This game was supposed to mean so much more! *sniff*

It would have been so awesome if it were tonight’s hosts for the Atlanta Hawks, the Brooklyn Nets (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, YES Network), and not just Brooklyn’s division foes across the East River, playing for their postseason lives. Alas, while the New York Knicks continued to sputter all season long, the Nets (43-35) bounced back strongly from internal strife and a season-ending injury to Brook Lopez to post the best record in the Eastern Conference (33-14) since January 1.

Atlanta has a couple opportunities this weekend to build confidence as a probable 8^th seed. First, they could double their road record versus winning teams (1-21, the sole win in their last outing against Indiana) with a victory against a Nets team that hasn’t lost at the Barclays Center since January 31 (15 straight home wins). They could then return to Atlanta and pull off their second-consecutive home win against possible first-round opponents, the defending NBA champion Miami HEAT, on Saturday.

The Nets are all but certain to go into the postseason as the East’s 5^th seed. As such, Head Coach Jason Kidd is eager to rest players dealing with lingering ailments and injuries. Andray Blatche has been dealing with the flu, Shaun Livingston (toe) is already declared out, and Paul Pierce (hip pointer) remains questionable to appear. Alan Anderson will likely fill in the starting 2-spot for defensive purposes, while trade-deadline acquisition Marcus Thornton (shipped by Sacramento for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans) has been more than adequate when Brooklyn needs an offensive infusion.

Kevin Garnett has returned to the rotation after missing more than a month due to back spasms, although J-Kidd is slowly increasing, while monitoring, his floor time.

Of course, it hasn’t really mattered who has been available for the Nets ever since a buzzer-beater from Joe Moneybags plundered the Thunder back on January 2 and turned their entire season around. I posited in the now-dormant Netswatch thread that Joe puts on his cape only when there’s an individual accolade or personal goal to chase. His torrid January performances ceased right after the coaches voted him into the All-Star Game, but since the All-Star Break and particularly since mid-March, he’s played like a man who knows an All-NBA 3^rd Team nod is within reach. In his last 15 games, Joe has poured in 19.3 points per game while shooting 52.9 FG% and 44.6 3FG%.

Young bigs Mirza Teletovic and Mason Plumlee have stood in the gaps created by the absences of Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko and the trade of Evans. Teletovic has sunk five or more three-pointers on eight occasions this season, including sinking five of his 12 three-point attempts during the Nets’ loss in Orlando on Wednesday. Plumlee has averaged 13.3 PPG on 79.3 FG% in his last three games, which included a game-sealing block of LeBron James in Miami that, coupled with Indiana’s issues, left King LeBron with Bitter Beer Face when postgame media asked whether Brooklyn is their biggest threat for a return to the Finals.

Heading toward the playoffs, which of these two teams has a higher in-conference record? It’s a trick question, really, as both teams come in with a 25-23 record. Atlanta’s is perhaps more impressive given they have three other playoff teams in its division, while Brooklyn’s division has just one other Top-8 team.

On Wednesday, Jeff Teague took over at critical junctures to boost the Hawks past Rajon Rondo and the Celtics, avoiding a disastrous mid-week home sweep. Against the Nets, he’ll get a chance to show off his rediscovered jumpshot and finishing ability (20.0 PPG, 53.1 FG%, and 44.4 3FG% last five games; also 7.8 APG and 2.6 TO/G) as little brother Marquis watches on. Deron Williams will get some rest today as J-Kidd goes with Mexico's first NBA guard, Jorge Gutierrez (per-36: 8.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.8 SPG), as the starter. Jeff and the Hawks’ lead guards must dictate the pace-of-play and continue creating open looks for teammates. They’ll have to do those things while taking care of the ball against a Nets team that thrives on a slow-tempo offense (93.6 possessions per 48 minutes, 6^th lowest pace in NBA) and an opportunistic defense (14.9 opponent turnover percentage, 3^rd best in NBA).

DeMarre Carroll has struggled of late with his outside shot (1-for-10 3FGs), but getting him or Lou Williams going from long-range alongside Kyle Korver can help open up the middle for Paul Millsap (19.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 46.6 FG% in last 20 games) and Elton Brand (old-school 13-and-13, plus 3 steals against Boston on Wednesday). If Pero Antić (ankle) can play tonight, he can be useful in offsetting Teletovic’s three-point production off the bench.

Head Coach Mike Budenholzer would love to rest his starters sooner rather than later, no one moreso than Millsap, who has been treated in similar fashion to Waffle House has browns by recent opponents. But he can’t sit these guys until the 8^th seed is locked down. If Carmelo can’t provide heroics tonight in Toronto, a win tonight on the herringbone floor would seal up that final playoff spot and allow us to enjoy the exploits of Mike Muscala the rest of the way.

Go Hawks!

~lw3