March 5, 2008

Hornets.com caught up with Atlanta Hawks guard Mike Bibby, who was acquired in a trade with Sacramento during All-Star Weekend, prior to Wednesday’s game:

Hornets.com: Considering how long the Hawks have been trying to find a point guard, what did some of your new teammates or even Hawks fans say to you after the trade?
Bibby: They welcomed me really well in Atlanta. It made it a great transition for me, to be greeted like that.

Hornets.com: There had been trade rumors surrounding you in recent years involving several other teams, but were you surprised to go to Atlanta?
Bibby: Well, Atlanta never came up, so I never knew they were a possibility. I had only heard what I was told. So I definitely didn’t expect it.

Hornets.com: How much is your injury affecting you? Hawks.com writer Micah Hart described your current situation as “playing on one leg.”
Bibby: [grins] I don’t really like to give any things away (related to injuries) to the opposing team. I can still run, so it’s not going to affect me. If I can move any bit whatsoever, I’m going to go out there and play.

Hornets.com: What’s your assessment of rookie Al Horford after getting to play with him for 10 games?
Bibby: At his young age, he works very hard. There aren’t many young guys who work hard like that. And he does all of the hard stuff that most people don’t like to do, like rebound and set picks, the dirty work. It’s definitely good to have him.

Hornets.com: One of your former teammates in Sacramento, Peja Stojakovic, is having a great season after missing 69 games in 2006-07 to injury. What is your opinion of what he’s done this season?
Bibby: I was never worried about Peja; he always comes to play. He’s always been one of the best shooters in the league, and that (shooting) is never going anywhere. I didn’t expect anything different from him. I’m happy for him. I know how he plays, because I had been with him for a while. I knew he would do well here.

Hornets.com: What do you think are the keys for someone like you who has to guard Chris Paul?
Bibby: Try to contain him as much as possible and not let him get his teammates involved. He’s a scorer, as well as a playmaker, so I try to cut down on what he does for his teammates.