A long time ago, a group of witches bought group tickets to a Hawks game. They showed up on time, but the giveaway item that night had already been given out. The line for the bathrooms was too long. Their cinnapretzel was hard as a rock. And to top it off, one of the Hawks point guards zipped a pass to a teammate that went through his hands and right at their seats, spilling their beers and hotdogs all over them. Needless to say, these witches were upset. So irate were they, that they immediately went home and put a curse on the Hawks point guards, damning them to be injured at least 85% of the time the moment they donned a Hawks uniform.
Ok, I can't really vouch for the veracity of that story, but at this point, it almost seems plausible. Why can't Hawks point guards stay healthy?
This weekend the Hawks face a brutal back-to-back, taking on the fastbreaking Golden State Warriors tonight before facing the bruising, physical Utah Jazz tomorrow. It doesn't promise to be easy, especially for a team struggling to get its confidence back after losing six straight.
Still, everyone goes through injuries and rough patches in the NBA - no one is going to cut the Hawks any slack.
Both Mike Bibby and Acie Law are questionable to play, but both are tough enough I imagine we'll see at least a little of both in each game.
In their absence, it will be up to Joe Johnson and Josh Childress, most likely, to shoulder the load.
I'd be pretty pleased with a split, I don't mind telling you. I like our chances tonight more than at Utah, where we haven't won in 13 years.
We have had success against Golden State in the past, and we have the horses to run with them even without Bibby or Law. If the Hawks can keep the Warriors from breaking any big scoring runs, I think they can gather up the strength to take home a much needed victory.
Since it's the weekend, I will assume it'll be easier for everyone to stay up and watch the West Coast start times.
Tonight should be entertaining if nothing else - tune into SportSouth at 10:30 to catch all the action.
Tomorrow night's game is a little earlier - 9:00 on FSN.
Here's to breaking out of a slump, and breaking whatever spell is over the health of our guards.
