With the Eastern Conference wide open, don't sleep on the Atlanta Hawks

In a matter of a few weeks, the landscape of the Eastern Conference has dramatically shifted from being a two horse race between the Heat and Pacers to a wide open derby with as much as seven contenders. Of course, this is primarily due to LeBron James' decision to head back to Cleveland to join the Cavaliers, but other factors such as Lance Stephenson going to the Hornets and Pau Gasol going to the Bulls have also contributed to this shift. While everybody is all abuzz about the Cavaliers, Bulls, Wizards, and Hornets, nobody is paying one iota of attention to the Atlanta Hawks and the potential they have to make a run for the Eastern Conference crown.

The reason why they aren't getting any attention is equally obvious as it is incoherent: They haven't added any major free agents to their team this summer. What makes this incoherent is that their star center Al Horford missed almost the entire season with a torn pectoral muscle, and yet they found themselves taking the #1 seeded Indiana Pacers to a Game 7 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.  

                                          (credit: soaringsouth.com)

With Al Horford now healthy, the Hawks will finally be able to see how much damage they can do with a frontcourt that features Al Horford and Paul Millsap, two guys who are both all-stars. In my opinion, the damage that they can do is severe enough to come out of the Eastern Conference and stun everybody who follows the NBA. 

Before he went down with his pectoral injury last season, Al Horford was having the best season of his career, averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per contest. As for Paul Millsap, what earned him all-star honors was his season average of 17.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Those aren't numbers to ignore in today's NBA, especially for big men. With Pacers center Roy Hibbert going all coo coo in the head, the door is now open for the Hawks to have the best front court in the Eastern Conference even with the Bulls having Joakim Noah and the Cavaliers potentially landing Kevin Love.

In addition to their fantastic frontcourt which also features the very dangerous stretch-big man Pero Antic, the Hawks have a very dangerous backcourt which features Jeff Teague and also Thabo Sefolosha who they signed this summer in free agency. Like Horford and Millsap, Teague has gotten better every season with this past season being his best, averaging 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. 

Teague is not only a playmaker offensively, but he is also a playmaker defensively. By adding Thabo Sefolosha to their backcourt, the Hawks now have a very dangerous defensive team on the perimeter that can give the best backcourts in the NBA serious trouble. In addition, the Hawks also have Kyle Korver knocking down threes at the small forward position, which makes up for Sefolosha's lack of offense. 

As for the role players on the Hawks, I like the pieces that their head coach Mike Budenholzer has to work with. Kent Bazemore, who had a breakout season of sorts with the Lakers last season should be able to provide scoring off the bench, DeMarre Carrol is effective at providing energy and hustle, and Dennis Schroeder is looking like he may become a quality backup point guard. Plus, both rookie Adreian Payne and veteran Gustavo Ayon should be able to provide quality relief in the paint for Al Horford and Paul Millsap. 

The only knock on the Hawks is that they don't have a big name player who will put them on ESPN and TNT every week. They will once again fly under the radar as a result, but don't allow that to make you forget that Hawks still exist as a viable contender in the East. They can beat you in the paint and on the perimeter and they also have quality role players. In addition, they learned that without Al Hoford they can still make some noise in the playoffs. Now that they are getting Horford back, I don't see any reason to think that they can't run the table and come out of the East. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

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Atlanta Hawks 2013-14 Team Review

No one could have imagined that on May 1st of the year 2014 that the Atlanta Hawks would be only 48 minutes away from defeating the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers.  The Hawks had seemingly taken control of the series and the Pacers were reeling, fighting alongside of one another on the court while battling each other off of the court.  The Hawks would eventually falter in game 6 and eventually return to normalcy during game 7 as the Pacers moved on to the second round.  Despite the undesired result, the Hawks had served notice to the entire league as they were not going to be an easy out.

First year head coach Mike Budenholzer further moved the franchise away from the days of "Iso Joe" made famous by Mike Woodson and continued with Larry Drew.  Having served under Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, Budenholzer brought a free flowing offense to the Hawks where the ball simply doesn't "stick".  Budenholzer was the right fit for the franchise who at the time was fighting for an identity.  Now dubbed as the "Spurs of the East" Atlanta has become a somewhat enticing situations for free agents.

During the regular season they amassed a record of 38 wins and 44 losses which in seasons past wouldn't result in a playoff berth.  Adding to the equation that they were without "franchise" Al Horford for three fourths of the season makes their result much more impressive.  With that being said the absence of Horford allowed G Jeff Teague to continue his stellar play and ascend to new heights as there was no doubt to who was the most important player for the Hawks last season.  Teague averaged a career high 16.5 points per game and added 6.7 assists.  Not fazed by "the moment", Teague raised his scoring output to 19.3 points per game during the playoffs.

Off-season addition Paul Milsap was stellar for the Hawks he was one of the best off-season acquisitions (2 years, $19 million).  Millsap averaged 17.9 points (career high) and 8.5 rebounds per game.  His stellar season was validated when he was named to the 2014 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference.  Millsap's first season with the Hawks also included his first ever triple double which came against the Toronto Raptors.  The overtime win saw the Hawks saw Millsap finish with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

As currently constructed the Hawks have a young nucleus and tons of cap space but as far as immediate needs are concerned they need a solid small forward that can stretch the floor and engage in perimeter defense.  A name that comes to mind here is Trevor Ariza who will be an unrestricted free agent.  More known for his defensive capabilities, Ariza can be an explosive offensive threat.  Last season for the Washington Wizards, Ariza averaged 14.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.  Franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers will allow try to lure Ariza away from the Nation's Capital but the Hawks will allow Ariza the chance to have more offensive freedom than he has in Washington or would have in Los Angeles.

Another name that has come up as a possible target for the Hawks is Luol Deng who is currently vacationing in Europe.  Deng split last season between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers and while Deng is older than Ariza by a few months, he's still just as capable.  For his career Deng has averaged 16 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and is seeking between $10-12 million in free agency.  The Hawks have potentially freed extra cap space by recently trading G Lou Williams to the Toronto Raptors in an attempt to draw a big name.

The Atlanta Hawks are definitely a team on the rise in the weak eastern conference and they will benefit greatly from the return of Al Horford and the continued emergence of Jeff Teague.  Should they acquire either Trevor Ariza or Luol Deng, the Spurs of the East will be a team on the rise and should threaten to to enter the second round of the playoffs next season and possibly even further in the near future.

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Atlanta Hawks are showing that seeding is just a number

The Hawks-Pacers shifted to the Highlight Factory for Game 3; a venue where the Pacers would rather not visit due to only winning there two times since December of 2006. Entering tonight a Pacers win would add to the narrative of the rich getting richer but with the Hawks earning the victory the narrative of the Pacers was more like the worse growing even more worse and the collapse of the Indiana  pacers is a tale worth telling. Tonight the No. 8 seeded Hawks defeated the No. 1 seed Indiana Pacers 98-85 and Vogel said his team won't "quit" but have they mentally?

The game was the first aired tonight as it was featured on NBA TV.  One couldn't blame the NBA for airing the game there because it was something that would've put one to sleep through 4 quarters as both teams shot under 40% and a combined 27 turnovers.  The game did however pick up towards the end as guard Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer to close out the 3rd quarter to help the Hawks gain momentum into the most crucial quarter.  

But the shot of the game occurred when the shot-clock was winding and the ball was in Teague's hand.  He dribbled to the left (went out of bounds but wasn't called) went up and drained a 3-pointer over Pacers forward Luis Scola to increase the Hawks' lead to nine and caused the crowd to go berserk. After Teague made the incredible shot he jogged back on defense doing the "Jordan Shrug".

MVP: Jeff Teague controlled the game finishing with 22 points and 10 assists becoming the first Atlanta Hawk since Spud Webb back in 1986 to have a 20+ point and 10+ assist game.

Atlanta proved the doubters wrong......their Game 1 victory was no fluke and that they could come at the Pacers with all their might and they certainly did so.

All-Star forward Paul George and All-Star center Roy Hibbert combined for 5-20 shooting in game 3 combining for 16 points as their struggles were quite evident. The only player who showed up in the blue and gold was Lance Stephenson as he had a team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Who said upsets only happen during March Madness? The Atlanta Hawks are three wins away from cementing their place in NBA history if they eliminate a No. 1 as the underdog

Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta         

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Nets Blowout Hawks in London

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 16th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks

Final Score: Nets 127 Hawks 110

The Brooklyn Nets were able to pickup a nice win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday afternoon in London, as 2014 continues to be very good for the Nets. The win moves the Nets to (16-22) on the season, and they continue to gain ground in the Atlantic Division, as they are now just 3.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors.

Positives-

After spending about 10 thousand dollars in a London club Monday night, Joe Johnson played like a million bucks on Thursday afternoon. Johnson started the game with a 15-point first quarter, and never looked back after his hot start. Johnson finished with a game-high 29 points on 11 for 15 shooting, which included him going six for eight from three-point land. He only had three points in the second half, as the Hawks started to double-team him, but Johnson adjusted making some nice passes, which led to him having five assists.

The main beneficiary of the double-teaming of Joe Johnson was Alan Anderson. Anderson found his groove with a few wide open looks, and finished with 15 points on five for nine shooting. He was great from behind the three-point line going four for six from deep.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett both also had good games providing scoring help for Johnson. Pierce scored 18 points on eight for 16 shooting with six assists and Garnett scored 12 points on six for eight shooting in just 18 minutes, as Jason Kidd was able to rest Garnett a lot in the blowout.

Off the bench the Nets got a great game from Andray Blatche, who had his best game of the season so far. Blatche scored 20 points on 10 for 18 shooting to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds and six assists.

On defense the Nets did a great job once again of stopping the Hawks three main guys, as Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver all had bad games. Millsap only scored 13 points on five for 14 shooting with just three rebounds. Teague scored the most points in the starting lineup with his 16, but he also struggled shooting the ball going four for 13. Korver had a rare off night scoring just three points on one for nine shooting, but he was able to keep his consecutive game streak with a three-point alive.

The Nets will be heading back to the United States on Friday morning before a Monday afternoon game against the New York Knicks.

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W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Atlanta Hawks in London

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 16th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Brooklyn Nets will be across the pond playing against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday afternoon, as the Nets will be looking to bounce back after an exhausting loss in Toronto. Brooklyn is now (15-22) on the season, which is four games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

- London Calling

Thursday will be the first NBA game of the season in London between the Nets and Hawks, and with the game in London lots of difficulties for both teams. Although they haven’t played since Saturday night, the jet lag maybe in affect for Brooklyn, as traveling overseas and adjusting sleeping schedules is never easy. The Nets have also had to partake in a lot of NBA duties, as they try to build more of a following overseas, and of course the team has been doing sight-seeing.

- Joe Cool

Without Deron Williams on Thursday, once again the Nets will be leaning on Joe Johnson for a big scoring day against his former team. Johnson has found his groove with Williams out, as in his last four games he is averaging 23.2 points per game. Johnson will be going for a nice career milestone, as he can become the 20th player in NBA history to make 1,500 three-pointers. In their most recent game against the Hawks on January 6th, Johnson had a great game scoring 23 points on 10 for 22 shooting. If Johnson can have another game like that on Thursday, the Nets will be in a great position to win.

- Do It Again

In the January 6th win, Brooklyn did a great job slowing down the best three scorers for the Hawks. Without Al Horford the pressure to score has gone up for Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, and Kyle Korver, but earlier in the month the Nets seemed very well prepared for that. The three Hawks combined for 39 points on 10 for 32 shooting in their loss. If Brooklyn can replicate this defensive performance in London, they should be heading back to the U.S. with a win.

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W2W4: Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 6th, 2014

W2W4: Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets riding a two-game winning streak will be at home yet again looking to pick up a win over the Atlanta Hawks, who are one of the few teams above .500 in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn now sits at (12-21) on the season, and are gaining some ground on the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

- Deron’s Ankle

Quite possibility the deciding factor in this game will be the healthy of Nets Point Guard Deron Williams, who is a game-time call with a sore ankle. Williams missed the morning shoot around, and it is the left ankle that is giving him troubles, which has to be a bit concerning for Brooklyn. If Williams can’t go it would be a huge blow to Brooklyn, as he has been playing very well on the Nets two-game winning streak, averaging 25 points on 63% shooting.

- Missing Star

The Atlanta Hawks will be without their best player Al Horford for the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, but in the six games without him the Hawks have been able to play .500 basketball, which in the East is good enough to be a playoff team. There is still some good talent on the Hawks, with Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver all having good seasons, but without Horford it figures to be a tough rest of the season.

- Stay Small

Jason’s Kidd’s move to the smaller lineup for the Nets since the injury to Brook Lopez has seen great success so far, and it would seem to be silly to change it up. The new lineup has seen instant results for Paul Pierce and Deron Williams, who have played their best basketball of the season in the new lineup. The one player who the Nets would love to see get it going would be Joe Johnson, who hasn’t scored in double-digits since Christmas, and his last game against the Cavaliers; he scored just two points in 35 minutes.

- Third Quarter Issues

In the win against the Cavaliers on Saturday one of the big problems from the 2012-13 season surfaced up again, and almost cost the Nets a game, and that was poor play in the third quarter. In the third the Nets were outscored 27-16, which erased a nice 51-38 halftime lead for the most part. The three for 13 shooting from the field along with some poor defense led to the bad quarter. Against a much better team in the Hawks, losing quarters by double-digit points won’t result in a win.

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