Battle For First in the Southeast Division Game Thread: Atlanta (23-12) @ Orlando (24-12)

TIP-OFF: 7pm (EST)

TELEVISION: Fox Sports South

RADIO: Hawks Radio Network, Audio League Pass

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Magic

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: None.

ORLANDO INJURY REPORT: Anthony Johnson and Vince Carter are both listed as day-to-day.

BY THE NUMBERS

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (off)	90.4	1.139	51.3	21.2	27.6	13.5
ORL (def)	91.4	1.055	48.0	28.8	22.7	14.2

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
ATL (def)	90.4	1.068	49.9	27.8	26.5	16.3
ORL (off)	91.4	1.106	51.9	25.1	24.5	15.8

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Orlando -3.5, 196.5 o/u

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: Orlando Magic Daily, Orlando Pinstriped Post (formerly Third Quarter Collapse)

PREVIOUSLY, THE ORLANDO MAGIC...lost the fourth straight game, 104-97 at Washington last night. Vince Carter left the game after playing 10 minutes with a left shoulder sprain. Zach McCann's description of the loss might strike a chord of recognition with Hawks fans:

As Washington started to creep back into the game, you could see Orlando begin to melt down. They stopped running their offense the way it's supposed to be run; inside, then out. Guys started chucking up shots, players barked at officials (both Rashard Lewis and Brandon Bass were hit with technicals), and the Magic simply couldn't get a stop or sink a field goal in the game's waning minutes.

At Orlando Pinstriped Post, Ben Q Rock is hardly more optimistic:

As you may have gathered, it was a complete and utter meltdown, both strategically and emotionally.

Typically Orlando is a very difficult matchup for the Hawks. Dwight Howard's physical presence neutralizes Al Horford in the post and the stretch 4 (either Rashard Lewis or Ryan Anderson) draws Josh Smith away from the basket, making it more difficult for him to provide his necessary and valuable help defense.

That Matt Barnes has been starting and Vince Carter may not play will both help the Hawks hide Mike Bibby on the perimeter as he can match up against either Barnes or JJ Redick or Mickael Pietrus with minimal concern about cascading mismatches such as Wilson Chandler exploited in the most recent loss to the Knicks.

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