|
NEW BLOG URL: The Hawks BasketBlog has changed URL's, Note: the opinions expressed here are not those of the Atlanta Hawks organization or of the NBA. It's a running joke we have around the offices of Atlanta Spirit (the group that owns the Hawks and Thrashers), where we give each other kudos anytime anyone does anything positive. Sure, it can be for something significant like signing a new sponsorship deal or selling a bunch of season tickets, but just as often it's for something much more mundane like refilling the water cooler or having an extra piece of gum. That being said, I thought it was time to hand out a few kudos to some of the Hawks: Kudos to Joe Johnson, who accomplished the first triple-double of his career in Wednesday's game at Charlotte. JJ had 15 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, and most importantly, did so in a 102-92 victory... Kudos to Jason Roose, the Hawks Media Relations Manager, who predicted Johnson would get his first triple-double in the very near future last Friday during the Suns game. Very prescient Roose... Kudos to Hawks radio man (and Hawk Talk Online co-host) Steve Holman, who broadcast his 1,400th consecutive Hawks game Monday night with the Knicks in town. That is quite a streak, stretching (hang on, doing the math in my head...) across over 17 seasons of Hawks action! Man, that is a LOT of talking. Holman, who did a majority of those games solo, added color commentator Dennis Scott this season to give his voice a rest. You can catch them during all the Hawks games on Sports Radio 790 The Zone... Kudos to Tony Delk, whose wife gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Trinity Leigh, on Tuesday. We are happy to report both Mom and Dad are doing well... And finally, Kudos to former Hawk Boris Diaw, who also recorded the
first triple-double (14 pts, 13 assists, 11 rebs) of his career Tuesday night
against the Sixers. -- The Web Guy | 11:15 a.m. 02/02/06 | Have a comment? It was announced yesterday that Josh Smith will defend his dunk title during All-Star weekend, competing against Hakim Warrick of the Memphis Grizzlies, Andre Iguodala of the Sixers, and Nate Robinson of the Knicks. Is it too early to handicap the field? Too bad, 'cause I'm going to anyway. Warrick - Hakim is an intriguing dunker. He has unbelievable hops that will allow him to do some things in the air. I happened to be at Syracuse when he was there, and you could count on him for a pretty sweet alley-oop jam about once or twice a game. Last year this would have helped him, as one of the dunks each participant did had to involve a teammate. I don't know if that is the case this year, but if it is, it will be a plus for Hakim. Iguodala - I was sad he didn't compete last year, as he was made for the Dunk Contest. Whenever I think of Iguodala, I think of the Texas-Arizona game I saw him play in at Madison Square Garden two years ago. Arizona was running the break, and PG Mustafa Shakur lobbed a terribly off-line alley-oop in his direction. Iguodala didn't seem to mind though, as he reached back with one hand and thundered it home from the side of the basket. It was the kind of play that makes you cringe it was so nasty. He should be a definite contender. Robinson - Likely the crowd-favorite going in. No one of his stature has won a dunk contest since Spud Webb won over America with his victory 20 years ago (shameless plug - we will have much more on that in the coming weeks on hawks.com). We got a glimpse of his skills on Monday night at Philips Arena - not on a dunk, but in preventing one. Joe Johnson was leading the break and tossed an alley for Josh Smith, but the play was broken up at it's apex by Robinson, who it should be noted was an All-Pac Ten defensive back at Washington before switching to basketball full time. Despite his small size, figure him to be a threat on All-Star Saturday. Smith - Hey, until proven otherwise, J-Smoove is still the king. Last year's performance will be hard to top, but Josh already has a reputation that will put the judges in the frame of mind to reward him for his dunks (much like Michael Jordan was). The Web Guy will be honest - he thought the Dunk Contest was walking around with a fork in it's back for much of the new millenium, but Josh Smith proved last year that it still has the pizzazz to be a water-cooler event when it has the right contestants. This year's field is strong, and it is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting contest. My predictions? We will hold off on that till All-Star weekend. But let's just say I like Smoove's chances... How do you think the contest will go down? Email us your predictions and we will post the best responses! -- The Web Guy | 1:15 p.m. 02/01/06 | Have a comment? Monday night was the kind of win we have been waiting all year for - a no-doubter, turn-it-off-in-the-fourth-quarter-cause-its-over rout of the New York Knicks that saw the team lead by as much as 30 points and place six players in double figures. Josh Childress said it best after the game: "That's the first time all season we got up on somebody and stepped on their throat. We needed to keep pushing and that's what we did." Well said, Chill. The team played the kind of game we know they have been capable of, forcing 23 turnovers and scoring 30 points off of them to help in the blowout. Hitting 10-17 from three-point range didn't hurt either. If only we could play the Knicks 10-15 times a season - so far this year, the Hawks have averaged 112.7 ppg in three meetings with the Knicks, including breaking 120 in both of their wins. Al Harrington and Joe Johnson would be happy to play them more as well, as they are each averaging 30+ in the three meetings (30.5 for Al, 30 for JJ). With a game at Charlotte (losers of 12 straight) and one against Orlando (18-24 on the season) at home on Friday, the Hawks have a definite chance to put together their first three-game winning streak of the season. Aggressive play and a commitment to sharing the ball in the second half like they did on Monday will be the keys. By the way, don't forget to sign up for the Hawks Fan Correspondent Contest and win a chance to post your thoughts right here next to mine! -- The Web Guy | 1:45 p.m. 01/31/06 | Have a comment? At shootaround this morning, Josh Childress spoke about tonight's game:
-- The Web Guy | 1:35 p.m. 01/27/06 | Have a comment? Five Reasons To Come To The Suns Game 5. JJ Faces His Former Mates. Joe Johnson spent the last four years of his career in Phoenix, culminating in last season's playoff run to the Western Conference finals. We all know the rest of the story that brought JJ to the Hawks. This will be the first time Johnson gets to face his former mates on his new homecourt, (the Suns beat the Hawks 112-94 at Phoenix back in December). Johnson began his career with the Boston Celtics, who the Hawks went 2-1 against. Therefore, tonight's game will mark the finale of the Joe Johnson Vengeance Tour, and the Hawks are 2-2 through the first four. Let's give him a winning record, shall we? 4. Joe Johnson Bobblehead Night. Speaking of Joe Johnson, The Web Guy suggests arriving early tonight - the first 5,000 fans in attendance will get Joe Johnson Bobblehead dolls. Add it to your collection - I've already got Al Harrington, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, and the departed Antoine Walker. Does anyone know if these things are still popular? I mean, I know they are still popular (otherwise why would we still give them out), but I remember when people used to sell them on Ebay for like 100 bucks a pop. I once nearly didn't get tickets to a Phillies-Cardinals game at the Vet in Philly because it was (Phillies broadcaster) Harry Kalas Bobblehead Day, and people were going to the game, getting their Bobblehead, and turning around and leaving. We just wanted to watch the game! Long story short, we ended up getting tickets from a bobblehead collector who gave them to us for free so long as we gave him our freebie. Very sad. 3. Up Tempo Basketball. I won't lie. After the Hawks, the Suns are probably my favorite team in the NBA. Not in a "I root for them to win every game" kind of way, but I just think they are the most entertaining team to watch in the league. The Web Guy grew up on 1980's era basketball and fondly remembers the days when teams dropped 120 in a night without breaking a sweat. No one is going to do that these days, but the Suns are certainly capable of pouring it in on any given night - and that is without their big man, Amare Stoudemire, who should be back to help the Suns playoff run. The Hawks have some athletes of their own, so look for tonight to have big-time scoring potential. 2. Zaza Pachulia. The Hawks big man is currently featured on NBA.com as one of the best dressed members in the league. Go online and vote for him! 1. The End Of The Road, So To Speak. Or actually the beginning (nearly). Tonight marks the seventh straight contest the Hawks will play at Philips Arena before they head back out on the road Saturday night at Chicago. A win would give the team some confidence as they head out, with seven of their next ten on the road. The Suns are playing the second half of a back-to-back, winning a hard-fought battle last night at Miami. This is also the third of five straight for Phoenix on the road. Let's go out and get a victory for JJ as we welcome Boris Diaw back to Philips Arena, what do you say? See you there! -- The Web Guy | 10:45 a.m. 01/27/06 | Have a comment? | Buy Tickets Five Reasons To Come To The Cavaliers Game 5. Long Live The King. LeBron James is worth the price of admission folks. The third-year star continues to step his game up every year, and is now averaging over 30 points per-game on the season. He just turned 21 for pete's sake! Of course, all the points in the world can't get his team victories if no one else contributes - LeBron had 39 in the teams' first meeting this season in Cleveland, but the Hawks pulled out a 100-94 win. 4. The Shirt Off Their Backs. Did you know that at every Hawks home game, the players give away their warm-up shirts? Well it's true! Each player warms up in special autographed shooting jerseys, and those jerseys are then given away throughout the game to lucky fans. You could be one of those lucky fans if you come tonight. Think about it. 3. Marvin Williams. The Hawks #2 overall pick has picked his game up recently as well. According to the Hawks PR staff, Williams has improved his scoring average and shooting percentage every month this season, going from 5.5 ppg (37.3%) in November to 6.2 ppg (43.8%) in December, and is currently at 9.0 ppg (50.7%) in January. As his confidence has increased, his offensive output has increased - witness his 13 points in Monday's win over the Pacers. 2. Hawks Diversity Roundtable. Before the game, the Hawks will be hosting a Diversity Roundtable from 5:00-6:30 pm, examining the question of diversity in the workplace with the title Corporate Diversity: How Far Have We Come Since King? Hosted by Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, the panelists will include Arthur Triche, the Hawks VP of Public Relations, Alfred Elder, Diversity Manager for the City of Atlanta, and several others. It promises to be a very informative and thought-provoking experience. Check it out, and then stick around for the game! 1. Two In A Row, Twice. The Hawks beat the Pacers Monday night, coming from behind in the second half to pull away late for a ten-point victory. What was remarkable was how composed the team remained late in the game, stretching the lead in the last few minutes where they have lost so many earlier this season. I don't think we realized how much we missed Tyronn Lue while he was out, his performance down the stretch made the difference. Tonight the Hawks try to extend two streaks to two games as they go for their second straight win overall and second straight against the Cavs. Can they get the job done? Come tonight and find out! See you there! -- The Web Guy | 3:30 p.m. 01/25/06 | Have a comment? | Buy Tickets
Well, now is your chance! Enter the Hawks Fan Correspondent Contest and you can post your comments to the Hawks Blog just like I do! All you have to do is go to the Contest entry page, write up to 200 words explaining why you should be chosen (be as creative as possible - we want your stuff to stand out!), and you may be selected as one of six finalists. The six finalists will be invited to the Hawks game on Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Detroit to record their finalist entry, and from there we will select the grand prize winner, who will not only get the chance to voice their thoughts on www.hawks.com for the rest of the season, but will also win an autographed basketball and jersey from one of the Hawks players! How can you not enter?!? Do it today! -- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/24/06 | Have a comment? Five Reasons To Come To The Pacers Game 5. Kobe Bryant. Ok, I'm cheating here. This game will have nothing to do with Kobe. But my God, did you see what this man did last night? 81 points. Eighty-one. That is ridiculous. I know Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in a game, but to me this was more impressive. Bryant is a perimeter player, where it is much more difficult to score in bunches than it was for Chamberlain, who was much larger and stronger than much of his competition. Earlier this season Kobe had 62 against the Mavericks through three quarters, then sat out the fourth. Some (fans) complained Kobe should have stayed in and taken a shot at immortality. We asked Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew what he thought of Kobe's night and whether it's ok to stay in and go for a record. Here is what he had to say. 4. College And Military Discounts. You may not be aware of this, but with a valid college or military ID you can get discounted tickets at every Hawks home game. College students, you know Monday night isn't a party night - the weekend doesn't start until at least Wednesday. 3. Reunions. Al Harrington will face his former team for the second time this season, while Stephen Jackson makes his second appearance at Philips Arena since goign to Indy in the Harrington deal. In his only previous appearance in Atlanta as a Pacer, Jackson scored just six points on 1-7 shooting in Indiana's 84-79 win last Feb. 5. John Edwards, who may be back in uniform tonight after missing the last few games, also played for the Pacers last season. 2. Josh Smith. J-Smoove has sorta played slightly under the radar this season, but with NBA All-Star Weekend just a month away, it's time for the Hawks' second-year forward to start honing his dunking skills in order to defend his Slam Dunk title. For those that haven't seen the alley-oop he had from Harrington on Friday, you gotta check it out. Based on this one (and others throughout the season), I'd say Smith is sitting pretty. 1. Back On Track. The Hawks have three big home games this week, the first two of which are against teams they have already beaten (on the road no less) this season. Al Harrington usually raises his game against Indiana, the team he spent his first six years in the league with. The Hawks surprised the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse back in November, but you can bet the Pacers won't be taking anything for granted tonight. With Tyronn Lue most likely back to spark the Hawks off the bench, look for Atlanta to shake off the funk they have been in the last couple games and start the week off right. See you there! -- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/23/06 | Have a comment? | Buy Tickets No sooner did I write the previous post but Marvin Williams added an incredible dunk of his own, taking off from outside the lane on the baseline to rattle home a one-hander. Man these guys can fly. -- The Web Guy | 8:03 p.m. 01/20/06 | Have a comment? J-Smooooooove, With The Jaaaaaaaaaam The Web Guy here (ok, not like it would be anyone else), sitting courtside at the Hawks-Bucks game. I just had to get on my computer and tell you, if it's the last the you do (though it should be the first), you have GOT to see the highlights of tonight's game. The Hawks are leading 35-31 as I write this, but regardless of outcome, you must see the alley-oop Al Harrington threw to Josh Smith in the first quarter. Trust me, it will be on the highlights tonight. Check out Sportscenter, I'm guaranteeing it's a Top Ten Play. I will link to it later on once the NBA has their video up from tonight's games, but just believe me (have I ever led you astray before?) when I tell you it's the best Hawks highlight of the season so far. That is all. -- The Web Guy | 8:00 p.m. 01/20/06 | Have a comment? Five Reasons To Come To The Bucks Game 5. Zaza Pachulia. It's not a revenge game, per se, but Pachulia did toil for the Bucks last season before signing as a restricted free agent this summer with the Hawks. We asked Zaza about his feelings about tonight's game, and in typical Zaza-understatement, he deflected any feelings of ill will. "I wanted to come to Atlanta," said Pachulia. "So I have no animosity towards them. I was given a great opportunity here, and I am thankful for it. I just want to come out and play hard, and hopefully we can get back on track." Well said. 4. Chick-fil-A Family Night. You know the drill. Come out to the game, and get four tickets and four Chick-fil-A combo meals for as low as $69. Seriously, why hasn't Chick-fil-A offered me something for all the free publicity I give them here in the Blog? Chick-fil-A is so tasty people, you don't realize how lucky we are to live in a part of the country where it is available in so many locations. 3. Terry Stotts. The Bucks' first-year head coach helmed the Hawks directly before Mike Woodson. It's hard to judge his body of work in Atlanta considering he was here for the beginning of the rebuilding process, but so far he seems to be doing a decent job in Milwaukee. It will be interesting to see how Hawks fans treat him tonight - I don't think he was here long enough for anyone to form an opinion on him for better or for worse. Therefore, when he is introduced before the game, I suggest everyone give a collective shoulder shrug. 2. #1 vs. #2. The Bucks won the NBA lottery last year, taking Utah center Andrew Bogut with the top pick. With Bogut gone, the Hawks (as we all know) selected Marvin Williams. I'll be honest, I haven't seen much of Bogut so far, but from what I hear he is acquitting himself well, much like Marvin, although with bigger minutes. Of course, both are hearing about how Chris Paul is the best rookie so far (ok granted, he is playing extremely well), so they are both toiling in relative obscurity (Williams because he doesn't get many minutes, and Bogut because he plays in Milwaukee). This game won't quite have the "LeBron-Carmelo Meet" vibe going, but it will be interesting to see the two top picks in action. 1. 20/20. The Hawks are 5-2 this season when Joe Johnson and Al Harrington each score 20 points. With Tyronn Lue doubtful with a bad back, the Hawks Big Two will be relied upon to put up numbers tonight. Milwaukee is a high-scoring team, capable of putting up lots of points at a time (well, no more than 2 or 3 at once, but you know what I mean), so look for a back and forth game with a lot of offense. I don't think the team will be fazed by Wednesday's loss to Detroit the way they have been by other losses, in the sense that Detroit was just clearly a dominant opponent, and the Hawks didn't give the game away down the stretch. So I expect them to come out tonight and play some good basketball. Come see for yourself, and root for another home win! See you there! -- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/20/06 | Have a comment? This just in, another reason to come to the game tonight - the Hawks are releasing the 2006 A-Town Dancers Calendar! Come out tonight and get yourself a copy, and if you are lucky, you can get one of the dance team members to autograph it for you to make all your friends jealous and unable to get work done when you display it near your cubicle at work. Also, we talked to a bunch of the guys at shootaround today. Coach Woodson talked about his respect for the Pistons talent. Herb Brown talked about the difference between Flip Saunders and Larry Brown at the helm. Joe Johnson said the Hawks need to keep their confidence up and come out and be aggressive if they want to win. -- The Web Guy | 1:00 p.m. 01/18/06 | Have a comment? Five Reasons To Come To The Pistons Game 5. The Run For 70. Any time a team gets off to a hot start in the NBA, the question inevitably arises - can they win 70? Well, the Pistons are hot - Jessica Alba hot - and have posted a 30-5 mark through their first 35 games. In contrast, the '95-96 Bulls were 32-3 at this point. Does that mean the Pistons have a shot at it? Sure, I guess. I was listening to 790 the Zone (the Hawks flagship station, by the way) this morning, and the Mayhem in the AM guys were talking about the best starting fives ever, comparing this group in Detroit to the Celtics' lineups in the mid-80's as well as Magic's Showtime Lakers. I think it's a little early for that, but if they keep putting up wins like they have so far this season, the comparisons may become valid. 4. Coach Woodson. Two years ago Mike Woodson (and Herb Brown as well) each won championship rings with the Pistons, serving under Herb's brother Larry. Last year the Hawks whipped the Pistons in Woody's return to Detroit (on the night he received his championship ring, no less). Look for the guys to try to replicate that feat again tonight and win one for Coach Woodson. 3. Rip Hamilton. There is a lot to like about the way the Pistons play, but watching Hamilton play is one of the unique pleasures in the NBA. Perhaps the most well-conditioned athlete in the league, Hamilton is a whirling-dervish, constantly running around screens and picks to free himself for jumpers. Look for Royal Ivey, the Hawks best perimeter defender, to see more action tonight as they try to keep up with the former UConn star. 2. Zaza Pachulia vs Ben Wallace. If you like banging, tonight is a good night for you. Pachulia and Wallace are both known for their tenaciousness on the boards, and there should be some serious battlin' going on between them tonight. Look for both teams' trainers to be busy post-game with ice, aspirin, and maybe some stitches. 1. Remember the Alamo. This isn't the first time this season the Hawks have faced the cream of the NBA's crop - remember the victory over the Spurs at home on Dec. 10 that jump-started the team's December winning streak . The Hawks outplayed San Antonio that night. Can they repeat that performance against the streaking Pistons? We'll find out tonight. See you there! -- The Web Guy | 1:00 p.m. 01/18/06 | Have a comment? News and Notes From The Houston Win Since I didn't have a chance to get up 5 reasons to see the game beforehand, I thought I would try to make up for it with some thoughts from watching Monday's victory over the Rockets: - Whoever added peanuts to press row, I say kudos. And kudos again. - The Rockets are in baaaaaaad shape, yet are in good shape all at the same time. What do I mean by that? Well, the more they play without T-Mac and Yao, the worse their record will be. And if they end up without their services for long stretches of the season, they may end up with one of the worst records in the league, which would give them a shot at the top pick (or thereabouts). It reminds me of when the Spurs played without David Robinson the year before Tim Duncan entered the league, ended up getting the top pick (Duncan), and immediately became contenders for the title the next season. I don't know if there is a Duncan out there in this year's draft class, but adding a top talent to the Rockets (like Adam Morrison of Gonzaga or Rudy Gay of UConn) could make them very dangerous in the future. Of course, that is perhaps little comfort to Rockets fans for this season, but hey - gotta be a silver lining behind every dark cloud right? - Alright, we know the Hawks have had issues closing teams out in the fourth quarter of games all season, so it was a breath of fresh air to watch the team continue to move the ball around efficiently throughout the last period yesterday, in fact increasing their lead by five from the end of the third till the game's end. Hopefully they will remember this the next time they are in a close game at the end (which, based on how the season has gone so far, should be just about every game the rest of the way out). - One thing I continue to marvel at with this team is its breathtaking athleticism. Maybe every team in the NBA has it, I don't know - but there are stretches where our play can leave you (or at least me) breathless. One specific example from yesterday - late in the game, the Rockets have the ball, and Josh Smith goes up to swat away a shot. Houston retrieved it though to maintain possession, but then Josh Childress blocked a shot by David Wesley. Al Harrington send an outlet halfway down the court to Joe Johnson, who tossed an alley-oop to Childress, who promptly slammed it home one-handed. It was the kind of play that makes you realize how amazing NBA basketball can be, and the Hawks have the horses to play it at a high level when everything is clicking. Say what you want about the team's record, but there is definitely bang for your entertainment buck if you come out to Philips Arena. -- The Web Guy | 3:00 p.m. 01/17/06 | Have a comment?
Five Reasons To Come To The Wizards Game 5. Jekyll and Hyde. The Hawks lost four games to the Wizards last season, two by blowout and two in very close three-point affairs. Wednesday's game at Washington fell into the first category - so expect the trend to continue tonight with a very close affair at Philips Arena. 4. Rise Up Saturdays. Every Saturday home game in 2006 is a Rise Up Saturday that features special autograph sessions, concourse entertainment, live music, and food and drink specials in Headlines Grill. Come out to the Wizards game for the next edition - how can you refuse? 3. Josh Childress. Chill has gotten lost in the shuffle a little this season as Joe Johnson and Al Harrington have grabbed most of the headlines, but he has adjusted to coming off the bench and provides a necessary spark In Friday night's loss to the Knicks, Childress was 8-9 from the field for 16 points and had six rebounds as well. In the games the Hawks win, their bench contributes big time. Look for Chill to have a big game tonight if the Hawks win. 2. Gilbert Arenas. In the game against the Wizards on Wednesday night, the Hawks managed to accomplish the one thing generally needed to beat Washington - they held Gilbert Arenas to just nine points and harassed the Wizards all-star into seven turnovers. Unfortunately, six of his teammates reached double figures and the rout was on. Generally though, as Gilbert goes, so go the Wiz. Look for him to be another huge priority in tonight's game. 1. Revenge. The Hawks got spanked Wednesday night at Washington. It wasn't really even close for most of the game. It's time to turn the tables, isn't it? The Hawks have lost six straight in this series - it's time to put a stop to it. See you there! -- The Web Guy | 11:00 a.m. 01/14/06 | Have a comment?
As a second year veteran, it was a great privilege to be welcomed back to the
Atlanta Hawks Dance Team for the 2005-06 Season. After being offered the
position of co-captain, I felt a true sense of honor and responsibility.
Although a very demanding position, I enjoy serving my team. In October 2005 the
dance team was knighted the A-Town Dancers giving us a unique set of
characteristics just like our beloved city of Atlanta. Each dancer brings
something special to the team and game day activities. We all look forward to
fan interaction. As ambassadors for the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Spirit, we
value the brief conversations, photo opportunities, and hugs we received from
the wide variety of fans at Philips Arena. Our greatest joy is bringing energy
and enthusiasm to the court when we perform during the games. Every time we
perform we give a little of ourselves to the fans and we are gearing up to bring
new dances and thrills to the court. Thank you Atlanta for letting the A-Town
Dancers entertain you! -- Vera | 3:30 p.m. 01/11/06 | Have a comment?
Five Reasons To Come To The Celtics Game 5. Nobody Likes Boston. Now before you think I'm saying something all inflammatory, what I mean is, this town has had enough athletic success in the last few years to last any city for several decades. The Red Sox won a World Series, and the Patriots have won three of the last four Super Bowls (and may be well on their way to a fourth). So let's keep them from winning everything by taking down the Celtics, eh? 4. Two For Tuesdays. This is pretty simple folks. Buy one ticket in the $25-$45 price range, and get another one free. Double your Hawks viewing pleasure! 3. Al Harrington. Harrington has owned the Celtics this season, averaging 31 points per game against Beantown in two wins. Last Friday he had 28 to pace the Hawks, who won 103-98 at Boston. 2. Bench Play. The Hawks bench has been a strength in many of their wins this season, and Saturday's win over the Hornets was no different, as Tyronn Lue and Marvin Williams each reached double figures. On any given night, the Hawks have four guys who can step up to make plays off the bench to help lead the team to a W. Who will it be tonight? Maybe Salim Stoudamire, who had 19 in the first win over Boston this season, a 120-117 triumph at Philips Arena back on November 23. 1. Three Straight. Over Boston, on the season - tonight the Hawks have a chance to stretch two win streaks to three. With a victory, not only will the team sweep the season series against the C's for the first time since 1998-99, but they will also own their first three-game winning streak overall since April 12-14, 2004. The Celtics are coming off a home loss last night to Dallas, so they should be slightly worn. See you there! -- The Web Guy | 11:00 a.m. 01/10/06 | Have a comment? Five Reasons To Come To The Hornets Game 5. Salim's Magnificent Quarter. The Hawks played the Hornets in Oklahoma City back in late November. Atlanta trailed by 26 midway through the fourth quarter, and things looked bleak. Then, Salim Stoudamire got hot. Crazy hot. Stoudamire erupted for 24 points in the fourth, bringing the Hawks all the way back before they fell by a final of 95-92. Very few players in the NBA have the shooting ability Stoudamire possesses, and you can bet the Hornets will keep a wary eye on him when he is in the game tonight. 4. Chick-fil-A Family Night. Once again this season, you can get 4 tickets and 4 Chick-fil-A combo meals starting at $69! You know you want to, it's Chick-fil-A. It's quite delicious. 3. Threes. Did you know the Hawks lead the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage? Well they do. And after going 3-5 last night from behind the arc, Al Harrington is now 2nd in the NBA in that category, making nearly half his attempts (28-57). Teammates Tyronn Lue and Stoudamire are 3rd and 19th as well. That is quite a turnaround from last season, when they finished dead last in the category. 2. Hook Em. Hawks guard Royal Ivey returns home for the first time since his alma mater, the University of Texas, won the national title Wednesday night in the Rose Bowl. We had a chance to ask Royal about the game, a thriller won by the Longhorns 41-38 on a last minute touchdown by Texas QB Vince Young. Flash Ivey the Hook 'Em sign tonight, and you are guaranteed to see a smile on his face. Ok, and mine too - the Web Guy went to Texas as well! 1. Oh Yes They Call It The Streak. The Hawks have so far emerged as an incredibly streaky team. They lost nine, won two, lost seven, won three, etc etc. With last night's victory at Boston, the team has a really good chance to build another one tonight. The Hornets are also on the second night of a back-to-back, having defeated Portland last night 90-80, but will be without the services of their floor leader and rookie sparkplug Chris Paul, who tore a ligament in his thumb and is out for two weeks. See you there! -- The Web Guy | 2:00 p.m. 01/07/06 | Have a comment? |
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
You know how you are always reading The Web Guy's witty commentary on the
Hawks Blog and thinking to yourself, "I could do that"? 
