Hoopinion: December 16th Game Preview: Atlanta Hawks (16-10) @ Boston Celtics (20-4)

[Hawksquawk]

TIP-OFF: 8pm (EST)

TELEVISION: TNT

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

CHAT: Daily Dime Live

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Celtics

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford are out.

BOSTON INJURY REPORT: Kendrick Perkins, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, and Delonte West are out. Rajon Rondo sprained his left ankle last night but expects to play tonight. Rondo will, in fact, be out for "weeks."

BY THE NUMBERS

2010-11	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (off)	90.3	1.08	51	22.6	23.7	14.9
BOS (def)	89.6	1.014	47.2	32.7	23.1	17.8

2010-11	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (def)	90.6	1.059	49	28.3	25.6	14.5
BOS (off)	89.6	1.12	54.4	23.4	21.7	16.2

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: Celtics Hub, CelticsBlog

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Boston -7, 187 o/u

PREVIOUSLY...the Boston Celtics have won 11 straight games, including last night's delightful 118-116 win in New York. The win streak began with Boston's 99-76 demolition of the Hawks in Atlanta on November 22nd. Six of the eleven wins in the current streak have come on the road. The entire streak has come in the absence of Kendrick Perkins and Jermaine O'Neal, nine of the wins have occurred after Delonte West broke his wrist, three wins came when Rajon Rondo was in street clothes, and Shaquille O'Neal has been sidelined for the last three wins.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen are aging gracefully.

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

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