words // Brandon Richard
In terms of sneakers, are the Atlanta Hawks adidas Basketball's best NBA representatives? Portland and Chicago may have arguments, but the Hawks have stolen the show over the last few weeks. With three out of five starters and reserve Devin Harris under the brand, stripes often dominate the Phillips Arena court. Newcomer Jeff Teague has helped turn things up by breaking out pairs from Derrick Rose's signature line.
It also doesn't hurt that the Hawks are playing well above expectations this season, currently holding on to the Eastern Conference's third best record. With J-Smoove's name frequently appearing in trade talks, a move from Atlanta would not only mean a significant change for the Hawks, but also for adidas Basketball and one of their marquee athletes.
We were all excited to see Ricky Rubio make his anticipated return to the Minnesota Timberwolves over the weekend, making his season debut with an 8-point, 9-assist, 4-rebound, 3-steal outing against the Dallas Mavericks. Being eased back into the rotation as a reverse, Rubio is currently lacing up the adizero Crazy Light 2 in Wolves-inspired colorways. Will his presence make Minnesota a factor in the postseason?
On Sunday night, rookie Damian Lillard added an early signature moment to his young career by drilling a game-winning three-pointer against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Hornets. Continuing his impressive rookie campaign in the "Light Scarlet" Rose 773, Lillard has steadily sat atop NBA.com's Rookie Ladder for the entire season. Can Dame follow in Rose's footsteps by bringing the Rookie of the Year Award back to Team adidas?
A little love also has to be shown to Tim Duncan, who continues to play remarkable basketball at the age of 36. Though the Spurs lost to the Nuggets on Tuesday, the 16-year veteran recorded a stat line of 31 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals. At this point, Timmy is just padding an already complete Hall of Fame resume and pushing himself up the list of the greatest to ever play the game.
Continue for a look at some of the adidas Basketball shoes worn around the league this past week in today's NBA Sneaker Watch.
images via Yahoo
Devin Harris, Josh Smith, DeShawn Stevenson - adidas Top Ten 2000
Josh Smith - adidas Top Ten 2000
Jeff Teague - adidas adizero Rose 2.5 "Brenda"
DeShawn Stevenson - adidas Top Ten 2000 "Bright Lights, Big City"
Jeff Teague - adidas Rose 3 "Brenda"
DeShawn Stevenson - adidas Top Ten 2000
Josh Smith - adidas adizero Ghost 2 'Home' PE
Tim Duncan - adidas Flight Path PE
Dwight Howard - adidas adizero Howard Light 'Away'
Antawn Jamison - adidas Top Ten 2000 "Lakers"
Brook Lopez - adidas adizero Ghost 2
Tyshawn Taylor - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Sebastian Telfair - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Ben Hansbrough - adidas adizero Rose 2.5 "Playoffs"
Tyler Zeller - adidas Crazy Shadow
Arron Afflalo - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2 Low
Austin Rivers - adidas adizero Ghost 2
Robin Lopez - adidas Crazy Shadow
Danilo Gallinari - adidas adizero Crazy Light
Kenneth Faried - adidas adizero Ghost 2
Matt Barnes - adidas Rose 773
Mike Conley - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Tony Allen - miadidas Rose 3
Jerryd Bayless - adidas Crazy Shadow
Taj Gibson - adidas Top Ten 2000
Jimmy Butler & Quincy Pondexter - adidas Top Ten 2000
Serge Ibaka - adidas adizero Ghost 2 'Away' PE
Andrei Kirilenko - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Ricky Rubio - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Derek Fisher - adidas adizero Crazy Light Low
Darren Collison - adidas Crazy Shadow
John Salmons - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Brandon Knight - adidas Crazy Shadow
Rodney Stuckey - adidas Crazy Shadow
Andre Drummond - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2 "Bright Lights, Big City"
Ersan Ilyasova - adidas adizero Ghost 2
Alec Burks - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Derrick Favors - adidas adizero Ghost 2
Harrison Barnes - adidas Rose 773
Nene - adidas adipower Howard
Nicolas Batum - adidas adizero Crazy Light 2
Damian Lillard - adidas Rose 773
