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
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:48 pm
I hate the owners I hate the Gm. i want a new coach too. I think marvin should go and we need a center. I want a championship goal not consistent in playoff goal. I want new owners and new gm too. i hate josh’s shot selection but I tell you right now after a decade of not mattering atleast were are in the discussion of maybe mattering. I rather us be where we are at now than be like charlotte with no hope but they have “young talent” and a stupuid as lottery pick, with as we know by watching this same franchise, Does mean jack crap you know and i know it. But i’m not gonna sit here and bad mouth the players going out there with something damn. joe brings the energy and zaza too the up and down guys are josh and marvin and if LD would just let the chains off of teague we’d be fine. btu enough of the joe bashing tell me right now who are we gonna get that even averages what he averages. no one that who because all of the other are locked up in contracts. That is just ignorant to even suggest trading him for hedo or anyone that Just Joe listed that would be a major waste and stupid ass trades because none of them can play a lick of decent defense either. so just stop that bs already damn.
W.R. Terrell
February 24th, 2012
2:48 pm
J. Pargo is looking for a starting job…lolol…..LD needs to be looking for a job and the HAWKS are tanked.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
2:50 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? If we get it done, I think we can make the ECF.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:53 pm
@sautee and you’re point like we ahven’t seent hat before when his numbers start dropping below 15 ppg then I’ll worry but as long as he is averaging what he is, can force doube teams, and there is no one else in the elague right now that si gonna give us what he does that is available. none of the players most of the people on here are talking about are stop gap solutions none of them get double teams at all and none average the points he does just that crap youa re telling makes no sense. and you don’t blow this up mid f***ing season either. blow it up in the off season then i’d be fine with it but why the hell do it mid season when we are as of now in the playoffs. we saw when what happens when you do that. look at who we just beat. they did that last year and what happened? we trounced their ass out of the first round.
Grandad
February 24th, 2012
2:55 pm
LD:
“I have to be pleased overall.”
-excerpt from Mark Bradley article-
If not already – that did it for me – right there.
What self respecting coach makes that quote;
after his team has just finished embarrassing him [LD]
in the previous 11 out of 12 games.
And he’s pleased – that says it all
Sautee
February 24th, 2012
2:58 pm
aytunstoppable,
So I take it that you are fine with this core, and think we just need to “tweak”?
Just Joe and I are only talking about trading Joe because we believe that the core has reached it’s ceiling, and Joe’s contract makes even minor moves problematic, since the ASKG is unwilling to go into the Luxury Tax.
And you can count me as one of those who thought we needed to let him walk, for THAT kind of money relative to his production. That’s my opinion.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
2:58 pm
I want them to amke moves and trades an we know whos should probably go but i don’t want no more push us back 5 year moves. atleast when joe got resigned it kept us even. it didn’t push us back 5 or more years. Why do you think amnesty ahsnt be used nor is it going to be used. not now. when he get down to 15 points per then they will amnesty him but til then suck it up.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
Also mind you even if they did trade him they still wouldn’t have much if any cap space. Mainly because of Marvin and Kirk’s contracts. so trading him really doesn’t make any sense money wise and franchise wise. the core you speak of is Joe-Al-Josh-Marvin. marvin needs to go and al is a good trading piece if they can get a upgrade at center. but as far as I’m concerned Joe and Josh need to stay here same for al. the only piece in the core that should be moved is Josha nd Marvin. Joe and Al need to stay. and you get rid of josh and marvin that half the core gone. not a tweak.
aytunstoppable
February 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
@TMAC fan. I’d love that trade right there. hell throw in a first round pick and they might do it.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
Trade Kirk, Marvin, and a first round draft pick to the Lakers for Pau Gasol.
For some reason, the Lakers like their first round draft picks ala Lamar Odom.
Buddy Grizzard
February 24th, 2012
3:17 pm
“They are a good young team that is $15 million UNDER the salary cap.” – Dawg
In the initial feedback to the most recent CHI loss:
http://www.hoopinionblog.com/2012/02/initial-feedback-volume-shooting-almost.html
I noted that:
“The Hawks are 5th in the NBA in future committed salaries at over $244 million. To manage that quarter-billion dollar investment in personnel, the Hawks hired a coach with no previous NBA head coaching experience. He looks as in-over-his-head as you would imagine he would be. Since Lenny Wilkens retired, the Hawks have employed Lon Kruger, Terry Stotts, Mike Woodson and Larry Drew as head coaches. Once Drew is let go by the Hawks, it’s hard to imagine that any head coach the organization has employed since 2000-2001 will be in any demand whatsoever by other NBA teams seeking to fill head coaching positions.”
Not only are the Pacers ahead of the Hawks in the standings while $15m under the cap, they have the LOWEST future committed salaries in the NBA at under $100m. Larry Bird is in the company of Buford/Pop/Presti among the best executives in the league.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
3:23 pm
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but unless you’re getting D12 back for a package, I’m against any trade that includes Zaza. If you look at the price tags on bigs now, and then look at the production of Zaza since Al’s injury, Zaza is one of the best deals in the league contract wise, when not including rookie contracts. Compare Zaza’s contract to Haywood’s or Kwame’s. So I wouldn’t trade Joe and Zaza for Ellis and Beidrins. I actually wouldn’t trade anything more than Kirk, Marvin, and a 2nd round draft pick (with TMac if needed) for Ellis alone.
Big Ray
February 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
I always say I’ll take the win, but this victory was anything but sweet.
We won for a particular reason – Dwight Howard has checked out. Orlando is going to lose their second straight franchise center, it’s now just a matter of where he goes, and those places are limited.
I mean come on, just examine the facts:
1) Josh Smith has nice “ending result” stats, but shoots just 8-22 from the floor. He’s the only star in a Hawks uniform. 22 and 12 is quite nice, but it wasn’t enough to truly win the game. No one else is anywhere close to him in performance, really.
2) Rescued by Pargo and Green? Love that they’re playing well, but you can bet things would be just a hair different if a healthy Jameer Nelson is on the floor.
3) Zaza, the Hawks only available true big man, suddenly has a night wherein he stops the NBA’s best center cold on the floor. Love to give Zaza credit, and I will. But if Dwight wants to win, Zaza fouls out and Dwight goes off on us for 25-30 points and 18 rebounds.
AGain, always take the win. But it is what it IS….
Big Ray
February 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
Hawks are tied for the #5 seed in the conference, with Philly. Orlando is hardly out of reach (and going to fall as Dwight becomes less interested), same can be said of Indiana, though they are deep and show little signs of slowing.
Meanwhile Boston struggles for .500 and New York is closer to that mark, with it realistically in reach.
Oh, the Hawks will probably make the playoffs again….
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
Big Ray, Josh had a bad shooting night outside of the first quarter. But he missed just as many in the lane and under the goal (thanks to D12) as he did on jumpers. But what other player on this teams goes 8 for 22 and still contributes with 12 boards and multiple blocks.
Grandad
February 24th, 2012
3:35 pm
Trade `em All;
`cept Zaza & Marv.
Reason:
Zaza is a keeper.
Use the amnesty clause on Marv in the off-season.
Acquire as many 1st round picks [pref.lottery] as possible.
Plus young vets – 23 yr old range.
Tank & clean house.
Find some hungry kids and a young and hungry, upwardly mobile,
innovative, ass-kicker for a coach.
I’m done.
______________________________________________
post script:
Make Zaza captain
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
http://the110report.com/2012/02/20/rumor-has-it-pau-gasol-for-anyone/
Let’s make a push for him!
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
4:07 pm
aytunstoppable…trading Joe for some combination of shorter-term contracts only gives us more options to improve the team. Trying to build around Joe at this point, is about the same as making Kirk Hinrich your PG of the future. You won’t see Boston trying to build around the Big 3 anymore. Rondo is the future of that team (as currently constructed). Perkins for Green (last year) was another example of them recognizing that their talent had “maxed out” and now comes up short of what it takes to compete for a title.
prison mike
February 24th, 2012
4:17 pm
8-22 wasn’t great but it opened up things like off. boards for zaza and others. Dwhite was towing the line of goal tending and there was a chance of him picking up fouls.
TMAC,
I would like this team shake it up and do Joe and MW for Pau and MWP. Peace is terrible but we have to eat his contract.
Teague
Hinpoor
Josh
Al
Pau
Small backcourt but huge 3-5. Still gotta decent bench and can draft a swingman in a deep class.
LT
February 24th, 2012
4:18 pm
I have to give LD props for sticking with the guys with “Hot Hands” even though I didn’t see but the last 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter collapse.
TMACfan
February 24th, 2012
4:20 pm
@prison mike, I know Joe’s contract is bad, but if we can keep him AND get pau, then we would have:
Teague
Joe
Josh
Al
Pau
And a solid bench without the corruption of Hinrich and Marvin Williams. We could make a push for the ECF and maybe the Finals.
Only bad thing is we would be screwed to next 4-5 years with contracts.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
I don’t understand why Mike Fratello is never rumored to be a head coach for the Hawks. I really believe if he or Hubie Brown was the coach here for 2-3 seasons, the Hawks would be contending for the Eastern title even with this lineup. I couldn’t imagine either one costing more than 3-4 million a season to coach. And I know they would bring in a great coaching staff and training staff behind them. If Fratello lead the Hawks to a 60 win season in a conference that featured Bird’s Celtics, Jordan’s Bulls, and Thomas’ Pistons, I know he would do wonders with his playbook here. I even remember Fratello being a point guard’s coach who groomed young point guards into all stars, even in Cleveland.
prison mike
February 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
People that say Joe is untradeable…
By 13-14, teams will have support a payroll of atleast 53 million so teams like Charlotte and N.O. that have 20-25 million under 58 million at any given year HAVE to pay someone. So if you HAVE to pay, they might as well get an All Star caliber player.
Buddy Grizzard
February 24th, 2012
4:41 pm
“Oh, the Hawks will probably make the playoffs again….”
Yeah I wasn’t expecting Philly to drop back into the middle of the pack. So it looks like seeds 3-5 are up for grabs. The Hawks made it through the hardest part of the schedule with a winning record and are capable of contending for the 3 seed. I think no matter what happens at the trade deadline with Dwight, one of the middle-of-the-pack playoff contenders will fall back.
If Orlando trades Dwight, that’s one team ahead of the Hawks in the standings that will fall behind. If they keep Dwight, I seem him playing out the string in the same disinterested fashion we saw him play last night. Even if Orlando finishes 4th again and the Hawks 5th, that is an absolute dream matchup for the Hawks (especially if CHI finishes with the best record because we do NOT want MIA in the second round).
O'Brien
February 24th, 2012
4:44 pm
Ra’mon,
I know Hubie does not want to deal with the stress of coaching, so if I was LD, I would offer Hubie a job as a consultant during training camp and pre-season.
As for Mike Fratello, I think he has been out of coaching so long, teams might not want to bring him in.
Its like in the NFL, nobody has brought Brian Billick in for an interview. Dude was the OC in Minny with Randy Moss and Culpepper (sp?), and he won a SB in Baltimore. But he can’t even get an interview.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:45 pm
Prison, You have young restricted free agents coming up. Why wouldn’t a team like Charlotte or New Orleans pay someone who was Joe Johnson just six seasons ago, instead of paying an old Joe Johnson who may have seen his LAST all star appearance?
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:47 pm
O’Brien, Fratello has only been out of coaching less than ten seasons I thought. Remember he coached Memphis after Hubie retired again (and after Hubie got the least of a roster into the playoffs in the deep West). Billick was rumored just to be a prick, and has a high price tag. I didn’t think the same was for Fratello. I just know basketball wise, Fratello and Hubie Brown are better than any coach they’ve had since Lenny Wilkins.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2012
4:48 pm
When JJ plays, one problem (imo) is everybody looks to him when the going gets tough (especially LD), but more often than not, JJ does not deliver against good teams.
For example, down the stretch, LD will go away from what’s working, and go Iso-JJ, and players will look to JJ to bail them out. I still think we are a better team with JJ, but based on the ROI (so far), I can’t help but wonder if Rick should have explored sign and trade options last offseason.
When JJ is out, I think players will try and step up (like Josh stepped up during Al’s absence).
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:51 pm
Fratello last 2 out of 3 seasons with Memphis was :
Memphis Grizzlies 2004–05 40 30 .571 0–4 record (Playoffs)
Memphis Grizzlies 2005–06 49 33 .598 0–4 record (Playoffs)
And neither of those rosters had as much talent as Josh, Joe, Al, and Teague combined. In fact Shane Battier was their main leader then. His last season they started 6-24, and he was fired, but that was Memphis playing ‘Moneyball’ one too many times.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2012
4:53 pm
As for Marvin, he was playing well early on in the season (if you ignore his salary and draft slot). But since February came around, he is back to his old self. Terrible. That being said, he is still a better SF player than Vlad (imo).
O'Brien
February 24th, 2012
4:57 pm
Marvin’s last 9 games;
25 mpg, 4 rpg, 31% FG, 6 ppg. Dude has no trade value.
Ra’mon,
For whatever reason, teams prefer the hot young assistant.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:57 pm
O’Brien, Marvin ALWAYS start off the season playing decent, and then change. Its his trade value curse. Anytime he feels his trade value is going up, he goes and gets hurt. And then he’ll camp out until after the trade deadline, and then play good for 2-3 weeks. And stop playing well right before the playoffs, lol. This is an annual thing.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
4:59 pm
O’Brien, I know they do. And that’s why Fratello, Jeff Van Gundy, and other coaches are sitting on the side commentating. You’d think teams would see the impact that Doug Collins had on the Sixers and would want to go after former head coaches with experience, compared to what Iavorani did as the ‘new hot assistant’.
doc
February 24th, 2012
5:03 pm
well i am glad to say that others saw what i saw and commented about last night. sometimes at the game you dont see the replays or things close up but certainly see flow within teams better and can look at the game how you want rather than always be guided to where the director wants your attention.
clark kent was in uniform last night for sure. if the trade deadline goes by he will still be preserving himself for the next contract and the next team rather than the one he is on. he is of the caliber that if he has an off year, by his standard, he can still command top shelf dollar and he knows it. he is in the drivers seat and we will watch clark rather than superman is my guess until the new season arrives. then we can resume to watch his histrionics which i deplore.
Walt Frazier
February 24th, 2012
5:04 pm
The Hawks problem is: they don’t play “mean” on a consistant basis; they’re too comfortable-most games, and especially after a win.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
5:05 pm
Doc, the crazy part is, he’s having a career year in rebounding (D12). And he still gets his number of blocks. You just don’t see him having fun like he used to there.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
5:08 pm
Lakers just signed Rasheed?
Walt Frazier
February 24th, 2012
5:10 pm
The Hawks players seems to be compared to how most parents feel about their under achieving kids; you know they can do the work (homework & assignments), but they act complacent and move about sluggishly with attitudes; you have to prod them to produce good work. That’s why it’s so frustrating to watch this bunch.
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
5:10 pm
Walt, if the Hawks don’t play with enough intensity, game after game, that is a reflection of the coach.
RaJaH
February 24th, 2012
5:12 pm
To be honest, there’s not a realistic trade available that would make the Hawks contenders with the current mindset of this organization. Come to an understanding of what type of team you want and search for a president or GM (not the cheapest!) that will follow through with your vision and STEP BACK! From here on your job is making sure everyone understands that anything short of a championship is FAILURE!
Ra'mon
February 24th, 2012
5:14 pm
Knowing that Rasheed did come out of retirement, I’m sad to know we got Dampier.
Grandad
February 24th, 2012
5:24 pm
G-dad’s Trade O`the Day
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6v25cfr
Going to Philly:
Joe Johnson; Josh Smith; Jeff Teague
Hawks get:
Elton Brand – exp after next yr
Andres Nocioni – exp after next yr
Jrue Holiday – pg / big enough to play the [2]
Nicola Vucevic – Legit Big Man/Post; 6-11; 7-5 w-span; 9-5 st.reach
___________________________________________________
Motivation for Philly
This [possibly]-could-[maybe] put them over the top !
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
5:26 pm
“That being said, he is still a better SF player than Vlad (imo).”
Not so sure about that. Vald would never paly over 20 minutes in a game and not score. Again since they bot are not good players, ask yourself this question. In a big game, do you want Vlad shooting that wide open 3 pointer in the corner, or Marvin? Also ask yourself, would a team defensively be willing to leave Marvin Williams wide open or Vlad.
doc
February 24th, 2012
5:32 pm
ra’mon i couldnt see it on th tube as i was at the game but some of those blocks appeared to be going down and beyond their peak, did it look at all that way on the tube? yes d12 was not having fun nor protesting like he used to.
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
5:33 pm
Gdad……what makes your trade even better is that Nocioni only has a team option for next year. He’s basically an expiring contract.
doc
February 24th, 2012
5:34 pm
rod, i have been underwhelmed with what i have seen from vlad thus far. he has not shwn up in any way since and early game or two to have meaningful minutes and he is a liability when it comes to bounds and d and should never be playing pf.
Just Joe
February 24th, 2012
5:35 pm
Again, I’m up for any trade that gets rid of Joe Johnson.
anphill2
February 24th, 2012
5:54 pm
If you replaced LD with Phil Jackson on the 2012 season, you get exactly 2 more wins??? This roster without Hortford, should be one of the worst in the NBA. Blow it up, wait 4 more years with the hope that our talent evaluation has improved?? One thing for certain is that our 2 previous GMs are probably the worst 2 in the NBA over the past 20 years, not counting Isaiah Thomas. Tweak the team by moving Teague and Josh or AL. (This is the only combo that ANYBODY would give up young promising or VET established all-star). Nobody WANTS 8M-MARVIN..Just sayin -
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
6:03 pm
doc,
“rod, i have been underwhelmed with what i have seen from vlad thus far. he has not shwn up in any way since and early game or two to have meaningful minutes and he is a liability when it comes to bounds and d and should never be playing pf.”
I totally agree with everything you said. I don’t think he should ever play power forward. He is a SF. I know you were at the game last night, you might not remember, but Vlad made a big 3 to pretty much put the game away, and he made a good defensive play on Howard as well. It’s not like Marvin’s D is anything to write home about. But at this point, if it comes down to seeing him or Marvin on the floor, I would prefer him. He at least poses some sort of offensive threat. That’s all.
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2012
6:08 pm
Also, I don’t fell that we will be able to get a decent big man via trade. With that being said, I feel like our only chance to upgrade this team for the playoffs, is to get another 3 who has scoring ability, and can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. That will make us a much better team in the playoffs. A guy along the lines of Wilson Chandler, or Stephen Jackson would upgrade this team tremendously, especially if Horford comes back. I really doubt that he will be able to return this year, but the 3 position needs a major upgrade. Teague, Joe, Insert a scorer, Josh, Zaza, would make us a decent threat against anybody in the east.