Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Tonight will be the first regular-season meeting between the Hawks and the Timberwolves but the two rosters did intersect for a preseason game three months ago that feel like three hundred years. Back then, the Wolves were expected to be in the Finals as a matter of course, and the Hawks were still thinking Chris Crawford would be with them for the season. Now an underwhelming but recently resurgent Timberwolves team hosts the owners of the second-worst record in the league.
Yet the matchup is still an exciting one. Garnett is still making the best case for being MVP again, if not for his team's less than spectacular success. For much of the season, he was the only player to lead his team in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
While by no means in the same league, Antoine Walker is a similar sort of versatile forward who can rebound, score, dish, and defend. Both players play with a ferocious intensity every single game. Walker also leads the Hawks in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals for the season. Perhaps the one complaint virtually every coach of his has had about Walker's game is his tendency to drift to the three-point line and his love affair with the missed three-pointer.
It will be an interesting matchup tonight. Back in October, Walker and Garnett played each other pretty much to a draw. In 29 minutes of action each, Walker scored 22 to Garnett's 26 and rebounded 5 boards to Garnett's 7. The Hawks lost by three in that game. If they can get this game to be that close in the final seconds, there's no question what will happen if Atlanta has the ball: Walker will hoist a three.
And wouldn't you know it, he'll probably make it.
NEXT GAME
The Hawks (8-31, fifth in the Southeast but just a half game behind the fourth-place Bobcats) travel to Minnesota to take on reigning MVP Kevin Garnett and his band of battered Timberwolves (22-19, second in the Northwest). The game starts at 8:00pm Eastern TONIGHT and will be broadcast on WPXA and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Hawks Fans, don't miss a chance to get to know your team better on and off the court with the new internet radio show HAWK TALK ONLINE!Join Hawks broadcasters Bob Rathbun and Steve Holman as they discuss the team, the NBA, and other basketball issues.
INJURY UPDATE
Donta Smith(knee),Royal Ivey(knee), andChris Crawford (knee) are all on the injured list. Crawford is out for the season.
Sekou Smith ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionwrites: Smith is now the centerpiece of a revival effort for the Hawks, who are in the midst of yet another dreadful season and play at Minnesota tonight.Much like Dumars four years ago, Hawks general manager Billy Knight is in the midst of making the moves that will vault the Hawks back to relevance — not just in the Atlanta sports scene, but the NBA, as well.
Sekou Smith ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionalso writes: The Hawks' most glaring needs are in the paint and at point guard.Teams with solid big men have given them trouble all season. Curry scored 19 points in 24 minutes in Chicago's blowout win over the Hawks on Monday night. With Smith and Harrington filling out the forward spots — though Smith can be used at guard if necessary — there's a need for complementary players, not guys who'll disrupt whatever chemistry is being developed this season. Serviceable big men are just as hard to find as quality point guards. "We need a big man that wants to come in here and go crazy in the paint," said Harrington, who Hawks coach Mike Woodson prefers to play at small forward, his natural position, rather than power forward, where he ends up often during games simply because of the matchups. "I've played with those kind of guys before and played against them on a nightly basis.
Adam Krohn ofThe GSU Signalwrites: Believe it or not, there is a reason to watch Atlanta Hawks basketball this season and his name is Josh Smith.The Hawks used the 17th pick in last summer’s draft of the 19-year-old forward from Oak Hill Academy in VA., and he is emerging as one of the NBA’s top rookies. Born in College Park, GA., Smith is already drawing comparisons to Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins with his incredible 44-inch vertical jump that allows him to touch the top of the backboard despite being only 6-9.