 |
| The Nets managed to get rid of this guy in a trade for Joe Johnson. Verdict: Success. Note: The player pictured above is former Nets and current Hawks center Johan Petro, not Beaker from the Muppets |
When: 7:30 PM; Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
Where: Philips Arena; Atlanta, Georgia
TV: YES Network
"I'm coming home again/Do you think about me now and then?" Those lines, from Kanye West's "Homecoming" (a personal favorite of mine) set the story pretty well for tonight's Nets-Hawks meeting in Atlanta at the oft-empty Philips Arena. An astounding seven players in this game have also been on the roster of the other team in recent seasons (for the current Nets: Damion James, Joe Johnson, and Jerry Stackhouse. For the current Hawks: Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro (ugh), DeShawn Stevenson) most of which via this summer's deal sending Johnson to the Nets. Others, like James and Stackhouse, made divergent ways from Atlanta to Brooklyn through free agency and Harris spent a short intermediate stint in Utah (after being part of the deal that brought D-Will to the Nets) before heading to the Hawks.
However, the game will be more than just a family reunion as both teams are pretty close in the Eastern Conference standings, with Brooklyn being just one and a half games up on Atlanta. Up until around two weeks ago, those places in the standings were nearly reversed as since then, the Hawks have nosedived and nearly self-combusted, losing six of seven with some defeats coming at the hands of the Wizards, Cavs, Pistons and Bulls–the game in which they scored 20 1st-half points and 58 on the game. Fair to say, they aren't playing good at all right now, so the hot Nets are catching them at a great time.
The Nets also got some good news earlier today, regarding their potential ability to win tonight, when it was announced that Hawks star forward and sometimes hothead Josh Smith would be suspended for one game–the game tipping in a few–due to conduct detrimental to the team. For a team already missing Anthony Morrow and possibly Stevenson due to injury, the news of the suspension doesn't bode well for Atlanta's chances as his athleticism and toughness are qualities that would suit himself against the Nets frontcourt. Looks like Al Horford and Jeff Teague will have to lead the show in this game for the Hawks.
Probable Lineups
BKN- D-Will (PG), Johnson (SG), Bogans (SF), Evans (PF), Lopez (C)
ATL- Teague (PG), Harris (SG), Korver (SF), Horford (PF), Pachulia (C)
Final Thoughts
Gerald Wallace won't start but, according to some tweets from Nets beat writers, he might get some action later on. Also, it will be interesting to see how Joe plays against his former team, the team that jettisoned him to Brooklyn for nothing more than a few role players and draft picks. Devin Harris will also be facing off against the player (Deron Williams) the Nets valued more highly when they traded for him a few years back. And we get to see Johan Petro again, which is a good thing because he isn't good at basketball but a bad thing because his style of play slightly Petro-fies me. Pun definitely intended.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
