Happy New Year Nets, Vince Carter buzzer-beater in OT wins game

Hawks 91 Nets 93 (OT)
21 28 20 16 6
16 13 34 24 8

BOX SCORE

I mean, it was a great shot, no doubt about it, but that shot wasn't the reason the Hawks lost the game. This was the first overtime game all season for the Hawks, and it was the Nets 4th, so they know a little about how to take care of the few possessions in a 5:00 OT Quarter, the Hawks are still learning that.

In the 1st half, the Nets were in full meltdown mode, the Nets scored 16 points in the 1st quarter and didn't score again until 6:13 left in the 2nd, and that was AFTER Coach Frank was ejected (lol, that was funny, u could see the curses flying from his mouth). the Hawks simply kept their cool, Bibby hit his technical free throws, and the Hawks kept pressing. On the last play of the 1st half, Coach Woodson subbed Joe for Mario West, a defensive stopper. It turned out to be a genius move by Woodson, Mario stole the ball from Devin Harris and with 2 seconds on the clock, lauched a halfcourt 37 foot shot, and it went it. Mario went nuts. This was an important moment because as a friend of mine pointed out at the end of the game, that just goes to show the difference between a veteran in a big moment, and a rookie.

Hawks shot 7/10 3pt FGs in the 1st half

Nets shot 1/5 3pt FGs in the 1st half

The Hawks were in the driver's seat all 1st half, and with their ejected coach making a motivational speech (you men better get out there and win! gotdammit!), the Nets stormed back in the 2nd half with a Vince Carter 3 on a Devin Harris assist, and that started a 14-3 run that cut the score from 49-29 to 52-43. Josh Smith hit a jumpshot after the ensuing timeout and the competition was fierce from that point on. At the end of the 3rd, it was 69-61, Hawks lead.

The 4th quarter start was an indication of things to come for the Hawks, as the Nets' Ryan Anderson fouls Josh Smith for two free throws, and Josh misses both free throws. Those misses turn into a Devin Harris layup, and after a Mike Bibby 3pt attempt, a Jarvis Hayes 3pt is made and the score is 69-66 just like that. After a timeout, somehow Josh Boone was the reciever of a Devin Harris assist and scored easliy. A few lead changes and free throws and the regulation game comes down to this: 83-85 Nets lead Hawks ball, Josh Smith shoots a three-pointer (!!) misses and Mike Bibby gets the rebound, feeds to Al Horford and Al lays it home plus a foul. Now the score is 85-85 with :47 left, time to take the lead, right? No, Al Horford misses the free throw, and the Nets get the ball and call timeout. Nets inbound to Devin Harris who launches a three, misses, and Josh Smith gets the rebound, ignites a break, and feeds Joe for the game-winning jumpshot. Joe's shot actually gets tipped by Devin Harris and Brook Lopez gets the rebound to call a timeout. 3 seconds left in regulation and the ball is inbounded to Vince Carter. Carter launches, misses, and we're in overtime.

We all know what happened in overtime so let's just say what we learned about the Hawks in this game:

• Hawks MUST make crucial free throws to win the game


• if Mike Bibby is ever fouled beyond the 3, worry about the FIRST free throw, not the last


• Josh Smith is truely coming around as a scorer, playing inside-out for 20 pts


• Joe Johnson is as clutch as they come, but we must have another reliable clutch option


• Mario West gets very excited after hitting half-court buzzer-beaters (lol)


• Mike Woodson will play Solomon Jones AND Mario West before he plays Acie Law IV

that last particular bullet is a sad fact, but the Hawks are still a winning team! Let's see how they do against the Yao-led Rockets.

Hawks REVENGE bid fails, Devin Harris unstoppable, the potential of Vince Carter may still exist, does our bench? Johnson still magnificent

Hawks 107 Nets 119

29 26 30 34

28 22 23 38

ESPN AP Atlanta Recep

The 2008-2009 Atlanta Hawks had one of the best starts of franchise history but they have also proved to be one of the elite teams in the league in these early tests, situations in games. Of course we had a great start of 6-0 but even with these three losses, it only proves the Hawks power more.

In this game, the Hawks came out defensively determined to stop or slow down Devin Harris, the same Devin Harris that had shredded Iverson-debut Detroit and their defense for a career-high 38 points, and unfortunately, the Hawks became victims of this new phenomenon of the Devin. I mean seriously, in his past 3 games, Devin Harris has averaged 33.6 ppg 4.6 rbs 6.6 asts, and it wasn't at the fault of the Hawks defense, although it seems like ever since that Boston loss, we have been playing less than the great we had been playing those games prior to that loss, it might just be New Jersey had the advantage in this 2 game situation with Harris beasting and Vince Carter rare vintage, but the Hawks must understand this was a playoff type test, back-to-backs are very indicative of the power, skill level of the teams, and we can't let teams figure us out like the Nets did in these 2 games.

But we certianly HAVE lost some swagger in the defensive department these past two games, so we are going to go after Indiana in dominating fashion, then beat Wizards in Atlanta, then Bobcats in Atlanta, then the next "biggest test of the season" is the return of Josh Smith against the Legend of LeBron, but we absolutely must beat these other lil' sub-par teams before we face the big dog.

Can We Fit NEW JERSEY NETS into the Nu East Order?

It will be interesting to see at what pace Devin Harris continues to impress and improve, Nets are looking real smart for trading for him, it will be funny if the Nets make the playoffs and the Mavs don't (which they wont, and they can blame John McCain). But, the Nets making the playoffs is beyond a longshot, its beyond unlikely, but it is not outside the realm of possibility, especially if Devin Harris keeps averaging around 30 ppg 6 apg, Vince Carter 25 ppg 5 rbs 5 asts, and i guess Brook Lopez should average about 15 pts 9 rbs, i think there's a guy named Yi on that team but i'm not sure, Nets got a few key bench players; Ryan Anderson, Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, lets look at the east, hypothetically:

1. Celtics
2. Cavs
3. Hawks
4. Pistons
5. Magic
6. Raptors
7. 76ers
8.

bulls, knicks, nets, bucks will all battle for that 8th spot, teams trying to make that Hawks-leap, lol it aint happenin, but good luck in the playoffs.


Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Devin Harris?


Over the last 3 games, Devin Harris is averaging 33.6 ppg 4.6 rbs 6.6 asts on 55.6% FGs 40.0% 3pt FGs 87.5% FTs, he has been playing the best basketball of his young NBA career recently. Can he join CP3 and Williams as the top tier PGs in the NBA? If he averages more than 22 ppg 6 asts, he's an all-star, no doubt, a place Deron Williams has not been yet, lol.

Devin Harris, Vince Carter Homecourt Advantage, Robin Lopez season high, but Joe Johnson is magnificent, Hawks 108 Nets 115

Hawks 108 Nets 115

22 28 26 32

27 22 24 42

Great game.

it wasn't an outstanding performance defensively for the Hawks, especially in the 1st quarter, but the Nets played flawless offense this grand return game for Devin Harris to break a 3-game losing streak.

PeachtreeHoops, the #1 unofficial hawks blog gave some great statisical information that pretty much sums up everything:

I think it's fair to expect that if the following things occur the Hawks should win the game.

Joe Johnson scores 32 points on 16 shots.
Joe Johnson scores 21 points and does not miss a shot in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks make 15-27 three-pointers.
Marvin Williams scores 21 points.
Flip Murray scores 21 points on 13 shots.
Acie Law IV (welcome back) scores 9 points and has three assists in ten minutes.
Mike Bibby makes 4 three-pointers and doesn't turn the ball over once.

How did the Hawks go about wasting their broad offensive success last night?

By letting the Nets shoot better than 50% from the floor.
By also letting the Nets rebound more than 35% of their own missed shots.
By sending the Nets to free throw line almsot twice as often as the Hawks visited the stripe.
By forcing just 8 turnovers on roughly 90 Net possessions.

Give the Nets credit, they played a running game and made more shots than than the Hawks down the stretch. Rookie Brook Lopez had previously been as average as his brother, Robin Lopez on Suns, but tonight he hit a career-high 25 points on 11-17 FGs, doing most his scoring in the 1st half. Devin Harris was very good in this game though, 30 pts (8-17 FGs 2-4 3pt FGs 12-12 FTs)6 rbs 8 asts, and Vince Carter was a shadow of his former self scoring down the stretch in the crucial 4th quarter, 30 pts on 7-20 FGs 12-16 FTs. and who the hell is this guy, Ryan Anderson scoring 15 pts 4-4 3pts, but ive always hated this Dooling fool in Magic and he scored 10 pts

But the Hawks played great, Marvin Williams had an outstanding scoring output, 21 pts on 7-17 FGs 3-4 3pt FGs 4-6 FTs, Flip Murray played more minutes probably than he should have but was clutch, scored 21 pts in 37 minutes, but Acie Law IV was more clutch, scoring 9 pts in 10 minutes. The other starters didn't really have a good night, Bibby's 12 pts 4-11 fgs is about average for him, he may do better every once in a while and he will be more often than not, Al Horford is great in the making, but he as of 8 games into the season and 4 without Josh Smith he is not the strong low post threat he could-will be for the Hawks (safe for that crazy 27 pts 17 rbs 6 blks roadkiller), because in this game it was all offense. Which brings me to my next section:

isN't JOE JOHNSON at least the 3rd best SG in the NBA?!

32 pts (11-16 FGs 5-8 3pt FGs 5-6 FTs) 9 rbs 5 asts 2 stls
Those stats don't even begin to tell the story of the great that is Joe Johnson, as a PG he is the best floor leader, decision maker any team could have, his courtvision is seldom hindered by even the best defense at PG, on offense, it will take at least young Jason Kidd defense just to slow him down, and please do not let Joe back you down, he is among the best of them. As a Shooting Guard, Joe will make 40% guarenteed all the time, he is an excellent slasher, he is one of the best in the league in traffic and after ball pick-up, he hits midrange super consistently. As a Small Forward, Joe Johnson is a great rebounder

Josh Smith?

Josh Smith MAY return tonight, he has been listed as day-to-day until after the road trip, which is tonight so..

caption this pic, lol.