Periodically throughout the 2008-09 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!
This week's question:
| Bret from Peachtree Hoops: |
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Unlike years past, there's not a lot of areas in which one can hope for the Hawks to improve without feeling greedy but I'll bring up one of the few things about this season I correctly anticipated: this is a below average defensive rebounding team. I'd like to see, in the new year, the Hawks take advantage of all the missed shots they force (The Hawks are 7th in the league in field goal defense.) by corralling more of those potential rebounds (The Hawks are 22nd in the league in defensive rebounding percentage).
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| CoCo from The Vent: |
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My dearest Atlanta Hawks, I'm going to have to insist that you take your show on the road. You guys are almost unbeatable within the friendly confines of Philips Arena, but on the road there's a little room for improvement. Maybe you could take your favorite pillow or get a To Go box with your favorite meal from your favorite local restaurant. I don't know, but somehow you guys need to play with the same enthusiasm on the road that you play with at home. Just pretend that the opposing crowd is cheering for you. I don't know that it will work, but it's worth a shot. Other than that, continue doing what you've been doing. Beat the teams who you are clearly better than, beat a lot of the teams who you are about the same as, and beat some of the teams that are just a little bit better than you. (There are no more than 5 teams that fall into that last category in my humble opinion and you've already beaten two of them) One last thing, find a few more minutes for Acie Law.
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| Drew from Zaza's Playground: |
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As I usually follow my New Year's resolution for a solid two weeks and then fall off the wagon, I am going to say the New Year's resolution for the Hawks should be to continue to force Acie Law to ride the pine. You're welcome Hawks' fans. By January 20th, Acie will be getting 15 minutes a game. For the fan out there, it should be five games. Make a resolution to come to at least five games. Two against teams with losing records. There is not a better deal in Atlanta than getting dinner and beer in the CNN center and sitting in the upper bowl watching this Hawks team play. Please come. It's more fun with you there. And hey you can hit up three games in that "I am really committed to this" first two weeks. See a resolution that is fun and easy. Again, you're welcome. Go Hawks.
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| Joe Friday and OBJ from Runaround Sue's: |
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Currently tied with San Antonio for the fifth best record in the Lig, I don't think you need a whole lot of changes within the Atlanta Hawks organization, other than a shuffling of the second unit. And that's what New Year's Resolutions are all about, yes? Changing. Nobody ever says, "My New Year's Resolution is to continue exercising the exact amount I am now. Steady and consistent all the way into '09!" The biggest change-challenge that faced the Hawks has, in large part, already begun to turn. The organization and the fans are beginning, slowly but surely, to look at this franchise as a winning team. That's a HUGE change that affects the psychology of every player, as well as every fan in attendance and watching city-wide. Perhaps I'm being a bit too personal here (Sue's enjoyed the hell out of watching those C-Webb-led Kings squads of the early 2000s), but if I could pick one thing for the Hawks to do heading into 2009, I would have them be absolutely Resolute in their desire and ability to re-sign Mike Bibby. Bibby's veteran leadership and ability to spread and control the floor cannot be overstated. Bibby heading to a different team would leave a tremendous gap in the Hawks' roster, and would no doubt transform the Hawks right back into fighting for a #6-8 seed in the playoffs. An All-Star caliber, veteran PG is absolutely essential to the continued success of this young Hawks team, whose athletic playmakers rely on a floor general that can feed them the rock consistently and allowing the Hawks star player to work from his true position. I only hope the Atlanta Spirit group feels similarly. Also receiving votes: For Josh Smith to realize that he's not Ray Allen and never will be - and thats okay, we still love his game. And, darn it, he should too. For Zaza to become a local celebrity to the point he doesn't realize he's being underused and decides to stay in ATL for a few more years. To have "coffee" with one of the A-Town Dancers. Any of them will suffice.
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| Larry from Hawks Str8talk: |
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There are two new year’s resolutions that I have for the Hawks. The first (and most practical) is for the Hawks to develop a road warrior swagger that leads us to an over .500 road record this year. The second (and the most audacious) is for us to start to cheer, support, and revere these Hawks with the belief that we can win a NBA title THIS YEAR. While there is a significant hill to climb to reach that level (and the NBA doesn’t lend itself to NFL-like worst to first Cinderella stories easily), if there’s anything 2008 has taught us via the presidential race or even our own Dirty Birds (or in my case, the Dolphins) – it’s that your wildest dreams can be realized. So, my resolution for the Hawks team and organization as well as Hawks fans is to start believing in our Hawks as a division titlist, a team that can get home court advantage in the playoffs, and ultimately a NBA title contender and not simply a team that we hope can make the playoffs and possibly win a playoff series or two. Audacious - Yes! Achievable - Why not? |
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