Atlanta Hawks 360 Magazine / Vol. 5 Issue 1 by Atlanta Hawks

CONTENTS

Philips LED Innovation for today and tomorrow.

Vol. 5, Issue 1 | HAWKS.com Lighting is important and affects well-being in the way people live, work and feel at home. Beyond the energy, cost-savings, and ambience of LED lighting, there is growing awareness today that lighting can also improve efficiency. For example, while working, reflections on computer screens can cause strain on the eyes. Philips LED lighting is easy on the eyes, providing glare-free light to help increase comfort levels.

PHILIPS AD

The benefits of using LED lighting solutions over conventional incandescent ones can be significant. LED bulbs allow for tremendous energy savings; for example the Philips LED 11W A-Shape bulb saves $134.75 in energy costs annually over a standard 60W incandescent bulb1— leading to significant cost-savings with lower electricity bills.

Another important benefit is the lifetime of the bulbs; LED light bulbs last much longer than conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. For example, the Philips LED 11W A-Shape bulb can last 22.8 years as compared to about 1 year for a standard 60W incandescent bulb2. This means that the rate of changing out bulbs is drastically cut, reducing the cost

of maintenance and resulting in greater cost-savings, which justifies the initial investment of buying LED bulbs.

ENTERTAINMENT ’Nique at the Movies

MY PLAYLIST Johan Petro

AL HORFORD What I’ve Learned

WHEELS Kia Soul

BY THE NUMBERS Jeff Teague

LOU WILLIAMS

JOSH SMITH His 5 Best Moments

KYLE KORVER Gets Back into the Swing of Things

GONE IN 60 SECONDS The Hawks Backcourt Takes Off

HAWKS IN THE COMMUNITY

SCHOOL’S OUT

REMEMBERING DAN ROUNDFIELD

FRIEDMAN’S SHOES 360 Q&A

LIGHTING IT UP

Philips Arena Keeps on the Cutting Edge

24 SECONDS Ivan and Zaza

No matter what type of bulb you require, Philips LED solutions can meet your needs—and they have the familiar shape of your old bulb with the benefits of the latest LED technology.

Share the ways LED light has brightened your home at @PhilipsLightUS Scan the code with your smartphone to see the savings! 1) At 11¢ per kWh, this 11W, 800 lumen LED bulb uses $30.25 of electricity over its 25,000 hour life. This is a $134.75 savings when compared to the $165.00 required to run a 60W, 860 lumen, A19 incandescent bulb over the same period. Actual savings will vary depending on cost per kWh. 2) 25,000 hours (22.8 years) means rated average life based on engineering testing and probability analysis where the lamp is used on average 3 hours/day, 7 days a week while a standard 60W incandescent lasts 1500 hours. ©2012 Philips Lighting Company, A Division of Philips Electronics North America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Return of the Hometown Hero

John Jenkins in the NBA

Atlanta Hawks Cheerleader Profile: Denisse Photo by Greg Miller

‘NIQUE AT THE MOVIES: “FLIGHT”

VOL. 5, ISSUE 1 Creative Director: Peter Sorckoff Assistant Creative Director: Terry Combahee Art & Design: Cliff Lummus, Lucas Armstrong, Amy Mann and Sharon Robinson Editor: Jon Steinberg Editorial Assistant: Jason Roose Editor at Large: Alison Sawyer Produced by: Atlanta Hawks, L.P. 101 Marietta Street NW, Suite 1900 Atlanta, GA 30303 Printed by: Tucker Castleberry, Inc., Atlanta, GA Contributors: Nathan Bolster, Jennifer Boxley, Andrea Carter, Terry Combahee, Jon Cooper, Scott Cunningham, Donni Frazier, “Hometeam” Brandon Leak, Cliff Lummus, Greg Miller and Dominique Wilkins

PHOTO CREDITS:

Whether he dreams of making it big, or just plain loves the game, something keeps him shooting basket after basket. And that determination not only drives him. It inspires me.

WE SHINE WHEN WE’RE DETERMINED TO GIVE IT

OUR BEST SHOT.

Cover: L. Williams by Greg Miller Pg. 1: Denisse by Greg Miller Pg. 3: D. Wilkins by Greg Miller; “Flight”courtesy of Paramount Pictures Pg. 5: J. Petro by Greg Miller Pg. 6: A. Horford by Nathan Bolster Pg. 8: Kia Soul by Greg Miller Pg. 10: Kia Soul by Greg Miller Pg. 14: Lou Williams by Nathan Bolster Pg. 15: Lou Williams by Jennifer Pottheiser and Jennifer Boxley Pg. 16: Josh Smith by Glenn James and Ronald Martinez Pg. 17: Josh Smith by Scott Cunningham, Jesse D. Garrabrant and Layne Murdoch Pg. 18: Kyle Korver by Greg Miller Pg. 20: Kyle Korver by Jesse D. Garrabrant Pg. 22: Denisse by Greg Miller Pg. 23: Denisse by Greg Miller and Nathan Bolster Pg. 24: J. Teague, D. Harris and L. Williams by Scott Cunningham Pg. 26: Community photos by Jennifer Boxley Pg. 28: J. Jenkins by Garrett Ellwood Pg. 29: J. Jenkins by Rocky Widner and Greg Miller Pg. 30: D. Roundfield by Dick Raphael Pg. 31: L. Williams by Rocky Widner Pg. 32: Friedman’s Shoes by Greg Miller Pg. 33: Friedman’s Shoes by Greg Miller Pg. 34: Video Boards by Lucas Armstrong Pg. 35: J. Teague, L. Williams and D. Harris by Greg Miller Pg. 36: I. Johnson and Z. Pachulia by Greg Miller Atlanta Hawks game photography by Scott Cunningham Email us your ideas, feedback, thoughts and suggestions at hawks360@hawks.com. ©2012 Atlanta Hawks, L.P. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced without written consent of the Atlanta Hawks.

Stop in or visit suntrust.com SunTrust Bank, Member FDIC. © 2012 SunTrust Banks, Inc. SunTrust is a federally registered service mark of SunTrust Banks, Inc. How Can We Help You Shine Today? is a service mark of SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Missed an issue? Visit to HAWKS.com/360 to read all of the previous issues.

ilots have one of the toughest jobs on the planet, and the amazing work they do too often goes unsung. On rare occasion, though, their actions grab worldwide attention. Events such as the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” landing in New York, which made Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger a national hero can also generate intense scrutiny for everyone involved. After all, for there to be a hero, there has to be a tragedy, and when there’s a tragedy, someone must take the blame. In “Flight,” Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is an experienced airline pilot thrust into just such a situation. After a sleepless night of drinking and drug abuse, Whip steps into the cockpit to begin a short Orlando-to-Atlanta flight home for some much-needed R & R. After a turbulent takeoff (and another round of drinks), Whip hands the controls to his copilot and dozes off. He is jolted awake minutes later to find the plane careening into a dive. With some quick thinking and impressive maneuvering, Whip manages to right the plane and crash-land into an empty Georgia field, saving almost everyone on board.

OVERALL REVIEW

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

ENTERTAINMENT

“I give it four dunks out of five.”

“Denzel gives his strongest performance since ‘Training Day’” Whip wakes in the hospital with minor injuries, and on the surface seems to be the hero of the hour. Of course, with any crash such as this, an exhaustive investigation begins, and over the following days and weeks, Whip’s character, habits and addictions come more and more into question. As the cause of the wreck is examined and his actions before, during and after the flight are scrutinized, Whip sees his entire life thrown into jeopardy. As Whip Whitaker, Denzel Washington gives his strongest performance since “Training Day,” and perhaps the best of his career. The flawed character struggling for control of himself and his life is an unfamiliar role for Denzel, making his pitch-perfect portrayal that much more impressive. A stellar supporting cast including Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood serve as great sparring partners for Whip, with John Goodman providing scene-stealing comic relief at crucial points. In a year of sequels, remakes, reboots, romantic comedies and comic book action, it’s refreshing to see an original story this well-done come out of nowhere. To be pulled in by character drama and not know where the story is going is the best kind of movie-going experience for me, and “Flight” was an all-around surprise. Despite coming from Robert Zemeckis, the director of familyfriendly hits like “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump,” parents should be cautious about bringing the little ones, as the R rating for this flick is well-deserved. There has already been some fierce competition this awards season, but I have no doubt that we’ll be hearing “Denzel” and “Oscar” in the same sentence from now through February. Before it departs, I highly recommend venturing out to catch “Flight.” 3

JOHAN PETRO’S COOL WINTER MIX I’m in my eighth year in the NBA, so finding something to do on the plane can get a bit boring over the course of a season. I always rely on music to help pass that time. Growing up in a city like Paris, I was exposed to music of all types at an early age.

M Y P L AY L I S T

MY PLAYLIST

There are some American artists I really enjoy – from pop to rap and hip-hop, but I’m also a fan of Jamaican and European music. I also like to DJ, so my playlist is influenced by that as well. My favorite artists that I’m listening to right now are

KENDRICK LAMAR RIHANNA KALASH KEM T.I. MAROON 5 KONSHENS TRACY CHAPMAN Photo by Greg Miller.

With this many seniors going to college, a high-five just wouldn’t cut it. Thanks to you, over 1.4 million Georgia high school seniors have had something more to celebrate on graduation day—the chance to go to college. Every time you play the Georgia Lottery, you help fund the HOPE Scholarship Program that provides Georgia students with financial assistance at any of Georgia’s colleges, universities or technical colleges. That’s awesome! And on top of that, you’ve helped send over 1.2 million 4-year-olds to a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program and raised more than $13.8 billion for education. That’s an A+ in our book.

galottery.com

WHAT I’VE LEARNED IN THE LEAGUE: AL HORFORD

The Atlanta Hawks selected Al Horford with the third pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, and over 370 games later, the two-time NBA AllStar has seen his share of tests. Now in his sixth season with the Hawks, Al took a moment to share with 360 a few of the lessons that have helped him thrive in the league over the years:

V O T E D

“BEST of ATLANTA” by Jezebel Magazine three years in a row

• WHEN YOU’RE A ROOKIE, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VETS, AND DON’T FORGET THE DONUTS. • YOUR COACHES AND YOUR TEAMMATES ARE YOUR FAMILY. • TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. IF YOU DON’T, OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON, IT CAN BREAK DOWN. • YOU CAN’T TAKE A DAY OFF, BECAUSE YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITORS AREN’T.

HWOHRAT F OIR’ VDE L E A R N E D I N T H E L E A G U E

• MAKE EVERY INTERACTION THAT YOU HAVE WITH A FAN AS SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE AS YOU CAN.

Breast Surgery Body Contouring Facial Surgery SmartLipo Tummy Tucks Rhinoplasty

Male Cosmetic Surgery Botox and Injectables Sculptra & Dermal Fillers Liquid Facelift Skincare Services Laser Hair Removal

• EVERYTHING YOU DO ON AND OFF THE COURT REPRESENTS YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR TEAM. • ALWAYS TAKE LOTS OF BOOKS ON LONG ROAD TRIPS.

OVER

SIX 370 GAMES SEASONS

2-TIME NBA ALL-STAR 13,623 MINUTES OVER 5,000 POINTS

OVER

“ Right Decision

D R . C O N N O R S ’ H A R VA R D T R A I N I N G I M P R E S S E D M E , BUT IT WAS THE TIME HE TOOK IN ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS A N D E A S I N G M Y C O N C E R N S T H AT M A D E M E K N O W I M A D E T H E

IN CHOOSING HIM AS MY PLASTIC SURGEON. (Actual Patient)

“

(404) 348.4456 / www.johnconnorsmd.com

WHEELS

2013 KIA

by Cliff Lummus

Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders Kirsten and Kristen Photo by Greg Miller.

See the next page for the 360 review.

n 2010, Kia gave themselves a tall order: create a new, unique, affordable car with a distinctive design and quality drive experience. From that challenge came the Kia Soul, a stylish vehicle that has set the tone for much of the company’s creative direction. Three years and several design awards later, Kia faced another daunting task with the Soul: improve it. We here at 360 were able to get a peek at Kia’s answer to that challenge by test-driving the 2013 Kia Soul. For fans of the previous incarnations (and those interested in trading up), they’ll be happy to see that the outer design of the Soul has kept its overall look and profile intact. The angled, geometric lines and the precision curves of the body give the Soul a distinctive shape all its own. The sleek contour of the front makes a smooth transition to the roomy back, creating a deceptive amount of space in an otherwise compact vehicle. Familiar accents include 15” tires with steel wheel covers that give a fun, edgy, modern look to the Soul.

Safety equipment is the normal yawning point of many auto reviews, as most car enthusiasts don’t make a point of drooling over seat belts and airbags. Despite that, even the most eye-candy-hungry gearhead would raise an eyebrow to the long and impressive list of safeguards found here. As with any car, many available features of the Soul vary among the three incarnations (Soul, Soul +, Soul ! ). Where Kia differs from its competitors and pulls no punches is safety. Of the 17 major safety components Kia engineered for the Soul, all 17 come standard in each of the three variations. These include full-length side-curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), and front seat-belt pretensioners. Combined, these make for one of the most comprehensive set of safety features for any car of its class. For such a one-of-a-kind vehicle, reading about the Soul will only carry one so far. To know the Soul is to drive it, and the

CALL JOHN FOY

“The Kia Soul…a stylish vehicle that has set the tone for the company’s creative direction.”

W H E E L S : 2 013 K I A S O U L

For all of its unique elements on the exterior, the interior of the Soul is every inch a Kia. In the front, the classy dark gray of the dash and steering wheel add to the clean, spacious feel of the cabin. The driver’s seat provides the ideal amount of support and comfort behind the wheel, while keeping all of the controls comfortably at arm’s reach. In the back, rear-door bottle holders, cargo-area lighting and 60/40 split-folding rear seats make sure that passengers are comfy and all cargo is easily stowed. Beyond the utilitarian amenities are subtle features of the interior that add to the quality feel of the Soul. Accents such as the leather-wrapped gear shift (on both the manual and automatic versions) give a performance air to the car, while hidden gems like the dual-level glove box and 12V power outlet enhance the accessibility of all that the car has to offer.

driving experience behind the wheel was everything we here at 360 have come to expect from Kia, with a couple of surprises thrown in. The 1.6L, four-cylinder engine puts solid use to its 138 hp, maneuvering through the city without any noticeable strain. The smaller, more efficient engine also means that at 27/35 mpg, the low cost of the Soul won’t be made up on the back end at the pump.

HURT? 678.400.4000 CALL IN THE

Across the board, Kia is pushing to redefine what a car can offer, both in terms of quality and price. More and more, its street and market presence is increasing by establishing a look that is unique and all its own, and the 2013 Soul—modern, fun, cool and comfortable—is the embodiment of that style.

TO FIGHT FOR YOU!

For more information on the 2013 Soul, visit kia.com/Soul 4

For the audiophiles among us, the Soul doesn’t disappoint. Every vehicle comes standard with AM/FM/CD+MP3, Bluetooth® wireless technology, USB/auxiliary input jacks and a free 3-month trial of SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Combine all that with the available tweeter speakers and steeringwheel-mounted audio controls, and your entire music library stays at your fingertips in crystal-clear sound.

1) The signature grill and sporty front end of the Soul 2) Stylish dials and clean dash layout 3) Sleek lines and modern accents of the Soul’s exterior 4) Steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls 5) 15-inch tires with steel wheel covers

Available 24/7 5

JohnFoy.com

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ou Williams enjoys life, and with good reason.

At 26, he’s an established NBA veteran guard, playing in his eighth season. This year he has the added benefit of doing so back home in Atlanta, where he gets to display his hot shooting hand and quick moves in front of friends and family on a nightly basis. But Williams is not satisfied, and it has more to do with life off the court than on it. He wants others to enjoy life, or at least have a better quality of life. For Williams, a Memphis native who moved to Atlanta in 1997, that means more than just wowing crowds at Philips Arena with his skills on the court and his ability to shoot the lights out.

The Lou Williams Foundation was born and the LW Academic Ballers Program, which requires prospective candidates to combine athletic excellence with outstanding academic achievement, is still one of its signature projects. Of course, narrowing down the Foundation to one location wouldn’t have been right. It wouldn’t have been Lou Williams. Just as he considers himself a product of all three cities in which he’s lived — Memphis, Atlanta and Philadelphia — he considers each city important enough to have the attention of its own chapter of his Foundation. “I still have the chapter in Memphis, where I was born and raised,” he said. “I still have a lot of family there so that’s another place where I understand

Sure, he loves the game of basketball, but he also knows that it’s a game and that there is more to life than just the time he spends in the NBA.

“Making a child smile means the world to both of us and for all of us that are involved in the Foundation,” said Faulkner. “It means the world to us to be able to help someone else because we’ve been fortunate at this point to be in the position that we’re in. Life has not always been easy. So it means the world for him to realize his dreams and his desires and to see children happy.” Among the projects that have become featured annual events for the Foundation are the basketball camps and Philadelphia Coat Drive, which collected and handed out approximately 850 coats to those in need in 2010 and ’11. “The basketball camps are kind of my pet thing because we’re able to see some of the same kids grow,” said Faulkner, who has fond memories of the fifth anniversary party the camp had this past summer. “We were able to do special things for kids that had been there the first five years.”

That’s why he started the Lou Williams Foundation in 2007. That light came on for him shortly after being chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2005 NBA Draft straight out of South Gwinnett High School in Snellville.

above: Lou makes a holiday visit to a Philadelphia area children’s hospital during his rookie season with the 76ers. right: The Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders and the rest of the Hawks team joining Lou at a surprise visit to South Gwinnett High School this Fall.

“He knows that there is more to life than just the time he spends in the NBA.”

“I just wanted to give back, to do some positive things for a lot of people,” said Williams, who was named Georgia’s Mr. Basketball in both his junior and senior seasons with the Comets. His first order of business was helping kids he knew on a local AAU team. Looking for a way to do something, he ran the idea by his mom, Janice Faulkner.

“He expressed to me that he wanted to start a Foundation,” she said. Lou’s mother serves as the executive director of the Lou Williams Foundation, just one of the many charitable causes for which she dedicates her time. “I asked him why and he said he was involved in an AAU team — he wasn’t on the team, he was just involved with all the young guys that were on the team. He was saying, ‘I want to be able to give each and every one of them an opportunity to go to college. You’ve got to go to college now and not everybody’s going to make it to the NBA.’”

the scenarios. I understand the struggles are real there. I’m just trying to do as much as I can to help. “Philadelphia’s a community that I basically grew up in as a man,” he added. “I understand the struggles there, I’ve seen the people that go through a lot there, and I still want to continue to help.” Lou quickly became a favorite of Sixers fans. As he got to know the city and its people, he grew closer to them and became more and more devoted to dedicating the Foundation’s resources to help out. “We don’t have one main mission,” he said. “In the Philadelphia area, every Thanksgiving we made sure that everybody had warm coats and gloves and hats for the winter time. We always made sure people had food at Christmas time. We tried to do as many toy drives as we could, back-to-school drives. Anything that I want to touch on I tell my mother, I tell everybody that heads the Foundation, ‘This is what I want to tackle’ and they do a great job of putting it together.”

LOU WILLIAMS

As impressive to Faulkner is Williams’ commitment to the camp. “Lou is there every day,” she said. “In a lot of camps, guys put their names on it but they don’t actually show up or they just make an appearance. Lou is there every day, interacting and playing with the kids. You’ll see him grab one if they go down; it happens if kids get hurt, he’ll be right there. That’s my baby.”

Williams is impressed with the way his mom has handled the day-to-day responsibilities of running the Foundation. “It’s a great thing because I didn’t know she had it in her to run a foundation,” he said. “When you’re growing up, a lot of the stuff that you do, you don’t really aspire to do it. It just happens. My mom has stepped up to the plate and done a great job running the foundation. I’m very proud of everything she does for me and for everybody else that she helps.” When Williams signed his free-agent contract with Atlanta on July 12, that gave him the opportunity to come back and help out the communities in metroAtlanta and Snellville, which were so proud to call him theirs while he was in high school. One of the first things Williams did was hold an unannounced practice at South Gwinnett High School, bringing the entire Hawks team with him.

continued on page 31 15

K Y L E KO RV E R

gets

back

into

the

swing

things

BY MATT WINKELJOHN

Kyle Korver took a little time off recently, and not to go golfing. For a 10-year NBA veteran whose career as one of the game’s greatest shooters has been built on repeated habits, this was news. We’re talking about an in-season break, after all. No doubt though, Korver will be forgiven.

Kyle has kept a consistent stroke since the 76ers drafted him 51st overall out of Creighton in 2003. After four-plus seasons with Philadelphia, two-plus with Utah, two with Chicago and the first quarter of this one with the Hawks, Korver’s 41.4 percent career three-point shooting percentage ranks number 13 in NBA history.

He became a father for the first time on Dec. 5, when he and wife Juliet welcomed Kyra Elyse into the world. Old habits may die hard, but some of Korver’s methods have faded with welcome change in his life.

It might be a surprise, however, to know that when the 6-foot-7, 212-pound shooting guard/ small forward does slump, his family for the most part stays out of it, whether they see a mechanical issue or not.

“It’s like life gets smaller…but it’s bigger, it’s better,” he said a couple days after Kyra was born. “There’s so much more purpose. It will be interesting as the season goes on. I’m sure road trips are going to be tough. You’re not going to want to go away, especially at first.

“We don’t really do advice. We’ve got a couple things that we fall back to, and that’s, ‘Shoot it to make it,’ and, ‘Put some more arc on the ball,’” Korver said of his family’s hoops mantras. “I self-assess a lot, probably too much.

“I don’t want to get too deep, but all the sacrifices…the things you really, truly deeply love like sleep, you sacrifice them. Like, last night I was sitting there at five in the morning, I was tired, I’m holding this baby and I’m like, ‘I’m good with this.’” Korver’s absence pre-dated Kyra’s birth as back spasms caused him to miss the game prior to the big day and a few games after she was born. There was no word on whether Korver experienced what doctors refer to as Couvade Syndrome, where men sometimes suffer physical issues in line with their pregnant spouses. Keeping it in the family is nothing new to Korver, as the oldest of four brothers who all played Division I basketball. His mother, Laine, once scored 74 points in a high school game and his father, Kevin, would gather with his brothers to run the old Celtics “weave.”

“You can definitely overdo it. Sometimes, you just got to shoot the ball to make it. You can very easily get too into your mechanics, and sometimes it’s really as simple as, see the rim and put the basketball in it.” Korver has done plenty of that. He’s made 1,217 of 2,934 trey tries in his NBA career, and he has an 87.6 percent career clip from the free throw line as well.

Kansas City) have long been known as shooters. Kyle, though, rarely loses shooting contests when the siblings gather in the offseason. Yet there will be times, though, when the shots won’t fall. There are myriad theories on how to break slumps, and Korver’s heard plenty. “A lot of coaches if I’m not shooting well will say, ‘You need to just go get a layup,’“ he said. “Well, I get that, but that’s not my game.” Rare is Korver’s chance to shoot his way out of trouble. He’s never been the primary scorer on his NBA team, although he has often been his squad’s top sniper. He’s fifth in scoring among the Hawks (10.3 points per game), and he’s doing that on eight shot attempts per game. His player efficiency is not through the roof, but measured against his usage rate Korver is near the rafters. With a PER of 14.01 through December 10, he ranks 23rd in the NBA among shooting guards, yet his usage rate of 13.8 is lower than every single shooting guard ranked above him. Translation: he’s doing more with less.

“You can’t always get rhythm in a game,” he said. He’s just about always done this. Born in “Sometimes, you may go a quarter, two quarters Lakewood, California, Korver moved to Pella, Iowa, without a shot. You can’t base your shot solely as a middle-schooler and stayed in-state to build on rhythm because I don’t get 20 shots a game. a legend at Creighton University. By the time he I don’t get to just find my rhythm so finding my finished there, he had a career average of 14.1 shot is very important to me.” points per game, and was the school and Missouri Valley Conference career leader with 371 threeAtlanta may be a better place for Korver to “find” pointers made. That was sixth-most in NCAA his shot than Philly, Salt Lake City or the Windy history, and he won back-to-back MVC Player of City. That’s because sometimes, when his shot the Year awards. Korver and brothers Klayton goes awry, he tries to straighten it out with the (Drake), Kaleb (Creighton) and Kirk (Missourihelp of another ball.

The man likes golf for mechanical and therapeutic reasons alike. “I’m very into technique. Rhythm is a part of shooting, but I also really like to understand all the parts of my shot,” he said. “You try not to get too mechanical, but…as crazy as it sounds, golf is the same way. If I just move my left foot up a little bit I might quit slicing the ball, or if I move the ball back in my stance I’m getting this result.

“You can very easily get too into your mechanics, and sometimes it’s as simple as, see the rim and put the basketball in it.” “It’s kind of the same thing, but a different sport. I’ve played in all these cold-weather cities, and you don’t always get to play. But during the breaks, or if you go to a driving range and hit some balls…there’s something about it that kind of carries over to technique in basketball. It’s hard to explain. It’s outdoors, you get away.” Warmer winter weather or not, Korver is probably not going to find too many chances to “get away” and work on his handicap until the season’s over. He’ll have to “find” his shot through more conventional methods because on the rare occasions he finds time for what in years past might have been a break, he’ll have a different priority: Kyra Elyse. “By no means am I going to be playing golf three times a week out there. I got married, and golf time went down, and we have a baby so I’m sure it will go down more.”

K Y L E KO RV E R

On the upside, his handicap will increase.

HOMETOWN: San Juan, Puerto Rico BIRTHDAY: December 15

COLLEGE: Georgia Southern University PROFESSION: Nurse Secretary

AT L A N TA H A W K S C H E E R L E A D E R P R O F I L E : D E N I S S E

Denisse

THINGS YOU DIDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T KNOW ABOUT DENISSE:

1. My sister and I look alike. Everyone thinks we are twins. 2. I enjoy playing video games. 3. I love it when it snows. 4. I like horror movies and musicals. 5. I am a reality TV junkie.

To learn more about Denisse and the rest of the Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders, visit ATLANTAHAWKSCHEERLEADERS.COM

The Atlanta Hawks don’t go THAT fast, but with a trio of speedy ball-handling guards — Jeff Teague, Devin Harris and Lou Williams — they definitely can high-tail it up the floor at a high rate of speed.

and any time you get into the paint it forces the defense to collapse and that, one, opens up our perimeters, and two, it gives us a chance at a much higher percentage shot. All three of those guys are good in that area for us.” Opposing teams have noticed the change.

“They’re just as fast as us in the open court when they get you on a turnover but offensively, their That’s the plan of General Manager Danny Ferry, three guards have probably changed their look who brought Harris and Williams to Atlanta on more than anything,” said Miami Heat Head consecutive days to complete the triumvirate Coach Erik Spoelstra. “Those three guys are a with Teague. Ferry’s vision for the Hawks’ future, handful in terms of keeping them out of the moving forward by moving faster, was based on paint. Teague, Williams and Harris, they really his observations of the League’s present. have that ability to break you down.” “I think the way the NBA is played now, the way it’s officiated, freedom of movement on the outside,” said Ferry. “I think it allows those guys to be more valuable in that they’ll have space to create, they can use their speed and they know how to play. They can go out and be successful but they’ll also make everyone else better on the court as well. “With the difference in personnel, we were going to play different,” he added. “We need to play different. [Head Coach] Larry [Drew] understands that for us to succeed we’re going to have to play a little faster, play with a little more tempo. I think with the personnel we have now we can take this in a different way but still be successful.”

“You think of the Hawks you always think of athletic teams,”said Miami forward and reigning League MVP LeBron James. “It’s not more athletic or less athletic than they’ve been. They’ve got a good team. They’ve still got some veteran players, they’ve got guys that have been in the League for a while, know how to play the game. They lost some players but they gained some players in the process.”

“Those three guys are a handful in terms of keeping them out of the paint. Teague, The Hawks’ new fast-motion offense has been so successful it may soon lead to Philips Arena’s Williams and Harris, nickname changing from “The Highlight Factory” they really have that to “Atlanta Motor Speedway.” “I’ll take it. I’m from Indiana. Racing’s in my ability to break you blood,” said Teague, with a laugh. “It’s superErik Spoelstra fun. You have opportunities all over the floor. I’ve down.” – Head Coach, Miami Heat never been on a team like this. It’s a lot of fun. “We have three point guards that are really, really fast. We never had that before,” he added. “Whoever’s out there is going to push the ball. Coach wants us to get the ball up the court in four seconds. We’re trying to do that. We’re having opportunities to get to the rim and get our other teammates involved.” “It’s different. It’s something that I’m not used to,” added Harris, in his ninth NBA season and first in Atlanta. “I’m used to coming back for the ball. Now it’s hard to change that habit, getting out and just running trying to look for layups but I think it’s made our team a lot better.” Drew and his staff implemented the aggressive game plan that’s encouraged the trio to spread its wings and soar up and down the court.

The new process starts with Teague. The Hawks first-round pick (No. 19 overall) in 2009, the 24-year-old fourth-year pro is averaging over six assists per game, while turning the ball over fewer than three times a game, and scoring at a career-best pace (over 13 ppg). He’s also having his best year shooting from three, converting at over 45 percent (he came into the season a career .332 shooter from behind the arc) and close to 86 percent from the line (he came in shooting .779 for his career).

So is having Harris to help push the ball. While Harris, 29, is primarily a point guard, he can ably man the shooting guard position. The first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in the 2004 Draft by the Washington Wizards (they’d trade his rights to Dallas on Draft night) came into the season with a better than 2:1 assist-toturnover ratio, while averaging 1.5 steals per game. He also knows what it takes to advance in the postseason, as he was part of the 2005-06 Mavericks that reached the NBA Finals before falling to the Miami Heat. In a little over 20 minutes per game this season, Harris, who also played in New Jersey, where he was a 2009 Eastern Conference All-Star, is chipping in north of eight points per game, while handing out more than two assists with over a steal per game.

GONE IN 60 SECONDS

The Red-tailed Hawk or Buteo Jamaicensis, can fly at a top speed of 121.2 miles per hour, a rate that feels like 175.9 MPH.

He’s found that the Hawks’ speed can benefit on both ends of the floor. “We can cover a lot of ground, cover a lot of mistakes, penetration, guys switching at awkward times,” he said. “We use our speed to cover a lot of mistakes and create a lot of havoc.” While Harris looks to make a permanent home in Atlanta, Williams already has one. The sevenyear veteran, who was Georgia Mr. Basketball his final two years at South Gwinnett High School, has enjoyed his homecoming. After seven seasons in Philadelphia, the 26-year-old sharpshooter who was drafted by the 76ers in the second round (45th overall) in the 2005 Draft, signed a multi-year deal with the Hawks on July 12. He’s brought the kind of passion and ability to score that made him a favorite in the City of Brotherly Love to Atlanta. He came off the bench firing on Opening Night, scoring 22 points — one off the Hawks record for bench points in a debut and only the third player to score more than 20 points off the bench in a debut. He hasn’t stopped scoring, as he put on a display on the team’s four-game West Coast Trip in early November, averaging 15.5 points per game, shooting .447, .381 from three. He’s also had a better than 2:1 assist-toturnover ratio.

“I’m just starting to understand my position with Teague has found that speeding things up has this team, picking my spots, just trying to play not only gotten him better shots, but is allowing the best I can with this group of guys,” he said. him to do so for his teammates, be they the bigs “I’m trying to be efficient with the ball. I’m not in the paint or sharpshooters on the perimeter. trying to make home run plays. Just staying aggressive and playing under control.” “It’s a good thing when the floor is open,” he

said. “Al [Horford] and Josh [Smith] will have Aggressive and under control also describes the room to operate, I’m able to get in the lanes. defense, something the Hawks have stressed. “This team is built to play fast,” said Drew. “My You have wings that can run. Josh and Al are biggest concern is if we don’t try to play fast. freak athletes to be running as fast as they do at “We’re going to play defense,” Teague said. “We’re going to get in the passing lanes, we’re “Jeff Teague and Devin Harris and Lou [Williams], their height. Our team is just special.” going to get steals, we’re going to get in the those three guys have speed, they have “We’ll definitely put points on the board,” Teague open floor like that, but we’re going to be an quickness, they’re good off the dribble. All three added. “That’s not going to be a problem. I organized fast break team. We’re not just going guys can make shots,” he added. “But more think everybody on the team can get a bucket to be out here running and gunning.” important, all three guys can get into the paint and that’s a great thing to have.”

continued on page 35 25

About HAWKS IN THE COMMUNITY

WILLIAMS, JENKINS, COUNCILMAN HALL, TEAGUE, SKYHAWK, HORFORD, CITY OF ATLANTA COO DURIYA FAROOQUI, JOHNSON AND HARRIS

BACK TO SCHOOL The Atlanta Hawks, Hawks Cheerleaders and Harry the Hawk surprised over 1,500 students at South Gwinnett High School with an open practice on October 23. Students and teachers from the high school and neighboring Britt Elementary School were invited to attend an academic rally to celebrate their high achievement during this school year when Principal Eric Thigpen, along with South Gwinnett alum and new Hawks guard Lou Williams, announced the Hawks were taking over.

Court renovation photo by Jennifer Boxley.

OUT &

DOMINIQUE WILKINS, RACHELLE WOOD, & GSU PROFESSOR TIM RENICK

JOSH SMITH

COURT RENOVATION In September, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation donated $50,000 to renovate four existing basketball courts in the Old Fourth Ward’s Central Park. And on October 28, the brand new courts were unveiled to more than 250 people. The renovation was done in support of Councilmember Kwanza Hall’s Year of Boulevard initiative, a comprehensive effort aimed at revitalizing Council District 2’s Boulevard corridor through public safety improvements, social and economic development opportunities, and youth programming.

teaches the fundamentals of basketball to youths in the metro Atlanta community. The $50,000 donation from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation is the first investment in the neighborhood park in more than a decade and the largest single donation to the Year of Boulevard initiative to date.

The Central Park court renovation was also part of NBA Cares Week (Oct. 22-29) where the NBA and its teams and players participate in events and activities across the country to support the communities in which they live, work and play.

Each of the courts received paving, painting, backboards and rims with the Atlanta Hawks logo reflected at center court. The courts are open to the public year-round.

DISHING OUT ASSISTS

The restored basketball courts at Central Park will serve more than 500 kids under the age of 18 through summer basketball leagues and after-school programming as well as host the Atlanta Hawks Kia Summer Hoops Tour, a free, one-day clinic that

“On behalf of everyone who cares about the Boulevard corridor, I want to thank the Atlanta Hawks for believing in us,” stated Kwanza Hall, Atlanta District 2 City Councilmember. “You have set the bar high for our kids and our families in the heart of the city.”

Kyle Korver and Devin Harris are lending an assist to local Georgia charities. Through the Hawks Assist program, the duo is providing tickets to regular season home games. Their generous donation will enable hundreds of children to enjoy Hawks basketball this season. The Hawks extend a huge thank you to Kyle and Devin for their charitable contribution.

PAINT THE TOWN Atlanta Hawks players asked customers “What’ll Ya Have?” and helped deliver those orders when they took over the iconic Atlanta eatery The Varsity on October 12. Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia, Anthony Morrow, Kyle Korver, DeShawn Stevenson, Anthony Tolliver and Mike Scott occupied the registers and served customers. Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders, Harry the Hawk and the Atlanta Hawks activation team were on-site playing games and giving away prizes.

The “Voice of the Hawks” Steve Holman, Harry the Hawk and the Hawks Cheerleaders entertained the crowd, giving out rally towels and performing dance routines as Head Coach Larry Drew took the team through practice before closing with a scrimmage. Williams starred at South Gwinnett High School where he was a four-time All-State Selection (200105) and earned Georgia’s “Mr. Basketball” award as both a junior and senior (2004-05). As a junior, he led the team to a 5A state championship.

LARRY DREW AND LESTER CONNER WITH HOLIDAY HOOPLA PARTICIPANTS

HOLIDAY HOOPLA On Friday, December 14, the Hawks hosted “Hawks Holiday Hoopla” for more than 200 children on the main court at Philips Arena. The participants joined from area nonprofits including Chris Kids, LaAmistad, My Sister’s House and Safe House Outreach. They were treated to an evening of fun with the Hawks players, coaches, cheerleaders and mascot at various stations including a dance clinic, arts and crafts, face painting, basketball challenges and a photo station. Levy Cares provided all participants with a holiday meal and each child left with a gift bag for the holiday season.

In addition to being served by Hawks players, customers who purchased a combo meal at any point throughout the day received a free small frosted orange courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks. The Varsity takeover by the Atlanta Hawks was part of the National Basketball Association’s “Paint the Town” activities to help tip off the 2012-13 season. ZAZA PACHULIA

KYLE KORVER

LOU WILLIAMS

JEFF TEAGUE Photos by Jennifer Boxley.

JOHN JENKINS

by Drew Packham The shift from being “the man” to “the man who gets the doughnuts” isn’t easy, but that’s the life of many NBA rookies, including Hawks 2012 draft pick John Jenkins. Jenkins, whom Atlanta took in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, has always been a superstar, from the time he was lighting it up at Station Camp High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, to his record-setting days at Vanderbilt University.

Wright (Warriors) excel in nearby high schools, and says their success made the NBA a reality. “I never had a point where I thought I might not make it (to the NBA),” says Jenkins, who praised his family for being strict with him and instilling his noted work ethic. “That was never the situation for me because I was that confident.”

Things change for most rookies in the NBA, though, and playing time doesn’t often come right away. Jenkins is no exception and has seen limited action this season as a group of proven veteran guards has helped the Hawks move on following the trade of Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets.

veterans with similar skills as Jenkins, meaning the rookie would be the odd man out. “It’s very tough (being a rookie and sitting), but a majority of the players that come into the league have to experience that at some point,” says Drew, who called Jenkins a “coach’s dream” at July’s Las Vegas Summer League, where Jenkins averaged 15.6 points on 50.8 percent shooting in the Hawks’ five games. “It’s just a matter of being able to come in and adjust and adapt and really wait for your opportunity. Some rookies go to situations where they’re thrown in and ready to play right away. Unfortunately with our situation, we have a number of guys who play his position. “His opportunity will come, it’s just a matter of him being ready when that presents itself,” Drew says.

“It has been very tough,” Jenkins says of his new role as a reserve. “I’ve always been on the court. I’m just trying to get my reps in at practice and be ready for when I get the chance.” If ever a rookie were suited for life on the end of the bench, Jenkins may be that guy, and that’s not a knock on the 6-foot-4 shooting guard. He talks about being the first guy in the gym and the last to leave – a cliché for sure, but a claim his teammates say is true. He goes about his rookie duties of bringing doughnuts to each practice with a humility and a “that’sjust-how-it-goes” attitude that is refreshing in today’s NBA.

Off the court, Jenkins says the transition to Atlanta has been smooth. He’s enjoying living in Buckhead and seeing the city, but admits he spends most of his time recuperating from long practices and extra workouts by taking it easy during his down time.

“When we drafted him I thought he would be the perfect player for the direction we’re taking this team,” – Larry Drew

“He’s very willing to work and earn his playing time, to earn his role,” says Kyle Korver, one of the veterans ahead of Jenkins on the depth chart. “A lot of guys come in expecting things to happen and if it’s not, they blame someone else. He’s patient and understands that he may not be playing a lot right now, but if he keeps working, his time will come.”

JOHN JENKINS

“I never had a point where I thought I might not make it (to the NBA)…that was never the situation for me…” – John Jenkins

Jenkins comes to Atlanta with a long and impressive resume as one of the nation’s most deadly shooters. In high school, Jenkins led the state of Tennessee in scoring in both his junior and senior seasons, averaging 42.3 points in his senior campaign. Playing in the NBA was never a doubt in the mind of Jenkins, who grew up watching Corey Brewer (now with the Nuggets) and Brandan

Jenkins’ path to the NBA continued at Vanderbilt University, where coach Kevin Stallings was “very, very hard,” on Jenkins and helped develop him into the SEC’s leading scorer as both a sophomore and junior, the first time since 1986 a player led the conference in back-to-back seasons. While averaging 19.9 points his junior year, Jenkins also tied the SEC record for threepointers made in a season (134) and led the nation by hitting 3.9 threes per game. “When we drafted him, I just thought he would be the perfect player for the direction we’re taking this team,” coach Larry Drew said. But success in college doesn’t mean instant playing time in the Association. After landing Jenkins with the 23rd pick in the Draft, the Hawks had a busy July. General Manager Danny Ferry added Devin Harris, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow, all

Jenkins is more concerned about his transition on the court and says when he first arrived, he might not have started the season with the right attitude.

“The thing with me is I’ve got to stay engaged,” Jenkins says. “In the preseason I was sitting at the end of the bench and watching just to enjoy the game. Now, I’m sitting at the front of the bench with the coaches trying to stay engaged, asking questions. When the players come off the floor, I’ll ask them about different reads. It’s about being engaged, so when Coach calls your name, you’re out there knowing what to do. It’s tough, but you’ve got to learn to embrace things.”

Fellow guard Anthony Morrow, one of the league’s most accurate three-point shooters whom the Hawks acquired in the July trade with the Nets, works with Jenkins almost every day after practice and says he sees a little of himself in the rookie sharpshooter. “He’s a really humble kid and he’s got one of the best work ethics I’ve seen out of a young player,” Morrow says. “Reminds me a lot of myself. The fact that he was a first-round pick doesn’t mean

anything. He still works hard. He doesn’t talk, he goes and gets doughnuts every day, does the things rookies do every day, but he keeps a good attitude even though he’s not playing. He’s got a good future and I’m proud of him. He’s got a lot of ability, but when it comes together he’s gonna be a hell of a player.” Jenkins is eager for that time to come, but knows he has to pay his dues. “God has a plan for me and I’m just trying to live it out,” Jenkins says. “It’s just a part of life with anything you want. I know my time is coming, and I’ve just got to be ready for it.” 29

continued from page 15

DAN ROUNDFIELD 1953-2012

“If you’re going to do it, do it with your whole heart.” – Janice Faulkner (Lou’s Mom)

This past summer, the Hawks organization and the Atlanta community lost one of its proudest members. Six-year Hawks forward Danny Roundfield passed away in Aruba on August 6, 2012 at the age of 59. The news came as a hard and sudden shock to the entire Hawks family. Those that knew Danny as a player recall a great competitor, and those that were lucky enough to know him as a friend remember him as a kind, honest man that said what was on his mind.

“That was very exciting for me,” he said. “Any time somebody gets an opportunity to go back to his old high school and play basketball and to do something positive I think that’s a great thing. I think all the guys had fun, and the kids had fun as well.”

On November 21, Danny’s family and friends gathered at Philips Arena for an in-game tribute to his life and work, both on and off the court. In an evening of smiles and tears, friends, colleagues and former teammates shared their memories of the three-time All-Star as the Hawks family said their goodbyes.

“When I walked in the gym and felt the electricity that was in that gym, I got goosebumps,” recalled Faulkner. “It was chilling and thrilling just to see, one, how he was received back home and, two, for him to be able to come back home and take his peers with him, for the guys to see where he came from and his accomplishments. It was just overwhelming. When I think about it I almost come to tears because it was really, really a nice feeling.”

“Danny’s first year here, he was a very thin guy. He didn’t look powerful, but he could jump out the gym and he could block shots. Danny brought a presence of toughness to the team. We had Tree Rollins, John Drew, Eddie Johnson, Armond Hill and Tom McMillen, but Danny was that sort of enforcer guy that we really needed; somebody that was tough inside, could jump and block shots defensively.” - Charlie Criss, teammate 1978-82, 1984

Making the day even more satisfying for Lou was who was packing the gym. “We did it for all of the kids that had 3.0 GPAs,” he said. “So I was excited to see the gym that was packed with all of the kids that had 3.0 grade point averages.”

“He’s the best power forward to ever play in this organization,” – Dominique Wilkins

Since the start of the season, Williams has continued to promote causes, recently visiting an Atlanta Boys & Girls Club as part of their antibullying campaign.

“I got to know him after his career. I didn’t know him as a player, but admired him as a player. He reminded me much of myself; he was a rebounder and a shot blocker, only he did it better.”

While his move back to Atlanta limited him from doing Thanksgiving as he would have liked, he stressed that he was planning to make it up at future events in the Atlanta community.

“Over the years, our relationship grew, and we talked frequently. If you knew him, he was the kind of person that told you how he felt.” - Jim Washington, Hawks forward 1971-75

Williams has lots of big plans. In particular, there is another pet project he hopes to see come to fruition in 2013.

DAN ROUNDFIELD

“People don’t realize how great a power forward he was. He’s the best power forward to ever play in this organization…from a defensive standpoint, an offensive standpoint, he was a man who basically stood on a wall for his team. I mean, just incredible strength and just knew the game and had no fear.”

“We’re trying to get the Father-Son Mentoring Program off the ground,” he said. “I want to put kids with a mentor, bring them to games and just have a father figure to look up to. So we’re still trying to organize that.”

“Danny had a way of welcoming young guys into the league. He let you know who was boss. One time, in practice, I was goofing off, and he pulled me aside and said ‘Hey young fella, this is my team. If you don’t want to practice, you don’t want to do it my way, we can put somebody else in this position.’ ‘Yes sir, Mr. Roundfield.’ He was tough.” “Danny was a very close friend. His family was close, and I knew his family very well. It was a delight and I was kind of giddy when I saw him at games. I always enjoyed talking to Danny, and I’m going to miss that. You really don’t realize what he meant to the game of basketball and this city, and I’m glad that we’re doing something to honor him and recognize what he did and who he was as a man. I’m going to miss him.” - Dominique Wilkins, teammate 1982-84

LOU WILLIAMS

REMEMBERING

“That’s my child,” said Faulkner, with a laugh. “He was taught that way. If you’re going to do it, do it with your whole heart.” It takes a big heart to tackle all of that. A Lou Williams-size heart.

(from left to right) Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry, Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena President Bob Williams and Bob Rathbun with Dan’s widow, Bernie, and members of the Roundfield family.

For more information on the Lou Williams Foundation, visit louwilliamsfoundation.com. 31

A: Q: A: Q: A:

Q: A:

What’s the most expensive pair of shoes you’ve ever sold? $1,200 mink-lined alligator boots

Mezlan & Bacco Bucci with soft sole and uppers

Can you recall the most expensive pair of shoes you sold your first year? $11 in 1958

Who’s the first Hawks player that shopped with you?

Jumpin’ Joe Caldwell

BIG TIME

What’s your favorite pair of shoes?

FRIEDMAN’S SHOES

A Hawks 360 Q&A with the man who’s filled some very large shoes in Atlanta,

BRUCE TEILHABER Friedman’s Shoes in Atlanta was founded in 1929 by Teilhaber’s father-in-law Phillip Friedman and sells shoes from size 8 to 22. Since many of their customers are professional athletes, sports jerseys and memorabila cover nearly every inch of the store walls.

What’s the most anyone’s spent in one visit? Don King spent $64,000 on 110 pair of shoes

Q: A:

Any good Shaq stories? Once he came in with a wig and fake teeth — not a customer stopped him on the street or in the store!

Bruce Teilhaber & son Brett / November, 2012 33

continued from page 25

At the start of the season, Philips Arena unveiled the latest addition to the building’s already-impressive array of features, treating Hawks fans and Arena visitors to the dazzling new digital signage boards high above each end of the court. The new video boards are the culmination of months of planning and weeks of installation/setup. At 100’ x 12’, the displays are the largest 16mm end zone boards in the league. The 1900 x 220 pixel resolution allows for remarkable image quality, and the outstanding picture is matched only by the exciting new capabilites the displays provide. In addition to live in-game stats for both teams, promotional video graphics and dual live feeds for instant replays keep fans and spectators

PHILIPS ARENA KEEPS ON THE CUTTING EDGE connected to the action in fun, engaging new ways. Twitter feed updates, scores around the league and real-time updates to the Hawks’ 50:50 Raffle jackpot are also displayed throughout games. Requiring three dedicated ingame operators, the displays can be synced with the main scoreboard and 360 fascia along the upper bowl, allowing for a seamless integration of all arena graphics.

As the season goes along, Drew looks forward to mixing and matching Teague, Harris and Williams. “We’ll throw combinations of two of those guys out there at the same time and just allow them to be themselves,” he said. “That’s getting into the open court and pick-and-roll basketball. Anything that allows us to get into the interior of the other defense. Those three guys are good at it.”

Williams believes things are only going to get better as the new faces get more familiar with each other. “I think more and more we’re finding our way,” he said. “It takes time to create chemistry with new guys. We play a very up-tempo style, which is a very fun pace. It’s a good thing for us all. If we can bottle that up and turn that into winning games that’s going be great for everybody.”

The little guys are even playing like bigs, as on Nov. 23 at Charlotte, Williams and Harris each recorded career-bests with three blocks.

As part of the $1.6 million graphics overhaul, the 60-foot scorestable along the court and baseline signs were also retrofitted with 6mm LED displays, opening up all new promotional and advertising opportunities for the Hawks, Philips Arena and their partners.

GONE IN 60 SECONDS

LIGHTING IT UP

The Hawks have defended, heading into December forcing more than 18 turnovers and more than nine steals per game, both ranking among the League leaders. That ball-hawking has allowed the Hawks to get out on the break, where they are averaging better than 17 fastbreak points per game, also among NBA leaders. That’s up four points per game from two seasons ago when Atlanta ranked 17th in the League.

All-new outdoor LED marquees on Marietta Street

ORDER YOUR 2013 SWIMSUIT CALENDAR Scan the following code with your smartphone or shop online at philipsarenastore.com

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