RealGM Basketball

Atlanta Hawks Wiretap

Pistons Gets Even at Shareef's 50

It has been more than two months since the Pistons saw Shareef Abdur-Rahim. They didn't forget the 50 points he hung on them on Nov. 23, and Wednesday they turned it around.

"They did what they were supposed to do," the Hawks power forward said.

"They fronted him and they played behind him. They were all over him," Jason Terry said. "They played it the right way."

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Pistons stifle Abdur-Rahim, Hawks

A frustrated Shareef Abdur-Rahim turned as if he wanted to go after Ben Wallace. Wallace stepped right up into his face as if to say, "What are you going to do?" Seconds later, Abdur-Rahim started jawing at Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse gave a wicked smile and pointed up to The Palace scoreboard, which read: Pistons 88, Hawks 71. It was a bad night for All-Stars, and for the Hawks. "I think Ben gave all the people who voted on the All-Stars something to think about," Cliff Robinson said. Wallace, who was kept off the Eastern Conference All-Star squad in favor of Abdur-Rahim and Alonzo Mourning, limited Abdur-Rahim to 4-for-14 shooting and 10 points. "It wasn't about the All-Star Game," said Wallace, who achieved his 13th double-double (10 points, a season-high 19 rebounds). "I wish him the best of luck at the All-Star Game. But he wasn't about to get 50 tonight. That's what this was about."

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Abdur-Rahim's big game lingers

Shareef Abdur-Rahim was the topic of conversation leading up to Wednesday night's game at the Palace between the Pistons and Hawks.

The Atlanta forward, who scored 50 points against the Pistons on Nov. 23, was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his six-year career. Last Friday, Abdur-Rahim missed the Hawks' 107-90 loss to the visiting Pistons because he was serving a three-game suspension for fighting with Houston's Kenny Thomas.

Pistons forward Ben Wallace, who like Jerry Stackhouse didn't receive an All-Star invite, was eager to face Abdur-Rahim again Wednesday night. Abdur-Rahim, who played for the Grizzlies his first five seasons, entered the game averaging 20.1 points and 9.8 rebounds. He entered this season averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 boards.

"I know what happened in that game -- we went out and jumped on them early and we sort of got away from the defense we were playing," Wallace said of the Hawks' 106-99 victory Nov. 23 in Atlanta. "We had such a big lead we allowed him to catch the ball where he wanted to and pretty much do what he wanted because they were trying to get back in the game. Before we knew it, the game was close and he was on a roll.

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Hawks Jan 2002 Archive

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    Blown out.

  • Shareef has done his penance

    The Hawks' leading scorer and rebounder has been watching games at home and working out in his private gym.

  • Not-so-invincible Lakers give hope to little guys

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  • Brandon, defense lead Wolves to victory

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  • Recap: Timberwolves vs. Hawks

  • Hawks employing makeshift lineup

    The Atlanta Hawks' roster is so thinned by injuries and suspensions that assistant coach Rick Mahorn might consider playing tonight against the Pistons, his former team.

  • The Game that Time Forgot

    "CBA game?" hollered a fan late in the third quarter as he tried to elevate the proceedings.

  • Pistons know all about ups and downs

    It seems the floundering Hawks can't get an even break.

  • Terry concedes he snuck in a punch; Leon Smith to Stay?

    Wednesday, Jason Terry confessed what the NBA and its fans already knew, that he threw a punch in the MLK melee against the Rockets Monday afternoon.

  • Dawson Calls Thomas Suspension Excessive

    According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Rockets GM Carroll Dawson told the league he thought the 3-game suspension of Kenny Thomas was excessive, but to no avail.

  • Magic notebook

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  • Magic news and notes

    John Denton of the Florida Today reports: The Magic have received interest from 18 groups since announcing the team was for sale.

  • Magic handle depleted Hawks

    The Atlanta Hawks showed up with just half their team Tuesday night, and a half-full TD Waterhouse Centre crowd was there to greet them.

  • No-names no problem for Magic

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  • Hawks Low on Bodies, Points

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  • Kenny Thomas, Abdur-Rahim, Jason Terry Suspended

    The results are in from the Kenny Thomas-Shareef Abdur-Rahim fight during the MLK day Houston-Atlanta game.

  • Magic host Hawks tonight

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  • Magic scouting report

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  • Rockets Hit Bottom in Atlanta at Midseason

    The Rockets had lost another game and another player, though the latest player loss will come from a certain suspension of Kenny Thomas for throwing a punch, rather than because of an injury.

  • Emanual Davis Out For Season

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  • For Ratliff, it's one thing after another

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  • Mohammed Bounces Back

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  • Ratliff Facing Another Delay

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  • Dallas Pours It on Hawks

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  • Kasten: 'I don't understand losing games by 20'

    Deeply disturbed by their team's inability, or unwillingness, to compete in eight of their 23 losses this season, Hawks president Stan Kasten and general manager Pete Babcock were searching for answers Monday amid a mounting toll of injuries.

  • Mavs to Meet Leon Smith Tuesday -- On the Court

    Nelson is one of many Mavericks staffers who must resist the urge to look past Monday's visit to Orlando for the dramatic reunion that awaits in Atlanta.

  • Hawks Reach for Smith

    Babcock: 'We believe Leon deserves a chance'

  • Celtics Manhandle Hawks

    ATLANTA - The Celtics' play last night was not necessarily an example of how far the team has come since November, when two consecutive losses to Atlanta briefly sidetracked the Green.

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  • Ratliff Sits Out Loss

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  • Hawks Fail in OT

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  • Shareef's Big Night Foils Blazers

    The youthful Hawks are growing together, coach Lon Kruger noted Tuesday, learning to trust one another in close games.

  • Wolves Too Tall, Too Long for Hawks

    It was a night when Philips Arena was so cold the ice under the court felt warm, and the Hawks' hopes for a stunning upset were frozen by the glacial inevitability of the Minnesota blizzard Close as the Hawks stayed much of the night, they gave in to the crunching power of a superior force as the Timberwolves chilled them, 112-96.

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  • Terry Keeps Hawks in it; Davis Ices Memphis

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