<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>They don't have to keep pinching themselves. The Hawks' December surge is real and just in time for the holiday season. It doesn't matter the style, the opponent, the circumstances or the venue ?€”the Hawks are winning. It took overtime and their best survival tactics to secure their third consecutive win, a 117-111 defeat of the Miami Heat before a raucous crowd of 17,069 Wednesday at Philips Arena. Monster shots in the final 65 seconds of overtime from their Johnson and Johnson backcourt helped, too. Joe Johnson's driving layup and free throw with 1:05 to play lifted the Hawks from a 111-109 deficit. Al Horford added two free throws with 51.6 seconds to play, and then Anthony Johnson finished off the Heat with a twisting jumper in traffic with 13.6 seconds to play. "Once we got the chance to get to overtime I just wanted to be aggressive and make plays, attack the basket," Joe Johnson said. "Whenever I got a crease I was going to take it." The finishing touch provided the Hawks with their 13th win this season, compared with 12 losses, the latest they've been above .500 in a season since the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, which is also the last time the Hawks made the playoffs. If they intend to make a return trip this season, they couldn't let a game like Wednesday's get away.</div> Atlanta Journal-Constitution
17,000? That's like 100 times the amount of people that are usually in the IZOD Center. boo Joe Johnson's awesome. I wish I got the chance to see more Hawks games, cause I woulda liked seeing this one.
One thing Johnson cannot complain about, is minutes, because he just eats them up. This was a great game not only for Johnson, but we are able to see how Al Horford can preform in the clutch. He hit 2 key free throws, which shows he is going to be a clutch player for the Hawks. I really wish Law could play in these types of games. He was called Mr.Clutch at A&M, but I want to see him Clutch-it-up on an NBA level. As for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams....good job boys. Keep on truckin.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Dec 20 2007, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>All they need now is to go get a good coach. Maybe the Czar? </div> Um...maybe not...lol <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Dec 20 2007, 09:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Woodson has been solid, the last few games.</div> He has, and that is something that has to do with good rotation and the play of the players. We can see they are starting to gain more and more respect for Woodson, which is what we want.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Dec 20 2007, 10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How is Lue doing?</div> He isn't playing bad for 19 minutes per game. 7 points, 2 assists, 45% from 3pt and 90% FT. He is playing well and he is filling Law's role right now. When Law gets healthy, I see Lue possibly being traded. Johnson right now will stay because he is tearing it up! 27 minutes, 7 points, 5 assists and 1 steal per game. He is playing young and that is something fun to watch. He pushes the tempo and knows how to use the young guys.
Law is back now, but still getting in to the swing of things. I can see him starting to pick up a little before the all-star break then starting to make good strides near playoff time.
CLaxton won't play this season it seems, he'll probably be bought out, which will give us a chance to keep Childress along with Smith.
