Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Hawks got Shaq'ed by the Heat on Friday 106-96and lost a heartbreaker in Memphis 84-83to the Grizzlies when Tyronn Lue's last-second shot clanged off the rim. They have just one game remaining, just one chance to bring January's win total to four. Can they add Orlando to the list of teams (Milwaukee, Boston, and Charlotte) that Atlanta beat in this first month of the new year?
The Hawks have only beaten three teams this season that currently have winning records: Dallas, Houston, and Detroit. The first two of those were back in November. The Detroit game was Atlanta's best win of the season, though it came against a Detroit team slightly depleted by injury in that they were missing last year's Hawk-for-a-day Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, and dates back to December 10.
That's seven weeks and counting that the Hawks haven't beaten a winning team.
All that could change as they face their divisional foes tonight. There seems to be no real chance of the Hawks making the playoffs this season but as anyone who knows Antoine Walker will tell you, he never likes to go out without a fight. These remaining games will prove to be an unpleasant surprise to any opponent who isn't prepared to take them seriously.
NEXT GAME
The Hawks (8-34, fifth in the Southeast) take on the Orlando Magic (24-19, third in the Southeast) in Georgia TONIGHT, Monday, January 31st, 2005. The game starts at 7:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on FSO, Sun Sports, and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Hawks Fans, don't miss a chance to get to know your team better on and off the court with the new internet radio show HAWK TALK ONLINE!Join Hawks broadcasters Bob Rathbun and Steve Holman as they discuss the team, the NBA, and other basketball issues.
INJURY UPDATE
Donta Smith(knee),Kenny Anderson(calf), andChris Crawford (knee) are all on the injured list. Crawford is out for the season.Jason Collier(flu) andPredrag Drobnjak(ankle) are questionable for tonight's game.