Atlanta (29-14) at San Antonio (25-18)
Game info: 8:30 pm EST Wed Jan 27, 2010
TV: SS, FSSW
By Anthony Giornalista
Coach Mike Woodson needed to change something to help the Atlanta Hawks get a win in Texas. He could have tinkered with his lineup or employed a new-look defense, but losing his eyebrows may have hit the mark.
Kept loose by Woodson’s pregame antics, the Hawks look to end another long road losing streak to a Texas team as they face the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Atlanta (29-14) had lost 10 straight at Houston before a 102-95 win Monday night, and Woodson addressed the Hawks prior to the game with his eyebrows missing, which he attributed to an accidental slip at the barbershop.
Whatever happened, the episode seemed to break some tension in the locker room, and Atlanta went on to win for the eighth time in 10 games.
“It’s not easy winning on the road,” Woodson told the Hawks’ official Web site. “We have to figure out how to win on the road. … Good teams must do that.”
Now Atlanta will try to snap an 11-game road losing streak to San Antonio (25-18). The Hawks, who have been held to 84.0 points per game during the skid, have dropped six in a row overall in the series.
The Spurs, though, are in danger of losing four straight home games for the first time since January 2002. They’ve lost three in a row overall for the third time this season, squandering the first half of a six-game homestand that they were hoping to take advantage of before hitting the road for most of February.
“We have a team that can win games … but we just need to find way to get it done,” forward Tim Duncan said. “Defensively we aren’t as good as we want to be.”
The Spurs gave up an average of 110.5 points during the first two games of their losing streak. Gregg Popovich was unhappy with San Antonio’s defense again in a 98-93 loss to Chicago on Monday night.
“Our guys just need to keep up the at ude, continue to learn and cut down on the mistakes,” Popovich said.
San Antonio also remains inconsistent offensively, averaging 93.2 points in its last six games after scoring 104.2 over its previous 20.
Richard Jefferson has disappointed in his first season with the Spurs, giving them 12.5 points per game - 7.1 below his average with Milwaukee last season. The veteran forward had a season-low two points on 1-for-8 shooting versus the Bulls.
Duncan shot 38.1 percent over his last three games and was limited to five rebounds against Chicago.
Jefferson and Duncan now have to contend with a talented Hawks frontcourt that includes Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford. Smith is coming off one of his best games of the season, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and four steals.
“Whenever we’re able to come together and play defense … and share the ball, then we’re a tough team to beat,” Smith said.
Smith, though, has averaged 7.0 points and shot 24.1 percent in nine games against the Spurs.
*********************
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Joe Johnson Atl 21.1
Tim Duncan SA 19.8
Rebounds
Al Horford Atl 9.8
Tim Duncan SA 10.4
Assists
Joe Johnson Atl 4.9
Tony Parker SA 5.7
Kept loose by Woodson’s pregame antics, the Hawks look to end another long road losing streak to a Texas team as they face the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.Now teams are using the Spurs to end their bad streaks.Now Atlanta will try to snap an 11-game road losing streak to San Antonio (25-18).
man this game is goin to be uphill ... i can honestly say i would be pleasantly surprised by a win....
I have a good feeling about this game...
Hawks have one of the most athletic, fastest, youngest frontlines in the NBA. This smells like an assraping of gigantic proportions.
Only good thing is after this loss, most of the bandwagon fans will jump off and the wagon will run nice and smooth for the rest of the season.
Time 4 MoneyMA$E to match up at the 4 to take on Josh Smith!
These guys are the real deal. Johnson is great but worry about Josh Smith because when he gets going he's ridiculous.
OK what's the over/under on how good the Hawks shooting percentage is going to be?
The Hawks have a quick trigger, 39% of their offense comes within the first 10 seconds of the shot clock. Also, 66% of their attempts are jump shots. The Spurs will have to be ready and get a hand in their face.
Hawks are young athletic and big. We're ed lol
Spurs must win this one though
Great, another athletic team that plays a face-up combo forward as their four. You know what that means (I don't even need to say it). After Jefferson proceeds to do nothing in the early stages of the game, the Spurs blow an early double digit lead in the blink of an eye, make a valiant, too-little-too-late charge and decide to go with four guards down the stretch again, who winds up guarding Smith? Johnson? Which two of: Bogans, Ginobili, Mason or Hill, will it be?
Wednesday: Hawks (29-14) at Spurs (25-18)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - HAWKS
PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 9th yr) - 10 Mike Bibby (6-1, 12th yr)
Bibby one of six active players to reach 6,000 career assists.
SG - 3 George Hill (6-2, 2nd yr) - 2 Joe Johnson (6-7, 9th yr)
Johnson ranks just outside top 10 in scoring at 21.1 points per game.
SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 24 Marvin Williams (6-9, 5th yr)
Jefferson coming off another rough outing: 1 for 8, two points vs. Bulls.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 5 Josh Smith (6-9, 6th yr)
Duncan has shot below 50 percent in five of past six games.
C - 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 1st yr) - 15 Al Horford (6-10, 3rd yr)
Eight of Blair's 11 rebounds vs. Bulls came on offensive end.
SPURS RESERVES
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 6th yr
10 Keith Bogans, G, 6-5, 7th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
28 Ian Mahinmi, C/F, 6-10, 3rd yr
34 A. McDyess, C/F, 6-10, 15th yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr
HAWKS RESERVES
11 Jamal Crawford, G, 6-5, 10th yr
1 Maurice Evans, G, 6-5, 7th yr
33 R. Morris, C/F, 6-11, 4th yr
27 Zaza Pachulia, C, 6-11, 7th yr
15 Joe Smith, C, 6-10, 15th yr
0 Jeff Teague, G, 6-2, 1st yr
6 Mario West, F, 6-5, 3rd yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Hawks: Mike Woodson
INJURIES
Spurs: Michael Finley (sprained left ankle) is out.
Hawks: None.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Finley, Malik Hairston.
Hawks: Jason Collins.
NOTABLE
Spurs have lost three in a row at home for first time since 1996-97. They have been outshot from both the field and the line in seven consecutive games. ... Hawks are a game in front in the Atlantic Division, the first time they've led a division this late in the season since April 28, 1999. ... Spurs have won 11 straight vs. Hawks at home.
- Jeff McDonald
with the way this team is going, im expecting another loss. Records are being broken this year against the Spurs.
just lose it!
My predictions:
We'll play them even in the first half, then get outscored by 15 in the 3rd. Pull closer in the 4th, only to lose by 8.
Pop's post game presser:
"We fought well today, they made some tough shots"
"We're a work in progress and headed in the right direction"
"It's frustrating, but the chemistry is improving"
"We can build on this performance"
Sorry, but this will be another loss. The way the Spurs have been playing I no longer have faith in them.
Bloodletting.
we're having tough times against athletic teams, hope we get this one.
Going to be tough, no slacking here. Spurs dont much up well with this team.
Giornalista... appropriate surname for a reporter.
i dont want to see a 4 game losing streak...
Yes, mid April.
i know his production isnt great on offense but i'd really rather see bogans starting.
i don't know, i just feel odd with hill starting alongside parker, i feel like it doesn't work but i'm not sure.
no way we can win this one, but it will be fun to watch!
What's up with Mike Woodson and hair? Remember when he promised his team he'd shave his head if they won a game? or was that if they made the playoffs? If it was a specific game, someone please refresh my memory. I just remember reading about his promise and how they won/achieved whatever was the wager and he showed up all, "look I kept my promise, I'm bald!" and Rick Kamla or whoever was on NBAtv was busting his balls about it..... so that's what he does now? whenever he needs his team to pull a magic trick he cuts hair from somewhere on his body? If he gets a new contract this could lead to some very awkward locker room pictures......Oden Style.....
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