The 40-win Hawks face their most challenging week of the season, including three consecutive games against teams with 30 or more wins. Sandwiched in the middle of those three is the long awaited game between the NBA's two top teams.
MINI-POWER RANKINGS FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK
The Hawks have games this week against:
New Orleans (Monday | 8:00 PM | Smoothie King Center | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game)
Washington (Wednesday | 7:30 PM | Philips Arena | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game | Get Tickets)
Golden State (Friday | 7:30 PM | Philips Arena | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game | Get Tickets)
Memphis (Sunday | 6:00 PM | FedExForum | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game)
1. Atlanta: If the season ended today, the Hawks' winning percentage of 0.833 would be the fifth-best mark in NBA history. The team is on pace for a previously unthinkable 68 wins.
2. Golden State: The Warriors lead the NBA in net rating, outscoring opponents by an astounding 12.6 points per 100 possessions. The Hawks rank second with a net rating of 7.8.
3. Memphis: This game is the trap game for the Hawks, even if the streak ends earlier in the week. Two days after the biggest game of the season, the Hawks hit the road again for a game with the 35-12 Grizz. Memphis, a physical, defensive-minded team, has won 9 of 10 games since acquiring Jeff Green from the Celtics.
4. Washington: On Dec. 29, the Hawks and Wizards were tied for the Southeast Division lead with identical 22-8 records. Since then, the Hawks have built up a 9-game lead and Washington has played 0.500 basketball (9-9).
5. New Orleans: Somehow the bottom team in the mini-rankings has the player who is arguably best player in the NBA. Anthony Davis is leading the NBA in blocks (2.9 per game) for the second consecutive season, while averaging 24.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. The 6'10" power forward missed the Pelicans' most recent game Friday with a left abductor strain after being listed as 'questionable'.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Stephen Curry vs. Jeff Teague. Until this season, the lowest three-point percentage compiled by Steph Curry in a single season had been 42.4%. This season, he's at 39.5%. On the other hand, Curry is playing the best defense of his career and the Warriors have a 37-8 record.
For his part, Teague keeps reiterating the primacy of winning. "We just want to wiiin," he said recently, delightfully dragging out the vowel sound for emphasis. "I don't think anyone cares (about the stats). As long as we win, that's all that matters. Winning is the whole thing. Points and assists and stuff like that, we really don't care. We just want the 'W'." For the record, if the season ended today, Teague's averages of 16.8 points and 7.5 assists per game would be career highs.
SOMETHING SEEN...
Kent Bazemore stuck with Wes Matthews before the catch and held himself down on the pump fake. Then he smothered the shot off Matthews' face AND collected a reflexive rebound. Perhaps the best part is Coach Budenholzer wasting no time as he urged Bazemore to the other end of the court.
SOMETHING HEARD
"Yeah. You can thank Kent Bazemore for that. He brought that to us. His energy from the bench, when he gets into a game, he brings a whole different attitude to our team. And we needed that. He livens up the whole locker room."
-- Jeff Teague, when asked about the high enthusiasm level of the players on the Hawks bench
IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN, BUT WE HOPE IT DOES...
If the Hawks win in New Orleans, their 20-game winning streak would tie the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks for the fourth-longest single-season winning streak in NBA history. Only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33 games), the 2012-13 Miami Heat (27 games), and the 2007-2008 Houston Rockets (22 games) had longer streaks.
IT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT WE HOPE IT DOESN'T...
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has earned 4 or more assists in 8 of his last 9 games. For a center, he is an extremely gifted passer, and the Hawks will have their hands full trying to deny Gasol in the low post while scrambling to the correct defensive assignments after he passes the ball.
INJURY REPORT
Thabo Sefolosha is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks as he recovers from a right calf strain. DeMarre Carroll (left Achilles strain) and Shelvin Mack (left calf strain) also missed the games from this past weekend.
Coach Bud sounded optimistic about DeMarre Saturday, saying, "I think we're hoping it's fairly short term, but we'll continue to evaluate him each day."
INTERESTING...
Al Horford has a strong case for the Eastern Conference Player of the Month Award: 17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. Horford shot 58.8% from the field, and the Hawks became the first NBA team to earn 17 or more wins in a month without a loss.
ABSURD STAT
The ten most recent Hawks opponents are 1-9 in games immediately following their loss to the Hawks (excepting the 76ers, who haven't played another game yet). The Hawks aren't just winning. They're leaving a mark.
Story by KL ChouinardTwitter: @AnaheimAmigos