Periodically throughout the 2007-08 season, Hawks.com will reach out to several Hawks and Atlanta-area bloggers to get their thoughts on the season. We are calling it the Hawks Blog Roundtable (hence the catchy banner above!). Have a topic you'd like to see discussed here, or have a blog and want to participate? Email us at hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com and let us know!
The Hawks are 2-4 heading into Wednesday's home game against Charlotte. Now that the Dallas and Phoenixes of the world are gone, we wanted to get some answers to this:
| The Hawks opening gauntlet is now mercifully past. How did the team perform relative to your expectations going into the first six games? |
| Bret LaGree from Hoopinion: |
|
I prepared myself for the possibility that the Hawks
could play well and still start the season 1-5. Even though 2-4 doesn't feel
great, they were never in real danger of winning just one of their first six
games so they comfortably exceeded my admittedly pessimistic expectations. When the energy level has been high, they're a better defensive team than I expected, though opposing point guards haven't had much trouble creating shots for themselves. Offensively, Marvin Williams has exceeded expectations. He's been almost as important on that end of the floor as Joe Johnson through six games. Acie Law IV and Al Horford have struggled a lot offensively, mostly by turning the ball over. Once they begin to transform those turnovers into shot attempts this will quickly become an above average offensive team. Add a healthy Zaza Pachulia to the mix and, were I to re-visit my pre-season prediction of 38 wins, I'd be seriously tempted to adjust it upwards. |
| Kevin Cott from Kevin Cott: |
|
Through six games, the Hawks have failed to meet my
expectations. And by "expectations," I mean an 82-0 regular season followed by
the first ever championship by league-wide forfeit, opposing coaches openly
crying during timeouts, teams refusing to return after halftime, Joe Johnson
fixing U.S. health care – that kind of stuff. Then again, I have an IQ of 45. But if we're being objective, I suppose the Hawks have come out strong, at least prior to Sunday's no-show against the Wizards. After taking down the Mavs and Suns at home, squandering what should have been a convincing win over the Pistons at the Palace, a road loss to the Nets and one smack-down from a Celtics team currently playing like the '96 Bulls, the Hawks escaped the toughest opening schedule in the league not just intact, but with a league-wide buzz brewing about their athleticism. I'm actually more encouraged by this season's start than last season's 4-1 opening burst against five mediocre Eastern squads. Barring injury, this is a playoff team, albeit an inconsistent one. Letdown games like Sunday's loss to the Wizards will continue to plague us until we find a true five to pair with Horford and a starting PG capable of running an up-tempo assault (the jury's still out on Law). We're still a piece or two away from making big-time noise. So maybe I'm not "82-0" excited yet, but definitely "42-40" excited. And that ain't bad. |
| Jay Busbee from Right Down Peachtree: |
| It's tough to say the
sixth game of an 82-game season is a must-win, but Sunday's game against
the Wizards came pretty close. When you've beaten two of the West's
elite and taken two of the East's elite into the final minutes--we'll
put aside the Boston woodshedding as an acceptable loss--you can't let
an 0-5 Wizards team sneak up on you. Playoff teams win all the games
they're supposed to win. But am I satisfied with the Hawks' performance? Hell yes, I'm still satisfied. Bought me an Al Horford road jersey at Philips on Sunday to show the world my satisfaction. The Hawks now have the ability to win in this league with their up-tempo, fling-themselves-at-the-basket style of ball. The times that they've gotten away from fifth gear--the second half against New Jersey, the first half against Washington--they've plodded themselves into deficits they can't run their way out of. (Again, Boston's playing out of its mind now, so Atlanta gets a pass on that game.) The Hawks right now are the basketball equivalent of a formerly homely chick who's all grown up and suddenly finds herself attractive and the center of attention. She may not yet recognize her newfound, er, talents...but everybody else can see 'em. And now it's a matter of the Hawks shakin' what the good Lord--and Atlanta Spirit--gave 'em.
|
| Matt from Hotlantahawks: |
| Based on the schedule,
I would say the Hawks' current record is about what I expected. The wins
and losses came in places I didn't expect, and maybe they should be at
.500, but you have to feel good about their play at home and against the
teams that made the playoffs last year. This team is still looking to
formulate a game plan and Josh Smith is apparently still learning how to
play basketball. Horford and Law are playing well for rookies, but they
are still rookies. We can expect them to improve over the course of the
season. Marvin Williams is looking like a #2 overall draft pick for a
change, but this team just isn't quite gelling the way they seemed to
during the preseason and first 3 games. It seems obvious to everyone on
the team that they play better when they run, and yet they still seem to
have trouble keeping the pace up. Coach Woodson may not have the best
team in the league in his hands, but if they don't play to their
strengths then I think some will begin to question his ability as a coach. Joe Johnson is ridiculously good, but this is the year he needs to make the leap into becoming a team leader as well. I know he's quiet and likes to lead by example, but without a vocal, passionate leader (and it doesn't have to be Joe), this young team is destined for a win total in the 30s and missing out on the playoffs again.
|
 |
