Not the same ole Hawks

In football they call these “trap” games. In basketball, people tend to go with “letdown.” Coming off a blowout win, like the one at Cleveland, and facing a team that traditionally isn’t good, like the Hawks, is a recipe for one of those letdowns.

Avery Johnson was asked this morning if this sets up as a potential letdown for the Mavs.

“No, if we would have come in and the Hawks would have gone maybe 1-7 in the preseason, but they were the best preseason team in basketball (7-1) and they play with a lot of energy. New possibilities for them this year, so we know they’re going to be pretty excited.”

He also alluded to the rebounding deficit against the Cavaliers and how that can’t happen again tonight against Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Al Horford and Co.

“We didn’t rebound the ball good and [the Hawks are] so big and athletic we know we got to rebound the ball good against them,” Johnson said. “So again, there’s no letdown here.