May 1, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew reacts on the sidelines against the Indiana Pacers in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Atlanta 106-83. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced they had agreed in principle to hire former Hawks coach Larry Drew as their new head coach, replacing interm Jim Boylan. Drew served as the head man in Atlanta for three seasons, making the playoffs in all three. He compiled a 128-102 (.557) regular season record over that span, though the team got out of the first round of the playoffs just once.

General manager John Hammond had both Drew and Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson in for second interviews on Wednesday, ultimately deciding Drew was his man. He made the correct decision.

Is this a particularly sexy hire for the Bucks? No. But they’re the Milwaukee Bucks; they don’t do sexy. Drew is a solid coach and this was a solid hire.

He’s a defensive minded coach with a reputation of being a strong locker room presence – a necessity for a Bucks team whose locker room fell apart last season. Drew’s teams played good defense during his tenure in Atlanta, finishing top 10 in points per possession allowed each of the past two seasons. Though in flex, Milwaukee’s roster boasts areas of defensive upside. John Henson isn’t there yet, but his athletic ability coupled with his 7’6 wingspan suggest he has potential on that end of the floor. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is one of the more underrated perimeter defenders in basketball. With young LARRY SANDERS! in the fold as a rim protecting centerpiece to build around, there’s no reason why Milwaukee can’t replicate this kind of defensive success.

Drew has the reputation of running a boring, isolation oriented offense, but that isn’t particularly true. Ideally Drew would like to play an up tempo motion oriented offense, however, he tends to build/tweak his offenses around his personnel. With Johnson on the team in 2010 and 2011, the Hawks did run a slower, more isolation oriented offense. But after Johnson was shipped off to Brooklyn, we saw how Drew really wants to coach offense. The Hawks jumped from a bottom 10 team in pace to top 10, as they took on a more up-tempo style. Drew’s motion offense featured a little bit of everything – flex motion, pin downs, post ups, pick and roll and isolation. The coach has spoken in the past about having interchangeable pieces on offense, which makes sense in a system where a lot of different players touch the ball in different spots on the floor. During the playoffs, we saw Drew make a few outstanding tweaks to the offense – tweaks that helped Atlanta take the mighty Pacers to six games.

For the majority of the regular season, the Hawks played with Al Horford at center and Josh Smith at power forward. Drew offset Indiana’s size by inserting center Johan Petro into the lineup alongside Horford and Smith, moving Smith to small forward. The Pacers were forced to guard Smith with Paul George, a smaller player, and Atlanta took advantage of that offensive mismatch by pounding Smith in the post constantly. The Hawks also took advantage of Indiana’s defensive scheme, getting Horford a bountiful number of good mid-range looks in the pick and pop game. Drew’s coaching job was impressive in helping Atlanta push a much better  Pacers team to six games.

One guy who should benefit from Drew’s hiring is Ersan Illyasova. After a breakout 2011, Illyasova took a small step back in 2012, but remains a very good three point shooter and a versatile power forward type. Drew will likely use Illyasova like he used Josh Smith in Atlanta – involving him in a lot of pick and pop action, designing schemes to get him out in space near the three point line. The difference is that Illyasova is a much better shooter than Smith, which bodes well for Milwaukee. They’ll run a lot of offense through him and he should be primed for a good 2013 season.

We can’t project exactly what Milwaukee is going to look like in 2013 because their roster is in flux. Their three most prominent backcourt players last season, Brandon Jennings (restricted), Monta Ellis (player option, but he’ll likely decline), and JJ Redick, are all free agents and none are guaranteed to return. Rumor is the Bucks would prefer to keep Ellis over Jennings, but it’s now thought that Ellis wants to go play for the Kings. It’s entirely possible Milwaukee looses all three players and has to start fresh in the backcourt.

Is Larry Drew an upper echelon coach? No, he hasn’t shown to be that up to this point. Is he a solid coach that can bring stability to a franchise? Absolutely. For a team in flux with a need for a stable locker room, Milwaukee could’ve done a lot worse than Drew. I think personnel is going to dictate Milwaukee’s success moving forward more than coaching will. With Drew, you pretty much know what you’re going to get. The Bucks will be a good defensive team with an offense built around whoever he has on the floor. Drew is a solid hire and he’ll do a good job, but he’s going to need a really good roster if Milwaukee is going to take huge strides moving forward.

April 9, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) and Roy Hibbert celebrate a 20 point come from behind victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Cleveland 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks, who just tanked to get the sixth seed, and the Indiana Pacers are settling in for the NBA TV special. If you don’t know, one first round series gets relegated to NBA TV, and for the past three to four years, the Atlanta Hawks were sent to NBA TV. This year? We might have them back with one of the best defensive teams in the league. A ton of intrigue in this series. Indiana has this impressive all-around game, while Atlanta works with two of their stars, their blossoming point guard, and an array of role players to help them. Let’s look at each team with a bit more depth.

Indiana Pacers: For much of the season, Indiana has been consistent on the defensive end, finishing first in defensive efficiency. However, they went by it in a 2K13-like fashion. David West is arguably their best player, George Hill is the key on the perimeter, Roy Hibbert changes the court’s dimension with his seven-foot-two size, but Paul George was the All-Star this season for Indiana. The point? The Pacers did it with no star player, and without Danny Granger, claiming the third seed in the East would equal to a pretty solid season. The two things that intrigued me about Indiana’s season is the disappearance (then reappearance) of Roy Hibbert and Lance Stephenson. After getting praise for his success in the playoffs against Miami, Hibbert started the season on a horrible streak, shooting 37% in the month of November and 40% in December. While Hibbert was still making a monstrous defensive impact, he was brutal for them offensively. Since the All-Star break, Hibbert is shooting over 50%, and before this April swoon, his defensive numbers were actually improving.

As for Stephenson, he’s been a pleasant surprise. Moving into the starting lineup at shooting guard, Stephenson has been a solid contributor. He’s been a solid fit defensively, and for the third-year player, he’s been able to fill in some of the spots needed with George moving into a more offensive-heavy role at small forward.

Player To Watch: Paul George (17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 53.1 TS%)

George has provided everything and more for the Pacers this season. Thanks to an increased scoring load, his field goal percentage took a slight dip, but with George having the ball in his hands, he’s improved as an overall offensive player, doubling his assist output, and increasing his overall assists percentage. Against Chicago, George will be called upon to score the ball, but he can also double as an effective decoy for West and Hibbert. Thanks to his ability to be an effective rim attacker, George can kick the ball out to an open shooter. Along with attacking the basket, George is also excellent in hand-off situations, allowing him to shoot an easy jumper.

Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks, while falling to the sixth seed, were a really good team. The Hawks finished the season 15th in the league in offensive efficiency, 10th in defensive efficiency, and 11th overall. After losing Joe Johnson to a trade, the trio of Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Jeff Teague did well in leading them, while quietly making them fun. All three are phenomenal passers at their positions, and that allowed head coach Larry Drew to play guys like Devin Harris, Kyle Korver, Ivan Johnson, Anthony Tolliver, and John Jenkins. With injuries to Louis Williams and Zaza Pachuilia shortening their rotation, the Hawks battled, and even though they fell to the bottom half of the Eastern Conference bracket, they have the look of a tough playoff team.

The role players will be interesting in this series. Kyle Korver has been the best three-point shooter this season, Ivan Johnson is just a classic bully at the power forward position, Anthony Toliver gives the Hawks a big body who can pull defenders out side of the paint, Devin Harris provides a change of pace off the bench for Atlanta’s offense, and rookie John Jenkins has dabbled as shooter in spot minutes. All five provide different things to this Atlanta team, and if they want to upset a talented Indiana team, they will need to play at their best.

Player To Watch: Jeff Teague (14.6 points, 7.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 54.3 TS%)

The biggest beneficiary of the Joe Johnson departure, the Hawks have trusted Teague with the ball in his hands more. The best thing about Teague is his ability to put it into overdrive in the playoffs. Against Indiana, i think he’ll face his toughest matchup in George Hill. Teague will have to put in effort from outside the arc, but he’ll also need to get pick and rolls going to force Hibbert outside of the basket. Along with Teague as a decoy, I’m curious to see how Atlanta finds him offensively. Again, Horford and Smith are great passers, and off hand-off plays, cuts, and off-screen attempts, Teague can really thrive in this series.

Prediction: Pacers in 5. I originally had Indiana winning the series in seven games. However, the Pacers are the better defensive team, and as I look at Atlanta’s roster, I don’t know who’s going to stop Roy Hibbert in the post. The Hawks have Al Horford, who’s good at scoring and moving the ball around on the perimeter, but Indiana could send David West to most likely dispatch him. Jeff Teague could take a step forward, but George Hill could also neutralize him. Those three concerns, plus Josh Smith long jumpers, and I’ll take Indiana to win in five, moving on to the second round.

Feb 19, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Charlotte Bobcats at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Redick

As we close in on the trade deadline, it surely seems that Redick will be dealt. There are numerous teams involved at the moment, and it would make sense for the Magic to move the sharpshooter. Redick will be a free agent after this year, and it doesn’t look like the Magic will resign him, so they might as well try and get the best offer they can for him.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Orlando has multiple offers of first-round picks.

Orlando has secured offers of first-round picks for J.J. Redick, sources tell Y! Sports. So far, those belong to teams drafting in the 20′s.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

One possible landing spot for Redick appears to be San Antonio.

I discounted San Antonio-Redick talks a bit earlier, but sources insisting there are legitimate scenarios in play that make Spurs a factor.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Redick would be a great fit in San Antonio. The Spurs love to space the floor and find open shooters. They already shoot about 22 three-pointers a game, and having Redick would make their offense much more dangerous.

Josh Smith

Smith has been the talk of the deadline this year, with rumored destinations ranging from Milwaukee to Phoenix to Brooklyn to Boston. As of this morning, it seems that the best offer for Smith may actually be from the Bucks, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Wojnarowski.

Hawks, Bucks seriously talking on Josh Smith deal, sources tell Y! Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh among players discussed for Smith, Devin Harris.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Wojnarowski has reported, however, that the Hawks would rather send Smith to the West.

Atlanta has to do the best possible deal for Smith. That could still be the Bucks in the East, but again, Hawks prefer to send him West.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

If the Hawks are truly set on not re-signing Smith, then they might as well try to trade him. Because other teams know this, and factoring in Smith’s expiring contract, it will be tough for the Hawks to get a lot in return.

1. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith has been rumored in trade talks for years now.  However, with his free agency status pending, he is a virtual lock to go elsewhere.  And why not?  He has put his time in with the team, helping the Hawks go from cellar-dweller status to a respectable playoff team.  He was suspended earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.  The one reason to try to keep him is to use him as a lure for Dwight Howard to come to his hometown of Atlanta.  However, if Dwight didn’t put the Hawks on his wish-list last year, why would he go there now?  And if Dwight is unlikely to come, why hold on to Smith?

Feb 8 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe (12) during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2. Eric Bledsoe, LA Clippers

Eric Bledsoe has really set himself up for a huge paycheck for next year and beyond.  The question is, where is it going to be?  Certainly not in Clipper land, where Chris Paul will presumably sign a long-term deal and run Lob City for years to come.  With his trade value very high, Bledsoe should garner a lot of interest from other teams looking for a solid point guard to build their team around.

3. Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz

With a crowded but talented front court, Utah is not going to be able to hang on to all their bigs.  As a small-market team, we have seen precedence that holding on to more than 2-3 stars is just not feasible (e.g. James Harden in OKC, Rudy Gay in Memphis).  Trading Millsap makes the most sense, as the Jazz will want to give more minutes to their new talented bigs in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.  At the same time, they can keep their contender status with Al Jefferson manning the middle.  To me, trading Millsap to the Clippers for Bledsoe makes the most sense for both teams.

4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

I’m going out on a limb here:  while GM Danny Ainge has been adamant about not trading Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce, he remains mum about his newest superstar.  Obviously, tearing his ACL kind of sets back Rondo’s trade value, but teams would still love to have him.  Also, it’s not like this would be the first time Rondo would be shopped around.  The team rattled off eight straight wins in his absence, which may reinforce Rondo’s expendability.  Although a shakeup is due soon, I think Ainge, deep down, does not want to build around the volatile young point guard.

5. Kris Humphries, Brooklyn Nets

Humphries is being actively shopped by the aggressive Nets, most conspicuously in an effort to get Josh Smith from Atlanta.  While that particular exchange seems unlikely, I think Humphries has become the odd man out of Brooklyn in PJ Carlisemo’s playbook.  Besides, Reggie Evans and Andray Blatche have proven to be far more valuable role players.  There’s many teams that could get his hands on him in the next 24 hours, and I suspect that the Nets aren’t going to be it.

Of all the players rumored to be in trade talks, I’ll tell you who’s not getting traded, also.

1. Dwight Howard and 2. Pau Gasol, LA Lakers

Despite the growing speculation that Howard is a lock to leave LA so long as coach Mike D’Antoni and golden boy Kobe Bryant stick around, I highly doubt that Mitch Kupchak will come to his senses and trade Howard.  The team has made it clear that it wants Howard to be the centerpiece of its future.  Problem is, I don’t think Dwight will want to suck it up for another year or two under the tutelage of Kobe and D’Antoni.  It would be equally asinine for the Lakers to keep Howard as it would have been for the Magic to keep him last year.  Be that as it may, don’t expect Howard to leave LA until July 1^st.

As for Gasol, don’t expect him to go anywhere, either.  His foot injury has not only quieted trade talks surrounding him, but also subsided the other troubling subplot of the season:  D’Antoni has NO CLUE how to play his two star bigs together.  None.  The team is about a million times better featuring Gasol in the post rather than Howard, but now that is a moot point.  Lakers will want to keep him in case they make a run at the playoffs – which, by the way, is still a possibility, given the Golden State Warriors’ impending slide in the standings.

3. Kevin Garnett and 4. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Since Rondo went down, the media-driven trade talks surrounding the two current Celtics icons gained some steam.  However, Danny Ainge has been very clear that he does not expect either Garnett or Pierce to get traded.  Garnett has a no-trade clause that he has absolutely no intention of waiving, and Pierce cannot leave Boston for the same reason that Kobe can’t leave Los Angeles, and Tim Duncan can’t leave San Antonio:  you just cannot get rid of your long-standing franchise player.  That’s a big no-no.

5. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls

Yes, he is overpaid.  And yes, he has been largely disappointing, other than a few stretches of good games this season.  But I think with Derrick Rose presumably coming back soon, the Bulls will want to see one more go-around with the Rose-Boozer-Noah core and make another playoff push.  If Boozer disappoints again, I think he will be shopped heavily over the summer.  But for now, expect him to stay put.

Josh Smith

Feb 11, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) dunks against Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (0) at the American Airlines Center. The Hawks beat the Mavs 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Smith being traded is probably the most inevitable move that will be made in the next few days. The question is though, where is he going to end up? According to HoopsRumors.com, several teams have shown interest in acquiring Smith’s services. Teams like the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards are reported to have been in contact with Atlanta Hawks GM, Danny Ferry.

ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted that if the Hawks were to make a deal with the Bucks, Atlanta would want to receive Monta Ellis in return. Atlanta believes that Ellis would be a great compliment to Jeff Teague. The Hawks are confident in Teague and apparently plan to move forward with him.

On Bucks/Josh Smith talk: Hawks’ interest believed to start w/Monta Ellis, since Monta could play next to Jeff Teague, whom Hawks still like

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 19, 2013

The Phoenix Suns have also been rumored to be strong suitors for Josh Smith. However, reports are that both teams are concerned that Smith may not be willing to resign with the Suns after he becomes a free agent at season’s end. If a deal were to get done, I can almost guarantee that Marcin Gortat would be involved due to the fact that the Hawks are looking to bring in a center in exchange for Smith. Bringing in Gortat would allow the Hawks to move Al Horford back to his natural power forward position. Perhaps out of desperation, the Washington Wizards have let Atlanta know that everyone on their team is available with the exception of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Nene Hilario.

In talks with ATL for Josh Smith, Wizards have said all but 3 players available: J Wall, B Beal & Nene — Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

  I don’t believe that there is a great chance for the Wizards to grab Smith unless Emeka Okafor was sent to Atlanta. Again, Okafor would allow the Hawks to satisfy their desire to move Horford to the power forward. Finally, what has emerged as the most probable destination for Smith has been reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein. The Brooklyn Nets are predicted to land Smith in a three team deal, says one unknown team close to the situation. Although this has been reported, I’m not so sure who the Nets would include in the group they would end up exporting. Kris Humphries isn’t exactly a valued commodity in the NBA right now, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Nets trying for Josh Smith but ATL has no interest in offers w/Kris Humphries. Neither do many teams they’re trying to involve for 3-way — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 19, 2013

JJ Redick

JJ Redick might be rumored to be on the move less than Josh Smith is but nonetheless, Redick has been talked about. The Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and most recently, the New York Knicks have all showed interest in the sharp shooter.

The Magic and Knicks have discussed a J.J. Redick for Iman Shumpert trade. Other players (and maybe a third team) would have to be involved.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 19, 2013

Feb 8, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks point guard Iman Shumpert (21) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

A deal of this nature really makes sense to me. Redick would fit right in with a Knicks team that absolutely loves to hoist up 3′s. The veteran two guard will also contribute to the Knicks’ “win-now” mentality. Redick has experienced the playoffs a few times, including a 2009 NBA Finals appearance with the Orlando Magic. On the other side of the coin, Iman Shumpert would be a great addition to the Magic. He’s a young, athletic player with plenty of potential that can help this team through the rebuilding process. Not that Shumpert is going to be the next Messiah in Orlando, but he’ll surely be apart of their future plans.

As you see above, Alex Kennedy of Hoops World reports that there would need to be other players or teams involved for this deal to get done. Said players/teams are unknown but when it comes down to it, if these two teams are serious about this, they will find a facilitator to get it done by Thursday. One thing to keep in mind though is that GM Rob Hennigan has told Redick that the team is open to resigning him when he hits free agency this summer, according to reports from Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Other Murmurs

• The Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Mike D’Antoni wants to make a move to acquire guard, Raja Bell. D’Antoni coached Bell in early Phoenix days.

Mike D’Antoni has remained intrigued with bringing exiled Jazz guard Raja Bell to Lakers, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• The Portland Trailblazers are still open to move JJ Hickson but apparently haven’t been blown away by any offers they may have gotten from teams around the league. Portland still willing to move J.J. Hickson, but hasn’t found an appealing offer yet, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• Eric Maynor and Sebastian Telfair of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns respectively, are available.

OKC aggressively shopping PG Eric Maynor. Asking price is high. Phoenix looking to move Sebastian Telfair to clear PT for Kendall Marshall.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

Josh Smith:

The Atlanta Hawks’ forward has been involved in trade rumors for quite some time now. And according to CBS Sports’ Ken Berger, the Hawks are open to trading the talented lefty.

Berger reports that,

“The Hawks are very open to moving Josh Smith, and Danny Ferry the general manager there really doesn’t feel anybody on the roster is untouchable”

With Smith set to become a free agent after this season, and contract talks not going anywhere, it makes sense that Atlanta would look to make a trade. If they are not going to resign Smith, which looks likely, then they might as well try to get something in return. On the other hand, the Hawks do not want to take on a long-term, large contract that will prevent them from making a move in free agency this summer.

Feb 10, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon (10) goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Hornets 102-89. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Gordon:

The young New Orleans Hornets’ guard was reluctant to stay in New Orleans after signing an offer sheet with Phoenix in the summer. Now, there are rumors that maybe he will be leaving town after all.

According to Chris Broussard,

“The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are amongst the teams that have expressed interest in Gordon.”

Broussard notes however, that New Orleans actually agreeing to a trade is unlikely.

Gordon is talented, but he didn’t exactly endear himself to the organization with his actions this summer. So while nothing seems imminent, it is interesting that New Orleans was willing to listen to offers. At the very least, this is something to keep an eye on over the next week.

Los Angeles Lakers:

With the team not performing up to lofty expectations, trade rumors involving the Lakers have been rampant this season. But according to Head Coach Mike D’Antoni, the likelihood of the Lakers making a move is growing increasingly unlikely.

D’Antoni told reporters,

“We could bring somebody in to bring them on the bench for a while. But that doesn’t make any sense for us either”

With Pau Gasol, the team’s most likely trade piece out for an extended period of time, the Lakers don’t have many options, even if they do want to make a move.

- Stay tuned to Saving the Skyhook as we continue to follow all the latest trade rumors around the league.

Dec 8, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies small forward Quincy Pondexter (20) and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr. (11) during the game at the FedEx Forum. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 93-83. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Suns (7-14) 99 @ Clippers (13-6) 117

• Leading scorers: PHX – Michael Beasley 21, LAC – Blake Griffin 24.
• Leading rebounds: PHX – Luis Scola 10, LAC – Blake Griffin, Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes 8.
• Leading assists: PHX – Goran Dragic, Michael Beasley 5, LAC – Chris Paul 11.

Warriors (13-7) 101 @ Wizards (2-15) 97

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 24, WAS – Jordan Crawford 22.
• Leading rebounds: GSW – David Lee 17, WAS – Jordan Crawford 7.
• Leading assists: GSW – Steph Curry, Klay Thompson 5, WAS – Jordan Crawford 8.

Spurs (17-4) 132 @ Bobcats (7-12) 102

• Leading scorers: SAN – Danny Green 23, CHA – Kemba Walker 23.
• Leading rebounds: SAN – Nando de Colo 8, CHA – Bismack Biyombo 8.
• Leading assists: SAN – Tony Parker 9, CHA – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6.

76ers (11-9) 79 @ Celtics (11-9) 92

• Leading scorers: PHI – Thaddeus Young 22, BOS – Kevin Garnett 19.
• Leading rebounds: PHI – Lavoy Allen 9, BOS – Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger 9.
• Leading assists: PHI – Jrue Holiday 8, BOS – Rajon Rondo 11.

Hornets (5-14) 90 @ Heat (13-5) 106

• Leading scorers: NOH – Ryan Anderson 24, MIA – Dwyane Wade 26.
• Leading rebounds: NOH – Robin Lopez 8, MIA – Chris Bosh 6.
• Leading assists: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 7, MIA – LeBron James 7.

Pistons (7-15) 104 @ Cavaliers (4-17) 97

• Leading scorers: DET – Brandon Knight 30, CLE – Jeremy Pargo 24.
• Leading rebounds: DET – Tayshaun Prince 8, CLE – Anderson Varejao 13.
• Leading assists: DET – Rodney Stuckey 6, CLE – Daniel Gibson 6.

Knicks (14-5) 85 @ Bulls (11-8) 93

• Leading scorers: NYK – Raymond Felton 27, CHI – Luol Deng, Marco Belinelli 22.
• Leading rebounds: NYK – Tyson Chandler 18, CHI – Joakim Noah 11.
• Leading assists: NYK – Raymond Felton 5, CHI – Nate Robinson 8.

Hawks (12-5) 93 @ Grizzlies (14-4) 83

• Leading scorers: ATL – Josh Smith 24, MEM – Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol 18.
• Leading rebounds: ATL – Al Horford 14, MEM – Zach Randolph 13.
• Leading assists: ATL – Jeff Teague 6, MEM – Marc Gasol 5.

Mavericks (10-10) 116 @ Rockets (9-10) 109

• Leading scorers: DAL – O.J. Mayo 40, HOU – James Harden 39.
• Leading rebounds: DAL – O.J. Mayo 8, HOU – Chandler Parsons 10.
• Leading assists: DAL – Derek Fisher, Darren Collison 5, HOU – James Harden 9.

Kings (7-12) 99 @ Trail Blazers (8-12) 80

• Leading scorers: SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, John Salmons 19, POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 17.
• Leading rebounds: SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 12, POR – J.J. Hickson 15.
• Leading assists: SAC – John Salmons 11, POR – Damian Lillard 9.

November 23, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) after being called for a foul during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hawks win 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome to The Skyook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Week 4 – November 26th, 2012

1. Memphis Grizzlies | 9-2 | Last week: 1

The Grizz ever so slightly edge the Spurs to keep the top spot this week. Though they only had 2 games last week, they beat the Lakers impressively and lost to a hot Nuggets team. Now they have the likes of the Cavs, Raptors and Pistons (a combined 9-32) coming to town.

2. San Antonio Spurs | 11-3 | Last week: 2

Even with injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson, Spurs still look like a completely well-oiled machine. Tim Duncan just won the Western Conference Player of the Week and while it’s well deserved, he should have split it with his teammate Tony Parker, who’s been just as ridiculous.

3. Miami Heat | 10-3 | Last week: 5

The Heat make their current 4-game win streak look like a cake walk. Home games against the Spurs and Nets this week will provide a test. They lead the league in scoring (104.8), but is something up with D-Wade (18.1 pts on near-career low 15.1 FGA’s per game)?

4. New York Knicks | 9-3 | Last week: 3

The losses to the Mavs and Rockets were ugly, giving up 114 and 131 points respectively. Even giving up 100 to the Pistons was questionable. The Knicks “dream season” won’t continue with that kind of D, especially after they just got done gushing about Melo’s new found defensive presence.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder | 10-4 | Last week: 6

Big wins over the Clippers and Sixers last week get the Thunder to a very quiet 10-4. I don’t think enough has been made about Serge Ibaka’s consistent scoring improvement. He’s coming in at 15.1 points per game, way up from his 2011-12 average of 9.1 and career average of 8.9.

6. Los Angeles Clippers | 8-5 | Last week: 4

After a nice win in San Antonio, the Clips blew up with road losses to the Thunder, Nets and Hawks. As the team gets healthier, the questions are starting to get more serious about where all the minutes are going to go. Can Vinny D figure out a reliable rotation? Time will tell.

7. Brooklyn Nets | 8-4 | Last week: 8

In the wake of their showdown with the Knicks, it looks like the Nets are about about this defense thing, now leading the league in Points Against. They are playing well, but the Deron Williams (.399%) and Joe Johnson (.402%) shooting struggles still concern me.

8. Denver Nuggets | 8-6 | Last week: 11

The absolute streakiest team in the league. The Nugs season looks like this: 3 L’s, 4 W’s, 3 L’s and now 4 W’s again. They get a bump up with a 4-0 week, all against West foes. Though he’s only averaging 18.9 minutes per game, JaVale McGee has a surprising PER of 23.5.

9. Atlanta Hawks | 8-4 | Last week: 18

What a week for Hot-lanta Hawks! A 4-0 week and 5 straight wins overall give them the biggest rise of the week, from #18 up to #9. What’s not to love about Jeff Teague running the show right now? 13.8 points, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals with very nice percentages (48 FG%, 42 3PT%, 91 FT%).

10. Los Angeles Lakers | 7-7 | Last week: 10

I’m fine with them dropping one in Memphis, but the Kings loss was completely unacceptable. Antawn Jamison is showing some signs of life under D’Antoni, exactly the kind of punch that the Lake Show needs. Looks like Nash is still a couple of weeks away from returning.

11. Boston Celtics | 8-6 | Last week: 9

This is an extremely hard team to figure out. One night, they look like East contenders, the next night they look Lottery bound. The Celtics/Nets divisional battle should be real nice on Wednesday. With the Nets D, can they keep Rondo in check and stop his assist streak?

12. Milwaukee Bucks | 6-5 | Last week: 7

After I give the mad props in last weeks’ Rankings, the Bucks go put up a stinking 0-3 week. Maybe Skiles will give John Henson more run after his 17 point, 18 rebound outburst against the Heat? In the same minutes, how is Udrih (1.0) averaging more blocks than Dalembert (0.2)?

13. Philadelphia 76ers | 8-6 | Last week: 13

Now Andrew Bynum is out “indefinitely,” whatever that means, to which the rowdy Philly fans have already lost their cool with Bynum. Jrue Holiday is earning every single penny of that contract, as evidenced in his most recent outing of 33 points and 13 assists in a win over the Suns.

14. Chicago Bulls | 6-6 | Last week: 14

The Bulls were very out of sorts allowing a handful of 100 point games to only mediocre opponents. When Nate Robinson is leading your bench squad, that has to be concerning. Very weak second unit right now.

15. Utah Jazz | 7-7 | Last week: 15

The Jazz splits trend continues. Now 5-0 at home, while 2-7 on the road. They have to get more of these away games to have a playoff shot in the West. A positive for this team however, is their balance. Favors is 0.1 point away from being the 7th guy averaging double figures.

16. Golden State Warriors | 8-6 | Last week: 17

Really nice 3-1 week for the Warriors, knocking off the Mavs, Nets and Wolves. While Klay Thompson’s PER (9.6) is alarmingly low, his shooting percentage is slowly starting to get better. 23 (10-19), 16 (6-12) and 24 (8-17) in his last 3 games.

17. Dallas Mavericks | 7-7 | Last week: 12

A .500 record at this point is acceptable, but Mavs will be tested heavily with 11 of their next 15 games on the road. It might be time to start giving Jae Crowder more than 19 minutes per game. One would have to consider O.J. Mayo an All-Star at this point right?

18. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-5 | Last week: 22

The Bobs are still floating on Cloud Nine after going 3-1 last week. Interesting to note that they are 2-0 in overtime games this year. Ramon Sessions is quietly  sticking his nose in the 6th Man competition. Very respectable averages in just under 30 minutes and plays in crunch time.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves | 5-7 | Last week: 16

After going 0-3 last week, it’s so so great to see Kevin Love out there again. Arguably a Top 10 player in the league. It’s only 3 games, but the 24.3 points and 14.0 rebounds averages are beautiful. Now the wins need to come, but the team can’t blame him.

20. Portland Trail Blazers | 6-7 | Last week: 20

While 6-7 isn’t the most impressive, the Blazers sure have a nice young core forming. Aldridge, Batum, Lillard and Matthews all averaging over 17 points per game. And their 5th starter, J.J. Hickson is no sloutch averaging a double double.

21. Houston Rockets | 6-7 | Last week: 21

Thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin McHale and his family after an absolute tragedy. On the basketball side, I wonder how much fun Jeremy Lin had in the Rockets hanging 131 points on his former Knick teammates.

22. Indiana Pacers | 6-8 | Last week: 19

No matter how disappointing Roy Hibbert has been, 11 blocked shots (and the Pacers first triple double since 2003) is uber impressive. We’ll see where the Pacers stand after going out on the West Coast to face most of the Pacific division this week.

23. Phoenix Suns | 6-8 | Last week: 23

The fortunate Suns get to start their road trip off this week with the fantastic Cavs, Pistons, Raptors trio. The defense has been horrid, dead last in the league, allowing 103.3 points per game. Jermaine O’Neal is a bit of a feel-good story right about now.

24. Orlando Magic | 5-8 | Last week: 25

With the Spurs, Nets and Lakers on the schedule next, the Magic might be in for a rough week ahead. Maybe I’m setting the bar too high, but shouldn’t Big Baby Davis be shooting better than .418% from the field? More Moe Harkless and more Andrew Nicholson!

25. New Orleans Hornets | 3-9 | Last week: 24

Mostly without Anthony Davis, the poor Hornets have dropped 7 straight games, allowing over 100 points in all of them. With Ryan Anderson’s shooting performance against the Suns (8 for 13 from behind the arc), he has taken over the team scoring lead at over 17 per game.

26. Toronto Raptors | 3-11 | Last week: 26

Is there a team (save for the Wizards) that loses games as brutally as the Raps. The ref-blown game in Charlotte by 1 point, a last second layup the next and then a double OT loss to the tough Spurs at home. Bargnani’s inconsistency is getting very tiring.

27. Sacramento Kings | 4-9 | Last week: 28

The Raps record may be worse, but on a neutral court, I’m taking them over this Kings team. Thomas Robinson is only getting 15 minutes a game and has not made the impact most thought he would. Too early to file him under the “bust” category, given his draft position?

28. Cleveland Cavaliers | 3-10 | Last week: 27

The Irving-less Cavs are pretty dreadful, but Andy Varejao continues to ball out of control and could end up with the rebounding title this season. When are the Cavs going to get anything from C.J. Miles? He’s having a horrible time so far in Cleveland, shooting 29% overall.

29. Detroit Pistons | 3-11 | Last week: 29

At least Lawrence Frank has this team competing on a more regular basis after the horrible start. Is anyone else in the “How the heck has Tayshaun Prince stayed a Piston for this long?” camp? Maybe this will be the year he gets moved, for both their sakes.

30. Washington Wizards | 0-11 | Last week: 30

Give the Wizards credit for their creativity, as they are finding new ways to lose all the time. This week included two overtime games, one of which featured a failed last second tip in from Martell Webster that was waived off at the buzzer. Welcome to Washington.

November 21, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) celebrates a game winning three with small forward Josh Smith (5) in overtime against the Washington Wizards at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 101-100 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Editor’s note: My apologies, as we were hit with some technical difficulties, thus you’re seeing a quick, abbreviated version of Box Score Bulletin’. Major stats and one-liners only. Back on Saturday with Friday night’s games.

Raptors (3-9) 97 @ Bobcats (6-4) 98

• Leading scorers: TOR – Andrea Bargnani 25, CHA - Kemba Walker 19.
• Leading rebounds: TOR – Jonas Valanciunas 10, CHA – Byron Mullens, Bismack Biyombo 8.
• Leading assists: TOR – Kyle Lowry 8, CHA – Kemba Walker 7.
• Jonas Valanciunas finally got some big minutes (35), played in the 4th quarter and produced another double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Pistons (2-10) 74 @ Magic (4-7) 90

• Leading scorers: DET – Greg Monroe 19, ORL – Andrew Nicholson 15.
• Leading rebounds: DET – Greg Monroe, Tayshaun Prince 8, ORL – Glen Davis 14.
• Leading assists: DET – Brandon Knight 5, ORL – Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick 7.
• J.J. Redick’s assists numbers have been excellent this season. So far, he’s averaging 5.2 assists on the year.

76ers (7-5) 83 @ Cavaliers (3-8) 92

• Leading scorers: PHI – Jrue Holiday, Jason Richardson 16, CLE – Jeremy Pargo 28.
• Leading rebounds: PHI -  Thaddeus Young 11, CLE – Anderson Varejao 19.
• Leading assists: PHI – Evan Turner 7, CLE – Dion Waiters 6.
• Ummmm… Jeremy Pargo, WTF?!?

Hornets (3-7) 107 @ Pacers (6-7) 115 – OT

• Leading scorers: NOH – Robin Lopez 21, IND – Paul George 37.
• Leading rebounds: NOH – Robin Lopez 13, IND – Roy Hibbert 11.
• Leading assists: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 8, IND – George Hill 7.
• All Roy Hibbert did was record the team’s first triple double since 2003. 11 blocked shots!?! Of course he sat on my fantasy bench.

Spurs (9-3) 112 @ Celtics (6-6) 100

• Leading scorers: SAN – Tony Parker 26, BOS – Rajon Rondo 22.
• Leading rebounds: SAN – Tim Duncan 15, BOS – Jared Sullinger 7.
• Leading assists: SAN – Tony Parker 6, BOS – Rajon Rondo 15.
• Rajon Rondo easily extends his double digit assist streak to 35 games.

Wizards (0-10) 100 @ Hawks (6-4) 101 – OT

• Leading scorers: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 21, ATL – Josh Smith 25.
• Leading rebounds: WAS – Trevor Ariza 15, ATL – Josh Smith 12.
• Leading assists: WAS – A.J. Price 7, ATL – Al Horford 10.
• Josh Smith finally steps up with a 25 and 12 as the Hawks narrowly escape.

Bucks (6-4) 106 @  Heat (9-3) 113 - OT

• Leading scorers: MIL – Brandon Jennings 19, MIA – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade 28.
• Leading rebounds: MIL – John Henson 18, MIA – Chris Bosh 18.
• Leading assists: MIL – Brandon Jennings 6, MIA – LeBron James 8.
• Wow. John Henson gets some major minutes and turns in a 17 point, 18 rebound performance.

Clippers (8-3) 111 @ Thunder (9-3) 117 – OT

• Leading scorers: LAC – Blake Griffin 23, OKC – Kevin Durant 35.
• Leading rebounds: LAC – DeAndre Jordan 10, OKC – Serge Ibaka 12.
• Leading assists: LAC – Chris Paul 9, OKC – Russell Westbook 9.
• Durant, Westbook and Martin combined for 78 of the 117 points scored.

Bulls (5-6) 89 @ Rockets (5-7) 93

• Leading scorers: CHI – Nate Robinson 21, HOU – James Harden 28.
• Leading rebounds: CHI – Carlos Boozer 15, HOU – Chandler Parsons 13.
• Leading assists: CHI – Kirk Hinrich 6, HOU – James Harden, Jeremy Lin 3.
• Chandler Parsons has been underrated all season. He played another 40 minutes and put up 18 points (7-13 FG) and 13 rebounds.

Nuggets (6-6) 101 @ Timberwolves (5-5) 94

• Leading scorers: DEN – Danilo Gallinari 19, MIN – Kevin Love 34.
• Leading rebounds: DEN – Kenneth Faried 14, MIN – Kevin Love 14.
• Leading assists: DEN – Ty Lawson 9, MIN – Luke Ridnour 6.
• Kevin Love, welcome back! Returning two weeks early from his broken hand, love posted 34 points and 14 rebounds. How typical of him (also left on my fantasy bench… a bad night for my fantasy squads).

Knicks (8-2) 111 @ Mavericks (7-6) 114

• Leading scorers: NYK – Carmelo Anthony 23, DAL – O.J. Mayo 27.
• Leading rebounds: NYK – Tyson Chandler 13, DAL – Elton Brand 8.
• Leading assists: NYK – Raymond Felton 11, DAL – Darren Collison 7.
• The usually stingy Knicks gave up 114 points to the Mavs, including 13-27 from behind the arc and 49.4% shooting overall.

Trail Blazers (5-6) 87 @ Suns (5-7) 114

• Leading scorers: POR – Damian Lillard 24, PHX – Marcin Gortat 22.
• Leading rebounds: POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 7, PHX – Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris 7.
• Leading assists: POR – Nicolas Batum 4, PHX – Goran Dragic 8.
• The Suns shot an incredible 59.7% (46-77 FG) from the floor in pounding the Blazers by 27.

Lakers (6-6) 97 @ Kings (3-8) 113

• Leading scorers: LAL – Kobe Bryant 38, SAC – Marcus Thornton 23.
• Leading rebounds: LAL – Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 9, SAC – Jason Thompson 10.
• Leading assists: LAL – Pau Gasol 4, SAC – Tyreke Evans 6.
• I know nobody wants to hear it, but Kobe Bryant really should be getting MVP consideration. 38 points on 11-20 shooting, including 5-9 from three and 11-13 from the line.

Nets (6-4) 93 @ Warriors (7-5) 102

• Leading scorers: BKN – Brook Lopez 22, GSW – Stephen Curry 25.
• Leading rebounds: BKN – Andray Blatche 7, GSW – David Lee 13.
• Leading assists: BKN – Deron Williams 8, GSW – Jarrett Jack 9.
• Steph Curry and Klay Thompson finally shot the ball a bit better together in this one, combining to go 17-32 from the field.

Oct 18, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Hornets small forward Darius Miller (2) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks power forward Al Horford (15) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Hornets (3-2) 68 @ Hawks (2-3) 97

• Leading scorers: NOH – Anthony Davis 19, ATL – Josh Smith 16.
• Ugly game for the Hornets here, where they shoot 32.9% (23-70) from the field and give up 48 points in the paint.
• Anthony Davis led the team with his 36 minutes, 19 points and 7 rebounds but where are all the blocked shots? 0 in this game.
• Of the 11 players that played in the game for Atlanta, only 2 of them did NOT have a 3-point attempt (Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford). The Hawks took 30 overall, draining 9 of them.
• Josh Smith led the way with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Horford posted a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Pistons (2-3) 78 @ Heat (2-2) 105

• Leading scorers: DET – Greg Monroe 15, MIA – Dwyane Wade 21.
• The Pistons (with one of the larger preseason rosters in the league right now) had 16 different players play in this game.
• They also missed 18 of their first 22 shots and went 2-16 overall from behind the arc.
• Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey combined for 12 points (5-16 shooting), 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Prince played 23 minutes and Stuckey 27.
• LeBron James and Dwyane Wade dished out 13 of the team’s 24 assists.

Grizzlies (3-2) 97 @ Bucks (2-2) 94

• Leading scorers: MEM – Mike Conley Jr., Rudy Gay 20, MIL – Monta Ellis 20.
• All 5 Grizzlies starters scored in double figures (Gay 20, Conley 20, Speights 16, Ellington 10, Jordan 10).
• Leading scorers Gay and Conley were a perfect 21 for 21 from the free throw line (Grizz were 23-25 (92%) overall).
• In scoring 19 points, all of Brandon Jennings field goals were threes (5-6).

Celtics (2-4) 115 @ Nets (3-1) 85

• Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce, Courtney Lee 18, BKN – Brook Lopez 14.
• ALL 10 starters in this game scored in double figures.
• The Celtics were hot, shooting 56.5% (48-85 FG) overall and 11-19 (57.9%) from 3-point range. Pierce and Terry were a combined 9-9.
• Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, the Nets wildly expensive backcourt tandem, combined to shoot 6-22 from the floor.
• ZERO Brooklyn Nets had a + rating in this game. Josh Childress was as high as -4 and Mirza Teletovic as low as -20.

Oct 10, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Derrick Brown (1) during the first half at the AT

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Thunder (0-1) 105 @ Rockets (1-0) 107

• I can’t lie, when I saw Hasheem Thabeet’s 10 points in this game, I felt obliged to double check his career high, convinced that this was either it or very close. Sure enough, Hasheem Thabeet (one of the biggest busts in NBA Draft history), had amassed 10 points 3 other times in his career. Impressive? Not at all, for a former #2 pick. And we thought Darko was bad.
• On the flip side, if the Thunder are hoping for a breakout candidate this season, they may want to invest more time on the underused (44 games for 7.2 minutes in 2 seasons) Cole Aldrich. In this game, Aldrich posted a double double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• On the Rockets side, there were a couple of very solid rookie debuts. Terrence Jones let the team in scoring with 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds while Jeremy Lamb had 12 points and 8 rebounds.
• The Rocket re-birth of Linsanity was fairly uneventful. Lin had 3 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in 20 minutes.
• Kevin Martin was in midseason form, dropping 11 points in only 9 minutes. With this young roster, am I crazy to think Kevin Martin could make a run at the scoring title this season?

Pacers (0-1) 70 @ Timberwolves (1-0) 84

• 70 points for the Pacers? Oh yeah, they shot 34.8% from the field (23-66).
• No stat here, but did you know that Tyler and Ben Hansbrough are both on the Pacers roster? Well, you learn something every day.
• Paul George led Indiana in scoring with 16 points. The next highest? D.J. Augustin, Ian Mahinmi and Sam Young with 6 each.
• Brandon Roy’s much anticipated return to action resulted in 13 points and 4 assists in 24 minutes. X-Factor, I’m telling you.

Raptors (1-1) 99 @ Pistons (1-0) 101

• It was referred to by many here in Toronto today that it was Jonas Valanciunas day, as he made his debut against the Pistons. The verdict: 2 points and 2 blocks in 13 minutes.
• The Raptors interior defense clearly needs work. They were outscored in the paint 60-24.
• With no Kyle Lowry for the second preseason game, John Lucas went back to work again, dropping 16 points and 5 assists as a big spark off the bench. Through the first two games, he’s averaging 16.0 points on 13-22 (59%) shooting.
• The Pistons were 0-13 from behind the arc.
• This young center combination of Greg Monroe and rookie Andre Drummond could impress. Together they had 29 points (13-24 FG) and 17 rebounds (Drummond’s debut specifically was 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 23 minutes).
• Brandon Knight was solid, posting 14 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Look for this kid to take a quick step forward.

Hawks (1-1) 99 @ Spurs (2-0) 101

• You can shake your head all you want, but yes, Eddy Curry STARTED for the Spurs and had 11 points and 8 rebounds in 25 minutes.
• Who the heck is Nando de Colo? A guy that had 11 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. Also the guy that hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left in the game. Likely another Spurs gem that will make us all look silly in a couple of years.
• Both teams shot exactly 8-18 (44.4%) from 3-point range.
• Josh Smith had a very diverse 13 minutes with 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block 2 turnovers and 3 personal fouls.
• Atlanta outscored San Antonio 21-6 on fast break points.

Suns (0-1) 96 @ Kings (1-0) 102

• Michael Beasley had a solid debut with the Suns, posting 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes.
• Oh hey Jermaine O’Neal, didn’t see you there with your 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks and -15 rating.
• New Kings addition James Johnson produced 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and a +16 rating.
• Lottery pick Thomas Robinson’s debut: 29 minutes, 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.
• DeMarcus Cousins (led the team with 21) got the line 13 times in this game.

Trail Blazers (1-0) 93 @ Lakers (0-2) 75

• The big story of this game was the Blazers big time rookies. In beating the Lakers, Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard combined for 24 points (10-15 FG), 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Pau Gasol had a rough night shooting, going 3-12 from the field.
• Gonzaga rookie Robert Sacre started at center and ended up with 8 points, 3 rebounds and a block in 21 minutes of action.
• While Kobe and Dwight registered DNP’s, Steve Nash’s Laker debut included 13 points (6-9 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

May 6, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (5) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen (20) in the first quarter of game four in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Josh Smith
Resume: 18.8 points (career best), 9.6 rebounds (career best), 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.7 blocks (9th in league), 35.3 minutes, 46% FG, and 63% FT… Team record in games played: 40-26… Playoffs: 16.8 points (career best), 13.6 (career best), 4.8 assists (career best), 39% FG, 76% FT, 2-3 record (0-1 without)

Some player’s careers are just interesting. It doesn’t matter whether you like them or not, you just can’t help but be intrigued by how exactly everything has went down. Of course I’m going to be fascinated by a guy whose nickname is J-Smoove, was on the same high school team as Rajon Rondo and once a part of an AAU “Big 3” along with Dwight Howard and Randolph Morris. In the extremely odd case that you were wondering where Randolph Morris is right now, he’s playing in China for the Beijing Ducks. You’re welcome for saving you the trip to Wikipedia. Anyhow, Josh Smith is 28^th on this list, and just like most of the players I’ve ranked so far, and many more to come, I had a little bit of trouble with this one.

Smith has the unfortunate luck of playing for one of the most unenthusiastic home crowds in the NBA. The home crowd at Philips Arena couldn’t care less that Smith is the most exciting Hawk since Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb were lighting up The Omni in the mid/late-eighties. While this doesn’t seem like a significant point to make when you are ranking the Top 50 players in the NBA, it is when you are talking about Josh Smith. Remember, Smith isn’t exactly locked into the notion of being a Hawk forever. He’s listed his desired trade destinations in the past, and did everything short of trying to seduce the Celtics fans after the Hawks got beat by Boston in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Smith is a bit of a smelly homeless-man’s LeBron James, in that athletically he is superior to a good portion of guys in the league. Ideally, Smith should play for a home crowd that would rise go bananas every time he rose up to catch an alley-oop on a fast break, or whenever he flies over from the weak side to swat a shot into the third row. Instead he’s stuck playing about 60 road games a year since a good portion of his home games end up seeming like road games since the Hawks fans in attendance more often than not are in a lackadaisical state. He makes at least three plays a game that should get everyone in Atlanta out of their seats and screaming their heads off. I know that watching from my couch at least three times every Hawks game I shake my head and say something like “Holy crap that was ridiculous!” because Smith did something that normal human beings just don’t do. At the same time, I, and every single Hawk fan as well, will shake our heads at least three times a game and say “Holy crap, what was Josh Smith thinking?”

Right there lies the problem with Josh Smith. The fact that he still hasn’t figured out that the audible gasps that the crowd lets out every time he gets ready to take a jump shot should indicate that he isn’t a jump shooter is a problem. The fact that he seems to save his boneheaded plays for the worst possible time in the game is a problem. Unbiased NBA fans have to be thinking, “Damn, why can’t Josh Smith just put it all together?” That question is warranted, especially when you look at how great he played in the season long absence of Al Horford. It wasn’t Joe Johnson stepping up for Atlanta, even though he is making the money of someone who should be “the man.” It was Smith who put up career best scoring and rebounding numbers, shouldering the burden for Atlanta down low. Just so you know, outside of Horford and Smith, the Hawks interior players are Zaza Pachulia, Ivan Johnson, Erick Dampier (who by the way has the worst offensive repertoire in the NBA. I’ve seen him warm up in Miami, and he can’t make a shot outside of 8 feet. It’s uncanny), Vladmir Radmanovic, and Jason Collins. J-Smoove deserves at least one of those 1^st place ribbons from the dollar store for dealing with that group of duds. I give an incredible amount of credit to Josh Smith for keeping the Hawks in the playoff picture last year. That was the first time I’ve seen serious progression in the maturation of Josh Smith. The next step in that progression is to eliminate all of those “Holy crap, what was Josh Smith thinking?” moments. It’s a big step, but hopefully for Smith, and true NBA fans, he can make it.

May 6, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) drives the ball to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter of game four in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Al Horford
Resume: 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 31.6 minutes, 55% FG, and 73% FT… Team record in games played: 7-4 (33-22 without)… Playoffs: 15.3 points (career best), 8.3 rebounds, 59% FG (career best), 75% FT, 1-2 record (1-2 without)

Al Horford is yet another guy that is so tough to rank because of a season cut short by an injury. Horford played in the first 11 games of the season for the Hawks, and then missed the next 3 and a half months due to a torn left pectoral. Umm, ouch. Atlanta wasn’t a title contender to begin with, but there was a whole bunch of warranted Atlanta’s screwed without Horford talk going on after the injury.

Since Al Horford’s days as a Florida Gator he’s always been a little underappreciated and unnoticed. Joakim Noah was the loud and outlandish one; the one who was responsible for creating one of the all-time great/awkward moments in college basketball history. Corey Brewer was the lockdown perimeter defender; the one who gave Arron Afflalo nightmares two straight years in the tournament. Lee Humphrey was the lights out shooter; the one who actually ripped the net off the rim when he buried a three against Oregon. Taurean Green was the leader in scoring and assists in 2^nd championship season; he was the one who ran the show. What is Al Horford known for?

How about for being the one who held Greg Oden to 7 points in his time guarding him in the 2007 National Championship game? Or for being the best NBA prospect of the Gators, getting picked 3^rd behind Oden and this other guy named Kevin Durant, who really hasn’t amounted to much since college. For about four years he’s been the “glue guy” on the Atlanta Hawks. Nobody ever really realized that until he got hurt. It’s kind of like how after an actor or music artist dies the public’s view of that person’s legacy shoots through the roof. As unfortunate as that sounds, it takes something like that for us to start to realize how significant they were. Hawks coach Larry Drew gave that sentiment legs to stand on after he said of Horford, “The talent is huge, but the leadership and the presence, he’s the glue for us.” Buzzwords like leadership and presence are the essence of this list. And how can’t you love players who are described as glue guys? Glue guys are the kind of guys I want to go to war with.

One more thing; there is something about these Gator boys that attracts incredibly sexy women. I gave a lot of credit to David Lee a couple of weeks ago for having such a hot girlfriend, but Al Horford took it to another level by marrying 2003 Miss Universe Amelia Vega. Al Horford wins. It’s all over. I knew there was a reason why I’m a Gator fan.

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  Jan. 2, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) is fouled by Miami Heat center Joel Anthony (50) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

  AL HORFORD, C, Atlanta Hawks
  Last season: 31.6 MPG, 12.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 19.02 PER
  When he’s on the floor, Al Horford is one of the more efficient, well-rounded centers in the Eastern Conference and has made a couple of All-Star appearances as proof. However, reader Wesley Morton once pointed out that ”it’s unfair to compare him to centers.” Really? Should we compare him to point guards then? Regardless of that nonsense, Horford is considered an above-average center and will continue to perform consistently as long as he plays in the majority of the Hawks games. Given the roster was completely turned upside down in the offseason, it’s hard to pinpoint any of the new guys (could make a small case for Lou Williams) to be X-Factors. With Horford’s presence, the team at least has a chance as a postseason run, without him, they are in the lottery. We’ve been down the Zaza path before, it’s bleek.

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  June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky), right, is introduced as the number two overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats by NBA commissioner David Stern during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

  MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST, SF, Charlotte Bobcats
  Last season (at Kentucky, 40 games): 31.1 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG
  Surely the Bobcats won’t break NBA history once again and duplicate their .106 winning percentage from last season. I like that they did add some veterans in Haywood, Gordon and Sessions to blend with the insanely young roster of a year ago. That should make them better, albeit only slightly. With those three ultimately being of the role player variety, the true improvement of this team, now and long term, rests on the shoulders of their #2 overall pick, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Expectations will be high, but given MKG’s versatile skill set and relentless hustle, he should keep the Bobcats in a few more games this year and will certainly make them more bearable to watch, perhaps even exciting. Time will tell if this is Michael Jordan’s smartest decision yet, though it looks like it before the season tips off.

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  July 11 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat player Ray Allen (34), center, hold up his jersey next to president Pat Riley (left), and head coach Erik Spoelstra (right) during a press conference during a press conference at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

  RAY ALLEN, SG, Miami Heat
  Last season: 34.0 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 14.83 PER
  We all know exactly what the NBA Champion Miami Heat are… juggernauts. The team hardly needing fixing and is basically unchanged from last year, other than adding a couple of former teammates (on the cheap) named Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, you might have heard of them. Of course LeBron, Wade and Bosh are the focal points and will get theirs. Allen is the true X-Factor and with him, the Heat addressed one of the areas that they’re generally slammed for, their outside shooting. Who knows how far back the broken Mike Miller comes back and if he’ll be able to contribute at all? Even though Ray is well past his peek, the open looks he’ll get with the playmaking and command drawn by the “Big Three” (man I hate using that) makes them even more dangerous, if that’s even possible.

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  Oct 14, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon (10) is defended by Denver Nuggets guard Aaron Afflalo (6) at the Staples Center. The Nuggets defeated the Clippers 100-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

  AARON AFFLALO, SG, Orlando Magic
  Last season: 33.6 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 14.76 PER
  With the way the Magic’s roster has changed over the past couple of months, you could literally pick an “X-Factor” out of a hat. This franchise will be in trouble this year. Big Baby Davis needs to come into camp in shape, Jameer needs to play steady, Reddick needs to step forward and of course, you never know what to expect from Hedo. That’s why I think the real star of this team needs to be Aaron Afflalo. Already a terrific defender, Afflalo’s offense has gotten progressively better in each of his first five seasons, with his point totals looking like this: 3.7, 4.9, 8.8, 12.6 and 15.2. Based on that trend, he should make another leap this year. He did get a pretty generous contact in Denver, but he has a chance to prove that he’s worth even more this year as the potential face of the new-look Magic franchise and launch himself into the conversation of the premier guards in the East. He’ll certainly get to know them up close and personally when he’s in their face every night.

• 

  January 13, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor (right) drives in against Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (left) during the second quarter of a game at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

  EMEKA OKAFOR, C, Washington Wizards
  Last season: 28.9 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 15.13 PER (27 games)
  True story: I lost $500 on this game last season when the Washington Wizards decided to put up one of the most prolific shooting barrages the NBA has ever seen while visiting Portland. I watched, I almost cried, I could barely breathe. My point is, that was the ’11-12 Wizards, a careless, zero expectations crew that could string together a ridiculously lucky offensive performance every few weeks. This season, they NEED defense. I’ve encountered people of the opinion that the Wiz are a potential sleeper and have a shot at snagging a bottom playoff seed. To do that, they need a full, consistent season from Emeka Okafor. Yes, Nene absolutely has to play the same way, as well as the young fellas that make up the bench in Booker, Seraphin and Vesely. But Okafor must revisit the Charlotte Bobcats version of himself and get back near that double double player he once was. Although if Wiz are terrible again, no one will be shocked.

Apr 22, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Joe Johnson (2) pulls up for a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

The Hawks agreed in principle earlier Monday to trade Johnson and his albatross of a salary to the Brooklyn Nets.  In return, Brooklyn will send the expiring contracts of Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro and a future first-round pick to Atlanta, as well as completing a sign and trade for Deshawn Stevenson.  Originally, the deal was contingent on Deron Williams accepting the Nets’ max contract offer and be paired in the Brooklyn backcourt with Johnson, but sources have confirmed the trade has been submitted to the league for approval without any promise from the league’s top free agent.

The goal for the Hawks is clear – regain cap flexibility and, in turn, opportunities to overhaul a roster that topped out as just below the Eastern Conference’s elite.  Until now, Johnson’s contract was considered untradeable despite his undeniable talents as an oversized shooter and scorer.  With his cap number off the books, the Hawks are free to build more creatively around the younger triumvirate of Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Jeff Teague.  With a deal to trade Marvin Williams forthcoming, too, Ferry has given his roster elasticity previously deemed untenable.  Impressive for a GM most thought a typically easy and middling hire by Atlanta.

For Brooklyn, the end-game is just as obvious if not quite as practical or functional.  They’ve been looking for a star to play alongside Williams since acquiring him at the 2011 trade deadline, as much to ensure he re-signs this offseason as they enjoy on-court success.  The Nets could get both in this scenario, as Johnson is a nice fit next to Williams on the Brooklyn perimeter and Gerald Wallace remains a versatile and valuable performer on both ends despite his age and recently signed contract.  With youngsters Brook Lopez and MarShon Brooks in the fold, too, Brooklyn suddenly boasts an impressive quintet that should enjoy some sustained success – as long as Williams re-signs, that is.  What level of such remains to be seen, but it seems a team led by Williams and Johnson will be this franchise’s best since Jason Kidd wore a Nets uniform a decade ago, something of great importance to owner Mikhail Prokhorov. This takes the Nets out of the running for Dwight Howard, but given cap constraints and an underwhelming stable of assets compared to those offered by teams like Houston and Golden State, they figured a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  Tough to fault them for that reasoning, even though there’s still no way to know just how good this Nets team can be.

Apr 13, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams (8) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nets defeated the Sixers 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Regardless, two organizations in totally different but similarly difficult situations changed their immediate and coming outlooks with the trade of Johnson.  If there’s a winner here, though, it’s Atlanta.  For all of Johnson’s talent, his contract puts any organization that employs him in a precarious situation if they aren’t winning as much as they’d like, and with no guarantee from Williams that he’ll join the franchise in moving to Brooklyn that’s definitely a possibility.  Even if Williams does re-sign, it’s still tough to imagine this group joining the likes of the Heat, Bulls, and Celtics, let alone usurping the tier below led by the Pacers.  The Hawks, meanwhile, will remain very competitive in the East’s bottom-half in the coming season, enter the 2013 off-season with tons of cap room and no doubt emerge as a frontrunner next year’s crop of elite free agents.  This is a great spot for Atlanta, with possibilities looming that haven’t in decades.  Those are more middling for Brooklyn even though they’re better today than yesterday, and that’s what matters most.

May 6, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague (0) drives the ball against Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) in the second quarter of game four in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. The Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks 101-79. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

When Rajon Rondo was suspended for Game 2, the Boston Celtics still found a way to win in Atlanta.  With Josh Smith out of the lineup for Game 3, the Hawks nearly returned the favor of getting a road win without their star player.  In the end, the Celtics held off the Hawks in overtime.  Al Horford found his way back to the court in Game 4 after a 4-month layoff, but his teammates were just as rusty as he was as the Celtics routed Atlanta.  With a game under his belt, Horford played a whopping 41 minutes, scored 19 points and pulled 11 rebounds, and led the Hawks to a Game 5 victory.

At last, we will our first official Game 6 of the postseason!

Keys for Atlanta

If not for Horford’s tremendous stop on Rajon Rondo during the final seconds of Game 5, The Hawks could have gone fishin’ by now.  To me, the turning point of Game 5 was Horford stepping up his defense in the 2^nd half.  It helped him get into a groove offensively, as well.  He did a good job on Brandon Bass, closing out on his 17-20 footers – a range of shots which he seemingly never misses and earns him the nickname “Bass-O-Matic.”  After shaking off the rust in Game 4, Horford reminded us why he is such an important piece to Atlanta on both ends of the court – whether he was hitting perimeter shots, or providing a defensive presence in the interior.

As encouraging as Horford’s comeback has been, Atlanta has several issues to address elsewhere.  In Game 5, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith were a combined 12-33 (36%) from the field and turned the ball over 8 times – in large part due to Rondo’s omnipresence on the Hawks’ passing lanes.  They managed to squeak by last time, but they MUST shoot better and take better care of the ball if the Hawks have any chance of forcing a Game 7.  Jeff Teague and Marvin Williams – who caught fire from beyond the arc in the 2^nd quarter to rally the Hawks back from an early deficit – must continue to make significant contributions, as well.

Keys for Boston

The Celtics nearly closed out the series on Tuesday night despite a mediocre performance from Paul Pierce (16 points on 7-17 FG), thanks to some pesky defense – especially from Rajon Rondo.  When Rondo is locked in defensively, he causes absolute havoc on the Hawks’ offense.  Johnson and Smith probably had nightmares of Rondo, who deflected several of their passes and had five steals in the game.  He even picked off Josh Smith’s inbound pass at the end of Game 5 to give the Celtics one last chance to finish off the series.

To finish off the Hawks, the Celtics must capitalize on being at home and muster the energy they usually do at the Boston Garden.  Avery Bradley  has done a good job harassing Joe Johnson, who has been quite shaky with the ball in this series.  Also, I think Doc Rivers’s priority should be to slow down Al Horford.  To do this, I think he will have Kevin Garnett match up against him.  If Pierce puts his imprint on the game early and if Garnett can slow down Al Horford, the Celtics should find a way to close out the series.

Prediction

Al Horford is only getting more comfortable since his return from injury, and will make it tough for Boston again.  But this time, I think Doc Rivers will make an adjustment and make Josh Smith be the one taking outside jump shots instead of Horford.  Atlanta has also had trouble getting consistent contributions from its role players on the road, which was a big reason why they got blown out in Game 4 in Boston.  Unless Johnson and Smith are fantastic, I think Boston will feed off their home crowd in Game 6 and advance to the Conference Semis.

Well, so much for Boston missing two of its best players.

In a playoff game without Ray Allen (ankle) and Rajon Rondo (served a one-game suspension), Paul Pierce and the Celtics found a way to put away the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2.  Other than Celtics enthusiast Scott Duhaime, I don’t’ think anybody else saw this coming.

In my Game 2 Preview, I mentioned that Pierce would have to go for 30+ if the Celtics were to win without two of their stars.  What I didn’t expect is that we would see retro Pierce, exploding for 36 points and 14 rebounds, and even pulling a Tim Tebow at mid-court during his 4^th quarter heroics for good measure.  The end result? Pierce carrying the Celtics to a victory.

How concerned should Atlanta be?

If Josh Smith’s knee injury is serious, I would say the Hawks are at a 9 out of 10 on the panic meter.   He is the clear-cut matchup advantage the Hawks have over Boston, and the biggest culprit behind their Game 1 victory.  Before his injury, he was having a decent game with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, and the Hawks were only down two at the time.

Beyond Smith, the Hawks had trouble getting into the same offensive groove they had in Game 1, thanks to a huge improvement in defensive intensity from the Celtics.  With the two stars – Smith and Joe Johnson – struggling with their shooting and going 15-38 from the floor, the lack of production from the bench proved to be a huge letdown for Atlanta.  Marvin Williams, in particular, contributed virtually nothing – scoring 3 points on 1-6 shooting in a very ineffective 21 minutes.  Considering the bench played so poorly despite being at home, asking them to step up their play in Boston is a tall order.

What to expect in Game 3

The Hawks squandered a great opportunity to take a 2-0 series lead prior to heading to Boston for Games 3 and 4 without Rondo and Allen on the floor.  Boston has been nearly unbeatable at home during the playoffs since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived in Boston in 2007-08, which epitomizes why the Hawks’ home court advantage was so crucial.  And thanks to their loss of Game 2, and potentially Josh Smith, losing home court may prove to be the crushing blow to their hopes of advancing.  Barring a miraculous healing of J-Smoove’s knee (we haven’t exactly seen such miracles in this year’s playoffs so far), Boston should win Game 3 in convincing fashion.

Mar 19, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) shoots the ball as Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague (0) and power forward Josh Smith (5) defend during the second half at Philips Arena. Boston won 79-76. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

What was the difference in Game 1?

The Hawks used their athleticism to their advantage from the get-go.  The star of the game, Josh Smith – who I still can’t understand why was left off the All-Star team this year – stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists and a block.  He also did a great job containing Kevin Garnett in the early going, as Garnett started off 1-9 from the field.  The Hawks’ unsung hero was Kirk Hinrich, who hit some early 3’s to help the Hawks jump out to an early lead.  Atlanta is heavily depleted in the front court without Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia, but Boston still does not have a distinct size advantage.  Both Paul Pierce (5-19) and Joe Johnson (3-15) struggled from the floor, resulting in a contest between both star players’ respective supporting casts.  In that scenario, all you can say is Advantage:  Hawks.

Most of the game was lopsided in Atlanta’s favor, but it got close after Boston rallied late all the way up to Rondo’s bumping of official Marc Davis that led to his ejection and eventual suspension.  In defense of Rondo, Davis did make two consecutive atrocious calls against Boston:  first, incorrectly giving the Hawks the ball when Josh Smith clearly hit it out-of-bounds, and then the foul call on the Celtics that directly led to Rondo’s outburst.  If not for those two bad calls, the Celtics may very well have succeeded in their comeback attempt.   Nonetheless, the Celtics will be without their star point guard in the next game at Atlanta.

What should we expect in Game 2?

Apr 29, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (5) scores a basket past Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) and power forward Brandon Bass (30) during the first half of game one in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

If Boston wants to steal a road win, Paul Pierce needs to come alive and score 30+ points – especially without Rondo on the floor.  He even admitted

that he “was a really big culprit” for losing Game 1.  We know Rondo will be absent, but it remains to be seen whether Celtics guard Ray Allen will play.  His ankle injury seems to be more serious than originally reported as he was expected back in the lineup before the playoffs began.  He said the injury is something he definitely needs to get surgery for in the offseason, and is only delaying the surgery to avoid being shelved for the playoffs.  As if it wasn’t predictable, Boston sure misses his three-point shooting; they were 0-11 from beyond the arc in Game 1.

As for Atlanta, they need to continue utilizing Smith’s superior athleticism against Boston’s slow and aging roster.  If they can jump out to an early lead the same way as they did in the opening minutes of Game 1, they should be in great shape.  Also, without Rondo on the floor being a pest on defense, things should really open up for Jeff Teague and Hinrich.  Given all the advantages Atlanta has, this is a must-win game for them.  And I expect that Larry Drew will convey that to his team.

In the end, the cards are stacked against Boston.  Playing without Allen is one thing, but winning without your multi-dimensional floor general is a much taller order.  Hawks should cruise to a 2-0 series lead.

And with the first round about ready to get underway, we’ve gathered our STS staff together for some predictions.

Anyone think one of the top teams are in trouble? Well let’s find out:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Bulls vs. #8 Pacers (more…)

Here’s a look at the first round dates and game times:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Chicago vs. #8 Indiana

Game 1 (CHI) – April 16, 1 PM ET, ESPN
Game 2 (CHI) – April 18, 9:30 PM ET, TNT
Game 3 (IND) – April 21, 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 4 (IND) – April 23, 2:30 PM ET, TNT
Game 5 (CHI) – April 26, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 (IND) – April 28, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 (CHI) – April 30, TBD (if necessary) (more…)