Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets preview: Say hello to Joe

The Brooklyn Nets visit Philips Arena for the first time this season, and old pal Joe Johnson could endure a rocky homecoming. The Atlanta Hawks have won 16 consecutive games, and at this juncture, they are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA, as evidenced by an Eastern Conference leading 37-8 record.

Atlanta ranks fifth in the NBA in both offense (107.3 points per 100 possessions) and defense (99.6 points allowed per 100), and only the Golden State Warriors rank better in each category. The Hawks have been even better than that over this recent stretch, including the fact that Atlanta boasts the league’s best defense since December 1, and Brooklyn is a bit of a mess right now.

Deron Williams is on the sideline for the Nets, the aforementioned Joe Johnson is struggling, and Brook Lopez appears to be firmly on the trading block. That sequence of events means that the Hawks are listed as a 13-point favorite in the game, and with the extra benefit of helping Brooklyn to fall further toward the lottery, this could be a fun atmosphere in downtown Atlanta.

The Atlanta Hawks will, eventually, lose a basketball game, but it would be surprising if that defeat came on Wednesday night.

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.