PE02 I SCORE ATLANTA Get In The Game! Woodson’s crew depending on home-court edge to get back in the series nfortunately, the road proved unkind to make the extra pass in order to get their scor- and when to let him go. Both have experi- Uthe Hawks once again as they return ers open looks. enced foul trouble in the series and cannot home for tonight’s Game 3 matchup in a seri- All too often, Hawks players are trying to be forced to the bench when the team ous hole, down 2-0. Two double-digit defeats create buckets on their own. This was especial- needs them on the court. have been the outcome thus far. However, a ly the case in the second half of Game 2, when If there is one stat that bodes well for poor second half in Game 2 put a damper on the team hit a cold streak. A bright spot in the the Hawks tonight, it’s that they are 9-4 what had the makings of a team finally play- game was the play of Al Horford, who hit his over the last three years in the playoffs at ing with the intensity to compete with the mid-range jump shot with consistency. Philips Arena. Magic. Atlanta is still in search of putting Horford’s ability to score in the lane will be “Go home and win. We’ve been together a complete game against Orlando, crucial tonight, not only to provide the Hawks pretty good on our floor,” Hawks coach who has yet to lose in the postseason and with much-needed points as Orlando has Mike Woodson told Antonio Gonzalez of seem to have saved their best basketball for scored well into triple digits in both games, but the Associated Press. “They took care of when it counts the most. also to stretch Orlando’s defense. On the rare their business on their home floor. We’re occasion, when Howard is out of the game, going to see what we’re made of.” GAME 2 IMPROVEMENT … there should be more of an attempt to get Perhaps the Hawks can once again While the Hawks provided a glimpse of Horford the ball at the low post. Hawks missed channel a little magic of their own as hope on Thursday night especially in the second opportunities to do so in Game 2, especially in they won the last decision between the quarter, where they outscored the Magic 30-17 the third quarter, which could have changed two teams in Atlanta on an epic game- en route to taking a 57-49 halftime lead, lapses the outlook of the game. winning dunk by Smith. on offense and defense still plagued the team The Hawks recently received more down the stretch. Orlando was able to make short SLOWING THE MAGIC … accolades as Joe Johnson was selected work Atlanta’s lead with an early third-quarter Defensively, Atlanta is really going to to the All-NBA third team. His first run even though Dwight Howard was out of the have to step up the pressure, because Howard, selection, Johnson averaged 21.6 ppg, game. Howard is averaging 25 ppg and 14.5 rpg Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Vince 4.6 rpg and 4.9 apg during the regular in the series with two double-doubles. Carter have provided a four-pronged attack of season. It’s been frustrating for Johnson Tonight, on offense, the Hawks must their own that has made it a nightmare for the at times during the playoffs. He is aver- improve upon Game 2 where their big four Joe Hawks. Orlando specializes in being able to aging just below 20 points per game Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Josh Smith and Al make the extra pass, so it is essential for and is yet to have a game that he left Horford, combined for 84 of the teams 98 perimeter defenders to rotate especially on his definitive mark on. Always more points. Johnson finished the night shooting 5- lethal three-point tries. In game 2, Howard, solid on defense than he is given cred- for-16 and Crawford went 7-for-18 from the Lewis, Nelson and Carter combined for 93 it for, Johnson needs to be clicking in floor. With the Magic’s sweltering defense and points, almost as much as the Hawks’ team all facets of his game in Game 3 if the SUPER SIXTH MAN: First-year Hawk Jamal Crawford is averaging second-chance opportunities at a minimum total. Howard is as difficult to guard as they Hawks want new life in this series. 15.4 points per game for Atlanta, which is second-best on the team. due in large part to a certain All-NBA first- come, therefore Horford and Smith must use Gupta can be reached at Crawford has consistantly been one of the Hawks' top scoring team center, the Hawks must find a way to excellent judgment on when to foul Superman [email protected]. threats despite not starting a single game. Photo courtesy of Jon Barash. WWW.HAWKS.COM HAWKS-MAGIC PLAYOFF EDITION 2010 SCORE ATLANTA I 03PE 2010 ATLANTA HAWKSHAWKS/ORLANDO/ORLANDO MAGIC ROSTERS 10 MIKE BIBBY • G 33 RYAN ANDERSON • F Acquired by a trade in 2008, Mike Bibby has been a key piece to the Hawks’ Ryan Anderson is in his first year with the Magic and has been a solid con- three consecutive playoff berths. Bibby, a former All-American at Arizona, tributor off the bench. Anderson averaged eight points and four rebounds per averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 assists per game for the Hawks this year. game in the regular season. 34 JASON COLLINS • G 22 MATT BARNES • F A former Stanford star, center Jason Collins joined Atlanta through free Having been in the league since 2002, the former UCLA Bruin provides depth agency this past off-season. Collins is an eight-year veteran who played and veteran experience that has come in handy this year. Barnes started in with the Nets, Grizzlies and Timberwolves before becoming a Hawk. 58 games in 2009-2010, averaging nine points and five rebounds. 11 JAMAL CRAWFORD • G 30 BRANDON BASS • F The former Michigan star is a career 15.5 point per game scorer, but, Brandon Bass is a big-body forward, standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 250 until this season, had not yet experienced the NBA playoffs. Crawford pounds, but has seen very little action during the playoffs. Bass averaged six has flourished in his role as the team’s sixth man. points and two rebounds in 50 games this year, his first with the Magic. 1 MAURICE EVANS • F-G 15 VINCE CARTER • G/F Evans was a career journeyman, playing for a different team in seven The former rookie of the year and the eight-time all star has been a major consecutive seasons, before landing with the Hawks in summer 2008. key in the Magic’s success this season. Carter only averaged 16 points per Evans has added depth and versatility to the Hawks bench. game this season, but still has the ability to put up big numbers. 15 AL HORFORD • C-F 31 ADONAL FOYLE • C A two-time national champion at Florida, Horford became an All-Star for He is one of the oldest players on the roster, as he was drafted by the Golden the Hawks in his third year in the NBA. Horford, a double-double State Warriors in 1997. Foyle has not played, and will not play a game this machine, averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year. season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery before the season began. 2 JOE JOHNSON • G 13 MARCIN GORTAT • C Johnson has made the All-Star team four times and has led the team in Known as the Polish Hammer, Gortat has provided good play off the bench scoring in each of his five seasons as a Hawk. Johnson eclipsed the career when Dwight Howard needs a rest. When the Magic went to the Finals last 10,000-point mark earlier this season, in a 110-107 loss to the Bucks. year, Gortat became the first Polish-born player to appear in the NBA Finals. 33 RANDOLPH MORRIS • C 12 DWIGHT HOWARD • C The hometown star Morris averaged 23 points, 16 rebounds and 8 Over the past six seasons, Dwight Howard has established himself as the blocks per game as a senior at Atlanta’s Landmark Christian High most dominant center in the NBA. He’s the reigning defensive player of the School. Morris signed with the Hawks in the summer of 2008. year and won the rebound title this year, averaging 13 boards per contest. 27 ZAZA PACHULIA • C-F 8 ANTHONY JOHNSON • G Pachulia, from Tbilisi, Georgia, signed with the Hawks back in August of Johnson has been a journeyman in his NBA career, playing for eight different 2005 and has since become a fan favorite in Atlanta. Pachulia is a key teams since joining the league in 1997-98. Hawks fans should know Johnson contributor off the bench for the Hawks with his tenacity and toughness. well, as he played for the Hawks in 1998-2000 and then again from 2007-08. 32 JOE SMITH • F-C 9 RASHARD LEWIS • F The No. 1 pick in the 1995 draft, Joe Smith’s 14 seasons in the NBA are This two-time NBA All-Star has been one of the more consistent players for more than any other Hawk.