SB Nation Atlanta - Bobcats Vs. Hawks: Josh Smith Leads Atlanta To 111-81 Win Over Charlottehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2012-01-12T22:01:44-05:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24659412012-01-12T22:01:44-05:002012-01-12T22:01:44-05:00Bobcats Vs. Hawks Final Score: Atlanta Rolls Blows Out Charlotte 111-81
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> got a much needed win by blowing out the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a> 111-81 to open a four game homestand. Atlanta got some unfortunate news before the game when they learned that they would be without center Al Horford for likely the remainder of the season after he was diagnosed with a torn pectoral muscle. </p>
<p>Even without Horford, Atlanta came out with a spirited effort against the Bobcats. The Hawks took a 57-47 lead into halftime and blew the game wide open in the second half behind the play of Josh Smith. Smith finished with a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds. Smith hit 14-22 shots and also handed out four assists in the game. </p>
<p>Joe Johnson scored 13 of his 23 points in the first quarter while matched against Charlotte's <span>Tyrus Thomas</span>. Johnson also added seven rebounds and dished out a team-high eight assists. Jeff Teague added 16 points and seven assists and Ivan Johnson came off the bench to add 12 points and seven boards. </p>
<p><span>Byron Mullens</span> made his first career start for the Bobcats and finished with a career-high 21 points. <span>Gerald Henderson</span> chipped in 16 and Tyrus Thomas nine for Charlotte. <span>Boris Diaw</span> was held scoreless in the game going 0-3 from the field in 20 minutes of action. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game, Hawks fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Peachtree Hoops</a> and Bobcats fans should stop by <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/">Rufus On Fire</a>. For more NBA news and analysis head on over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>.</i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2703698/bobcats-vs-hawks-final-score-atlanta-rolls-blows-out-charlotte-111-81Kris Willis2012-01-12T20:44:30-05:002012-01-12T20:44:30-05:00Bobcats Vs. Hawks Score: Atlanta Jumps Out To 57-47 Halftime Lead
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> got big first halves from <span>Josh Smith</span> and <span>Joe Johnson</span> to race out to a 57-47 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a> at halftime. The Hawks are playing their first game since it was announced that <span>Al Horford</span> would miss 3-4 months with a torn pectoral muscle. </p>
<p>The Bobcats hung tough for much of the first half before a late Hawks surge extended the lead to 10 points. Josh Smith leads the way with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Joe Johnson scored 13 of his 15 points in the first quarter. Johnson also has two rebounds and four assists and exploited Paul Silas' decision to have <span>Tyrus Thomas</span> matched up with him. </p>
<p><span>Byron Mullens</span> got his first start for the Bobcats in the game and leads Charlotte with 12 points. Tyrus Thomas has nine points and <span>Gerald Henderson</span> eight for the Bobcats. </p>
<p>Charlotte actually out shot Atlanta in the first half 51 percent to 47 percent. Atlanta took advantage of a 26-16 rebounding advantage in the first half including a 11-2 advantage on the offensive glass. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game, Hawks fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Peachtree Hoops</a> and Bobcats fans should stop by <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/">Rufus On Fire</a>. For more NBA news and analysis head on over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>.</i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2703615/bobcats-vs-hawks-2012-scoreKris Willis2012-01-12T15:20:11-05:002012-01-12T15:20:11-05:00Al Horford Injury: Hawks Star Out For Months, According To Reports
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<p>According to several reports, <span>Al Horford's</span> season may over after only 11 games:</p>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a> center Al Horford expected to be out 3-4 months with torn left pectoral muscle, source tells Yahoo! Sports.</div>
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<p>The Hawks All-Star suffered what was initially thought to be a shoulder injury in Atlanta's loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a> Wednesday night, and a 3-4 month timetable would mean any possible return this season would come in the first or second round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>The loss of the 6'10 240 post player is devastating for the Hawks chances of advancing past the second round after three straight defeats, as his only backups are veteran retreads <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> and <span>Jason Collins</span>. </p>
<p>Not only will losing Horford's rebounding and jump-shooting from the center position dramatically hurt Atlanta's playoff seeding, but if he returns during the playoffs, he would likely need 2-3 weeks the Hawks don't have to get his feet back under him.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2702896/al-horford-injury-hawks-star-out-for-months-according-to-reportsJonathan Tjarks2012-01-12T12:54:12-05:002012-01-12T12:54:12-05:00Al Horford Injury Update: Shoulder Could Cost Hawks All-Star A Month
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<p>While the full extent of the shoulder injury suffered by <span>Al Horford</span> in the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> 96-84 loss to the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> hasn't been revealed, Royce Young at CBS Sports.com is<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/34335108"> speculating that it's serious enough to cost him a significant chunk of the season</a>:</p>
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<p><a style="color: #6e8dcf; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; background-color: #f3f3f3;" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/players/playerpage/1231877">Al Horford</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; background-color: #f3f3f3;"> went down with a shoulder injury that could cost him a month or more. And he's just the latest in a long line of players getting dinged up. Blame it on the condensed schedule with no camp or just coincidence, but it has seemed like the injury bug has been biting quite a bit this season.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; background-color: #f3f3f3;"></p>
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<p>Not only has a compressed season seemingly increased the injury rate in the NBA, but the number of games being squeezed into the calendar means that injuries are costlier than they were in years before.</p>
<p>Horford, a fifth-year player out of Florida, has been remarkably healthy in his time with the Hawks, playing in at least 77 games in three of his first four years in the NBA.</p>
<p>A two-time All-Star, he is averaging 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds on 55.3% shooting this season.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2702444/al-horford-injury-update-shoulder-month-atlanta-hawksJonathan Tjarks2012-01-12T12:01:03-05:002012-01-12T12:01:03-05:00Bobcats Vs. Hawks: Ball Movement Key To Atlanta's Offensive Success
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> could be without three of its regular players in Thursday's matchup with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. That will certainly have an effect on the Hawks offensive efforts but <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/01/11/atlanta-hawks-pacers-96-hawks-84/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks">Josh Smith says that </a><a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/01/11/atlanta-hawks-pacers-96-hawks-84/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks">ball movement is key</a> if Atlanta wants to get back on track. </p>
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<p>"We have to preach ball movement," Josh said. "Stress it and do it. Otherwise we will have another outing like we had tonight. We can't have isolation all the time. We have got to spread the ball around, spread the love and get everyone involved."</p>
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<p>The rest of the Hawks might want to listen to Smith. Atlanta totaled at least 26 assists a game during its recent three game winning streak. In the loss Wednesday night to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> they had just 14. Added ball movement provides opportunities for <span>Vladimir Radmanovic</span> who finished just 1-7 for three points against the Pacers. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game, Hawks fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Peachtree Hoops</a> and Bobcats fans should stop by <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/">Rufus On Fire</a>. For more NBA news and analysis head on over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #002c66; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>.</i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2701929/bobcats-vs-hawks-ball-movement-key-to-atlantas-offensive-successKris Willis2012-01-12T09:04:22-05:002012-01-12T09:04:22-05:00Bobcats Vs. Hawks Time, TV Info, Radio And More
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks could be down as many as three of its regulars tonight when they take on the Charlotte Bobcats at Philips Arena. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> will look to get back into the win column Thursday night when they open a four game home stretch against the visiting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. Atlanta could be down as many as three of its key players tonight as <span>Marvin Williams</span> (ankle), <span>Tracy McGrady</span> (back) and <span>Al Horford</span> (shoulder) could miss the game.</p>
<p>Williams hurt his ankle in Atlanta's win over Chicago last Saturday and missed the road trip. Tracy McGrady was a late scratch for last night's loss in Indiana due to back spasms and Al Horford went down in the first quarter with what was called a shoulder sprain. Horford will be re-evaluated today by Atlanta's team doctors.</p>
<p>Charlotte comes into the game struggling with a 2-8 record. They suffered a lackluster 82-70 loss on Tuesday at home to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>. </p>
<p><b>Game date/time:</b> Thursday, January 12, 7:30 p.m. </p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<p><b>TV</b>: SportSouth</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> 680 The Fan, NBA Audio League Pass</p>
<p><b>Online Streaming:</b> NBA League Pass Broadband</p>
<p><i>For more on this game, Hawks fans should check out <a href="http://www.peachtreehoops.com">Peachtree Hoops</a> and Bobcats fans should stop by <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com">Rufus On Fire</a>. For more NBA news and analysis head on over to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>. </i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2012/1/12/2701877/bobcats-vs-hawks-time-tv-info-radio-and-moreKris Willis