“Who He Play For?” I had a little fun with some associates recently, armed with a list of names from the Clark Atlanta University Panthers men’s hoops team and people who have suited up this season for the Philadelphia 76ers, the opponents for tonight’s alleged NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, CSN Philly). Only the hardest-core NBA aficionados had any earthly idea who was on which team without resorting to hunches. Lorenzo Brown? Derek Harper? Casper Ware? Brandon Davies? Kevin James? James Arnold? James Anderson? Dwayne Bingham? DeWayne Dedmon? Darius Morris? Darius Bonner?

Of course, as The Rock might advise, it matters not what your name is if you can’t defeat this bunch of NBA jobber jabronis. The Hawks can thank Josh Smith for many things this season, and on Saturday night his Pistons saved the faltering Hawks from the prospect of becoming The Losing Team That Lost to Some Losers to End the Losingest Losing Streak in Recorded Professional Sports History. Brandon Jennings got Pistoff over a call not even against him, and elected to hit up Geno’s early. His teammates went on to absorb a pummeling not seen in the City of Brotherly Shove since the days of ECW Arena, a 123-98 tankerrific thrashing at the hands of the Sixers.

The Philly Phaithphul aren’t exactly certain whether they want their Sixers to be Jabronis for Jabari, Embarrassing for Embiid, or Winless for Wiggins, but in any case, they see no need for the team to overextend themselves and lessen their lottery-ball fortunes. The team itself though, might disagree. For all its losing efforts since January, Philly still sits two games “in front” of Larry Drew’s Bucks, and a few hard-earned victories won’t endanger switching spots with the Magic, Jazz, or Celtics.

So, with the monkey ejected from Philly’s back, and the Stephen A. Smiths of the world having skipped town, what’s to keep them from going on a little streak? Good question, particularly against a Hawks team that is unintentionally fumbling away its postseason chances, Mike Woodson’s Knicks nipping at their talons at just one game behind in the Leastern Conference.

After all, it was Atlanta, behind Mike Scott and ex-Sixer Elton Brand (18 points apiece off the bench in a 125-99 win), that got this whole march to infamy going for Philly way back on January 31. Rather than playing the slumpbuster role again, why wouldn’t Head Coach Brett Brown encourage his youthful Sixers (no player above age 25 on the roster) to exact a spirited measure of payback against his former fellow Spurs assistant?

During Atlanta’s current slide, we’ve learned that even those Clark Atlanta Panthers could probably give the Hawks a good run without a healthy Kyle Korver (back spams) on the floor. After missing each of the last six Hawks losses, the former 76er practiced today and is considered likely to return to the lineup tonight alongside DeMarre Carroll (tummy virus) who was a scratch in Saturday night’s loss to the Wizards.

Among the things Brett Brown’s squad has going for them is a breakneck pace where his team is directed to get to the rim (NBA-leading 35.8 restricted-area field goal attempts per game; 56.1 restricted-area FG%, 28^th in NBA) and do it quickly (league-leading pace of 102 possessions per 48 minutes).

The Sixers will also keep the Benny Hill-style back-and-forth going by mastering the art of the steal (NBA-high 9.3 SPG). Led by good-soldier Thaddeus Young (2.2 SPG; 29 points and 5 steals vs. Atlanta on January 31), Philadelphia ranks 3^rd in the league with 49.4 points-in-the-paint per game, and fifth in the NBA with 17.4 fast break points. A sloppily-played game on both ends works to Philadelphia's advantage.

Unfortunately, they have no reliable shooters on the floor (50.4 FG% in-the-paint, last in NBA; 37.2 FG% on mid-range twos, 25^th in NBA; 31.0 team 3FG%, last in NBA), and few reliable rebounders to sop up all the missed shots and extend possessions. They're relying on guys like Jarvis Varnado and Davies to help out starter Henry Sims (15.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG last five games) at the 5-spot, with Byron Mullens (ankle) and Arnett Moultrie (munchies) unavailable to chip in tonight. After the team’s February fire sale, the team’s most efficient rebounder is rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams (8.4 RPG, 6.3 APG), not the worst thing in the world given his advantageous 6-foot-6 height, but certainly not a factor conducive to winning basketball.

To end their slide and make this contest as painless as it should be, Paul Millsap (35.2 FG% and 25.0 3FG% in his last five games) must control the action on the low block and avoid the easy strips from Young. Anytime the Sixers reach, the Hawks guards must be ready to teach. Jeff Teague and former Sixers Lou Williams and Shelvin Mack must take advantage of Philly’s persistent gambles by driving inside and finding the open man for decisive shots.

Go Hawks!

~lw3