NBA.COM Hawks preview

[Guest]

Training camps opened Tuesday and NBA.com's Season Preview contains the latest information on all 29 teams. Will Shaq's surgically repaired toe trip up L.A.'s quest for a fourth title? Can Big Dog get the Hawks soaring? Is Antonio McDyess ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple? Check out your favorite team and players in the 2002-03 Season Preview.

http://www.nba.com/preview2002/atl.html

[KZ3]

Here are some NBA.com quotes from last year's season preview to show just how unreliable they are.

"The Nets made another blockbuster trade for a point guard by shipping the shoot-first, pass-sometimes Stephon Marbury for the best point guard in the league in Jason Kidd. But Kidd had more weapons at his disposal in Phoenix, and they were bounced in the first round. The Nets, for some reason, haven't been the same since they sold Julius Erving to the Sixers in 1976. If the Red Sox have The Curse of the Bambino, the Nets have The Curse of Dr. J's high shorts and even higher afro."

"Boston has a great one-two punch in Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. Unfortunately, the Celtics don't have enough muscle up front to make a difference in the conference."

"Detroit has returned to the red, white and blue uniforms, but that will be the only thing that resembles that back-to-back title teams from 1988-1990."

http://www.nba.com/preview2001/preview2001_east_011023.html

[KZ3]

Comparison between last year's hawks and this year's hawks previews:

LAST YEAR

THE HAWKS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Theo Ratliff returns to All-Star form, and the point guard tag-team can hold up.

THE HAWKS MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : High-scoring trio doesn't add defense to their repertoire.

PEBBLED ORANGE FORTUNE COOKIE SAYS: Playoffs await you

THIS YEAR

THE HAWKS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Robinson, Abdur-Rahim and Terry average 20 points per game, Ratliff comes back healthy and plays 70 games and Dickau grows up quickly.

THE HAWKS MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Any of the above are injured for a significant amount of time.

We have better players this year, but our requirements for making the playoffs seem to have increased.

[Guest]

after being predicted by many to get into the playoffs last year, most analysts are showing a little more caution in predicting big things for the Hawks...mainly due to the "injury" problems that plague some key guys (and flared up again last year). Reading between the lines, most are essentially saying that we should make the playoffs, but only if a) chemistry develops between the big three (sharing the ball), and b) Theo and others maintain a semblance of health.

No one's really said that we can't make the playoffs...unlike the Bulls, Knicks, and Cavs