Atlanta Hawks Game Preview: Jan. 18 Detroit Pistons
The Atlanta Hawks head to Detroit to battle the Pistons on Wednesday night. Can they win their third consecutive game?
Much like Hansel from “Zoolander”, the Atlanta Hawks are so hot right now. After a Friday night loss to the Boston Celtics, they bounced back by beating the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks on consecutive days.
They’ve won eight of their last nine games, and will go for their third consecutive win Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons. The Hawks are 24-17 on the season and on pace to match last season’s total of 48 wins.
That is amazing when you consider where this team was just one month ago. On Dec. 17, they lost to the Charlotte Hornets, giving them a 13-14 record, and sending them tumbling towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Halfway through the season, they look like a lock to make the postseason.
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The Pistons are the opposite of hot. After being pegged as a contender for a top four seed in the Eastern Conference before the season, Detroit has struggled to even stay close to the playoff picture.
They currently have a 19-24 record, and have lost three of their last four games. What went wrong? I’m not sure anyone knows the answer to that. But if you do, Stan Van Gundy would very much like to pick your brain this afternoon.
When you think about it, these teams are mirror images of one another. They each have a talented point guard with a streaky jump-shot.
They both have enormous centers that grab rebounds with reckless abandon and struggle from the free-throw line. They also don’t have enough shooters to surround those guys with. The difference? A versatile, two-way power forward named Paul Millsap. But that’s just one man’s opinion.
The Hawks and Pistons have already played twice this season, with each team taking a game. How will things shake out tonight in Motor City?