Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Hawks lost 114-104to a determined Kings team with most of the damage coming in a 33-19 first quarter. The Kings had six players in double-figures and punched through Atlanta's frontcourt with their big men: Chris Webber and Brad Miller combined for 46 points, 20 rebounds, and 14 assists. Atlanta's Antoine Walker and Al Harrington combined for 48 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists. Meanwhile, Walker expressed his frustration in the face of the upcoming trade deadline tomorrow.
Josh Smith had a very solid game to follow up his All-Star weekend performance. He logged 19 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes, and perhaps most impressively, got 4 blocks and only one foul. That's a killer ratio if he can sustain that.
It's not that Walker is demanding a trade or anything, he is simply frustrated with constantly being in the rumor mill. He would probably also like to know what are Atlanta's long-term designs on him. Should he buy a house in Atlanta? Or should he live out of a suitcase for the next two months?
"Personally, I don't think they're going to do anything," Walker toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "But what do they call it, the 25th hour? That's where we are right now, and we'll just have to wait and see."
NEXT GAME
The Hawks (10-42, fifth in the Southeast) visit the Golden State Warriors (15-38, fifth in the Pacific) in a battle of two of the worst teams, record-wise, in the league. This is the first meeting between the two teams. The game is TONIGHT at 10:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Dominique Wilkins highlights a list of 16 finalists for election into the basketball hall of fame.
The Atlanta Hawks are introducing a series of Saturday Basketball Clinicsto be held in the Hawks practice facility at Philips Arena. The clinics will be offered on Sat., February 12th, 19th, and 26th from 9 a.m. - noon with each camp being position or skill specific. Click here to learn more and sign up!
INJURY UPDATE
Kevin Willis(back) got thrown on the injured list, joiningKenny Anderson(hamstring) andChris Crawford(knee - out for the season) asAl Harrington(knee) was activated for last night's game.
Sekou Smith ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionwrites: "I'm just getting tired of this whole wait-and-see situation, to be honest with you," said Walker, who's in the last year of a contract that pays him $14.6 million this season."Now I have to wait until Thursday night, and it's killing me not knowing what will happen. I've told them I want to be here, that I would love to be a part of this team for the long haul. I've handled this thing as professionally as possible. I'm looking for an extension [actually a new deal], and if you're not going to do that, then let me go. There are no hard feelings. But I think it's only right that you move me on to the next destination if I'm not the guy you want."
Jon Wilner ofThe San Jose Mercury Newswrites: Josh Childress let loose a laugh bigger than his Afro.He had just been informed that exactly one year ago -- when he was Stanford's best player and Mike Montgomery its coach -- the Cardinal had 23 wins. So far this season, his Atlanta Hawks and Montgomery's Warriors have combined for 25. ''That's sad,'' he said after the laughter subsided. ''That's sooooo sad. But it's harder than it seems to win in the NBA.''
The Associated Press writes inAccess North Georgia:When Atlanta Hawks rookie Josh Smith donned a Dominique Wilkins jersey during his winning performance in the NBA Slam-Dunk contest Saturday night in Denver, it was a reminder of Wilkins' own Slam-Dunk championships. But Wilkins says when he was named one of 16 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday, it confirmed that he was more than just a dunker in his career.``I think as being one of the finalists for the Hall of Fame, they appreciate your talents, your all-around game, not just looking at me as a dunker,'' Wilkins said Tuesday.