<div align="center">Teams: <span style="color:#ff0000">Hawks</span> vs. <span style="color:#ff8c00">Bobcats</span> Where: Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC When: 7:00 pm, ET SportSouth</div> <div align="center"> vs. <span style="color:#ff0000"> Hawks (24-35) <span style="color:#000000"><span style="color:#ff8c00">Bobcats (22-39) </span></span></span><div align='left'><u><span style="color:#ff0000">NBA Preview</span></u> <span style="color:#ff0000"><span style="color:#000000"><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></span></span>The Atlanta Hawks haven't done much lately to help their playoff chances in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Charlotte Bobcats, meanwhile, have used a season-high win streak to unexpectedly pull into the race. The Bobcats look to match a franchise record with their fourth straight win when they host the struggling Hawks in a Southeast Division matchup Friday night. Charlotte (22-39) lost 12 of 13 games from Jan. 30 -Feb. 29, but has won its first three contests in March. The Bobcats have won four straight twice since they began play in 2004-05, most recently from Feb. 14-23 of last season. "There's something good going on," Bobcats guard Matt Carroll told the team's official Web site. "We've been playing well lately. Our chemistry is really good and we're playing well together." Charlotte's recent success has put added pressure on Atlanta (24-35), which has dropped 11 of 14 to fall into ninth place in the East. The Hawks still have a three-game advantage over the Bobcats, but there are three other teams not in playoff position that have records at least as good as Charlotte's. <span style="color:#ff0000"><span style="color:#000000"></div></span></span> <u>Starting Line-ups </u><u>Hawks</u> <span style="color:#ff0000">M. Bibby J. Johnson M. Williams J. Smith A. Horford</span> <span style="color:#ff8c00"> <u>Bobcats</u> </span> <span style="color:#ff8c00"> R. Felton M. Carroll J. Richardson E. Okafor N. Mohammed <span style="color:#000000"> <u>Key Matchup </u></span></span> vs. Most likley Marvin Williams will have to guard Jason Richardson. The key thing, is to make J-Rich shoot the ball from outside. Do not let him get in to the lane or you're in trouble. Make him pass and double team him. He will be the main focal point along with Okafor. Now, it was a tough choice between this matchup and the one between Horford and Okafor, but I'm confident Smith and Horford can old down Okafor and Nazr. <u>Prediction </u>This is a must win, no questions asked. If the Hawks want to make the playoffs, the better start winning these types of games. As Chutney would say: Get'r Done. <u> Final Score </u><span style="color:#ff0000">104</span> - <span style="color:#ff8c00">98</span> <span style="color:#ff0000">Hawks</span> </div></div>
I won't be able to catch the game tonight, but I'll check the score at the Raptor game. If the Hawks want any chance of making the playoffs, they need a big momentum shift. Mike Bibby should be getting to know the players and offensive well enough now that he can give us the extra push.
