Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 83, Magic 78
Here is my updated game story from the Hawks’ 83-78 victory over the Magic Thursday.
This time the Hawks responded.
After watching a 17-point lead disappear, the Hawks bounced back in the fourth quarter for an 83-78 victory over the Magic on Thursday night at Philips Arena.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and was only the Hawks’ fourth win in the past 12 games. They head to the All-Star break with a much-needed victory — coming off a 1-4 road trip and playing their second game without leading scorer Joe Johnson.
“It’s a great way to end that [bad] streak,” coach Larry Drew said. “Coming into this game, again a little short-handed, I didn’t know what I was going to get from the team. … That 10-day road trip was a concern of mine. But I thought our guys came out at the start of the game and displayed energy.”
Holding a one-point lead, Willie Green scored seven points in the final 3:06 — including a 3-pointer and a floating layup as the shot clock expired — for the dramatic win. The Hawks put the game on ice with seven free throws down the stretch.
“Right now we are happy to get this win and go into the break,” Green said. “It’s a good all-around win. Even when they made a run, team have been making runs and we haven’t been able to get back in it. But tonight, everything was different.
“We got contributions from a lot of different guys. For me it’s just about picking and choosing when to be aggressive.”
The Hawks enter the All-Star break sixth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind the Magic for second place in the Southeast Division.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. Jannero Pargo had 15 points, and Green finished with 14 points.
“We played like a desperate team,” Smith said. “There was a sour taste in our mouth losing three games in a row and coming back home we didn’t want it to be a let-down loss again.”
Dwight Howard, the NBA’s 10th-leading scorer, was held to 12 points, four in the first half. The Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy product was kept away from the basket for much of the night by Hawks center Zaza Pachulia. J.J. Redick finished with 13 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.
Pachulia, who also had 13 rebounds, helped hold Howard to three first-half field goal attempts. He said he relied on his experience to keep Howard at bay.
“I’m a big fan of doing the little things because they definitely help you during the game – keeping him above you or meeting him early – those things help you as a defender and the team as well,” Pachulia said.
If the Hawks had tired legs they didn’t show early. They ran the Magic into a deep hole in the first half. However, a 17-point lead would nearly be gone after the third quarter.
Smith scored the Hawks’ first seven points and 14 in the first quarter. The Hawks used runs of 15-2 and 14-6 in the opening quarter to take a nine-point lead, 29-20. Smith put an exclamation point on his quarter with a dunk over the Magic’s Glen Davis.
Pargo scored 15 points in the first half, including 12 in the second quarter, as the Hawks built a 17-point halftime lead, 47-30.
The Hawks held the Magic to a season-low 30 points in the first half. The Magic shot only 32.4 percent in the first half, and each miss had the Hawks off and running. How bad was it? The Hawks held a 21-2 advantage in fast-break points, converting 10 of 11 chances.
The Hawks scored only 11 third-quarter points as the Magic cut the lead to three, 58-55, by ending the quarter on a 16-3 run. A Redick 3-pointer on the Magic’s first possession of the fourth quarter put the finishing touches on the Hawks’ once-large advantage.
“Not to panic,” Drew said of his instructions once the Magic had tied the game. “That is something that we are going to have to get used to, get accustomed to, because this is the NBA. These guys are good. You are going to be in situations where you have leads and teams come back and you have to maintain your composure. I think we are getting better at that. I don’t think we are there yet, but we are getting better. We have to learn have to play through bad spells. We have to learn how to play through [opposition] runs.”
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194 comments Add your comment
vava74
February 24th, 2012
8:27 am
T-Mac was 0/1 from the floor but had 3 assists in 8 minutes, a period in which the lead increased by 6 points.
T-Mac is by far the Hawks’ best playmaker and is supposed to sit and watch Marvin start day in day out putting either awful numbers or when he does put some decent numbers on the board generally look like crap even though he is usually defended by the opposing teams worst or smallest defender on court.
Yeah, he could be over stepping by whining but LD has been using him less and less since Hinrich came back so he is right.
With JJ down, Marvin away one game and sucking when he is around, how can’t LD find a consistent 25 minutes for T-Mac?
How?
And how can you expect anything but a defeat against the Knicks when he matched up a short 6′3” Green with a long and athletic 6′7” Landry Fields??
And Hinrich – clearly struggling – matched up against a longer, much more athletic, and in top form JR Smith???
Ray
February 24th, 2012
8:31 am
Okay the hawks have won we not have a 20-14 record if I’m not mistaken that’s okay, but it seems like we’ll be limping to the finish line.
Here is one thing I will say for people talking about anyone starting over Teague well fine let’s say Pargo does start over Teague or even Kirk for that matter. Do you seriously think we’ll get the same production out of the PG spot with those two on the floor?
The answer no every time I’ve watched the hawks and L.D yanks out Teague it seems like every team no matter who it is goes on either a big or small run. Some of that has to do with old Kirk not being what he was at all last season and possibly part of the lockout too. So I chalk that up to partly L.D’s fault.
As for anyone suggesting Willie Green or Pargo over Teague/Marvin(okay honestly anyone can start over him) What happened when L.D brought Willie Green into the starting lineup what was his infamous line. Wasn’t it something like “I’m going to miss that production he brings off the bench.” Something to that affect so that derails any Green starting over anyone for right now.
Ray
February 24th, 2012
8:39 am
You know in one way I’m glad a number of people here are not GM’s even myself included.
As we sit back from our couches being the Head Coach the only thing most people can agree with on this blog are two things because they are extremely obvious. Marvin Williams plus we need a C.
As far as everything else goes like which C we need to go after or what not. That’s where things get very iffy as far as I see.
vava74
February 24th, 2012
8:39 am
A tribute by an english music mag to Don Cornelius:
http://www.factmag.com/2012/02/23/soul-train-the-10-greatest-moments/
richie
February 24th, 2012
8:41 am
trade either marvin and hinrich or marvin and zaza to Cleveland for Varejao. A center that will rebound
Hawkwatch
February 24th, 2012
8:42 am
When is Larry Drew is going realize K. Hinrich is killing this team playoff hopes. He got to see the guy in no longer a NBA player. Play Pargo and J. Teague at the guard position as much as possible. Find a trade for Hinrich if there is a team in the D league that will take him. I know there are players in the D league that is better than Hinrich.
Dawg
February 24th, 2012
8:58 am
I just read an article on hoopshype rumors about Larry Bird and his vision for the Pacers. They are a good young team that is $15 million UNDER the salary cap. Hearing his plan and vision and then realizing we have the ASG and Rick Sund made me want to throw up. Our GM’s goal is to patch and pretend about a core.
ASG, the Hawks management and the Hawks coaching are jokes.
Ray
February 24th, 2012
9:11 am
We already know the entire Hawks Organization is a joke.
The arena they play in is a joke that’s why I’m better off watching at home and not there.
The first step to repair the Atlanta Hawks is not trading the players(that will happen later), but getting rid of who is at the top of it all.
Second step get us a legit GM the one from SA would be nice you know.
Step three get us an actual Head Coach not one the players want you don’t ever let the players run the asylum no matter what they do cause that means you’ll lose the entire team very quickly wants the ish hits the fan.
Step 4 Things that everyone says over and over again Dump Marvin Williams, Jason Collins, and Cap’n Kirk.
Step 5 try to find a way to get us a legit C go out there and get B. Mullins or Cole Adrich.
Step 6 even though most people will hate this if we can’t find a legit C slide Josh Smith to SF and Horford to PF and let Zaza play at the C
O'Brien
February 24th, 2012
9:15 am
Props to Najeh, who predicted Hawks by 5.
I am happy for the win. Hopefully this can be a springboard coming out of the AS break.
However, I think a big reason for the win is our mentality when we play them. We are a mentally soft team (imo), but after last year, the Hawks know they can beat the Magic (5 straight wins over them in the regular season, and we beat them in the playoffs). So even when the Magic make their run, we don’t panic. It also helps that the Magic depend on their 3’s, and its tough to win games that way consistently.
And I agree on Dwight. He looked out of it last night. It will be interesting to see if he gets traded before the deadline. ZaZa played him well, and we’ve beaten the Magic 2 straight games without Collins (which I think is the main reason Twin was signed in the first place).
KevinM
February 24th, 2012
9:23 am
Imagine the spew here had we lost to the Magic…..but they have some ‘magic’ over that team and it does look like D12 is going through the motions. Is it because Jameer is his main feeder in the post because the others have no problem jacking up shots. Put Josh on that team and you will see a 3pt shooting contest the entire game,
But there are still problems here and yes Buddy. Zaza reappeared last night. I wish he had that fire every night.
T-Mac is not getting his just due either….I wasn’t impressed with him during the losing streak, but he does see the floor well and as long as he doesn’t play the Marvin role, I am fine with him on the court,
I could accept Marvin at league minimum, but not at his current level. Prepare to amnesty him next year and clean up 2 years of a horrid mistake by Sund.
Going forward, i don’t see us breaking up this starting 5. Sund doesnT have it in him to get anything of value. This isn’t the Dominique led Hawks when we got Danny Manning….this team has peaked and is maxing out what LD gives here.
And how does ORL play better and look like a team when they aren’t playing us? I don’t like their makeu
atlanta hard head
February 24th, 2012
9:32 am
it seems that some of you dont have any love for the HAWKS, why are you even on the page making comments when every thing you say is negative Andrew lipham, i liked you comment, i’m with that, i thank thats a good move!!!.
vava74
February 24th, 2012
9:33 am
ONLY MAJOR CHANGE NEEDED IS COACHING.
The level of player talent in the NBA is fairly balanced. It’s the coaching differential than can make wonders.
CHI has a very good roster but they keep on wining with CJ or Lucas at the PG slot when Rose is down.
Thibs makes CHI click. Take Thibs and insert LD on CHI’s bench and they would be were we are: decent record but unable to be really competitive REGARDLESS OF HAVING ROSE.
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
9:40 am
Trade Joe to Orlando before Dwight leaves. Turkoglu, Reddick & 2013 1st rd pick.
Flip Reddick to Minnesota…Beasley to Lakers…Trade exception to Denver…Chris Anderson to Hawks.
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
February 24th, 2012
10:00 am
how many more times do you think we need to beat Orlando before we have sufficiently payed back that seep 2 years ago?
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
February 24th, 2012
10:04 am
LD’s “Dwight Rules” succed again
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
February 24th, 2012
10:07 am
the blog title is “Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 83, Magic 78″ not “Hawks Desperatly Need Trades… Ideas?”
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
February 24th, 2012
10:07 am
me and atlanta hard head are enjoying ourselves
SteveW
February 24th, 2012
10:07 am
A 20-14 record, w/o 1 of your 3 best players for most of it, and your 6x All Star gone for some of it, is very acceptable to me.
We played the toughest schedule among the Top 8 in the East during the first half of the season.
We played a few more Road games than Home games, so that will be flipped also.
We are really sitting pretty if we seize advantage of it the 2nd half of the season. We also have two multi days off in the last month of the season.
Watch for the Hawks to surprise maybe the last half of the season. Hey, I’m already surprised. The talking heads already had us in the lottery when Al went down – even MC seemed headed a little that way (where is MC btw?).
20-14 – I’ll take it.
Shout to Pargo and Green – Those dudes have way exceeded my expectations. Both of them. Those guys have shown me they can play. Def. good backups in the NBA.
SteveW
February 24th, 2012
10:13 am
NYK, Chicago, Pacers, and Philly all played some of the easiest schedule in the NBA in the 1st half of the season. We’ll see how they do when the schedule tightens up on them.
The Hawks had played by far the toughest schedule in the NBA the previous 10 games, ending Sunday (including Sunday).
Dominique Wilkins
February 24th, 2012
10:19 am
Josh Smith to Toronto for Jerryd Bayless, Leandro Barbosa (both expiring contracts), and a 1st round pick. Get Thomas Robinson. Flip Marvin and Teague to New Orleans for Ariza. Then you take Tony Wroten or Damian Lillard with the 18th or 17th pick (whatever we get). We become instantly worse for the following season, but cap room opens up and we have a much brighter future with Robinson.
We then have:
Wroten/ Lillard
Johnson
Ariza
Robinson
Horford
Hell, I wouldn’t mind flipping Horford for someone also. I’m ready to completely blow this up and build for the FUTURE. Start with Thomas Robinson and a solid point guard in this draft (Wroten or Lillard)
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
10:21 am
Guys, as much as we want, we aren’t getting a new coach anytime soon. We need to focus on getting a big man. And dumping Kirk and Marvin.
SteveW
February 24th, 2012
10:23 am
Hawks Strength of Schedule (SOS) last 10 games still tops in the League by quite a long way. Toughest schedule, much of it on the road the last couple of weeks, we’ll be ok in the 2nd half of the season.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
10:24 am
Yo Nique, Tony Wroten isn’t going to the NBA next season.
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
10:43 am
“Betting is stupid by nature – IMO – and betting in or against a dysfunctional and unpredictable Hawks ball club is twice as stupid.”
What’s so stupid about it? You either win or you lose. 50/50. If you really know what you are doing, you can also increase those odds. Actually betting on the Hawks is easy money as well. You get a game like last night every once in a while, but usually you can bet big against them when they play good teams on the road or at home, especially if they are on national TV, and ride with them when they play bad teams. If you are smart, and realize that Miami and Chicago are much better than any team in the east, you should be killing the books this year.
Astro Joe
February 24th, 2012
10:46 am
Nothing like pinning your hopes for acquiring a savior on what you can get back for your least productive regulars
Melvin
February 24th, 2012
10:54 am
Northcyde,
“Holding a one-point lead, Willie Green scored seven points in the final 3:06 — including a 3-pointer and a floating layup as the shot clock expired — for the dramatic win.’
Good thing Willie was in the game instead of Marvin…LOL
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
11:07 am
Melvin,
“Good thing Willie was in the game instead of Marvin…LOL”
Vlad also hit a 3 in a key moment in the 4th quarter that Marvin would never make. Bottom line, keep Marvin off the floor, and we have a chance.
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
11:17 am
Orlando is desperate. They’re one of a few teams that would be willing to take Joe Johnson. Turkoglu for half the money is a better value. Of course picking up a 2013 1st rounder and manuevering for Chris Anderson doesn’t hurt either.
Joe Johnson – Turns 31 in June. 42%-45% shooter. 34%-37% from 3. 17 pts, 4 rebs, and 4 assists potential in 35 minutes. Owed $89M over 4 yrs after this season.
Hedo Turkoglu – Turns 33 in March. 41%-44% shooter. 37%-40% from 3. 11 pts, 4 rebs, and 4 assists potential in 25-30 minutes a night. Owed $23M over 2 yrs after this season (second year is a player option).
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
11:40 am
In the month of February we scored more than 90 pts in 2 of 12 games….more than 80 in 7 of 12. Now 21st in the league in points per game.
Currently 22nd in the league in rebounds per game…and dropping fast.
Can’t score. Can’t rebound. No future cap space. Unload Joe Johnson for anything!!!
Melvin
February 24th, 2012
11:43 am
Rod,
You know I’m all for trading that Dude. Get me Stephen Jackson back here for him….
Mike C
February 24th, 2012
11:54 am
@SteveW
Man, you are very hopefully about this team but I have my doubts, even if they are 20-14, their loss difference is up there with Bobcats and we dont have a winning record against .500 teams. I got a feeling if they dont do something, they will be “going fisihin” early.
Real Tmac fan
February 24th, 2012
12:13 pm
Section 303
” what exactly did T-Macdolast nightto warrent more minutes? Two easy shots at the rim and was totally unproductive. T-Macis looking like just another big mouth (whinning about minutes) that cries, but does not back anything up. Sick of people like that. You’re going to call out the coach to the press and.then come back and miss layups? T-Mac needs to realize we are playing in 2012 not 2002.”
@Section 303
Just shut the hell up. Tmac played 8 minutes ( half on defense) & got 3 assist & multiple pass to assist plays. Mcgrady is obviously the overall best player on the team. if Tmac got 25 minutes & was in the game at the 4th quarter, Hawks would be in aleast 6 games better
KevinM
February 24th, 2012
12:23 pm
“Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
11:07 am
Melvin,
“Good thing Willie was in the game instead of Marvin…LOL”
Vlad also hit a 3 in a key moment in the 4th quarter that Marvin would never make. Bottom line, keep Marvin off the floor, and we have a chance”
I used to agree with that, but the game we beat Orlando in Amway in OT, Marvin knocked down a sideline 3 pointer to keep pace and he made good plays in that game….forget about the 1/2 court 3 at the buzzer? Totally deflated that crowd until their late rally.
So as LD said, you never know what you’re going to get with these guys, and I expect ZERO moves from this ownership group/GM who truly have no idea what defines championship basketball. After 32+ years, Sund decides to go with the ‘Detroit’ model and not the Celtic or Laker model. What does that tell you?
And heads up, we have legit representation at the AS game this weekend…..our very own Stack will be replacing Joe in the all-stars shooting contest on Saturday. Congrats to Stack for that honor.
What other 14th man on the bench gets an all-star accolade in their retirment years?
KevinM
February 24th, 2012
12:26 pm
“TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
10:21 am
Guys, as much as we want, we aren’t getting a new coach anytime soon. We need to focus on getting a big man.”
And you think this is more likely to happen after this blog asking for a big man since Dikembe was here? Better enjoy Zaza and temp Damp and Collins manning the spot until they claim disability.
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 24th, 2012
12:31 pm
NBA All-Star Weekend Participant Jerry Stackehouse > Marvin Williams
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 24th, 2012
12:32 pm
Stackhouse*
drmaryb.[*_*].
February 24th, 2012
12:57 pm
Too Bad!
Too bad Josh didn’t get picked for that 3 point shooting contest. Maybe an awful showing would have been the cure for that stat column deficiency? LOL
Well Josh, better luck next time. If I were blessed with all your talent, I would LIVE in the paint – I mean really Josh?
Having said that, Josh is my favorite Hawk.
Fundamentals
February 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Turk & Jackson are a cancer we don’t need.
We need a coaching staff that thrives developing young talent. Drop the aged wonders and build around the “core” asg will never let die.
Kirk derails Teague. Teague/Pargo are our best PG.
Joe/Green work well together.
SF is wide open. TMAC & Marvin don’t work.
Josh/Ivan may need some help.
Zaza, Twin need help.
LD needs to return to the model before Kirk returned and sign a big to help in Horford’s absence. Move Marvin, Kirk, Stack. Give Wilson Chandler some $ and trade for a big w Kirk & Marvin.
northcyde
February 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
Lol @ Melvin and Rod.
You mean like the last time we played Orlando, and Marvin made 4 threes, including a huge one in OT to tie the game back up? It may seem like a long time ago, but that last Orlando game took place just a mere 14 days ago. But only objective fans like KevinM will even acknowledge that.
And then T-Mac did his Willie Green impression the following game vs Indiana when he scored 7 points in the 4th quarter.
Drew obviously sees something in Vlad that no one else on the planet sees. As bad as Marvin has been this month, he still played better than Vlad. And unless T-Mac was hurt, he did nothing to see his playing time cut either.
No way would Vlad would play ahead of either guy, if we had a veteran head coach.
Fundamentals
February 24th, 2012
1:07 pm
Even Ivan has lost his Mojo. We need his attitude back.
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
You take any “cancer” (Turkoglu or Jackson) you can get in exchange for Joe Johnson and/or Marvin Williams. Take it and run. Joe Johnson getting paid $89M over the next 4 years is a slow painful death in itself. This ownership will never use the amnesty clause just to pay Joe to go play somewhere else.
Trade Joe Johnson as soon as you can.
Orlando for Turkoglu & Reddick.
Minnesota for Webster, Miller & Beasley.
Cleveland for Jamison & Parker.
Washington (with Marvin) for Lewis & Young.
Golden State (with ZaZa) for Ellis & Biedrins.
Detroit for B. Gordon & Villanueva.
New Jersey for Okur & Morrow (or Farmar).
stizz
February 24th, 2012
2:20 pm
I would dangle Marvin Williams to the Cavs. They’re only a few games out of the last spot in the east and they could view Marv as a guy who needs a change of scenery and one who could be a good compliment to Kyree.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:27 pm
enough with the johnson stuff already. All i can think of was the Kincks game. Did ya’ll not see how lost they all looked with joe not out there. He would have produced more than Willie did against them I tell ya what. Boy would i have loved to see joe back Lin down in the paint. So what if he’s over paid? So is Rashard Lewis, Amare, and some other thats the two i can think of right now. So is Hedo so just shut the hell up already. I rather have joe than some of the mad stupid stuff you guys are saying.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
2:27 pm
LOL KevinM
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
2:28 pm
I haven’t looked at the salary numbers but does Marvin and a 2nd round pick for Antwan Jamison work?
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:31 pm
I swear we are the only fans that are complaining about a person that averages 17 a game getting paid like that. Pierce and Ray were getting paid 16 mil a year i think last year. And their production wasn’t even close to joes and joes had a down season so what the hell are you fools talking about seriously. just stop it,.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:31 pm
Baron Davis was getting paid like crazy and wasn’t doing what joe was so enough damn.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:36 pm
Most of you, me included, would have ripped the GM and owners worse than we are now if we had let joe walk and had Chicago in a better title picture. We would have been talking that mad stupid ish that they are cheap and bla bla bla. Get over it damn. Let the man do what he’s been doing and that ball. on his worst night he still guarentees 12-13 points. something that half the bench can’t even guarentee 2-3 nights in a 5 game span.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
2:43 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7kb93ek
This might be a dream trade but if we throw an extra draft pick in there, anyone think the Lakers will do it?
Sautee
February 24th, 2012
2:44 pm
“Did ya’ll not see how lost they all looked with joe not out there”
Actually, to me, they looked LESS lost than the last three games that Joe played. I’m sorry he’s hurt, but even when “supposedly” healthy, his nimbers have dropped off this year. That’s really bad news since the bulk of his contract is still to be paid, and going up the longer he’s here. The bottom line is that the ASKG brought Joe here to be Batman, paid him to be Batman, and he doesn’t have it in him. Sadly. Hard to believe looking back that they re-signed him for that much.
But unless you think that this team can compete for at least the ECF with just a tweak here or there (I don’t), then blow it up. And the first move would be trading Joe if you can.