Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Though the Hawks are now 0-3 following weekend losses to Seattle 106-85and the Lakers 106-90, there is some progress to report. The Hawks have increased their scoring each game, from 82 to 85 and now to 90 points, but no opponent has outscored Atlanta's previous opponent. At this rate, it will take another three games before the Hawks start winning games, and about five games before the Hawks start blowing people out.
The best news, of course, is that they're finally home. The Western Conference road trip is a tough way to start a rebuilding year but it's over now and the Hawks are perched back home in Atlanta for one game.
There were also some silver linings from the loss to the Lakers. Boris Diaw tied Kobe Bryant for a game-high six assists. The Hawks had 12 steals, compared to just 4 for the Lakers. And they were able to keep the ball under control, with only 11 turnovers. What killed them was the fouls.
The Hawks and the Lakers made the exact same number of field goals (37), and nearly the same number of three pointers (4 for Atlanta, 6 for LA). That's only a two point difference. The rest came from LA's 31 free throw attempts as compared to Atlanta's 17.
NEXT GAME
The Hawks (0-3) flew home with their tails between their bird-legs and now have a home opener against LeBron James and the equally winless Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3). Cleveland's record is deceptive, however, as it includes a double-overtime loss to the Pacers. Atlanta would kill for a double-overtime loss. The game starts at 7:30pm Eastern on Tuesday, November 9th, and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Ohio, WPXA, and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Mayor Shirley Franklin and 2004 American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo will help tipoff a new season of NBA basketball at the Atlanta Hawks “Restart†Pep Rallyon Monday, November 8, at Underground Atlanta (beginning at 4:30 pm). The entire Atlanta Hawks team and coaching staff, along with Executive VP & General Manager Billy Knight and VP-Basketball & Atlanta Spirit Investor Dominique Wilkins, will join Mayor Franklin and DeGarmo on this special afternoon as a warm-up for the club’s home opener on Tuesday, November 9 against LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 pm tipoff).
Karen Rose ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes: Hawks guard Jon Barry has drawn the initials "KB" inside a heart on each of his basketball shoes as a message to his niece. His brother Drew's 19-month old daughter Kylie was recently diagnosed with cancer. "I'm just thinking about her," Barry said.
INJURY UPDATE
Chris Crawford(torn ACL) is out for the season and on the injured list.Tony Delk(sore right knee) is out indefinitely and also on the injured list.Donta Smith(lower back strain) is also on the injured list.Jason Collier(severe bronchitis) missed the last two road games as he was sent home to Atlanta.
The Associated Press writes inAccess North Georgia: Al Harrington led Atlanta with 22 points. Walker added 20 for the Hawks, who have lost their three games by a total of 67 points.Peja Drobjnak added 13 points and rookie Royal Ivey scored 10. ``That team came in averaging 87 points a game, and we gave up 106 points to them,'' Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. ``So it's not our offense. Guys have to make a commitment defensively, in terms of being able to keep people in front of them.
The Cincinnati Postwrites: Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Caron Butler added 22 and the Los Angeles Lakers handed Atlanta its third straight lopsided loss, beating the winless Hawks 106-90 Sunday night.
Julie Satow ofThe New York Sunwrites: Other potential bidders for the Expos include the William Collins-led Virginia Baseball Club, which tried unsuccessfully to lure the Expos to Northern Virginia, and the Washington Baseball Club, led by businessmen Jeffrey Zients and Fred Malek. Former New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson has also expressed some interest in buying the team, as has a group led by Memphis businessman and Howard University graduate Brian Saulsberry.Former Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks President Stan Kasten is also interested in leading or joining an ownership group, according to reports.
Karen Rose ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionwrites: Kenny Anderson has gone Hollywood to tell the story of his high school playing days. Anderson took several Hawks with him Saturday to NBC Universal Studios for a screening of a rough cut of the documentary "The Disciple of the Rock." Anderson, who attended New York's Archbishop Molloy High School, was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 1989 and signed with Georgia Tech. "It's my legendary high school career and how I went through with it, the pressure I had to deal with," Anderson said. "It's not just highlights and basketball; there's a storyline to it. It's about dedication and academics."
Karen Rose ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionwrites: The only consolation in the Atlanta Hawks' Sunday night pummelling at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers was that it wasn't as bad as last year.The Hawks went 0-3 on their West Coast road trip following the 106-90 defeat before 18,997 at the Staples Center. Last year they lost to the Lakers by 46 points, setting franchise lows for scoring in a first quarter (seven points) and a first half (28 points). The 113-67 loss was the second-worst in Atlanta Hawks history.