Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Head coach Mike Woodson was unhappy with the intrasquad scrimmage yesterday in preparation for tonight's game against the Orlando Magic and their Atlanta rookie Dwight Howard, calling the effort "sluggish." Everyone but Tony Delk will see some time in tonight's preseason opener in Macon, GA but their effort will need to be a little more integrated to eke out a win.
Boris Diaw, last year's defensive specialist at the shooting guard spot, might actually see some time at point to see if he can handle the ballhandling and distribution duties. Given that the only veteran points on the roster are 34-year-old Kenny Anderson and the injured Delk, though Jon Barry might in theory see some time there too, Woodson has said that getting a good backup point is a priority, as well as the extra big bodies that every coach yearns for. Diaw would be a good choice for defending anyone in Orlando's backcourt, from Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to Jameer Nelson and possibly even Grant Hill, who is likely to play short minutes tonight.
Antoine Walker will probably match up most with Dwight Howard and it will be interesting to see if Walker launches lots of threes or if he tries to take the rookie inside. Howard's defense is ahead of his offense according to his coaches, so Walker might have more luck, and more fun, by taking it outside and draining the threes.
NEXT GAME
The Atlanta Hawks (28-54 last season) host hometown favorite Dwight Howard and the just-as-rebuilt Orlando Magic (21-61 last season) TONIGHT at the Macon Coliseum in Macon, Georgia, home of this season's training camp. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. EDT. There are no scheduled broadcasts of this game at this time. Tickets are available for this game at Macon Coliseum.
TEAM NOTES
With Training Camp in full swing and the start of the 2004-05 season just around the corner, the Hawks on Sunday held a free open practice and scrimmage on the main floor of Philips Arena. See the practice photo gallery.
INJURY UPDATE
Tony Delk(knee injury) will not play tonight. It is unknown whether he will be ready to go in time for the regular season.
Phillip Ramati ofThe Macon Telegraphwrites: With all of the changes the Atlanta Hawks have gone through over the summer, it's not surprising that the team's most recognizable face belongs to a guy who hasn't played with the franchise for a decade. But for Kevin Willis, all set to embark on his 20th NBA season, not much surprises him anymore.
Continued: Woodson said everyone except guard Tony Delk will see some action against the Magic, but the veterans would see less minutes than the rookies. Delk is out with a knee injury, and it's unknown whether he'll be back before the regular season begins. Woodson said he plans on giving second-year swingman Boris Diaw some minutes at point guard to see how he reacts.Mostly, the game will be Woodson's first chance to see how his squad matches up with someone else.
Chuck Thompson ofThe Macon Telegraphwrites: Mayor Jack Ellis said Macon was a basketball town when he began trying to get the Atlanta Hawks to visit the midstate for a preseason NBA game.But talk to others, and they aren't so sure.
The Birmingham Newswrites: Wenonah High School students will participate in a 2 p.m. seminar to promote self-motivation, academic achievement, personal goal-setting and community service. Billy Knight, Atlanta Hawks general manager, will speak.
John Denton ofFlorida Todaywrites: Hill, who hasn't played in a NBA game since January of 2003 because of his fractured left ankle, looked out of sorts and somewhat jittery... He was held out of the second half as a precautionary measure and might not play tonight when the Magic face the Atlanta Hawks in Macon, Ga.