Hawks make a statement & cool off streaking ‘Cats
Jan 26th, 2010 by Aaron Hotchner
Atlanta, 1/22/10 – For Atlanta, who’s putting the League on notice that they’re for real this year, it was just another night at the office. For Charlotte, it was running face first into a brick-wall Hawks squad & leaving Phillips Arena feeling a chill unknown since January 9. With the memory of a 20 point case of ‘Cat scratch fever from Nov. 6 in mind, the Hawks posted a 103-89 victory, snapping the six game run that had made Charlotte the NBA’s hottest team.
Suiting up for Friday night’s game, both teams knew this match-up was getting more attention than in previous seasons. Atlanta, blessed with so much young talent, has seemed to finally have their multiple personalities team & player singing from the same song book. Charlotte, despite trading marquee center Emeka Okafor, being up for sale (by BET mogul Robert Johnson) & enduring the tutelage of a brilliant but mercurial coach, (hardwood legend/League gypsy Larry Brown) has somehow transformed themselves into a formidable outfit.
This game found the Hawks taking good care of the ball, besting Charlotte in total turnovers 17-12. Caring means sharing too, with the Hawks having 9 more assists (32-23) than the Bobcats, translating into five players in double figures. Leading the attack was guard Jamal Crawford, whose 24 points came in only 29 minutes of action, a feat he managed by shooting a sweet 66% from the field & hitting all three of his free-throws. Hawk’s center Al Horford also put forth a banner effort, closing out with 23 points, (on very respectable 58% shooting) 9 rebounds, & 5 assists.
Charlotte has been much improved since Nov. 15, after acquiring the services of sometime NBA problem-child Stephen Jackson. Exiled from the Golden State Warriors, Jackson has been averaging almost 21 per game for Carolina. This game was no exception, with ”Captain Jack” who played for the Hawks in the ’03-’04 season – putting up 24 points & 6 boards. Only ‘Cats swingman (denoting the talented type who can play both the shooting guard & small forward positions) Gerald Wallace did better, posting 25 points. Known for his highly energetic slashing style of play, Wallace also attempted 13 free throws one less than Atlanta’s team total. However, he bricked 5 of those 13, with Atlanta a perfect 14-14. In general, Charlotte’s night on the line was not very memorable 22 of 30, in a game that could have been a lot closer.
”We take bad shots and turn it over,” Charlotte coach Larry Brown said. ”That’s incriminating.” From watching the Larry Brown/Allen Iverson era 76er’s, I know Brown as a demanding guy to play for. LB has made a Hall-of-Fame career out of shoehorning NBA egos into his ”play the right way” mold, & for Charlotte to be performing at their recent level, his lessons have surely taken root. Figure on the ‘Cats being possible play-off spoilers in the LEastern conference. The Hawks though, are looking to do more than just spoil someone else’s play-off hopes. Tied with Boston for second place (29 wins each) in the East & the season past it’s half point, Atlanta dreams of play-off victories and possibly a championship if their stars align.