Hawks-Lakers

[Jamaaliver]

vs



Atlanta was hoping to arrive at Staples Center on a five-game winning streak, but it committed 21 turnovers in Friday's 92-87 loss to Phoenix.

The Hawks (33-24) can forget about catching East-leading Miami (42-14) in the Southeast Division, but they're in a tight battle with Brooklyn for the fourth seed and the first-round home-court advantage that comes with it.

Howard better be ready for Al Horford, who has been on a tear over the last eight games -- averaging 24.8 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Atlanta, though, will likely need a better offensive effort from Josh Smith, who had five points on 2-of-11 shooting on Friday, if it's going to post its first road win in this series since Feb. 15, 2006.

[GrimeyKidd]

Dark Horse Hawks

[Jamaaliver]

AL Jefferson putting on a helluva audition for his future team!!!

[ATL Boy]

AL Jefferson putting on a helluva audition for his future team!!!

Right

[Jamaaliver]

I JUST SAW JOSH RUN BACK ON DEFENSE!!!!!!!!

[Rip2137]

I know I talk about Drew but dear god what is Ty Corbin doing?

[Rip2137]

Just go back to the real team on the court now, Drew. No need to keep playing around with the backups.

[Jamaaliver]

I know I talk about Drew but dear god what is Ty Corbin doing?

Yeah. Once upon a ktime I actually advocated him coming back and taking the Hawks job...we dodged a bullet there. How an assistant to the great Jerry Sloan could end up so ordinary is beyond me.

But seriously, we gotta go hard after A Jefferson this summer, right? Dude is a load.

He and Horford would beast other teams regularly.

[Rip2137]

You know I have been screaming for Jefferson for a while now.

I love that Al has a huge role offensively now. I know some around here loved Joe, but her seriously hindered Teague AND Horford. Horford has been such a beast lately and his confidence is through the roof. Same for Jeff.

[Jamaaliver]

AL Horford is playing some fantastic basketball. The whole teams is really. Even #5. (Though his shot selection still concerns me.)

Horford, Teague and Drew are a match made in heaven.

[Jamaaliver]

You know I have been screaming for Jefferson for a while now.

I love that Al has a huge role offensively now. I know some around here loved Joe, but her seriously hindered Teague AND Horford. Horford has been such a beast lately and his confidence is through the roof. Same for Jeff.

JJ definitely hindered Teague's development.

Horford, I love him, but for years I've thought he was TOO unselfish. Glad to see us playing a brand of basketball that takes advantage of his skillset. And glad to see him realizing he is the franchise player and accepting that challenge wholeheartedly.

Every player we pursue in Free Agency needs to be evaluated for how they fit with Teague and A-Horford. Period. They are the pillars on this team.

I hope D Ferry now recognizes this.

[tcorbin]

Good game, good win. The Jazz are a scrub team, and the only reason why it was a close game in the first meeting was because a scrub like Foye had a fluke game. so i was expecting a double digit win and the Hawks got it.

i was rooting for the Hawks, but i wanted to see a good game from Marvin, oh well, typical Marvin.

I'm just glad that Korver got his 3, that was the only thing i was worried about tonight.

[Rip2137]

I still don't get your random hatred of Utah. After the first win you where complaining because we didn't win bigger against, at the time, the 6th place team out west. If I am not confused, you called DETROIT a better team.

Now you are still calling them scrubs. You do realize they are a playoff team with one of the best home records in the NBA that HAPPENED to be missing 2 starters last night....right?

[ATL Boy]

Horford is just killing it now, as is Teague, we've regained that ground that we lost at the beginning of the New Year and are now 4th in the East (only 2 and a half out of 2nd).