Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 104, Wizards 95 (updated)
Vivlamore reporting.
The Hawks didn’t need a last-second 3-pointer to beat the lowly Wizards this time.
Atlanta built an 18 point lead in the third quarter but still had to hold off a late rally en route to a 104-95 victory over Washington Friday night. The win comes two weeks after the Hawks needed a last shot to defeat the then-winless Wizards at home.
The Hawks (11-5), third in the Eastern Conference, won for the eighth time in the past nine games. They have beaten the Wizards five straight games and 10 straight at Philips Arena.
The Wizards (2-14) are winless on the road, dropping all eight contests.
After watching two fourth-quarter leads slip away in their last two games, one a win and one a loss, the Hawks wanted to show a killer instinct against an inferior opponent.
They did – but barely.
The Hawks built the 18-point lead as DeShawn Stevenson hit a pair of 3-pointers early in third period. The Wizards didn’t go away without a fight. They chipped away and cut the lead to two points in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks used a 13-2 run, started with less than four minutes left, to regain the double-digit lead for the win.
“We have to develop a killer instinct,” coach Larry Drew said. “We had a team on the ropes and clearly had the momentum. We just have to develop that killer instinct. Tonight we didn’t have it. We didn’t do it. I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen us get into games and we have stretches where we really play well, we get leads and we have a lapse. We had one tonight.
“It’s something that you develop and something that doesn’t come over night. You eventually develop. You have to go through those type situations to understand it. I love being in that position where we do get big leads and create some separation. I’d rather have that problem than the other way around.”
Josh Smith led the Hawks with 23 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. Al Horford added 14 points and 14 rebounds, his fourth straight game with a double-double. The Hawks also got double-digit scoring from their other starters in Jeff Teague (19), Stevenson (15) and Devin Harris (15).
Harris said the issue was more about the mistakes the Hawks are making.
“We just have to develop that killer instinct,” Harris said. “This is a different team. Sometime it takes a little while. Hopefully it won’t cost us any more games before we can figure it out. … You have to go through it a couple times and learn from your mistakes. In the third quarter we had them on the ropes. We have to understand that at that point we have to turn it up a little bit more.”
The Wizards were led by Kevin Seraphin with 19 points and Bradley Beal with 18 points.
The Hawks led by as many as 14 points in the first half. The Wizards cut the lead to six points, 46-40, late in the second quarter. However, Stevenson hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Teague made a layup as the Hawks re-took a double-digit lead, 54-41, headed into intermission.
“I’ve got to give it up to Teague and Harris,” Stevenson said. “I’m in the right spots. They know what spots I like to shoot from. I’m playing with a lot of confidence right now and just shooting the ball.”
A 12-2 first-quarter run broke the game open early for the Hawks. They used another 10-0 run late in the opening stanza to lead by 14 points. The Wizards finished the opening quarter by shooting just 1 of 8 from the floor.
The Hawks held a 47-32 rebounding advantage, a key statistic for the unit.
It’s early in the season but Stevenson said the Hawks must learn to finish off opponents.
“In the third quarter we get lackadaisical, take bad shots and turn the ball over,” he said. “We have to keep that killer instinct because in the playoffs it’s like that. … It’s a good position (with big leads) but at the same time you don’t want it to come back in a playoff situation and it bite us in the butt.”
The Hawks will be tested as they start a three-game road trip Saturday against the Grizzlies, the top team in the Western Conference. That is followed by a game against the Heat, with the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
“All in all we’ve had a great homestand,” Smith said. “That was very important. Now, we have to go out on the road and try to duplicate what we did at home.”
- Chris Vivlamore
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90 comments Add your comment
ag
December 8th, 2012
10:53 am
I am not a big D12 fan, but he would mean a lot to the city and the franchise. If you want a big lineup – heck with D12, this team would win 60-65 games.
A player like him you don’t have to run many plays. Those plays we run for Josh on the right block, we would run for D12 on the left block and Horford working the top of the key. That would be a great team.
hfc95
December 8th, 2012
10:59 am
d12=best C in the NBA/ biggest narcissist(Melo is right there too)
I would watch the hawks with or without dwight and if dwight comes here I will not stop watching the hawks as i have been since95, I would not be happy dwight is here but I wouldnt be mad, I would know that this is just so atlantas may pay a little more attention to their team but it would mean that ASG just wants a quick fix economically instead a long-term payoff of building a team-oriented hard playing group that can compete for championships and if dwight is here, we will take on his personality and play 2nd round and out ball, as a true hawks fan I want a championship not a all-nba C who cant help us any more than we are now.
hfc95
December 8th, 2012
11:01 am
Intelligence/mindset>talent/ability
BIG DOG
December 8th, 2012
11:05 am
Where is the world famous WORLDWIDE CLYDE AND HS PROMOTION, HA
Clyde im buying my T -SHIRT D12 COME BACK HOME, when Hawks play the Lakers.
Im on boared for the promotion.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
December 8th, 2012
11:10 am
March 13 get your D12 T – SHIRTS D12 COME BACK HOME.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Rod from College Park
December 8th, 2012
11:19 am
“d12 is the stern system gone wrong. he was pampered by the refs and had his way before he earned it and it is going to be hard for him to get it back. grinder, he is not. maybe he is losing the respect of his peers as well, starting with kobe.”
LOL. Dwight is losing the respect of his peers, especially Kobe. The comedy on this blog is over the top.
Positive Thinker
December 8th, 2012
11:40 am
It surprises me that a Hawks blog has so much interest in the Lakers!
tjhook
December 8th, 2012
12:15 pm
I want to thank Al Horford for his contributions to the Hawks, but if we have championship aspirations, the team needs to get a post threat to complement the shooters we have. Al has more money on his contract currently than JSmoove. Gasol, Chris Duhon and Devin Ebanks to the Hawks for Al Horford, Devin Harris and Petro. Harris would solve their issue with an uptempo guard and someone to spell Howard when the oppositon goes to Hack a Howard (Al shoots a LITTLE better lol). The Hawks get a post player who can pass out of a double team, a guard to spell Teague if he is not playng D and the glut at small forward/shooting guard has a player in Ebanks who can get points by putting the ball on the floor and with making moves without the ball in his hands. The money also matches up.
ag
December 8th, 2012
12:25 pm
Dogmatic, who should the guys get or draft… actually tell me a center AFTER D12 that was drafted that you really want… Thabeet??? Oden???
keith
December 8th, 2012
12:33 pm
I hope Dwight is sick and tired of Kobe Bean Bryant and all his “Ball Hawking”. Come home where you belong Dwight. Kobe is a “Diva.” He showed his lack of professionalism, his lack of maturity, and his lack of Judgement, over the last 12 years. Kobe is the most selfish Basketball player i have ever seen! I can not foresee a scenario where Dwight re-signs to play with that “KNUCKLE-HEAD.”
keith
December 8th, 2012
12:42 pm
Hasheem Thabeet is effectively playing the Back-up center position from the Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, ,,In case you were wondering???
Slim
December 8th, 2012
12:46 pm
Al is balling, running the floor as well as any center in the league right now. I wouldn’t change anything about front court players except for petro garbage a$$$. Al has never been overwhelmed by any center in this league, it’s all about the role players and chemistry, however I agree Al had to get better offensively and still could improve, but I would rather have Kaman than D12 on this current team.
ag
December 8th, 2012
1:14 pm
Player drafted after 04 at center
05 #1 Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee traded the guy and he has not played this season)
# 10 Andrew Bynum – Great post player but attitude and injury issues.
06′ #1 Andrea Bargnani – Good scorer but not much or rebounder or defender
#10 Mouhamed Sene – Out of NBA after 3 years
07 #1 Greg Oden – Injuries forced out of NBA
#3 Al Horford – Who knew he would have a better career than Oden’
#8 Brandon Wright – I like the kid, but he has bounced around and earns a lot of DNP’s.
#9 Joakim Noah – Would have been drafted #1 in ‘06. Has played very well.
#10 Spencer Hawes – Hey, his uncle had a good career with the Hawks. Again, been traded and is hurt.
08 #10 Brooks Lopez – Excellent scorer but poor rebounder and missed a lot of last season with an injury. Currently battling injuries.
09 #2 Hasheem Thabeet – Teams still taking a chance with him. Comes off the bench in OKC. Funny, other team rid themselves of their underacheiving second round picks.
#5 DeMarcus Cousins – Maturity issues, doesn’t seem very athletic and does not have a big motor. Does have excellent low post moves.
#7 Greg Monroe – May be an All-Star one day. Averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.4 rbs. Looks like a shade lower than Horford.
#11 Enes Kanter – Average of 6 ppg and 4 rebounds. Started first game Friday and reponded with 18 points.
12 #9 Andre Drummond – Slid in draft but many feel like he will be a good NBA center.
ag
December 8th, 2012
1:32 pm
My point – these were top 10 guys drafted at center every year after D12. That is 8 years – and only maybe 3 guys would you trade Al for. The answer is not in the draft.
Sautee
December 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
tjhook,
Al Horford: $12M: 16.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 bpg
Pau Gasol: $19M: 12.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 bpg
From a monetary standpoint, why on earth would Ferry make that trade? From a production standpoint, isn’t that just throwing $7M away?
Yes, I know Gasol has a much better post up game, but that’s about the only thing he’s better than Horford at. But geez, that salary!!!!???? And it’s even higher next year. No thanks.
Chris Vivlamore
December 8th, 2012
2:14 pm
Dogmatic (as you are calling yourself now): You are a troll and it has nothing to do with your opinions on Al Horford. It has everything to do with using other poster’s handles and vulgarities. You are deleted and blocked again. The only reason you were able to post today was because of a small glitch. That has been corrected. See ya
Sautee
December 8th, 2012
2:27 pm
tjhook,
Also, I just found that Gasol has a 15% trade kicker, as well. That means that he’d be paid $2.85M in addition to the $19M.
$21.85 for less production than we’re getting for $12M? Passes from a double team aren’t worth that, at least to me.
Just Joe
December 8th, 2012
2:27 pm
Hawks have to go big tonight.
ZaZa – Gasol
Horford – Randolph
Smith – R. Gay
Stevenson – Allen
Teague – Conley
Sautee
December 8th, 2012
2:46 pm
Just Joe,
Doesn’t Stevenson sit on back to backs?
ag
December 8th, 2012
2:51 pm
C Viv… my research went to a troll… lol..
Just Joe
December 8th, 2012
2:52 pm
You are correct. I guess that puts Harris in, and Morrow on deck for major minutes.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
December 8th, 2012
3:15 pm
That Teague and Devin Harris backcourt ain’t gonna work tonight. We need Morrow starting and Jenkins backing him up. Stevenson needs to sit and rest those knees. We need him to make a playoff run. Its too early in the season to wear him down.
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
3:18 pm
I would prefer Harris running the second unit with Lou playing off-ball…
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
December 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
MoreSupportfromAJC
December 8th, 2012
5:55 am
The Hawks are Ranked #3 in The East!!! ….and they are Rarely mentioned on the front web page in the AJC??? I have to always scroll to the Hawks tab to find info on the Hawks!! Where’s the Respect for this team?? Same thing on NBA.com !!! C’mon support the Hawks!!!
High school football gets more love on the AJC than the Hawks. The Hawks were even the last team to get a blog on the AJC website.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 8th, 2012
3:34 pm
“Intelligence/mindset>talent/ability”
In the NBA, this is 100% false. If that was true, Shane Battier would be a better franchise cornerstone than Carmelo Anthony. That’s just not how it works in this league.
I love this current Hawks team. Went to my first game of the season yesterday, and for the first time in maybe forever I saw all the Hawks players paying attention to LD in nearly every timeout. But you are kidding yourself if you think Dwight Howard wouldn’t exponentially increase this team’s chances of winning a championship.
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
4:14 pm
Neither of the two inequalities
“Intelligence/mindset>talent/ability”
or
“Intelligence/mindset Championship
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
4:15 pm
“Intelligence/mindset <talent/ability”
are valid statements.
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
4:17 pm
However,
Intelligence/mindset + talent/ability –> Championship
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
4:20 pm
Strange how this Blog Monster is cripples & cuts my ordinary text
Jae Evolution
December 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
I’m pretty sided of going after CP3 this summer mainly because I fear how limited Dwight would be in the end of games if we got him. However I’ve heard Stern is very displeased with the Hack-a-whoever tactic and is rallying to have the final two minute penalty where the team gets the two FT’s + possession, last the entire game. If that happens I’d absolutely push to sign Dwight, his FT faults would still haunt us with both him and Josh Smith on the same team but his faults in crunchtime where it matters would be almost neutralized.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
FTPB
“I still don’t understand why Teague deliberately passes to Josh on the perimeter. I’m glad Josh hit the 3, but he is not the one the Hawks want taking the shot.”
A couple of plays before that, Teague drove baseline, had Josh in the corner for a 3, and tried to pass it to the top of the key instead and turned it over. Seemed on that play like he was trying to avoid setting up Josh for a 3. When Teague came to the bench after that, some of the coaches seemed to be getting on him for not hitting Josh in the corner. I don’t know what they were saying, obviously, but it seems to me like the coaches would rather see Teague hit the open guy, regardless of who it is.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 8th, 2012
6:27 pm
I hope the people who can’t accept the idea of Al and Josh playing together have been watching the last few games especially, but even the season as a whole. Those two have been outstanding together, particularly on the defensive end. There is no reason whatsoever why they can’t coexist on the same team.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 8th, 2012
6:32 pm
As far as tonight’s game is concerned, I’d like to see the Hawks go big and use a lot of Ivan off the bench. I don’t know what Ivan’s deal was yesterday — he was shooting around during halftime and in the huddle with the other players during timeouts — but he never took his warmups off the entire game. It was almost like he had already been informed that he wouldn’t play. Memphis hasn’t been a great rebounding team either, but their front court starters can all rebound and the Hawks will have a hard time beating them if they can’t stay competitive on the glass.
Astro Joe
December 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Not every paqss Teague makes should be intended as an assist opportunity. And not every pass to Josh on the perimeter is intended to result in a shot. I have never understood the notion that a pass to Josh on the perimeter MUST mean that someone wants him to shot it from out there. Surely not every pass that leaves the hands of a PG is intended to result in a field goal attempt, right?
Sameba
December 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Najeh Davenpoop:
Indeed, it should be clear by now that Josh & Al play well together. However, for the Hawks to be a contender, one needs to add at least one superstar level player to the roster. Then another problem arises – with the bench. One has to have a good bench to at least hold on the advantage starters get at the beginning of games. This can be possibly achieved by going above the cap level. Are the Hawks ready for this?
Astro Joe
December 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Atlanta Hawks @ATLHawks 20m
Did you know: the #ATLHawks are the only team in the NBA that has not allowed an opponent to shoot 50% or better this season!
Let’s wait until Lester Connor is receiving accolades as a defensive guru while working with a “brand name head coach” before we even acknowledge the work he has done with this Hawks squad (and last year’s team, too).
lewis
December 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
The Danny Ferry effect: No more PT for Anthony Tolliver.
You know LD would still be starting him
Najeh Davenpoop
December 8th, 2012
6:50 pm
Oh yeah, and let’s hope the Hawks can defend Zach Randolph better tonight than they defended the homeless man’s version of him, Kevin Seraphin, last night.
Melvin
December 8th, 2012
7:10 pm
Watching the Texas/UCLA game. No disrespect but Larry Drew son is not that good….
Jae Evolution
December 8th, 2012
7:20 pm
Shabazz Muhammad looks so out of shape, he almost looks fat.