While I'm not sure what's up with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, but for some reason or another, they are sporting green headbands tonight. Whatever the reason, it seems to be working.
Smith has nine points and four boards and Johnson six to post the Atlanta Hawks to a 23-21 lead over the Houston Rockets through one quarter at the Toyota Center.
Chuck Hayes has eight points and Kevin Martin six for the Rockets, who are shooting 53-percent (9-for-17) from the field.
The Hawks erased a seven-point deficit in a quarter where they shot 50-percent (10-for-20) from the field. Both teams had nine rebounds in the first 12 minutes of the basketball game.
A lot of the points on both sides of the floor have come in the paint. The Hawks are going to have to do a better job fronting the Houston bigs if they want to build on this lead. The good news is that the Hawks are also getting inside and converting and the lazy jump shots have been held to a minimum.