Hawks Meet Raps Before Hitting the Road

Toronto Raptors (0-2)
@ Atlanta Hawks (4-1)
[Starting Lineups] [Toronto Boxscore] [Atlanta Boxscore]

Left: Josh Smith with yet another posterization, Right: Chris Bosh puts it down with authority
[07/17/05, Atlanta] - The Atlanta Hawks are coming into this game with the smell, and the look of victory. Mike Woodson was so bold to even gloat to the press that "this squad may even pull an upset this year and catch the playoffs." If this were to happen, it would be the first positive thing to happen to the team in a long time. As for the Raptors, no early season momentum, and no breakout scorer have graced their presence as of yet. They sit in a slump which makes itself known in their 0-2 record. "Although they aren't playing at the top of their games," said Woodson, "it doesn't mean they don't have guys that can get going in a split second." Players like Chris Bosh, Morris Peterson, and Jalen Rose to name a couple, can light it up at any given contest. This won't be a shoe-in, it will be a battle.
Second Overtime Game of the Season...
After four quarters, the game was tied up like a 30 year-old knot, but the players were only warming up. For the first 4 minutes of the 5 minute overtime, both teams traded baskets, neither opponent gaining a respectable advantage, until one play in the final minute. The Hawks led by one, as Stoudemire fed it in to Harrington, who was having a spectacular night. He was double-teamed, thus leaving Salim open for the tré. He passed it. The rookie pulled up. The stroke was perfect, the arc was just right, and the spin was flawless. The ball met nothing but mesh as the Hawks went up by four and drilled the stake right into the heart of the Raptors team.
Player of the game honours were passed to
Al Harrington, who clocked his first 30 point game of the season. The seventh year player picked up 30 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Most who watched would say that he had his way with Bosh on offense, pushing him around like a 10 year old boy. Also picking up a double-double, and the first of his career, was
Salim Stoudemire, who scored 14 points, and dished 12 assists. Other notable performances:
Joe Johnson, who scored 24 points, and grabbed 4 steals,
Tyronn Lue, who scored 15 points, and passed his way to 4 assists, and
Marvin Williams, who scored 11 points, and got 2 assists.
The Toronto Raptors were lead by All Star,
Chris Bosh, who scored 21 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots, and veteran,
Mike James, who ticked 22 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. There were 3 other Raptors players who had above 15 points for the night.
"I think Joe Johnson has given this Atlanta team that extra bump that they needed to clear the speed bump that has been catching them for so many years," said Raptors coach, Sam Mitchell after the game. The Hawks shot 54% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc, outdoing Toronto who shot 51% from the field, and 25% from three point range.
This game review was delivered to you by us at the Atlanta Hawks website, and we hope you watch the next game where the Hawks will test their luck against the number one team in the league, and former champs, the San Antonio Spurs. The game will be held in San Antonio on the 21st of November.
Game Highlights
Lue takes the jumper from beyond the arc
Joey Graham was injured in the first only to return in the fourth
Mike James connects from afar
Marvin Williams is blocked on a layup attempt
Last edited by
Moop_Moop on Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.