The Atlanta Hawks will be looking to break out of the “funk” they’ve been in lately as they head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at the Barclays Center Tuesday night. This marks the second meeting of the young season for these two teams.
The Hawks, losers of two straight, haven’t looked good since the Timberwolves ended their seven game winning streak last week. The team has been out of sorts since the Minnesota loss, and need to get back on track against a bad Nets team that started the season 0-7 before finally pickup up their first win in Houston last week.
The Hawks will be without starters Jeff Teague and Kent Bazemore, as neither player traveled with the team due to ankle injuries. Teague was held out of Sunday’s 97-96 loss against the Jazz, while Bazemore was injured late in that contest. Both guys are having monster seasons thus far so the Hawks will need the likes of Justin Holiday and Shelvin Mack to handle some of the scoring load. Who knows…we might even have a Tim Hardaway Jr. sighting tonight.
Mack has shown he can fill in admirably for this team, as he’s done so in each of the last three seasons. He had 7 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in Sunday’s loss to the Jazz. Holiday and Hardaway Jr. are a different story. Holiday is a young player who hasn’t been asked to do much in his young career and Hardaway Jr. seems to be in Coach Bud’s dog house. With that said, there should be a certain level of concern for Atlanta if Bazemore has to miss any extended time.
More from Hawks News
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic makes special dedication after FIBA win
The Nets, who have been on the road since November 7th, are coming off of a tough loss to the defending Champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Brooklyn is glad to be home for at least a day, as they will head to Charlotte and Boston over the next few contests before coming back home on Sunday. The schedule makers did them no favors early in the season, and their record reflects it.
The rivalry between these two teams goes beyond the box score, as the teams have been tied together over the last few seasons due to the lingering effects of the Joe Johnson trade. A trade which has cost the Nets’ franchise over the last few seasons. The Nets are a bad team with little hope of turning it around in the near future. The team still owes Deron Williams quite a bit of money over the next few seasons, even though he’s playing in Dallas and they just re-upped Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young in deals that make very little sense for a team in need of a complete rebuild.
Their only saving grace? The fact that Joe Johnson’s money comes off the books after this season.
Keys to the Game:
Clean the Glass: It isn’t a secret that the Hawks have had trouble keeping other teams off the glass this season. They are next to
Nov 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) reach for a rebound during the second half at Philips Arena. The Jazz defeated the Hawks 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
last in the NBA in total rebounding and longer teams with true centers continue to give them fits. While Brook Lopez isn’t what he once was, he still provides a formidable foe for the Hawks to deal with down low. Thaddeus Young, Joe Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson all rebound extremely well for their positions. The Hawks can’t afford to give up second chance points on the road without two of their star players. Both Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Tiago Splitter are going to have to make it a point of emphasis to keep the Nets off of the offensive glass.
Get out in Transition: One of the reasons why the Nets aren’t a good team is that they lack quality depth. Their starting five is good enough to compete with any team on most nights, but when you look at what they have coming off the bench you see why they are currently 1-9. Bogdanovich, Larkin, Bargnani and Ellington aren’t going to scare anyone in this league. And even though the Hawks are without two starters, they have a deeper bench and should try and get into an up and down type of game with the Nets. Get their starters tired and off the floor so that you can go to work on that bench. The Hawks have the roster to do it, especially when they go a little smaller. They have shooters that can stretch the floor and open up the middle and a PG who is as quick as anyone with the ball in his hands. Coach Bud should let Schroder go tonight and tell him to run whenever possible.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlanta Hawks
- PG: Dennis Schroder
- SG: Kyle Korver
- SF: Thabo Sefolosha
- PF: Paul Millsap
- C: Al Horford
Notes: Jeff Teague (ankle) and Kent Bazemore (ankle) didn’t travel with the team and will not be available for Tuesday’s game.
Brooklyn Nets
- PG: Jarrett Jack
- SG: Joe Johnson
- SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- PF: Thaddeus Young
- C: Brook Lopez
Other News & Notes:
- The Hawks have now lost 3 of their last 4 after winning 7 straight
- The Hawks have won 6 straight regular season matchups against Brooklyn
- Dennis Schroder will make his second consecutive start at PG for the injured Teague
- The Nets are dead last in the NBA in three point shooting
- Tonight’s game will be aired on Fox Sports South (TV) and on 92.9 The Game (Radio)
Next: Hawks vs Nets: Pre-Game Analysis
Visit Soaring Down South, daily for Atlanta Hawks news and anlysis.