Got Karma? Hawks defense swarm Yao-led Rockets, Mike Bibby buzzer-beater 3 wins game

Hawks 103 Rockets 100
27 19 31 23
22 32 25 24

Now that was a good shot. Much prettier and with a much better result than the buzzer-beater we saw on ESPN as the #1 play of the night, and i would still be a little sick about that game if it wasn't for this one. And it was a good shot, great assist by the great Joe Johnson, his season-high 14th of the night, but none of this would be possible without the player of the game -- Josh Smith.

29 pts (13-16 FGs 3/4 FTs) 2 rbs 1 ast 1 blk

Marvin Williams aggrivated a shoulder injury in the last game against the Nets, so knowing he wouldn't be in the lineup, the Hawks would need an offensive lift, they got it. From the first play of the game, with the Maurice Evans assist Josh made a running 7-foot jumper with the AND 1 against Yao, it was felt that Josh would have a good offensive game. Josh Smith scored 29 pts (13-16 FGs 3-4 FTs), these 13 field goals coming mostly on drives to the hoops and short range jumpshots.

It would be an epic battle, for we all know the Atlanta Hawks know no 7-footers, so we had been slightly concerned that Yao would score easily on the Hawks in the paint, and that had been realized when Yao scored 8 points on 2 dunks a jumpshot and 2 free throws, but Josh Smith using his quickness to his advantage showed in the 1st quarter how we would win, Josh scored 13 points on 2 post-up hook-shots 2 driving layups 1 jumper and 3 free throws, and just as Josh Smith won the tip-off, Josh wins the battle of the paint in the 1st quarter, but the Rockets lead, 27-22.

2nd quarter, the Hawks 2nd unit play was great, particularly that of Acie Law (!!) and Flip Murray, who played together to start the 2nd, a rare sight indeed, and of course, Flip Murray has always scored well on driving layups and ill-advised 3s, but Flip played smart in the 25 ft range as well, hitting shots from 18 feet and getting to the line. Hawks played better collectively as a unit than the opponent, as usual, especially at Phillips Arena and the Hawks led 54-46 at halftime.

Halftime leaders: Hawks - Josh Smith 19 Rockets - Yao Ming 15

3rd quarter the Rockets came out gunning, hitting


That was a great game played by the Hawks, Josh Smith needed this offensive outburst, this in-paint confidence booster, so when he is facing Dwight Howard in the next game, he can try to hold him down.