Lang Whitaker is many things - executive editor of Slam Magazine, a columnist for SI.com, and most importantly, a die-hard Hawks fan. For 2007-08 , Lang will be sharing his thoughts on the team in an exclusive column for Hawks.com. Check back every Wednesday throughout the season to read his latest musings, and read him every day at www.SLAMonline.com

"The Facts Of Being A Hawks Fan"
by Lang Whitaker

I flipped off my flatscreen last night with about 3 minutes to go and the Hawks down to the Bulls by what felt like 200 points. For a Hawks fan, that was really the only way to treat last night's game: Bury your head in the couch and pretend it never happened. And it's too bad, because before that Bull crap performance in Chicago last night, our Hawks had posted back-to-back wins, one over an improving Miami team and one over the T-Wolves. And tonight we take on the Bucks, who we should be able to beat.

But still…that Bulls game. Why do we always remember the negative so vividly? I'd prefer to dwell on the wins, but that loss is hanging around my brain. We played with one healthy point guard and allowed the Bulls to dictate tempo to us like we were from the steno pool. What happened to the up-tempo offense? It must have been tucked away in one of Woody's voluminous suit pockets or hidden deep inside Acie Law's protective boot. We were promised a running and gunning team this season, but we were bamboozled. We didn't land on the up-tempo offense, the up-tempo offense landed on us!

Sorry…I'll calm down. I know we're still premature in the season, and it's not easy to teach an old dog new tricks. But enough about Peja Drobnjak. It's early enough that I watch the Hawks with a bottomless well of optimism. Every night I expect the Hawks to come out on fire, dominating like the team in High School Musical (with Josh Childress as Corbin Bleu). I don't know how long I can sustain this level of passion, but I try. And I expect the guys on the team to mirror my passion, night after night. Many nights they do, but on just as many nights, they don't. On the nights they come out without that fire, I end up angry, ready for heads to roll, from Billy to Woody to Joe to Josh to Josh. But that's what being a fan is about: You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of being a Hawks fan.

Look, one month in, after being ravaged by the same vicious injury bug that's feasted on the Hawks for the last two years, the Hawks are 5-8. Over a full season, that's about 31 wins. Pretending that nobody else gets hurt the rest of the year, I figure we should play out the year with something like a 38-44 record. Considering the Hawks have gone from 13 wins to 26 wins to 30 wins over the last three seasons. Adding 8 more victories to that total, that's progress.

Isn't it?

MAILING IT IN:

This week's letter comes from G. Rhone, who bills himself as an "excited, old school Hawks fan." G-Money writes…

"Let me start by saying that I enjoy your writings and I make it a point to read every Wed. Your first article "Why I'm Here" took me back and besides, you convinced me that you're a "real" Hawks fan as well as a respected former columnist for SI? I'm impressed! I'm gonna enjoy sharing views and opinions with you!

Now, be honest: What do you think about Zaza? Because to me, he doesn't seem to fit into what's happening with the Hawks right now. Granted, he just got back and ran the floor really well in transition and scored, as well as picked up a few steals, however I think Zaza's role should be this:

On Defense: Always be around the basket, particularly for rebounding. Get Tough!! I'd like to see him be more confident and "sure-handed" when it comes to defensive rebounding. I'd like to see him attempt to strip the ball away before the opponent takes the shot instead of being a "shot blocker" (not saying that he is a shot-blocker, trying, or ever was...), in other words, get a little quicker with his hands and feet to become a somewhat of a defensive threat because no one fears him right now.

On Offense: Stay away from the basket unless he's crashing the boards. Zaza would be most dangerous from the outside knocking down the jumper when teams double on Josh Smith or Joe Johnson. If he's not in good position to crash the offensive boards then he's in excellent position to get back on D.

He's not a true threat at the 5 position. That's why the Hawks will get pushed around when he's playing there. That's my take."

Alright, G. First of all, what's this stuff about me being a "former" columnist for SI.com? Do you know something I don't know? If so, why am I writing those Daily Lists twice a week?

Interesting thoughts about Zaza, the oldest-looking 23-year-old since…well, wait 'til Greg Oden turns 23. I can't say I disagree with any of your thoughts. I, too, would prefer too see Zaza used more away from the rim, particularly around the free throw line, where his jumper looks pretty consistent.

Consistency seems to be his main problem. Some games he looks like a beast, some games he looks like he's not even out there (even though he's definitely out there). Last night, for instance, there were a few plays where he was guarding Ben Wallace away from the basket as if he was Reggie Miller. I think we all know you can afford to leave Ben Wallace alone when he has the ball on offense fifteen feet from the rim.

Perhaps Zaza will show up one day and be transformed into Vlade Divac or Chris Webber, a big man who might not be the most athletic specimen but who always plays with craft and guile. I don't think I've ever said this about any player, but I can't wait for Zaza to be about ten years older and his athleticism to be just a little diminished. Because maybe when he's forced to rely on what's he learned, he'll be a really effective player. Either way, at least he has a cool name.

Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com. He can be reached at lang@harris-pub.com. The best email he receives each week will run in this column.