Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

Atlanta Hawks blog

Streaking Hawks beat Bobcats 94-91

al horford

After an atrocious 1-for-10 night at the free throw line last week, Al Horford decided to spend extra time working on his foul shots.

”That’s one of the things I always work on, and I got away from it a little bit,” he said. ”I think it showed when I went in that little slump.”

His recent effort seems to have paid off.

Horford scored 17 points and hit two clinching free throws to help the Atlanta Hawks win their sixth straight game with a 94-91 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.

Josh Smith and Lou Williams also had 17 points apiece for the Hawks.

Ben Gordon scored 20 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Ramon Sessions had 18 to lead Charlotte, which has lost two straight and three of four…

In the fourth quarter, Gordon was 5 for 7 on 3s and hit all five free throws he attempted, but he wasn’t able to give Charlotte the lead.

— Reported by George Henry of the Associated Press

Al Horford and Tim Duncan named Players of Week

The Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 25.

Horford led the Hawks to a 4-0 week, averaging 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He recorded a career-high 10 assists on Nov. 21 as Atlanta topped the Washington Wizards 101-100. Horford’s 26-point, 13-rebound double-double in a 101-91 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Nov. 23 helped the Hawks to improve their road record to 4-2, tops in the conference.

Duncan helped the Spurs to a 3-1 week with averages of 22.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks. He posted three consecutive point-rebound double-doubles in games against the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. Duncan’s lone game last week without a double-double still showed a balanced stat line of 26 points, six assists, five rebounds and three blocks as the Spurs bested the Raptors 111-106 on Nov. 25 – a game in which Duncan recorded his 2,500th career block.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Jeff Teague, Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Charlotte’s Ramon Sessions, Denver’s Andre Iguodala, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, Memphis’ Rudy Gay, Miami’s Chris Bosh and LeBron James, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans.

Hawks beat Clippers for 5th straight win

jeff teague

Jeff Teague only gets two chances to face Chris Paul each season, so he wants to make the most of his opportunities.

It took Teague much of the first quarter to find his momentum against Paul, a fellow Wake Forest point guard. Once he did, the Atlanta Hawks were making stops on defense and scoring in transition.

Teague had 19 points and 11 assists, Zaza Pachulia added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Hawks won their fifth straight game with a 104-93 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday night…

Blake Griffin scored 22 points and Paul had 19 for the Clippers.

Los Angeles has lost a season-high three consecutive games after winning six in a row.

Lou Williams finished with 18 points and Josh Smith added 17 for Atlanta…

Hawks G Devin Harris missed the game with a sore big left toe.

— Reported by George Henry of the Associated Press

Atlanta Hawks waive James Anderson and Damion James

The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard James Anderson and forward Damion James, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today.

Anderson appeared in six preseason contests (one start), averaging 2.0 points (.238 FG%) in 10.7 minutes. James put up 6.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes (.400 FG%, .846 FT%), starting in two of his six appearances.

Atlanta’s roster now stands at 14.

Hall of Fame guard Slater Martin dies

Slater Martin, the Hall of Fame guard who won four NBA titles with the Minneapolis Lakers and one with the St. Louis Hawks, died Thursday. He was 86.

Martin died Thursday at a skilled nursing facility in Houston after a sudden illness, daughter-in-law Becky Martin said. She said he was admitted to the nursing home Monday.

Martin was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He went into the University of Texas’ Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1962, entered the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1964, and the school retired his No. 15 in 2009.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Atlanta Hawks waive Keith Benson and Isma’il Muhammad

The Atlanta Hawks have waived Keith Benson and Isma’il Muhammad, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today.

Both players appeared in one preseason game (last night’s contest at San Antonio), as Benson finished with 10 points and two rebounds in 10 minutes (5-8 FGs), and Muhammad recorded one point and two assists (1-2 FTs) in 12 minutes of action.

Atlanta’s training camp roster now stands at 17.

Hawks tell Jeff Teague to be a more vocal leader

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague will never be the loudest voice on the basketball court. It’s not his disposition. However, you are going to be hearing a lot more from the Hawks point guard this season.

The Hawks coaching staff, including head coach Larry Drew and player development instructor Nick Van Exel, have told Teague he needs to be a more vocal leader. There is so much information that needs to be disseminated with a new up-tempo offense and a slew of new players.

“When I’m on the court, it’s a different mindset for me,” Teague said. “I’m going to talk. I’m going to play. Off the court, I’m a laid-back type of guy. It’s not really my personality, but I’m a different person when I get between the lines. I want to win so I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll talk. I’ll yell. I’ll do all that.”

— Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Joe Johnson says he did not ask Hawks for trade

Joe Johnson says he did not ask Hawks to trade him

Joe Johnson wanted to set the record straight on Thursday, telling reporters that he never asked out of Atlanta.

“Everybody thinks I made this trade,” the Nets’ shooting guard said. “I had nothing to do with it.

“Every time I run into somebody when I’m in Atlanta, they ask me, ‘Why did you leave?’

I didn’t have nothing to do with it. I’m just glad that I came to a great organization and a team who wants to win.”

Johnson, who was acquired by the Nets in a blockbuster trade, was originally asked if he thought he’d be booed when he returned to Atlanta. The Hawks host the Nets on Jan. 16.

“It’ll probably be some boos, it’ll probably be some cheers,” he replied. “I have no idea, man. What do you think?”

— Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Joe Johnson fighting jewelry-related lawsuit

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson insists … he’s no jewel thief — and now, he’s lashing back against a lawsuit that says he stole $125,000 worth of bling from an Atlanta diamond dealer.

Aydin & Company filed a lawsuit against Johnson earlier this month, claiming the NBA star entered into a purchase agreement back in October 2010 for $125,500 worth of jewelry.

The items in question — a white gold watch with diamonds, diamond beaded bracelet, black diamond stud earrings and a white gold bezel set rosary.

— Reported by TMZ.com