Hawks at Bobcats
THE STORY:
After spending the last three games battling the Miami Heat (twice) and
the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks get to take a step down in
competition level when they visit the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. The
Bobcats made a run at the playoffs late last season when Paul Silas was
named interim coach and he managed to convince the team that defense was
a key to success. Silas is back this season, but the defensive mindset
has not carried over. The Bobcats are yielding an average of 107.5
points - the worst mark in the NBA. They surrendered 110 at the New York
Knicks on Wednesday but were fortunate to be running into a team with
similar defensive issues and ended up with a 118-110 triumph. The Hawks
might not have the legs to keep pace with Charlotte’s scoring after
losing in triple overtime 116-109 to Miami on Thursday night.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), SportSouth (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (4-3):
Atlanta looked as though it was primed to step up in the Southeast
Division with an injury-plagued Heat team visiting on Thursday. But the
Hawks could not pull away despite LeBron James and Dwyane Wade watching
in street clothes. Joe Johnson scored 20 points in the setback but shot
only 7 for 20 from the field and missed a free throw that would have
sealed it in regulation. Johnson is 10 of 37 (27 percent) in the last
two games - both losses.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (2-4):
Charlotte has given up 113.5 points over its last four games, with the
last three coming on the road. Friday’s contest is the lone home game in
a stretch of five of six away from North Carolina. The Bobcats found a
way to win in spite of their defense on Wednesday, when six players
reached double figures and the team shot 55.3 percent from the floor at
Madison Square Garden. Boris Diaw and Gerald Henderson led the charge,
combining for 51 points on 22-of-28 shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Southeast Division rivals split four meetings last season, with Charlotte taking the final two.
2. Diaw’s breakout came after he had gone scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting in a loss at Cleveland.
3. Johnson has averaged 21.9 points in his career against the Bobcats - his best mark against any team.