Atlanta Hawks at Knicks: Al Horford on Amar’e Stoudemire: ‘He’s a talker. All I do is bring my game to the court.’
New York–Yes, Al Horford said “you take it personally” when someone calls you out in the media the way Amar’e Stoudemire has done twice to Horford this season.
But Horford, not much for hype, says he will make his point tonight at Madison Square Garden against Amar’e’s Knicks.
“He’s a talker. He’s going to talk, you know what I’m saying?” he said at shootaround today. “All I do is bring my game to the court. That’s what I will do tonight.”
Stoudemire has tried to inflame what already promised to be an intense game after Marvin Williams and Shawne Williams scuffled during Atlanta’s 111-102 victory on Jan. 28. Both immediately after that game and again yesterday, Stoudemire seemed to question Horford’s toughness and declared that Horford “doesn’t want to see me.”
Horford seemed more amused than offended by that last part.
“I don’t understand what he means by I don’t want to see him,” Horford said. “Like we are supposed to be scared of him or something. Ain’t nobody scared of nobody. We are all grown men. It’s all good.”
Seemingly lost amid the fight and Amare’s tough talk is that the Hawks own two victories this season against the Knicks, who are being left behind by Atlanta in the Eastern Conference standings.
Before the victory at Philips the Hawks won 99-90 on Nov. 27 at the Garden, after which New York won seven straight against mostly lesser competition.
“I walked out with the W’s the last two times,” Horford said. “So that’s that.”
Horford was productive and efficient in both games. In New York he had 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block and one turnover while shooting 7 of 14 from the field. In Atlanta he had 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block (against Amar’e) and one turnover while shooting 8 of 12 from the field.
Amar’e has scored more than Horford in the matchups but hasn’t been as efficient. In New York he had 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four turnovers while shooting 7 of 15 from the field. In Atlanta he had 27 points, three rebounds, one assist, zero steals, one block and three turnovers while shooting 9 of 21 from the field.
And Stoudemire is down 0-2 where it counts most, though he’s certainly leading in sound bites.
“He’s making a huge deal out of this,” Horford said. “It’s just another game. I’m coming out ready to play, like I do everything night.”
Oh, yeah, the game.
Coach Larry Drew said he would use the “big” lineup again tonight, unless the Knicks go small with Amar’e at center instead of Mozgov.
“That would not be a favorable matchup for Twin,” Drew said with a wry smile.
As for all the noise surrounding the game, Drew the Hawks don’t need it to get going but said he’s always willing to use “whatever it takes to get my guys juiced up and motivated.” In this case, though, he doesn’t think he needs to say much to his players.
“They see it. They hear it. They got on the bus [for shootaround] telling me some things. They are aware of it. And they were expecting it. It’s not a thing about anybody being surprised.”
Al acknowledged that, in the end, the game could end up being a fun spectacle.
“We’re playing at the Garden, man,” he said. “It doesn’t get any bigger than this, at least for me. Any time I come to New York I am looking forward to it, pre-Amare Stoudemire and with him being here. So I am just excited to play.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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483 comments Add your comment
hawks_4_life
February 16th, 2011
8:32 pm
WHO IS NUMBER 24?
honest_abe
February 16th, 2011
8:33 pm
seriously najeh get a grip… you sound like a petulant child. most josh critics at least the reasonable ones dislike his attitude when times get tough. we don’t appreciate his half assed efforts on some nights. we don’t like his horrific decision making. nobody has denied josh’s talents. in fact i’ve always prefaced my criticisms by saying he has all the talent in the world. he could be a top five defensive player in this league. if he focused on it… hey if he matures i think we as hawks fans would be happy. unlike you who is more focused on being right.
Ron
February 16th, 2011
8:33 pm
The refs are really bailing Amare out on those drives. That’s twice now that Al was blocked his shots on those, and both times the refs bailed Amare out.
man man
February 16th, 2011
8:33 pm
the announcers suck.they don’t know what they be talking bout.Steve Smith needs to come back and call the games man
ATL FAN
February 16th, 2011
8:34 pm
Marvin only plays well when he’s motivated… he obviously still feels something after that fight last time against the Knicks… why cant he play with this level of intensity every game? He wouldnt be considered a bust then…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:35 pm
Hawks have done a good job going in the post in this quarter, but I wish they would have fed Horford and Smoove more instead of Joe, to keep the defensive pressure on Amare.
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:36 pm
we need to cut into this before the half
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:36 pm
we need to cut into this before the half
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:36 pm
wdf?@Mo Evans
bigdave
February 16th, 2011
8:36 pm
im telling you.. Amare will let u score before he plays d in fear of picking up the foul
Wabe
February 16th, 2011
8:37 pm
If the Hawks were smart, they’d let Horford go at Amare the rest of this quarter (a minute a so)…
Not let JJ dribble his way to tough buckets.
Flea
February 16th, 2011
8:37 pm
ATL fan I do not know why Marvin shows up when he wants to. Just like the Hawks who show up when they feel like it or when they want to GET up for a game. They are high paid professionals but this group is just too relaxed
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:37 pm
I dont know why we get so afraid to go inside…
hawks_4_life
February 16th, 2011
8:37 pm
IN UR FACE STOUDAMIRE
Flea
February 16th, 2011
8:38 pm
If i had a time machine all this team needs is Mookie and Mutumbo and they are good
Wabe
February 16th, 2011
8:38 pm
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:36 pm
wdf?@Mo Evans
Completely co-sign.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:39 pm
“most josh critics at least the reasonable ones dislike his attitude when times get tough. we don’t appreciate his half assed efforts on some nights. we don’t like his horrific decision making. ”
Well then that post wasn’t directed at you, was it? I’m pretty sure it was directed at those who say his defensive impact is overrated, not those who don’t appreciate his effort or decision making.
You were taking the same type of shots at me five years ago when I was defending Mike Vick on the football blog, and now he’s an MVP candidate and you look like a damn fool. I don’t post here to “be right”, just to talk about the Hawks with other Hawks fans. This isn’t a competition. But if you insist on calling me out, it helps to not have been dead wrong the last time you called me out.
bigdave
February 16th, 2011
8:39 pm
damn good d from Marvin
bigdave
February 16th, 2011
8:40 pm
Mo and Stinger need to let it go.
Jae Evolution
February 16th, 2011
8:41 pm
Mo Evans hair looks like someone drew it on with a black marker.
Ramon
February 16th, 2011
8:41 pm
Who is the Hawk that you dislike the most in terms of contributions?
ATL FAN
February 16th, 2011
8:41 pm
Will be an interesting 2nd half… we’ll see which Hawk shows up then!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:41 pm
And anyway, my supposedly passionate defense of Smoove is if anything predicated on the fact that I don’t think he has the all-world talent most people do, particularly when it comes to driving the ball. When people say he should quit shooting jumpers and drive the ball, it strikes me as strange since his handles are nowhere near good enough to drive. If he had this otherworldly ability to drive the ball, I’d probably be screaming at him to quit shooting jumpers too.
Nique's Revenge
February 16th, 2011
8:42 pm
only 5 turnovers at the half, keep that low and if Joe steps up 2nd half we have a chance. need some production out of him not just assists
cp
February 16th, 2011
8:42 pm
Nice to see Bibby and Marvin show up.. Jamal looks like he is very uninterested in playing. I really wish LD would stop trying to make him the back up pg because he clearly isn’t .. Zaza is terrible. I would rather have Solo than Zaza
ATL FAN
February 16th, 2011
8:42 pm
“Who is the Hawk that you dislike the most in terms of contributions?”
In terms of time played compared to contributions given its got to be Zaza, but in terms of contributions overall, Etan?
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:43 pm
Cavs up on the Lakers at the half…they arent lookin good lately at all
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 16th, 2011
8:43 pm
Mo Evans HAD to have lost a bet.
hawks_4_life
February 16th, 2011
8:43 pm
If only we can get Amir Johnson
honest_abe
February 16th, 2011
8:44 pm
here we go again…
i took shots at mike vicks half assed approach to playing the qb position. and i was right… again nobody doubted his physical attributes the nfl has never seen an athlete of his caliber but the guy didn’t act like a professional during his stay here and thats why i didn’t like him. he was more focused on smoking some reefer and watching dogs fight. i can’t believe you think you were right on that one… after two years in prison and finally dedicating himself to the game you are right about what exactly?
coolio
February 16th, 2011
8:44 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
Brah let that dude have it man.I see you on here everytime the hawks have a blog and you say a lot of right things and you also say the positives and negatives about Josh Smith.Which he has both,but let people talk man Josh Smith is going to shut all these fake a** fans up one day.Brah i know a real fan when i see one and brah im cosigning
Ramon
February 16th, 2011
8:44 pm
Nique’s it really doesn’t have much to do with Joe. The points Joe usually scores is being scored by Bibby and Marvin. The problem is when the starters go out of the game. The Hawks starters are way better than any lineup the Knicks have. The problem is when the bench comes in, and has no one to score nor defend.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
Orlando, Miami, and Boston are all winning tonight. Hawks need this game.
As bad as the bench played during that stretch in the early 2nd, though, the margin is not bad. They need to keep fearlessly attacking the Knicks interior defense and make Amare work.
Ron
February 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
I’d really like the Hawks to make a conscious effort of getting the ball to Al and Josh in the post to start the second half. Amare and Mozgov are not great individual post defenders. We should be taking it to them, but instead, we are settling for long jump shots (hmm, this sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). I hope that the Hawks step up their defense and attack the Knicks on the interior in the second half. This is a dangerous game right due to the fact that we are living and dying by the jumper.
Nique's Revenge
February 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
well yeah don’t necessarily WANT josh dribbling the ball, but at least don’t park it outside the 3 pt line, ever. cut to the basket more, try to shake your man, or could he just learn to dribble better?
lewis
February 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
Marvin has been looking better all season but he’s injury prone, but he’s looked solid on the corner 3
LOL
February 16th, 2011
8:46 pm
coolio = Najeh
honest_abe
February 16th, 2011
8:46 pm
najeh:
when people say josh needs to drive the ball we’re not referring to him running a pick and roll at the top of the key and driving all the way to the basket. we’re talking about catching it on the blocks and then either take it to the middles or go baseline with a hard strong move to the basket.. with his athleticism and quickness (against bigger defenders) at the very least he’ll end up on the line.
Jae Evolution
February 16th, 2011
8:48 pm
As far as the Sessions rumors go, he is having a very productive game versus the Lakers.
4-9 FG 1-1 3PT 7-7 FT 4 Assists 1 Steal 16 Points.
Ron
February 16th, 2011
8:48 pm
Here’s a shocking stat: Marvin Williams is tied with Joe Johnson right now for most field goal attempts by the Hawks in the half. That’s extremely unusual. I’m not complaining, as long as Marvin is hitting his shots. I still want to see some activity in the post by the Hawks though, rather than just pure jump shooting.
Freshfromatl
February 16th, 2011
8:48 pm
Man why Mo Evan got a landing strip on the top of his head lol?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
“Brah let that dude have it man.I see you on here everytime the hawks have a blog and you say a lot of right things and you also say the positives and negatives about Josh Smith.”
Thanks, but this really isn’t a competition. I don’t post here to try to prove I’m right or prove others are wrong. If I did, I would sound like superiorblogman. Sh-t, if Marvin keeps playing like this he’s going to prove me dead wrong, and it will make me very happy.
Nique's Revenge
February 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
anyone have stats on hawks w/l with joe scoring <10 and <20 points?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
“or could he just learn to dribble better?”
Hopefully he does.
Flea
February 16th, 2011
8:50 pm
Does anyone know why Josh Powell gets no more minutes anymore? Besides his defense. He cant be any worse than Zaza at least he has a jumper. Cosign Najeh
ATL FAN
February 16th, 2011
8:50 pm
lmfao freshfromatl
Nique's Revenge
February 16th, 2011
8:51 pm
maybe he will dribble better when all NBA players are 95% or better at the foul line, like they should be, being NBA players, and that is all they do, all day long, play basketball. yep.
Ron
February 16th, 2011
8:53 pm
The Hawks really need to pick it up on the glass as well. With the small front line that Knicks play and the fact that they no extremely dominant rebounders, there’s no excuse for being badly outrebounded by them. Right now, we are only being outrebounded by 5, overall, but no one outside of Al Horford, Josh, and Marvin, no one has more than 1 rebound for the Hawks. When the Hawks are shooting this poorly, they should be attacking the boards with a vengeance.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2011
8:54 pm
“i can’t believe you think you were right on that one… after two years in prison and finally dedicating himself to the game you are right about what exactly?”
Well, let’s see… I spent Jim Mora’s entire three year reign of terror talking about how a competent coaching staff that ran a traditional offense instead of gimmicky option bullsh-t would have Vick passing at a much higher efficiency, and talking about how Vick was the reason the Falcons were even as good as they were. Then in 2007, we saw exactly what the rest of the Falcons were made of without him, and in 2010 we saw exactly what he could be in a traditional offense. And then later we find out that Vick wasn’t even the only Falcon being held back by that coaching staff.
Anyway, this is a Hawks blog.
Ron
February 16th, 2011
8:55 pm
I had to correct my last post. It was full of errors.
The Hawks really need to pick it up on the glass as well. With the small front line that the Knicks play and the fact that they have no extremely dominant rebounders, there’s no excuse for being badly outrebounded by them. Right now, we are only being outrebounded by 5, overall, but no one outside of Al Horford, Josh, and Marvin, has more than 1 rebound for the Hawks. When the Hawks are shooting this poorly, they should be attacking the boards with a vengeance.