Arthur Triche, the Hawks VP of Public Relations, is out with the Hawks summer league squad at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. He'll be posting his thoughts frequently for the Hawks BasketBlog while he's out there to give everyone a glimpse of which Hawks players are doing damage and which free agents are making an impression...

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH ----- To those of us who watch the Hawks practice on a daily basis at Philips Arena, we got a dose of "home" today. I'll say no more on that...

We've enjoyed a nice stretch of sunny skies (and little humidity, sorry Atlanta) here since our arrival, but a rough thunderstorm hit the Salt Lake Community College area after we were thankfully in the building, which will certainly cool things off this afternoon. Unfortunately for Hawks head coach Mike Woodson, the showers drenched him -- that's what he gets for showing up when he did...hahaha.

BAM!!
KAPOW!!
Golly sakes, Batman??!! What in the dark knight was going on overseas the past few days??!! I'm a religious watcher of MSNBC and CNN in the morning (and occasionally, the Fox News Channel -- that's for you, voice of Hawks, Steve Holman -- although I do like MSNBC's Keith Olbermann's "Fox Noise" label better) and earlier today, I came across news of Batman star Christian Bale begin accused of assault by his (ZAP!!) mother and sister...unbelievable. Where was Alfred when you needed him??? Not the kind of noise, I mean news you need as you're trying to promote a movie...nope, nope, nope.

BTW, I hope you got a chance to see NBC's TODAY show today, they featured last night's Utah-Iranian Olympic game, discussing the Iranian team's trip to the Mountains as their prepare for the Beijing Games. The internationals certainly seemed to enjoy their stay in the States and here's hoping they get a chance to have some success next month in China -- except if they face Team USA. Oh yeah, I forgot, Utah beat them, 82-57.

Anyway, I guess I have a few eyeballs checking out my exploits from the RMR, because Acie Law stopped by the press table prior to this afternoon's tipoff and said, "Write something good about me today!" HAHA!! I didn't know he cared.

Big day today for the Hawks as we get set for the showdown against San Antonio. Coach Larry Drew would like to see the blue and white get this one with an off-day scheduled for all the teams on Wednesday. Unfortunately, we're going to have to get it done without current team MVP Othello Hunter, who will miss today's game with a strained left hamstring, according to athletic trainer Wally Blase. Hunter, who has averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, leading the team in both categories, is expected to return to action on Thursday.

The Spurs are looking to rebound from their first loss of the tourney (Monday vs. Dallas) and they currently enjoy a 13-10 lead at the 3:47 mark in the first quarter. Law is certainly being aggressive at the onset, forcing the action offensively, and pulling the Hawks to within one, 13-12. San Antonio is knocking down shots all over the court thus far, shooting 63 percent and following two straight threes, they've jacked that lead back up to seven, 19-12. They're on an 8-0 run, forcing Drew to signal timeout -- they've (S.A.) upped that percentage to 73%.

Atlanta's missing Hunter's presence, and San Antonio's making things difficult, forcing the Hawks into 30 percent shooting (3-of-10) before Luke Jackson -- whose offense is sorely needed today -- nails a three, 21-14 Spurs.

The Hawks have cut it to six, 24-18, at the end of one, but they will have to earn this win on the defensive end today. San Antonio's nailing shots from everywhere -- there goes ANOTHER THREE -- their fourth in less than two quarters...make that FIFTH, as they hit another, of the game (I'm getting sick of them already)!! Okay, there we go! Atlanta's Thomas Gardner connects on the Hawks' first longrange bomb to make it 30-21. Law is certainly playing with something to prove as he takes San Antonio's Roger Powell to the basket again (did I inspire this??!!).

Mario West's breakaway layup narrows the deficit to six with 7:14 left, and Olumide Oyedeji's put back has Atlanta trailing by four, their closest in quite a while. There's that man again -- LAW!! He gets fouled on another sprint to the basket and his two freebies has the Hawks on a 8-0 run to cut it to two (31-29). San Antonio has suddenly gone cold -- and the game is now tied! The Hawks execute perfectly off a steal with Jeremy Richardson passing it over his shoulder to Frank Robinson to the 31-31 score. Now it's the Spurs turn to call a TO!

Another steal by the suddenly aggressive Hawks and West goes in for the uncontested dunk to give Atlanta their first lead of the day. San Antonio answers and Law comes down the floor and from way downtown...BANG! May I never say another bad thing about him again...not that I did before (I think...haha!).

One of Atlanta's defensive principles is being exposed right now -- NO LAYUPS!! San Antonio has gone back-to-back to go back in front 39-35 coming up to the two-minute mark. In addition, Richardson has picked up his third foul (players can't foul out in the RMR), and he hasn't been able to get off on the offensive end at all thus far.

Law's layup -- there's that man again -- closes out first half scoring as the Spurs lead, 41-39.

San Antonio has cooled to finish with a 54% halftime shooting performance, while the Hawks have hit 40 percent of their attempts. Despite the Spurs' 5-of-11 clip from three-point range, Atlanta has narrowed things with 10-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. They need to do a better job on the boards, as San Antonio has doubled them so far, 20-10, with seven coming on the offensive end. Law has 12 points on 3-of-8 FGs and a perfect six from the FT line, and Anthony Tolliver leads the Spurs with 14 -- he hasn't missed a shot yet -- hitting all five of his attempts (four from three).

WHOA!!! Law drills a three and gets fouled, he makes it and Atlanta's run is now eight straight! San Antonio summer coach Mike Budenholzer has seen enough -- Atlanta's up 45-41. The Spurs finally halt the run with a couple of free throws, and Richardson appears to be ready to get off the snide with a technical FT -- check that, he missed. Richardson misses again, but LOOK OUT!!! West climbs over a couple of guys and "send(s) it in, Jerome!!!!" (that's in honor of CBS's Bill Raftery, one of my favorite analysts)...Hawks up by four again, 47-43 with six left in the third. Too bad this game won't be replayed, that was the dunk of the tournament

Just dawned on me that Speedy Claxton isn't here today. He had to return home to take care of a personal family matter, so here's hoping everything okay there.

It's Law's day today...he just picked up a charge and he was clearly inside the circle. "Acie's Laws" is ruling the roost! San Antonio briefly enjoyed a lead, until Gardner answered again with a long-range jumper to put the Hawks back in front by one, 50-49 at the 3:50 mark. Ooooh, a missed opportunity by Atlanta as Gardner's pass to a wide-open Jackson goes awry giving the Spurs a chance to jump out in front again. They (S.A.) are attacking the boards once more, and that aggressiveness has them ahead again, 54-50. Atlanta trails by two, 54-52, heading into the final period (Law has game-high scoring honors thus far with 16).

Gardner's picking up the slack in Hunter's absence, with a scoop layup tying things up at 54, but OH - MY - GOODNESS!!, San Antonio's James Gist just topped West's dunk of the week, posterizing Atlanta's Robinson with full extension...nasty!! Robinson, whoops, he almost got his own dunk attempt pinned by the rim, slams it home and the Hawks regain the lead, 58-56 with eight left. Things getting a bit uneasy for the Hawks right now as San Antonio goes up by four, 62-58, until -- yep, the Law does it again, with a three-pointer to cut it to one. The Spurs get called for goaltending on Oyedeji's FG and Atlanta's leading now, 63-62.

Richardson is struggling big time, making the second of two FTs -- his first point of the day to tie it up at 64, but Brian Morrison launches a three and the Spurs take a 67-64 lead. The Hawks fail to respond, and Jackson is reinserted into the lineup with less than five minutes left. FINALLY!! Richardson takes it strong to the hole for his first basket, it's 67-66 San Antonio, but Morrison draws a foul on JR at the other and makes both FTs to put the Spurs back up by three. Budenholzer just gave us a laugh at the scorers table when he sent Roger Powell in the game, telling him he was to guard Jackson, saying "Jackson...the white guy". Before you get your panties in a wad PC police, Budenholzer's Caucasian too...

Morrison hits another three, and Law takes him strong to the basket on the ensuing possession to cut it to two, 72-70 with three remaining. Richardson's feeling it now, he ties it at 72. Jackson strips Powell and nails a three on the other end as the Hawks take a 75-72 lead! A little more than two minutes left, timeout San Antonio. Out of that TO, Malik Hairston gets a twisting layup to go in to make it 75-74 Atlanta. The Hawks miss on their next chance and San Antonio get a three from Tolliver (doggone it!!) to lead 77-75. Law gets called for a charge, gotta give the stripe shirts credit on that one, a good call...and the Spurs' Hairston makes two more to give them a 79-75 edge. Time is running out for the unbeaten Hawks, who miss another and is forced to foul with 47 seconds left. Gist makes two more FTs and Atlanta's going to need a miracle, down 81-75.

Law gets fouled, almost converts, but makes two to make it a four-point deficit with 43 remaining. Atlanta forces a turnover, but then gets called for an offensive foul to give it right back. Unbelievably, the Hawks lull the Spurs into another inbounds miscue and get the ball back with 37 seconds...timeout San Antonio. Law tricky dribbles his way to the basket, the miracle might just happen folks, makes it and the Spurs are left to call another TO when they can't get the ball in again. San Antonio 81-79 with 31 seconds left. CRAZY!!! They throw away in the pass, Hawks ball.

Law sizes up the defense, drives hard, kicks it out to Gardner and...THREEEEEEE! Hawks lead, 82-81 with 20 seconds on the clock...timeout Spurs. San Antonio has a little trouble getting in, they do, and first round pick George Hill (IUPUI) is going to take the last shot. He drives to the basket and is fouled...he makes two and the Spurs are back in front, 83-82, :06.9 left. Atlanta calls timeout. Law gets it, drives to the basket, gets tied up!!! Two seconds left, jump ball in front of the Hawks basket...Hill wins the tap, sends it flying the other way and the Hawks lose a heartbreaker. Rats!!

The Hawks have nothing to be ashamed of today, the effort was tremendous after falling behind early. If we could have gotten a few more jumpers to fall from Richardson (he had five points, on 2-of-11 shooting) and Jackson (finished with seven on 2-of-4 FGs), we'd be looking at a 4-0 record at this point. Three and one is nothing to sneeze at, so we'll take our one-day break and get back at it Thursday when Atlanta and Utah go at it again at 7 p.m. (9 ET). The Hawks close out RMR action Friday against Golden State at 11 a.m. (1 ET).

It's a shame we couldn't get this with Law recording a super game, scoring 27 points oin 33 minutes and four assists. Gardner had 16 and West and Oyedeji each tossed in eight. Tolliver had 21 for the winners, who are also tied with Atlanta at 3-1.

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Hawks ---- 18 - 21 - 13 - 30 ----- 82
Spurs ----- 24 - 17 - 13 - 29 ----- 83

LEADING SCORERS
Hawks -- Law 27, Gardner 16
Spurs --- Tolliver 21, Hairston 17, Morrison 13

LEADING REBOUNDERS
Hawks -- Oyedeji 6
Spurs --- Gist 11

ASSIST LEADERS
Hawks -- Law 4
Spurs --- three with 3