Atlanta Hawks: Hawks vs. Clippers Pre Game Report
The Atlanta Hawks return home after a 2-2 Western Conference road trip to host the Los Angeles Clippers, a team suddenly in a state of disarray.
The month of January, in particularly these last four games, have been the epitome of what the Hawks’ team has looked like this season. After winning in Portland to kick off the road trip, the team lost their next two in Sacramento and Phoenix before closing out the trip with a win in Denver on Monday. The loss to Sacramento wasn’t that upsetting but the loss to the Suns was one of the more devastating and deflating losses of the season due to how poor the Suns had been playing.
On the bright side, the Hawks took care of business against the Nuggets and come home to face a Clippers team that will be without Blake Griffin as he is dealing with two separate injuries that will keep him out until early March. But don’t let that fool you, the Clippers have been a better team when Griffin doesn’t play this season. That’s not to say they don’t need him, just that the Hawks shouldn’t take this team lightly.
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Monday night’s tilt against the Nuggets was a much needed win for the Hawks as they used a big second quarter run to cruise to a 119-105 victory, their first in Denver since new Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue was in a Hawk uniform. Paul Millsap returned to lead all scorers with 22 points while chipping in 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a couple of steals. It is clear that the Hawks’ are a completely different team offensively with Millsap on the floor as the starting unit struggled against a poor Suns’ team without him on Saturday.
The Clippers are 13-3 since Christmas and have been playing really good basketball over the last month. J.J. Redick, among others, has really stepped his game up with Griffin sidelined. He’s averaging a career high in points (16.5), three point percentage (48.9) and overall field goal percentage (48.6) on the season.
Key to the Game:
Hack-a-Jordan: I’ve stated on multiple occasions that I hate this rule, or lack thereof. I think it slows games down and takes away from the game itself. I understand both sides of the argument and I can sympathize with those who simply say “Make your free throws.” but that still doesn’t change the way I feel in terms of this strategy disrupting the flow of a game. DeAndre Jordan’s free throw shooting speaks for itself. We’ve all seen it and we all know how bad it is. But it is a successful strategy and something that I think the Hawks should use toward the end of quarters tonight. The Hawks have bigs on the bench and they all have six fouls to give. Use them and disrupt what the Clippers are doing on offense. Force Doc Rivers to take Jordan out of the game and go with a lineup that includes Cole Aldrich. That is a win-win for the Hawks.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlanta Hawks
- PG: Jeff Teague
- SG: Kyle Korver
- SF: Kent Bazemore
- PF: Paul Millsap
- C: Al Horford
Notes: No injuries to report
Los Angeles Clippers
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: J.J. Redick
- SF: Paul Pierce
- PF: Luc Mbah a Moute
- C: DeAndre Jordan
Notes: Blake Griffin (hand) is out until early March
Other News & Notes:
- Tim Hardaway Jr. seems to have cracked CMB’s rotation for good
- Kyle Korver needs 19 three’s to pass Chauncey Billups for 8th All-Time
- The Hawks are now 29th overall and ahead of the Washington Wizards in rebounds per game
- The Hawks are home for one game before heading back out on a two game road trip starting tomorrow night in Indy
- Tonight’s game will be broadcast on Fox Sports South (TV) and 92.9 The Game (Radio)
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