Atlanta Bounces Back With Victory Over Charlotte 102-96 In Overtime

by Kris Willis on Jan 7, 2012 9:20 AM EST

It certainly wasn't ideal but it was a victory and it was much needed to help erase the memory of Thursday's uninspiring performance. The Atlanta Hawks bounced back with a 102-96 overtime victory over the Charlotte Bobcats to improve to 5-3 on the season. Not only is Atlanta in the midst of a nine game in 12 days stretch and their first back-to-back-to-back set of the season they have also played four overtime periods in their last two games.

Josh Smith bounced back with his best game of the season finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds in just under 40 minutes of court time. Smith was angry before the game and backed up some tough talk with a solid performance.

"I think with two previous disappointing losses, we need to have some kind of sense of being mad and wanting to take it out on somebody else. This will be the game to do it. We have to leave it all out on the court. If these two losses don't piss you off, then I don't know what's going to get you mad. I know I am frustrated and angry. So I am just trying to walk around with a smile, but I know when I step in between those lines I'm going to play ba- out."

Marvin Williams finished with 15 points and nine rebounds but took his turn as a Hawks player who couldn't cash in two free throws with 17.3 seconds remaining and the Hawks up 90-89. Williams made one of two and Charlotte eventually tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Joe Johnson's jump shot is still off as he went 6-17 for 14 points although he did hit a couple of timely baskets in overtime. Jeff Teague was a mixed bag going 3-10 from the field but also handing out nine assists in the game.

Vladimir Radmanovic gave Atlanta a boost off the bench in in the absence of Tracy McGrady. Radmanovic finished with 11 points and seven boards and hit a couple of threes in four attempts.

Atlanta will complete their three games in three days set on Saturday with a rematch with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls defeated Orlando last night and made a big comeback against the Hawks earlier this week to steal a 76-74 win.

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Comments

this is why josh is so frustrating

we know that he can be good, its just its as if he chooses to decide when he wants to be good. I like it when smoove is on the court, just get frustrated when we get josh smith on nights

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 7, 2012 10:20 AM EST reply actions

Highly accurate. You said it better than I could.

I want him to always play at the level he is capable of. I can stand mistakes. I can stand limitations of ability. I can’t stand lack of effort, study of the game or team concept.

I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl

by Duff_Man on Jan 7, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

some nights we get the guy who looks lazy and takes long jumpers

and other nights we get the guy who attacks the paint and gets close to a triple-double

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 7, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

That second guy showed up last night

12 shots around the rim is a good thing to see form him.

Braves will be fine. I'm not worried.

by Bronn on Sep 18, 2011 4:26 PM EDT

by Bronn on Jan 7, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

And what I don't get is...

can’t Josh himself see how much more productive he is when he’s aggressive and attacking the rim vs waiting outside for jumpers?

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 7, 2012 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

Smith had the height advantage and spacing to back his man down. We saw that Bosh forced him off the block.

Indubitably we will see teams that play better and bigger players. Last night we got a chance to see Horford in isolation off the dribble. Iso-Horf was not pretty.

I still believe that our frontcourt does not complement each other and we will need an injury to other teams to progress past the 2nd round.

* Hawks trade {Al Horford + protected 2nd rounder} for {Perimeter F Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Andrew Bogut *

by PointGuardSlim on Jan 7, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

This is the good thing about the shortened season.

You don’t have time to think or dwell on loses as much as before so hopefully players will have short term memory when it comes to that. I know if it happened last season, especially since it was a heartbreaking type of loss, it would definitely be on the minds of players. That is never a good thing.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jan 7, 2012 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Also,

“…I’m going to play ba- out.”

I’d be worried for the opposing players at the reciprocating end of one of his dunks.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jan 7, 2012 10:58 AM EST reply actions

funny but true

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 7, 2012 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

He should go akk Darryl Dawkins and name that dunk.

“I call this The Teabagger”.

I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl

by Duff_Man on Jan 7, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

lol though this does give me an idea

whenever jeff dunks “he just got teague-bagged”…………… sorry couldnt help it

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 7, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

That'd bring a new spin to the Turbo sexaphonic delight dunk

Sometimes I think Josh is also from the planet Lovetron.

Will making it back to the Eastern Conference Semis give Larry Drew another year at the helm?

by Nique Fan on Jan 8, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

Someone should make Josh mad before every game if this is going to be the result.

by RamblininAlb on Jan 7, 2012 11:17 AM EST reply actions

"Smith had the height advantage and spacing to back his man down."

Not true at all. White is stout at 6-9 250. Josh will give you games like this and frustrating games other times. Some players will have his number and he doesn’t have a high enough BB IQ to adjust.

by HD Bud on Jan 7, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions

DJ white was shorter than Diaw...

we’ll see how he adjusts against CHI. But he tries to establish post position and gets pushed off the post. At least thats what happened against Christina Bosh.

* Hawks trade {Al Horford + protected 2nd rounder} for {Perimeter F Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Andrew Bogut *

by PointGuardSlim on Jan 7, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't it crazy the Hawks could be 4-0 during this crazy stretch of games going into tonight

Shoulda, coulda, woulda i guess… It’s fun to imagine the buzz that would be surrounding the Hawks and tonight’s game if that were true. If only we didn’t have the worst sports luck when it comes to disappointments.

by BravesFanScout on Jan 7, 2012 12:41 PM EST reply actions

If they manage to win tonight

i would almost forgive them for thursdays game

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 7, 2012 12:54 PM EST reply actions

I'll be tuned in!

* Hawks trade {Al Horford + protected 2nd rounder} for {Perimeter F Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Andrew Bogut *

by PointGuardSlim on Jan 7, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

smith needs to be on lithium never know how emotionally he's going to be during game time.

by juniorb on Jan 7, 2012 1:09 PM EST reply actions

Good win

Smoove played well. Defense and rebounding has been tremendous in last few games. He is the last line of defense, and that is sad, because we lack a seven footer to help.

Still a good win. Lion and Marvin doing their thing. Teague has a better performance with nice assists. He is beginning to see and get a more open vision of what all goes on. IT is amazing what happens when you play more minutes.

JJ has been disappointing to say the least. At some point he has to snap out of this funk. On the positive side, I am beginning to see Green play well. If he is making his shots and JJ is not, I like to give more minutes to Green.

I hope the boys can get some rest. It won’t be easy tonight with fake Cow fans, and some that hated Chicago so have left its miserable weather and are now in the beautiful south but still long for what they ran away from.

by ATLpaul on Jan 7, 2012 1:24 PM EST reply actions

Diaw is fat..just saying

He’s huge what happened. There was talk he could run the point when he first got drafted. Then in PHX he played ctr a few times and was effective, actually gave Tim Duncan problems….now he’s just this guy with a huge but..he had some nice moves but wonder why they won’t make him slim down

by Cmart34 on Jan 7, 2012 6:46 PM EST reply actions