The Atlanta Hawks cannot seem to overcome the inconsistency that has plagued the team at the start of the season. After getting a convincing win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team melted down in the second half against the Toronto Raptors. Continuing their stint at home, the team is looking to bounce back against the Los Angeles Lakers as the Kobe Bryant farewell tour continues to Phillips Arena.
Consistency has not been with the Hawks right now. The team continues to trade wins for losses as they have dropped seven of their last 11 and have not won two in a row since a seven-game win streak. The Hawks are certainly not looking like contenders at this point in the season and they are desperate to snap the streakiness playing the Lakers on Friday night. The Raptors was a display of that streakiness as they led by as much as 17 in the third quarter only to blow it in the fourth. It was the second time in three games the Hawks failed to get more than 90 points while shooting just 30 percent from beyond the arc. That used to be where the Hawks made most of their gains last season and this year it has not worked out the same. They will try and get back on track against the Lakers.
Bryant comes to Phillips Arena for the last time in his career as the Lakers veteran enjoyed a better game against the Washington Wizards. He put up 31 points in the win which helped snap a seven-game losing streak. That was his second strong game of the season as Bryant deals with injuries all over his body. The star went just 7 of 26 in the game prior while shooting 4 of 17 from beyond the arc. Bryant is looking about as consistent as the Hawks right now as the Lakers are falling as a result. Los Angeles was not expecting to be contenders, but right now they are looking poised to finish near the bottom year again. With D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle struggling right now, the Lakers need some kind of boost and that could come from another positive performance from Bryant.
