Peachtree Hoops: Preview and Game Thread #21: Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat

[Hawksquawk]

 

Atlanta Hawks 10-11 Season Game  #21
	@
13-7		12-8
American Airlines Arena
December 4, 2010, 7:30 PM
SportSouth, 99X FM, Pre and Post Game Show 680 The Fan, NBA Audio League Pass
Probable starters:
Mike Bibby	PG	Carlos Arroyo
Maurice Evans	SG	Dwyane Wade
Marvin Williams	SF	LeBron James
Josh Smith	PF	Chris Bosh
Al Horford	C	Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Hawks Injury Report: Joe Johnson (elbow) is out

Heat Injury Report: Udonis Haslem (foot) and Mike Miller (thumb) are out.

SB Nation Heat Blog: Peninsula is Mightier

 

Game Preview:

The Miami Heat come into tonight's game with a quiet three game winnings streak and have quieted some of the controversy that has surfaced recently surrounding the team and coach Erik Spoelstra. Despite Miami's record, this Miami team is a very good team and it will take a complete team effort to attack their weaknesses. The Hawks come in riding a five game winning streak having posted a come from behind victory over the Philadelphia 76ers last night at Philips Arena. Atlanta (13-7) currently hold a one game lead over Miami (12-8) in the southeast division. 

Keys to the Game:

How big would this win be for a team like the Hawks who are missing one of their key players in Joe Johnson? The team should take advantage of the fact that no one expects them to win this game and play loose. Too often we have seen this group of Hawks tighten up against a much more advertised opponent. The blueprint to beating Miami is to attack them in the middle. That begins and ends with Al Horford tonight. Atlanta has to control the boards tonight and defensively must make Wade and James into jump shooters thus keeping them out of the paint. 

Bonus Preview: 

Some of my favorite LBJ articles from around the internet:

 

• Inside look at LeBron's free-agent coup
• Business as usual for LeBron and Maverick
• King James wants Spoelstra to bow to him

 

 

 

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