Hoopinion: Opening Night Preview: Atlanta Hawks (0-0) at Memphis Grizzlies (0-0)

[Hawksquawk]

TIP-OFF: 8pm (EDT)

TELEVISION: SportSouth

RADIO: The Hawks have moved to 97.9 on the FM dial this season.

CHAT: Daily Dime Live

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Grizzlies

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: Pape Sy is out.

MEMPHIS INJURY REPORT: Marc Gasol, Greivis Vasquez, and Acie Law IV are all listed as day-to-day.

BY THE NUMBERS

2009-10	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (off)	88.8	1.134	50.6	21.3	28.2	13.3
MEM (def)	92.3	1.115	52	27.1	26.7	15.3

2009-10	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (def)	88.8	1.083	49.7	28	27.2	15.4
MEM (off)	92.3	1.098	49.2	23.5	31.3	16.2

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Memphis -2.5, 195 o/u

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: 3 Shades of Blue

PREVIOUSLY...the Memphis Grizzlies won 40 games in 2009-10 despite a 2-9 finish to the season. To the fourth-most successful team in franchise history they've added Tony Allen and Acie Law IV as veteran backcourt depth, Damien Wilkins to their stable of poor reserve small forwards, drafted Greivis Vasquez and Xavier Henry, and hope for a strong return from a healthy Darrell Arthur while losing only Marcus Williams and Jamaal Tinsley from those who played 500 minutes for them last season.

The early indicators for the 2010-11 Grizzlies are promising. Memphis won all 8 of their exhibition games (including a 115-111 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta). Only three teams did that in the past nine seasons (the 2009-10 Orlando Magic, the 2008-09 New Orleans Hornets, and the 2002-03 Detroit Pistons) and each of those teams won at least 49 games.

The Hawks enter the game tied for first in the Southeast Division, one-half game ahead of the Miami Heat.

Consider this an open thread for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game (but pre-recap) thoughts.

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