The Bucks' game against the Hawks last week wasn't the first time that Milwaukee had a game postponed in Atlanta because of a snowstorm.
On Jan. 12, 1982, a game between the Bucks and Hawks at the old Omni Arena was postponed after a couple inches of snow shut down Atlanta. That game was postponed not because the Bucks couldn't get to Atlanta, but because many of the Hawks players who lived on the outskirts of the city couldn't get downtown.
"This is probably the first time a game has been called because the home team couldn't get there," then-Hawks general manager Stan Kasten said at the time.
There have been a couple other postponements in Bucks history:
On March 4, 1985, a game against the Pistons was called off after heavy snow and ice tore apart a portion of the fabric roof of the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.
On Jan. 13, 2007, inclement weather in Oklahoma City prevented the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets from flying to Milwaukee for a game.
Perhaps the greatest averted postponement in Bucks history occurred Jan. 8, 1989, when the Bucks encountered travel problems returning home on a game day from out East, but managed to play Utah at the Bradley Center after a memorable 4 1/2-hour bus trip from Grand Rapids, Mich., and by pushing back the starting time.
The Bucks had no problem getting to that 1982 game against the Hawks because they had gotten into Atlanta before the weather turned bad and were staying at a hotel adjacent to the arena. The game was called about two hours before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start when it became apparent most of the Hawks players and the referees could not get to the arena.
So the Bucks practiced instead and then tried to get a red-eye flight to Philadelphia -- teams flew commercial back then -- where they were scheduled to play that next night but were unable because the road conditions prevented them from getting to the airport.
As the Bucks practiced, a few of the Hawks players filtered into the Omni and reported that what was normally a 20-minute drive had taken them 2 1/2 hours.
"This would be a regular day for Wisconsin," said former University of Wisconsin player Wes Matthews, who was with the Hawks at the time. "When they get 1 or 2 inches of snow (in Atlanta) they don't know how to drive in it. It's like they got their license at Sears and Roebuck."
In 1989, the Bucks were flying home for their game against Utah the day after a double-overtime victory over the Washington Bullets in Baltimore. But heavy fog prevented the Bucks from landing in Milwaukee and their flight was diverted in mid-afternoon to Grand Rapids, where the Bucks tried to figure out how to get home in time to play the Jazz.
The Bucks considered taking a flight to Chicago, but that plan was scrapped because the airline didn't have enough time to rewrite the tickets. Finally a bus was ordered and the players changed into some sweats for the long ride home.
The mood turned slapstick on the bus. A pool was organized based on what time the team would arrive at the Bradley Center. The bus driver's watch was official. Coach Del Harris dubbed his team the Globetrotters as he rattled off the states the Bucks would have visited that day -- Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.
"Plus the state of confusion," joked vice president of business operations John Steinmiller .
The players tried to get some sleep on the ride -- forward Larry Krystkowiak stretched out in the aisle of the bus for a nap -- and the bus pulled into the Bradley Center about 8 p.m., which was the game's original starting time. The game started about 9:15, Terry Cummings scored 25 points and Ricky Pierce added 24, and the Bucks crushed the Jazz, 107-89.
The Bucks went 0-3 in the makeup games.
He's a big man
Trying to better utilize his team's versatility, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has experimented with playing LeBron James at center. The idea is to free up some playing time for Mike Miller and to open up the floor if opposing teams keep their small forward on James and put their big man on James Jones, who plays beyond the three-point line.
Miami's Dwyane Wade said James could play anywhere.
"It's a great adjustment by our coaching staff," he said. "It puts another guy who's very athletic around the basket where he can rebound the ball."
Oh, Danny!
Boston's victory over Sacramento was Doc Rivers' 308th as coach of the Celtics and moved him past K.C. Jones into third place on the team's all-time list behind Tom Heinsohn (427) and Red Auerbach (795).
Rivers gave an assist to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
"We were bad for two years and he stuck with me and believed in me," said Rivers. "At the end of the day, it's Danny Ainge more than me."
Funny guys
The Charlotte Bobcats' light-hearted mood under new coach Paul Silas was evident after a hard practice when many of the players hung around to enjoy guard D.J. Augustin 's imitations of several of his teammates.
"When was the last time you saw guys hanging out after practice just laughing and joking?" asked Gerald Wallace. "The atmosphere is totally different. We probably did more running (at practice) than we did all season with (former coach Larry Brown ) and guys are still hanging out after practice. They're more enjoyable to be around now that everybody isn't moody anymore."
Grading the students
It's getting close to midterms time in the league, and Lakers coach Phil Jackson gives his team a "B" grade, saying it has plenty of room for improvement. Jackson was not pleased with recent losing streaks of three and four games but thinks the Lakers are becoming more attentive defensively.
"We're not displeased where we are, but we're unhappy we had some consecutive losses," he said. "What I like is we've gotten their attention (defensively) . . . they know they have the opportunity to be a really good team."
No more, no less
Before Dirk Nowitzki went out with a knee injury, the Mavericks were giving up 93.4 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting. In the first eight games without him, Dallas gave up 97.0 points on 47.3 percent shooting. And this is the same guy they used to call "Irk" because he had no "D."
"We're the Commodores and he's Lionel Richie," guard Jason Kidd said of playing without Nowitzki.
He's the driver
Former Nuggets great David Thompson greeted Carmelo Anthony in the locker room before a game in Denver and told Anthony, "Do what's best for you."
Thompson does not appreciate the fact Anthony is getting booed at home.
"He has to do pretty much what makes him happy," said Thompson. "He's in that position now where he can play out his contract. He's in the driver's seat. He's done a lot for this organization . . . It's not really his fault. He's just exercising his options."
Getting thirsty
Kevin's Love's numbers are impressive but will he be an all-star reserve?
The Minnesota forward leads the league in rebounding, has six 20-20 games and double-doubles are common for him. Even so, the coaches in recent seasons have been inclined to vote for players from winning teams as all-star reserves.
"There are scorers who love scoring and rebounders who love rebounding," said Boston's Doc Rivers. "It's what excites them. It's just rare. A rebounder is like an offensive lineman. Very few people love blocking. Very few people love rebounding. A guy like Kevin Love, he's a thirsty rebounder."
Fast breaks
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, on rumors that the hotel where the Magic stayed in Oklahoma City is haunted: "I don't buy into any of it. What haunts me are guys like Kevin Durant."
The coach with the best record in each conference Feb. 6 will coach the all-star teams. Last year's all-star coaches are ineligible.
Guard Baron Davis, on the resurgent Clippers: "Three weeks ago, everybody was down on us and everybody was getting traded."
The Lakers' 46 fourth-quarter points against Golden State set a franchise record for most points in the final period of a road game.
The Bulls' Derrick Rose, on the reason for his improved play: "Confidence."
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DOWN THE LANE
THIS WEEK IN THE NBA
Life gets no easier for the struggling Suns, who head out on a five-game Eastern trip. After a 34-point loss to Denver last week, Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby issued an apology to fans, saying the team was not playing up to its level of talent and pledged that everyone in the organization would work harder to improve. Phoenix plays at New York, Cleveland, Washington and Detroit. "We just have to play like a desperate team," said coach Alvin Gentry. "We are a desperate team." Utah also heads East to play Washington, New Jersey, Boston and Philadelphia, while Sacramento wraps up a six-game Eastern trip Monday in Atlanta. Charlotte, in a stretch in which it will play eight of 11 games on the road, travels to Philadelphia and Chicago. Golden State plays its only road game in a 13-game stretch Saturday against the Clippers. Miami has a light week, playing only two home games against Atlanta and Toronto. The Clippers will be the home team when they play the Lakers on Sunday at the Staples Center.
GAME OF THE WEEK
The Celtics were keeping their fingers crossed that they would have Kevin Garnett back for their showdown with Orlando on Monday in Boston.
BUCKS WEEK
The Bucks have played as many games as anyone against teams with winning records but now the schedule begins to turn, as they will play four games this week against teams with losing records. The Bucks will play a Martin Luther King Day matinee in Houston and are at Cleveland on Friday. Washington will bring a 0-19 road record into the Bradley Center on Wednesday, and Memphis comes to town Saturday.
QUOTE
"I lost a whole team. This is nothing." -- Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, who saw many of his Indiana players get suspended after a brawl in Detroit in 2004-'05, on trying to coach the Mavericks without the injured Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clippers hope that their 111-105 victory over the Heat sent a message. "We're not automatic wins for teams," said Griffin. "We're not going to give up. We don't care how much hype they have." Griffin recorded his 24th consecutive double-double (24 points, 14 rebounds) as the Clippers halted Miami's 13-game road winning streak, which was one short of the franchise record. It was also Griffin's 13th straight game in which he finished with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. The victory was the Clippers' eighth in 11 games. "It was a great win," said Griffin. "Everybody played unbelievable. It gives us confidence. For us to get this win is huge." Said LeBron James, "Blake Griffin is definitely very explosive. He's definitely one of the best young talents we have in this league."
NUMBERS GAME
The Cleveland players' plus-minus ratings after its 55-point loss to the Lakers included Manny Harris (minus-57), Antawn Jamison (minus-46) and Mo Williams (minus-43).
Jason Kidd moved past Glen Rice (1,721) into third place on the all-time three-pointers made list behind Reggie Miller (2,560) and Ray Allen (2,526 entering play Friday).
Of the 15 top players on the all-time list of three-pointers made, Kidd's 34.2 percent shooting is the worst.
Since 1985, Shaquille O'Neal (21 times), LeBron James (17), Allen Iverson (16), and Kevin Durant (14) are the only players to score 40 or more points at least 14 times in their first four years.
Utah, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Boston and Chicago are the only teams that have not lost three straight games this season.
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