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Atlanta Hawks hope to end skid versus Dallas Mavericks

By John Buhler

Dec 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) drives to the basket Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Hawks defeat the Mavericks 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) drives to the basket Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Hawks defeat the Mavericks 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Hawks are looking for some direction on offense, as they look the end their three-game losing streak when the Dallas Mavericks come to town.

Simply put, the Atlanta Hawks are struggling at the moment to find continuity on offense. Atlanta has lost its last three games and five of its last six contests. After being humiliated on the road in Miami Sunday night, 105-87, the Atlanta Hawks hope to turn their luck around when the Dallas Mavericks come to Philips Arena Monday night. Tipoff is at 8:00 PM ET and the game will air on Fox Sports Southeast.

Atlanta beat Dallas in their earlier meeting this year, knocking off the Mavericks in their place, 98-95 back on December 9th. The Hawks enter Monday night’s game with the Mavericks with a 27-22 record on the year and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They lost their grip of the Southeast Division lead by losing to the Miami Heat Sunday night.

Dallas boasts an identical 27-22 record in the Western Conference. The Mavericks are currently the No. 6 seed in the West and have played .500 basketball in their last 10 games, going 5-5. Since the Dallas Mavericks play in the same Southwest Division as the 39-8 San Antonio Spurs, the Mavericks won’t win their division and will have to battle with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 4 seed in the West.

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Perhaps that having the game at Philips Arena favors the Hawks in this matchup between two teams with the same record. The Atlanta Hawks are 15-8 at the Highlight Factory this season and the Dallas Mavericks are one game below .500 on the road at 13-14.

Either way, Atlanta has to figure out something on offense, as its inefficiencies with the basketball have put the club in early deficits far too often in recent weeks. Traditionally, Dallas is more of an offense-first basketball team under head coach Rick Carlisle and built around superstar German power forward Dirk Nowitzki.

This doesn’t bode well for the Atlanta Hawks, as even the best defenses often have difficulty slowing down Nowitzki’s Mavericks. It is further complicated by Atlanta’s recent struggles on the offensive end. The Hawks will also see a familiar friend in center Zaza Pachulia, who is having a career year for the Dallas Mavericks as a double-double machine that nearly made the All-Star Game thanks to the fan vote.

It seems that if the Atlanta offense is going to click against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, either Kyle Korver will have to get hot from three or Jeff Teague will have to drive into the paint and kick the ball outside should he not have a clean look at the rim.

Next: Atlanta Hawks scorched by Miami Heat, 105-87

Atlanta needs to get back to its winning ways and a win over the Mavericks at home could stand as the spark this down on its luck team needs at the moment. Let’s Go Hawks!

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