Happy MLK Day!

It’s a day on, not a day off, for the Atlanta Hawks as the Miami HEAT roll into town for some afternoon NBA action (5:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, SUN Sports).

Wrapping up a six-game East Coast road swing, the HEAT has been pretty tepid of late. They dropped back-to-back contests in NYC to the Knicks and Nets, and then lost to the Wizards after five days rest (a return visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue notwithstanding) for their first three-game losing string since January 2012. Coincidentally, that’s the last month that the Atlanta Hawks pulled off a win against Miami. The HEAT have won every game in Atlanta since November 2009.

Miami managed to win their previous two away games, in Philly and Charlotte, but their last game required a late comeback and an overtime stanza against a shaky Bobcats team that lost Kemba Walker in the third quarter. That Saturday night game allowed the newly 32-year-old Dwyane Wade to rest up, and with another back-to-back looming (the HEAT facing Boston tomorrow night in Miami) it remains to be seen if Wade will see his first action against the Hawks today. (Breaking: Flash is out tonight, so Ray Allen will start in his place.)

DeMarre “Big Poppa” Carroll will be back in action, and after the Hawks got mashed like shepherd’s pie in London at the hands of Joe Johnson and company, there’s no doubt he’ll be a sight for sore eyes. He and Paul Millsap will be tasked with trying to achieve what the Bobcats couldn’t: impede LeBron James on drives to the hoop, particularly along the baselines. Carroll will also be looking to bounce back after his “foul” of Allen wound up giving the HEAT an early Christmas gift last month.

To the dismay of tattoo afficionados everywhere, reserve center Chris Andersen’s status for today is questionable after the Birdman bruised his knee a week and a half ago. If he is unable to sub in and match up with Pero Antić, his injury could open up the possibility of early minutes off the bench for Greg Oden, in what would be just his third game of NBA ball since December 2009. In twelve minutes of floor time he’s shown that he can dunk and make free throws. And that’s about it so far.

With the need for an inside attack that compels the HEAT to work more on the interior, Antić could use some help off the bench from both Gustavo Ayón and Elton Brand today. Miami remains the league’s worst rebounding team, so winning the battles for second-chance opportunities could keep the game interesting.

Millsap was a foul-out victim in the December 23 overtime game, and will have his hands full again trying at turns to hold back LeBron James’ drives and to step out and contest Chris Bosh’s mid-range jumpers. He’ll need an offensive boost from his oft-struggling backcourt of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver, a combined 5-for-22 during in London, including 1-for-11 from three-point range. There should be opportunities along the perimeter for whoever isn’t being hounded by Mario Chalmers, who is playing back into shape after missing several games with an Achilles strain, and Shane Battier. Carroll may make for a nice option whenever both Teague and Korver are covered.

Go Hawks!

~lw3