Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons Preview: The Josh Smith Show
By FanSided
The Atlanta Hawks will look to snap a two-game losing streak on Friday night, as they host Josh Smith and the Detroit Pistons. Detroit has scuffled to start the season with a 3-9 record, but at the same time, the Pistons are a talented bunch that could present some issues on the interior for the much smaller Hawks.
On the plus side for Atlanta, small forward DeMarre Carroll is set to be active for tonight’s game (according to Chris Vivlamore of the AJC), and he should greatly help the defensive problems that Atlanta has encountered against the Cavs and Lakers, respectively. It will be interesting to see if Josh Smith is a large participant in the game, as he was benched in Detroit’s last contest amid well-documented struggles, but there will be surely be some long-time fans of his in attendance at Philips Arena.
The Atlanta Hawks need a win in this spot, and the Detroit Pistons could be the opponent that obliges with a less than spectacular performance. Regardless, the team must improve on both ends of the floor and securing improved production from the return of Carroll and the continued development of Al Horford would be beneficial to the team’s long-term effort.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@ATLBeatBlog) for more Atlanta Hawks information leading up to the game and check back after the final buzzer for a full recap.
Date: November 21, 2014
Tip-Off Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV Channel: SportSouth, NBA League Pass ($)
Radio: 92.9 The Game (Local in Atlanta), Atlanta Hawks Radio Network Affiliates
Live Stream: League Pass Broadband