Joe scores 30, Hawks beat Bobcats, though it should have been easier...

Hawks 88 Bobcats 83
24 19 20 20
16 31 15 26

Hawks win, but it was an ugly one.

the Hawks got off to another bad start in this game, allowing the Bobcats to race out a 13-4 lead in the first 5 minutes, and the 1st quarter score ended at 24-16.

In the 2nd quarter, the Hawks got right though. Starting it off with a Mo Evans 3-ball, the Hawks scored 31 pts in the 2nd for a 47-43 halftime lead.

3rd quarter problems started showing again, the Hawks are really lucky to win this game, if we had been playing any other team we probably would not have come back, but the Hawks scored a mere 15 pts in the 3rd, and the Bobcats led 63-62 going into the 4th.

4th quarter Hawks crank it up like we are supposed to, Joe goes to work like he is supposed to, scoring 7 pts, but assisting 2 HUGE 3-pointers back-to-back by Mike Bibby, after 2 Joe Johnson free throws, Bibby hits a THIRD 3-pointer on a Johnson assist, and the Hawks were up 77-73, but this kid D.J Augustine, who had been beasting for the Bobcats (hit 7/11 3pt FGs), hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, making the score 79-77 in an instant. That's when Joe went to work, immediately after the inbound Joe Johnson launched a 3-ball, swish to make the score 80-79 with 4:13 left. Bobcats score to make the score 81-80 with 2:33 left. Marvin Williams, this kid is brand new this season, his improvement has been totally under the radar in the NBA. Marvin Williams, the 3rd leading 3pt FG% leader in the NBA, gets in position in his favorite corner, he gets a great pass from Maurice Evans and launches a 3-ball. Swish. 83-81 with 2:12 left.

It was a great game where it should have been a 10+ point win, but a few things could be learned here:

• Although Brown started probably the shortest backcourt of all time D.J. Augstine might be pretty good as a scoring point guard
• Marvin Williams is a significantly better player than this time last season
• Flip Murray is a great 6th man some nights, the element of cancer itself, frustration itself other nights
• Mo Evans is rock solid