Boxing Day Game Thread: Atlanta (20-8) @ Indiana (9-18)

TIP-OFF: 7pm (EST)

TELEVISION: Fox Sports South

RADIO: Hawks Radio Network, Audio League Pass

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Pacers

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: Joe Smith is again upgraded to day-to-day.

INDIANA INJURY REPORT: Danny Granger and Travis Diener are out. Jeff Foster is listed as day-to-day.

BY THE NUMBERS

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (off)	90.6	1.149	51.2	21.3	29.2	13.3
IND (def)	95.2	1.064	47.7	36.5	26.9	16.2

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (def)	90.6	1.064	50.0	27.9	26.4	16.4
IND (off)	95.2	1.022	47.2	24.2	24.4	17.1

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Atlanta -6.5, 203.5 o/u

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: Eight Points, Nine Seconds; Indy Cornrows

PREVIOUSLY, THE INDIANA PACERS...lost their fourth straight game to the Celtics in Boston, 103-94, on Tuesday night. Jim O'Brien, who admirably has a plan, has been flummoxed by poor performances this year, not least of which from the otherwise admirable and could be reasonably good if not excellent, duo of Brandon Rush and TJ Ford. Rush, who would have been the MOP of the 2008 Final Four had Kansas not needed Mario Chalmers, has doubled down on his passivity as a pro while Ford has doubled down on his passivity all around, losing his starting job to my second least-favorite (after Tyronn Lue) Kansas City player of all-time.

A healthy Mikey Dunleavy has mitigated the loss of Danny Granger but the Pacers will be treading water at best until both are healthy despite the surfeit of should-be useful role players. I like Indiana in theory but health and practicality have conspired to make them poor and me poor in reflection for going on two years now. Come 2012 I might not pick them to make the playoffs.

Consider this an open thread for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game (but pre-recap*) thoughts.