The Atlanta Hawks look like a team that is playing on the back end of a back-to-back in their Wednesday matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Jamal Crawford missed this one with turf toe. Yes, I know the court is made of wood and not turf. However, the league's reining Sixth Man of the Year was unable to put his foot in a shoe tonight and I'm pretty sure the league won't let you play in your socks.
The Hawks have struggled to keep pace with a Detroit team that is nowhere in the same zip code talent-wise with the Hawks.
Thankfully, Atlanta has some guy named Josh Smith on the roster. (Nope, he hasn't been traded just yet., sorry ESPN.) J-Smoove has 12 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks in the first half, including one of those 3-pointers that makes many a Hawks fan scream "noooooooooooooooooo" at the TV when he launches them, to give Atlanta trail by just four at the break.
Also starring in this one is Joe Johnson, who has eight points and four assists in the first 24 minutes and Zaza Pachulia, who has poured in six. Atlanta has lost the battle of the boards by 19-14 margin. If the Hawks want to remain undefeated, they are going to have to figure out a way to slow down Ben Gordon. He is running all over the court and has a game-high 14 points for the team from Michigan.