Hawks close out 2008 with a win on the road, Johnson 27, Smith 24

Hawks 110 Pacers 104

26 24 35 25

25 21 37 21

BOX SCORE



Yes. It has finally been said. ESPN might be coming around to the Hawks this season, people.

First, we were gifted with a ESPN DAILY DIME feature, realistically predicting the Hawks to win 50 games, there was even a national poll taken, and 67% believe the Hawks can do it.



"What can you say? Joe has been huge for us this season, I put him in the same class as LeBron, Kobe -- he's playing at that level. He's making big plays for our team, he's making players around him better." ---Coach Mike Woodson



That is not the quote of a coach saying some nice things about his best player to the media to make him feel good, that's the truth in the NBA that very few realize. Joe knows:



"I don't get treated like that, but I feel like I'm up there in the elite," Johnson said.



If not one of the elite, at least one of the most clutch scorers in the NBA, Joe scored 12 points in the 4th on his way to 27 pts (9/21 FGs 2/6 3pt FGs 7/8 FTs) 7 rbs 5 asts, Josh Smith was great defensively as usual, but was also great offensively, hitting BIG free throws in a close game, scoring 24 pts (7/13 FGs 10/14 FTs) 6 rbs 3 asts 1 blk, but no big, especially not the one he jumped against (7'2 Roy Hibbert - 13 minutes, 0 pts 0 rbs) played bigger than Al Horford. Even with pesky Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster getting 12+ rebounds, Al Horford scored 12 pts (4/8 FGs 4/6 FTs) 14 rbs 2 asts 2 blks. Mike Bibby played about his average, except for his under-average 3pt shooting, 14 pts (5/14 FGs 1/6 3pt FGs 4/4 FTs) 5 rbs 6 asts. Marvin Williams didn't score alot of points, but was more than formidable against the scoring machine Danny Granger, Marvin scored 9 pts (3/10 FGs 1/3 FGs 2/2 FTs) 6 rbs 2 stls.



Our bench was big again, even though Acie Law wasn't part of it, again. ZaZa scored 9 pts 5 rbs, Mo Evans hit 2 big threes for 6 pts 3 rbs, and Flip made a few driving layups for 8 pts 2 rbs 2 asts.



I am an extremely optimistic, but not unrealistic Hawks fan, and even i am pleasantly suprised by the New Year record, 21-10, now let's see how we improve in 2009!

Maann...Hawks better crank it up, Hawks lost all defense in Pacers drubbing, Joe Johnson is pissed

Hawks 96 Pacers 113
25 23 25 23
32 29 27 25

BOX SCORE

People of Atlanta, fans of the Atlanta Hawks and the NBA, its not quite time to panic, but if the Hawks ever play like that again against anybody it might be safe to start panicking. the Atlanta Hawks entered the game against the Indiana Pacers on a 3 game losing streak, all season, thus far, we had only lost to the Celtics (epic), and those Nets back-to-back losses (we really should have at least got 1 of those), so the Hawks were eager to get their swagger back and win another one on the road against a pretty good team in the Pacers.

Although the events that transpired in that game, such as the injury of Al Horford in the first quarter (prayers and blessings from Heaven that he will be back for tonights home game), could not have been prepared for or easily overcomeable (new word), but they had soo many opportunities and each one of them were squandered away seemingly carelessly especially in the 4th quarter, PeachtreeHoops sums it up so sadly:

Without both Josh Smith and (for the final 41 minutes) Al Horford, Atlanta's primary defensive deficiencies shifted from limiting dribble penetration to keeping any Pacer over 6' 8" from doing whatever he wanted. Rasho Nesterovic scored 21 points. Troy Murphy had 19 rebounds. Jeff Foster had 12 points (5-6 FGA) and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Fox Sports South must have chosen not to show Roy Hibbert begging Jim O'Brien to put him in the game.

Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby did what they could offensively* but they barely combined to match Danny Granger's production. Acie Law IV took advantage of his late introduction to the game and fueled a run that got the Hawks within 7 with 7:59 to play. Atlanta had three chances to cut the lead further (four if you count Maurice Evans' missed tip on Joe Johnson's three-pointer) but could only muster an off-balance Marvin Williams jump shot, a Joe Johnson runner, and a Joe Johnson three-point attempt.

Al Horford tonight?

Al Horford is listed as day-to-day, but the question is, if he doesn't play who starts in his place? Randolph Morris? Othello Hunter? we need a banger down there, someone just to protect the paint, get rebounds and blocks, someone who only shot he will take is a putback. Also someone who will NOT shoot 0-6 in a critical game on the road while starting in place of the best forward on the team...oh wait, he is still starting, could we possibly start the worst frontcount in NBA History tonight?

Mike Bibby - Joe Johnson - Marvin Williams - ZaZa Pachulia - Randolph Morris

Mr. Morris has not earned my trust yet, he played a good game that one time in the preseason, but in all of his minutes thus far this season he has been an incredible liability, and his on-court demeanor he seems to be emotionless or careless, even if of course he cares and loves basketball, in not expressing that he will not be able to seize moments and opporitunities like a clutch, veteran player would.