Nets vs. Hawks: 3 Bad Stats

We have already taken a look at the 3 good stats from New Jersey's 89-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, but there was still plenty that the Nets will need to improve if they want to continue with their wining ways.

Here are the 3 bad stats Avery Johnson will be focusing on after Sunday's game in Newark.

1. 3-for-12, 7 Points

When Travis Outlaw and Anthony Morrow were starting together, they could never both have a good game on the same night.  Then Morrow was sent to the bench due to a foot injury, so that means Outlaw would finally play with some consistency, right?  Not so much.

With the Nets playing short-handed, Outlaw got to play 36 minutes and certainly wasn't shy when it came to shooting the ball but he couldn't throw it in the ocean.

2. 2 Blocks

When/if Derrick Favors earns a spot in the starting rotation, the Nets should finally be able to defend the rim.  Until then, it seems that New Jersey will continue to simply rely on perimeter defense and the occasional cold shooting performance to keep teams off the board because it won't be intimidation in the paint.

3. 4-for-13 Three Point Shooting

Any time you lose one of the best long range shooters in NBA history, it's not going to be easy to replace that production.  However, it's safe to say that 31% from beyond the arc is not going to get the job done most nights.  Luckily for the Nets, Atlanta was even worse from three, shooting less than 30%.

Nets vs. Hawks: Three Good Stats

After losing eight games in a row, the New Jersey Nets have won two of their last three, including Sunday's 89-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The Hawks were playing just their second game with All Star Joe Johnson, but it wasn't enough to stop the Nets at home.  It wasn't a perfect performance -- and we'll have the three bad stats later -- but here are the three good stats from New Jersey's eighth win of the season.

1. Seven Different Fourth Quarter Scorers

It's no secret that the Nets have struggled finding their identity on offense and they were anything but crisp in scoring just 89 points against the Hawks, but they got it done when they needed to in the final quarter Sunday.

Of the 27 points they scored in the fourth quarter, the Nets were led by Travis Outlaw and Brook Lopez's 5.  More impressive was that seven players scored in the quarter.  That's right, Outlaw, Lopez, Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors, Sasha Vujacic, Devin Harris and Jordan Farmar all played a hand in helping create the final margin of victory.

2. 30-11 Bench Scoring

That decisive fourth quarter?  It was started off by the Nets bench with a 7-0 run and the backups scored New Jersey's first 12 points.

On the game, recently acquired Vujacic led the reserves with 10 points in 29 minutes and also added 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.  With Outlaw and Kris Humphries struggling, Vujacic and Murphy helped to pick up the slack, something we haven't seen much from the Nets this season.

3. 46-39 Rebounding Advantage

New Jersey hasn't been as bad on the glass as they have offensively, but they have struggled winning the rebounding battle night in and night out.  That wasn't the case Sunday even with Murphy, the team's leading rebounder, only playing 19 minutes.

Just like the scoring in the fourth quarter, the rebounding performance was a team effort.  Recently promoted Stephen Graham led the team with 7 boards and was followed by four different players pulling down 6.  For a team that will need to scrap together victories, hitting the glass as a team goes a long way.

Nets 89, Hawks 82: Strong Finish Keys Second Win in Three Games

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Devin Harris had a solid all-around game with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead the New Jersey Nets past the Atlanta Hawks, 89-82, at Prudential Center.

Brook Lopez tallied 16 points, while Stephen Graham and recently-acquired Sasha Vujacic each scored 10 for the Nets, who had lost nine of 10 coming in.

Mike Bibby ended with 19 points, and Josh Smith and Al Horford each logged 15 points and 10 boards in defeat, Atlanta's third in four games.

After making 14-of-22 shots in the first quarter, the Hawks shot just 28.8 percent from the field.

The teams traded buckets to start the fourth quarter, keeping the game tied, 64-64, before New Jersey ripped off seven straight points to jump ahead for good.

Troy Murphy's deep jumper three minutes in capped the run, and two Harris free throws pushed the margin to 80-70 with 4:16 to play.

Bibby followed with a three-pointer, only to get answered by a Travis Outlaw make from long range a little later.

The closest the Hawks got from there was 87-82 after two Joe Johnson free throws with 15.2 seconds showing, and Jordan Farmar sealed the win with two at the stripe shortly thereafter.

The Nets trailed 30-23 after the first quarter but held Atlanta to three field goals in the second stanza, allowing them to pull even, 43-43, at the break.

The Hawks, who got 14 points from Johnson, have dropped four straight on the road...The Nets had 32 points in the lane, compared to 22 for Atlanta...The Nets shot 41.7 percent from the floor.

New Jersey Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson Is Back With The Hawks

(Sports Network) - The surprise return of Joe Johnson was like an early Christmas present for Atlanta. Now, the Hawks hope the All-Star guard can be the gift that keeps on giving as Larry Drew's club heads to north Jersey to take on the lowly Nets at Prudential Center.

Johnson returned to the lineup Friday to lead a balanced Hawks attack with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds, as Atlanta topped the Charlotte Bobcats, 90-85, at Philips Arena.

Johnson had not played since November 28 because of arthroscopic right elbow surgery, and was initially supposed to miss 4-to-6 weeks. Johnson said playing one-on-one with Hawks assistant coach Nick Van Exel contributed to his early return.

"I think he did a great job in banging me, just trying to see if I was game- ready in the past few days," Johnson said. "Felt pretty good."

Josh Smith finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks, who were coming off double-digit losses at Boston and Detroit. Al Horford and Marvin Williams each contributed 16 points in the victory.

The Nets lost for 10th straight time on the road Friday when Leandro Barbosa's three-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining gave the Toronto Raptors some separation, as they went on to top New Jersey, 98-92, at Air Canada Centre.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 20 points and Kris Humphries scored 12 to go with 12 rebounds for the Nets, who have dropped nine of 10 overall. Devin Harris added 15 and Travis Outlaw scored 14 off the bench in the loss.

"[Andrea Bargnani] is tough to guard," stated New Jersey head coach Avery Johnson. "We double-teamed him, but then Barbosa hit the three and that did it for us."

Atlanta has won five of the past six meetings in the series although the teams have split a pair of games so far this season with each holding serve on its home floor. Meanwhile, the Hawks will be attempting to snap a three-game skid on the road tonight and historically struggle in New Jersey, dropping 15 of their past 17 visits to the Garden State.