Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 94, Bobcats 91 (updated)
Vivlamore reporting.
The Hawks’ winning streak continues – now at six straight – but the Bobcats made them work for it.
Right down to the final five seconds.
Josh Smith scored 13 of his 17 points in the third quarter as the Hawks regained a lead they would barely hold in a 94-91 victory over the Bobcats Wednesday night at Philips Arena.
The winning streak, the best current run in the NBA, is the Hawks’ longest since they opened the 2010-11 season with six straight wins (Oct. 27-Nov. 5, 2010).
The Hawks (9-4) nearly lost an 11-point fourth-quarter lead. The Bobcats pulled to within one point, 92-91, on a deep 3-pointer by Ben Gordon with 29.1 seconds remaining. The basket, with two Hawk defenders on him, was part of Gordon’s 20-point fourth quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the Hawks then ran the shot clock down but Lou Williams missed his 3-point attempt and left the Bobcats with 5.2 seconds.
However on the sideline inbounds play, Ramon Sessions’ pass to Gordon was wide and went across the court and out of bounds. The officials reviewed the play because Smith lunged at the pass with an outstretched arm. After a lengthy look they ruled Smith did not touch the ball and awarded the ball back to the Hawks.
“No, I didn’t touch it,” Smith said. “I think if I would have touched the ball it would have went in a different direction. It didn’t. So it was a good call by the referees.”
Bobcats players, including Sessions, believe Smith did touch the ball. However, they conceded there was not conclusive evidence to overturn the original call.
Al Horford sank a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Smith, Horford and Williams scored 17 points apiece. Smith added 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks. Horford had 11 rebounds and six assists.
Gordon almost single-handedly snapped the Hawks winning streak with his fourth quarter.
“We did not defend Ben Gordon,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said of the Bobcats’ rally. “He got too many good looks. When you are playing against a guy like that, who can shoot the way he can, he got off to a good start and he made shots. We allowed too much separation when he was coming off screens. He just had too, too many good looks.”
Gordon finished with a game-high 26 points. Smith said he warned his teammates that the guard was capable of getting a hot hand.
“I was telling those guys, I got drafted with that guy,” Smith said. “He has done it to us before. I’m telling them that this man can really put numbers up so when he hit those couple of 3s he got comfortable. I knew if we didn’t get aggressive on him it was going to be a long fourth quarter.”
The Hawks expected a tough game from the Bobcats (7-7), who were coming off the worst loss in franchise history – a 45-point defeat at the Thunder Monday. The Hawks have been in close games throughout the six-game winning streak. Their average margin of victory is seven points.
“These games in the past one of them we would have dropped,” Horford said. “We wouldn’t have come out with enough energy, little things like that. This year we are doing a good job even though it was closer than we would have liked, we are getting the wins.”
The Bobcats led 45-43 at halftime after erasing a nine-point second-quarter deficit. Down 33-24 after Williams hit a 3-pointer for the Hawks, the Bobcats went on an 18-2 run and led by seven points. The Hawks answered with an 8-3 run of their own to only trail by a basket after the first two quarters.
“I told our team at halftime, I thought that team was playing harder than we were,” Drew said. “I thought that they were getting after us more than we were getting after them. … They were actually bringing the game to us. That is totally unacceptable in our building. We have to be more focused and we have to do things with much, much more urgency than we did in the first half.”
The Hawks used an 11-1 run early in the third quarter to retake the lead before holding on the Bobcats’ comeback.
The Hawks lost Kyle Korver in the third quarter with back spasms. Korver missed Tuesday’s practice with a stiff back but was in the starting lineup Wednesday. He grimaced and grabbed his back after a missed 3-pointer. He went to the locker room and did not return.
The Hawks will go for their seventh straight win on Friday, hosting the Cavaliers. The Hawks last won seven straight in Nov. 2009.
- Chris Vivlamore
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116 comments Add your comment
Buddy Grizzard
November 29th, 2012
1:33 am
Doh 2nd quarter my bad.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 29th, 2012
2:07 am
FIRE LD
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 29th, 2012
2:08 am
Stackhouse had 17 points tonight. LD had him buried on the bench last year and but he could have helped us out.
kuhndog
November 29th, 2012
2:44 am
well take it. let them back in it if you want to split hairs. let Gordon get hot and gave them life. I did not see Ivan gotta get dude in there. JT did not look as Mr aggressive as before and breaking down the D. Too many 3s , Josh was playing at the rim pretty much thats a +. I like Lou but he is a back up and a good one kind of a free lancer player or creator on the fly guy. I dont see Lou put out the dimes as much.I like D Harris too, he can create but can he stay healthy? Gotta beat Cle. in Fri.win the winable ones.GO HAWKS
ag
November 29th, 2012
6:24 am
I agree with a lot of the bloggers. Drew does not appear to coach at the end of games, defense and offense. I would have taken out Josh and Horford. It didn’t make sense to keep them in since the Bobcats were pressing and fouling.
The three Josh took I was not that upset with – but a little since we came out of a timeout. Coach usually draws up some really good plays after a timeout.
ag
November 29th, 2012
6:46 am
Per LD, JT0 has two games with double digit assist and points, and he gets rewarded with 29 minutes. DH plays 24 minutes. Lou gets 29.
I will give Stevenson props in the 4th quarter when he checked Gordon, he did not allow him to get the ball.
rk
November 29th, 2012
6:49 am
Is it just me or does anyone else see a problem with our bigs (Hofford and Smith) dribbling the ball down the court? The early turnovers by these guys kept the lowly Bobcats in the game. You don’t see the elite power fowards and centers bringing the ball down the court. They are getting away with it now because there are so many bad teams in the NBA.
ignition
November 29th, 2012
6:59 am
What is LD doing ??
Devin Harris looks out of control most nights and he gives him starter minutes??
Play Teague and quit allowing the bigs Mainly Josh and sometimes Horford dribble the ball down court niether of them are great dribblers.
vava74
November 29th, 2012
7:15 am
Apart from ALL OTHER THINGS Josh did good, how can you simply say that Sessions missed the pass WHEN IT WAS JOSH’s HUSTLE that forced him to throw the pass wider?
Josh is slowing rounding up to form and sure he still makes some horrible plays, but they guy was a stat stuffer like no other last night:
http://www.popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20121128&game=CHAATL
Help Value of 25 (rebounds+assists+blocks+steals-turnovers).
Horford also had a very good game with an HV of 19.
Guys putting up stats like that win games more often that guys simply making shots.
Al had a very good and steady game, mainly quarters 2,3 and 4, Josh had a monster 3rd quarter and in the 4th, although he did launch a missed 3 pointer and missed 2 FTs, he had 3 rebounds (2 offensive) 2 assists, 1 block and ZERO turnovers.
We won. It wasn’t pretty but we won because of two excellent performances by Horford and Josh and survived a really colossal effort by Gordon.
Every time you survive a 20 point 4th quarter by one guy on just 7 shots and FTs, you gotta feel happy with the win.
Big Ray
November 29th, 2012
7:31 am
Bad perimeter defense, but another Hawks win.
Josh and Al combine for 34 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, 8 blocks.
That’s what’s up…
NORRIS CHUCK
November 29th, 2012
7:33 am
JOSH NEEDS TO MAKE SOME FREE THROWS! THESE NBA PLAYERS WHINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT BEING IN THE ALL-STAR GAME, BUT CONSTANTLY SEEN ON TV CRYING ABOUT BAD CALLS, LAUNCHING BRICK THREE POINTERS AND CONSTANTLY MISSING FREE THROWS!!!
Section 303
November 29th, 2012
8:13 am
That game went just like I thought it would last night. Hawks win, but the Bobcats put up a major fight. You knew they would after getting railed so badly by OKC.
Josh got it going last night. I thought last night was his best game of the season. He still HAS to take bonehead shots, but he made a lot of nice passes (the behind the back one to Zaza!) and was great helping out on D.
Zaza is having his best season as a Hawk. I love the way he is playing. He does positive things every night.
terrell
November 29th, 2012
8:20 am
“Lack of energy” came from Joe’s demeanor imo. Dont hear that word around here that often anymore.
Section 303
November 29th, 2012
8:21 am
Also…good to see Al hitting his mid-range jumper. He’s been off on that shot most of this season. When he gets that shot going (and he usually does have that shot going throughout his career) he is an All Star.
Section 303
November 29th, 2012
8:23 am
Good job by Joe Johnson dogging out Paul Pierce last night! I loved it!
God….I hate the Boston Celtics. That team could not possibly lose enough to make me happy.
terrell
November 29th, 2012
8:27 am
Fire LD at 9-4? Not happening. Stackhouse? Please. Come on Clyde, I know you got something better than that.
terrell
November 29th, 2012
8:33 am
So Clyde, how many more games you think we woulda won last year, had LD played Stackhouse more minutes? LD is a liar, he holds grudges. he hates rookies, etc….. but COME ON MAN. lol
vava74
November 29th, 2012
8:51 am
Big Ray,
You forgot 4 steals…
Samurai Squirrel
November 29th, 2012
9:38 am
“I will give Stevenson props in the 4th quarter when he checked Gordon, he did not allow him to get the ball”
Totally agree with you, Ag. He ran around, thru, and over about 4 picks on one single possession! Sessions kept pounding the rock waiting for Gordon to get open, but Stevenson wasn’t gonna let that happen. The clock kept ticking down and that ended up locking the game up for us.
Mike is Back
November 29th, 2012
9:44 am
What’s up Big Ray, you are right…that’s what’s up. Josh and Al are back to scrapping and making plays IN THE PAINT…I have to say Teague has surprise me the most…But all three of these guys have taken their game to another level…thus far.
The Hawks with stood a barrage from Ben Gordon…and still pull out a victory…U GOTTA LOVE IT!
Man when BG gets that stroke going…it’s a thing of beauty…if you are not the opponent.lol
The way the Hawks have played of late…I just felt like they would keep fighting to the end…and pull out another win. The difference for me with this unit is…when a guy like BG goes off like that…these guys don’t shrug their shoulders and get down…they keep fighting…I thought it was a GREAT WIN…denying BG a chance to play spoiler…and securing six straight wins.
LD and staff have to be given some credit for the way the Hawks have performed thus far…it is…what it is.
GREAT WIN…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
steve brown
November 29th, 2012
9:48 am
All you Josh lovers will need rehab once he is gone. Ferry will get something for him before the leverage shifts to Josh in free agency, I’d bet on it. All this hometown crap will be wiped out by the highest offer and you don’t pay top dollar to players that can’t finish (see the idiotic 3 point shot followed by the bricked 2 free throws in the clutch that could have cost the game). Stats are for losers and all you stat gurus are lost souls, who cares what he did during exhibition time in the third quarter. The NBA is all about entertainment until the last few minutes and I will grant that Josh is entertaining in both a good and bad way but he is not clutch, he is not a leader, and hows that All-star vote going for him. All you Josh lovers start saying your goodbyes.
hot.trid.87
November 29th, 2012
9:53 am
NBA Stat Stuffer of the Night: Hawks F Josh Smith. He had 17 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks in a win vs. CHA… that last defensive turnover was because of Josh. WE’re are a great defensive team because of Josh…. Offense gets you highlights, defense wins you games. Teague and Stephenson does not play well together. Should never be in the backcourt together. Al hit 2 free throws but missed a lot of at the rim buckets. Lou made up with his off night and once again out performed Teague. Can Teague be consistent as a point guard to get us to the next level? We’ll see
hot.trod.87
November 29th, 2012
9:57 am
Steve, he’s staying. Who has Ferry already offered up? Not Josh, but Al & Teague so what are you talking about? His defense is the reason we got the possession so Al could shoot the free throws so again what in the hell are you talking about. Stats are great when it refers to defense, because you won’t win rings without it… Look at OKC last year. All offense and no defense. The reason we are in the top 3 is because of our defense which is in the top 5. Defense wins games when the offense isn’t working both Al & Josh shot 7-15 but everyone tends to focus on Josh’s numbers and not Al.. How many point blank at the rim shots did Al miss? why did the Bobcats make a run with Josh out of the game?
hot.trod.87
November 29th, 2012
10:00 am
Mike & Black you are correct
Ken Strickland
November 29th, 2012
10:12 am
I’ve complained about Josh launching long jumpers as much as anyone, but last night he earned the right to launch a few. He didn’t just stuff the stat sheet, he impacted the gm on both ends of the court, vintage JSmith. Teague got fewer mins because he got into early foul trouble, not because LDrew decided not to play him.
The Hawks are truly amazing. We’re talking about a lot of individual talent overcoming a number of issues to slowly become a talented team. What’s so amazing is how poorly the team has been constructed. Not many teams can accomplish what this team has accomplished without a true SF or SG, while overcoming a HC who’s hurt the team by imposing his own personal bias’.
If you think about it, we’ve progressed to the point where we’re now winning the close gms that we lost earlier in the season. Our DEF is now forcing teams to make the same mistakes down the stretch that we were making during our earlier losses. Teague has become a leader and steadying influence. It’s already been pointed out how our OFF and DEF improves when he’s in the gm.
Josh seems to have learned there are 2 halves to a basketball gm, and that he shouldn’t get discouraged if he has a poor 1st half. Earlier in the season, and in his career, if he had a poor 1st half, he’d get discouraged, and either hold his head down, become far less aggressive and/or lose focus by arguring with the officials.
The last 2 times he’s had a bad 1st half, he’s come out of halftime playing with a renewed purpose. Fortunately for the Hawks, Horford has maintained his usual level of consistency, and both players play so well together. It still seems like a dream to see a Hawks team that wasn’t expected to be a factor this season, win 6 consecutive gms and 7 of their last 8 with little depth at C and no defined SF or SG.
The thing that concerns me the most about what we’ve accomplished so far is how they will react after the streak ends, or after we lose consecutive gms. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
November 29th, 2012
10:17 am
Didn’t OKC have the Defensive Player of the Year?
Not surprised to read the excerpt that Najeh posted from Grantland. It was pretty apparent (to me at least) that the Hawks have had a very poor work ethic for the past few years. (Which is one of the reasons I have not been a fan of adding players with known issues regarding effort). I think that was some of the edge that Horford lost most recently (with LD’s arrival). I’m glad to read that Ferry has begun to change some of that lazy culture.
Ken Strickland
November 29th, 2012
10:20 am
STEVE BROWN-Obviously you haven’t noticed, but there’s been very little Josh vs Al BS since this team started putting it together. We should all be Josh, Al, Teague, Zaza, Ivan, LWilliams lovers. If fact, we should all be HAWK LOVERS, rather than focusing our attention and loyality on just one or 2 players.We are winning solely as a team, and that’s the way fans should look at it.
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!
November 29th, 2012
10:25 am
WAY too close, but great game. This team is fun to watch! They relied WAY too much on the outside shot, and we vacate the paint before the ball even falls. Rebound, guys!
Astro Joe
November 29th, 2012
10:28 am
Watching a player 3 feet from the rim pass to a player 23 feet from the rim can be a little annoying, but it is working (for now).
hot.trod.87
November 29th, 2012
10:34 am
NBA Leaders Wed. Efficiency: Serge Ibaka (25.2), Josh Smith (24.6), Kevin Durant (23.0), Chris Paul (22.8)…. . Blocks: Serge Ibaka (6), Josh Smith (5), Tim Duncan (5), Bismack Biyombo (4) …. Rebs: J.J. Hickson (19), Josh Smith (13), Andray Blatche (13), Zach Randolph (13)…. Keep it up Josh, Boston, Lakers, and Knicks want you
Samurai Squirrel
November 29th, 2012
10:57 am
Now is the time to make an offer for Derrick Williams of the T-wolves. ESPN Trade Rumors said they will pretty much take anything for him at this point. Anthony Morrow for Derrick Williams sounds pretty fair to me. One of our extra shooters for one of their extra bigs. What do you guys think?
Rod from College Park
November 29th, 2012
11:04 am
“Apart from ALL OTHER THINGS Josh did good, how can you simply say that Sessions missed the pass WHEN IT WAS JOSH’s HUSTLE that forced him to throw the pass wider?”
Remember according to many on this blog, Josh never hustles. All he does is have a low basketball IQ, whine to the refs, and complain. LOL
I MUS WRITE
November 29th, 2012
11:11 am
Random Toughts: Who would have thought this team would be better off with Kyle Korver and A.Morrow over Joe Johnson.
Josh Smith runs this team – I dont care what his stat line was last his play was just hard to watch. Airballs turnovers etc….Sad to say but Josh wont make the All Star Team this year. he wont get voted in and the coaches league wide see the dumb shizz he does as well as the constant complaining and crying….
Kemba Walker is the truth..
I really hope we can resign Korver in the off season-his Jumper is money literally
I not sure we want to pay josh 16-8 mill this summer -so if theres going to be a trade:
Paul George/Psycho T/2nd or something along those lines.
Astro Joe
November 29th, 2012
11:17 am
The next step in Teague’s evolution is when he brings the same intensity in games against George Hill and Kemba Walker as he does when playing CP3 and Derrick Rose.
I MUS WRITE
November 29th, 2012
11:23 am
I agree Terrell -the lack of energy etc last yr was directly related to our leader? Joe Johnson -”We just didnt come to play tonight” ” Guys ned to play ntheir role” That man needs a frontal labotamy- he has the personality of a paper clip.
Clyde -Cmon man -Stackhouse? So you’re saying he was a better option that MGrady? Uhhhhh NO -it was one game man let it go- I mean he is a professional and a Vet so…… The 12th man on most teams could light it up if give a chance, not impressed
Let me be clear for a sec-I would trade Horford before I trade Josh -dumb shots and all…Josh is just the better player but If we are gonna lose Josh for nothing trade him asap…….
I MUS WRITE
November 29th, 2012
11:26 am
Typos i need coffee lol good day folks -RISE UP 11-1
Samurai Squirrel
November 29th, 2012
11:35 am
Korver has quickly become my favorite player on the team. The one thing that kills me about him is that he cannot dribble. He was passing the ball off to Stevenson to bring the ball up (at least twice he gave Horford the ball). I guess he does that so he can get down the court and get ready for a pass for a 3 pointer.
Flash
November 29th, 2012
11:54 am
Let’s not all start blanking each other’s blanks just yet. I am a SF Giants fan (live in bay area) and a Hawks fan (thank you TBS in the 80’s). The last few years whenever the Giants swept the floor with the likes of the Astros or some such bad team, all the fans would go nuts. Then they would get swept by the Nationals on the road and the fans would freak out. Generally for most of the year(s), the team was somewhere in between. Good enough to beat bad teams, but looked bad against top tier teams. People forget that the Giants have been an above average team for their world series years, but not always doninant. They have good pitching and put it together at the right time, the end of the season. I am not trying to equate the Hawks talent with the Giants, but I am trying to keep perspective on the Hawks winning streak. How many above .500 teams have they beat in these six? Let’s hope the Hawks continue to beat the teams they should beat, and hold their own against the rest – and maybe Ferry can add the final pieces at the trade deadline ala Brian Saebean and they can put it together at the end of the season…
The Truth
November 29th, 2012
12:02 pm
“Anthony Morrow for Derrick Williams sounds pretty fair to me. One of our extra shooters for one of their extra bigs. What do you guys think?”
Bad idea. What would be the point in trading Marvin and his 7.5M 2013 contract only to add yet another 6′-8″ tweener PF (Derrick Williams) and his 5M 2013 contract whose efficiency numbers are not as good as Marvin. Saving that 2.5M is one thing but failing to acquire a real SF upgrade is likely the bigger outcome.
alex
November 29th, 2012
12:03 pm
i m enjoining to read here all of coach Drew haters. in my opinion he doing max with this questionable structured roster giving him from Ferry and touching right bottoms at right time. are you forgot how he out coached “legendary st. v gandy” in playoff series with Howard at his best, or you prefer to come back to clown Stotts (check his current record in Portland) or most recent Woodson run when hawks became national laughing-stock with routine 40 points routs in playoffs and regular seasons.
The Truth
November 29th, 2012
12:10 pm
That 2.5M savings assumes the Hawks kept Marvin. By trading him for Devin’s expiring contract, the savings next yr is TBD
Section 303
November 29th, 2012
12:20 pm
I don’t understand the Larry Drew bashing. What’s he done wrong this year? And, if not him, who you want to coach this team?
Someone said that LD does not “coach in the 4th quarter”. What? I challenge anyone to support that take. It makes no sense.
Samurai Squirrel
November 29th, 2012
12:49 pm
Good points, The Truth.
I guess my counter argument is that we’d be going after his potential. Derrick Williams is 21 years old (won’t turn 22 until May) compared to Marvin’s 26 (almost 27). D-Williams has yet to have any consistent playing time whereas Marvin pretty much started from the time he was drafted. How do we know he won’t turn out to be a player? Apparently the association thought a lot of him since he was drafted #2 (with many people saying he should have gone #1). His contract is only for $4.6 million. After this year, we’re going to have big bucks available to spend. Morrow is only signed for this one year, why not try to swing him for a possible long-term asset?
Samurai Squirrel
November 29th, 2012
12:56 pm
As you can tell, I am not planning on the Hawks being able to sign Dwight Howard AND Chris Paul. Cap room will not (seemingly) be a problem for us in the upcoming seasons.
2 FOR JOHN DREW
November 29th, 2012
12:56 pm
Grandad
November 28th, 2012
11:54 pm
- Grandad ….. You are a cool dude period !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rusty
November 29th, 2012
1:00 pm
Larry Drew is a horrible coach,he continues to let al & josh lead the fast break either turning the ball over or passing to someone on the outside for a jump shot instead of giving the ball to a guard & getting it back for a layup. He still let’s Josh do what ever he wants on offense. He still will not give Ivan .minutes he still is screwing around JT,he pulls him out for 2 fouls & then keeps him out for over ten minues.he has a bad habit of leaving him out until we go from a big lead to losing the lead. He tends to play the second unit to long. Why isn’t Ivan getting min,did he threaten ld. This team is winning now just like we started last season,this team is heading for trouble if Ld continues to coach lke he is.
cp
November 29th, 2012
1:07 pm
Teague picked up those two fouls and didn’t seem as aggressive last night so I dont have a problem with his minutes. I dont think you can really fault LD for Teague’s minutes last night. As Astro said, he has to bring that intensity night and and night out.
Just Joe
November 29th, 2012
1:12 pm
I don’t think that Ferry is ready to sacrifice a portion of his prized “flexibility” for Derrick Williams. If anything, I think Ferry wants more flexibility (more draft picks & more cap space).
alex
November 29th, 2012
1:19 pm
as a big fan of hawks for last 23 years and watching him closely again compare with fratello, weis, wilkins, stotts, woodson, ld much better and he is human, sometimes made mistakes, who does’t only you Rusty.
The Truth
November 29th, 2012
1:34 pm
“I guess my counter argument is that we’d be going after his potential. Derrick Williams is 21 years old …” – Samurai
LOL, That’s exactly the kind of thinking that lead us to Marvin (his potential).