Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks game preview

This game was highly anticipated.

Best team in the East. Hottest team in the West.

The Hawks use a team-based strategy to score points. They're second in the league in assists and points allowed per game.

The Rockets use a beard-based strategy to do everything on offense. He leads the league in assists from a shooting guard.

It was shaping up to be one heck of a game. Two different philosophies going head-to-head. A tantalizing rematch of the previous meeting in which referees took over late and allowed the Hawks to win. Hey Tony Brothers, you're not invited to my birthday party.

Anyway, the game was going to be awesome. Then someone jinxed it.

If the NBA was going to suspend James Harden, they would have done it already. He'll get fined, but that's probably it.

— The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) March 2, 2015

Less than 3 minutes later, James Harden was suspended for a game and this game lost its luster, and it's hard to see Houston having much of a chance to win in the ATL.

Tonight, I think it's very likely that we'll see plenty of the bench. Not because McHale will pull a Pop and rest the starters, but because I can't see this game going any direction other than a blowout in favor of the Atlanta Hawks.

Prediction: Pain

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