Heat vs. Hawks Final Score: Miami Heat 107, Atlanta Hawks 87

Really seemed like Hawks were never in it after mid-way in first quarter. It was an excellent crowd, with normal newly converted Heat fans, but even they were not really into it when the game is not competitive.

Lion was in the house. He had a tight sling on his arm, obviously so as it don’t move. It was good to see him. He is missed

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Attended Gearon townhall for season ticket holders before the game at Hawks practice court, he took questions from the crowd, some nuggets,

- He was asked why do Hawks draft 6’ 9" centers, and another question about lack of centers, he answered he is mostly happy with play of Al, and that there are few Dominant centers today compared to past. He also pointed at fact Teague is 6’ 2" so they don’t draft 6’9" players always!! He said wish he could get Lion back before end of season.

- On subject of Teague, he talked how when Bibby trade went down, Wizards really wanted Teague, but he was not willing to trade Teague for Kirk. He said there were a lot of internal discussions. But he also pointed how team really got lucky when Kirk went down to try Teague and see what Teague is about. He said he realized what Teague was about when in playoffs last year he hurt both wrists, and wanted painkiller shots so he could quickly go back in and play, which he got.

- On whether he will sell the Hawks again, he sounded like he is in it for long term. He spoke to fact he could never hold a town hall meeting for hockey fans. because he doesn’t get hockey. The fact that he has been a Hawks fan since he was 4. He spoke to fact that one of reasons he bought the team was so a team that had become a losing team could again see good times and his kids could experience good basketball the way he had grown up with. He explained how tough it was selling Thrashers, how he asked his son to come to the meeting when he was going to confront newspapers about the sell, and how he broke up. He said at those low times an opportunity to sell the team came up and he agreed to sell. After sell did not go through, he took summer off, disconnected in his words, waited for lockout to finish and then came back. He is not looking to sell now.

- on subject of luxury tax he spoke how team is already in luxury tax. He spoke about Kenyon Martin. He said Kenyon was in ATL and had talked to Hawks and players. Hawks had told him they wanted him. But he also said Kenyon has a house in LA, so he thought just based on that fact, and the fact LA and NY markets always being magnets for players, it be tough to steal him

- He did speak about Jamal, and how he and his family so much like Jamal. But he believes Hawks have a deeper bench. Kept talking about value of Stackhouse in the locker room and the value of having veterans on the team.

- Spoke about Smoove. How he believes Josh is misunderstood. Talked how Josh’s facial expressions many times show a side of him that really is different than what he is inside. He did talk about Josh being All Star material, talked about the Chicago game and how Josh had filled the stat sheet with something that had not been done for many years and only by 4 players ever.

- He talked about value of continuity of having same core. Compared it to Orlando, who busted their team up and now are at worse place. Or talked about NY trying to put a team together and how tough it is. He spoke to fact that JJ came here, and how when JJ came here Cavs wanted him too, but were not willing to pay for him. He talked about Larry Hughes was the other free agent, and how Larry Hughes is now nowhere and JJ is still around. He talked to fact JJ is shy and doesn’t talk much. And even after the Detroit game, all JJ said was this is what they pay me to do.

- When the topic of center was raised again, he answered he thinks getting a center will reduce Smoove’s value by moving him away from the basket. So he is not convinced anything other than Lion and Smoove is necessary.

- He spoke how Teague is first point guard to lead the team in assists in the past 5 years other that other positions. He did say Teague still does not credit for what he does, and does not get the fouls called, which is why he jumped the refs in the Pacers game.