Atlanta Hawks take on Philadelphia 76ers
At Atlanta Hawks it is all about Larry Drew these days, who is the lucky chap with his first NBA coaching win for Atlanta. There is another coach in the mix: Doug Collins of Philadelphia 76ers is desperately waiting for his first
win as a 76ers coach. It was not his lucky day when his team was posed against a Miami Heat Big Three, who were desperately trying to prove their worth. They proved it beating 76ers 97-87 in great style. Dwyane Wade led the way for Heat with his 30 points,
helped by LeBron James of course.
Evan Turner was the catch of the game for the 76ers as he scored 16 points in his 1st NBA game. Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young helped them with 15 points each. Collins blamed it all on the starters saying his starters
were not necessarily his best players. His starters Jason Kapono, Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday combined for a total of 8 points.
The 119-104 road victory of Atlanta Hawks against Memphis Grizzlies was just too overwhelming for Larry Drew as he watched his players take the court by storm. Joe Johnson was the top scorer for Hawks with his 22 points and Zaza
Pachulia helped him out with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Crawford, the reserve guard for the Hawks scored 13 points. Mike Bibby added another 19 points and contributed to Atlanta’s fourth season opener win in a row.
The turning point of the game for the Hawks was Johnson’s 3-pointer that gave Hawks a 111-91 lead in the game. The result was not that big a surprise since Hawks have won eight of their last nine regular-season games against Memphis
and have a win-loss average of 20-10 against them.
The surprise would be a 76ers win against Hawks Friday night if the 76ers manage it well. Hawks are no Heat, nor do they have the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but they can still pose a threat to 76ers with
their good form. Drew is making the Hawks follow an up-tempo system as he thinks that is the way his team should play. They have to fly around with all the energy they have.
Philadelphia, who are trying to do the same, average a little over 90 points per game in their last five home games against the Hawks. Despite this record, they are not the underdogs in the game since everyone remembers their offensive
performance against the Heat. The star-studded Heat was outscored and outshined 33-17 by the 76ers in the fourth quarter that reaffirmed their presence in the game.
It’s the first time after 2005-06 when Philadelphia has started off a season with a loss. Collins has not yet made it clear if he would start with a change in the line up. His comments about the starters suggest that he might take
a chance with Evan Tuner in the starting line up for his shining NBA debut.
Hawks would be missing Maurice Evans tonight because of a knee injury. Their performance was outstanding in the season opener but it remains to be seen if they continue with consistency and come ready to play each night. Evan Turner
was a blessing for the 76ers in their Miami Heat encounter, but it is high time to watch if he continues being one or not.
The basic points for the Hawks to watch for are the 76ers’ point guards. Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday would be difficult to cover for Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford. It’s Jeff Teague who has to come out and play some good Basketball
for the Hawks in Friday’s game. Al Horford would have to bounce back with his super game. 76ers need an attacking game from Spencer Hawes, who struggled with injury during most of his exhibition season, and struggled some more in their loss to Heat. The way
the Hawks handle the loss of Maurice Evans would decide their fate. Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford would have to work a little harder to take the athletic advantage they have over the 76ers.
A good game is expected by the fans that are waiting for the 76ers to bounce back at one end and wish for a consistent Hawks at the other. The outcome will decide both teams’ fate.
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