Can the Nets keep the Hawks out of their hair?

Opponent File
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks play in the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Their 2006 - 2007 record was 30- 52 (last in the Southeast). Here is the Atlanta Hawks roster.

Local Papers:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Hawks
Team Pages:
CNNSI.com | Hawks
ESPN.com | Hawks
FoxSports | Hawks
NBA.com | Hawks
Sportsline.com | Hawks

Head Coach: Mike Woodson
2007 Draft: F Al Horford, (#3), Florida; G Acie Law (#11), Texas A&M.
New Players: None.
Season Goal:Changing more than just the color of the uni, hope is filled with playoff dreams. A new ownership group sure would help.
Record vs. Nets: 0 - 2
G4: Nets 87, Hawks 82
G33: Nets 113, Hawks 107

Other Opponent Files

Atlanta Hawks (18 - 24) - Saturday, February 2, 2008, 7:00PM EST - Philips Arena
Bird Brained?
Oh, the critics are out to get Hawks coach Mike Woodson, now that the Hawks have dropped 6 of 7 and 12 of 16. What started as promise, with the Hawks starting off sharp, has turned sour, just like a certain team from NJ. And just like these Nets, the blame is falling on the coach and the lack of results in the past three years, though there is no imminent trade of any superstars forthcoming. What the Hawks do have is a young, athletic team featuring questionable All Star Joe Johnson (more deserving than Richard Jefferson?), Josh Smith, and rookie Al Horford, but one that still needs to learn how to win. So does that put it on the coach? Depends on the situation you would guess, because if a player appears to be tanking it, well...let's not go there. Assume for the moment that Woodson figures out how to give the Nets a game, and let's see if the Nets can fight fatigue and controversy to bring home their third straight win.

Why Should You Watch? Nenad Krstic makes his return from injury (again, but this time they say he's ready to play). Can Jason Kidd keep up the facade and just go out with teammates he'd rather not be with and win? Can Vince Carter find the zeal missing from his game? There are so many interesting subplots to each and every Nets game now (like what will Lawrence Frank do without Jason Collins?), there will always be drama. Show me an All Star game from Joe Johnson, hard to imagine he's had a better season than Jefferson.
- Joe

Atlanta Hawks Cheat Sheet
The Story From Atlanta: From the Atlanta Journal Constitution: Coach Mike Woodson is on the hot seat, but he claims to not be thinking about it. "I'm not thinking about anything else but the New Jersey Nets," Woodson said. "People can talk about my job and do whatever they need to do there, but that's not my concern. I'm still the coach here and my job is to get these guys ready to play against the Nets. And every game that we play, we have a four game stretch we've got to take care of here, becomes an opportunity for us to turn things around."

Pain Game: PG Speedy Claxton (knee) is out. The Nets, with Nenad Krstic's return, are claiming no injuries (except perhaps to pride).

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