Atlanta Hawks 121, New Orleans Hornets 98, or Letdowns Are So Last Year

by Bronn on Nov 14, 2009 10:28 PM EST Comment 34 comments

I was afraid that the Hawks would experience a bit of a letdown following that big road win on Boston, then having to travel back home for a back-to-back with New Orleans. There were plenty of reasons to underestimate the Hornets, who were without Chris Paul (as you may have heard, Atlanta had a chance to draft that guy a few years ago) and were so bad up to this point that they got a coach fired who took two straight teams to the playoffs. Stay on your toes, Mike Woodson.

Turns out, I was worried about the wrong team.

The Boston Celtics, following the non rivalry game, stumbled on the road against Indiana. I'm taken to understand that Danny Granger went nuts, but the fall-out is, Atlanta is in first place. Someone who knows how to do some research might confirm this, but I'm going on record and saying the Hawks haven't had the best record in the conference after 10 games in over a decade. In fact, but for a last second three by that guy we love to hate, Atlanta would be the only two loss team in the East. I'm already excited about playing Miami at home on Wednesday.

This was a fun one. Hawks added another 17 offensive boards, and if they didn't kill New Orleans the way they did Boston, they still won the rebounding battle, and 17 is a lot of offensive rebounds. Also, Hubie Browns' inability to pronounce Pachulia (Pachula? Pachuler? Pachuli?) makes 'Nique sound a lot smarter.

Abbreviate Victory bullets (since I was partially watching football)

I regret every minute I spent watching Alabama/Mississippi State. I shall be in repentance for the remainder of the weekend.
Josh Smith wants your All-Star votes. The only problem is, if he keeps having games like this, we're going to have a lot more wins like this one, and he'll never get his minutes back up.
80% of the Hawks starting five looked like a well-oiled offensive machine. Marvin Williams may be the team's best man defender, but having shooting nights like this one make it hard for Woodson to keep him on the floor. He actually got demoted to the second team for garbage minutes, which isn't a good sign for him.
Jeff Teague continues to flash some very nice raw skills-good speed, ball handling, and passing ability-but he hasn't put together a good game since he embarrassed the Lakers' reserves in an out-of-hand game
Randolph Morris played 4 minutes and, if he was happy about it, I couldn't tell one way or another..

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What a weekend.

Hawks win two, including at Boston; Dawgs actually show up and win against Auburn; USC gets 55 pasted on them by STANFORD.

I love the USA.

And I too hate Dwyane Wade (and that egregious name of his).

by rbubp on Nov 14, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It has been a good one thus far

While my wife was moderately happy about the mutts win, I was completely ecstatic with my 10-1 Jackets, locking down a spot in the ACCCG. Then the Hawks take down the Celtics in Boston and follow that up with a big win over the Hornets. No matter which way you slice it, the Hawks of old would never go 2-0 on a back-to-back like this one.

All that’s left is for the Falcons to dispatch the Panthers Sunday afternoon, and even though I don’t watch them, let’s see if the Thrashers can’t win one or two also. No need to be greedy with the wins in the A.

Corey Zickefoose: I think they should still be able to play football, regardless. Tennessee is my place. You know, it's my football team.

Reporter: Even after they put a gun in your face, you say let them play football?

Corey Zickefoose: Yeah. It's Tennessee. That's the way it is sometimes.

Welcome to the SEC!

by Jesse28 on Nov 14, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to mention that Bees and Gators continuing to win

was the only thing wrong with it. If UF wins another NC I am just going to puke. For real, though.

by rbubp on Nov 15, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing makes

me happy about watching Tech score 7 unanswered TDs on us, but tailgating hard and the Hawks being 1st in the East do make me ambivalent at least.

by coachkcastellon on Nov 15, 2009 10:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

You like the Mississippian dawgs?

Hm.

by eyy on Nov 14, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh i see

Bronn wrote this. OK, nevermind, it all makes sense.

by eyy on Nov 14, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Does it?

by rbubp on Nov 14, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do like the Mississippi Dawgs

My dad is an alum. But I’m only casually allied with them. They’re much more fun to watch in basketball, anyway, when they’re not losing their season openers to Rider (grumble).

by Bronn on Nov 14, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey! Watch it!

I was born and raised in Mississippi. I actually graduated from Mississippi State. Lol

by dstdeelite on Nov 15, 2009 1:35 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

They got Renardo Sidney cleared yet?

if you like Miss St and hoops, Slick Rick has a treat for you this year.

(And I’m a huge Jarvis Varnado fan)

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 15, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope, not according to the NCAA

I think they still have him ineligible untill his camp produces some documents.

Corey Zickefoose: I think they should still be able to play football, regardless. Tennessee is my place. You know, it's my football team.

Reporter: Even after they put a gun in your face, you say let them play football?

Corey Zickefoose: Yeah. It's Tennessee. That's the way it is sometimes.

Welcome to the SEC!

by Jesse28 on Nov 16, 2009 7:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

crawford draws fouls

JC may take some odd shots, but he draws fouls in the 4th, two nights in a row and gets to the line. instead of settling for jumpers the hawks now attack with the lead. miami have had a very very very soft schedule!

by Travis Mays on Nov 14, 2009 11:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know right

People are all on the Heat bandwagon but I agree with you. They’ve had a VERY easy schedule thus far and the majority of the games have been at home. I looked at their schedule and their games seem to evenly spaced with rare back to backs.

by dstdeelite on Nov 15, 2009 1:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

On a completely unrelated note

Brandon Jennings dropped 55 points on the Warriors. He’s like an uber-rookie. He’s like everything Kevin Durant should have been as a rookie.

by Bronn on Nov 15, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He's been

my favorite rookie (besides Teague) ever since I saw his haircut a year or two ago. And he was awesome at McDonalds

by acie4mvp on Nov 15, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Teague is fun to watch

Jennings is educational to watch…and entertaining on top of it.

by Bronn on Nov 15, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody's laughing about him goofin' on Rubio now, that's for sure.

by rbubp on Nov 15, 2009 12:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did you look at his shot chart?

It’s unbelievable that he was so efficient. In games like this its hard to believe that “getting hot” is simply a statistical phenomenon of chance.

by eyy on Nov 15, 2009 1:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just finished watching the second half of the Bucks game on nba league pass

Watching two of my 3 favorite rookie pgs(Curry and Jennings, other one’s Lawson…sorry Teague) go at each other was pretty amazing, but watching Jennings go off for 29 points was just incredible. The entire crowd was stunned every time he missed, it was a great performance.

I’m looking forward to when the Hawks play the Bucks. Teague better learn how to finish at the basket and stay in front of his man soon because this league’s going to be filled with good lightening quick point guards for awhile.

by dmortone on Nov 15, 2009 5:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

*29 in the 3rd quarter

by dmortone on Nov 15, 2009 5:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jennings after the game:

“They kept going under the screen. They continued to disrespect me so I started shooting.”

Memo to Woody: This must be learned and coached into the ground.

by Duff_Man on Nov 15, 2009 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

actually A.C. Law was guarding him for a few possesions in the 4th.

Memo to Woody? How about memo to Nelson. But these are the Warriors we are talking about and Nelson at this point in his career doesn’t even compare to Woody.

by xavip on Nov 15, 2009 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Durant ain't bad now...

and I fanshotted a rookie link. Any chance Jennings isn’t the mid season roy?

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 15, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hi Bronn

I’m loving this team right now, although I loved them even though there was nothing to love for many years prior to this one.

by Co Co on Nov 15, 2009 1:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Stat of the game

Joe Johnson led the team with 33 minutes played.

by axhfan on Nov 15, 2009 1:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Imma say it , Woody Coach of the Year!!!!!!!!

by xavip on Nov 15, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not gonna lie.

That’s damn impressive

by coachkcastellon on Nov 15, 2009 10:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not going to get too excited yet. It’s just 10 games after all. But this is fun. Maybe this team has a better shot at a top 3 seed and making the NBA Finals than I would ever have thought possible.

by redwards95 on Nov 15, 2009 7:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

great game

i was at this game and i can tell you the nicest thing about it for me. there wasn’t a moment from opening tip on where i wasn’t absolutely sure the hawks weren’t going to win it.

what an incredible feeling that was. i thought this team was highly underrated, even by the hawks blogosphere heading into this season, and so far they are proving me right.

also, soooo much hype was made of shaq going to cleveland and vince going to orlando, and i just sat quietly listening wondering if that might just be subtraction by addition. we’ll see….

by jeherv on Nov 15, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Our hawks are proving lots of people wrng

Last year we may have lost but they are maturing. Especially smoove. he has just blow me away with his non selfish skills. I hope he is an allstar this year. but its only 10 game in so lets see what will happen in 25 atleast. cant wait to play dwade though. I stopped liking him after the playoffs last year. He is just so dramatic. I hope we show him up wednesday

by Hawksgirl on Nov 15, 2009 12:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Marvin...

he seems extremely defferential on the floor to me (wonder how that would have been if he stayed to be the go to option his sophomore year at NC). I think with Jamal Crawford on the roster now, he looks even less to be a scoring threat, defering to Joe, Jamal, Bibby, Horford, and Smooth, and with everyone else playing so well he’s just letting the go and not looking for his shot at all. The games when Joe has been down, and he’s been aggressive trying to score, he’s done really well. I just wonder how Marvin would do as an offensive focal point (or at least top 3 option), instead of being the 4th, 5th, 6th option on the floor.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 15, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

in january....

I know it could be looking too far ahead but boston three times? And twice on a friday where it will be a back to back to orland? I’m looking forward to it!

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Nov 15, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs