KNICK NOTES ATLANTA – Steve Smith said it before. And now he said it again. The Hawks – at least the Hawk guards – don’t want to see Patrick Ewing in foul trouble and off the court for the Knicks. What they mean, Smith allowed, is Allan Houstonand Latrell Sprewell play together and make the Knicks a tougher matchup.
“They’re different,” Smith said. “For us as guards, we hope Patrick doesn’t get into foul trouble. They pound the ball in and you can stand there.
“When Patrick’s out, they need offense and they bring in Sprewell and with Houston, you play them at the same time and they get to running.
“And if they’re running and scoring, well, that’s their game plan. If it’s not, then it’s to our advantage but it was going well the other day for them,” Smith said, quickly adding that Ewing can be an effective weapon just as lethal at times. “You can’t count out Patrick. When he’s in the game he can have a monster game, too.” *Smith on the consequences of an 0-2 series deficit: “I wouldn’t put it as devastating. But it would not be in our best interest to lose two in a row.”
Mookie Blaylock said his first and foremost goal last night was to establish a tempo to favor the Hawks.
“As the point guard, that’s what I’m responsible for. I’ve got to get them going. That’s the responsibility of the point guard.”
As expected, Chris Crawford was in the starting lineup for the Hawks. He said the team’s mood was “definitely like a Game 7. We can’t afford to go down 0-2 going to New York so we must raise the intensity and not give up too many easy shots.”
Dikembe Mutombo said the Hawks’ transition defense suffered because too many guys were going to the boards for rebounds. “New York, when they go to offense, they don’t crash the boards with four guys. They might crash with one or two guys.” Grant Long found some comments by Jeff Van Gundy very interesting. “We gave up a bill but they gave up 92 points [in Game 1] and he said he doesn’t think they’ll win if they give up 92 points again,” Long pointed out. “That tells me he doesn’t think they’re going to score that way again.” *In a statement released by Ted Turner’s people, it was decided to play the games in this city, despite yesterday’s shooting at a nearby suburban high school.
“Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks share our community’s deep concern over today’s events at Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga.,” the statement said. “After consultation with the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, we have decided to proceed with this evening’s previously scheduled Hawks and Braves games.”
The Knicks played the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last night at the Georgia Dome while the Braves hosted the Cubs at Turner Field. After the murderous rampage in Littleton, Col., all the local games were postponed.
The shooting occurred when a 15-year-old boy, apparently troubled by a broken romance, opened fire. Witnesses said the boy shot randomly and fired at people below the waist, so as to injure but not kill. Six people were hit by the shots at Heritage High School, with none of the injuries being life-threatening. The student was carrying a .22-caliber rifle and a .22-caliber revolver.
