Peachtree Hoops: News and Notes Following Atlanta's 93-88 Victory Over Philadelphia

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David Goldman - AP

about 15 hours ago: Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford (11) reacts after making a free throw as teammate Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams (24) looks on in the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 93-88. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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On the Philadelphia Victory

Michael Cunningham says it was a bizarre night at the Highlight Factory:

Bizarre night at the Highlight Factory. 

Smoove

 gets benched in the fourth quarter and the Hawks are better for it. 

Jamal

 misses clutch free throws. 

Zaza

 grabs a key rebound. 

Marvin

 gets it done all night. 

Al

 couldn’t get anything going much of the night but owned the final moments.

This also shows how many contributions the Hawks had to get from many different players to pull out this victory. It is this line of thinking that could make the Hawks a much better team when Joe Johnson returns and is healthy. 

Larry Drew talked after the game about the need for having to grind out some victories:

"You’re not going to put the perfect game together every time," 

L.D.

 said. "There’s going to be some games where you’ve just got to grind it and gut it out. I’m very proud of our team because we did that tonight."

Bret from Hoopinion states that the Philly offense had more to do with the comeback than the Hawks defense.

But then the 76ers stopped attacking. They slowed down and tried to score on isolations (many of them

Andre Iguodala

against Marvin Williams rather than

Jrue Holiday

or Lou Williams against

Mike Bibby

or Jamal Crawford) as the shot clock wore down. Philadelphia made one (1) field goal in the final 8:45, made one (1) free throw in the final 8:45, Lou Williams missed one (1) fast break dunk in the final 8:45, Jrue Holiday had one (1) jump shot blocked by Mike Bibby in the final 8:45, and the team committed five turnovers in the final 8:45.

SB Atlanta's Phil Foley says that the Hawks did what good teams do in the Philly win.

The 

Atlanta Hawks

 looked like a lost basketball team for more than three quarters on Friday.  But they clamped down and did what good teams do -- dominated the final moments of the game.  

Marvin Williams

 had 22 points and 

Al Horford

 and 

Jamal Crawford

 had 15 each, leading the Hawks to a 93-88 win over the 

76ers

 at Philips Arena.

Michael Levin of Liberty Ballers' questions Doug Collins substitution patterns down the stretch:

 

Doug's rotations were pretty awful the entire second half. Both units were clicking on all cylinders through two frames, but he didn't go to

Spencer Hawes

or

Evan Turner

nearly enough later on, two guys who were hitting shots and making plays in the beginning of the game.

On the signing of Damian Wilkins

Bret wasn't impressed and it appears that a few of Peachtree Hoops' readers weren't either. I don't have a problem with the signing if you consider what the signing is. He is an end of the bench guy that can compete in practice. Wilkins may end up getting regular minutes while Joe Johnson is out but it wouldn't appear that he would be guaranteed a role when Johnson returns. Perhaps I got excited for bringing in a former Bulldog who just happens to be connected to the Hawks because his uncle played in Atlanta and made a pretty good name for himself. Of the players that were available and could be afforded by the Hawks I don't see that it is a bad move. 

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