Live from the Hawks’ MLK matinee: Alarms are sounding!
Josh Smith: An ascendant player on a still-ascending squad. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Red alert! There’s a pretty good matchup on tap today. (And the Hawks, conveniently enough, are wearing red uniforms.)
The NBA South division leader faces the team that might, a year or two on, become to the Western Conference what the Hawks are to the East. Oklahoma City has thrown together a slew of good young players — Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, James Harden — in what might be described in Hawks-like fashion.
We’ll discuss that at greater length in a bit, but for now I’ll relate a little anecdote. The fire alarm went off in the back corridor of Philips Arena when Mike Woodson was holding his pregame briefing. Everyone was advised to exit the premises via a recorded message, which played for no more than 10 minutes. Naturally, nobody did.
Joe Johnson, being conscientious, did stick his head into Woodson’s office and say, “What should I do?” Woodson looked at him and laughed. “I’m not going anywhere,” the coach said. And I guess if you can survive 13-69, which was the Hawks’ record in Woodson’s first season, you can handle anything.
(Safety update: The alarm and the recording finally stopped sounding. We’re still here. Don’t know what happened, but it must not have been too bad.)
The Hawks, you won’t be surprised to learn, are feeling great. They’ve had a terrific first half of the season, and the Friday night buzzer win against Phoenix merely reinforces what we (and they) are coming to believe: That they”re every bit as good as their record. Said Woodson: “When we come to play, we can beat anybody.”
And they usually come to play. They’re 26-13. They’re on pace to win 55 games, which would be an eight-game upgrade over last season’s 47-35, which was in itself an 10-game upgrade over the 37-45 of 2007-2008. And that’s without changing a starter. (Mike Bibby was the last of this first five to arrive, and he got here in February 2008.)
I’ll be here all afternoon to comment and answer questions about the Hawks and whatever else you’d care to ask. If you missed yesterday’s little posting about Josh Smith as a possible All-Star, you might want to check that out. (Then again, you might not.) But I would advise you to screen this YouTube video for your personal enjoyment.
More required reading: Marc Stein of ESPN.com has the Hawks No. 4 in the NBA (and No. 2 in the East) in his latest power rankings.
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373 comments Add your comment
BuckCommander
January 18th, 2010
1:29 pm
First!!
BuckCommander
January 18th, 2010
1:30 pm
Again!! Its going to be a good day.
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
1:31 pm
yes, a good day.
BuckCommander
January 18th, 2010
1:31 pm
Hope you have a Great 2010, Mark. Keep up the good work!!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
1:32 pm
Kudos, BuckCommander. You’re quicker than Spud Webb.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
1:38 pm
Thanks, BC. I’m endeavoring.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
1:41 pm
Mark, what kind of crowd is there at Phillips 2day? I’d come down if you could keep me off t.v. I need this job but really want to see the zombie sonics.
Dr. Warren
January 18th, 2010
1:42 pm
I’m locked in from China, up late doing my own writing. Somehow I knew you’d be blogging from the game…Go Hawks.
Resign or Resign
January 18th, 2010
1:43 pm
The starters may be the same, but Crawford off the bench is the difference. Again, Sund gets my HOF vote for that deal alone!
Reid Adair
January 18th, 2010
1:44 pm
I love watching that clip. What a great play by Jamal Crawford.
Hope you enjoy the game this afternoon, Mark.
UGA 2010
January 18th, 2010
1:47 pm
Hows Joe J. looking on the court Mark? We need a good game from him, he hasnt been his usual self…
Hawk Str8Talk
January 18th, 2010
1:51 pm
I’d like to know if you’ve got a sense of 1) whether they believe Teague is being groomed to be a regular part of the rotation for 2010-11 and if there is any sense that he could be sent to the D-League to learn the position? and 2) whether there are any areas of concern that the Hawks have with regard to getting ready for the playoffs?
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
January 18th, 2010
1:54 pm
Hey, wasn’t Sund building the Sonics, now Thunder, before he came to the Hawks?
FIRE WOODY! OK, not really.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
1:56 pm
I’d like to see the city of Atlanta get behind this team! Nothing makes me more upset than going to see my Hawks and seeing about 8,000 fans (who mostly sit on their hands) during the games. I think this teams deserves more than that.
And when the people show up in numbers for the big games, I for one, see how much confidence and energy it gives our Hawks. The crowd for Phx on Friday was good…but what about last Wednesday’s game against the Wizards? Its not good when Bob Rathbun is anointing me the only hecklor in Phillips arena history. (Yes I am very lucky to have great seats) I just wish they got more support on a consistent basis.
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
1:58 pm
Should be a great game. The Thunder are really exciting. I hope the Hawks aren’t underestimating them. Don’t think Woody’s gonna let ‘em though. Go Hawks!
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
Mark,
Whats the sense in the locker room about Crawford stealing a little of JJ’s thunder? Crawford seems humble enough and so does JJ, but there has to be something brewing right?
GET AT IT HAWKS!!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:01 pm
I don’t think anyone minded Jamal Crawford hitting the game-winner. I think Joe is very happy to have help.
Guys like to win. It’s when they’re not winning that egos get in the way.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:01 pm
Mark A,
I agree with you and the fans, but try upgrading some of your tickets and sit in the lower sections where the crowd gets hype…..and I’m not talking about the corporate seats. They should move the corporate section into Taco Mac and give the real fans the good seats!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:02 pm
That’s true, Resign or Resign. Even with Shaq and Rasheed and Vince C. joining big-team Eastern teams, the Crawford acquisition might have been the best.
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
2:03 pm
so you’re cool with Mike Woodson now
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:03 pm
Glad to have you from Shanghai, Dr. Warren.
And the crowd, Mark A. — incidentally, my middle name is Andrew — is not great. At least not so far. And we’re about to have the introductions.
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
Ok, where can I get the game on my computer?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
Boy, I don’t know, Daniel. Can anybody out there help him out?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
Mike Woodson has never had a cross word for me, CWM, at least not while I was within earshot.
balismith
January 18th, 2010
2:07 pm
the hawks are playing great…..whe n do you think the atlanta fans will start to support the team…. weeknight crowds have been pretty lame all season long
nickz
January 18th, 2010
2:07 pm
Joe usually misses those game winning shots anyway because rather drawing up a play during a timeout, Mike Woodson just says to get the ball to Joe and everyone else stand around while he gets double teamed and throws up prayer…
I liked having the ball in Jamal Crawford’s hand at the end of the game. Mike Woodson’s probably taking all the credit for that…what a bum…
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:08 pm
I can’t pick up 790 in my office, any suggestions?
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:08 pm
nickz- you have no idea what you are talking about do you?
THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM WAS THE BEST
January 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
who was the kid for the Hawks that was a really decent player , but he decided to play overseas whats his name and how is he doing anybody know.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
Can’t even pick up 790 during the day, huh? Wow.
According to the game notes, the game is on Sports South and NBA TV. And it might be on Sirius XM.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
I think MannyT said that NBA league pass had a free trial going. Try that Daniel.
blueskiesbuck
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
radio – http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html click on hawks. I would also like to know if anybody knows how to get video
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
i meant you’re cool iwth him as a coach now.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
Oh, and someone wondered what Jamal Crawford is like. He’s a great guy. No bad guys in this locker room, I must admit.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
Balismith, I don’t know the answer to that question. I’d have thought the crowds would have started picking up by now.
nickz
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
I would like to think so…but if you’re sold on Woodson, I feel sorry for you.
And if you actually watched any Hawks games in the past few years, you would have see some of the horrific shots we put up at the end of the game to win/tie….
Resign or Resign?
January 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
That Rick Sund was able to get rid of Law and Speedy Claxton, while at the same time acquiring Jamaal Crawford, under contract at a reasonable salary; is the NBA equivalent of turning acid into champagne!
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:12 pm
Sautee- I did the free sign up for league pass and the game is not on league pass but NBA.TV
thanks blueskiesbuck for the hint.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:12 pm
Where are all the GT nerds when you need them? Can’t one of your guys quickly write some code so we can all see the game on our computers at work?
JacketsHawks2010
January 18th, 2010
2:12 pm
Get off early and go to the game Daniel.
I’m kiding.
I haven’t been to a pro game in years.
College games hit the pocket enough.
790 is loud and clear in mableton but nothing at night.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:14 pm
Josh Childress. He’s back in Greece with Olympiakos.
blueskiesbuck
January 18th, 2010
2:14 pm
Since the beginning of this season Jamal Crawford has become one of my favorite NBA players of all-time. He seems like such a good guy, and man he is deadly on the court. Plus I feel sorry for him because he had to play on such bad teams.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
Hawks up 3-0 after one trip. Joe with a FT on a defensive 3-second violation and then Josh with a layup.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
See I hate to hear that about the crowd. I must say this team shows up and plays hard no matter what the crowd looks like. However, if you go to the games regularly its easy to see how much the crowd affects these young Hawks. It’s almost as if they have been willed to a few wins on crowd energy alone.
WESTURD…I do sit in the lower level behind the scores table and love it! However when you look around the arena and its only a 1/4 full its just depressing to me. You have to believe these players are thinking what else do we have to do to get this town out to support us.
With all that said I’m working so I can’t make it today.
I would have loved to see Durant in person. Go Hawks!
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
oh nickz, nickz, nickz…. please believe me when I tell you I have watched EVERY Hawks game, and all the regular Hawks guys will tell you that. I am just wondering if you can give me an example of Joe Johnson missing a game winning shot? Can you give me an example a last possesion play that Woodson drew up that involved Joe by himself? Can you show me where Woodson took credit for that play?
Seems to me that you have just read some old points about Woodson and are rehashing them.
nickz
January 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Any new news on the Childress front as far as possible return to NBA? He’d still be a nice addition coming off the bench, especially when Mo is having an off night?
UGA 2010
January 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
What do you think the score will be in todays game Mark??? think it’ll be another last minute effort to drive the fans absolutly crazy or a one sided game???
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Kevin Durant just drilled a 20-footer over Marvin. The second players drafted in the 2007 and the 2005 drafts, respectively.
Another layup for Josh. Hawks up 7-4.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
My predictions in 2010 have been so lousy, UGA 2010, that I’d hate to hazard a guess.
But Oklahoma City is fun to watch. Great young players.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:17 pm
Durant just left Marvin with a crossover. Durant is big-time.
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:18 pm
blueskies… thanks for the link, it is working. I also am a big fan of Crawford, he has a great personal story as well. BTW… you related to BlueskiesHarrington?
nickz
January 18th, 2010
2:18 pm
Woodson doesn’t draw up plays…he just writes JOE in the clip board and draws squiggly lines around it so it appears that he’s creating a elaborate play…
Dan Roundfield
January 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
Did you have to look up the spelling of Olympiakos? If not, many kudos.
THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM WAS THE BEST
January 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
childress thanks who knows if he had stayed we might not have ended up with crawford , I know they are different type players but the money might not have been there .
I am at work also so someone post the score every now and then , this blog looks much more official than a sports page so i can get away with checking this every few minutes.
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
you know who to pick if you care about the Hawks winning.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:20 pm
Childress is averaging 16.2 points for Olympiakos, by the way.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
Remember the 2007 Final Four in the Georgia Dome? Three starters on the floor today played in that convocation — Russell Westbrook for UCLA, Jeff Green for Georgetown and Horfy for the Gators.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:23 pm
I actually know how to spell Olympiakos. I follow European soccer, and the club has a team — a very good one — in that sport, too. Though the basketball players don’t double as footballers.
Hawks up 14-11. Nice flow to the game. Durant has six already.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:24 pm
Mark A,
Hate to use this blog for our personal forum, but the moment you can’t use your tickets hit me up and lets make a deal. I am at most games, but am always looking to upgrade. Hope you made it to the Phoenix game last week……I def think the crowd will the home team to victory that night. Me and my boy tried to storm the court but got stopped just before reaching J_Smoove……Top 5 Hawks memories!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
I wasn’t at the Phoenix game. Wish I had been.
savannahdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
I am stuck at work.Are the hawks working inside out,or jacking up threes
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
Mo Evans first Hawk off the bench today? Why? To guard Durant.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
Man U. is indeed my team of choice, CWM.
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
Manchester United?
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:27 pm
Sorry Mark B.,I was talking to Mark A. Score Check in the Factory?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:27 pm
Thunder 17, Hawks 16.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
Now Jamal C. enters. Big hand. Duh.
niremetal
January 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
Mark Bradley actually paying attention to a Hawks game during the regular season. The apocalypse must be near.
El Bravo
January 18th, 2010
2:29 pm
You can usually catch any game of any kind at channelsurfing.net. You can catch baseball, football, basketball, hockey, US & international soccer, rugby, etc. Great site…
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:30 pm
Durant drives on Mo, gets fouled by Horford. Woodson mad at the whistle. Or the whistler, to be precise.
Durant has eight. OKC by three.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:30 pm
Crawford forces his first shot. Hits it all the same.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:31 pm
Durant runout dunk from Westbrook. OKC by five now.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
Is Smoove looking hungry today?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:33 pm
Big driving jam from Westbrook. That’s the point guard, folks.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:34 pm
Mo forces a Durant miss, but Durant gets the rebound and gets fouled. Remember the pre-draft reports he wasn’t strong enough? He has 10 points and will shoot two after the break. OK by five.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
2:34 pm
Westurd—ohh yeahh that game as unbelievable!! I didn’t think any game was going to top the Josh Smith slam dunk winner against the Rockets……..but the Phx game I admit was better. I’ll be happy to let you know when I can’t make it.
My favorite highlight was a few years ago (season after 13-69) when J Smoove hit the game winner and I was at halfcourt with his jersey on. He threw me his headband and was nice enough to come take a picture with me after his interviews. I’ve heard lots of negative things about him but he was nothing but a class act to me.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:35 pm
Smith has seven points and two rebounds already. He looks pretty famished.
Which brings me to this: The founder of Taco Bell died today at age 86. I haven’t eaten at Taco Bell in almost two days.
savannahdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:35 pm
there is no way Bibby can stay close to Westbrook.it look like jamal will play a lot of point today
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Josh is indeed a nice fellow, Mark A. Glad you got to see as much up close.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Speaking of which, Savannahdawg … Teague just entered to guard Westbrook.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:37 pm
Mark B……a good mexi-melt with a side of nachos would be a good tribute
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
It isn’t often the Hawks run into a team as quick and as big on the perimeter as they are, but OKC is.
Thunder by seven after a quarter. Smith blocked a Harden layup at the buzzer.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
Man, they have a LOT of good young players. How often do we see a team more athletic than we are?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
I’m thinking a Grilled Stuft Burrito. But I’m open to suggestions.
And Sautee, great minds run alike, eh?
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
Mark B.
Hows Woodys bench calling looking….its not often we are down by 5 and four of the starters are getting rest.
Dr. Warren
January 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
The Taco Bell closed down in Shanghai two years ago. It was a sit-down arrangement with waitresses. The food tasted more Chinese than Mexican…
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
The Hawks needed to substitute a little earlier today because Marvin couldn’t handle Durant — not many folks can — and Bibby couldn’t stay with Westbrook.
The Thunder is on its second unit now — Harden in, and so is Eric Maynor.
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
always heard that when it came to money, Manchester United were (get it) the New York Yankees of European Football.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
MB,
No surprise
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
Bradley… I was starting to like you then you go and confess to being a ManU fan. Liverpool here. Yes, we are hurting this year, but at least we earn our championships… and don’t buy them.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
Hey Mark are you on press row (scores table) when you’re at Hawks games? I’ve seen Sekou and Arthur T. running around all the time, but must admit I’ve never seen you down there.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
I hear you, Daniel. But I still haven’t gotten over Fergie selling Jaap Stam.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:44 pm
Only the beat writer sits at the press table, Mark A. The rest of us are up in the mezzanine.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
2:45 pm
what school harden played for?
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
2:45 pm
LOL. ‘Nique calling Evans “Mo Williams”
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:46 pm
Joe back in now. Good thing. Thunder’s up by seven.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
2:46 pm
So you are up there where Steve H. is calling the games then?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:47 pm
Maynor and Teague are guarding one another. Interesting, given that I preferred Maynor. But he was taken by the time Atlanta picked.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Steve Holman is at midcourt. I’m in the end zone.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Crawford cuts it to seven on a drive and has a foul shot after the timeout.
cattle dawg
January 18th, 2010
2:51 pm
Mark is basketball your favorite sport? Ive always liked lawn darts myself.
savannahdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
if our bigs do not dominate,we will have a very tough time today.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Thunder already over the foul limit after 3 1/2 minutes in the second.
I wouldn’t say I didn’t like football or basketball, Cattle Dawg, but I do like the roundball a lot.
George
January 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
We interrupt this program to bring you a special announcement. Because of the total disregard for the English language on the part of broadcast announcers, from this point forward print journalists in major U.S. cities will assume the role of tutors to those whose dulcet tones regularly clog the airwaves with double subjects and subject/verb disagreements. Get busy guys; there’s work to be done!
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
and the hawks dont drive the ball
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
Esteemed colleague D. Orlando Ledbetter just walked by and said, “Live chat?” He knows me too well.
D-Led taking a holiday from Falcons duty to come watch the Hawsk.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
Oh, and I should mention the AJC’s new Hawks beat writer. He’s Michael Cunningham, and he’s a fine fellow.
Mark A.
January 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
Mark not the 1st time Maynor and Teague have matched up….When we blew out Utah at home a few weeks ago the whole second half was mainly reserves and they got after each other. I must admit I was wanting Maynor as well. Just thought he was a more complete player. I think Okl got a steal in getting Maynor from Utah.
George
January 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
Send in the clowns.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
hawks are playing sloppy
Dr. Warren
January 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
The Okies’ ascent from bad to good seems like the Hawks’, but at hyper-speed.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
Green with a three from Durant. And then a dunk from Ibaka. And now an offensive foul on Horford.
Thunder up 11.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
2:58 pm
Josh induces a Durant miss and then finds Horford for a layup. Hawks down 11, 5:41 until halftime.
And yes, Dr. W., you could say getting Durant had an accelerating effect.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
2:58 pm
I wonder why Lebron didn’t want to do the dunk contest
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
2:59 pm
WHAAT THE FEZZZEEEEE!!!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:00 pm
And now Durant throws the ball up from 40 feet to draw a three-shot foul from Mario West. Whoa.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
Hawks need to step up the intensity. They seem a step behind. Now West commits a bad foul on Durant…
timmy
January 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
THAT WAS A FLAGRANT FOUL! ( I am at the game,3 rows behinn the bench!0
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
Sautee- I heard that ‘nique commment. Mark, be honest you guys have to be laughing at ‘Nique behind his back. We all love #21, but seriously, he may be the worst color commentator ever. He once said that he was going to get marshmellows to make home fries. He often says obvious things like “if he makes the basket then he will score” C’mon Mark you can tell us.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
Bench is 3-14. We won’t win with that.
timmy
January 18th, 2010
3:02 pm
The Refs are fixing the game!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:02 pm
Anyone who thinks NBA players don’t go hard should watch this game. Both teams really going at it.
Smith dunk cuts it to six.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:03 pm
How many Centers can do THAT?
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:03 pm
The Hawks just dont bring it every night like I did at UGA
JETS TO WIN SUPER BOWL
January 18th, 2010
3:03 pm
yesssssssssssssssss!
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:04 pm
bibby foul took away a josh block
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
Westbrook is given two free throws, though he wasn’t shooting. The Hawks’ coach is not pleased.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
The Hawks intensity is beginning to increase by leaps and bounds. WHOA J Smoooooooooooove for the slam!!! Smith is a beast at the rim!!! The Hawks need to get on defense and come up with some key defensive steals.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
Gee I wonder where niremetal is?
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
jumpshots
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
Sautee- are you at the game today?
Samuel
January 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
WOW,
Al Horford is trying to revolutionize the Center position by leading these breaks. I love it.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
Westbrook is overwhelming Bibby. Same as Rajon Rondo.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
Mario West forces a Durant miss.
Mark Fox
January 18th, 2010
3:07 pm
Mr Bradley
The Hawks losing isnt my fault today. But please go ahead and take jabs at all of here at the great University of Georgia. We use it as a motivational too. Maybe we can beat your beloved University of Kentucky when we play them again. Please keep up the good work.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:07 pm
And now a Josh block and a Horford layup. Good game going.
HAWKS are moving to INDIANAPOLIS
January 18th, 2010
3:08 pm
You have lost your NBA team!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:08 pm
At least four Hawks have tried to guard Durant — Marvin, Josh, Mo Evans and now Mario West.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:08 pm
Hey mark did you donate money to haiti?
hawkfever
January 18th, 2010
3:08 pm
what’s the score?
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:09 pm
Mark, what are your thoughts on the Hawks in the playoffs?
Hawks have a chance to cut it to 4
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:09 pm
I did, JJM. Yesterday’s second collection was for that purpose.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:10 pm
oh come on josh 2 late for the dunk contest lol
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:10 pm
Another Josh dunk cuts it to four.
I think they’ll win two rounds and play for the Eastern Conference championship, Lori.
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:10 pm
When I think of refs fixing a game one name comes to mind
Steve Javy
Daniel
January 18th, 2010
3:12 pm
way to go Bibby! Smith with 5 assists.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:12 pm
josh is a nice passer
NY JETS
January 18th, 2010
3:12 pm
I am wtching Devils-Islanders game
NY JETS
January 18th, 2010
3:12 pm
who is Josh?
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:12 pm
wow zaza…how about dunking
NY JETS
January 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
Bibby,who is that?
The Dude (Andrew Sherwin)
January 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
One of the posters whose name has a lot of capital letters sucks and should go somewhere else.
Go Hawks!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
West forces an over-and-back on Durant as OK was aligning for the last shot. Then Zaza misses a bunny at the buzzer.
Hawks down three at the half. Not bad, considering.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
Mark, any word on that protest yet? Or are they intending to ignore it and give the crybaby Lebron the unfair win?
Maybe so
January 18th, 2010
3:14 pm
Live from the Hawks’ MLK matinee: Alarms are sounding! —— That title will probably be spun by Mr. Sharpton.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
3:14 pm
a bunny…………likes like calling someone a “fine fella”
NY JETS
January 18th, 2010
3:14 pm
will there be a team in Las Vegas?
Sonny Clusters
January 18th, 2010
3:14 pm
Clusters checking in. We was wondering how far it is to the concessions or if they bring food to you? When we was playing ball we could never pay for a thing.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:15 pm
No Daniel, at home with Mrs. Sautee. She’s baking some delicious oatmeal cookies.
I wonder how long the guards will still walk it up with Josh and Al getting out in front of them.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
I wonder why the games are always blocked on nbatv
Samuel
January 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
Has there been a faster center than Horford since Bill Russell? Akeem was pretty fast but he couldn’t handle the ball like Horford.
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
If this team had drafted Chris Paul instead of Marvin in 05 we would could have won the whole thing.
Ree Roe
January 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
Mark,
How many All Stars do the Hawks have this yr?
-REEcently Roe!!!
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
LOL at Zaza. He must have gotten at LEAST 3 inches off the floor on that missed ayup.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
It’s not far to the concessions, Sonny. But then the payment factor enters in. And I literally gave my last dollar to Haiti relief yesterday.
They don’t bring food to us. No free food at the Hawks or the Thrashers.
Greg
January 18th, 2010
3:18 pm
Jamal, Jamal, Jamal, so glad to have you on our team, the HAWKS!!! Keep up the good work guys, y’all are playing great basketball and are a very exciting team to watch. I Love me Some Hawks B-Ball, keep rocking, Love it!!
G$
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:18 pm
The Hawks should hear the result of their protest tomorrow, Lori. This courtesy of new AJC beat writer Michael Cunningham.
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
I have a theory that Sonny Clusters and MB are one and the same.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
I’m guessing Joe makes it and nobody else, Ree Roe, but Josh and Horfy both have a case.
Sonny Clusters
January 18th, 2010
3:20 pm
Speaking of Stinky Wintes earlier, he played in the middle and was a good rebounder but when he raised his arms up in the air nobody wanted to be down on the court with him. That made him very effective under the basket. We have not heard all that much from him since he graduated Princeton but we do know he did some advanced studies at Wharton. Last we heard they was a building being named for him at one or the other. We heard he met a girl and she cleaned him up a good bit.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:20 pm
Thanks Mark for answering my questions. How do you see the protest playing out?
And nice job Cunningham, welcome to AJC man.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:21 pm
A faster center, Samuel? Kareem could run pretty well. But not many could outrun Horford. And he’s even faster this season, what with his offseason conditioning/weight loss.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:21 pm
Am I to interpret this as Stinky no longer being Stinky, Sonny?
Raph
January 18th, 2010
3:23 pm
how is the crowd today, in the office, so cant watch it and could not go.
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
3:24 pm
Elmore, I agree – if you add Paul to this team then we’d win a title. If we’d drafted him back in the day, though, we would’ve been better the next few years and missed out on Horford. You can’t just swap Williams and Paul. Marvin’s actually pretty good for what we ask him to do. He’s the 5th option when he’s in, and he doesn’t complain about it. One of our better defenders and can get to the line when needed. He’s certainly not flashy, but he’s a good fit for this team IMO.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:24 pm
Crowd isn’t great. Maybe two-thirds full.
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:25 pm
I have a theory that Sonny Clusters and MB are one and the same.
I mean I see em both at Dairy Queen. But never at the same time.
PMC
January 18th, 2010
3:26 pm
The pass from Josh Smith to whoever hit that 3 in the corner before the half was awesome.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:27 pm
PMC, that would be Mike Bibby, if I remember correctly.
Sonny Clusters
January 18th, 2010
3:28 pm
Mark, giving money to Haitian relief is a good thing. We have a buddy that’s over there helping right now and he is telling us about it. He arrived on Thursday and the relief materials he’s to distribute are held up somewhere and he’s trying to get the UN to help so he can get them on the ground and to the people that need them. Somehow, they need to get the aid to the victims. We was sorry to get off on that tangent but it’s true.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:29 pm
This idiot announcer called the Thunder, the “Orlando” Thunder … thought it was the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:30 pm
I can halt that rumor in its tracks. I am not Sonny Clusters.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:31 pm
The feed from Smith was to Mike Bibby, PMC. And it was pretty. Josh has five assists and 11 points.
Six assists now. Another pass to MB.
JSS
January 18th, 2010
3:31 pm
Mark Bradley…
A great day to commemorate the life of Dr. King (and all of those who fought for social justice)
Thanks for the contribution to Haiti Relief, it is greatly needed… Not going to mention the AJC Blogger Cause page for Haiti Relief today… Oops, MY BAD!!!
If you talk to Jeff Schultz, he can pass along some bad news that I got from Haiti this morning to you…
Daniel…
I’ll have to get you with me friend Vishnu in Liverpool… His family has had season subscription at Anfield since 1974!
Go Glasgow Celtic by the way, “You’ll never walk alone!”
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:32 pm
Durant sticks a jumper over Marvin. OK by nine again.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
man i wish we could trade marvin for better pieces
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
Marvin is a clown!! Post that
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
Marvin hasn’t exactly taken the new deal and run with it.
Sonny Clusters
January 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
We would like to establish right now that we are not Mark Bradley but we have been reading him since we was a baby.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:37 pm
Durant with a three. Marvin got lost.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Now Durant gets fouled on a runout. (Not by Marvin.) He has 22. Thunder by 14.
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Put Mario or Mo Evans in immediately for Marvin
Elmore Spencer
January 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
Hmmmm Denials by both
Bruce Wayne would be proud boys
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
Marvin with an offensive rebound. He gets fouled.
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
Mark, he’s taking the money alright…
willie martinez
January 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Mark, is Brook Whitmire at the game?
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Mike bibby is useless on defense
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Marvin Williams: Three points, one rebound.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
stop the damn switching
JM
January 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
We haven’t been very sharp at home lately. I don’t know why.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
Hawks need to get rid of woodson to have a chance
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Switching D leads to two quick fouls on Horford.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Joe with consecutive hoops. Cuts it to 11.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
I say hire Paul Hewitt just to get the the heck out of the Flats
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
And now Marvin with a jumper. Thunder by nine.
tmac
January 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Marvin Williams is GARBAGE!
The Hawks need to go get Antawn Jamison and hope and pray that the Wizards would take MW for him. As long as M.Williams is on this team and in the starting lineup. They will not amount to squat in the playoffs. Any good team will exploit MW on both ends of the floor.
Sorry Marvin, you stink.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:43 pm
this is looking a lot like the Knicks game against the Hawks (pick either one)
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:43 pm
Hawks have played some good teams at home lately — Boston, Phoenix and now OK.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
5 reasons to fire Paul Hewitt— I could give about 100
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
Bench is now 3-16
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
Yes, it is, Sautee. And ZP is 1 for 6.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
Remember we were intermittently sluggish during the game against the Suns on Friday and look at the end result. Everyone don’t get too concerned right now. Hopefully we can pull it out.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
I’m tired of everyone giving the Hawks credit for being 3-0 against a depleted Celtic team…..its like beating the Bulls without Jordan
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
I say trade Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams straight up for Kevin Durrant
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
Zaza follows a Josh miss. Down to seven.
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
tmac,
That’s the problem. No one wanted that clown before we resigned him, and now nobody definitely won’t take him making $7.5 million a year. The only questionable move I had this past offseason with Sund.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
trust me paul hewett has a better offensive scheme than woody….hell defense as well.. all this switching creates horrible matchups…. how about try something else, thats whats wrong with woody he is too stubborn!!!! as josh continues to run the point….lol
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
Don’t think the Thunder would take that deal, Whiskey. Especially since Joe is about to be a free agent.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
I say see you later to Joe Johnson, he is not worth more than 15 mil a year
chem
January 18th, 2010
3:50 pm
Zaza leading the hawks in rebounds with 8 so far but with only 6 minutes of playing time. I guess it’s not coincidence his +/- for the game is +10 and everyone else is negative.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:50 pm
Marvin knocked the ball from Durant there. OKC wound up turning it over.
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:51 pm
Whiskey, if I remember correctly all the players for Boston were in attendance at the game and suited up for the first game in Boston against the GREAT Hawks. I remember us putting a win in the “Win” column. I may be incorrect, if so Mark Bradley can correct me.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:51 pm
hey Mark you ever think you would need an understudy?
I just graduated and no body wants to give me an opportunity, I work for free for the internship !
tmac
January 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Sam- i agree totally. That’s why I said to trade to Washington. Maybe they want to shed some salary. Jamison, who i would want 1,000,000 times more than Marvin anyday, makes 11+ million to MW’s 7.5 mil.
Jamison would improve this team against the best teams… so i guess that makes to much sense to the front office.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Very late call on Ibatka, who seemed to have blocked Crawford’s shot. Thunder coach Scott Brooks upset.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:53 pm
a lot of marvins ill’s fall right at feet of woody and his offense of 1000 dribbles… the hawks offense should resemble that of the suns, constant pick and rolls which creates penetration and kick outs for open jumpshots…. not 20 foot fadaways ala joe johnson
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:54 pm
Crawford with a trey. Down to seven again.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
Then Durant with a nice fade on Josh. Then Marvin with a dunk and Josh with a block.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
Another Crawford three. Down to four.
dap01
January 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
Thank d.carter. That is the truth. Woody likes that terrible ISOJoe that benefits no one except JJ.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
he is at it again!!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:56 pm
Joe scores to make it four after three periods. Hawks will win.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:57 pm
Please let joe take a shot before he takes his ball and goes home
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
3:57 pm
Josh Smith: 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists.
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
3:57 pm
tmac there’s no way the wizards trade Jamison for a just-extended Marvin…not gonna happen
tmac
January 18th, 2010
3:57 pm
#12 for Okalahoma City their big man… (don’t know his name) He walks every time he touches the ball. Watch his feet when he gets a pass while standing still. He moves his feet 2 or 3 times… every time.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
3:58 pm
happy feet
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
3:58 pm
hey Mark, do you ever need an understudy?
I’ve just graduated, and know that my favorite sports writer would love to give back to his listening community with the opportunity of even a non-paid internship?? What you say buddy?
Lori
January 18th, 2010
3:59 pm
Mark, as much as I love my Hawks. I never guarantee a win until the clock shows 0:00. I remember the game either last season or the season before last at the Nets. We were up double digits in the 3rd to only lose those Nets. I thought we had the game won. So never say we will win please. Don’t jinx us. Plz.
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
3:59 pm
I just need more of that from Marvin in the whole game and not just 5 minutes. Good defense, a jump shot, a dunk over Durant.
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:01 pm
Will the hawks trade Joe Johnson this year for a big center? He doesn’t want to be here and the hawks are not going to resign him. I for one would love to see him go. He is selfish, takes bad shots, and is to inconsistant.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:02 pm
I don’t know, Whiskey. I need to see about me getting paid first.
observation 1001
January 18th, 2010
4:02 pm
Someone asked earlier when Atlanta’s fans will show up.
The Hawks made the mistake when they moved here and played at AMC of having a great team yet selling tickets on the 2nd row behind the goal for $2. (1967?)
That price was a steal and that team was better than almost every team since then.
They traded rookie of the year I think Paul Silas for a worthlss white player and they were just getting started on decades of dumb trades.
Much later when they had a team that was the best in the east, they traded Nique right before the playoffs for Danny Manning; one of the 5 worst deals in Atlanta pro history.
I think the worst because MJ was playing baseball and we might have played Houston in the finals.
This year’s team is one of the few to tempt me to come back.
I’ve thought I could have run the team better even as a teenager.
This is the first GM we have had to win trades.
So the future does look better than just about any time in the Hawks history here.
tmac
January 18th, 2010
4:03 pm
Freshmaker- you’re probally right, straight up. I would investigate it though and through in a pick or another non-significant body…
myabe the Wizards want to save some cash and get a little younger. Never know.
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
lol why is everyone hating on JJ? sure let’s get rid of our (by FAR) best player…his being double-teamed is what gets open looks for Crawford
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Can Crawford get a call out here? Surely is a lot of contact, but the official call these little bump fouls for Durant. NBA refs are the worse.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Kristic is the Thunder center. And he just got fouled. Thunder by four. Home team missed three chances to tie or take the lead.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
new jersey obviously will choose John wall and will possibly entertain offers for devin harris…As long as woody remains coach , jeff teague will never develope…trade bait for hawks should be MO Evans, Bibby, ZA ZA, and Marvin but only is we can get a legitimate big man for him such as chris Kaman.. We can package bibby and mo or someone else for devin harris and move joe to the 3
David
January 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
AND ITS ARSENAL, ARSENAL FC!! WE’RE BY FAR THE GREATEST TEAM, THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN!!!
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
yeah wouldn’t hurt to ask i guess tmac
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:06 pm
I can’t imagine the market for Marvin Williams has ever been lower.
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:07 pm
freshmaker, crawford creates 99% of his own shots and makes them when it counts the most. joe dribbles into double teams and refuses to pass the ball. you need to watch the game more closesly. crawford is the sole reason the hawks are where they are this year. joe is slow and is off way toooooo much.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:07 pm
Marvin just seems to not have any confidence about his abilities…..thats all he’s lacking
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:08 pm
oh my joe missed again what’s new. he and bibby can build a real good house.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:08 pm
hawks cant buy a basket
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
go to the doggone basket!!!!! how many jumpers can we miss…. Al horford has old atari 2600 post moves
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
Thunder bringing back Durant now. Still with the lead. That’s big.
tmac
January 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
Whiskey- that and a: jumpshot, defensive skills and the ability to stay on his feet without flopping and losing the ball…
other than that, he’s great.
Mike Jay
January 18th, 2010
4:10 pm
I find MW’s play this year perplexing. He was turning the corner last year and played great defense all year. When Joe got hurt he carried the team offensivly for about a week or so and then he got hurt and didn’t come back. I guess he got paid and that’s it? I’ll keep the faith a little longer cause i’m a sucker.
welikebaseball2
January 18th, 2010
4:10 pm
We live by the one-on-one, we die by the one-on-one. Ridiculous how predictable our offense gets in the 4th quarter of tight games.
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:10 pm
Dumbest free agent signing ever………Acie Law (3 years- 27mil) Thats while Billy Knight is no longer with us
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
4:10 pm
whiskey bottle,
He has very little abilities.
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:10 pm
marvin is a weak, weak, weak, weak, player. did i mention he was weak player.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:11 pm
First play after the timeout: Durant drives and finds James Harden for a 3-ball. Thunder by seven, 5:54 left.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:11 pm
that may do it
Mike Jay
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
still plenty of time…
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
Acie Law wasn’t a free agent. He was a lottery pick. Maybe you meant Speedy Claxton.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
Bench is now 6-25. Can the starters overcome it?
JSS
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
David…
Would love an apartment in those great places that made out of the Terraces at Highbury after the move to Emirates…
Still, isn’t fun to be talking NBA Basketball, Premier, and the Scottish League?
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
chad i love crawford, but he can create his own shots because he’s not double-teamed…did you watch the suns game? yeah hit hit the big 3, but when he got double-teamed once at the end he threw the ball away and gave up a break-away dunk…like i said i love crawford but if you take away JJ then Jamal will not be nearly as good
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:12 pm
Plenty of game left……also plenty of Durant left. This could be a problem
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
I do agree with the Marvin haters…….10 ppg is not worth a contract extension, if that were the case Isaih Rider would still be with us
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
Oh, there’s more than enough time. This is the NBA.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
Joe cuts it to five. He has 21.
David
January 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
you cant call a game with 6 minutes left jjm flippin pessimist
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
thats right Mark, just mixed up the garbage point guards, Speedy was the one I meant, however Acie Law was a garbage pick out of the lottery, first rounder out of Texas A&M……thats almost as dumb as the Speedy Claxton pick up
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
Josh blocks Durant.
Mac
January 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
Please explain to me how Joe Johnson can dribble the length of the court, and around the perimter without ONE pass, takes a shot and MISSES. PLEASE CALL JOE JOHNSON MR. One on Nine.
He plays against the opponent and his teammates……because he DOES NOT PASS
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
And then Josh drives for a hoop to cut it to three and gets fouled. Makes the foul shot.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
Terrific backhand tip by Green followed by Joe’s jumper. Great game.
Sonny Clusters
January 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
Speedy Claxton? Is he one of those Cobb County boys?
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
marvin can play , but has a more rip hamilton mid range type game… because he never gets those oppourtunities he will never become the player that we want or expect him to be…… We dont have any ball movement at all… Mike bibby reminds of the old fat guy who comes to the park after work, can shoot the lights out when he on, but plays no defense and no legs at all….
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
like the alternate jerseys but, I like them a lot more on the road…….
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
Thunder by two, Hawks with the ball, 3:07 left. Durant has missed twice. Bibby bricked a trey that would have put Atlanta up.
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
please put crawford in for brick bibby, please i’ m begging, bibby is a brick house.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
I know that everyone loves al…but his helpside defense and weakside rebounding arent good at all….. call a damn time out to get a play ran!!!! Iso, Iso, Iso, jumpshot , jumpshot, jumpshot, pass the damn ball…… pick and roll with crawford please
tmac
January 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Sorry d.carter, that is a insult to rip hamilton to compare marvin’s game to his in any way at all.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Another writer just said to me, “Bibby doesn’t have it anymore.”
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Josh with free throws to tie after Horford kept a possession alive after Bibby’s miss.
David
January 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
JSS, I would love..LOVE to be over there right now..sadly im an American fan trapped from the team I love…and especially since its a 3 horse race in the EPL..exciting stuff…too bad americans dont understand this..and too bad ESPN in the states only plays the early games which start around 7 am here..
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
another Double Double for Josh and Al…………I smell a repeat of Friday night!
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
I think marvin might need a francoeur like demotion to the d-league
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:21 pm
Joe please pay attention to Crawford at least he will pass the ball if someone cuts to the basket… thank you josh… as crazy as this may sound josh maybe our most fundamentally sound player
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Joe passes the ball. He and Bibby worked nicely last season.
Josh ties it.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
here we go…………….
Henry Bibby
January 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Yes he does. That writer’s full of $#%^!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
Westbrook misses badly. Hawks down two with the ball, inside a minute and a half.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
Durant puts the Thunder ahead. Then Josh can’t score on a drive.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
lol, tmac… i beg to differ, i have seen marvin play when joe was out, he does have a nice mid range game… please why go away from crawford with the pick and roll? joe just needs to humble himself
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
Crawford misses a deep trey. Westbrook in his grill, as they say.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
JJ = (1) Rebound & (4) Assist? Please…………
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
well hawks have had their chances
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
can’t hit the trey today…….that may doom us in the end. Keep the dream alive!
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
what is joe doing. you are not wade or kobe smh
whiskey bottle
January 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
That’s why Joe Johnson is not worth more than $15 million a year
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
KD misses at one end, Joe at the other. Hawks trail by two, 19.2 seconds to go, 11 on the SC.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
too many wasted chances…..we need Crawfish to be the hero again!
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Joe Johnson is the man, not. He’s trying to be a hero but he is really a zero.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
woody that is god awful!!!! get the ball out of his hands……
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Don’t like calling time in midtrip. Hard to inbound the ball.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
I swear JJ takes tougher shots than he has to. It’s as if he LIKES a high degree of difficulty.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Whos Mario guarding?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Jeff Green with a driving jam on Josh. Gets fouled. Whoa!
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
lol game over
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
crawford on the bench…. al watching again … was blocking out on a dunk!!!!!!!
little dave
January 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
10 of 23 real superstar stats
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
josh just got posterized, damn what a dunk.
David
January 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
I blame YOU “JJM” haha that and fact hawks didnt show up for the 2 pm game…probably the latter
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
Who was the moron that said calling timeout in mid-possession was a bad move? Scott Brooks drew a great set. Green got it and drove from the top for the stuff when everyone figured it would go to Kevin Durant.
Hawks down five, 12.2 seconds left. This is asking a bit now.
Freshmaker
January 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
ugh crawford 4/13 today…thanks for showing up buddy
welikebaseball2
January 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
Like I said, we live by the one-on-one, we die by the one-on-one. Joe’s feeling like it’s his turn to be the hero instead trusting his teammates. We were fortunate that Crawford bailed us out against Phoenix, but one-on-one miracle shots won’t save the day this time.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
hawks just missed 2 many open shots. they had their chances.
demoney2291
January 18th, 2010
4:31 pm
POSTER !!!!!!!!!!! and the two closers arw shut out
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:31 pm
we seriously need a new coach if we are to move forward as a team and franchise…. watch al on the replay as instead of helping, he backs alway to block out….lmao
tmac
January 18th, 2010
4:31 pm
i put this lose on Woody. No energy in the entire first half until the last 2 minutes. Then the come out flat to start the 3rd qtr… to big of a hole. It is a coaches job to make sure his team is ready to give the energy.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:31 pm
Mike Bibby with a trey. And Josh fouls Kevin Durant.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:32 pm
Kevin Durant misses the second. Still a chance.
d.carter
January 18th, 2010
4:32 pm
3pt shot by josh smith… pump fake and draw the 3 free throws…..
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:32 pm
dont let joe shoot
chem
January 18th, 2010
4:32 pm
give it to crawford for the tie?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:33 pm
If you’re OK, do you foul before the shot?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:33 pm
Same set as Friday night, different outcome. Crawford misses over Green. Hawks lose.
Westurd
January 18th, 2010
4:34 pm
dang!!!
David
January 18th, 2010
4:34 pm
if you have a foul in hand..you must foul before the shot
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
lol who thought crawford was going to live up to it again?
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
Disappointing outcome, but a fun game. Don’t be too hard on the Hawks, folks. I won’t be.
David
January 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
little different…he shot a 30fter
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
4:36 pm
Mike Woodson lost that one….
chad
January 18th, 2010
4:36 pm
i unfortunately did, but hey they got what they deserved today. way toooooooo many jump shots.
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
4:37 pm
Play your f…king bench Mike Woodson….
JSS
January 18th, 2010
4:37 pm
Too bad, good game…
dap01
January 18th, 2010
4:38 pm
We have to get an offensive mind on our staff that recognized that ISO Joe is not the answer. Perhaps if the coaches had something to add….
little dave
January 18th, 2010
4:39 pm
give me kev durrent for jj any day
Gwinnett Fred
January 18th, 2010
4:39 pm
As long as the Hawks want to be looked at as an elite team, yes, I will be hard on them.
Good/almost great teams step up from time to time and beat the Boston’s back to back.
ELITE teams DO NOT lose to the Knicks TWICE and .500 teams like the Thunder at home.
It’s sad that every time the Hawks seem to take a step towards eliteness, they step back into “very-good”. Obvious that the last step the team needs to take is the dreaded “C Word” – consistency and that starts at the top (Woody).
cheshire
January 18th, 2010
4:39 pm
games like this one make it SO difficult to get excited about this team. having grown up in Atlanta, i’m used to getting my hopes up and then suffering severe heartbreak in the postseason, and this team looks like a repeat of that.
*sigh*
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:40 pm
but i agree it was a good game. what i have learned about joe is that he is not consistent like a wade or kobe…which I think he will always be a all star but never a super star
welikebaseball2
January 18th, 2010
4:42 pm
Sam from da Swats: I was just thinking the same thing. Woodson got away with the short rotation & we got away with the one-on-one garbage against the Suns. This game, you wear out the starters & still lose. Sickening pattern here.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
4:43 pm
Bench was 6-27. We won’t win many that way.
Guards were 4-15 from 3. We wont win many that way.
Crawford saved us on Friday, but hurt us today.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2010
4:44 pm
I would consider trading joe for chris bosh and let crawford start…there’s no way teams will double crawford leaving bosh one on one with players.
HawksHeroZero
January 18th, 2010
4:45 pm
The Hawks were defeated by basically a college team with a phenom (Durant and The Thunder)..
..at home.
So, next season or two, The Thunder should destroy The Hawks in Atlanta..
Sam from da Swats
January 18th, 2010
4:46 pm
Ok City played their bench. Sautee Crawford hurt us today because Woodson plays him almost the whole game. Gwinnett Fred, sorry but elite teams do lose to inferior teams. See Lakers vs Clippers, Celtics have lost to inferior teams this year, and Cavs as well. It happens.
eaweaweawbaw
January 18th, 2010
4:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 18th, 2010
4:57 pm
Mark: What is your take on why the Hawks can`t play in the 4th quarter lately. In the last few games they have fallen apart and forgot how to score ……..against Cleveland (twice), the Knicks and today.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
4:59 pm
Sam’s right. It does happen. And OKC isn’t inferior to any team on talent. As Jamal Crawford said afterward: “We’re looking at the Hawks from a couple of years ago.”
UGA 2010
January 18th, 2010
5:00 pm
What i tell ya Mark, if the Hawks would of won that one like I SAID, they prob would……i’d have to try my luck with the MEGA MILLIONS!!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
5:01 pm
I thought they’d win, too, UGA 2010.
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
5:01 pm
Well, Conyers, they did beat Phoenix at the buzzer and they did pull away from the Celtics at the end.
UGA 2010
January 18th, 2010
5:02 pm
So goes a regular 4th quarter in the NBA……the REAL game is the last 5 min…..
blazerdawg
January 18th, 2010
5:02 pm
Nice jam by Green….MB, easy on the fans too; 15K on a Monday afternoon is not too bad.
bo
January 18th, 2010
5:03 pm
Joe j takes difficult shots at the end of games because he’s scared of the free throw line. Joe needs to draw the foul.
BosnianBaller
January 18th, 2010
5:04 pm
Fire Woodson.This is like the 10th time this season in the 4th quarter the hawks go scoreless for 4 or 5 minutes at a time.There is no excuse for that.That tells me he can’t draw up plays and it’s all one on one basketball for the Hawks and that won’t get it done in the playoffs
UGA 2010
January 18th, 2010
5:04 pm
Well, either way Mark, thanks for hanging with us and making most our Mondays better than others…..
Keith and Tony post game
January 18th, 2010
5:07 pm
Hey Tony, I think I’ll roc my Cowboys jersey with a pair of mom jeans down in Cabo. You think it’ll be a hit with the ladies?
ken
January 18th, 2010
5:08 pm
The gift the Hawks received on Friday was negated today by a lackluster first half. Someone needs to convince these Hawks that they are not good enough to take quarters off and then try to turn it on with five minutes left in the game. You would think this team would come out fired up after such a dramatic win but just the opposite. I just think the coaching staff needs to sit players when they are coasting no matter who they are. Very disappointing performance today by a team with an opportunity to strengthen its position in the east. The Hawks are good team but not ready to be classed with the elite of the NBA.
L-DOG
January 18th, 2010
5:09 pm
I hope everyone saw the examples on how to use a bench and at the same develop your young players. This fascination with Mario is just that. We will never have a quality pg through the draft if this guy continues to coach us.
Sautee
January 18th, 2010
5:09 pm
Fourth Quarter shooting stats:
JJ – 2-7
JC – 0-6
MB – 1-4
MW – 0-1
JS – 1-2, 2-2 FT
AH – 1-1
Looks like our guards should have looked inside a little more.
I’ll say it again. We need to start feeding Josh and Al with the game on the line. That crucible is the only way they will grow into what we need them to be to reach a Championship.
JSS
January 18th, 2010
5:10 pm
Gwinnett Fred…
The Thunder, a 500 team? You mean a 2 games over 500 on the road, and 5 games over 500 number 7 in the West team right?
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 18th, 2010
5:12 pm
Good points Mark. Maybe the Magic will lose at the Lakers tonight and we will be o.k.
Gwinnett Fred
January 18th, 2010
6:01 pm
Sam from da Swats:
Well no joke, elite teams DO lose to .500 & lower teams. Now try to get to the point I was making and quit dissecting too much.
The Hawks have lost 6 games to inferior teams (.500 or less). The Magic have only lost 5 such games and the talk about them is that they aren’t playing good ball this year! That shows the mindset difference between an ELITE team and a VERY GOOD team. ELITE teams are concerned with 5 losses in games they were clear favorites. VERY GOOD teams are NOT concerned by ONLY losing 6 times in games they were clear favorites.
BTW – You mention the Lakers being beat by the Clippers. Please don’t go there – that’s the ONLY time LAL has lost to a clearly inferior team all season!
Gwinnett Fred
January 18th, 2010
6:06 pm
JSS:
Entering the day, Atlanta was 26-13 and OK City was 22-18.
So the Thunder wasn’t exactly a .500 team, it was still a team someone 4 gmes better playing at home that is wanting to climb to ELITE status has to beat.
You people are totally fighting the wrong battle. I am certainly not dumping on the Hawks – I am dumping on a lackluster effort playing a geme they should win if they want to consider themselves ELITE -which, last time I looked, was what they were promoting themselves as wanting to be!
Mark Bradley
January 18th, 2010
6:12 pm
Oh, and if you’re so inclined, here’s the print column for tomorrow.
JSS
January 19th, 2010
12:58 am
They aspire to be Elite, I’ve yet to hear anyone in the Hawks organization say that they are “elite.” It is that they no longer fear the true elite teams (and to me, that would be Boston, Cleveland, and the Lakers). The rest (including the Magic) are still battling the dragons just like the Hawks… Seriously, the Cavs, Boston, and Spurs know their windows are about to slam shut…
Dwayne Williams
January 19th, 2010
12:47 pm
HAWKS RULE THE COURT