Hawks At Bobcats (the game, not the dance team competition)
Posted by:
Micah Hart on
March 28, 2007 at
4:50PM EST
Let's start out by talking about this tanking nonsense. The Hawks are not out to try to lose tonight just because it will help them in the lottery. It's a silly line of thinking - first of all, the pick isn't guaranteed to be there because it's a lottery, and secondly, the two players everyone is salivating over (Greg Oden and Kevin Durant) could easily end up staying in school. Not saying that's going to happen, but the point is its all an unknown, so why soil your reputation by coming out with less than your best?
The Hawks need to learn how to win, as we have said many times. Without Joe in the lineup, it's all the more crucial that the guys develop the muscle memory of what to do in late game situations so as to avoid crushing losses like Friday's loss to Portland.
Tanking would take that away from us, and as much as a loss might help our bottom line in gaining a draft pick, I'd much rather have the continued experience of winning.
Plus, I am tired of losing to Charlotte! They are an expansion team, they should not be taking three of four from us every year. A win tonight would give us a split on the season, and I want that split.
It won't be easy though, as the Bobcats are expected to get several injured players back in time for tonight's tilt. Emeka Okafor (out the last 15 games with a calf injury - I guess those are going around), Raymond Felton (thigh bruise), and Gerald Wallace (severe cramping (?) and a sore hip) are all expected to play.
So to recap - tanking bad. Winning good. Evened series good.
Tune in at 7:00 on FSN South to catch all the action!
