You'd have to think at some point the Atlanta Hawks' recent free fall has to stop. Thanksgiving night may be the perfect time for Atlanta's snake bitten basketball team to get back onto the right side of the win column.
The Hawks hope to extend their winning streak over the lowly Wizards to 11 when the two team meet in a nationally televised turkey night game at Philips Arena (8:00 PM, TNT).
Washington comes back to Atlanta at the perfect time. The wheels have seemingly come off of the bus for the Hawks, who began the season at 6-0, but enter this one dropping three in a row and seven of their last nine games.
About the only thing that has gone right for the Hawks over the past few weeks is that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat have been just as brutal on the court as Atlanta. The Hawks (8-7) enter play on Thursday tied with the supposed unbeatable Heat (8-7) for second place in the Southeast Division.
Atlanta came close to getting back to its winning ways on Tuesday in Newark. However, the club allowed New Jersey to score the game's first nine points and never were able to reclaim the lead. They did manage to send the game into overtime before dropping a 107-101 decision in Brick City.
Luckily for the Hawks, Washington has played the part of a Thanksgiving turkey over the past few years. Atlanta carved up the team from the Nation's capital each and every time since the Wizards took a 102-98 overtime decision here on Jan. 11, 2008.
Another encouraging fact is that everybody beats the Wiz on the road this season. Washington comes into Atlanta 0-6 away from the Verizon Center. Nevertheless, the Hawks must come out ready to play this one as any team can beat another in this league on any given night.
Rookie John Wall had his second-best game as a pro the last time these two teams met in Atlanta's 99-95 win here in Atlanta's home opener on Oct. 30. The No. 1 overall pick posted 28 points and dished nine assists for the fourth place Wizards. Joe Johnson lead Atlanta with 25 points in that win.