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SE02 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
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HAWKS-HEAT SPECIAL EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 03SE
Nuggets, Magic lead list of non-favorites that can make noise in postseason
perimeter and Yao Ming controlling the paint,
he 2008-09 season has been dominated
The Magic are the victims of the pervasively false notion that they are purely a 3Houston is a dominant defensive unit (fourth in
T
by four teams (Orlando, Boston,
point shooting team that plays no defense. The
efficiency rating) and is also now receiving
Cleveland and the Lakers), though most consider only the latter three to be true contenders. Below I dispel some of the false perceptions concerning the Magic and also take
a closer look at some teams I believe can
challenge the big boys, or at least provide
some excitement, when the playoffs begin in
less than a week.
THE WEST …
Denver: It’s hard to consider the Nuggets,
a two seed, a darkhorse, but that’s how the
Western Conference picture has been painted
considering L.A.’s regular-season dominance.
The Nuggets are one of the few NBA teams that
excel on both ends of the floor—they rank seventh in both the offensive and defensive efficiency ratings—and are led at the all-important
point guard position by a former NBA Finals
MVP in Chauncey Billups. Finally, while
Denver is a mediocre 21-19 on the road, a shortcoming that could come back to bite them come
playoff time, it is dominant at home at 32-8 and
coming off a recent 13-1 winning streak.
Houston: No question one of the hottest
teams in basketball as winners of 21 of their last
28 contests, the Rockets can be a dangerous
team in May. While Houston has failed to make
it out of the first round every year since the
1996-97 season, losing in seven and six games
to Utah the last two years, they look to have
finally drawn a good first-round matchup as
hosts to the Portland Trail Blazers. Moreover,
with Shane Battier and Ron Artest patrolling the
mistake here is that Orlando is home to the
game’s most dominant big man in Dwight
Howard and is currently ranked first in the
league in defensive efficiency rating.
It is also important to realize that, come
playoff time, it’s all about matchups. So, mark
this down: Orlando will struggle with Boston’s
toughness in the second round, but if they
manage to make the conference finals,
Cleveland won’t stand a chance.
Philadelphia: I recognize Philly really has
no shot at making a title run. Still, few experts
have been acknowledging the 76ers of late and,
of all the second-tier Eastern Conference teams,
I believe they are the most likely to make some
playoff noise. The 76ers are coming off a 10-2
run in January and, though they have cooled off
a little since then, haved notched recent victories over the Lakers, San Antonio and Houston.
Most importantly, Philly is a well-rounded,
complete team with solid players throughout its
starting lineup—Samuel Dalembert (C),
Thaddeus Young (PF, when healthy) Andre
Iguodala (SF), Willie Green (SG), and Andre
Miller (PG)—and a surprisingly deep bench—
Louis Williams, Donyell Marshall, Marreese
Speights and Theo Ratliff.
Philly’s downfalls? Former Georgia
Tech star Thaddeus Young is still recovering
from injury and Philly is a combined 0-9 this
year against Eastern Conference powers
Orlando, Boston and Cleveland.
Janovitz
can
be
reached
at
[email protected].
exciting, quality play from second-year point
guard and first-time starter Aaron Brooks.
Utah: Don’t be deceived by Utah’s seventh seed and, by Jazz standards, mediocre 4733 record, as the team played three complete
months without its most consistent inside presence, Carlos Boozer. With the former Dukie
back, Utah boasts a loaded starting five that
consists of Deron Williams (PG), Ronnie
Brewer (SG), Andrei Kirilenko (SF), Boozer
(PF), and Mehmet Okur (C), has big men that
can stretch the floor (Okur, Paul Millsap,
Boozer, and Kyle Korver), and also has the
luxury of being led by recent Hall of Fame
inductee Jerry Sloan. Oh, and don’t forget,
Utah is always nearly unbeatable at home,
posting a 32-8 record this go-round.
THE EAST …
Orlando: I know the Magic may win
more than 60 games this year and have been
nearly dominant against the rest of the NBA’s
top teams, but, for various unfounded reasons,
most experts still limit their Eastern
Conference title talk to a discussion of two
teams: Cleveland and Boston. And when the
discussion turns to the NBA Championship,
the Lakers leapfrog the Magic as well. Yet consider Orlando’s record against the three
teams—the Magic are 2-0 against the Lakers,
2-2 against Boston, and 2-1 against
Cleveland—and the fact they don’t receive
more respect seems puzzling.
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DANGEROUS IN DENVER: Though the Nuggets
are the No. 2 team in the Western Conference,
they are flying under the radar due to the
Lakers’ success. Carmelo Anthony and his
teammates will look to surprise the heavy
favorites in a potential conference finals
series. Photo courtesy of the Denver Nuggets.
SE04 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
2009 ATLANTA HAWKS/
10 MIKE BIBBY • G
4 ACIE LAW • G
Bibby provideds the Hawks with leadership at the point
guard position and much-needed outside shooting. On the
season, the 10th-year man is connecting on 40 percent from
three and 44 percent from the field.
In his second year Law still can’t shake the injury bug, missing significant minutes throughout the season. Though he is
still figuring out his spot in the rotation, Law’s defense off
the bench will be valuable in the playoffs.
12 SPEEDY CLAXTON • G
33 RANDOLPH MORRIS • C
The 30-year-old point guard has been out ever since the
preseason. A knee injury has kept him out of the lineup this
year, while other injuries have kept him inactive since the
start of the 2006-07 season.
The Atlanta native has struggled to get minutes this year,
only appearing in 21 games for the team. Morris achieved a
season high in minutes (13) and points (six) on Nov. 7 in a
win over the Toronto Raptors.
1 MAURICE EVANS • F-G
22 RONALD MURRAY • G
Evans has helped ease the loss of Josh Childress, energizing the team with excellent defense and efficient 3-point
shooting. The versatile swingman has filled in admirably as
a starter for several injured Hawks.
The seventh-year scoring guard has been a godsend for the
Hawks, providing a spark off the bench with his ability to put
up points in bunches. Murray is averaging 24 minutes and
11.9 points a contest.
3 THOMAS GARDNER • G
27 ZAZA PACHULIA • C-F
The second-year man out of Missouri has seen limited
action this season, going back and forth between the Hawks
and the Developmental League. Gardner has seen action in
11 games this year.
Pachulia is a valuable asset, providing solid rebounding
and defense off the bench. The Georgia native (no, not this
Georgia) and six-year veteran averages 19 minutes, 5.8
rebounds and 6.3 points in a reserve role.
15 AL HORFORD • C-F
5 JOSH SMITH • F
Though he missed 14 games in the middle of the season with
an ankle injury, Horford has increased his numbers in his
sophomore campaign. He has 20 double-doubles on the
year, shooting 53 percent from the field.
The always-exciting J-Smoove is one of the league’s top
shot blockers as well as a solid rebounder. He’s capable of
a double-double on any given night and, in his fifth year,
has become one of the team’s leaders.
50 OTHELLO HUNTER • F
6 MARIO WEST • G
Like Gardner, Hunter has spent some time this season in the
D-League. He has gotten into a few games recently due to
the injury to Marvin Williams, and has appeared in 12
games this year.
The second-year player out of Georgia Tech is all hustle, and
contributes good defense and rebounding in spot duty.
West’s tip-dunk on March 11 against the Jazz is surely one
of the highlights of the year.
2 JOE JOHNSON • G
24 MARVIN WILLIAMS • F
The team MVP is one of the NBA’s steadiest stars and has
played his best basketball of the year since the second week
of March; Johnson had five 30-point outings in the month,
including four straight.
Williams was experiencing the best season of his career
when a lower back injury knocked him out of action. He
returned to the court last week, and is working his way back
into shape before the postseason.
44 SOLOMON JONES • F
MIKE WOODSON • HC
Jones has played a solid backup role in the post this
year, but has seen his minutes taper off recently. The
third-year big man out of South Florida has appeared in
60 games this season.
After three rebuilding seasons in Atlanta, “Woody” has
coached a still-young team to back-to-back playoff berths.
The Hawks have increased their win total in every year
under his tutelage.
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HAWKS-HEAT SPECIAL EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 05SE
/MIAMI HEAT MATCHUP
50 JOEL ANTHONY • C
22 JAMES JONES • F
Anthony saw more playing time earlier in the season before
the Heat traded Shawn Marion for center Jermaine O’Neal.
The Canadian-born, second-year player out of UNLV is averaging just two points in 15 minutes a game.
The five-year veteran out of Miami averages just over 14 minutes per game and has seen his playing time increase of late.
When he is on the floor, Jones can shoot the three and has
become a better defender as well.
30 MICHAEL BEASLEY • F
21 JAMAAL MAGLOIRE • C
The rookie out of Kansas State began the season as a starter
before it was discovered he could be more effective off the
bench. Beasley is averaging 13 points and five rebounds per
game while shooting better than 46 percent from the floor.
Due to the injury to Haslem, Magloire has picked up some of
the slack, providing points and rebounds in the paint. The
eighth-year man out of Kentucky stands 6-foot-11 and averages just 12 minutes a game.
15 MARK BLOUNT • C-F
8 JAMARIO MOON • F
The 7-foot veteran is in his eighth year in the league and
playing for his fourth different team, yet has seen action in
only 18 games this season. He is known for his defensive
skills and is also a decent shooter.
Moon is a member of the Miami starting five thanks to his
exceptional athleticism and ability to rebound and defend.
The Alabama-born player played for 15 different minor
league teams before reaching the NBA.
6 MARIO CHALMERS • G
7 JERMAINE O'NEAL • C-F
Chalmers has come a long way from being a key player on
the 2008 NCAA Championship Kansas team; as a rookie, he
has earned the role as starting point guard and is second on
the team in assists, trailing only Dwyane Wade.
Far from the star he once was in Indiana, O’Neal still can
provide solid scoring and impressive shot blocking from the
center position. The 12-year veteran is averaging 13 points
and seven rebounds per game this year.
14 DAEQUAN COOK • G
11 CHRIS QUINN • G
Aside from Beasley, Cook might be the most productive player off the Heat bench. He averages nearly 10 points per
game and is one of the best 3-point shooters on the squad,
connecting on nearly 40 percent of his attempts.
Quinn has seen little playing time due to depth at his position but is a hard worker who can contribute quality minutes when called upon. The third-year member of the Heat
played his college ball at Notre Dame.
9 YAKHOUBA DIAWARA • F
3 DWYANE WADE • G
Diawara does not put up big numbers offensively, but is a
good defender who does a nice job backing up Udonis
Haslem. The third-year man from Pepperdine is a native of
France and can speak three different languages.
Wade is the straw that stirs the drink for the Heat and a legitimate MVP candidate. He leads the league in points scored
per game at 29.9 and in 40-point outings, and is the leading
shot-blocker among all NBA guards.
40 UDONIS HASLEM • C-F
1 DORELL WRIGHT • F
Haslem was named co-captain along with Wade heading
into the season, but a recent thumb injury makes his return
questionable. Before going down, the former Gator led the
Heat in rebounding and field goal percentage.
Due to ongoing knee problems, Wright has only appeared in three
games for the Heat this year. Jumping straight from high school
to the pros, he has yet to become fully comfortable in the league.
He scored 7.9 points per game last season.
13 LUTHER HEAD • G
ERIK SPOELSTRA • HC
Yet another member of the Heat dealing with injury, Head is
in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. After being acquired via
a trade with Houston earlier in the year, Head was doing a
commendable job backing up Chalmers.
Spoelstra was named the head coach of the Heat and Pat
Riley’s successor in April of 2008. He is the first Asian/FilipinoAmerican head coach in the NBA and has taken the Heat to the
playoffs a year after they posted the league’s worst record.
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SE06 I SCORE ATLANTA
Get In The Game!
Despite midseason setback, Horford becoming a low-post force in second year
a knee injury sidelined him for nearly a
l Horford has come a long way since
know where a lot of my offense is coming
month, from Jan. 9 to Feb. 4. At the time of
June 2007 when the Hawks took him
A
from,” Horford says. “I worked a lot on my
the injury, he had just finished recording five
with the No. 3 overall pick, though it may
midrange jump shot and making quicker
not be obvious in looking at his season averages. In fact, it would be downright impossible to track the evolution of the Hawks big
man using numbers alone; his statistics, on
the whole, are nearly the same in each of his
first two seasons in the league.
The difference, Horford will tell you, is in
the mindset and the approach. He’s a lot more
mature than the developing rookie that entered
the league after his junior year in college.
“I know what to expect, I think that’s the
biggest difference from my rookie year to
this year,” Horford says. “I’ve played in every
arena and I’m more familiar with a lot of the
players, so it makes the game easier for me.”
More comfortable in his second year in
the league, the game is clearly getting easier
and easier for the 6-foot-9 second-year pro.
Anyone who has watched Atlanta Hawks
basketball over the last two seasons will tell
you that Horford’s game has grown tremendously since he first stepped on the court at
Philips Arena, but the confidence he displays
now wasn’t always present.
“I think last year I came in just not trying to step on anybody’s toes, and just trying
to find my way,” he says. “And that was fine,
but I felt during the playoffs I was very
aggressive offensively and I was scoring. I
think during the [regular season] I could
have been a little more aggressive.”
UPS AND DOWNS …
Horford seemed well on his way to taking his game to the next level this year when
double-doubles in his last eight games.
Though the injury kept him out of the
lineup at a time when his team needed him
and he needed the experience, Horford found
a silver lining in the situation.
“It set me back a little bit, but I think I
learned from it,” he says. “I got a chance to
look at the team from an outside perspective
because I wasn’t playing. It also really
helped me strength-wise as far as my lower
body, because we did a lot of lower body
work to strengthen my knee.”
After coming back, Horford played perhaps his best stretch of basketball this season between February 23 and March 19,
scoring in double figures in every game but
two and putting up 21 points and 22
rebounds in a pivotal win over the Heat back
on Feb. 27. In last Friday’s win over the
Pacers, Horford impressed yet again with a
full stat sheet (22 points, 15 rebounds, five
assists and two steals).
post moves. I feel like I’m still developing
as a low post scorer.”
In many ways, Horford’s development
has paralleled that of the Hawks team the
past two seasons. Both hinted at their promise in 2008-09, and both seem to be on their
way to delivering on that promise, if not this
season, then in the not-so-distant future.
“We’re one of those teams that has
potential,” Horford says. “We’re not one of
the elite teams in the league yet. Hopefully at
some time if we get playing the right way, we
can make some [good] things happen.
“We’re more than capable of doing it,
we’ve beaten the top teams before, so I
feel like anything could happen once we
get to the playoffs.”
Though the Hawks would love another
shot at playing giant killer in the postseason
(a potential second-round matchup with topseed Cleveland looms if the team wins its
first-round series), you won’t catch Horford
looking past his first-round opponent, who
the Hawks will be playing tonight.
“Miami is such a dangerous team, and
Dwyane Wade can change games,” Horford
says with obvious admiration for the driving
force behind the Heat’s success.
He’s right about the Heat, but if Horford
and his teammates get playing the right way
at the right time, there are few teams in the
playoffs as dangerous as the Hawks.
at
can
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reached
Ewalt
[email protected].
PUSHING FORWARD …
There’s no question that Big Al has been
turning in important performances for a
Hawks team that’s needed every one of them
to secure the fourth seed in the Eastern
Conference Playoffs. And though Horford’s
role in the offense isn’t yet as a go-to scorer
or the type of post man that dictates the flow
of the offense, his game is progressing due to
experience and work in specific areas.
“I’m more familiar with my team so I
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SOPHOMORE SURGE: Despite a midseason
injury that caused him to miss several weeks of
action, Al Horford has come on strong down the
stretch in his second year in the league. Photo
courtesy of Don Jackson/Photographic Arts.
HAWKS-HEAT SPECIAL EDITION 2009
SCORE ATLANTA I 07SE
Wade’s resurgence vaults Heat back into playoffs as Chalmers, Beasley step up
shows no signs of wearing down. He main- with 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game
new era in Miami Heat basketball forges
tains the NBA’s top scoring average at 29.9 this season, but has missed the club’s last sevA
ahead as the club rolls into Philips Arena
per contest, while shooting 48 percent from eral games with a thumb injury and is not
to take on the Hawks. Just one year removed
from an NBA-worst 15 wins, Miami has
clinched the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed
and the right to play fourth-seeded Atlanta in
the first round. With a 42-38 record, the Heat
hold a two-game lead over Philadelphia with
two games remaining, and hold the tiebreaker
over the Sixers. First-year head coach Erik
Spoelstra, who team president Pat Riley
picked to succeed him as head coach, has continued to stress the Heat trademarks of defense
and discipline. Miami is in the top half of the
NBA in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense and was also one of the top
teams in the league in forced turnovers, while
ranking near the top in fewest turnovers committed. Not surprisingly, the Heat were the
league’s runaway leaders in turnover differential at plus three.
THE D-WADE SHOW …
For as much as Spoelstra holding to the
tenets of Pat Riley Miami Heat basketball has
contributed to the team’s success, the major
reason for the club’s turnaround has been the
play of guard Dwyane Wade. Most importantly, the five-time All-Star has been able to
play. Wade has started and played in all but
one of Miami’s games this season after missing 31 games due to injuries in each of the
previous two seasons. After helping Team
USA win the gold medal at the Beijing
Olympics last summer, Wade carried that
momentum into the NBA regular season and
the field. He also leads Miami in assists and
steals with his 7.5 assists per game, ranking
him in the NBA’s top 10 and his 2.22 steals
rank second only to New Orleans’ Chris Paul.
His all-around season and the team’s return to
the playoffs have some thinking that he is
deserving of the league’s MVP.
Wade has undoubtedly been the Heat’s
superhero this year. If he has had a sidekick,
it most likely was forward Shawn Marion for
the first three and a half months of the season, and center Jermaine O’Neal since.
Miami traded Marion to Toronto in February
in exchange for O’Neal, and also departed
with guard Marcus Banks and picked up forward Jamario Moon in the swap. Marion gave
the Heat an athletic rebounder who thrives in
transition, while O’Neal is more of a halfcourt player that the team can run its offense
through. Despite the hope of O’Neal giving
the Heat starting five more of a secondary
scoring option, he has not necessarily been an
improvement over Marion. O’Neal is scoring
slightly more (13.3 per game to Marion’s 12),
but Marion shot a little better from the field
and the free throw line. Marion also outrebounded O’Neal 8.7 to 5.4. Miami was two
games over .500 with Marion in the lineup,
and is two games under with O’Neal.
VETS AND YOUNG GUNS …
Forward Udonis Haslem has continued
his workman-like career, providing the Heat
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expected back until the playoffs. That means
an increased reliance on rookie Michael
Beasley. The No. 2 overall pick has primarily
been a reserve, starting just 16 of the team’s
first 79 games as he adjusts his carefree style
to the liking of the detail-oriented Spoelstra.
Nevertheless, he has shown his trademark
scoring ability when on the court, averaging
13.5 points per game. He had an impressive
23 points and 13 rebounds in a start at Boston
on Friday, and is the player best suited to be
Wade’s wingman going forward.
Another rookie that is instrumental to
the Heat’s plans is Mario Chalmers. The second round pick and hero of Kansas’ victory
over Memphis in the 2008 NCAA
Championship Game has started every game
at point guard for Miami, playing efficiently
alongside Wade. Chalmers is another reason
the Heat lead the league in turnover differential, as he is averaging only two turnovers
per game while ranking fourth in the league
in steals at 1.95 per game. Also, pieces like
veteran center Jamaal Magloire and secondyear sharpshooter Daequan Cook give
Miami more options.
The Heat provide an interesting mix of a
first-year coach, a superstar, veterans and
budding young talent. Miami hopes these
parts continue to mesh as they gear up for
their first-round playoff series, of which
tonight’s game might be a preview.
Butler
can
be
reached
at
[email protected].
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MVP IN MIAMI?: Dwyane Wade has carried the
Heat into the playoffs this season, averaging
nearly 30 points (first in the league) and 2.2
steals (second) per game on the season. Photo
courtesy of NBA Photos.