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The Hawks had a chance to make the Southeast division race even tighter heading toward the All-Star break, but Miami left the Highlight Factory smokin'.
The Atlanta Hawks were unable to keep up with the high scoring Miami Heat offense and fell for the second time in three games against the Heat, this time by a score of 107-87. The Hawks were outplayed in every facet in Sunday night's game; they were not able to rebound the ball, could not force any turnovers and shot 39 percent from the field.
The Heat had five players score in double figures with LeBron James leading the way with 23 points and Dwyane Wade scoring 21. While the Heat did not shoot the ball all that well at 45 percent, but they made up for that by getting to the free throw line 31 times while making 26 of them. The Hawks were not aggressive in getting to the line as they went 6-of-7.
The one Hawk player that had a decent game was Willie Green who came off the bench to score 17 points, and Joe Johnson was the only Hawk who managed to score in double-digits with 12.
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Heat fans should check out Peninsula is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
The Atlanta Hawks offense has failed to keep up with the Miami Heat in the first half and trail 63-41 at the half. The two teams were actually tied at 16 points apiece in the first quarter but the Heat went on a 14-2 to run to lead 30-18 after the first quarter. The second quarter was much of the same as the Heat had another 14-2 run, and now lead the Hawks by 22 points at halftime.
The Heat's Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, are all in double figures and have combined for 45 points which outscores the Hawks complete first half output. Wade is leading the way for the Heat with 21 points, and James has 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists so far.
No Hawk is in double figures and as a team they are shooting only 37 percent from the field compared to the Heat who are shooting 47 percent. Another reason for the Hawks to be trailing is that they are 4-of-5 from the line while the Heat are 19-of-22.
The leading score for the Hawks is Joe Johnson who has eight points, and the four other starters each have six points each.
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Heat fans should check out Peninsula is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
According to ESPN.com's John Hollinger, the Atlanta Hawks are 99.1 percent certain to make the playoffs after starting the season with an 18-9 record. Atlanta currently sits in the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference which would give them home court advantage in the first round if the playoffs started today.
The last time the Atlanta Hawks saw the Heat they suffered a 116-109 triple-overtime loss to a Miami team that was without both Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Atlanta let their guard down that night and suffered a somewhat embarrassing loss. Wade and James are both healthy now and the Heat will have the Hawks full attention Sunday night at Philips Arena.
Atlanta captured a 100-92 win over the Heat in Miami earlier this season. In that matchup Atlanta was successful at slowing the pace and did a good job forcing Miami to settle for long jump shots rather than drives to the basket.
This game continues a difficult stretch for the Hawks who depart on a five-game road trip after Sunday's game. The Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 89-87 in the first meeting since Atlanta's first-round victory last season.
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Heat fans should check ou Peninsula is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to gain ground when they host the Miami Heat Sunday night. The Hawks have turned it around after losing two straight games and are now riding a three-game winning streak. This is the third meeting between the Heat and the Hawks on Sunday night with each team winning once. The last time these two teams played it was on Jan. 5, and the Heat, who were without LeBron James and Chris Bosh, won in overtime, 116-109.
One of the biggest keys to the game is whether the Hawks defense can find a way to slow down the Heat's up tempo offense, which is second in the league in scoring, with 102 per game. The Hawks' one of the better one in the league, ranked fifth in points allowed, so they should be able to handle themselves against the Heat offense.
So far this season the road team has won when these two teams get together.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. ET
Location: Phillips Arena, Atlanta, Ga.
TV: ESPN
Radio: 680 The Fan, 93.7 FM
Online Streaming: ESPN3
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Heat fans should check ou Peninsula is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
As the Atlanta Hawks finished off the Orlando Magic in overtime on Friday night, they have put themselves in a position where they are within reach of being atop the division or being lumped into the middle of the pack.
The Hawks are two games behind the Southeast division leaders, the Miami Heat, as the midway point of the season approaches. The Hawks are also two games ahead of the Magic, and as the Hawks begin preparing for their showdown with the Heat on Sunday the opportunity lies in front of them to make the division a two-team race.
The Hawks have added some depth with former Heat center Erick Dampier, as he was signed to a 10-day contract on Thursday. Maybe he can share a few secrets when he gets suited up, as the Hawks and Heat square off Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
For more on the Atlanta Hawks head on over to Peachtree Hoops. For more on the Miami Heat check out Peninsula Is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA check out SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.
NBA Power Rankings 2012: The Atlanta Hawks Need To Give Josh Smith Some Tough Love
The Atlanta Hawks will have a day off recover from their 20-point loss to Miami Heat as they prepare for their Valentine's Day (massacre?) matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. The Hawks struggled to prevent the Heat from getting to the line and will have to deal with an even bigger frontline (Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol) and craftier guard (Kobe Bryant) in the Lakers. Larry Drew, good luck sir.
Tom Ziller recently posted his NBA Power Rankings "of love" on Monday and his call out of players like Tracy McGrady, Josh Smith, Ivan Johnson and Vladimir Radmanovic essentially being potential lighter fluid to a burning fire was intriguing.
If the Hawks get positive contributions from those four players then they are as good as any team in the league. When they fail to get anything positive from them, they struggle mightily. While players like McGrady, Johnson and Radmanovic has much lower expectations put on their shoulders, its the unsteady performances from "J-Smoove" that prevent him from getting the respect that he probably deserves.
8 points and 7 rebounds against your division rival isn't going to cut it from a player who's arguably the most talented on the entire roster.
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Heat fans should check out Peninsula is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
Feb 13 5:16p by Eddie Maisonet