2/11/2009 Preview: HAWKS vs. Detroit Pistons

The Hawks, after destroying the lowly Washington Wizards, travel to the Motor City to take on the 27-22 Detroit Pistons. The Pistons, at #5 in the Eastern Conference, are two games behind the Hawks in the standings...needless to say, this is a game the Hawks need to win to get some breathing room heading into the All-Star Break.

The Pistons are 5-5 in their last 10 games, and like the rest of the Eastern Conference, have been bumbling around for the past month or so. The Hawks, meanwhile, are also 5-5 in their last 10, and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference - a whopping 9 games behind Orlando, the third place team. In a conference that's been playing fairly poor basketball over the past few weeks, both the Pistons and Hawks have had opportunities to separate themselves and stay with the three elite teams in the East. However, neither team has capitalized.

Last time these teams met up, the Hawks used stifling defense to hold the Pistons to 78 points in an 85-78 victory in Atlanta. Even though Allen Iverson may be out (Flu), the Hawks are still going to need to bring some defensive intensity if they want to end the first half of the season on a good note by winning at The Palace.

PLEA:
Dear Marvin,
Please bring your A game tonight. The team is going to need you to stretch the floor on offense and stay active on defense to pull this game out at the end. Just think, in a few hours you'll be able to rest for 4 days!
-Ehlo

PREDICTIONS:

Top Scorers:
Joe Johnson - 33
Rasheed Wallace - 20

Rebounds:
Josh Smith - 12
Rasheed Wallace - 8

Assists:
Mike Bibby - 8
Rodney Stuckey - 5

Ehlo's Game Prediction:
Both teams, after playing the night before, will come out surprisingly hot to start the game. However, as the game goes on, expect the Hawks starting 5 to outmatch the Pistons en route to victory. The Hawks will be looking to end the first half on a positive note, and will do so by winning in Detroit, 96-89

Ehlo's Excellence:
4-1

Smildress' Just For Fun Spread Prediction:
(4-1 SU, 3-1-1 ATS)
Prediction Coming Soon

Famous Detroi-ans:

There are many, so we'll start with a list:
Horace & John Dodge (of car company fame), Henry & Edsel Ford (of car company fame), Charles Lindbergh, Mitt Romney, Aaliyah (since age 5), Elizabeth Berkley, Jerry Bruckheimer, Francis Ford Coppola, James Earl Jones (since age 5), Ed McMahon, Obie Trice III, Eminem, Kid Rock, Madonna, Bob Segar, The Supremes, Xzibit, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Gibson, John Smoltz...

And of course:

B. Joseph White, the president of my Alma Mater, the University of Illinois (B. - if you're reading this, bring back Chief Illiniwek.)

Home Improvement

Oscar Mayer

The Steiner Brothers

The Only Pistons Fan in Georgia: