March 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jamal Crawford did not come to the Hawks with a reputation for his defense. Early in the season, in particular, coach Mike Woodson cited Crawford as a player who needed to learn the Hawks' defensive system and become more attentive at that end of the floor. Crawford made one of the better individual plays Saturday night in the Hawks' 112-99 win over Detroit. In the second quarter, he poked the ball away from Pistons guard Ben Gordon as he tried to dribble past Crawford, then scooped up the loose ball and went in for an uncontested dunk. The Hawks held Detroit to 12 points in the first quarter, their fewest points allowed in a first quarter this season. "It's contagious," Crawford said. "I ..."
March 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jamal Crawford's shot was back Monday night at the United Center and so was the Hawks' ability to finish off an opponent with little drama. Crawford made 6 of 13 shots in the Hawks' 116-92 victory over Chicago, including two baskets that helped slow the Bulls' momentum when they tried to rally in the fourth quarter. It was by far Crawford's best shooting game since the All-Star break. Before Monday, he had made just 26 of 84 attempts (31 percent) in the seven games since the break. Crawford missed the Hawks' final game before All-Star weekend and said six days without a game threw off his rhythm. "It's coming back around," he said. "I've been thinking too much. I'm definitely getting my ..."
February 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Zaza Pachulia and Jamal Crawford were back at practice Monday and expect to play Wednesday night against the Clippers. Pachulia has missed the last two games with left hip pain. Crawford sat out the last game before the All-Star break with a sore left shoulder. Pachulia's had been inactive since playing five minutes in the Hawks' 91-81 victory over Chicago on Feb. 5. He's had trouble with the hip twice this season but said he hopes to avoid further problems by better managing the injury."
February 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Hawks were down two key reserves. Joe Johnson was still getting over an illness, and they were playing for the second consecutive night. So the Hawks needed energy and something extra from their bench Wednesday night. They had the energy and opened with more bounce than the Heat, which also played the night before. But with top sub Jamal Crawford out because of a shoulder injury, the Hawks' bench didn't come close to replacing his offensive punch. The Heat's reserves sent the Hawks to a 94-76 defeat at Philips Arena. The Heat's bench players outscored their Hawks counterparts 45-8, including 26-5 in the second half. With that kind of production from the Heat's reserves, it hardly ..."
January 31
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After Jamal Crawford burned Boston on Friday despite Kendrick Perkins' warning that Boston "put a hit out on him," the Celtics center approached Crawford and offered praise, not trash talk. "He said I should have been an All-Star," Crawford said. "I was like, 'Thanks, man.' " Hawks coach Mike Woodson had lobbied for coaches to vote Crawford to the All-Star team along with Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith. Johnson and Horford made it; Smith and Crawford didn't. Crawford was a long shot to make the team because he doesn't start. But the comments from Perkins and Boston forward Paul Pierce, who also said Crawford should have made it, made Crawford think. "There was so much hype about ..."
January 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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If not for Grant Hill's fistful of Joe Johnson's jersey Friday night, who's to say how the Hawks' improbable 102-101 win over Phoenix might have played out. Johnson was the first option on the play that ended with guard Jamal Crawford draining the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired. However, Johnson was detained coming to the ball, slowed down by Hill, the Phoenix forward, who had grabbed hold of Johnson's jersey. And once Johnson came around a screen set by center Al Horford, the three-time All-Star was predictably double-teamed. In the timeout, according to Johnson, coach Mike Woodson told the team "if I [Johnson] don't get it, guys have got to start coming to the ball. And the rest ..."
January 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jamal Crawford is getting all the shine for the Hawks' victory Friday night, and for good reason. His highlight-show, 28-foot jumper at the buzzer sent the Hawks to an unlikely triumph after many in the Philips Arena crowd had assumed the game was over and left. "I wouldn't even call it luck," Hawks forward Josh Smith said after the Suns blew a four-point lead in the final 10 seconds. "I call it a gift God gave us. I'm still thanking Him." Divine or not, the shot was the flashiest part of the Hawks' fifth victory in six games, but it wouldn't have happened without the grunt work that came earlier. Look at those three consecutive Suns possessions after they led 94-88. Suns guard Steve Nash ..."
January 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It seemed there was no way the Hawks wouldn't come out sizzling against the Suns under these circumstances. It was an ESPN game, and the Hawks have thrived in the spotlight this season. The small, sleepy crowd for Wednesday's victory against Washington was replaced by a robust and lively house. And the freewheeling Suns were willing to run with the Hawks. Instead the Hawks, their energy seemingly sapped by several missed shots at the basket, let the Suns take control early. The Hawks came alive in the second half, but in the end Phoenix appeared on its way to victory. Then Jamal Crawford took it away. His 28-foot jumper at the buzzer gave the Hawks an improbable 102-101 victory. Those ..."
November 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It almost sounded like a novel sensation for the coach. "I feel good about our bench," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "There's times I'm playing five guys off the bench at one time, a whole new lineup." If this was a revelation, it was because a deep bench has not exactly been an advantage Woodson has enjoyed in his six years with the Hawks. Only 12 games into the season, the strength of the Hawks' deepened bench has become an obvious factor in the team's success. At 10-2, the team is off to its best start in 12 years. Said forward Josh Smith, "Having that depth on our bench, it's one of the main reasons we're so successful as a team." The Hawks will attempt to put that depth to use again ..."
November 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Five members of the Atlanta Hawks were included on the 2010 NBA All-Star ballot, which was released earlier today. Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson are among the 24 guards on the Eastern Conference ballot. Josh Smith is among the group at forward and Al Horford is one of 12 on the ballot at center. Voting will continue through Jan. 18."