Young players start to carry more of load By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/01/06 Toronto — Josh Smith said it weeks ago when he learned that neither h e nor any of his teammates would play in the NBA's Rookie Challenge, a game during All-Star weekend that pits handpicked first- and second-year players against one another. It was the wake-up call he needed to push his game to another level in his second season He knew it also would serve as the spark for Josh Childress, Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire. "They didn't show us any respect," said Smith, who ranks sixth in the league in blocks per game (2.4), "and I won't forget that. I won't let that one fade away." The Hawks' youngsters certainly haven't let their opponents off the hook. The proof is in the play of all four since before the break, when the Hawks stunned the Lakers in Los Angeles for their first road win against a Western Conference foe in 24 tries. That surge continued into Monday's overtime thriller over New Jersey in which Smith and Childress knocked down the big shots. "This has been going on for really the last two months," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said of the wave of confidence his young players have been riding. "We've been getting a good team effort all the way around and big plays from all these guys when we've needed them." That includes clutch jump shots from his second-year forwards that wouldn't have come this time a year ago, or even this time two months ago. "Last year we would cringe when he would shoot the basketball," Woodson said after Smith drained an 18-footer to send the game into overtime Monday night and then drilled a 16-footer for the game-clinching points. "Now his shot looks like a shot, and he is handling the ball better. He's doing a lot of things better than he was last year, but he still has a long way to go." The same goes for Childress, who has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games and been the spark off the bench the Hawks have needed with Tyronn Lue out with a sprained knee. "I think you see everybody doing it, not just Josh or myself," Childress said. "Granted, we have had our ups and downs. But you see Josh getting his points, rebounds and blocks and assists. I'm getting points and rebounds every night. Marvin [Williams] and Salim [Stoudamire] are doing it every night. And of course, Joe [Johnson], Al [Harrington] and Zaza [Pachulia] getting their numbers every night. "It's about getting comfortable in your own skin and with each other. And now we have to keep it going." Smith is convinced that as long as the Hawks' faith in each other remains strong, there won't be any regression. "I know people don't like to hear it," he said, "but you have to be patient with a young team. All we needed was a chance, and our veterans have found a way to get us involved in the offense, and that's opened up some things for them, too. Everybody knows that Al and Joe are the go-to-guys on this team. And I think they realize better than anybody that when you lean on us and give us a chance to do what we can do, we won't disappoint. "I'm not saying it's going to work out every single night. Nobody is perfect, but there are going to be those nights when it all comes together, and not just for one or two guys but for all of us." 资料来源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0301hawks.html --

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