The Hawks have passed a series of increasingly difficult tests following the loss of Al Horford. A bigger challenge is now before them.
In a battle of division leaders, the Hawks (11-4) travel to Philadelphia (10-4) for a game Friday night. It’s a game that will challenge the Hawks, especially without the scoring, rebounding and defense of Horford.
The 76ers rank third in the NBA in scoring average (101.0), second in points allowed (87.4) and first in point differential (plus-13.6). The game also is on the road, where three of the Hawks’ four losses have come.
The Hawks have rolled off four home wins since the loss of their two-time All-Star: against Charlotte (two wins at time of game), Minnesota (four), Toronto (four) and Portland (eight). They are part of a run of seven wins in the past eight games.
After Friday, of the Hawks’ next seven opponents, only San Antonio has more than seven wins. The stretch ends with another game against Philadelphia, at home Feb. 4.
The Hawks insist they won’t take any opponent lightly.
“Minnesota came into this building, and everybody looks at the name on the front and the first thing [they think], they are not a very good ballclub,” coach Larry Drew said. “And yet, they had us down by 18 with three and half minutes left in the third quarter. We respect all opponents.
“Yeah, if you look at the win-loss record of some of the teams that have come in here, some people might say the games have been easy for us. But by no stretch of the imagination have the games been easy.”
The Hawks rank sixth in the NBA in scoring average (97.9) and points allowed (90.8). Joe Johnson averaged 24.8 points in the four games without Horford and Josh Smith 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds.
“The fact that we played those teams doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “We all still have a job to do. It’s been tough without him even though we’ve won a few games convincingly. We’ve all managed to step up in a different way than normal.”
The Hawks hold a percentage point lead over Orlando, which hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, in the Southeast Division. Philadelphia holds a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division. Like the Hawks, they have one home loss.
Guard play will be a key, according to Drew. The 76ers are led in scoring by guards Louis Williams at 15.7 points per game and Jrue Holiday at 14.9. Williams, of South Gwinnett High, has come off the bench in all 14 games. Jodie Meeks, of Norcross High, starts alongside Holiday and has averaged 10.3 points. Evan Turner, who also will play forward, averages 10.8 points.
“They are very strong at the guard position,” Drew said. “They have guys who can really score the ball. They have guys who are really good off the dribble. They can make shots. They can make [3-point shots]. They really do a good job of attacking into the paint area. They are a very guard-oriented team, and yet they do have big men who can post up.”
Included in the big bodies who concern Drew are Andre Iguodala, just named one of 20 finalists for the U.S. Olympic team, and Thaddeus Young, of Georgia Tech.
Drew wants his team to limit turnovers and have good shot selection, both aimed at slowing the 76ers.
The teams split the four-game season series last season, with the 76ers winning the final two games. That’s a fact not lost on Johnson.
“They are pretty big at the guard with Holiday and Turner,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be tough. We’ve been playing well of late, and we have some confidence going into Philly. It’s going to be a challenge. This team has given us fits in the past.”
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