"When my team needs it the most, that's when I want to come up big," Atlanta's Joe Johnson told reporters last night after scoring 35 in the Hawks' 99-95 win over Portland. "Two, three, four years ago we'd have lost a game like this." Currently, Joe Johnson and the Hawks are tied with Phoenix for having the best record in the NBA, including wins on the road and against Boston and enjoy an undefeated record at home. Last night's game also marked Johnson's 60th career effort in scoring over 30 points. If the Hawks can keep it up, it's going to be a fun season to watch.

Technically, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is in the Outhouse, but we're more taken by how much respect the man's received after calling a risky play in his team's 35-34 loss to Indianapolis Sunday night. Aiming to make a first down at 4th-and-2, and then hoping to run down the clock to victory, Belichick told his players to go for it on their own 29. It didn't work, and Peyton Manning waltzed back onto the field like a fox and threw a touchdown. The information Belichick had – that his defense was gassed, that if you can't earn a first down from 4th=and-2 with Tom Brady, then maybe you should lose the game – had the play worked, Belichick would be heaping praise this week for his daring prowess. We think of Coach Kelly over at Pulaski Academy, going for it on fourth down every single time and winning. Should the Bruins stumble once on one of those plays, we doubt that angry parents will burn west Little Rock down. Belichick, as cranky and Nixonian as he is, walks the walk when it comes to his play-calling. Sometimes you lose an upset to Peyton Manning. Sometimes, you win every game in the regular season and go on to the Super Bowl. As long as the person who's second-guessing you isn't yourself.