Hawks 89 Thunder 85
22 16 20 31
14 27 21 23
22 16 20 31
14 27 21 23
11/09/08 - Atlanta Hawks (5-0) VS Oklahoma City Thunder(1-5) (See: Seattle Supersonics)
Sunday's game was the first full game without Josh Smith, a HUGE factor on both ends of the floor, and at first it took some getting used to.
The first quarter the hawks played well, outscoring Thunder 22-14, it was unfortunate that Thunder(do i say Thunder or THE Thunder? It sounds gay either way) lost Chris Wilcox to a knee injury, and i guess the Hawks had some sympathy for Thunder in the second quarter, getting outscored 27-16, making the halftime score 41-38.
After a defensively contestive 3rd quarter with Hawks outscoring Thunder 21-20, the Hawks really turned it up for the 4th quarter, keyed by a certain 6th man of the year candidate, Flip Murray, scoring 9 points in the 4th with two 3-pointers and a steal, layup. Joe Johnson scored 8 in the 4th to ice this team, and the Hawks grinded out a win to remain undefeated.
The 2008-2009 Eastern Conference Order of Power
Tier 1
Boston Celtics (6-1)-
Champions. Enough said.
Tier 2
Detroit Pistons (4-2)-
The Pistons should be in Tier 1 with Boston, but they're not. I, for one, am a believer in the Allen Iverson trade, he should make that team better offensively, but unfortunately these two games played so far have only proved Allen Iverson's defensive liability that comes with his offense. If Iverson learned to distribute the ball a little better and score his 20 ppg, the Pistons will remain a championship contender, if this doesn't work, obviously AI and Detroit will divorce, as Iverson is in his contract year.
Cleveland Cavaliers (5-2)-
The Cavs are the biggest wildcard for a championship contender, i mean, of course there is the LeBron Factor, which alone make the Cavs a CONTENDER, but who else on that team can make them a CHAMPION? Mo Williams is averaging 14.1 ppg 4.5 apg, doing a little less than what Mike Bibby is doing for the Atlanta Hawks, so does that put them over the top? Actually, Williams has made less impact than most thought he would, he just fell back into the shadow of LeBron instead of being a leader with him, which is why i'm not ready to declare the Cavs a championship-calibur team, just a contender.
But LeBron James is averaging 28.1 ppg 9.0 rpg 7.0 asts on 47% FGs 77% FTs, great, but not better than last season in any way for James, if he can just average 80% on FTs, he'll be MVP
Orlando Magic (4-2) -
Dwight Howard is averaging 22.2 ppg 13.7 rpg 4.0 bpg but that 48.5% FTs is abysmal even for Howard, i mean, come on, i thought the World victory that is the Obama presidency and the US Gold Medal might motivate this young brother enough to improve his FT shooting at least a little bit! No, not at all, its gotten much worse, and i think the rest of the team has disimproved a little bit too. Of course its only been 6 games, but Hedu Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis really sucking right now, Lewis shooting 40.1% FGs 28.9% 3pt FGs 71.2% FTs for 17.7 ppg, Turkoglu, last season Most Improved Player Award winner, shooting 36.4% FGs 30.0% 3pt FGs 83.3% FTs for 15.5 ppg. If these two guys dont step up not only will they not be a championship team, but they will not even be DIVISION champs, as the Hawks win the Southeast(YYEAAHH BOY!)
Toronto Raptors (4-2)-
Chris Bosh is the best PF in the Eastern Conference, and 2nd to only Amare Stoudamire in the NBA, no doubt about it. He is dominating averaging 26.7 ppg 11.3 rpg 2.5 asts 53.7% FGs 83.1% FTs, and his frontcourtmate isn't doing so bad either. A far cry from his career averages but Jermaine O'Neal is averaging 10.2 ppg 6.7 rpg but the 1.8 blks is what helps Toronto the most. The Raptors are rolling, i don't think they are much better than the Atlanta Hawks, but the Bosh factor alone is slightly bigger than the Johnson factor, outside of that Atlanta wins at every position. I really don't get it though, just because Toronto won 49 games that one season and has been a consistent first round exit ever since, people want to see this team as much better than the Hawks. I'll not argue that perspective for now, but when the Hawks win 49 games this season, we will be considered better than the Raptors, and our Mike Woodson better get COY.
Tier 3 -
Atlanta Hawks (6-0)-
We won't be here in this 3rd tier by the end of this season. The Hawks have a chance to be one of the top 5 teams in the Eastern Conference, and if the east if still considered "least" then we will be the cream of the crop on top. Joe Johnson is 3rd in the NBA in John Hollinger's PER which makes him statistically, the 3rd best player in the NBA, Josh Smith is starting to bloom into a superstar himself defensively, and if he ever develops into that 20 ppg scorer he could, should be at the PF position, a MISMATCH EVERY NIGHT for whoever we play...Al Horford will undoubtedly be a double-double beast increasingly in his NBA career (although he has not averaged that thus far, his first game without Smoove proved much). Marvin Williams is about as solid and getting closer to consistent as you can ask from the Small Forward position, he defends well, rebounds, slashes a little bit, and if he is a brand new 3pt shooter? He is looking like NOT the biggest mistake Knight ever made...even though he probably still is, unless the Hawks get to the Finals before the Hornets, we know our team, Hawks may win the division this season.
Philadelphia 76ers -
Miami Heat -
The remaining teams in the Eastern Conference I feel don't have a realistic chance at becoming great in the near future; Wizards - injury prone, Pacers - No D, Bucks - Bogut, Knicks - maybe suprise, Nets - sucks,
KOBE vs JOE
Kobe Bryant - 24.4 ppg 5.6 rpg 3.4 apg 1.8 stls 0.8 blks 47.3% FGs 33.3% 3pt FG 78.6% FTs in 33.3 MPG
Joe Johnson - 25.2 ppg 5.2 rpg 3.8 apg 1.4 stls 0.4 blks 50.5% FGS 44.4% 3pt FG 78.9% FTs in 37.4 MPG
Lakers - 1st in defensive effeciency (88.5 points allowed), 1st in offensive effeciency (112.2 points scored)
Hawks - 3rd in defensive effeciency(91.5 points allowed), 12th in offensive effeciency (106.4 points scored)
the JOSH SMITH factor
through the first 3 games, Josh Smith was averaging 14.5 ppg 10.7 rpg 3.5 blks 2.5 stls, and although he has only played 3 games so far, his impact on the defensive end cannot be overstated. I mean, the first game of the season against Dwight Howard and the Magic in Orlando, what he do: 17 pts 10 rbs 5 blks 4 stls, granted, Dwight Howard had 8 blocks in that same game, but obviously we won 99-85. The Hawks have obviously always had this great defensive player, but its about time the Hawks became a great defensive team.
the BEAST of AL HORFORD
Al Horford has played 5 games of excellence at the center/power forward position. Playing slightly fewer minutes than last season due to foul trouble Horford is averaging 8.8 ppg 8.8 rpg 3.2 spg 1.8 bpg, but in Smith's absense, Horford rightfully so became the defensive presence that Smith usually is, posting a stat line of 8 pts 12 rbs 2 asts 5 blks, if he continues this aggressiveness, the Hawks will be alright while Smith is gone.
Marvin "lights out" Williams?
The official number on the season is 4/7 but Marvin Williams has shown a new confidence in that 3point stroke that has NEVER been there before. He was taking and making 3pointers with ease in the New Orleans win Wednesday night, if Marvin can shoot say, 38-40% 3pt FGs this season, (you never know this season) he will have deserved the 3 year 20 million extention he should be offered :D i know that's kind of mean, but that's real
Mike "SolidRock" Bibby
Mike Bibby is a solid point guard. He is a strong solid point guard, he is GOOD, GUARENTEED for about 14 ppg 6 asts every night. Sometimes he even has games like the Toronto game, 19 pts 12 asts, but those are about as frequent as a full moon, but you can count on good floor leadership, decision making(sometimes) with Mike.
FlipMo SQUAD!
Mann, who the f*ck is Josh Childress? Na, i'm just playing i miss the kid and his afro but Flip Murray and Maurice Evans replace him FINE! When the Hawks first signed Mo Evans I was more excited about him, even after we signed Flip Murray, i thought he would not be a big impact player, boy have i been pleasantly wrong. Flip Murray is averaging 12.4 ppg 2.4 rpg 2.2 spg on 41.2% FGs 41.3% 3pt FGs, Maurice Evans has averaged 8.0 ppg 3.4 rpg, combined, these two average 20.4 ppg 6.0 rpg 3.0 apg, i don't think Josh Childress would have provided that this season. Flip is clutch man, Flip can make plays, of course sometimes he may make the wrong decision, but thats not been that often yet. And there are some people that say, "oh well, you like him now, just wait until the trade deadline, you'll be trynig to trade him" I see no such future, i think Flip will continue to be a fire off the bench and he himself will average at least 10 ppg, and Mo at least 8 ppg, thats good enough for the Hawks to win some games
Did somebody say the Hawks had a bad bench?
ZaZa Pachulia, Acie Law IV, Solomon Jones, Randolph Morris, Mario West, the Hawks go 12 DEEP with EASE this season! and none of those guys are scrubs! Well, maybe ZaZa sometimes (especially the way he played in OKC, ugh), but our bench is very good and for the most part, does better than just hold a lead, ive seen our bench extend leads in each game played so far.
11/18/08-11/18/08 - the 2008-2009 Atlanta Hawks weekly predictions:
11/11 - Hawks VS Bulls in Chicago - Hawks 95 Bulls 88
11/12 - Hawks VS Celtics in Boston - Hawks 88 Celtics 87
(i know, i know, it hasn't been done yet, the possibility is almost none without Smith but i am keeping the realistic faith ;)
11/14 - Hawks VS Nets in New Jersey - Hawks 98 Nets 88
11/15 - Hawks VS Nets in Atlanta - Hawks 112 Nets 95
Hawks will be 9-0 by next Monday, believe that
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