Live Blog: Hawks vs. Suns & BLOGGER NIGHT

So we arrived at Philips Arena just over an hour before the game, headed to our box seats for Hawks Blogger Night...and in walks Hawks GM Rick Sund for a 30 minute Q&A (details about the session will follow later).

For now, here's the (world-famous) Ehlo and Smildress in-game blog:

To the two readers viewing this tonight, we appreciate your support. And to one of ya'll, thanks for the Spurs pick - you know who you are.

First Quarter:

CE: The game has started off pretty well, and after hearing what Rick Sund said about everyone playing within their roles, it is cool to actually see that happening.

JS: 8:15, Nice steal by Joe, and a good pass too. There had to be a foul somewhere, and the bloggers seem to agree.

CE: 7:37, Timeout by the hawks. The Suns were going on a run, and Woody must have noticed a defensive problem.

JS: Redd just went out for the season, your fantasy team is done, Ehlo.

CE: 6:30, It's 18-8, and like Smildress said pre-game, we may be in for a long night.

JS: Elle Duncan, the philips arena sideline reporter, is kinda hot.

CE: Smith has been complaining about foul calls (as usual), but finally we get a call on Phoenix. Joe to the line for 2, hits the first one (and solo comes in for Zaza). Misses the 2nd...no surprise.

JS: Ryan Cameron seems to be the only person in the arena that's excited about Solo's appearance...including Solomon Jones himself.

CE: 4:30, Marvin hits a jumper and seems to be really engaging himself on both ends of the floor

*Smildress is clapping along with the DE-FENSE chant.

JS: 3:20, Great defensive set after that 24 second violation.

*Random guy yells defense deep and loudly in the suite next to us.

CE: 2:43, Timeout Phoenix, can we get some free hot dogs up here? The answer seems to be no...

JS: On the jumbotron, the team was asked "Name 2 people you'd like to have dinner with". Biggest surprise? Randolph Morris - Kurt Cobain. Also, only one mention for Obama (Mo Evans)

* With 1:00 left, the Hawks seem to be making a mini-run to keep it close.

CE: Great pass by Flip to Joe in the corner for a three to bring the Hawks within one. Smildress, get your face out of the Media Guide...breathe, man.

*End of the First Quarter, Hawks down one...and some high-flying folks are dunking off trampolines. They're much better than the ones at Georgia games.

Second Quarter:

JS: 9:35, Great pass from JJ to Solomon Jones, who dunks it. Shaq looked like the burger he probably ate for lunch is slowing him down. The Vortex will do that to ya.

CE: Joe seems to have taken a lesson from the LeBron book of Crab Dribbling...what a move!

JS: 7:30, Shaq didn't even make it up the court and Steve Nash just took the Hawks on his own. At least we have a Randolph Morris sighting!

CE: 5:48, Josh Smith should be able to keep up with Amar'e, he has the potential to be on that level...if only he was more defined. Hit the gym, buddy.

*Pause for the dance team.

Ok, we're back.

CE: One Hawks strategy, which has been working, has been to foul the crap out of Shaq. He's 3-5 from the line thusfar, and I'll take that.

Josh Smith just posterized Nash...highlight dunk of the year, arguably his career. Where has that been all season?

JS: 3:12, Kiss cam time. This is the single best reason to come to a game. Two girls about to kiss each other and the two dudes in front of them stand up! Dammit!

CE: 2:07 Good move Marvin, another "score an 1 more!"...his second of the game.

CE: The highlight of the game thusfar - A rare Othello Hunter appearance!!!!!

JS: Ehlo, keep your cool.

And we've hit halftime - 57-55 Hawks. They came from behind again, and have been able to take the lead. This game has had a little of everything, including some unreal highlights. Now we have some 12-year-olds playing a game for the halftime show...which has gone completely down hill. What happened to the dude who could spin 45 balls on his body at once?

JS: Watching these kids is like watching Oklahoma City play.

3rd Quarter
And now you will be entertained by your favorite blogger where I beat Craig Ehlo 251 - 8 in an online poll. I have it on high authority that Ehlo voted for himself 6 times, so whoever you other two are, I'm holding it against you.

CE: I wish I could see that Josh Smith dunk again. He dominated Nash on that one.
JS: Come with me to Ramsey this week and I will recreate it over you Ehlo.
CE: How come are fans do not do anything behind the basket. The team needs to give them pinwheels or something.
JS: This is evidence of what Bill Simmons likes to talk about all the time. The fact that the crowd only does what the jumbo-tron tells them to do and thus will not make noise unless prompted.
CE: Know your role Josh, shooting jumpers is not.
JS: What a shot by Smoove. Hopefully Shaq's sweaty arm pit did not put Smoove in a funk. More evidence of the jumbo-tron culture is the fact the "everybody clap your hands" was just commanded. The delay in a post was me clapping my hands. What, everybody was doing it.
CE: I wish someone would take a picture of me with my media pass on.
JS: I don't have a camera, but I'll take a mental note.
CE: How did we end up down 3?
JS: I wish I knew, this blogging does not let me get to watch much of the game.
JS: We are back during the 3-point takeoff where Marvin was predicted to take the shot to win the skymiles. Marvin's not even in the game.
CE: Another steal for Joe that's like six already. I wish I could get a free t-shirt.
JS: Marvin comes in the game and hits a 3. Unbelievable prediction. By the way, CE is wearing cowboy boots and is definitely the only one in this building wearing them. Actually the A-town dancers came out and their new dance is to Cotton-eyed joe. They are wearing cowboy boots.

During this lull in excitement, let me just say that after meeting with Rick Sund we have both come away very impressed with not only how he handled himself but also his answers to our questions and how up front he was with his responses. There will be more on this interview later so be checking for that.

JS: Marvin has played an amazing game with 17 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. What a bank shot by Flip Murray made famous by none other than Dwayne Wade and not Tim Duncan.
CE: I can't believe all we have talked about is fantasy and the fact that my team is going in the tank. At least Bibby is not making me look bad for trading him. Right now he is at 1-10 shooting...just abysmal. Damn that last second three by Barbosa is a back breaker.

4th Quarter

CE: The fourth quarter where the men separate themselves from the boys. Well Barbosa just separate himself from Joe with that breakaway layup.
JS: Great play by Joe with the rebound and fastbreak followed by the assist to Flip for 3.
CE: A score and one more for Solo. Maybe he is the guy to pickup in fantasy?
JS: With that Smoove dunk we get treated to two Sportcenter highlights here tonight. Just another instance of the Highlight factory turning out quality.
CE: Someone made a sign with the Falcons logo.
JS: Someone else needs to tell him that their season ended about 4 weeks ago. And that their building is down the street across the park.
CE: Amare is playing pretty well. What was that trade the Hawks tried to do for him again?
JS: Wow. An old school Shaq dunk without him staring at his hand afterward though. I guess he finally knows what it looks like.
CE: You know, one of the A-town dancers went to high school with me.
JS: I'm not impressed.
CE: Bibby's got to do something now and he must have heard me cause he drains a 3.
JS: Joe on Amare?
CE: Well if Amare is going to shoot jumpers I am not going to complain.
JS: What just happened with Joe and Marvin missing dunks? With Shaw at the line and the Hawks needing the fans to get loud, the jumbo-tron requests the fans to make some noise. They respond with noise.
CE: Josh Smith has fallen in love with his jumper yet again and every blogger here is not too happy with it. If all of us can see this, why can't he? Also like to add that he is in the running with Rasheed for biggest crybaby in the NBA.

Ok we got to head out of here to go down to the Coach's post game press conference. Hopefully we can ask him how they won despite terrible shooting performances from Bibby and Joe.