08-09 Team Preview: Atlanta Hawks edition

The Atlanta Hawks finished last season with a mediocre 37-45 record, but it was enough to land them the final playoff spot in the East. Much to everyone's surprise, the Hawks pushed the would-be champion Boston Celtics to seven games, claiming every home game along the way. The development of promising young players and the overachieving playoff performance has Hawks fans looking forward to an exciting 2008-09 campaign.

Key Additions:
Maurice Evans (from Magic)
Flip Murray (from Pacers)
Randolph Morris (from Knicks)

Key Losses:
Josh Childress

What to be excited about:

Josh Smith returns
After rumblings that Smith wasn't interested in returning to the Hawks if Mike Woodson remained their head coach, the Hawks were able to retain their star free-agent. After Smith signed an offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies for $58 million, the Hawks quickly matched it - ensuring his return to Atlanta. Smith is absolutely crucial to the Hawks, as he is somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades. He has the ability to affect the game on both ends with his sheer athleticism and long build. Last season he averaged around 17 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.5 spg and nearly 3 bpg. The only other player out there that fills up the stat sheet even close to J-Smoove is Shawn Marion.

A full season with Mike Bibby
After acquiring Bibby, the Hawks were 15-17, and this was while Bibby trudged through nagging injuries that affected his mobility. Not too bad for a guy immediately handed the reigns, needing to learn a new system and new player tendencies. Having a leader like Bibby comfortable and healthy at the helm this season should result in a marked improvement for the Hawks, and expect Bibby to improve substantially on his averages of 13 ppg and 6 apg. It's also worth noting that this is a contract year for Bibby, which tends to be a motivating factor for performing at a high level.

Joe Johnson, Joe Johnson, Joe Johnson
Johnson has quietly become one of the best wing players in the league. While his stellar stats have earned him back-to-back All-Star appearances, at home against the Celtics we saw his ability to be a legitimate go-to player. He consistently demanded a double-team, and showed that he can carry a team. However, he will have to perform more consistently in the post-season to reach the next tier of stardom.

Al Horford is a rock in the post
Coach Mike Woodson was upset when Horford didn't come home with the Rookie of the Year honors this past season. A case was there to be made (although ultimately unrealistic with Kevin Durant in the equation) as he was able to average nearly a double-double, and helped the Hawks to a seven game improvement in the win column. Another year of development will only help Horford, as he provides a solid force down low, and provides frontcourt flexibility for the Hawks.

Areas of concern

The absense of Josh Childress
The Hawks lost a key rotational player in their lineup when Childress decided to take a more lucrative offer with Greece's Olympiakos. The Hawks have tried to fill the void by adding in Maurice Evans and Flip Murray, however this is considered to be somewhat of a downgrade. But both Evans and Murray have proven that they can be key players on NBA rosters, so they might just do the trick.

Marvin Williams, the time is now
The Hawks have been constantly maligned for selecting Williams before Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Williams was somewhat of an X-factor for the Hawks this past season, showing flashes of his outstanding potential, and then bouts of inconsistency. Altogether he put together a solid year, averaging about 15ppg and 6rpg, but the Hawks will be expecting even more from him. This will be Williams' fourth season in the NBA, and the rookie grace period is over. It's time for him to show why he was the second pick in the draft - and I think he will this season.


Overall verdict:

The Hawks should be a playoff staple in the East for years to come, as their young core is one of the best in the entire league. That being said, all of their talent isn't fully developed, and they still lack the winning attitude and postseason experience that equates to major success in the NBA. I expect the Hawks to be competitive every night, and finish with a record close to .500 and a trip to the playoffs.

Up next in the NBA Noise 08-09 Team Preview: Boston Celtics