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Controversial Call Helps Blazers Edge Hawks
In a controversial call, official Phil Robinson said Smith grabbed the rim to make an offensive rebound with 7.2 seconds left, giving Portland the ball for Darius Miles' winning shot in a 77-75 victory over Atlanta on Sunday. Miles' bank shot over Zaza Pachulia with 1.3 seconds left gave Portland the win, ending the Hawks' two-game winning streak, but everybody was talking about the ruling on Smith's rebound. Hawks coach Mike Woodson called it "bogus." "The guy never even hung on the rim," Woodson said. "I went back and watched it on the tape. It was a bad call." Smith said he asked Robinson for a clarification. "They said I grabbed the rim and pulled up to get the rebound," Smith said. "I was shocked." Asked if he touched the rim, Smith said "No, I didn't. ... That's the call they made. I had to go with it." Added Atlanta's Al Harrington: "I was standing there. I didn't see him grab the rim. I don't know what (Robinson) saw there. You've got to love our refs, man. They do a great job night in and night out." Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Hawks Nab Thomas Off Waivers
Thomas, in his sixth NBA season from the University of Minnesota, began this season with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.3 rpg in three contests (2-2 FGs). He originally signed with the Grizzlies on October 3, and was waived on November 22. The rugged 6-foot-9 center has also spent time with Boston, Toronto and Minnesota. He was originally selected in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (25th overall) by the New York Knicks. As a senior, he captained the University of Minnesota to the 1997 NCAA Final Four. Thomas was born on September 8, 1975 in Minneapolis, MN. He will wear uniform no. 25. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Harrington Misses Winning Feeling
Trips deep into the playoffs, to the conference finals and possibly the NBA finals are a distant memory for the Hawks co-captain, who engineered his own trade after the 2003-04 season. The Pacers won a league-best 61-games in Harrington's final season in Indianapolis and lost to eventual champion Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. These days Harrington is just glad to win a game, he jubilantly tossed his jersey into the stands after the Hawks snapped a nine-game losing streak in Wednesday's win over Boston at Philips Arena. "I'd be lying if I said I don't think we'd have won a title had that team been kept together," Harrington said before he planned to take a courtside seat for the Pacers-Cleveland Cavaliers game Thursday night. "Look at what they have and what we had then and nobody can tell me that we weren't right there with Detroit, San Antonio and whoever else was out there. "That team was built to win a championship and we were right there. Right there." Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Hawks Nov 2005 Archive
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Josh Smith showed off his leaping ability last year by winning the NBA slam-dunk contest, but some may still doubt he can jump so high without help.
The Atlanta Hawks today claimed center John Thomas off of waivers, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.
Hawks forward Al Harrington can't help but wonder what might have been had his NBA fate not taken him from the title-chasing bosom of the Indiana Pacers to the rebuilding central with the Hawks.