Hawks at Nets
THE STORY:
Atlanta's window of opportunity to move into the upper region in the
Eastern Conference may have slammed shut as it heads into its season
opener. The Hawks won nine fewer games in 2010-11 than they did the
previous season and have lost in the conference semifinals of the
playoffs in each of the last three seasons. New Jersey rallied to win
its opener at Washington on Monday. The Nets, who came back from a
21-point deficit for a 90-84 victory, needed some good news after center
Brook Lopez went down with a broken foot before the season began. The
injury not only means the Nets will be without one of their best players
for 6-to-8 weeks, it takes them out of the running for any immediate
chance to trade for Dwight Howard. The Nets will be playing their final
home opener in New Jersey before they move to Brooklyn next season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sports South (Atlanta), YES (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (0-0):
It appears the core of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford and Marvin
Williams has taken the Hawks as far as they will go. Atlanta shows signs
of being a solid team each season, but falls short when it matters
most. The Hawks lost high-scoring guard Jamal Crawford to Portland,
which will leave a void in the backcourt. Atlanta signed Tracy McGrady
and Jerry Stackhouse, two veterans who are well past their prime.
Atlanta was 44-38 last season.
ABOUT THE NETS (1-0):
Stirring road wins and the Nets aren't usually found in the same
sentence, but that's what happened Monday. New Jersey trailed 38-17 in
the second quarter, but the Nets changed the ending this time around.
The lead was down to 45-37 by halftime and New Jersey took the lead in
the third quarter. Washington then grabbed an eight-point lead, but the
Nets went on a 9-0 run and took control.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split four games last season. The Nets won both contests in New Jersey. The teams meet again Friday in Atlanta.
2. Atlanta and Utah are the only teams in the league which haven't played a game.
3.
Kris Humphries, the new No. 1 villain in the NBA, scored 21 points and
had 16 rebounds Monday, despite being booed the entire game. Humphries
was rated the least popular player in the league in a recent poll when
his marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian ended after 72 days.