Atlanta Hawks grab eighth straight victory; Top 76ers

The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in Philips Arena, and they were very rude to their guests. However, I enjoyed their lack of southern hospitality, as the Hawks demolished the Sixers 95-79.

What did you really expect from a team on a winning streak, playing against a team that’s barely won two games so far this season? That’s two wins for Philly in December, folks. Not in early November. The season started a month and a half ago. They are taking tanking to glorious new lows.

The final score indicates a complete blowout, but the Hawks were only up by four points after the first quarter, and only by nine points at the half. This wasn’t your ole’ fashioned butt-kicking where a team jumps on somebody by twenty and just plays 50-50 ball for the rest of the way. The Hawks played solidly the entire game, but it wasn’t until the final quarter when I really felt the game was out of reach.

Frankly, Philadelphia deserves to only have two wins, because they couldn’t shoot an elephant from twenty-three feet, let alone a three pointer. The Sixers went 6-25 (24%) from three-point land on the game. You’d think that would make them stop jacking up triples, but you’d be wrong. The Hawks on the other hand shot 33.3% from beyond the arc, and that was really most of the difference in the game. Both teams shot around 41% from the floor, and both teams really struggled at the charity stripe. When I say struggled I mean they both shot less than 70% on freethrows, which is pathetic.

It wasn’t a pretty game at all, but the win is pretty. DeMarre Carroll gets my MVP nod for his double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with 3 steals and 3 assists. He had a great game while Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver notched 17 points each. Also, Mike Muscala did come in off the bench though for 12 points in 19 minutes, so I have to give him a nod as well.

All in all, this was a game the Atlanta Hawks were expected to win and they did. They extended the streak to eight games, and they whittle down Toronto’s lead of the East to just a half a game. Also, they are now tied with Washington for the division! So, if you’re a Hawks fan, and you would have to be if you’re reading recaps against the Sixers, you have to be pleased with how this team is gelling in December.

If they can harness this momentum through the end of the year, you could be looking at the first place Atlanta Hawks. Stay tuned!