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Welcome to the Hawks BasketBlog! This is where you can come to read analysis and commentary on the Hawks as well as topics around the league. Check us out throughout the season as we will be posting new material on the Hawks, the NBA, and maybe a few other subjects as well. Want to participate? Submit questions and comments to us at hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com and we will try to answer as many as we can!

Note: the opinions expressed here are not those of the Atlanta Hawks organization or of the NBA.

Big (Blog) Night At Philips

Tonight is going to be a big night at Philips (as I may have just written in the title to this post). Not only are the Mamba-led Lakers in town, but tonight is our first-ever Blog Night as well. Over a dozen Atlanta-area bloggers are signed up to come down, laptops in tow, to provide you with their thoughts and analysis of the game as it happens (or soon thereafter, it's entirely up to them).

The Hawks will be looking for their second win in two days, thanks to yesterday's 101-99 win at New Jersey courtesy of your favorite braided Hawk and mine, Tyronn Lue. Lue downplayed his efforts slightly when I spoke to him about his game-winning buzzer-beater this morning, but if you watch the highlight of the play (which I have done several times already this morning), you can see just how excited the team (and Lue himself) was to come out of the Meadowlands with such an important victory.

Joe Johnson once again was spectacular, continuing his All-Star retribution tour by dropping 37 points on the Nets and their two All-Stars Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, but this game was a team effort. Everyone who played chipped in, including Speedy Claxton, who continues to show a little rust from his layoff. His offense may not be where he'd like it to be yet, but defensively, Claxton made two plays yesterday that were complete difference makers - the charge he drew late in regulation against a streaking Kidd, and then his pilfering of Carter with 33 ticks left in overtime and the Hawks clinging to a one-point lead.

Neither of the Hawks floor-generals are even close to 100% right now, but yesterday gave a tantalizing preview once again of some of the things they are capable of when they are up and running.

Tonight's game is going to be a tough one, no doubt, as any game is against a team with Kobe Bryant on the roster. Hawks assistant coach Greg Ballard said in breaking down the Lakers this morning that Bryant isn't the only one to focus on - Lamar Odom and company will be every bit as important to focus on tonight in order for the Hawks to win.

We have seen the Hawks play much improved basketball over the last couple weeks, winning five of their last seven. Still, this is the kind of game they need to win to show they have really put the slump of late December-early January to rest.

Can they get it done? Join us and a chunk of the Atlanta blogging community tonight at Philips and find out!

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:45 p.m. 02/05/07 | Have a comment?

The Wright Answer

It's easy to think that any high-scorer question involving the current Hawks roster would elicit a Joe Johnson answer. Many times, that will be the case. However, today is not one of those days. The answer to which current Hawk has scored the most in a single game against the Lakers is Lorenzen Wright, who once torched the Lakers for 32 points and 15 rebounds on Dec. 26, 1997 as a member of the LA Clippers.

Joe Johnson was another popular answer, and while he has done well against the Lakers (he poured in 30 earlier this season when the teams met in LA), he fell a basket shy of his teammate. Other high scorers against the Lakers are Josh Childress with 21, Speedy Claxton with 22, and Josh Smith with 21 as well.

Congrats to David R., who wins tickets to tonight's Lakers game. Here's to hoping Wright can duplicate that feat again in a winning effort!

-- The Web Guy | 2:15 p.m. 02/05/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays.

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 02/05 Game:

Who on the current Hawks roster has scored the most points in a single game against the Lakers? How many points did he score?

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 02/05/07 | Have a comment?

Frustration Over Joe's All-Star Snub

First things first. The answer to today's trivia question is Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, who was named MVP an amazing four times in the NBA All-Star game - 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1962. Congrats to Seth F. for winning tickets to tonight's game against the Raptors.

Now that that's out of the way, a few words if you don't mind about last night's injustice. Clearly, as Hawks fans, we all believed Joe Johnson deserved a spot on the Eastern Conference squad. While it was no surprise he didn't factor into the mix in the fan voting due to the team's lack of a national presence, the thought around the office was that because the Eastern coaches would be doing the balloting, they would vote for Joe since they are the ones double- and triple-teaming him on a nightly basis (yet still giving up 25.3 ppg).

However, it wasn't meant to be. I'll admit it, I'm disappointed. I won't say I'm outraged, because it's not like they put a bunch of complete stiffs on the squad, but I honestly think that no player in the league got worked more than JJ did. Carmelo Anthony leads the league in scoring, but he got suspended for 15 games for the Knicks brawl, so it's not a surprise. Michael Redd certainly is deserving, but he has been hurt for several weeks now and I suppose if he is out of sight, he is out of mind.

I have heard the notion before that players who put up stats for bad teams are not as worthy for All-Star consideration, given that they have to score so much because no one else on the team is capable. Well, that is certainly true in some cases, but consider this about Joe's season so far. Despite being a marked man every time down the court, and despite constantly battling through extra defenders, and despite missing several of his most offensive-minded teammates for long stretches of the season, JJ is currently shooting 48% from the field - a career-best. Joe's numbers are not empty, nor are they put together thanks to a series of meaningless baskets in garbage time. He has carried the Hawks on his back for much of this season, and he should have been rewarded for his efforts with a trip to Vegas.

In the grand scheme of things, maybe this is for the best. Much like Josh Smith, Marvin Williams (another snub for the Rookie-Sophomore game), and Josh Childress upped their play in the second half of the last two seasons after getting rejected from All-Star festivities, maybe this will cause Joe to raise his game to an even higher level (if that's possible).

Anyway, I know you are probably as upset about this as we are, so if you like, please feel free to voice your opinions - the NBA has set up a mailbox where you can write in who you think got left out (thanks to reader Elizabeth H. for pointing us to this). Let em hear it!

Meanwhile, back on the court, the Hawks have a very big game tonight against the Raptors. The home team can snag their second series win of the season with a victory, as they are currently 2-1 against Toronto on the year. The Raptors are playing incredibly well of late, led by January's Eastern Conference Player of the Month Chris Bosh. Stopping him and the rest of the team from getting out on the break will be important tonight, as we heard from assistant coach Larry Drew earlier today.

I think you are going to see an angry team tonight, out to make a statement that they are tired of being overlooked. Well, the only way to change that is by winning, and a W tonight would make it three straight and five-of-six.

Come out tonight and let's show Joe and the gang that we appreciate them, even if no one else seems to.

See you tonight!

-- The Web Guy | 2:15 p.m. 02/02/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

Trivia Question For 02/02 Game:

Joe Johnson was denied an All-Star selection, but it wasn't always that way for the Hawks franchise. What former Hawk holds the record for most All-Star MVP performances, and how many times did he win it?

-- The Web Guy | 10:20 a.m. 02/02/07 | Have a comment?

The Fan Correspondent On A Successful January

By going 8 and 7 this January, these young Hawks have earned their first winning month since April 2004. That's not a typo. It really has been that long. Without an abysmal December, we're talking about a team with a .500 record, sitting comfortably in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference. And if that was the case, do you think the debate would be over whether Joe Johnson deserves a spot on this year's all-star team or is worthy of MVP consideration? Would the Hawks be playing in nationally televised games on TNT and ESPN? Would Josh Smith be the favorite for the NBA's Most-Improved Player award? Would the US Government hire Jack Bauer to find Osama Bin Laden? Would a Major League Soccer team pay one player $250 million … to play soccer?!?

Okay, I better calm down. These are of course all big what-ifs, except for what happened to Mr. Beckham, who currently is pulling his best Scrooge McDuck in "Duck Tales" by swimming in a piggy bank full of British pounds. But these scenarios aren't that far-fetched … are they? Without injuries to Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Tyronn Lue and Speedy Claxton, and coming out on the opposite end of a few close ball games, we're talking about a team that's contending for a playoff spot. I'm well aware that injuries are a part of life in the NBA, but the timing of these injuries is what truly hurt this team. After starting off on the right foot, and discovering winning team chemistry, the Hawks began to lose players to the I.R. like Michael Jackson's losing faces. And now that the Hawks are back at full strength, the evolution of this team is back on track.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not making excuses for where the Hawks stand today. But the Hawks are in a nice groove right now due to some minor tweaks with the lineup and the fact that virtually the entire roster is healthy. There's no doubt that Coach Woodson and the boys still need to find ways to execute down the stretch and pull out close games, and avoid ugly patches like the back-to-back losses against the Bobcats. But with several winnable games remaining before the all-star break, I'm hopeful we can carry that momentum into the second half of the season.

By the way, if you have not had the opportunity to listen to the tag-team of Steve Holman and 3-D (Dennis Scott) on 790 The Zone, you really should. These two are upbeat, always entertaining and are not afraid to point out what the Hawks are doing wrong. That sort of objective point of view sprinkled with heavy dosages of humor (and several indecipherable comments by 3-D) make for an entertaining listen.

Last, a quick suggestion for the people at Philips Arena who are responsible for the sound effects and in-game music - add the sound effect of Staples' "Easy Button." As part of its recent ad campaign, Staples is selling these plastic noise-making buttons, which, when pushed down, says in a loud, mechanical voice "THAT WAS EASY!" This sound effect could be made over the Philips Arena loud-speakers every time our MVP Joe Johnson scores a bucket. Imagine … Joe Johnson penetrates the lane, draws contact and drops in one of his signature floaters which tickles the net. This is followed by the crowd cheering, and a "THAT WAS EASY!" noise over the loud-speakers. I don't know about you, but I'd find that pretty funny. Of course, Philips and the Hawks would need Staples' permission for this, but how could they resist such a proposition? Joe's always good for about 26 a game, and I'd like for someone to point out another NBA player who makes the game look easier than Joe (except for Jesus Shuttlesworth, of course). Heck, Staples should pay the Hawks for this sort of exposure.

-- Skippy, The Fan Correspondent | 2:00 p.m. 02/01/07 | Have a comment?

Let's Go Out A Winner

The Hawks have a chance to accomplish something tonight they haven't had since April of 2004 - a winning record for a month. Sitting at 7-7 after Monday's win over Orlando, only Baron Davis and Golden State stand in the way of making January a bona fide success. Congrats, by the way, to Nick R., today's trivia winner, for correctly answering that the last time the Hawks had a winning record in the month of January was in 1997-98, when they were 9-8.

Golden State presents a different matchup for the Hawks than either of their last two opponents, Orlando and Philly, as we heard in previewing the game with Hawks assistant Bob Bender. Philly beat us by getting inside, and Orlando lost because they tried to do so and were unsuccessful. The Warriors are a perimeter team though, with lots of guys who can score in Baron Davis, Monta Ellis (who eschewed going to Mississippi State and declared for the draft out of high school - jerk), and two Hawks tormentors from this season, Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson.

Whereas Lorenzen Wright, Zaza Pachulia and company were instrumental to victories over Orlando thanks to their defense, tonight it will be more on Joe Johnson and the rest of the perimeter defenders to keep Golden State in check. They will also have to help out Tyronn Lue, who will play but is still hampered by his lingering groin injury. We talked to T-Lue today in our recurring "The Show With The Show" feature, and he says he is about 70% right now.

Tonight is also Joe Johnson's last night to make a final impression on the NBA coaches charged with voting him onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team (the reserves will be announced Thursday night). In case you haven't seen it, here is a highlight reel put together by the Hawks PR staff and sent out to the 14 Eastern Conference coaches who will do the voting.

He has put on a late push to make the team (I have a feeling Orlando's Brian Hill will certainly vote for him, seeing as he averaged 30 ppg in four games against them this season), but the competition will be fierce.

Last season Joe exploded for 42 points, a career-high, in a 113-106 win over Golden State at Philips Arena. Here's to hoping we see a repeat of both of those tonight.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:15 p.m. 01/31/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

Trivia Question For 01/31 Game:

With a win tonight, the Hawks will clinch a winning record for the month of January. When was the last time the Hawks had a winning record in the month of January?

-- The Web Guy | 10:02 a.m. 01/31/07 | Have a comment?

Joe, Josh Leading The Way

The Hawks are a funny team. Just when it seems like things are going south permanently for the season (see Bobcats, losses to Charlotte), they turn around and win three of four, with two of those coming on the road. Of course, the one loss was at home to Philly, the worst team in the East. Who can figure this out? Your humble Web Guy certainly can't, except to say this: when Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are both playing well, the Hawks become a much tougher opponent.

Last night Atlanta finished off the Magic for the season, winning 93-83 and taking the season series 3-1. Oh if only we could play the Magic more often. While everyone bemoans the Hawks lack of physicality inside (and with cause), they go out and hold Orlando's man-child Dwight Howard to an average of 17 points and 5.5 rebounds in two wins over the last few days. That's Howard, who will most likely be an Eastern Conference All-Star and currently averages 12.2 rpg for the season. Big time kudos to Lorenzen, Zaza, Shelden, and everyone else who contributed to keeping Howard in check.

Back to my point about Josh and Joe though - we all know that as Joe goes, so go the Hawks. But if you dig a little deeper, you see that as Joe goes with some help from J-Smoove, the Hawks tend to also do much better. Here are some interesting stats:

Last night Smoove recorded his 15th double-double of the season, good for the most on the team and 19th most in the league. In games when Josh attains double figures in points and rebounds, the Hawks are 9-6. Joe missed two of those games due to injury, but in the 13 other games he averaged 27.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 4.7 apg - all three marks better than his season average. In those 13 games, the Hawks are 8-5.

Also, when Joe scores 30+, the Hawks are 8-5. So what does this mean? Obviously, we know that the Hawks do better when their best players play well. But to me it points specifically to Josh. Last night I was really impressed with the way he was attacking the basket, getting to the free throw line nine times. In fact, over the past five games, he is averaging 7.2 attempts per game. This, along with his improved rebounding of late, shows me he is getting to the rim more offensively and defensively, and when that happens, things tend to open up for everyone else on the team.

If he can keep this up, then perhaps better things are in store for this team for the rest of the season. If Josh Smith can continue to get inside and remain a consistent second offensive threat to take the pressure off Joe, who knows? With last night's win, the Hawk are 7-7 this month, and are out for a winning month if they can beat Golden State tomorrow night, which begs the question now - which team is closer to the real thing - the one that went 6-7 in November and 7-7 in January, or the 3-13 bunch from December?

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 01/29/07 | Have a comment?

Hawks Go For Series Win Against Magic

The Hawks face the Magic for the fourth and final time tonight at Philips Arena, and with a 2-1 record so far (a 95-82 win at Philips back on Nov. 5, a 98-79 loss at Orlando on Nov. 25, and a 93-90 road win last Friday night) have a chance to win the season series for the first time since 2002-03. Congrats to Chip P., today's trivia winner, for getting that right.

Tonight's game will be a tough one for Atlanta, especially given how they punked Orlando on the road on Friday, rebounding from a 14-point halftime deficit to steal a win (already the eighth road win on the season, matching last year's season total). The key to Friday's win will be the same tonight - stopping Orlando from scoring in the paint, and using up fouls as necessary to ensure that happens.

On Friday, the Hawks sent Magic C Dwight Howard to the FT line 18 times, resulting in only nine points. While Howard is not exactly Shaquille O'Neal at the charity stripe (a career 62% shooter there), putting him there instead of getting dunked on is in any team trying to beat Orlando's best interest. Lorenzen Wright and Zaza Pachulia each fouled out defending him, and expect to see a similar strategy tonight.

How do we know? We talked to Hawks assistant David Fizdale about it today, and he said being physical with Howard in the post is a huge key. Lorenzen Wright said the same thing.

A win tonight would be a good way to kick off the week, with two tough but winnable games coming up against Golden State on Wednesday and Toronto on Friday. 2-2 on this homestand is a must, if not better, and the team already dropped one Saturday against a surprisingly fiesty Sixers squad.

On a side note, congrats to Hawks F Shelden Williams, who had his jersey retired at Duke in a ceremony yesterday alongside tonight's nemesis JJ Redick.

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 01/29/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

Trivia Question For 01/29 Game:

With a win tonight, the Hawks will win
the season series against the Magic.
When is the last time the
Hawks accomplished this feat?

-- The Web Guy | 10:02 a.m. 01/29/07 | Have a comment?

Orlando And Philly On The Menu

The Hawks showed some mettle in Wednesday night's win at Boston. I know the Celtics are an injured mess, and there is very little reason Atlanta should have ever trailed by 18 in the first place, but give the guys some credit for making the comeback. Interestingly, the Hawks made their run in part by switching to a zone defense, as noted by Sekou Smith.

It will be interesting to see if they continue that approach tonight against the Magic, a team with a couple of guys who can burn you from the perimeter in Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson (and JJ Redick, but he has only played in two of the team's last ten games). Atlanta will get a return visit from Orlando on Monday at Philips, so tonight's game will be fresh on everyone's mind.

The Hawks got Tyronn Lue back on Wednesday, which means that aside from Speedy Claxton, the team will dress every player it planned on dressing to start the season. T-Lue was in the midst of his best season as a pro, so hopefully his return will spark a run. If Atlanta can steal one tonight at Amway Arena (yes, that is the new name for Orlando's arena), they would set themselves up well for tomorrow's game at home against the Sixers, certainly a winnable contest.

In other news, for those that don't get Sports Illustrated, Joe Johnson was featured in this week's Players Section, as Chris Mannix spent some time with the Hawks' go-to guy a few weeks ago.

If you didn't see, last night the starters for the All-Star game were announced, and it shapes up like so:

Eastern Conference:
Dwyane Wade, Miami - G
Gilbert Arenas, Washington - G
LeBron James, Cleveland - F
Chris Bosh, Toronto - F
Shaquille O'Neal, Miami - G

Western Conference:
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers - G
Tracy McGrady, Houston - G
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota - F
Tim Duncan, San Antonio - F
Yao Ming, Houston - C

I have been yo-yoing back and forth these last few days trying to figure out where Joe stands as of now. I wonder if Arenas getting voted in as a starter helps his cause - it's conceivable Vince Carter could get overlooked for Joe (doubtful, but in the realm of possibility), but there is no way Agent Zero wasn't going to get an invite with his MVP-caliber season so far.

Props to former Georgia Tech star Chris Bosh for getting his first All-Star starting nod. I am still amazed at how well that guy plays. I saw him play at Tulane early in his freshman year, and I knew all about his reputation coming out of high school, and I swear to you I thought he'd end up playing two-three years of college ball before he declared. But he never stopped improving, and now he is where he belongs - amongst the basketball elite. Just goes to show, sometimes you have to give a guy some time to develop (though to be fair, Bosh ended up needing very, very little time).

Let's hope the Hawks have overcome their shooting woes from Wednesday and come out strong tonight, and hopefully they will come home tomorrow night looking for a third straight win.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 4:45 p.m. 01/26/07 | Have a comment?

Zona vs Duke

Maybe not the hardest question in the world today - but of course the answer to which two sets of teammates play for the Sixers and Hawks is Shelden Williams/Shavlik Randolph from Duke and Salim Stoudamire/Andre Iguodala from Arizona. Congrats to Elizabeth H. for winning the tickets to tomorrow's game!

-- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/26/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays - so today's tickets are for Saturday's game against Philadelphia.

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 01/27 Game:

When the Hawks host the Sixers tomorrow night at Philips Arena, two players on each team will be going up against one of their college teammates. Name the two sets of players and the schools they attended.

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 01/26/07 | Have a comment?

Double Your Fun Against The Celtics

I enjoyed today's question, if I do say so myself. It required some digging, but the answer was around for those who bothered to look. Congrats to Mark S., today's winner, and to all others for participating.

The last time the Hawks played the same opponent on back-to-back nights was on November 22-23, 2002, when the Hawks lost twice in two nights to the Boston Celtics. The first game was an overtime game in Boston, the second a 109-99 affair at Philips.

Hopefully this back-to-back will turn out better for our team.

Tonight's game is very important to the development of our team. With three straight wins, the team is starting to pick up some momentum. Charlotte, on paper, is beatable. They come in with a 12-25 record, and may be without the services of Gerald Wallace and Sean May (both game-time decisions) as well as Hawks tormentor Brevin Knight (out). In the only earlier meeting this season, the Hawks streaked to a huge lead but nearly gave it away thanks to sloppy play.

Wednesday night, we saw the Hawks finally put a team away after building such a lead. Tonight is the night where we see if the lessons of this season really take hold - can we avoid playing down to the level of our competition and protect a lead if we gain one?

Rest assured, record and roster aside, the Bobcats will come in and play us hard, as we found out in talking to Hawks assistant Larry Drew this morning. They always do, as evidenced by their 6-3 record against Atlanta since joining the league in 2004. We cannot think we can just show up tonight and win - we have to earn it.

We talked to Marvin Williams today about the prospect of playing his former UNC teammates in May and Raymond Felton, and about how Bobcats rookie Adam Morrison is adjusting to the league.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, playing the same opponent on back-to-back nights. I think a sweep would be awesome, a split understandable - just so long as it doesn't start with a loss.

Come out tonight and root our boys to add to their winning streak.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 01/19/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game!

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 01/19 Game:

The Hawks play the Bobcats tonight at Philips Arena and tomorrow night in Charlotte. When is the last time the Hawks played the same opponent on back-to-back nights?

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 01/19/07 | Have a comment?

Hawks Dominate In Win

Remember yesterday when I said it was a good thing for the Hawks to beat Detroit and Boston by close margins, since it would help their confidence? Well, you know what else helps build that? 17-point road wins against a Western Conference team in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Last night's 105-88 win over the Timberwolves in Minneapolis was a thing of beauty from start to finish. The Hawks came out strong and maintained that effort the entire way, coming up with their biggest margin of victory on the road since a 110-88 win over Chicago back on Feb. 28, 2003. In the process, Atlanta also snapped an eight-game losing streak at Minnesota.

The win was satisfying for a number of reasons, but mostly because the Hawks never let the T-Wolves get back in it once they took control.

Royal Ivey (who is on fire of late, albeit on a limited number of shots) hit a three early in the third quarter to stretch the Atlanta lead to 66-50, and the lead never shrunk below 16 from that point on.

The other thing that stood out in my mind was, watching the game, it felt like everything we threw up was going in. Hey, teams are going to have games like that - sometimes one team just shoots the other team out of the gym and that is that. However, in looking at the box score this morning, I saw that we only shot 54.3% from the field. That is certainly a good performance, but it's not record-breaking or anything. A big reason why it seemed like everything was dropping was because the guys were getting the ball to each other in a position to score - evidenced by the season-high 31 assists the Hawks dished out on 44 baskets.

Strangely, the team has had its best three-game stretch of the season dishing 'em out during this winning streak (26.7 apg), all without the services of Speedy Claxton or Tyronn Lue. Interesting. Also, it's worth mentioning they turned the ball over a season-low 9 times last night, and have averaged only 13.3 per game over the course of the streak.

Everyone deserves a tip o' the cap for their efforts last night, but let's go ahead and make special mention of Josh Smith's work in particular. The more I see him play, the more I become convinced that his performance dictates the team's outcomes. When he is getting his points in the flow of the game (like last night, when he scored 21 without forcing much offensively - heck, no one forced anything offensively in that game), everyone else seems to perform in their assigned role. But when he tries to do too much, it seems like everything gets thrown out of whack.

Josh was awesome last night, and has played a significant role in each of the last three wins - if he can keep boarding and making plays on the defensive end instead of hanging around the perimeter looking to hit from long distance, this team could rebound well from it's recent nosedive.

Congrats again to the fellas on by far their most impressive performance of the season.

-- The Web Guy | 3:20 p.m. 01/18/07 | Have a comment?

Childress Deserves Props For Wins

The Hawks got two much (much) needed wins over the weekend - a thrilling 99-93 win over Mike Woodson's former employers from Detroit, and a not-as-thrilling 100-96 win against a depleted Boston team.

For whatever reason, our boys continue to struggle to play at the same level regardless of opponent - raising their game admirably when playing the big boys, but relaxing when presented with presumably easy pickings.

Still, two wins in a row is a good thing, particularly since both games were close down the stretch. Of course it would be nice to see the team win some games by double-digit margins, but I think holding off opponents in the closing minutes is infinitely more helpful in rebuilding this team's confidence.

Though we are still beset by injuries (Speedy Claxton doesn't need surgery but is out indefinitely, while Tyronn Lue continues to be hampered by a strained groin), we have seen glimpses again in the last two games of what this team is capable of when the pieces are reasonably assembled.

To me though, the biggest difference of late (and a large reason I personally think we struggled early in the season) has been the play of Josh Childress. Childress has always been a favorite of mine; in my opinion he is the second most indispensable player on the team behind Joe Johnson.

I have argued this point with Hawks fans aplenty over the last few years about what the team should have done with the #6 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Many fans remain steadfast in their belief that the Hawks should have taken Luol Deng or Andre Iguodala there. And while I agree that both of those players are very talented (particularly Deng, who could be an All-Star this season), I think its well-past time to give Childress (and Billy Knight by extension) credit for how well he has played since joining the team. I for one feel much more comfortable about our chances when he is on the floor, and performances like Monday's 23-point, 14-rebound effort against the Celtics (or Friday's 18 and 6 against the Celtics) only further my point.

Tonight the boys are in Minneapolis to play the Timberwolves, a team that has beaten the Hawks eight straight times at home. To break that streak, Atlanta will have to continue to play as they did the last two games - starting out well and not digging themselves into a hole they have to try to get out of the rest of the contest. But if they can keep getting contributions from the likes of Childress and co. to take some of the heat of JJ, anything is possible.

Tune in and watch at 8:00 p.m. on SportSouth.

-- The Web Guy | 4:00 p.m. 01/17/07 | Have a comment?

Interview With Bow Wow

One of the ATL's favorite talents made it out to Philips Arena Friday night, as musician/actor Bow Wow took in the Pistons game from courtside. We had a chance to catch up with Bow Wow, who just released his fifth album "The Price of Fame" on Dec. 19, at halftime:

Hawks.com: The Hawks seem to play well when you are in the crowd - do you take any credit for that?

Bow Wow: It's crazy - every time I come here, it seems like they always play well. It's cool to come out and see the home team win - that's all I want to see anyway. I have a lot of friends on the team, like Josh Smith and Josh Childress, so its great to get to come out here and see them all be successful.

Hawks.com: The Hawks have suffered through a lot of injuries in the backcourt. Do you think you could play a little and help them out?

Bow Wow: You know I haven't given it much thought. Every time I am out here though, I watch and say to myself, you know, I'm not ready yet, but if I really buckled down...you never know. There are a lot of little guys in the league - Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, maybe I could do it, but right now I don't think I'm there yet mentally.

Hawks.com: The team has been struggling some of late - what do you think they need to do to get some more wins?

Bow Wow: Honestly, they just need to get healthy. Injuries have killed this team - Joe, Josh Smith, Tyronn, everyone is dealing with it. It's hard for them to develop the kind of chemistry they need to be successful when they have to shuffle so many people in and out of the lineup. I just want to see everyone get back in sync with each other - I think we are seeing some of it tonight against Detroit, some of the up-tempo game these guys are capable of, we just need to get everyone back and then we'll be ok.

Hawks.com: We've had T.I. perform this year and Young Jeezy as well - are we going to see you perform after a Hawks game anytime soon?

Bow Wow: You never know, you never know (laughs)...

-- The Web Guy | 11:30 a.m. 01/16/07 | Have a comment?

Shelden and JJ Join Select Company

Today's question asked how many players have their jerseys retired at Cameron, as Shelden Williams and JJ Redick (right) will be joining the masses there in a special ceremony on Jan. 28. Once they have their jerseys retired, the number will make a baker's dozen - 13. For now, the answer is eleven. Can you name them all? I tried off the top of my head, and got a bunch, but I didn't know any of the old-timres. Officially, they are Dick Groat, Art Heyman, Jeff Mullins, Mike Grninski, Johnny Dawkins, Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Shane Battier, and Jason Williams.

Congrats to Steve H. and Coleco Y., who are today's winners. Bonus points to Steve for pointing out that there is also a female player, Alana Beard, whose number is also retired at Cameron.

Onto tonight's game. I know everyone's spirits are low after Wednesday's loss to New Orleans. It was probably the most frustrating loss of the entire season to me, as I imagine it was to most of you. This team has got to figure out how to respond better to the rash of injuries it has faced - period. As we have talked about here many, many times, injuries can decimate a team and change the direction of a season, but at the end of the day the fans don't want to hear any excuses.

Earlier this season a battered, undermanned Hawks team pulled out an incredible come-from-behind victory at Denver that energized everyone. Can they do the same tonight against a tough Pistons squad? They will have to play all-out all night to make it happen, and again it will be tough - Zaza Pachulia (ankle) is out, as is Speedy Claxton (knee) and Tyronn Lue (groin). Josh Smith (hernia surgery) is most likely out, but his status is improving, so it is conceivable he could dress tonight.

No one likes losing - especially athletes. And you can bet the guys will be out there tonight doing whatever it takes to try to get back on the right track.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 01/12/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! Since Monday is a holiday as well, we will be giving out two sets of tickets today - one to tonight's game against the Pistons, and one for Monday against the Celtics.

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 01/12 Game:

Shelden Williams is having his jersey retired at Duke on January 28th. How many players currently have their numbers retired at Cameron Indoor, where the Duke Blue Devils play?

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:20 a.m. 01/12/07 | Have a comment?

Fond Remembrances of Salim Stoudamire

Today's trivia question was a bit of a toughie, but if you are a Hawks fan and can read between the lines, the question of who was the last player to hit for 20+ in a period should instantly bring to mind Salim Stoudamire's incredible 24-point fourth quarter at Oklahoma City last fall.

Though the Hawks lost that game 95-92, Salim single-handedly brought the team back from a 27-point deficit in the final stanza, getting the team within one point in the final minutes before they ultimately fell just shy.

Congrats to Wally G., who remembered that night correctly and is today's trivia winner.

The Hawks had a pretty tough night shooting the ball last night in Indy, scoring their second-lowest total of the season in a 91-72 loss to the Pacers. But, with Tyronn Lue finally getting back on the court, hopefully Atlanta will be able to get some more production from the Claxton-Lue tandem as they will finally be able to balance out the minutes a little better.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is struggling in their own right, as PG Chris Paul is out with a severe ankle injury, contributing to the team losing five straight and eight of their last nine. The Hornets may be the only other team in the NBA to have to deal with the the amount of injuries the Hawks have dealt with. Still, this isn't a team we can afford to overlook.

Come out tonight to Philips to root our boys on - we are getting closer and closer to being healthy, and with Detroit and Boston on the calendar for this weekend, this is a must win game for us.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:20 p.m. 01/10/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! (Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays)

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 01/10 Game:

Joe Johnson scored 22 points in the second quarter in a game earlier this season against Charlotte. Previous to Joe, who was the last Hawks player to score 20+ points in a quarter?

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 01/10/07 | Have a comment?

Calling All Bloggers

It's been about a year and a half since we launched this here blog, and as we continue to evolve in the way we follow our favorite teams, we know blogs have become a big part of the scene. That is why we are announcing our first ever Blog Night at Philips Arena, tentatively to be held February 5 for the Lakers game.

Basically, we are extending an invite to anyone with an Atlanta-area blog to join us at the arena, bring your laptop, and live blog your experience! This is an open invitation to anyone who enjoys writing about their lives, their favorite teams (hopefully us!), or their areas of expertise to come down and give your thoughts on a night at the rink, completely uncensored!

The details are still being put together, but we are hoping the night will include:

- free entry to the game
- a tour of some of the highlights of the arena before game time
- a meal (free food - who can beat that!)
- a comfortable seat where you can use the arena's wireless to give commentary on the game as you watch it
- potential access to postgame coach press activities

So, if you have a blog and are interested in joining us for the night, email us at hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com and let us know. Please include a link to your blog so we can check it out.

This should be a lot of fun, and maybe the start of some fun things to come!

Hope to see you then!

-- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/09/07 | Have a comment?

A Baker's Dozen

The Duke Blue Devils currently have 13 players in the NBA, which is actually not tops for US colleges. That honor belongs to UConn, which has 14 currently on league rosters. Congrats to Kenyesha C., today's winner for tomorrow night's game against the Clippers.

In other news, Chris Mannix from Sports Illustrated was in town yesterday to do a feature on Joe Johnson for their player's section, and while here wrote a little about JJ for their website.

It's nice to see Joe getting any national pub, especially (as we have mentioned here many times) since he is in such a tight race for a guard spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. If you haven't voted for Joe yet, get to it!

-- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/05/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Time!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! (Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays - so today's question is for tomorrow night's home game against the Clippers)

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 01/06 Game:

When the Hawks take the court against the Clippers on Saturday, there will be four players from Duke University on the court. How many active Dookies are currently in the NBA?

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 01/05/07 | Have a comment?

T-Lue Gets Some Love

I have to profess a personal bias for Hawks G Tyronn Lue, not only because he does a regular podcast with me, but because he is one of the funniest athletes I've ever met. In addition, he is a pretty good basketball player, and one of the leaders on this Hawks team. The lack of his presence on the court has definitely affected the team these past couple weeks, as he was in the middle of perhaps his best season as a pro before his groin injury.

Nevertheless, T-Lue (aka "The Show") gets some love today from SI.com's Jack McCallum, who listed Lue as one of ten NBA players who are overachieving so far this year.

Lue is still listed as day-to-day officially, but hopefully he will be able to go sometime this weekend. His steadying presence, particularly late in games, has been sorely missed during the Hawks' current swoon.

Another player whose return can only help the team is Josh Childress, who appears to be picking up right where he left off before he suffered a stress fracture in his foot. We spoke to Childress today about his layoff and what the team needs to do to get back on track.

The team hits the court tomorrow night at Toronto for their first game in five days - hopefully the rest will help heal some of the team's nagging injuries.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with a trivia question for Saturday's home game against the Clips.

-- The Web Guy | 4:30 p.m. 01/04/07 | Have a comment?

Happy New Years

Sorry about the lack of posts the last few days, but The Web Guy was away at his sister's wedding. While we were gone, of course, things continued to go south for the Hawks, as injuries continue to pile up and the team's confidence continues to sag.

As I try once again to stay away from making excuses, I will simply note that any time you have a young team in any sport (and the Hawks are still the youngest in the NBA), you are going to be prone to wild fluctuations in the confidence level of the squad. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Right now, obviously, it is bad. With the brutal stretch of games the Hawks just played (combined record of the teams played during the seven-game slide: 135-79), it's not entirely surprising to see them in a funk.

No one is happy about the losing streak, and everyone involved would swear to a man to be upset with the lack of effort in some of the games. Still, the season continues, and with a bunch of winnable games coming up on the schedule, it's entirely possible the team's confidence could rise again as quickly as it fell.

In other news, there will be a Hawks viewing party at Fox Sports Grill in Atlantic Station Friday night for the Raptors game, and many from the Hawks organization will be there as part of a sort-of vote drive to help get Joe Johnson into the All-Star game. Come out from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. to vote early and often, and stick around to watch the Hawks as they try to snap their current streak.

It's going to be very interesting to see how the All-Star selections shake out in the East with the guards. I figure there will be five spots for the backcourt, and as of now, the top six competitors are Dwyane Wade (a given), Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, and JJ. Any of those five, Wade aside, can make a strong case for selection, but one of those six is going to end up sitting at home. So, do your part, will ya Hawks fans? Vote for Joe!

-- The Web Guy | 3:50 p.m. 01/03/07 | Have a comment?

Trivia Question Answered

Today's question was a tough one - only six correct answers, one of which belonged to Will M., who wins today's tickets. Congrats. The answer to when was the last time ten or more players averaged 25 ppg in a season is 2005-06. Last season. How bout that! Amazingly, this feat has only been accomplished twice - in 05-06 and in 1971-72. Thanks to ESPN.com's the Daily Dime for this info, by the way.

This year there are actually 13 players averaging 25+, which would be the most ever. Sitting sixth on that list of course is our own Joe Johnson, who dropped to 27.7 after a season-low 12 against the Pistons last Saturday (a mulligan game for the entire team, as half the team was in street clothes).

Looking at tonight's game against Cleveland, we find another in a brutal stretch of playoff-caliber opposition as we end the 2006 calendar year. We will be shorthanded again, as Josh Smith is now out two-to-four weeks after hernia surgery, adding his name to a list of Hawks injured players that is way too long. Josh Childress and Tyronn Lue are officially listed as day-to-day, so don't expect to see them tonight, though either would be a welcome surprise. Zaza Pachulia and Speedy Claxton are more likely to return, but you never know.

No matter who plays, this is a winnable game. Obviously the more weapons we have the better our chances will be, but the Hawks have played the Cavs well twice this season, winning once and losing once. Cleveland has fared poorly on the road, running up a 3-8 record as compared to a sterling 12-3 mark at home (to be fair, one of those three wins was at our expense).

As Hawks assistant Bob Bender told us today in breaking down tonight's game, the key to winning tonight lies in being the more aggressive team tonight, getting to the foul line, and keeping the Cavs off the offensive glass.

This is your last chance to see LeBron James this season unless we get Cleveland in the postseason, so come out to Philips to see his battle against hometown boys. Is that not enough of a reason to come to Philips tonight? Fine. Here is another: The Hawks dance team, the A-Town Dancers, will be revealing their 2007 calendar tonight at the game and signing autographs as well.

See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 12/27/06 | Have a comment?

Trivia Question For Hawks-Cavaliers!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! (Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays)

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 12/27 Game:

Coming into tonight's game, Joe Johnson is averaging 27.7 ppg while LeBron James averages 27.0. Overall, there are currently 13 players in the NBA averaging 25+ per contest. When was the last time 10 or more players averaged more than 25 ppg in a season?

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 12/27/06 | Have a comment?

Happy Holidays From The Fan Correspondent

The past two losses have hurt me deep inside. Sitting in the crowd at the Utah game, I looked over at my friend Beau at one point and frustratingly said "Do you realize that the Jazz just had a 7-point possession"? He looked befuddled, just like the rest of the fans at Philips. In a matter of seconds, a comfortable 19-point lead had faded to 12. With that, I felt it happening … again. Regularly experiencing this lead-vaporization left me with a hollow feeling, probably comparable to how Kevin Bacon felt after seeing the opening weekend box office numbers for his thriller/drama/"I only paid this $6 to see Elizabeth Shue"/comedy "Hollow Man."
When I got home from the game, I read a heart-breaking article about Jermareo Davidson, a center/power-forward at the University of Alabama. A product of Wheeler High School (under the guidance of Coach Doug Lipscomb), he has endured unimaginable personal tragedy over the past several months. His older brother was shot in an apparent stickup at a gas station and was left paralyzed. Several days after this incident, he and his girlfriend chose to drive back to Atlanta to be with his brother. But during their trip back to Tuscaloosa, they got into a serious car accident - his girlfriend tragically died and he walked away. Even though he dropped out of classes, the NCAA and SEC invoked a special waiver and is allowing him to continue playing this season.

There are several reasons why I thought it was important to share Jermareo's story. First, and foremost, it's a firm reminder to be grateful for the people in your life who love and care for you (even if they're incredibly irritating over the holidays). Second, there are many people, just like Jermareo, who will be enduring an undeserved, tough holiday season. So please reach out to those in need around you, and offer a thought/hand/hug in support … the effort on your part may be small, but the effect could be much bigger. And lastly, be careful on the roads, in front of the deep fryer or while sharing a bunk-bed with your grandfather, who over the years has developed a tendency to wet the bed occasionally.

With that, a few quick POSITIVE notes about the Hawks' past few games. Speedy's getting his legs back. I have to be honest - I've been a hater. I've been bashing him over email, voicemail, snail mail, chain mail and any other type of mail that you can think of. But I have to give it to him … he's playing harder and much, much better. Maybe I was too quick to pass judgment, but it'd be unfair of me to knock a point guard who is averaging over 10 assists and points per game over the past 3 games. And if there was a positive that can be taken from the Utah game - other than the fact that Mehmet Okur has a promising post-NBA career ahead of him by becoming the Tom Emanski of shooting technique - is the way the Hawks played for most of the game. It's a rare occurrence that the fans at Philips actually stand up and cheer the Hawks heading into a timeout, which is exactly what I saw to my delight. And I must say that this applause was well-deserved. The Hawks looked like a legitimate contender. They were running up and down the floor, playing together and having a great time doing it.

Then the wheels came off. The lead started to shrink and the team panicked. I can picture Pavlov now, looking down and waving his finger at the Hawks fans, saying "I told you so." It's this mental block the Hawks have to fix. Many people will throw up their hands and yell that the solution is to fire Billy, Woody, and trade everyone except Joe Johnson. Realistically, this is a solvable problem for this young team. Seriously. It may take a revised 4th quarter offense, different personnel at the end of games or simply an attitude adjustment. But the point is that it can be fixed. History says I'm wrong, but in the spirit of this holiday season, I will remain a believer and wish the best for the Hawks, and everyone else who has problems, no matter how small or how tragic.

Happy Holidays.

-- Skippy, The Fan Correspondent | 4:30 p.m. 12/22/06 | Have a comment?

Trivia Answered, Game Previewed

The Hawks swept the Pacers, perhaps improbably, last season, winning all four games home and away. The last time the Hawks swept an opponent in a four-game season series was in 2002-03, when they blanked the Cleveland Cavaliers (pre-LeBron). Congrats to Kenny Y., the winner of today's trivia contest.

One of the reasons Atlanta was successful against Indy last year was the play of Al Harrington, who returns to Philips tonight as a member of the Pacers after we traded him back there in the offseason. We spoke to Hawks assistant coach Herb Brown about what to expect from Harrington tonight, as he presumably will be out to show us what we are missing by having dealt him.

I know everyone is down after the last two home games and the way they turned out, but I have to say, I am feeling better. After seeing the guys in practice yesterday, they didn't seem down. They seemed focused. Who knows, maybe losing a lead like that will snap them out of the funk they have been finding themselves in late in games? Man I hope so.

Anyway, come out to the game tonight, it should be very interesting to see how Al Harrington does against his former mates (while playing with other former mates), plus, Young Jeezy will be performing after the game. What more could you ask for?

See you tonight!

-- The Web Guy | 2:30 p.m. 12/22/06 | Have a comment?

Trivia Question For Hawks-Pacers!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! (Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays)

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 12/22 Game:

Last season the Hawks swept the Pacers in four games. Before that, name the last team Atlanta swept in four games over a full season.

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 12/22/06 | Have a comment?

We Can Help Turn This Around

Devastated. Stunned. Helpless. Those are some of the emotions I have felt over the past 20 hours or so, trying to deal with last night's loss to the Jazz, a game in which we held a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter only to fall apart and lose 112-106.

I have been thinking about it all day (and all last night), about what it is that causes our Hawks to lose winnable games like we have over the course of the season so far.

Clearly, it isn't a fluke. It is a mental block at this point - it's human nature that when something happens to you repeatedly, you begin to think about it when facing similar circumstances in the future.

But I will say this. We are part of the problem as well. The players aren't the only ones who reach the fourth quarter and begin to wonder if it's going to happen again. We the fans are in the same boat - when the Hawks get a lead, we secretly start to wonder if (or when) we will blow it.

I felt it last night at Philips. As soon as the Jazz made a couple baskets (or say, seven points in one possession), the energy in the building went from positive to negative. Instead of trying to provide the team with cheers and applause to keep their mindset in a good place, we began to fret and furrow our brows and stare off into space. I know I did.

By no means am I placing the blame for losses like last night's on the fans. I'm merely pointing out that we suffer from the same symptoms of self-doubt that the players are feeling, and it's a dangerous, self-fulfilling cycle.

Both players and fans need to work to get in the correct frame of mind so that when we build a lead as impressive as the one we took last night, we can keep it, even if the momentum starts to swing.

I said last night wasn't a fluke, and that is true. The fourth quarter wasn't a fluke. But you know what? The first three quarters weren't a fluke either.

This is a good team. The Hawks have the talent to be very, very dangerous, and proved it for three quarters last night by taking it to arguably one of the top five teams in the NBA. The third quarter in particular could be used as a promotional video for how the Hawks are supposed to look when they are at their best - Smoove and Marvin flying for boards and slam dunks, Speedy driving into the lane and kicking out to open teammates for easy jumpshots, and Joe Johnson imposing his will on the other team at his leisure. The list goes on.

We are capable of beating any team in the league at any time, home or away, and by a healthy margin. We can be that good (and can be even better when we are entirely healthy). We just have to know it, and play (and cheer) like we know this to be fact.

Last night was a hard, hard loss to take, but tomorrow is another day, and there is still plenty of time to correct what is breaking down late and start winning the games we have been losing.

When you come to Philips on Friday for the Pacers game, come prepared to dominate. Wipe from your memory the disappointment of the ones that got away, and if the action starts to go against us, let's not panic. All it takes is one win to get things going in the other direction, and from there who knows what can happen.

-- The Web Guy | 4:20 p.m. 12/21/06 | Have a comment?

JJ vs Harpring, Hawks vs Jazz

First to today's trivia answer. Only two players on the current rosters of the Hawks and Jazz have ever popped for 30 in a game against tonight's opponent, and they are Joe Johnson for the Hawks (no surprise) and Matt Harpring for the Jazz (mild surprise).

Joe had 30 against the Jazz while with the Phoenix Suns in December of 2004, while Harpring hit the number last season, shooting 13-17 from the field in Utah's 95-83 win at Philips Arena.

Congrats to Jane L., who is today's trivia contest winner.

Onto tonight's game. This one is a doozy, folks. The Jazz are, in my opinion, one of the most well-coached and disciplined teams in the league, and it will take a total team effort to come away with a W. As Hawks assistant coach David Fizdale told us this morning, they are one of the most physical teams as well.

Still, we are starting to round into form. Josh Childress may possibly rejoin the lineup tonight, and he is a guy the Hawks have missed terribly. It's probably more likely we will see him this weekend, but if he can go tonight Atlanta will have as close to a full roster as they've had all season (Tyronn Lue is also a game-time decision).

We have lost seven straight to the Jazz, so a win tonight would be extra special. But, given the way Utah lost to New York on Monday, you can bet Jerry Sloan will have his team raring to go.

Come out to Philips tonight, it should be a pretty entertaining game. See you there!

-- The Web Guy | 2:45 p.m. 12/20/06 | Have a comment?

Trivia Question For Hawks-Jazz!

The Web Guy is a big trivia fan - loves trying to stump his co-workers with various bits of random information throughout the day. So, to have a little fun this year, we are going to be asking a trivia question the morning of every home game - usually around 10:00 am. At that point, you are free to email in your answer to that day's question. Around 2:00 p.m., we will look through all the responses, and one correct answer will be chosen at random as the winner. (Click here for official rules).

And what will they receive for their efforts, you ask? Why, they will get two free tickets to that night's home game! Hooray!

It's that simple! So remember to come to the Hawks BasketBlog every morning of every home game for a chance to win tickets for that night's game! (Note: Tickets to weekend games will be given away on Fridays)

Okay, take a look at today's question and give it a shot!

Trivia Question For 12/20 Game:

In tonight's Hawks-Jazz game, each team has one player who has ever scored 30 or more points against the other team. Name those two players.

Submit your answers (hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com), and check back today at 2:00 p.m. for the answer and to see if you've won!

-- The Web Guy | 10:00 a.m. 12/20/06 | Have a comment?

Iverson To Denver

This just in...Allen Iverson appears to be headed to Denver, in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first round picks. I have to say, at first glance, that I like how Philly came out in this deal. Any time you are dealing with a player that every team knows wants out, it makes it that much harder on a GM to get a deal done. And for all of the grief Sixers GM Billy King has gotten in recent years, I don't honestly know if he could have gotten much more his former star.

Andre Miller is one of the top pass-first point guards in the league, a guy who can do wonders for Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver, and two first-rounders is a nice thing to have in the upcoming draft, predicted to be one of the deepest in recent memory. Joe Smith is pretty much a salary throw-in at this point.

Meanwhile, Denver gets the NBA's most electrifying talent in Iverson, but I think many will wonder if there are enough shots to go around in Denver for AI and Carmelo Anthony. Both clearly are driven to win, but they currently average over 30 ppg, and one of those figures will probably drop precipitously. How peacefully the two of them can co-exist will be the single most important factor in determining how this deal will work out for the Nuggets.

Of course, the two won't have to play together for awhile, as 'Melo is currently suspended for the next 14 games (they played - and won - last night in Washington for game one of his suspension). Speaking of the brawl, from talking to people around the Hawks, it doesn't sound like anyone is surprised at the punishment doled out by Commissioner Stern. Clearly, the NBA wants to eradicate itself of fighting, and Stern is willing to mete out severe punishments to bring that day closer and closer.

So the Iverson era appears over in Philly, and sadly for us, we won't get to see him even once this year, as we have already played our home-and-home with Denver and have yet to play the Sixers at Philips. Perhaps we can grab him for a pick up game sometime...

-- The Web Guy | 5:00 p.m. 12/19/06 | Have a comment?

Weekend Wrap Up

This was an emotional weekend. Friday's win at Memphis was huge. Getting a win (on the road no less) without Joe Johnson had to be a huge morale boost for the Hawks, especially after struggling so much in the last few games without him. Obviously, it would be very nice to have JJ for the rest of the season. But in the unfortunate event that they have to play without him, it will be good muscle memory for the team to know they can play without him.

I also thought that carried over into Saturday night's game, as the good guys gained their largest lead of the game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, all with Joe sitting on the bench.

Of course, the way the game ended...not so much. That one stung a bit, I'm not going to lie. To win in the NBA, you have to be able to close out teams when you have a chance. There is too much parity to assume that any lead will hold - just look at how we won at Denver for proof.

The thing with the Hawks that I have to continuously remind myself of (a lot) is, we are still the youngest team in the league, and we still have a ways to go before the entire roster knows exactly what they are doing in any game situation.

The positives (as I am want to give, seeing as this is your official Hawks blog) were plentiful Saturday night if you can excuse the final score (please?). Marvin Williams sure looks like he is shaking off the rust. People have been wondering who can step up and claim the role of #2 or #3 scorer behind JJ, and I think as time goes on we will see Marv begin to shoulder that burden. His shot is the prettiest on the team, and that includes Joe.

Speedy Claxton also appears to be rounding more into game form, hitting for double-digit assist totals in both games. He was also very disruptive on defense, which I think is an underrated part of his game. His shot is still a work in progress, and I don't think he has fully regained his confidence there yet, but on this team his skills as a distributor are much more in need than his ability to score the ball (as a coach would say).

Still, at the end of the day, a well-played game gave way to a painful loss, the kind of which the team has to steel themselves against and forget about as soon as possible. With the toughest stretch of the season upcoming, the team's mental toughness will be sorely tested. Fortunately, we got a small look at the kinds of things this squad is capable of when firing on all cylinders (which of course wasn't quite the case, as T-Lue sat out Saturday with a sore groin), and with Josh Childress back at practice, there is a chance every piece will be available later on this week.

There is no doubt the losses this year sting a little bit more than in years past. But that is because we have hope, and ultimately, that is a good thing.

By the way, here is the full photo gallery from Saturday's matchup with Chicago. Is it just me, or does Kirk Hinrich look like he can't believe it's not butter?

-- The Web Guy | 4:35 p.m. 12/18/06 | Have a comment?

Jordan vs Nique

You know it's hard to find good trivia questions sometimes in this day and age of the Interwebs, almost any information you want is readily accessible. Everyone who wrote in got the answer correct - Dominique finished second to Jordan three times in the scoring race: in 1986-87 (37.1 to 29.0), 87-88 (35.0 to 30.7), and 1992-93 (32.6 to 29.9).

Congrats to M. Jordain, who wins tickets to tomorrow night's home game against Chicago. We are expecting to get Joe Johnson back for the game, so if we can steal a win on the road tonight at Memphis, we should have a chance to get ourselves back on track.

Speaking of Joe, Hawks fans, you have got to help us get Joe going in the All-Star voting. The early returns came out yesterday, and Joe is 9th amongst Eastern Conference guards with 78,680 votes, right in front of the Knicks' Steve Francis, who has 76,210 despite currently being hurt and when healthy only averaging 11 ppg. Nothing against Stevie Franchise, but he shouldn't be anywhere close to JJ. We know it's going to be an uphill battle for Joe to make the team via fan voting (Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade currently have 500,000+ leads on Johnson), but let's still get him higher in the ranking, shall we? Good, we are agreed. Get out there and vote!

In other news, if you come to the Hawks home page later today, you may notice Marvin Williams poking his head around to tell you about the Hawks holiday ticket plans. I think you will like it, its a neat little tool we are trying out here for the first time. Let us know what you think.

Also, you should check out www.highlightfactory.com. It's a little micro-site we've put up with some cool graphics and music. If you haven't entered the sweepstakes to hit the road with the Hawks, you should definitely check that out.

Onto tonight's game in Memphis. This is a brutal stretch for the Hawks w