Atlanta Hawks LockerPulse

Yahoo! Sports: 2012 NBA Playoffs Final Four Power Rankings: Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Sun, 27 May 2012 04:23:35 -0400

The final participant of the NBA's version of the Final Four was finally decided when the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Saturday, May 26. The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are the four teams that remain standing in the 2012 NBA Playoffs and still have a shot at winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

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Yahoo! Sports: Miami Heat Vs. Boston Celtics Playoff Schedule (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Sun, 27 May 2012 03:08:34 -0400

The Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics playoff schedule gives basketball fans another showdown between the two franchises. It's a re-match of sorts, as it was the Heat that eliminated the Celtics in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Now the teams face off in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, with both franchises really wanting to add a title this year.

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Soaring Down South: 2012 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Update: 5/26 – Celtics Oust 76ers with 85-75 Game 7 Victory

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:53:39 -0400

Bleacher Report: NBA Rumors: Extending Josh Smith Should Not Be Atlanta Hawks' Top Priority

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:53:33 -0400

Josh Smith is a very good player, but the Atlanta Hawks need to blow this entire core up. Michael Cunningham of AJC.com notes that the Hawks could re-sign Smith now:

I looked at Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ and could see no reason why Smith is not eligible for an extension. It’s been at least three years since he signed the deal, it’s never been renegotiated and it doesn’t include an opt-in. I checked with Coon and he confirmed the Hawks can

Peachtree Hoops: New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream Recap

Sat, 26 May 2012 10:23:46 -0400

Coming off a tough season opening loss to the Indiana Fever last week, Atlanta would play their first home game of the 2012 campaign against a familiar foe, Cappie Poindexter and the New York Liberty. The Dream had lost their last two regular season match-ups to this team and after starting the year with a loss, they wanted to give their home fans a victory to celebrate. The Atlanta Dream also unveiled their 2011 Eastern Conference Championship banner led by star player Angel Mccoughtry, coach Marynell Meadors and city of Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed. After the pre-game festivities, the Atlanta Dream was ready to get to work and give the 6,802

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Yahoo! Sports: Knicks ink coach Woodson to multiyear contract (The SportsXchange)

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:23:38 -0400

The New York Knicks removed the interim label from Mike Woodson and named him their head coach on Friday.

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Peachtree Hoops: 2012 Atlanta Hawks Player Review: Jannero Pargo

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:23:29 -0400

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Yahoo! Sports: Knicks give coach Mike Woodson multiyear extension (The Associated Press)

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:39:03 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) Mike Woodson will return as the New York Knicks' coach after leading them to their first playoff victory in 11 years.

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Yahoo! Sports: 76ers-Celtics Preview (The Associated Press)

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:08:33 -0400

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) Kevin Garnett won't be posting any comments from the 76ers owners on his mental bulletin board. The Philadelphia fans won't be getting all riled up over comments deriding their loyalty.

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Yahoo! Sports: Celtics, minus G Bradley, set for Sixers, Game 7 (The Associated Press)

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:08:33 -0400

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AJC Hawks Blog: Atlanta Hawks: On Josh Smith’s future

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:09:05 -0400

Before Josh Smith started his summer vacation, he was asked about the possibility of signing a contract extension with the Hawks.

“I can’t get extended,” Smith said. “They didn’t give me the money; I had to go get it. That’s something I have to play it out and see how it goes from there.”

Two things stand out about that statement. The first is that Smith, who presumably got the info from his agent, is wrong about his contract not being eligible for an extension.

I looked at Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ and could see no reason why Smith is not eligible for an extension. It’s been at least three years since he signed the deal, it’s never been renegotiated and it doesn’t include an opt-in. I checked with Coon and he confirmed the Hawks can extend Smith’s deal (they actually have been able to do so since August).

But the more interesting aspect of Smith’s statement is his allusion to having to “go get” his contract. He’s referring, of course, to the offer sheet he signed with Memphis in

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Peachtree Hoops: New York Liberty (0-3) at Atlanta Dream (0-1) Preview

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:09:04 -0400

Tonight, the Atlanta Dream will play in their first home game at Philips Arena since losing the WNBA Finals last season against the Minnesota Lynx and will also unveil their 2011 Eastern Conference Championship banner before the game begins. Atlanta is coming off a tough season opening loss to the Indiana Fever 92-84 in a game where the Fever was 12-21 from behind the arc and defending the long ball was one of the biggest issues Atlanta encountered throughout the 2011 season. Their opponent, the New York Liberty will be their first opponent at home for the second straight season led by All-Star guard Cappie Poindexter. New York have struggled to open the season as they have lost all three of their games heading into tonight's match-up

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Soaring Down South: 2012 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Update: 5/24 – Wade, Heat close out Indiana

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:29:45 -0400

Yahoo! Sports: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, Eastern Semis Game 7: Fan Playoff Preview (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:40:06 -0400

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that just will not quit. For the Boston Celtics, this fact does not sit well with their championship hopes. The No. 8 seed Sixers already knocked off the No. 1 seed Chicago Bulls and in forcing a Game 7 against the Celtics, proved their playoff success has not been a fluke.

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Bleacher Report: Josh Smith of Atlanta Hawks, Most-Snubbed Player of 2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:53:34 -0400

You know who hasn't gotten any respect in the NBA this season? Josh Smith.

The Hawks cornerman led the league in defensive win shares, was fifth in defensive rating, 10th in boards, 18th in steals and eighth in blocks. He had more blocks than Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler.

Smith was my pick for DPOY. He didn't get a single first-place vote and only appeared on a handful of ballots.

Despite leading the league in defensive win shares, he didn't make either the All-Defensive First Team or the All-Defensive

Peachtree Hoops: Hawks Denied Portland's Request To Speak With Rick Sund, According To Report

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:23:38 -0400

According to a report by Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com the Atlanta Hawks denied Portland the opportunity to speak with general manager Rick Sund about the Trail Blazers' vacant gm position. Hawks ownership chose to postpone any such meeting between Sund and Portland until after its season ended.

However the report suggests that Sund isn't interested in returning to work in the Pacific Northwest and is currently in talks about re-signing with the Hawks and is also considering

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Hoopinion: Once More, With Feeling: Reviewing Rick Sund's Season

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:08:28 -0400

It's difficult to evaluate Rick Sund's tenure as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks because the worst parts of his tenure are essentially conditions of his employment. There are only 30 NBA general manager jobs and who's to say that not having one of those jobs is more satisfying than having one, but on the condition you can't choose the head coach and have to sign Joe Johnson to a franchise-limiting contract. Sund didn't make the Hawks' cap situation any worse this season. A backhanded compliment, but not one that could have been delivered at the end of any of the last three seasons.

Rick Sund is a symptom of organizational dysfunction, not a cause. In fact, in the limited space he had to maneuver, Sund did a fine job filling

Soaring Down South: NBA Playoffs Round 2 Update: 5/23 – Holiday, Sixers Force Game 7

Thu, 24 May 2012 01:25:37 -0400

Getty Images

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Peachtree Hoops: 2012 Atlanta Hawks Player Review: Vladimir Radmanovic

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:38:34 -0400

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Soaring Down South: 2012 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Update: 5/22– LeBron powers Heat by Pacers

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:54:28 -0400

Peachtree Hoops: 2012 Atlanta Hawks Player Review: Jerry Stackhouse

Tue, 22 May 2012 19:23:31 -0400

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Yahoo! Sports: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Semis Game 6: Fan Playoff Preview (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:38:35 -0400

The Boston Celtics played with purpose in Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers knowing their season was on the line. While a 2-2 tie in a best of seven series may not seem like pressure, a win puts the team just a game away while a loss puts the team's back against the wall, especially with Game 6 to be played on the road.

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Yahoo! Sports: AP Source: Knicks, Woodson could agree this week (The Associated Press)

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:08:39 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) A person with knowledge of the situation says the New York Knicks and coach Mike Woodson are finalizing a multiyear deal that could be announced this week.

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AJC Hawks Blog: Atlanta Hawks: The Larry Drew half measure

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:38:40 -0400

In Orlando, the Magic fired Stan Van Gundy and said they did so essentially because he’s not a players’ coach. Or as the Orlando Sentinel’s Josh Robbins put it: “[Van Gundy] occasionally annoyed veteran players with his demanding expectations, his demonstrative sideline demeanor and his blunt assessments of their play during press conferences.”

In Atlanta, meanwhile, the Hawks exercised Larry Drew’s contract option and I’ve head fans complain he’s too much of a players’ coach. These fans covet a coach who annoys veteran players with expectations, shows more “fire” on the sideline and takes to the media to call out players (or at least the players they don’t like at that moment).

(That sounds suspiciously like Mike Woodson, except with more quotes ripping players. But I digress.)

No matter your opinion on Atlanta’s decision to retain Drew, it doesn’t seem to be a strong decision. Instead, the Hawks took half measures with Drew and pulled off the tough trick of choosing

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Soaring Down South: 2012 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Update: 5/21 – Bass Powers Boston to 101-85 Win; Thunder Blowout Lakers 106-90 to Clinch Series

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:53:37 -0400

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics

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