Take Off!
The 2007-08 Atlanta Hawks took the first step in living up to their potential.

By Jon Cooper



In many people's eyes the Atlanta Hawks came out of nowhere in not only in making the NBA Playoffs, but extending the Boston Celtics to seven games in their opening-round series.

While they fell one win short of shocking the world, as Josh Smith predicted, the Hawks succeeded in living up to the promise that their head coach, Mike Woodson, had been making all season.

"Everybody's goal this year coming in was to get into the playoffs. No matter what," said Woodson, whose team improved its record for the fourth consecutive season. "We got that accomplished, we drew the best team in basketball, the Boston Celtics, and we took them to seven games. That means a lot to me because I think our guys were truly committed all season and they weren't just satisfied to be in the playoffs."

The Hawks told anyone who would listen that they were a playoff-caliber team. The problem was getting anyone to listen.

They made opening arguments Opening Night by knocking off Western Conference power Dallas, 101-94, in their first season opener at Philips Arena since 2000, and the team’s first Opening Night win since strike-shortened 1999. Five nights later at Philips they knocked off Phoenix, 105-96, pulling down 56 rebounds, 39 on the defensive end (both season-highs).

Those wins were a harbinger, as Atlanta would also knock off the Western Conference regular season champion Lakers, Utah, Denver, Cleveland, and Orlando. Philips Arena would be scratched off the list of fun places for opposing teams to visit in Atlanta, as 25 of Atlanta's 37 wins came at Philips, then they were 3-for-3 in the Playoffs.

“Hawks-teria” reached unprecedented heights in Game Six against Boston, when a franchise-playoff-record 20,425 fans squeezed into Philips.

"I didn't know we had this much support," said center Zaza Pachulia with a laugh about the deafening crowd. "It definitely felt good. This is a young, emotional team and we definitely feed off the fans. That definitely helped us to win those three games. We got major, major help from our fans."

While the team hit some rough patches — they were 4-11 in January, then lost eight of nine during a stretch in February — fan support never wavered. They could sense this Hawks team was special.

There was an inside toughness that wasn't there in years past, starting with Josh Smith, who came of age in 2007-08.

Smith, who endured a 13-69 rookie season, proved he belongs among the league's best defenders, ranking second in the NBA in blocks for the second straight year, swatting away 8.2 shots per game and finished the season with a streak of 32 games with at least one block. Earlier in the season he had a streak of 76 games snapped. Smith also set a team playoff record with six blocks in Game Four. Offensively “J-Smoove,” scored 17.2 ppg, a career-best and the fourth straight season he raised his scoring average. He proved he could hit big shots, none bigger than the jumper he hit with 5:16 left in Game Four to give the team the lead for good.

Then there was Al Horford, runner-up for Rookie of the Year and three-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Never mind rookie jitters. Horford dominated the boards, leading the team in total rebounds, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds. He also emerged as a leader in the locker room.

"He's a special rookie," said Woodson. "I never really had to go at him in terms of pushing him to do the right things. He was already prepped to play in big games and shine in big games.”

"When you come into the league you come in and try to figure things out," said Horford, who averaged 10.1 ppg and 9.7 rpg in 81 games, despite playing out of position in the center spot. "I had the chance to play a lot, it was just kind of figuring out where is my scoring going to come from and things that impact the game. As the year went on I felt more comfortable with that."

Also adding toughness inside was Pachulia, whose numbers were down due to injuries but whose heart was unquestioned. He never backed down, even getting into Kevin Garnett's face in Game Four.

The toughness of these Hawks showed defensively, as they held opponents to less than 100 points 45 times, going 28-17 in those games. To show how far the Hawks have come, back in 2004-05, Woodson's first season, Atlanta held opponents under 100 points 30 times, winning only nine of those games.

As they improved defensively they also learned how to win close games. In games decided by five points or less, they were 10-11 in 2007-08. Back in '04-05, they were 7-17. When they were held under 100 points this season, they managed to win 17 times in 51 games. Back in '04-05, in 59 games scoring under 100, the won only four.

"I think it was a season of growth, we, as individuals, as a team were able to learn a lot about ourselves, learn a lot about what it takes to win in the league," said Josh Childress, who, like Smith, was a rookie in that nightmarish 13-win season. "It's a very long way from 13. I think we showed a lot of people that we're a very talented bunch."

The most talented of this bunch is Joe Johnson who was acquired three years ago in a move that looks pretty good for Atlanta right now. The seven-year pro has grown to become the unquestioned leader of the Hawks.

Johnson, who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star for the second straight season, was the team’s biggest weapon, averaging 21.7 points, with 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds, while playing 40.8 minutes in all 82 games. He also showed he could take over big games, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter of the Game Four victory over Boston.

If there was a turning point in 2007-08, it was Feb. 16, when Atlanta acquired point guard Mike Bibby from Sacramento.

The potential 5-for-1 pick — Atlanta dealt Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright and a second-round pick — got off to a slow start, as the Hawks, 22-28 at the time, dropped four of their first five and 10 of 14 with Bibby. But, beginning with a March 14 win at Philips against the Clippers, the Hawks went on an 11-4 surge that lifted the team past New Jersey and Indiana and into the playoffs. With Bibby in control, the Hawks increased their production by nearly nine points (93.8 to 103.5 ppg) and two assists (21.2 to 23.3) a game.

With the continued improvement of Marvin Williams, who raised his scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounds (5.7 rpg) for the third straight season, and the energy brought by Childress, who was dynamic off the bench — only Denver's J.R. Smith scored more as a sixth man than Childress' 11.8 ppg — the young nucleus of the team is ready to lead the team as it takes the next step.

"I said from Day One that if those guys played at a high level we had a shot at winning," said Woodson. "If you've got two of the three playing at a high level we’d be pretty consistent and if you only had one then we struggle. For the most part, all season, all three of them were very solid players and put us in position that we're in today."

Woodson feels it is imperative to keep the pieces in place.

"We definitely have to sign Josh Smith and Josh Childress back and we've got to get stronger from a bench standpoint," said Woodson. "As we move forward, we've got to continue to develop Josh Smith and Childress and Marvin, guys like that. Zaza, guys that are here under contract.

Then there are the young, hungry lions behind the Joshes and Marvin, a group including point guard of the future Acie Law, relentless swingman Mario West, rapidly improving big Solomon Jones, and sharpshooting Salim Stoudamire.

"We've got to continue to develop those guys that they're not satisfied with where they are as individual players," said Woodson. "They've got to continue to grow as players to help us get over the 37-win mark to possibly 50 to 55 wins, where that might secure us maybe a home court start in the playoffs. Because that's where you want to be at the end of the day as you start talking about trying to win an NBA title."

Win an NBA title? Atlanta? That sounds crazy.

But this time when Woodson talks, people may actually start listening.

Jon Cooper is a freelance writer based in Atlanta.