A WINNABLE STRETCH
With the current Highlight Factory homestand, the Hawks look to improve on the best home record in the east. New Jersey and Memphis are both in last place in their respective divisions, the Nets were handled as such. The Jazz are always a game opponent and the Grizzlies are on fire right now, but the Atlanta defense has put games away early as of late. Coupled with the rest the team has gotten this week, the defense should be fired up to repeat the success of this winning streak.
2 GAME ROAD BUMPS
Beware of the Grizzlies. They are winners four out of their last six, knocked of Dallas Cleveland and Miami, and gave Boston a run for their money. Zach Randolph has gone crazy in the right way and Rudy Gay and Mike Conley are on a roll.
The Jazz while not a good road team…still have Deron Williams. Mehmet Okur is a matchup issue for any team. This one should be fun.
NUMBERS OF THE WEEK
0-The number of minutes Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Mike Bibby have played in the fourth quarter the last two games
-The number of three pointers taken by Josh Smith in the month of December.
-The number of free throws made by Mike Bibby this month(and the Hawks still are destroying opponents)
4- Number of wins in current Hawks streak
10-Number of 100+games the Hawks have had at the Highlight Factory
ROOKIE WATCH
Jeff Teague looks good as he has had a bunch of minutes because of the beat downs handed out. The Hawks are scoring nearly 120 points per game the past three games. Teague has averaged 22 minutes in the last two. He has shown aggressiveness offensively but is still tough on defense and knows that is how he will stay on the floor. “If you want time playing for coach Woodson, you have to get after it defensively and that is what I’m trying to do every time I get an opportunity.”
MO’ED DOWN
Mo Evans has shown up in a big way this week, dropping threes, scoring in bunches, playing tough defense and running the floor. He really wants to play more but has accepted his new role and patiently waits to check in at the scorers table. It says a lot that he was able to lead the team in scoring Marvin Williams was out sick. Good for Mo.
MARIO WEST UPDATE
Hard working man extraordinaire, D-League star and all around good guy, Mario West will join me for an interview soon. I want to catch up with the former Hawk and fan favorite to get his take on his time with the Hawks and see how his new basketball life is going. If you have any questions for him, post them and will pick one or two for the interview.
Only advice I will give to the team is …TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME. Even though we always say it, when a team comes limping into the gym, it’s easy to under-estimate. Play every game like it’s a one and done. Yes it’s a long season, but with parity in the league, look past one team and in April you could be watching the playoffs at home like the rest of us.
Keep cranking and winning. I still think on paper the Hawks are deserving of a #1 Power Ranking in the East.
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oooooooh mario cant wait to hear from him. Let’s take this game tonight seriously hawks! DO NOT DISRESPECT an underranked team. It happened in charlotte and itcan happen again. heck we were once underranked and destroyed some teams. keep that in mind………
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I will stay to the team, keep playing good ball guy’s you doing great dont stop for no one, and for mike woodson keep doing what you doing it’s working great, Big up’s to mike woodson and his atl hawks team, what a season we having, hawks have fun as you move on to great thing to come this season. GO ATL HAWKS GO ALL THE WAY!!! HAWKS #1
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Nice job hawks! yal are moving on up. Come a long way. lets keep it going. hope Joe smith plays at Utah and will miss ya othello, can’t dress if Joe smith dresses(bummer)
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I agree Hawksgirl, the Hawks did a great job in protecting home court! Keep up the great work fellas!
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