Hoopinion: January 5th Game Preview: Atlanta Hawks (23-14) @ Utah Jazz (24-11)

[Hawksquawk]

TIP-OFF: 9pm (EST)

TELEVISION: SportSouth

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

CHAT: Daily Dime Live

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Jazz

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: Marvin Williams is not with the team.

UTAH INJURY REPORT: Paul Millsap is questionable. Mehmet Okur is out.

BY THE NUMBERS

2010-11	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (off)	90.3	1.071	50.9	22.7	23.6	15.4
UTA (def)	90.4	1.063	48.3	36	29	14.3

2010-11	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (def)	90.5	1.047	48.3	27	25.3	14.4
UTA (off)	90.4	1.096	49.9	25.8	25.2	12.8

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: Salt City Hoops, SLC Dunk

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Utah -5, 190.5 o/u

PREVIOUSLY...the Utah Jazz, like the Atlanta Hawks, are undefeated in 2011. It could be argued that Atlanta's two wins, as they came on the road, are more impressive than Utah's 98-92 and 102-97 home wins over Memphis and Detroit.

The Jazz provide a good chance for the Hawks in their efforts to improve their offensive play against quality opposition. Utah rank 15th in the league in defensive efficiency. Half of Atlanta's 12 games against teams with winning records have come against three teams (Orlando, Boston, and Miami) ranked in the top 4 in the league in defensive efficiency and 9 of the 12 games have come against teams ranked in the top 9 in the league in defensive efficiency.

The Jazz beat the Hawks 90-86 on November 12th in Atlanta. The Hawks blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead in that game.

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

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