena.
The league suspended Marvin for two games for his role in the fight, which he said happened after series of unspecified actions by the Knicks throughout the game. But Marvin downplayed the rematch.
“I am sure it is going to be intense,” he said. “But it’s in the past for me, and I’m sure it is for Shawne, too. It’s over; it’s done with. I am sure he feels the same way. It’s just another game.”
Shawne Williams, who got suspended for a game because of the altercation, also said he’s not bitter about the incident.
“I feel like we owe them guys from last game,” Williams told ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan today at Knicks practice. “Ain’t nothing personal, like I said that day. We were competing in the heat of the moment and it got out of hand. There’s no hard feelings after. You play the game and you get caught up in the moment and things happen sometimes. It’s not like it’s premeditated or anything. Everything’s good.”
While those two might be ready to move on, Amar’e sounds as if he’s eager to face fellow All-Star Horford.
Amar’e missed New York’s victory over the Nets on Saturday with a toe injury but said he’s ready for the Hawks:
“It’s going to be a very, very intense game after what happened in Atlanta. He don’t want to see me. I watched him play in Florida, and I’ve seen him play a few years in Atlanta. We’ve got two different games, and we’ll see how it plays out tomorrow.”
It sounds as if Amar’e is suggesting he’s tougher than Al. That’s similar to his comments after the game last month: ““I don’t know what Horford’s thinking. He needs to calm down. He’s not that type of player. He doesn’t want to see me on any night, so he’d better relax and calm down.”
Horford later responded on Twitter, saying: “I am that kind of player, who does what he needs to win…”
After the Hawks beat the Pistons Tuesday, Al didn’t have much to add.
“A comment was made that I found out [about],” he said. “He’s a competitor, I am too. That’s all there is to that.”
In the aftermath of that tough victory against the Knicks, Hawks coach Larry Drew said that while he didn’t condone fighting, he thinks the Hawks could have bolstered their rep by not backing down “when you feel things got tough.”
What kind of game does he expect tomorrow at the Garden?
“Same thing,” he said, chuckling. “It won’t be any different. It’s going to be a very hard-fought basketball game. It’s going to be a physical game. We just have to go in there and do what we always try to do on the road and control the tempo.
“We won’t get caught up in a lot of the hype behind it. We’ve got a job to do. This is game we want want to get, especially before the All-Star break. We have to go in there like gangbusters.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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70 comments Add your comment
John
February 15th, 2011
3:29 pm
I think Amare needs to quiet down. He is a great player, but I don’t think toughness is a word that anybody thinks of when they hear his name. I hope Al takes it to him Wednesday. Nobody can question Al’s toughness.
Marcus
February 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
interesting ………. but Amare’ needs to worry about beating up on MIA, BOS, and ORL. Easy to talk tough about beating the 4th/5th team in the East ..
sidenote: We finally seem to be better than decent on the road and pick the wrong year to be schitzo at HOME.
Westurd
February 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
It will be a good one. Al can handle Amare no doubt!
Grandad
February 15th, 2011
3:39 pm
Knicks by 30+
I hope I’m wrong.
Al will not be intimidated;
others might be?
i_am_soulstar
February 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
Please STFU Amare. Your team is one game above .500. Your focus obviously isn’t where it should be.
tim
February 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
“Brawl” in Atlanta???? Oh come on………when is 2 idiots trying to throw 2 punches a “brawl”
I guess you don’t watch much hockey… Mr Cunningham.
K.W.
February 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
Some please tell Amar’e to have a seat. He wasn’t doing all this talking in Phoenix.
ryan
February 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
Hey the Rock will host WrestleMania in Atlanta in the words of the Rock JUST BRING IT Amare .
K.W.
February 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
*Someone*
The Truth
February 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
Great stuff for the media to hype this game. I hope the Hawks don’t get seduced by this nonsense. But knowing them, they might.
i_am_soulstar
February 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
The Hawks play well when passion is involved. I can’t recall them losing one game that they were incredibly hyped or passionate about. I bet anyone here that Amare just dug the Knicks’ grave for Wednesday night. I’m calling it now, Hawks by 10.
tyger
February 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
Hakeem Thabeet…
He’s obviously not ready, came out too early, etc. But did well at UConn, is not a problem child and 7′3. Memphis has different needs. They have Marc Gasol and Zack Randolph down low, so they are set. They are probably just trying to save face and recoup something, if not just cap space.
Hawks have nothing to lose here. The kid makes $4M about the same as ZaZa – throw in Teague and Mo Evans if they want, or a pick, whatever. I wouldn’t give them Marvin or anything, but I’d much rather have a 7′3 shot-swatting African on the bench vs. Etan Thomas and Jason Collins.
If he were just to hustle, grab rebounds and block shots; allowing Horford to move to PF; we would be way ahead of the game. Plus, his next contract wont be big.
Michael Cunningham
February 15th, 2011
4:05 pm
@tim:” “Brawl” in Atlanta???? Oh come on………when is 2 idiots trying to throw 2 punches a “brawl” I guess you don’t watch much hockey… Mr Cunningham.”
no, i do not. however, the word “brawl” appears nowhere in this blog post . . .
Scoop
February 15th, 2011
4:12 pm
There is a reason we own the Knicks and are 2-0 vs them this season………
They are weak inside, but they combat that against most teams with their athletcism-well the Hawks see their athleticism and raise them JOSH SMITH!!!!!!!!!!
The Knicks stand no chance if the Hawks come out with teh same focus as they did vs Detroit. And how about J SMoove. There is a difference in that dude now………
His attitude is different. He’s not wasting energy complaining to the officials and I can here him though the TV directing his teammates. And man did he crash the boards against Detroit-he had his hands on every rebound and loose ball. That should be his goal, if not this year then next, to average double digit rebounds. If you combine that with his steals and blocks he would have to be one of the most effective players on the court.
Smoove has all the potential in the world. If he can harness all that passion and emotion into a postive outlet the sky is the limt for him. I also want to see a little nasty from him though especially against New York tomorrow. All of the Hawks are high-character, good dudes, which makes me pull for them even more, but theres no need to play buddy buddy with the opponent on the court. Tomorrow, we need to be aggressive and hit first(not literally).
But this is the difference between this year and last-we acknowledge any leaks in our game and make the necessary adjustments. Last year, we would have lost to Detroit when they were up by 15.
Tremaine
February 15th, 2011
4:14 pm
If Mike Bibby crawl back in his shell then it will be a blowout by the 4th quarter. “GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!”
tim
February 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
@ Michael Cunningham……Who wrote the headline on the front page of the AJC sports page that says “Wednesdays game expects to be intense as teams meet for 1st time since BRAWl in Atlanta”. You click the link and it goes to your lame blog.
prison mike
February 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
Sounds like amare is pulling out horfords h card. Don’t see none of them saying anything about JS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95Ya5Hpdow
That’s all dude, whoop ya behind with a tall dude.
Rev in Tampa
February 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
I hope Al snaps Amare’s goggles.
ICECOLD
February 15th, 2011
4:20 pm
This is going to be intereresting , amare might have 25, and 7 but al will have like 18 and 12 ….this at least this is giving horford a reason to go hard.. I think amare needs to worry about josh smith though and how he been playing!!! Hawks win 107-102…. they won’t meet in the playoffs , at all , but this should be fun in the garden …( what’s up with Joes scoring )
tim
February 15th, 2011
4:21 pm
Oh…of course you don’t watch hockey…you’re black.
RomeDawg
February 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
Maybe this will get these guys fired up and ready to play from the tip! We got the talent but sometimes it appears we lack the motivation.
Big Ray
February 15th, 2011
4:47 pm
If I were Amare, I’d be more worried about Josh Smith. Horford will take care of his, and when he plays passionate, he’s a load to deal with (ask Doc Rivers and the Celtics).
Amare….”he don’t wanna see me”….We’ll see about that…just because you are in New York doesn’t mean you’re suddenly Mr. Tough Guy.
man man
February 15th, 2011
4:47 pm
Al is not ready to see him.Amare is a way better player and will be him one on one any day.And Amare plays defense
Big Ray
February 15th, 2011
4:48 pm
tim
February 15th, 2011
4:21 pm
Oh…of course you don’t watch hockey…you’re black.
Race-baiting lunatic alert….
Big Ray
February 15th, 2011
4:49 pm
Al is not ready to see him.Amare is a way better player and will be him one on one any day.And Amare plays defense
Too bad it’s a team sport, huh? How’d we win last time if Amare is so great?
The Truth
February 15th, 2011
4:49 pm
From the previous blog:
K-Dogg
“The Truth Josh Smith is a good player i dont think any of us have denied that esp as a 17th pick overall but here are the keys to why he has no real value. 1: The turnovers is a key b/c he has been in the L long enough to not have some of the types of turnoevers that he has. 2. His attitude that he still has when thing dont go his way like touchs and foul calls. He has to in becoming a vet get past letting stuff like that take him out of games”
“He is 6′8 or 6′9 at best and he is a true power foward and its the same postion anotehr 6′9 guy on our team plays”
To each his own but regarding TOs; there are 23 other players ahead of Josh in TOs with some impressive credentials (just to name few):
Rajon Rondo (2)
Lebron James (3)
Steve Nash (4)
Derrick Rose (6)
Deron Williams (7)
Amar’e Stoudemire (8)
Dwight Howard (9)
Kobe Bryant (16)
So to say he has no real value because of his TO ranking is bit over the top IMHO. You also mentioned his perceived bad attitude which has been also echoed by many. I can also remember MJ and many other star players lobbying to the refs to change a call in the heat of battle making all kinds of outburst to no avail. The Truth is, in the heat on battle, competitors give-off all kinds of emotions. Josh Smith should not be an exception. Why is it that there is a “stay in your place” standard that seems to be expected from the professional ball players throughout this area? Flamboyant, outspoken, or any other out of the mode behavior just isn’t accepted in this region of the country, I wonder why?
kc
February 15th, 2011
4:52 pm
Amare is questioning Al’s toughness??? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Makes no sense. Al Horford IS a very tough player. No clue what Amare is talking about. If Amare doesn’t like it, do something about it. Talk is cheap.
Paradise Lost
February 15th, 2011
4:56 pm
@I_am_soulstar- cosign your post!
I actually have a new working theory about their road game record: Hawks are feeding off of energy at well attended away games. Kind of like your kids wanting attention and even negative attention from you is better than nothing at all. It seems to fit with what players are saying about their “us versus them” mentality on the road. Add a packed Garden, crowd frenzy, and some Hawks fired up by the hype and tomorrow may prove to be a most exciting match.
Oh, and memo to The Boss: Please kick Amar’e-with-the-apostrophe’s @zz!!!
Atllll
February 15th, 2011
5:00 pm
“And Amare plays defense”
hahahahhahahahahahahhahahahaha
Michael Cunningham
February 15th, 2011
5:02 pm
@ tim: “Who wrote the headline on the front page of the AJC sports page that says “Wednesdays game expects to be intense as teams meet for 1st time since BRAWl in Atlanta”. You click the link and it goes to your lame blog.”
that would be someone in our online production department. i know this may surprise you, but this is not a one-man operation.
“Oh…of course you don’t watch hockey…you’re black.”
i wouldn’t know this because i don’t watch them, but someone told me the Thrashers have multiple black players. sorry to blow your mind again..
finally, thanks for reading my lame blog. i get credit for the clicks.
Big Daddy
February 15th, 2011
5:06 pm
This will probably be a tough physical game and the Hawks are going to have to establish themselves early and but not let the Knicks rattle them. If they do that, they will be fine. There is always a lot of trash talking going on with a lot of the players. This is no different and I expect everyone will do their job.
Hey Tim, you do realize that Anthony Stewart and Evander Kane play for the Thrashers, right?
Westurd
February 15th, 2011
5:07 pm
BURN! nice one MC!
lewis
February 15th, 2011
5:12 pm
Wish Al was healthy so he could take it to him
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2011
5:15 pm
Guys to be honest, I can’t blame Amare for calling out Al. Amare is doing whatever it takes to psyche up his squad, and that’s what some leaders choose to do. To date, there’s no question that Amare is better than Al, and no question he’s proved himself in playoff basketball. The funny part about it is, three seasons ago, we could’ve traded the third pick and change for Amare but didn’t. Anyone who doesn’t believe this team would be a better team with Amare than with Al, are either related to Al or kidding themselves.
At the same time, on tomorrow night, the past means nothing. Statistics means nothing. Al has a chance to take his lunch money. And no one can use Al’s back as an excuse because Amare is injured as well. This may be the stage where Al makes his career, or regresses in the minds of people/players around the league.
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2011
5:16 pm
Lewis, Amare isn’t healthy either.
Rufus1
February 15th, 2011
5:17 pm
New York ButterMilk Biscuts….
Amare may not be soft, but the rest his team and coach is very, very, very soft…
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2011
5:18 pm
Rufus1, and would you not describe majority of the Hawks as not being very very very soft?
Rufus1
February 15th, 2011
5:25 pm
Ra’mon
I don’t think Al, Josh or Joe are soft physically…. Undisciplined mentally at times, but not soft.
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2011
5:28 pm
Rufus1, exactly, you just named 3 players out of 14, lol. As I said MAJORITY of this team is soft.
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2011
5:29 pm
Nate Robinson used to come and punk majority of the back court and get confidence out of the way they seemed as if they were scared to guard him.
Rufus1
February 15th, 2011
5:49 pm
Ra’mon
This is not a football team. The NBA by nature is a league full of people who are soft and afraid to play football. The “core” of your team is the players that need to be tough.
I did not name Etan, Damien, Powell, JC2 or Zaza, because they are not the “core” of this team…That is 8 players total.
Trojan
February 15th, 2011
6:18 pm
MC does a great job on this blog.
lewis
February 15th, 2011
6:26 pm
Frank Isola should not be allowed to write
KevinM
February 15th, 2011
6:41 pm
MC, if Stoudemire bows out of the All Star game this weekend, does Josh have an opportunity? Is it too late to add replacements?
You would think the East wouldn’t go into the game at Staples short-handed?
Coach D
February 15th, 2011
7:39 pm
Am hoping/thinking Jamal Crawford might go off. One of the the things that I think pissed Marvin off was Toney Douglas’ elbowing/roughing J.C. up a few times. I love the local kid, but think Jamal has been looking forward to this for a while. Hope I’m right! We’ll need Jamal tomorrow night!!!!! Go Hawks!
Coach D
February 15th, 2011
7:44 pm
Amare plays defense is like saying the Knicks head coach coaches defense! Neither happens!!!!
tim
February 15th, 2011
8:15 pm
Cunningham….your reply shows me you are a total azz.
bigdave
February 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
prison mike..
good link sir..
slimjr
February 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
Hey
MC ignore that Neanderthal whose bloodline were probably ship into the Georgia prison camps a couple of hundred years ago from Great Britain.. We all know Georgia started out as a penal colony…Then it went down hill from there till the late part of last century…He does not even no why he hates?He’ll found out when he crosses over and meets his maker some day……..Next….
bri-guy
February 15th, 2011
9:00 pm
witty comeback tim. sit down man.
ATL1
February 15th, 2011
9:13 pm
tim if he’s an azz then what are you?…
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
February 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
But first, Stoudemire will be matched up against fellow All-Star Horford for the first time since Jan. 28, when the Hawks and Knicks played an intense game in Atlanta. In that game, Hawks forward Marvin Williams and Knicks forward Shawne Williams got into an altercation, Marvin Williams drawing a two-game suspension and Shawne Williams getting a one-game penalty for throwing punches.
Horford was particularly vocal and demonstrative in Atlanta’s 111-102 victory last month, and Stoudemire was clearly relishing the prospect of going up against him again.
Amare is poppin’ off a little too much – He don’t want it with the Boss! I am excited about this game for real its like the 12th round of a grudge match.
“It’s going to be a very, very intense game after what happened in Atlanta,” said Stoudemire, who took umbrage at Horford’s histrionics. “He don’t want to see me. I watched him play in Florida, and I’ve seen him play a few years in Atlanta. We’ve got two different games, and we’ll see how it plays out tomorrow.”
Mr. Mojo
February 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
Stoudemire shouldnt be talking about toughness. Every year in the playoffs he has showed he has none. Gasol made him look like a fool last year. And he also plays no D. Horford and Josh gonna both take it to him tomorrow. On another note, Rick Sund go get this team some help even if its some frontcourt depth.
i_am_soulstar
February 15th, 2011
9:39 pm
Thanks Paradise Lost. GO HAWKS!!!
Dept. of Unintended Irony
February 15th, 2011
9:53 pm
“finally, thanks for reading my lame blog. i get credit for the clicks.”
Hooray for tim. He’s helping MC with every barb and stupid comment.
Now THAT’S Unintended Irony!
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
February 15th, 2011
10:41 pm
AL HORFORD WILL OWN AMARE tomorrow because we call him BOSS!
(don’t click the link if you are easily offended)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Fig_LoBy4
now that’s how Horford and the boys need to roll through NYC – send the Knicks on their all-star break right.
brigadierjerry
February 15th, 2011
11:32 pm
One thing I would like to comment on is that the Hawks overall team is not too far from being elite. Really the only thing holding them back is the lack of a point guard that can take it to the cup. You cannot win if your guards or forward cannot take it to the rim. Hawks really dont have someone that can take it to the rim consistently or want to. Johnson can but doesnt do it enough.Bibby cant. If Josh Smith could focus on taking it consistently to the rim he could. If the Hawks can get a point guard such as Andre Miller they have a chance in the playoffs. Also, it will be Orlando vs Atlanta in the playoffs and I feel that Atlanta has a chance this year to beat Orlando good chance. I do not like the makeup of the Orlando team this year.
Buddy Grizzard
February 16th, 2011
5:39 am
If the Hawks had lost to the Pistons and amassed a 3-game losing streak against sub .500 competition, everybody would be admitting what we already know in our hearts… the Hawks are not championship contenders. Does the fact we beat the Pistons excuse us from having to make the admission?
G5_hawk
February 16th, 2011
8:20 am
Hawks Ball !
Jackass
February 16th, 2011
9:41 am
Jack, of course, you do watch hockey…you’re stupid!
Not so casual observer
February 16th, 2011
10:42 am
Tim,
A wise fellow once noted,
“Never start a war of words with someone who buys newsprint by the box car load.”
Mac-Town, Georgia (www.urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
11:01 am
Stoudemire pops off at the mouth too much
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
11:03 am
I still cant get over Marvin’s air punch
lewis
February 16th, 2011
11:58 am
Owner: ‘Sense of urgency’ to keep Thrashers from moving
tlanta Spirit co-owner Michael Gearon said there is now a “sense of urgency” to find additional investors or a buyer willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. If the ownership group does not get additional financial help in the near future the franchise could be sold and moved to another city.
“If we are faced with that as the only alternative, that’s what’s going to happen,” Gearon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an exclusive interview Tuesday. “I don’t think there is an ability to stomach another $20 million in losses. We just can’t do it.
“The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors, or a primary investor.”
blah blah blah..etc…
According to the lawsuit, ownership reported more than $130 million in operating losses since 2005. Its franchise value also has dropped by more than $50 million, the document says.
“We need fan support. We need investors,” Gearon said. “I would love to have other members of the Atlanta community step up and take a lead role in this and I would be glad to stay in. We need support. We’ve put a lot of money into this team.”
Keeping it Real N ATL
February 16th, 2011
12:26 pm
SHUTUP TIM!!!
nyk4life
February 16th, 2011
12:40 pm
what a chump marvin williams is thats the most noteworthy thing hes done in his career. shawne williams is better and amare is gonna throw down 40+ on big al tonight
K.W.
February 16th, 2011
1:24 pm
LOL >>>>>>>>> http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/KW9891/UMAD.jpg
superiorblogman
February 16th, 2011
1:56 pm
Hawks win easily. On the other hand, they should not get into beefs with teams beneath them.
Lionhearted
February 16th, 2011
2:18 pm
LOL @ that pitcure of Al
W.R. Terrell
February 16th, 2011
11:37 pm
Well Hawks fans looks like we had another disappointment. The Hawks looked kinda silly tonight. Jump shots all over the place and against a team that gives out “please score in the paint” signs. Time to prepare for next year and i’m serious. This Hawks team is not a good one. I’ve been a fan for so long that I can never turn them off but i’m so tired of watching them lose with no purpose, they just lose. The playoffs are a dream this year, these Hawks are way too soft, scared to drive to the hoop because they may get fouled. Joe 120 million Johnson is definitely fearful of taking his 6′8 supposedly strong frame to the hoop….lolol…funny team.