Hollinger is drooling about the Hawks

[jerrywest]

http://sports.espn.g...age=dime-091118

ATLANTA -- "Well, they're athletic."

It happened before every game -- the go-to, garden-variety backhanded compliment that every opposing coach used in the pregame media session when they were trying to say nice things about the Hawks. Left unsaid were things like, "They know how to play," "They have a lot of smart veterans," "They play hard every night" and "There's no obvious place to attack them."

That was the old days, when the Hawks were a lottery team destined to become another speed bump for whatever quality opponent was visiting -- provided they didn't stay out too late in Buckhead the night before. Sure, the Hawks had athleticism, but for good teams that wouldn't matter if they took the event seriously.

That sentiment faded during last year's 47-win campaign, and a dozen games into the 2009-10 season, everything's been turned on its head. We saw it yet again in the Hawks' 105-90 win over Miami on Monday. They sit atop both the computer and human Power Rankings on ESPN.com, and more importantly they're on top the standings too -- tied with Phoenix for the NBA's best record at 10-2.

We're a long way from answering whether they're actually the East's best team, but we're even further away from the "well, they're athletic," days. Tonight's effort, in which the Hawks ran away and hid with a 28-8 second quarter run before coasting to victory, provided further evidence.

Knowing how to play? Check -- even their most suspect performer in this department, Josh Smith, has amazed observers with his shot selection in the early going. Atlanta committed only eight turnovers against a ball-hawking Heat team, and the most cynical Hawk-basher could only point to one or two shots that might have been ill-chosen.

Lots of smart veterans? Check -- adding Joe Smith and Jamal Crawford in the offseason to join the likes of Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans and Zaza Pachulia put the Hawks ahead of the curve in this department. "Guys have figured out that when we play defense at a high level we're tough to beat," said Marvin Williams, who in his fifth season is pretty close to earning a V for veteran himself.

Playing hard every night? Check -- in fact this is probably the area where Mike Woodson's impact has been greatest over the past half decade. Atlanta's lone truly disappointing effort came in Charlotte and was as much a defeat to the schedule-makers (who bypassed consultation with Rand McNally and chose to send them straight from Sacramento to Charlotte) as to the Bobcats. Otherwise they've been spirited on the road (4-2) and invincible at Philips Arena.

No place to attack them? Check -- you can ask Dwyane Wade about that one. He once again struggled to penetrate against a Hawk defense and suffered from the absence of his usual steady diet of free throws; not to mention the absence of a reliable second scoring threat. The Heat's star mustered only two free-throw attempts en route to a 6-for-18 night that was reminiscent of the 2009 playoffs, when the stout Hawk defense forced him to try more than seven 3-pointers a game.

"Atlanta forces me to be more of a jump shooter," said Wade. "They did a good job of forcing me out of the paint. You have to be smart when you play them, because they are a very athletic team and they will meet you at the rim."

These days, opponent's comments about Atlanta's athleticism emerge in a very different light. No longer is it a throwaway compliment -- it's now a warning. Like, you better not screw up, because they'll make you pay every time.

"Against an athletic team like this," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, "you have to really keep your turnovers down. Otherwise they will capitalize on it. They have long athletic defenders that do a good job of defending the paint. We just need to be sharper."

It's not a token plaudit -- it's a reality. Teams have trouble scoring against the length and mobility of Smith and Al Horford, who began the game first and 11th, respectively, in shot-blocking but are quick enough to pick up the likes of Wade on perimeter switches.

Opponents also give up size every night to Atlanta's wings (6-9 Williams and 6-7 Joe Johnson), making for difficult matchups. Tonight, it was Wade who lamented having to give up inches and pounds against Johnson (a game-high 30 points), especially once Quentin Richardson checked out with a lower back strain.

Meanwhile, the Hawks' athleticism has been turbo-charged by the fact they finally figured out how to use it. As a result, plays like Mike Bibby's one-motion scoop off the floor and alleyoop to Smith were the crowning highlight of a monstrous 28-8 second quarter run, rather than the lone thrilling moment in a disappointing defeat.

Moments of goofiness like Smith's between-the-legs dunk tries -- sorry, that memory races back when these two teams meet in Philips -- have been expunged from the arsenal as well. Instead Smith dunked pretty much every other way en route to a commanding16-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist, two-steal, two-block performance.

And at times, the combo of skill, savvy and athleticism can be terrifying. Early in the third quarter, for example, center Al Horford ripped down a rebound, pushed it upcourt to the opposing 3-point line himself and fired a perfect transition bounce pass to Johnson for a layup. Name me another center who can both average double-figure rebounds and lead his own breaks.

It's a long season, of course, and we don't know yet how the Hawks will cope when the inevitable run of injuries and shooting slumps hits. But know this: They're athletic. And now, they're so much more.

Edited November 19, 2009 by jerrywest

[Plainview1981]

How will this team handle adversity when players get hurt and Josh and Al struggle a bit. Which happens to all players over the course of the season. The team survived last year without Josh Smith for a while and still won when Marvin was out, but the league is better this year I think.

[gsuteke]

How will this team handle adversity when players get hurt and Josh and Al struggle a bit. Which happens to all players over the course of the season. The team survived last year without Josh Smith for a while and still won when Marvin was out, but the league is better this year I think.

6-4 is how they'll handle it.

THis team is solid, period.

BTW the Hawks are the front page lead on ESPN.com

[mrhonline]

I admit to having to look up the word "plaudit." Never heard that one before, and I can't imagine Sekou ever using it. ;)

[exodus]

When i watched Miami playing OKC a couple of nights ago i had a strange thought. I started thinking that Miami just wasn't good enough to beat the Hawks the way they were playing. Funny how things change.

Only 3 of the teams the Hawks have played so far this year currently have losing records.

[coachx]

http://sports.espn.g...age=dime-091118

Opponents also give up size every night to Atlanta's wings (6-9 Williams and 6-7 Joe Johnson), making for difficult matchups. Tonight, it was Wade who lamented having to give up inches and pounds against Johnson (a game-high 30 points), especially once Quentin Richardson checked out with a lower back strain.

Meanwhile, the Hawks' athleticism has been turbo-charged by the fact they finally figured out how to use it. As a result, plays like Mike Bibby's one-motion scoop off the floor and alleyoop to Smith were the crowning highlight of a monstrous 28-8 second quarter run, rather than the lone thrilling moment in a disappointing defeat.

Love it !

JJ and Marvin vs. Wade and Rishardson is a serious size mathcup. Got to love that !

The Bibby flip to Smoove will be a Hawks highlight that is played a decade from now.

[RLHawk]

Only 3 of the teams the Hawks have played so far this year currently have losing records.

i was looking at that (only 3 teams with losing records and yet we are 10-2).

10 of the next 14 have losing records...just image what we can do through that stretch. 11-3 / 12-2.

The hawks can realistically be 21-5 or 22-4 as the schedule completes the first third.

The schedule gets hard at the end of December though for about a month.

[jerrywest]

http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/nbasend.htm

Hawks had the 7th toughest schedule, 2nd toughest in the east.

cavs 22nd

magic 28th

celtics 27th

heat 29th

[Plainview1981]

http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/nbasend.htm

Hawks had the 7th toughest schedule, 2nd toughest in the east.

cavs 22nd

magic 28th

celtics 27th

heat 29th

Orlando's schedule is probably balanced out by injuries and no Shard for the first 10 games. Cleveland.... They don't look so good.

[DjGrizz]

Orlando's schedule is probably balanced out by injuries and no Shard for the first 10 games. Cleveland.... They don't look so good.

28th toughest schedule, is the 28th toughest schedule. There really isn't a way to spin that in a positive light; Shard or no Shard.

[Plainview1981]

28th toughest schedule, is the 28th toughest schedule. There really isn't a way to spin that in a positive light; Shard or no Shard.

They've been missing key players. They haven't put their full team on the court as of yet. Period.

[DjGrizz]

They've been missing key players. They haven't put their full team on the court as of yet. Period.

28th toughest schedule. Let me break this down for you....only two other teams in the ENTIRE National Basketball Association have had an easier schedule. Missing players or not, that is weak, period.

[Plainview1981]

28th toughest schedule. Let me break this down for you....only two other teams in the ENTIRE National Basketball Association have had an easier schedule. Missing players or not, that is weak, period.

And they still only have lost one more game... Oh, and I don't care if Indiana is one game over .500 or not... They're not a good team. They just lost to the Knicks last night.

You think the hawks are 10-2 if josh Smith is out the first 10 games? But have fun overly simplifying things

Edited November 19, 2009 by Hotlanta1981

[DjGrizz]

And they still only have lost one more game... Oh, and I don't care if Indiana is one game over .500 or not... They're not a good team. They just lost to the Knicks last night.

You think the hawks are 10-2 if josh Smith is out the first 10 games? But have fun overly simplifying things

Overly simplifying things? You're overly complicating things. If we had the 28th toughest schedule in the NBA and Josh was out, yes, we could match their 9-3 start. Period.

Dumb

[benhillboy]

I cannot understand why so many people take his word as law. He rides the same waves as all the other "experts." All of a sudden, we're tops in the league, now it's like he knew it all along. I'd like it better if he were pessimistic about us. Just a stat geek.

[Joker]

How will this team handle adversity when players get hurt and Josh and Al struggle a bit. Which happens to all players over the course of the season. The team survived last year without Josh Smith for a while and still won when Marvin was out, but the league is better this year I think.

It is, but not at the top. It is better in the middle. The Lakers have not improved but are tougher as a team. The Celtics are deeper, but older as well. The Cavs have digressed, Shaq was a bad move and Big Z losing confidence in his new role is not something that will NOT easily change. That trade has probably hurt them more than helped them. VC to Orlando was great if your playing the Hawks but the lost of Hedo is a painful one. Hedo was their true play-maker, something they will need in the playoffs.

Too many of these teams brought in a player to beat a team and to not improved the team overall with the exception of the Hawks and Celtics. VC replacing Hedo was a bad move. They need a scorer, true but Hedo make them a match-up nightmare. VC made them better v. the Hawks but not anyone else in the East. They still lack a true PG, Hedo fill that role better than anyone could who's not a PG. I like the Sheed to Boston move. I liked the Ron Artest signing, the Lakers lack toughness when it counts, now that they have Artest, that will end.

The Mavs have improved and could make the Finals, same could be said for the Squrs. The middle tier teams are better. The Suns, Heat, Raptors, Bucks, and Rockets have improved as a team. The bad teams are just as bad as last season with the exception of the Bobcats who are a lot better than their record indicates. Larry Brown hasn't coached well this season.

Edited November 19, 2009 by nbasuperstar40

[AmishBoy]

i was looking at that (only 3 teams with losing records and yet we are 10-2).

10 of the next 14 have losing records...just image what we can do through that stretch. 11-3 / 12-2.

The hawks can realistically be 21-5 or 22-4 as the schedule completes the first third.

The schedule gets hard at the end of December though for about a month.

Hard isn't even the word for that part of the schedule. 17 games:Boston 3 times, Orlando twice, Cleveland twice, Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, Washingington may be good by then. I don't know who made that part of the schedule, but they had bad intentions. If we are still at the top by all star break, we are for real.

[Joker]

No team has improved even close to what the Hawks did this season. Josh Smith finally realized he's a role player and not Lebron. He is playing the role of crashing boards and being committed to defense as well as playing within himself on offense. That is something I did not think would ever happen. He used play like a more athletic, a lot less skilled, and super low IQ version of Lebron. Now he plays within himself, he's like a more offensive skilled Ben Wallace and at PF. He makes Horford's job a lot easier, which is a far cry since Horford had to carry Smith end last year because Smith lack of intensity on the defensive end. Joe is better and more athletic since he has finally worked on his body. Bibby is smarter and took a smaller and easier role to help the team, and what can you say about Jamal Crawford. He has been splendid this season. Marvin is still trying to figure out his role, but that is okay if he plays good defense on guys like Lebron.

Edited November 20, 2009 by nbasuperstar40

[BusBoyIsBack]

No team has improved even close to what the Hawks did this season. Josh Smith finally realized he's a role player and not Lebron. He is playing the role of crashing boards and being committed to defense as well as playing within himself on offense. That is something I did not think would ever happen. He used play like a more athletic, a lot less skilled, and super low IQ version of Lebron. Now he plays within himself, he's like a more offensive skilled Ben Wallace and at PF. He makes Horford's job a lot easier, which is a far cry since Horford had to carry Smith end last year because Smith lack of intensity on the defensive end. Joe is better and more athletic since he has finally worked on his body. Bibby is smarter and took a smaller and easier role to help the team, and what can you say about Jamal Crawford. He has been splendid this season. Marvin is still trying to figure out his role, but that is okay if he plays good defense on guys like Lebron.

An offensively skilled Ben Wallace is not a role player, that's an all-star which is the level that Josh Smith is playing at right now. Sure he's not trying to handle and shoot the ball like he's Lebron James, he's getting his scoring IN THE PAINT. That's where his shot selection belongs.

[HawksFan87]

uh smoove is not a role player, what r u talking about... He's clearly the 2nd best player on our team, without him playing smart basketball right now.. Who knows what our record would be..

I can't stand hollinger when we lose a few games, he'll jump off the bandwagon..

Edited November 20, 2009 by jsmoovefan