November 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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They played for three quarters like the same old Hawks. The 2004 model. Then they finished in a fashion that bore little resemblance to those horrid clubs of the past. The Hawks overcame an ungainly start against Portland by imposing their will in the fourth quarter and overtime in a 99-95 win at Philips Arena Monday night. "We're nowhere near close" to those Hawks of the recent past, said guard Joe Johnson, whose late-game marksmanship fueled the comeback. "Two, three, four years ago, we'd have lost a game like this." In an intriguing game for November, the Hawks revealed again that something special may be bubbling at Philips this season. Their fifth win in a row came at the hands of a ..."
November 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A year after recording their first winning season since 1998-99, the Hawks entered the season bent on improvement. But could they have imagined this? Ten games into the season, the 8-2 Hawks have the best record in the Eastern Conference and were tied with Phoenix for the best record in the NBA as the Suns went into Sunday night's game against Toronto. Among the team's conquests are road wins at Boston, Portland and Sacramento and a home win over Denver. The start marks the team's best record after 10 games since 1997-98, when the team started 11-0. "I think we can do something special," said forward Joe Smith, the 14-year veteran who has contributed key minutes off the bench. "We have to ..."
November 14
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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In his debut game, Hornets Coach Jeff Bower looked concerned after marching on the floor to see his franchise player, Chris Paul, sprawled and writhing in pain from a severely sprained left ankle. With 40.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Paul stepped on the back of Portland's center Joel Pryzbilla's foot after soaring to make a pass to Hilton Armstrong in the lane. As Paul landed awkwardly, his left ankle turned and he landed hard on the floor, grimacing in pain as he tossed his mouthpiece and grabbed his ankle. With Paul having to be carried off the court by teammates Sean Marks and Darius Songaila and not returning, New Orleans lost to Portland 86-78 Friday night in front of ..."
November 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies returned home to FedExForum on Tuesday night after a tumultuous trip to the West Coast, where they took a beating in the press and in the Western Conference standings. Coach Lionel Hollins knew his team needed something good to happen against the Portland Trail Blazers. "It would be great," he said before the game, almost in a whisper, "to get a win." The franchise was fragile, his young players rattled - by five straight losses and by Hurricane A.I., who had left so much damage in his wake. Allen Iverson was hundreds of miles from the Grizzlies bench by the opening tip, at home in Atlanta mulling retirement. But his ghost haunted the place. The Blazers are a talented team ..."
November 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jamal Crawford said it was a big game. And he played like it, rescuing the Hawks from themselves and their usually frivolous ways on the road. Crawford took control of things in the second quarter and then guided the Hawks down the stretch to a crucial 97-91 win over Portland at the Rose Garden, their first road win of the season and their first quality road win in seemingly forever. With Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby laboring early and Josh Smith in early foul trouble, the Hawks (3-1) needed someone to take over with the Trail Blazers leading by as many as 12 points. Crawford didn't hesitate to assert himself, attacking the Trail Blazers from the moment he set ..."