Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 97, Pacers 87
Here is the updated game story from the Hawks’ win over the Pacers, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
You can call it the Highlight Factory again.
The Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak – all at Philips Arena – with a 97-87 victory over the Pacers Wednesday night.
Josh Smith had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the much-needed effort for the Hawks (17-9). His one-handed dunk off a Marvin Williams’ missed 3-pointer punctuated his performance. Joe Johnson added 20 points as the team improved to 12-1 when he scores 20 or more points.
“We played like a desperate team,” Smith said. “That is how we have to play night in and night out, like we need to win.”
It wasn’t exactly easy.
The third quarter almost bit the Hawks again. The Pacers cut an 18-point halftime deficit to just eight points, 80-72. They would get as close as seven points in the fourth quarter before the Hawks pulled away.
“Energy, that was the difference,” coach Larry Drew said. “We are like night and day when we play with energy. We were able to sustain it. We came out and played energized basketball.”
Kirk Hinrich scored a season-high 17 points and Tracy McGrady added 13 points as the Hawks snapped a streak where they lost three times at home by a total of 39 points.
“Kirk came in early and was really, really energized,” Drew said. “Right now he is really trying to get his legs under him [after shoulder surgery]. This is still like training camp for him.”
Smith was 11-for-17 from the field, including making both his 3-point attempts, and had five steals and three blocked shots.
“He played just super,” Drew said of Smith. “I don’t think Josh gets the credit he deserves for what he brings to the table. He is a guy who can impact it on both ends. He was certainly a difference maker tonight.”
Danny Granger led the Pacers (17-8) with 21 points.
The Hawks led by as many as 21 points in the first half.
The lead was fueled by a 20-6 run in the second quarter after a scary moment involving Jeff Teague. The point guard drove the lane and took a nasty spill over the Pacers’ Tyler Hansbrough, hitting his head on the floor. However, the official ruled that Hansbrough was pushed by Ivan Johnson, who was called for a foul and then assessed a technical. Teague has an ice bag on his head during the ensuing timeout, but missed no time.
Teague said he also hurt his wrist in breaking his fall.
The ensuing run gave the Hawks a 55-34 lead. They kept the cushion until David West hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the lead to 18 points at the break.
Johnson scored 16 first-half points while Smith added 13 and Hinrich added 11.
“I wanted to get us off to a good start,” Johnson said. “We haven’t gotten off to great starts as of late and I wanted to be aggressive, try to make plays and get other guys involved.”
The Hawks did come out fast, scoring 32 first-quarter points. It was their second highest point total in the opening stanza this season, a point shy of 33 points they scored against the Bulls on Jan. 7.
The Pacers failed early to take advantage of the height advantage at center in 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert. He scored just four first-half points, both from outside the free-throw line. He finished with 10 points.
The Hawks out-rebounded the Pacers 45-33 as they showed a concerted effort on the glass and chasing down loose balls.
The Hawks are now 10-5 since losing Al Horford to a torn left pectoral muscle. Johnson acknowledge that most of the early success without the two-time all-star game against lesser opponents.
“Just to be realistic, the teams we were playing at first, those were subpar teams,” Johnson said prior to the game. “Those are teams you are supposed to beat whether I’m playing or whether I’m not playing or whether Al is not playing. These last three games we have played quality playoff teams and we’ve got to beat some of these teams. It’s no knock – I’m not saying we are a lot better than them. I just think the effort we’ve been putting out these last three games, we can get away with that against subpar teams. But against teams over .500, quality playoff teams, we’ve got to play hard and relentless for 48 minutes.”
The played with energy Wednesday in turning around their fortunes.
- Chris Vivlamore
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278 comments Add your comment
11 day contract
February 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
Dampier is a nice pickup.
Anyone know how he has fared against D12?
Grandad
February 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
northcyde
It ain’t that easy.
Plus these guys are supposed to be professionals.
Why ?
Yes;
Why is energy / intensity even a question and most certainly it is ?
No;
any coach cannot always coach them to victory – even me.
Coachin ain’t easy.
One attempts to mold 12 to 15 divergent talent and likewise
the same number of diverse personalities subjoined imperforate;
it’s like raising a child;
more often than not, you are disappointed.
I’m not bickering with you ` nc ‘ ;;; not atall ;;;
Neither am I arguing LD’s case as his Attn.
These players we have on the Hawks just don’t get it.
Why oh Why does Ivan get it:
but Josh, Joe, and Marvin do not ?
Zaza gets it, Willie Green seems to get it.
Heck fire – T-Mac gets it.
Honestly, neither you nor I can answer that question.
It has nothing to do with;
‘`Ivan plays hard because he must in order to survive`’.
I do not like LeBron but he gets it, he plays hard every night.
He gives the fans their money’s worth.
KG gets it:
Rondo, Lowry, Griffin [can't stand him either / dirty player]
Ray Allen, Bird, all “the Nasty Boys”, Russell, Mario West,
Othyus Jeffers, Kawhi, Kobe, Love, Cowens, & Paul Milsap.
These guys cross all kinds of lines;
they get it.
northcyde,
As always, you inspire me.
pointguardslim
February 9th, 2012
2:03 pm
McGrady nearly squared off with Indiana’s Lou Amundson after slamming into the Pacers player going for a rebound. They jawed at each other but their teammates stepped in quickly to pull them away from each other. Both received technicals. … Drew barked at Josh Tiven even after the official called a foul on Indiana, apparently because he didn’t blow the whistle soon enough to the coach’s liking. Another official, Eric Lewis, stepped in to ask Drew, “Why are you getting on him like that when you got the call?”
O'Brien
February 9th, 2012
2:08 pm
AJ,
•Erick Dampier looks to be pushing 300 pds. Larry Drew: “He’s not in best of shape. Still, his size is presence in middle.” .
Dampier’s playing weight is usually 260 – 270lbs. Considering we play the Magic tomorrow, I dont know how much if Dampier will help, because he was on the Collins cheeseburger diet (and that is why I think they should have brought him in 2-3 weeks ago, to help get him in shape before the brutal February schedule).
Grandad
February 9th, 2012
2:12 pm
divergent talents
plural
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2012
2:18 pm
OB, kind of consistent with what I have been suggesting for these past few weeks, huh? Who’s to say that Dampier is NOW 300 pounds but may have been pushing 325+ a few weeks ago when Horford was injured? Like I’ve been saying, with so few quality big men in the league, there had to be a reason why some of them were still sitting at home… the ole Moon Pie diet.
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2012
2:22 pm
300 pounds may be the least he’s weighed since the lockout started and the Shawn Kemp diet began.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2012
2:29 pm
“And how many people on the blog mocked the idea that Zaza was the best backup center in the NBA, or my assertion that if he was a starter, he would be one of the top 15 centers in the NBA? His stats would be even better if he was playing 30 MPG.”
Tiago Splitter took Zaza’s lunch money, which should have put an end to any talk of Zaza being the best backup center in the NBA. He didn’t do much of anything the last three games before playing well against the Pacers, and that’s despite the fact that Philadelphia was missing its starting center. In fact it’s only been two games since LD benched him at halftime because Ivan was playing better at center. Let’s not get carried away. He is a good rebounder, but that’s still the only thing he does consistently.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2012
2:31 pm
All the Hawks need out of Dampier is to keep his body between the basket and Dwight Howard, and to grab some boards while he’s on the floor. At 300 pounds, though, I am expecting a Randolph Morris-caliber foul rate for at least the first couple of weeks.
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2012
2:36 pm
The try-out to see who would get the 10-day contract probably looked like auditions for “The Biggest Loser”.
Section 303
February 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
I can’t really imagine Dampier helping much. He did not take advantage of the shot the Heat gave him last year. Now, he sounds like he is totally out of shape. Was he the only option?
Only good thing is that the Hawks are not locked into anything. 10-day contract is all they gave Dampier. So, if he is as bad as I think he will be, they can send him down the road quickly.
Bravesfan79
February 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
If we land Erick Dampier i will be seriously disgusted at the managnment of this team! Get the big white guy that played at Utah.
Bravesfan79
February 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
Dampier a nice pickup?? Are you guys idiots? Cant shoot freethrows, and to heavy to get off the ground for rebounds. This move alone will cost us a few wins.
pointguardslim
February 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
“the first couple of weeks”? 10 day “contract” hopefully not “contracts” as in multiple.
Shouldve signed Mikki Moore.
Section 303
February 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
I will give Dampier this….he had a h#ll of a run in the 1996 NCAA Tourney with Mississippi St. He pretty much put that team on his back and carried them to the Final Four. Hawks will not be getting that version of Eric Dampier, though. Too bad….
pointguardslim
February 9th, 2012
2:53 pm
“The try-out to see who would get the 10-day contract probably looked like auditions for “The Biggest Loser”.
Bravesfan79
February 9th, 2012
2:57 pm
Wed be better off signing Luke Schindser! Gt baby!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2012
3:09 pm
Marc Spears of Yahoo predicts that Joe makes it and Josh doesn’t.
SteveW
February 9th, 2012
3:14 pm
Some stuff on Damp I posted earlier this morning – some may not have seen it:
“As bad as Dampier played on the Heat last season, he still averaged almost a block a game in 16 minutes per.
Damp had a 10 and 14 game as late as April 3rd last season in 28 minutes played.
He shot 86.4% in the month of Feb. last year – 19-22 shooting, in 10 games played.
He averaged 58.4% shooting for the year, after averaging at least 62.4% minimum shooting the previous 4 seasons.
He turns the ball over slightly less than ZaZa, and until last season, he averaged a consistent (about) 7.5 rebounds for every 24 minutes played.
In other words, until last season, a better rebounder than ZaZa.
One of the better shotblockers in the League. Averaged 1.4 blocks per game in less than 24 mpg his last season in Dallas. And .9 per game in only 16 mpg with the Heat last season.
Averaged 62.6% FT shooting throughout his career. Above average offensive rebounder.”
Now this is not the 300 lb Damp of course.
Runner-
February 9th, 2012
3:15 pm
Dampier = Collins, once Collins is back Dampier will be gone. Good pickup for the important games coming up
O'Brien
February 9th, 2012
3:26 pm
Dampier sounds like he is the Jason Collins of 2 years ago (when Woody never played Collins, because he was so out of shape).
AJ,
I agree that these guys would probably all be over their playing weight. But I dont think Rick brought Dampier in 2 weeks ago to look at him either, so how would he have known what kind of shape he was in at the time?
Isn’t there a chance that Dampier was 300 pounds 2 weeks ago? It’s all speculation, but I dont think Rick Sund brought him in for a workout.
doc
February 9th, 2012
3:34 pm
well my facetious 300 lb comment yesterday is probably closer than reported weight is my guess.
yup yeis better than collins. why didnt we start with him instead?
both resemble chief in cuckoo’s nest ..: okd great movie younguns.
roanebeard
February 9th, 2012
3:39 pm
I was at the game, and i would like to say that the foul called on Ivan Johnson when Hansbrough tackled Teague was complete bs. Surprised teague didnt get a concussion.
SteveW
February 9th, 2012
3:59 pm
Dampier may stink career wise vs. Howard, IDK, but he at least knows how to defend him. This from ESPN concerning the Heat/Magic Feb. 3rd game, and an approaching rematch:
“Erick Dampier did quality work on Howard in the second half of that Feb. 3 game. Not only did he push Howard further out — every inch counts — but Dampier used his forearms and a solid stance to prevent Howard from moving into that first step on his middle drive.”
Makes me feel a little better about the move. Now if Dampier can move tomorrow nite…
KevinM
February 9th, 2012
4:06 pm
Ok, so ‘Damp’ gets a 10 day deal…the ASG pays him for 5 games for that time span…..@ $12,945.28 a game…that’s $64,926 for his 1st stint here.
Nice, nice gig for 5 games and he might not even have to worry about getting in shape.
We wait 12 games to go find a 300 lb. guy who probably still has an agent. Listed at 265lbs last year in Miami, he last played on 4/6 for 15 min and had 5/2 and 2 blocks. No postseason, so he can’t be blamed for the Heat losing. He has a 10/14 2 block game in 28 min on 4/3. He may have been 300 lbs. by then too. His postseason numbers for 09-10 sure don’t excite you either.
Sund is shrewd and quite the negotiator that’s for sure! But its only 10 days right?
Now our average bench age is 32 years old with Ivan being the youngster at 27….LD can’t say he doesn’t have experience.
Buddy Grizzard
February 9th, 2012
4:18 pm
Najeh, you have a point about Splitter but as to this…
“He is a good rebounder, but that’s still the only thing he does consistently.”
Zaza doesn’t do ANYTHING consistently. That’s because he hasn’t PLAYED consistently. This is the guy Larry Drew said last year he was considering moving JOSH POWELL ahead of in the rotation.
doc
February 9th, 2012
4:18 pm
ill bet the dampier is close to 300 actually means closer to 350. nobody wants to be known to be over 300 and teams arent going to briadcast it either. did we ever no what hamburger collins weigh for example until he lost weight to get under 300?
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2012
4:20 pm
OB, we have no idea if the Hakws sent a scxout out to check out Dampier. We simply do not know. But I would speculate that we didn’t really need him much in the past two weeks, I can’t imagine that he would have made a difference in any of the games we lost most recently. And if we had signed him prior to the 10-day contracts being available (which I think was 3 days ago), then we’d be stuck with him for the entire year without knowing if he would be worth the contract. I’m having a hard time convincing myself that signing a fat guy earlier would have been better than signing a fat guy to a 10-day contract now.
doc, I thought you were a Twin fan (as far as limited defensive centers who can only defend 2-3 players goes).
KBB
February 9th, 2012
4:23 pm
So how many “scrap heap” players does this make? Dampier, Tmac, IVAN, Vlad, Willie Green, Twin, Pargo, Stack are all clearance rack players.
ryan
February 9th, 2012
4:37 pm
Geeeeeeeeez now the Hawks looking like a old folks home with all these old out of shape veterans this ASG is just clueless man i wish we had an owner like the Clippers seems like every FA wants to be apart of that team now .
Ra'mon
February 9th, 2012
4:39 pm
AJ, where’s Kevin Willis when you need him? lol
Ra'mon
February 9th, 2012
4:45 pm
Ryan, we do have an owner like the Clippers. Every one hated Donald Sterling for how many seasons? Now all of a sudden people want to play for him. So according to that we’re in year ‘96 of the Sterling era here in Atlanta.
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
4:48 pm
350lbs doc? agree!
ANOTHER BIG STIFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAWN……………………………………….Sund just retire……………………………
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
4:51 pm
Are you kidding? Another Butterball, at 7 feet?
The Fal-cons already got one(Turner)……………Sheesh!
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
4:54 pm
Whats has he been up too? Drinking 50 liter Kegs?
KevinM
February 9th, 2012
4:55 pm
Another twitter comment out there: “#Hawks center Jason Collins on retirement: I don’t even think about that. I just try to take it season by season and work extremely hard”
How many years did it take for Collins to take his job seriously? Was he even in shape this year? I know he went 23 min, but his impact has been minimal this year.
pointguardslim
February 9th, 2012
5:00 pm
Need to ask him about Hawks strategy/play calling. He keeps absolving himself of responsibility for teams performance.
Clearly biggest difference was plays called werent convoluted plays that breakdown into isoJoe. A lot of time we made simple plays to get some mismatches out there.
Usually Drew’s offense is Iso Joe and it is disheartening for fans and players to follow a gameplan that says Joe Johnson or Die.
One time there was a double screen play that ended up with Smith vs Hibbert on the other end of the floor. Beautiful play and favorable mismatch for Smith over the lumbering Hibbert.
I do wonder why we never run Josh Smith pick and rolls anymore though.
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
5:01 pm
Yea lets get excited about a 40 year old( he looks it) butterball…Highlight factory?..
Yea wow watching a 7 footer consume a 50 liter Keg in 15mins aint excitement..sorry…
doc
February 9th, 2012
5:01 pm
yeah aj, i would love to have the other twin, matching stone columns. who was it that posted that on a objective relative value scale collins was considered the second worst player in the nba. that means the worst center in the league. yeah sund, way to throw the stupid money out there for the basg, god bless collins’ little heart.
drmaryb.[*_*].
February 9th, 2012
5:01 pm
De Ja Vu!
ASKG are so lame … Their solution is to try and sign the two that got away in 2004.
Kenyon and Eric feasted on the Bone-in-Ribeyes, Fried Lobsters and washed it all down with a bottle of Cristal. Then, they did the ” stanky leg” dance on the way out of town. One thing about The Black Night, he did court DIMES!
Looks like the pursuit of Kenyon and signing of Eric is more about being rejected more than anything else. Between the blacked out scoreboards and has been talent, we will always arrive to the After Party in a pumpkin.
We said we needed a big man NOT a BIG MAN! LOL
__________
All jokes aside, I hope Eric helps the team but, I just don’t see it. Maybe he can play half court ball and stay on the offensive end.
doc
February 9th, 2012
5:03 pm
oh yeah one more big added to the death pile behind the phillips of bigs at least three to five years past their participation level or on their last legs.
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
5:05 pm
“I do wonder why we never run Josh Smith pick and rolls anymore though.”
There has to be trust, to run that play..IMO Josh does not trust his guards…
Buddy Grizzard
February 9th, 2012
5:12 pm
Ok enough about Dampier… All-Star reserves being announced on TNT at 7 PM… I don’t think Josh makes it. The 76ers front office has informed Iguodala that he is an All-Star. That’s one forward slot filled. It looks like it will come down to Josh or Paul Pierce. Given Josh’s recent slump just as votes from the coaches were due, and given that the Celtics are the hottest team in the NBA, I don’t think Josh makes it. What do you think blog peeps? Does Josh get in? Does Josh DESERVE to get in?
Grandad
February 9th, 2012
5:20 pm
doc
Nicholson as McMurphy = Classic
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2012
5:21 pm
I think Josh deserves it over Deng and KG. I can see the argument for Iguodala or Pierce over him though.
Slimjr
February 9th, 2012
5:22 pm
They’ll take Paul over him every day of the week…..
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2012
5:22 pm
Of course, if they are going to reward wins, the Hawks deserve two All Stars more than the Celtics do, so Josh should win that tiebreaker over Pierce if Rondo makes it.
11 day contract
February 9th, 2012
5:24 pm
“Erick Dampier did quality work on Howard in the second half of that Feb. 3 game. Not only did he push Howard further out — every inch counts — but Dampier used his forearms and a solid stance to prevent Howard from moving into that first step on his middle drive.”
That’s all we need!
11 day contract
February 9th, 2012
5:25 pm
Josh will make it
11 day contract
February 9th, 2012
5:27 pm
Section 303
February 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
I will give Dampier this….he had a h#ll of a run in the 1996 NCAA Tourney with Mississippi St. He pretty much put that team on his back and carried them to the Final Four. Hawks will not be getting that version of Eric Dampier, though. Too bad….
LinkReport this comment
Great team!
What # will dampier wear?