Live from the Hawks: Even John Hollinger is impressed!
Get off to a 9-2 start and you'll have a lot of friends. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
We’ve had some fun with our Facebook friend John Hollinger of ESPN.com. We’ve noted more than once that he picked the Hawks to win 31 games in 2008-2009 — they won 47 — and declared their bench “a FEMA disaster zone.” (It was actually pretty good.) More recently we’ve noted he predicted the Hawks will slide from those 47 victories to 44.
Well, fair’s only fair. And if we we tweak Big John for his less-than-glowing appraisals, we must also recognize him when he says something nice. And here it is: In his first power rankings for ESPN’s Insiders (link requires registration), Mr. Hollinger has the Hawks No. 1.
If you’re counting, that makes the third set of ratings that puts these Hawks at the top. Hollinger’s ESPN colleague Marc Stein and John Schuhmann of NBA.com made the same call earlier in the week. (Chris Mannix of SI.com is the contrarian: He has the Hawks No. 2 behind Phoenix.)
With early success comes, as day follows night (or is it the other way around?), increased media attention. I’ve noticed correspondents from ESPN.com (Hollinger again), NBA.com (esteemed former colleague Sekou Smith), CBSsports.com and Yahoo! Sports on hand for tonight’s game with Miami, and it wasn’t so long ago you’d go to a Hawks game find rows of empty chairs in the press gallery.
I’m not going to tell you I’ve been here for every game of the past few years, but I’ve seen a few. And not since the middle ’80s have I seen the Hawks playing at such a high level. (The Lenny Wilkens teams of the ’90s were never quite this good.) I expect the Hawks to win again. I expect them to win every game the rest of the season and finish 80-2.
Yes, I’m kidding. But I’m also excited in a strictly professional way. I love basketball. I love being able to see good basketball without leaving town. And you’re welcome to join me as we chat about Game No. 12 in what has already been a blissful season. To borrow the catchphrase from the Hawks’ failed 1994 postseason: Bring it on!
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356 comments Add your comment
rms
November 18th, 2009
6:13 pm
Wow! First
RomeDawg
November 18th, 2009
6:14 pm
Go Hawks! Gotta Keep the momentum going.
rms
November 18th, 2009
6:15 pm
I will be impressed when at least half the season is over. Not overly impressed with quick starts but they are so hard to sustain but its kinda nice to enjoy though. It could be a 2-9 start!
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 18th, 2009
6:17 pm
John Hollinger is not “the Hull man”…that’s Jeff Hullinger…correct..??
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:17 pm
Kudos, RMS.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:18 pm
John Hollinger is not the Hull Man. Jeff Hullinger of WSB is the Hull Man.
cefus
November 18th, 2009
6:18 pm
i wish i could see more hawks games on espn instead of their favorite team the cavs, which seem like they get three four games a week. the last game i saw was the boston game and i like the fact that bibby johnson and crawford were all in the game at the same time i really want to see more of that.
Frank Wren
November 18th, 2009
6:19 pm
Hawks are a franchise never able to take that next step. Will they this year?
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 18th, 2009
6:20 pm
rms…it’s still nice to see the Hawks get off to a quick start…they normally do not….Al Horford is the key to this team…when he plays well everything comes together…
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 18th, 2009
6:21 pm
and there’s only one “Hull Man”….
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:22 pm
There is only one Hull Man.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
November 18th, 2009
6:25 pm
I think Horford and Crawford have been the difference makers this season. Crawford’s instant offense and Horford’s consistency are something the team didn’t have last year. Of course, Joe Johnson is as good as ever and Josh Smith is the best he’s ever been. With Teague coming up this team could be good for awhile.
Wade_Marquette
November 18th, 2009
6:25 pm
i say 50 points tonight. Streak Over.
Wade_Marquette
November 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
wade #11111111111111111111
Old devil
November 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
So far, I am impressed with the Hawks start. But wait until the injury bug hits,(as it inevitably does), and then see how they react to adversity. It is my hope as a long suffering Hawk fan, that they will be able to rise above it, and with the veteran leadership, overcome the adversity that will most certainly test them. I hope for at least a trip to the conference finals this year, but then again I am a long suffering Hawks fan…
Wade_Marquette
November 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
streak is over guys! 50 from Wade
rms
November 18th, 2009
6:28 pm
barring any injury maybe this team can be better than predicted this season. I would like to see a steady diet of Jeff Teague though.
Nside Hawksfan
November 18th, 2009
6:31 pm
Hey Marquette, Dwyane Fade will leave the ATL frustrated again… Just wait.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
November 18th, 2009
6:32 pm
I agree about Teague, rms.
Wade_Marquette
November 18th, 2009
6:33 pm
im sitting at the game as we speak !
nolan
November 18th, 2009
6:34 pm
Please don’t turn this into an idiotic flame war. I went to the Portland game Monday, walked up, bought $10 tix and moved to center court, first row on the upper deck. I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to do that? Will Atlanta ever become a basketball town? I notice its rare to find Hawks news on the AJC front page…
Fisher in Augusta
November 18th, 2009
6:34 pm
I am so excited about the Hawks’ great (so far) season! My only wish is that Atlanta fans would support the Hawks more- even when they’re not having a great stretch like as of late. I live 2 hours down I-20 in Augusta and would own season tix if I lived in Atlanta. I’d love for Philips Arena to be one of those dreaded destinations (like TD Garden & “The Q”) because of the exciting atmosphere & loud fans.
Mr. G
November 18th, 2009
6:37 pm
4th!!!!! I think…..Given what I saw on Heat highlights from this morning….The Hawks cannot afford another slow start tonight like Monday Night…..The Heat had a game last and a travel day so they should be weary even though they might try to make tonight;s game a statement game tonight with what has tired legs…..Hawks are going to win 98-92….
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:38 pm
This is a good deep team. When your No. 2 scorer on the season doesn’t start, you know you’re onto something.
seed
November 18th, 2009
6:44 pm
Thanks for the live blog Bradley. I appreciate that. I’m loving the Hawks. I am proud of Joe Johnson’s assertiveness lately. Can’t stand it when he plays “cooperative” out there.
Dash Riprock
November 18th, 2009
6:47 pm
Great start for the Hawks. Question, Mark. With Johnson saying before the season that he wanted to test upcoming free agency, what are the Hawks chances of reeling him in and keeping him the core of this group?
Hawk n the Ham
November 18th, 2009
6:49 pm
Mark
Are you in the press box or near the sidecourt?
If near the sidecourt, I want to see you on camera doing the Macarena during timeouts!!
Nside Hawksfan
November 18th, 2009
6:49 pm
So Marquette, you’re at the game? Sounds like your going home frustrated too!
Not Disappointed
November 18th, 2009
6:50 pm
“Hey Mark!” Am I “Tardy for the Party!”
Joe
November 18th, 2009
6:52 pm
This is a must win game for the hawks cause it’s good to win against miami which is a team they could face again in the first round of the playoffs.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:54 pm
I’m up in the rafters, Ham.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
The Hawks would have to considered favorites to keep Joe Johnson. That doesn’t mean they will, though.
VaDawg
November 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
I am just glad to see the Hawks playing respectable ball again. I vividly rember the days of Nique, Willis and Webb. It’s nice to have another GA team to cheer for.
Any out of the box predictions for the win total for the year?
Hawk n the Ham
November 18th, 2009
6:56 pm
AJC was kind enough to get you the Aaron Lucky Dog – Rafter special, huh?
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 18th, 2009
7:02 pm
VaDawg….speaking on Nique,Willis and Webb…I remember where I was when Boston beat us in game 6. do you..?? I was in Germany…listened on the radio…that hurt…we had the best in the NBA that year…(1988 or 1987…not sure which yr…) memory fades with age
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:03 pm
That’s just where most of the media sits at a Hawks game. Almost every NBA team has removed press row at courtside and has taken to selling those seats. Money, you understand.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:03 pm
what do you think of nique’s subject verb agreement?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:03 pm
And now for the depressing news: There’s not much of a crowd, at least not yet. But I understand traffic is wretched.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:06 pm
apparently josh and horford is playing their best defense of their career
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:08 pm
I’m in agreement with anything Dominique says.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:09 pm
Hopefully fans show up for this game becuz the attendance for the last game wasn’t ggod.
MEL
November 18th, 2009
7:09 pm
I usually don’t like to make comments because, usually all you get is Hawks bashers.. I’m not sure I like the bandwagon jumpers either though.. but I will say this, if we ever get Jeff Teague playing like we know he can play, and Marv at least giving us 10 pOints a game, it will be scary.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:09 pm
good*
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:10 pm
Crowd has filled in quite a bit. There are more folks here than there were Monday night.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:11 pm
go hawks! the hawks is gooooood!
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:12 pm
nice brad. nice
Andre
November 18th, 2009
7:13 pm
Hey Hawks let keep it up. Atlanta needs a ’ship.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:14 pm
and while i’m being a jerk, who is the cheeseball on the hawks sideline and does he regularly get punched in the face?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:15 pm
Hawks down four. Should have been worse, but Jermaine O’Neal missed two FTs.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:15 pm
if marvin gets it going, forget about it,
MEL
November 18th, 2009
7:16 pm
I think most teams in the league respect us, now if only the refs would show our players some love.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:16 pm
Tied after a Bibby steal and layup.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:17 pm
Beasley has all eight Miami points.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:18 pm
Josh blocks O’Neal under the hoop.
MEL
November 18th, 2009
7:18 pm
I wish the refs would show us some love
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:19 pm
Hawks take lead after a Bibby trey from Joe. They do work nicely together.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:19 pm
Hawks up 14-11 at the first timeout. Joe with seven points. Bibby with five. Wade hasn’t scored.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:20 pm
Keep gettin those blocks and rebounds Josh
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:20 pm
is it me or is joe playing with more confidence? it seems like hes playing the best hes played with the hawks.
chemdawg
November 18th, 2009
7:20 pm
serious offense from the hawks this year
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:21 pm
one of the most important stats of the year. josh smith 0-0 from 3
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:22 pm
is it me or is joe playing with more confidence? it seems like hes playing the best hes played with the hawks.
contract year you should play your best
MEL
November 18th, 2009
7:23 pm
As long as Josh and Al continue to play agressive we will be OK, But its amazing to see how far Josh has come, he may be the best player on the team, when all said and done.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:23 pm
Josh has improved in every area but free throws. It’s just horrendous.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:24 pm
Joe has never lacked confidence. Not even at Arkansas.
chemdawg
November 18th, 2009
7:24 pm
josh smith only attempted about 1 3-pointer per game and made about 25% of them. Not a game changer.
HawksVHeat
November 18th, 2009
7:25 pm
The best record in the Eastern Conference AND playing a good Portland team and only 12K fans were at that game (comparing that to the 17K Orlando had vs. the Bobcats).
After all those great crowds in the playoffs, Atl folk .. are you telling me you only show up for support when the team is in the playoffs? Really hope the crowds show up as the season goes along.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:25 pm
the tv broadcast is talking about the refs not calling fouls. how do you see it brad?
chemdawg
November 18th, 2009
7:25 pm
That’s .75 points per shot, which isn’t as bad as everyone is saying
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:25 pm
Marvin another terrible start
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:26 pm
Crawford in. Marvin out. Marvin’s always the first out.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:26 pm
dang josh. playing the best of his career and beasley is having his way
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:27 pm
Beasley with 11 already. Big-time talent.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:27 pm
Josh finds Joe on a backdoor set. Joe gets fouled. Makes both. He has nine.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:28 pm
Crawford with a three. He had only four points Monday.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:29 pm
good lord i love crawford. and i thought we’d be hard pressed to replace flip’s points
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:29 pm
Hawks by four at the second timeout. Wade without a point.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:29 pm
anybody knows why crawford licks his fingers???
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:30 pm
because their too hot!!!
E.J. a.k.a. HomeGrown
November 18th, 2009
7:31 pm
Nice extra pass by Bibby. Unselfish, in prior years he might have shot that instead of making the extra pass.
MEL
November 18th, 2009
7:31 pm
Is it just me or dose it look like everytime Jamal shoots its going in
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:31 pm
Mark, they don’t even pass the ball to marvin? I know he’s struggling, but what gives?
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:33 pm
btw the Heat broadcasters have been very kind to the Hawks. (at least so far)
E.J. a.k.a. HomeGrown
November 18th, 2009
7:34 pm
ZaZa with the jumper in rythme? Yes!!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:35 pm
The Heat broadcasters are famous for being hard on their team.
Wade with a driving dunk. Cuts lead to five.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:35 pm
lol josh got out the way
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:35 pm
you know what depth does? marvin and mo haven’t done nothing and we’ve beat boston, denver and portland twice
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:36 pm
Daequan Cook misses a trey. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him make a shot, and I’ve seen him play more than half a dozen times in person.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:36 pm
where’s teague been? he looked great early and it doesn’t seem like hes getting many minutes
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:37 pm
I was watching the Blazers broadcast the other day online (because I live in MIA and don’t get the honor of listing to Nique) and they might have been the most biased, unprofessional crew I have ever watched.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:37 pm
cook went to my highschool, wheeler. i graduated with reef. ever since we’ve been the shiznit
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:38 pm
Bad call on Joe Smith. Was standing there and Joel Anthony slammed into him.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:38 pm
how does za get so many dang offensive boards? i love him coming off the bench
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:38 pm
Hawks lead 26-23 after the first quarter. Wade has four points.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:40 pm
did they say haslem is hurt???
The Hawksta
November 18th, 2009
7:41 pm
@Zach! Wish I could have heard that broadcast. Something with MARK B. Didn’t know the Heats broadcast team were that hard on there on team
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:41 pm
Haslem has a bad shoulder.
Marvin with a rebound but cannot finish. Anthony stuffs him at the rim.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:41 pm
Marvin embarrased again
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
Teague isn’t playing because he’s missing lots of shots and committing lots of turnovers
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
MArvin’s first jumper made this season lol
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
we need to get marvin going
The Hawksta
November 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
Yes Marvin!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
But Marvin does hit from the baseline on the same possession.
And I have now seen Daequan Cook make a basket.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:43 pm
Two hoops in a row for Marvin. Career high.
I’m kidding about the last part.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:43 pm
Now Marvin is finally starting to play
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:43 pm
like i said, if marvin gets off, watch out
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:44 pm
I actually like Marvin more with the second unit — that’s how he’s playing now — than with the first. He gets more looks.
Cook hits another. He’s showin’ me.
Just A Fan
November 18th, 2009
7:45 pm
I guess I’ve not been around for awhile but when, why and where did Sekou go?
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:45 pm
The blazers broadcasters were ridiculous. When the game turned away from their favor in the overtime, they said “well the blazers have won 4 in a row on the road and sometimes the official feel the need to dictate the outcome of games”, and they basically said that the refs were cheating making bad calls on purpose to take a win away from the blazers.(specifically referring to officials by name as bad officials) They also said “well the hawks came in and got some breaks, they were much more rested than the blazers, and thats what changed the game.” (umm the hawks played the night before…)
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:45 pm
Zaza with a block on Shavlik Randolph. Remember when Shav was supposed to be a more athletic Christian Laettner?
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:46 pm
our 2nd unit seems to struggle a little bit and let teams back in the game
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:46 pm
Sekou went to NBA.com, which is based in Atlanta. He left about 12 days ago, I believe.
Great guy. One of the greatest.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:47 pm
My husband disagrees with me about the 1980s when these players wore much tighter pants and we saw alot more manclevage what do you think.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:47 pm
I’m not sure what “mancleavage” is. But I’m sure I don’t want to know.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:47 pm
I wondered what happened to Sekou
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:49 pm
No time for Teague in this half, and the starters are returning.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:49 pm
Crawford with an offensive foul. Heat up three after James Jones hit a second-chance three.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:49 pm
james Jones looks 12
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:49 pm
did cook go to wheeler? i’m thinking about a dude who went to miami and could dunk like nobody’s bidness
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:50 pm
Shavlik walks. Most overrated player ever?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:50 pm
Joe with a three to tie. He has 12. Josh with the pass. Josh is passing well.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:51 pm
how bout bowie getting drafted before… you know
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:51 pm
Cook didn’t go to Wheeler. He’s not from Georgia.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:52 pm
Boner. I see what he means, as when those players in the day would sit on the bench, lots of Bulge SHOWED, NOW WE HAVE LONGER PANTS AND OUR IMAGINATION.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:52 pm
ok. how good would the goat have been in the league. brad you should know. you’re old
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:53 pm
They’re doing the parachute drop from the rafters, and one of the teddy bears got caught on the scaffolding. Like Red Buttons in “The Longest Day.”
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:53 pm
sorry i’m thinking of dequan jones
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:53 pm
I once met Earl Manigault. Nice man. I believe he has since died.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:54 pm
wow whos using my name? mark check the IP address
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:54 pm
That’s it. I saw DeQuan Jones play. I believe he’s at Miami now.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:55 pm
Crawford steal. Bibby underhand one-hand lob. Josh jam. Nice.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:55 pm
holy mofo cow! nice. and we thought crawford was all about offense
Zach
November 18th, 2009
7:55 pm
WOW
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:56 pm
yeah hes at miami
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:56 pm
I know this will sound odd, but the Hawks just look better than their opponents now — faster, bigger, deeper, even smarter.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:57 pm
looks like the hawks are real comfortable just throwing it up if josh is anywhere near the basket.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:57 pm
brad, i think the exact same thing. i didn’t think that last year
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:57 pm
lol josh fell down like he got shot
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:57 pm
J.J.M. has an impostor. Always a sign of admiration.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:58 pm
like atheletic arrogance or something. its just confidence. they would never have beat boston in boston last year. now they know they can beat anybody anywhere
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:58 pm
It was striking how much more talented the Hawks appeared than did the Blazers, and the Blazers are a really nice team.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:58 pm
My husband beats me and the police came later. I told them he was under stress at work and had a bad day. The police woman looked at my face and said.. Honey, looks like You had the bad day!!
John Wayne
November 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
Nice Red Buttons reference. I preferred him in Hatari with Clarence the cross eyed lion.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
i’m with you mark, beasley is legit
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
Joe with another three. He has 18.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
Joe is on fire 2nite
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
thats not me people im 21 and not even married
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:00 pm
josh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:00 pm
josh smithhhhhhhhhhh
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:00 pm
Know the first time I heard the phrase “athletic arrogance”? From Rich McKay about DeAngelo Hall.
Josh coast to coast.
And now Josh with a dunk. Hawks by 10. Making it look easy now.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:01 pm
look at the crowd they are in it
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:01 pm
this is it folks, hawks will make some noise in the playoffs this year. forget the big 3. its the big 4 now. whoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:02 pm
screw you brad.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:02 pm
i’m just kidding.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
8:02 pm
Hawks are putting in work Yea Boy!!! lol
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:03 pm
whether or not de hall sucks or not, atheletic arrogance is a great term that describes something that you really couldn’t get at before
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:03 pm
I hope joe resigns with us
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:03 pm
Athletic supporter sounds more like it, a secondary player here. I like tight men in a wet jockie strap.Tony Romo, va va voom.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:04 pm
god i love this game
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:04 pm
Mark can you block him?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:04 pm
Josh with a steal. Horfy with a fast-break follow jam. Josh with a rebound and gets fouled. The Heat have no answer for this.
Zach
November 18th, 2009
8:05 pm
as Dane Cook would say, “abused”.
Mark, “the heat are crumbling on both sides of the floor” –Heat Broadcasters
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:06 pm
actually i wouldn’t mind having de hall back. never mind. yes i would. houston is coming on and i love grimes. how the hell did that interception where he jumped higher than spud could for that int not get talked about more?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:06 pm
I’m telling you, the Heat crew can be brutally honest.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:07 pm
Josh with a muscle layup on Anthony to make it 55-39. Hawks so much quicker to the ball.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:07 pm
j smooooove
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:07 pm
this is like ali vs. cooney. did you see dwaydes look? “we can’t hang”
Zach
November 18th, 2009
8:07 pm
I like it, I respect a tv crew that can be honest and call it like it is.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:08 pm
A blowout by halftime. Crawford to Bibby makes it 19 points.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:08 pm
I would bench my starters if i were the heat
ajw
November 18th, 2009
8:09 pm
Wow! this team is rockin’ the house!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:09 pm
OK, Josh has now taken a three this season. But, in his defense, it was at the end of the half.
And not a bad half. Hawks lead 60-43. Dwyane Wade with four points.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:09 pm
that wasn’t me. obviously
Zach
November 18th, 2009
8:09 pm
“looks like Miami’s running downhill, and Atlanta’s running uphill.” –Heat Broadcasters. I think that’s pretty dead on
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:09 pm
wow somebody in here really has no life
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:10 pm
lol josh first 3
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:10 pm
We’re taking care of the other JJM, JJM. That individual is about to get banned.
ajw
November 18th, 2009
8:11 pm
I am smiling with chills from all the excitement. We’ve waited a long time for this. Cherish this baby.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:11 pm
thanks mark
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:13 pm
i think if we can’t sustain this level of play then its on woodson. and does billy have any vindication? what about sund?
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:14 pm
thats not fair to woodson. way to go hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:17 pm
How bout them Atlanta Spirit now? Hawks number 1 in the NBA with a salary in the bottom 15, and the Atlanta Thrashers playing playoff hokey, how bout them apples???
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:17 pm
Billy deserves credit, absolutely. (Though you can make the case that this would have happened two years ago with either Chris Paul or Brandon Roy on the team.)
Rick Sund had a fabulous summer. The Crawford trade was huge, and keeping three of the four free agents plus adding Joe Smith and Jason Collins was more than I ever dreamed he could do. But he did it.
And give Woody credit. The Hawks are playing harder for him now than they did two years ago, and that almost never happens. Generally guys get sick of hearing the same coach talk — familiarity breeds contempt — but this bunch has done the opposite. As Woody keeps saying, “They’re playing for something,” and they seem to know it.
DrewCat
November 18th, 2009
8:17 pm
hawks are looking sharp. Few turnovers and knocking down shots is our formula for success. Everyone is in a rhythm, even Marvin knocked down a few shots. Everybody on this blog needs to lay off Marv, he’ll get it going!!! He’s also playing pretty good defense with his length.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:17 pm
now we need the falcons to step it up
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:18 pm
Game was tied at 35 with 6:54 left in the half. Hawks outscored the head 25-8.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:19 pm
i totally agree mark. woody has done a great job with what hes been given.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:19 pm
Hey Mark,
How bout the worst owners ever? Atlanta Spirit?
Hawks #1 in the NBA
Thrashers Playoff Team
????????
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:20 pm
i mean that he inherited a mess and kept them on his side. especially what hes been able to do with josh. i thought that relationship was doomed. he actually got through to him and it seems they have father sonish relationship now when it seemed josh would just tune him out forever
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
Hawks outrebounded the Heat 26-18. Outscored Miami in the lane 28-12. (They outscored Portland 56-28 in the lane.)
Wade is 2 for 9. Hasn’t been to the line. Hasn’t done a thing.
Josh with 11 points in the second quarter.
og37
November 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
I said this off season the Hawks would win the division.We have one of the best starting 5 in the whole NBA.It’s just getting better.I hope Joe Johnson is just playing around.He would be stupid to leave the hawks come seasons end.We also have so many players on are bench that could start for most teams.INCREDIBLE.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
Certainly the Spirit is looking better than, say, Dan Snyder.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:22 pm
Look even ESPN has an Atlanta Hawks poll on its front page (are the Atlanta Hawks legit contenders in the East?) only 54% seem to think so, but even ESPN is taking notice
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:23 pm
I think what happened with Josh is that he saw the team start to win and he said, “Hey, winning is fun!” Remember, he arrived in the 13-win season of 2004-2005 and had gone through more losing than any of these guys. He’d fallen into some bad habits. But he’s a big-timer now.
MitchC
November 18th, 2009
8:23 pm
Mark, good place to be tonight. Ever thought about being a Hawk broadcaster, instead of an AJC sportswriter? You’re pretty good with those score updates and game action.
Seriously, this team is on fire. I know it’s only November, and that they can hit a lull, and may well. The NBA season is long, after all. However, the way the Hawks are playing right now, they have the potential to win 60 games, or close to it.
Realistically, anything less than a trip to the Eastern Finals will be a disappointment for the Hawks this year. If we continue to play as we have, as I suspect we might, I think we have a shot to beat anyone this year, and.. maybe, dare we say it… end up in The Finals?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:24 pm
I didn’t think the Hawks would win the South. I did think they’d win 54 games and upset somebody in Round 2.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:25 pm
I thought about being a broadcaster until I heard myself on tape. End of that aspiration.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:25 pm
as good as the starters have been how bout the second team? thats what i think is almost as important as the improved play as josh, joe, horford… no. its been the starters and the bench
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:25 pm
Though im still not convinced Mike Woodson is the best coach long term for this team, I give him a lot of credit with the job he has done this year. My biggest beef was people kept saying the Woodson improved in wins every year (thats easy to do when you set the bar so low)
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:25 pm
Give Marvin some credit for D. He has affected Wade. Just made him pass off.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:26 pm
Heat with a quick five points to cut it to 12.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:26 pm
come on hawks dont let up
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:26 pm
Haha Mark, I did the same thing, stick to writing columns, your good at that as long as you keep up the Tech ones (forget about UGA there a waste of time)
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:26 pm
Beasley blocks Josh. Don’t see that very often.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:27 pm
is it me or have josh, joe and al played at a completely different level than last year. and they were damn good last year
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:27 pm
Joe follow jam off Marvin miss.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:28 pm
whoaaa joe dunk
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:28 pm
Joe doesn’t dunk very often, you know. And now Josh draws a charge from Beasley.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:28 pm
joe never does that
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:29 pm
i mean dunk an off reb
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:29 pm
Joe was an idiot for not taking that extension from the Hawks, he ain’t worth more than $15 mil a year
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:29 pm
3s are saving the heat
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
Wade running banker cuts it to nine. And now a T on Josh.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
I think he thought Wade cleared off on the drive.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
calm down josh
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
thats the josh i know and hate
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
haha, so much for Josh being under control, we knew that wasn’t gonna last long
BONE
November 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
Josh we don’t need to give them points
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:31 pm
Not a good trip. Joe fiddles around with it and passes to Horfy, who takes a 15-footer. And misses. And now Beasley at the line for two, Heat down eight.
Johhny Walking
November 18th, 2009
8:31 pm
Wade must have been caught with somebodys wife too. He looks offff. Win or Lose the HAWKS are on FIRE!!! Question is will the NBA ALLOW them to be this good when the PLAYOFFS come. They Hawks are clearly playing the best TEAM ball in the league right now. The league served em up real good against the Cavs last year. The King had only 2 fouls called the whole series. I really wish this was Legit. The Hawks really could have a chance at the Obrien trophy. Then again with 13,000 or less on game nights what can you expect.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:31 pm
jesus joe, you switch to a big guy and give him the dribble?
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:31 pm
I guess the hawks didn’t do shootaround after the half their shooting like garbage
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:32 pm
Horfy leads the break and finds Joe for a layup.
Let’s see Greg Oden lead the break.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:33 pm
al can run the break no?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:34 pm
Crawford in early this half. And you can see why. Heat within six.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:34 pm
marvin back to the bench lol
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:34 pm
Horfy post-up hook. Not a center, huh?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:35 pm
Horfy is the only guy playing at the moment. Good thing he’s playing well.
He’s at the line when play resumes, Hawks up six.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:35 pm
beaslye with 4 thank god
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:38 pm
Just had the Kiss Cam, and I was reminded that the late Jeff Denberg, my longtime AJC compatriot, always cracked up over that feature.
JJ
November 18th, 2009
8:39 pm
Our shooting from outside just has not been on track. Luckily we’re rebounding as well as ever and Horford is running the floor.
Should be interesting to see what we can do with both JO and Beasley with 4 fouls.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
Kind of a weak blocking foul on O’neal but we’ll take it.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
Still no Jeff Teague tonight.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:41 pm
Wade with a 3. Don’t let that guy get hot.
blazerdawg
November 18th, 2009
8:41 pm
crowd looks/sounds good on tv…Hawks look even better!
preston
November 18th, 2009
8:41 pm
Mark, I hate to bring this up, but do you see the hawks making any more moves this year to strengthen their team……..ok, specifically do you see the hawks moving Marvin at this point…..I mean, I see every starter improving and contributing to the hawks campaign this yr except Marvin, hec even Josh smith has shown tremendous growth since last yr, but Marvin seems to be digressing.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:41 pm
Great pass by Josh off an offensive rebound to Joe, who hits a three. Joe has 25.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:42 pm
Daequan Cook again. I’m convinced.
Joe with a twister in the lane. He’s making everything.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:42 pm
Don’t put Teague in at the end of quarters. He likes to foul guys shooting from half court with no time left.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
hahahaha josh what was that
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
Josh with a behind-the-back pass that becomes a charge. Trying to do too much there.
Hawks by eight, 2:06 left in the period.
JJ
November 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
Joe with a “heat check”. I don’t know about that shot.
Josh trying to do a little bit too much.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
Man, another fast break opportunity goofed up by the Hawks.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:44 pm
josh wanted to be on sportscenter top 10
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:44 pm
Yes, Teague did do that against Jerryd Bayless on Monday. Almost gave him three free throws on the play.
ryan
November 18th, 2009
8:44 pm
mark my words. hawks go on a run
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:46 pm
Hey Mark, HORFY?????
Mark Bradley the next Bobby Cox, I love it
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:46 pm
Instead Josh gets a seat on Woody’s bench.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:46 pm
i would never give crawford “dap”
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
8:47 pm
Mark,
I’m late to the blog tonight… but I tell you what, what a great opening.
If we didn’t know you were a Kentucky Boy before tonight, we’d sure as heck know it after your declaration (or believe you were from equally basketball-wonky Indiana).
It always makes it more fun for us, your readers (I still move we be called the Funky Bunch, or that you create a weekly article titled such), when a sports writer gets excited by what he’s reporting.
Kind of like Tony Barnyard with college football, or Sekou with basketball.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:47 pm
The hawks should of picked up Anthony Morrow, he would be awesome as a hawk, run and shoot
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:48 pm
As much as I’d like to take credit for “Horfy,” I can’t. That was Joakim Noah when the two were roommates. I heard Noah call him that at the 2007 Final Four and have thought of him as Horfy ever since.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:48 pm
Is it just me, or does Jamal Crawford like to shoot?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:48 pm
Crawford with a leaner and gets fouled. Needed that. Lead was down to six.
preston
November 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
Wow, D-wade is gonna get his.
John
November 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
Wow, we have so many weapons.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
wade at the line first time
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
Nice background info Mark, good to get the story on that, I just thought you and Bobby had been hangin out at the bar a little to much…lol
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
Wade is getting energized now. He has nine this quarter.
And yes, Crawford does enjoy the act of shooting.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:50 pm
joe dribbled to much
BONE
November 18th, 2009
8:50 pm
Joe ball hoggin again
BONE
November 18th, 2009
8:50 pm
Joe ball hoggin again
preston
November 18th, 2009
8:50 pm
man, Hawks are missing a lot of their free throws.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:50 pm
Arroyo with an awful foul after cutting it to five. Ball wasn’t even inbounds. Heat radio guy beside me just slapped the table.
Crawford gets two gift free throws with 6.1 seconds left in the quarter.
MyView
November 18th, 2009
8:51 pm
Enter your comments here
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:51 pm
I would give joe a 3 minute break here
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:52 pm
And that foul is the difference between a seven-point spread at the quarter and a five-point one.
I think the Hawks may have figured the game was over at halftime. And the Heat were nonplussed by that second quarter fade.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:52 pm
Hawks will blow them away in the Fourth, the Heat just arn’t as deep as the Hawks
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:53 pm
hawks got to comfy witht that huge lead and came out shooting jump shots
Elliptical Logician
November 18th, 2009
8:53 pm
Let’s see if the Heat have any gas left in their tanks in the 4th…back to back games and a rested, focused Hawks team playing at home.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:54 pm
As much as you try to act as if the score is 0-0 at the half, a team with a huge lead is aware it has a huge lead. Human nature.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:55 pm
to any UGA fans going to the Tech game in a couple of weeks, Please pick up your trash, Atlanta already has a hard enough time keeping the trash off the streets…..thank you
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:55 pm
Zaza with a move and a pass to Joe Smith, who dunks.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:55 pm
When did Zaza become Vlade Divac?
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2009
8:56 pm
im out guys. hope the hawks win.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:57 pm
Crawford isn’t going to lead the league in assists, FYI.
Marvin with a tough drive. He’s much more assertive with subs in the game. Maybe he feels he has to be.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:57 pm
Crawford is such a great player. Why would the Knicks and Warriors trade him? Oh wait, there must be a reason they their records stink.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:57 pm
Hawks are refocused and starting to pull away
preston
November 18th, 2009
8:57 pm
gotta love our second unit!!!
seed
November 18th, 2009
8:58 pm
Hey who is the guy that always squeezes his way into the camera frame (to the right behind Woody) at the start of all of Woody’s post game press conferences?
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:58 pm
Hawks up 12 after Zaza FTs. Taking control again.
And now Zaza with a deflection/steal.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
8:58 pm
LOL Arroyo with another great block.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
8:58 pm
Hawks and warriors got rid of Crawford because he couldn’t shut up.
Answer: put him on a winning team and give him minutes and that’l keep him quiet.
BONE
November 18th, 2009
8:59 pm
Marvin doesn’t even look comfortable
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:59 pm
Probably me, Seed.
Sometimes Marvin gets too assertive. Like there with the offensive foul.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
8:59 pm
And now Crawford with an offensive foul. Flop by Arroyo.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:00 pm
lol…….our second unit is obviously much better than theirs!!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:00 pm
And now Beasley with an offensive foul. Apparently this call has become a point of emphasis.
Opinion
November 18th, 2009
9:00 pm
Wow, I didn’t notice that Micheal Beasley was out of Rehab….congratulations to him
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:01 pm
There aren’t many second units as good as the Hawks’. And Teague hasn’t played.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:01 pm
I thought the traveling calls were going to be a point of emphasis this year.
Tokyo Bravo
November 18th, 2009
9:02 pm
Man, sure would be nice to be home viewin’ some Hawks goodness. Haven’t been this excited about the hawks since the mid ’80s!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:02 pm
That charge was Beasley’s fifth foul.
Traveling? In the NBA? Nobody travels in the NBA!
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:02 pm
Marvin just seems to force his way in whenever he tries to go one on one……..he is much better comming off of a screen to hit a jump shot…..when he doesnt have to dribble.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:03 pm
Heat have no answer for Zaza. And here it was only about 18 months ago I thought he was the worst player in the league.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:04 pm
Josh, Joe and Horfy back with 8:44 left. And Josh steals the ball and feeds Marvin, who gets fouled.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:05 pm
Man……hawks better start working on those free throws soon….we cant afford to give points away no matter who we play.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:05 pm
Mark,
Could you have foreseen a situation two or three years ago where Zaza has become a guy who can come into the game an energize his teammates and make not only good plays, but important plays?
I think we need to step outside of ourselves for a minute and applaud the job that Woody has done with Zaza. The patience. The teaching.
This team is so FUN to watch.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:06 pm
Josh free throws make it a 16-point lead. Over now.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:07 pm
In a word, BugKiller: No.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:07 pm
Someone tell Beasley corn rows aren’t in style like they used to be.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:08 pm
Marvin with an extremely fortunate tip. Which he might or might not have touched. But he gets the points.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:08 pm
hey hey…..good for Marvin!!
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:09 pm
Hey there’s Ilya
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:10 pm
Kovi that is
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:10 pm
Evander Kane is also here. And Nic Antropov.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:11 pm
Marvin with a three. Lead’s 15. Killshot.
Elliptical Logician
November 18th, 2009
9:11 pm
14 for Marvin!
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:11 pm
Would be nice to see Kovi back on the ice.
Dawgs2009
November 18th, 2009
9:12 pm
That was nasty.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:12 pm
ok, now its safe to say that this one is over!! But I am sure D-Wade is gonna get his 20pts.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:12 pm
Kovi IS back on the ice
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:13 pm
Came back a week ago against the Rangers, if I’m not mistaken. Thrashers haven’t lost since.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:14 pm
Bugkiller is right. This team is fun to watch. As much fun as the Hawks of the ’80s.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:14 pm
Thats ballgame!!!!
Elliptical Logician
November 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
JJ with a TREY!
Zach
November 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
good for marvin. I’m glad that he’s got double digits tonight. Hopefully it’ll be a boost for him going forward. We need him to play well when Al and Josh have a bad game.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
I’m not trying to sell tickets — the Hawks have a whole marketing department for that — but seeing these guys on TV doesn’t begin to capture the experience. Just watching Josh fly after rebounds is a treat to see.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:16 pm
My bad. I been out of the sport scene for about a week.
Zach
November 18th, 2009
9:16 pm
was that an alley to MIKE BIBBY????
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:16 pm
Five Hawks in double figures, and Bibby with nine.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:17 pm
Wow….Hawks live to be number one again!!!!!
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:18 pm
I’ll definitely be getting tickets soon. Co-workers and I have been talking about getting some tickets. Just tough to make games during the week.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:18 pm
I think there really needs to be some public accolades for the teaching job that Woody has done with these players.
He’s like Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver: I have to reach deese keeeds!
Seriously though, let’s be honest, he wasn’t helped out very much by the thankfully departed Knight. Marvin Williams should have NEVER been a top-5 draft pick, but in the last two years, Woody has been able to maximize Marvin’s potential, which was never a match for his athletic gifts.
Let’s not even talk about Candace Parker’s husband.
But look at what Woody has done.
He’s finally broken through to J-Smoove, which was the biggest thing. He’s done the best that could be done with Horford at the five. He’s made Zaza into a super-sub who uses his emotionality positively.
And now that he has a one he can trust, the team flows so organically on the court, hitting the glass, making the outlet pass, hitting the timely three, instead of jacking up wild threes.
Good job, Woody.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:18 pm
The Hawks actually threw a lob to Bibby on Monday, and I said to Dennis Felton — he was sitting next to me, scouting for Phoenix — that I bet it was the first lob Bibby had received in his career. But maybe it’s a play.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:19 pm
check the filter, yo
Zach
November 18th, 2009
9:20 pm
well now he’s gotten two lobs. Josh Smith to Mike Bibby for the layup just sounds wrong, I think its supposed to be the other way.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:22 pm
If I still have a complaint about the Hawks is that during close games when it’s late they still do the “4 guys stand around and JJ go one on one” play. It seems like that hasn’t changed for a few years now.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:23 pm
They’re trying to get him to double digits so they can have five for five.
There’s not but two other teams in the NBA who can say that when they have all five starters healthy that they can get five starters into double figures every few games.
The Lakers and Boston. And the Hawks are the only other team that can say that, for all five starters, that is.
Maybe Dallas or Phoenix, too. Just because they score a lot.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:23 pm
Hey, there’s Teague in mop up duty.
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:24 pm
The Hawks can also get six regulars into double figures because of Crawford.
Guy likes to shoot, what can we say?
Tech Fan
November 18th, 2009
9:24 pm
You’re losing by 16, inside of 2 and you have a shot clock violation.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:25 pm
So how did the Hawks play so terrible against the Bobcats? I know it was a long west coast trip but geez.
preston
November 18th, 2009
9:25 pm
BugKiller if Woody has maximized Marvins talents, then he definately shouldnt be a starter. Marvin was definately top 5 on more teams draft board than just the Hawks……….he just hasnt panned out to be the player that he was projected to be.
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
9:27 pm
The Charlotte game was a travel loss. Every NBA team has those.
Hawks win by 15. Another impressive night. It just gets better and better.
Going to do the print column now. Be back in a few minutes.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
9:28 pm
Nice division win. Miami down, bring on Orlando.
seed
November 18th, 2009
9:29 pm
Man… These power rankings ain’t bad…
24 hours at the top and we start gettin’ a few calls on our home court… I felt a little guilty about some of those calls
Just a little though… Goodness knows we’ve had our share of the short end at home and on the road
seed
November 18th, 2009
9:30 pm
Bradley…
Is Jason Collins injured?
What’s the deal
Zach
November 18th, 2009
9:31 pm
how many times in the past 5 years have you said, “wow the hawks just cruised to victory over one of the top teams in the conference.”? That was an impressive win that looked way too easy.
jake
November 18th, 2009
9:32 pm
i wanted to see more of teague.
willie martinez
November 18th, 2009
9:34 pm
Mark, i cant believe it. you missed some of my best material on the earlier blog today.
ever have writer’s block?
willie
Mojo
November 18th, 2009
9:45 pm
It’s about time…We have a long way to go but boy does it feels good…
seed
November 18th, 2009
9:47 pm
hey y’all…
We might have to sit a can or somethin’ outside Phillips arena…
I really don’t see Lebron coming back to Cleveland next year… They gettin’ smoked again…
Loosen your purse strings Katie… We gotta raise some cash!
BugKiller
November 18th, 2009
9:52 pm
preston… notice I said his POTENTIAL has never matched his athletic talent, which is prodigious.
Marvin has worked hard to get hear, because sometimes, you can have all the athletic gifts in the world, but it will never all come together to lift you to that next level.
In basketball, you can take risks on guys like that, and NBA benches are riddled with guys like that: big talent, or “upside” as they like to call it.
Who had bigger “upside” than Marvin coming out of college?
What upside usually means is a ton of talent, but we don’t have enough tape on him to know if he’s a “player.”
J-Smoove is a player. He’s a Wilkins. He can do amazing things. Marvin is supporting. He’s a Steve Smith. Every team needs a Steve Smith, a steady hand who can hit the big shot if needs be. He can get 12 or 15 with regularity. But he’s not gonna do amazing things, like Josh can do with his blocks and dunks.
Munzir
November 18th, 2009
9:59 pm
I am very proud of the Atlanta Hawks, Keep up the great work. You are making us proud and those of us who were loyal fans even in the Lon Kruger years. Thank you Atlanta Hawks! Never Give Up! You are an inspiration!
Charles
November 18th, 2009
10:04 pm
And yet though all that the Hawks have done, the poll on NBA.com a few days ago still had more people thinking Orlando and even Miami would win the Southeast over Atlanta (by quite a sizable margin). Haters never change I guess, but I’m glad this year the Hawks will be able to throw something back in their faces!
Herschel Talker
November 18th, 2009
10:13 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT!
FIRE MIKE BOBO!
FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ!
FIRE BOOBY COX!
IT’S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!!!
Isaac
November 18th, 2009
10:14 pm
Hawks are off to a 10-2 record already. Just imagine what we’ll finish at the end of a year. Watch the Hawks win the Championship. Joe Johnson is UNSTOPPABLE. I don’t think anyone should beg to differ on that one. So far, since the Phoenix Suns were tied with us at a compiled 9-2 record, we are now the best at 10-2. Suns play tomorrow I think at 8, anyone who can watch it, watch it. I can’t. It won’t come on my TV, maybe if it’s on ESPN, yes. 8:00 PM Tomorrow. Let’s see how the Hornets wil beat them.
Robert Nephew
November 18th, 2009
10:16 pm
What happened to Sekou Smith? Why did he bolt the AJC? I always thought he was your best beat writer (no offense to the others). Is he getting more $$$ at nba.com? Was this another cost-cutting move by the Rapidly Downsizing Newspaper Industry? Can you give me any scoop here at all?
Terrell
November 18th, 2009
10:24 pm
Isaac. The Suns are 10-2. They beat the Rockets on Tuesday, making them the first team to reach 10 wins this year, but it’s all good.
Jimbo
November 18th, 2009
10:33 pm
YEAH BABY – ANOTHER W!!
This Hawks team is FOR REAL ppl. Can’t wait for Friday night – I’ll be there cheering as loudly as I can and so should you!
Gwinnett Fred
November 18th, 2009
10:37 pm
Just got home from the game – very impressive. Nice crowd too. I just always wonder when every section in the building is filled except the high price club seats. I just don’t get it – if they are there to drink – it would be cheaper at a club. If they are there to eat, then it would be better food at a restarant – but you pay your $150 and would rather stand in the concourse than cheer in the seats, so be it – those are fans anyway, they are more of a spectator.
Oh yea, if I’m not mistaken, Josh only chunked up one 18 foot brick tonight – showing more maturity and I just hope it continues!
GO HAWKS!!!
Mark Bradley
November 18th, 2009
10:39 pm
Here’s the game column, if you’re so inclined. If not, thanks so much for hanging on this live chat. I really enjoy these, and I hope they’re not excruciating for you.
Kane337
November 18th, 2009
10:55 pm
Mark, we like the live chat too. If not, we wouldn’t be here.
Hollinger
November 18th, 2009
10:57 pm
I miss Jeff Hullinger.
JUST SAYING
November 18th, 2009
10:58 pm
Forget the Falcons. Looks like our Hawks are finally back to being the team to follow in the ATL!!!
Joe Johnson needs to chill on the comments though. It is only November. Lets see where we are in June then talk the talk. Go Hawks!