Searching for and signing hidden jewels....

[Gray Mule]

Not every new Hawk signing will result in us having a new all star.

 

Not every signing this off season by the Hawks will result in a dud.

 

With four of five starters back from last season's 60 win team, we

now search for that elusive fifth starter and ways to strengthen our

bench which wasn't too bad last season.

 

Bud believes in players with a very high basketball IQ and we notice

that these new players all seem to fit that idea.  We know that two of

last season's players are gone and three new players are on board.

Injuries, both large and small, are in the process of healing.

 

Even the always highly pessimistic Hotlanta1981 expects this team

to win 50 or more games this season.  We will not be sneaking up

on anyone this coming season.  Cleveland, the eastern division

champion and Atlanta, the runner up, will be on everyone's list as

the teams to beat.

 

Several years ago, our 13 win season had us searching for players to

help turn things around.  Hawk fans celebrated 13 times in that long

season.  Yes, we enjoyed every victory and wanted more.

 

Now, Hawk fans enjoyed the playoffs the past season and celebrated

every victory until we met King James, his merry men and his disciples

in the striped shirts.  Not saying they helped King James but they didn't

do him and his merry men any harm.

 

We, the Hawks, want more.  We especially want to meet and beat Cleveland.

One of our old enemies from the old Celtic days has gone west for an

opportunity to win one more time.  Since Paul Pierce left, our meeting

Boston just hasn't been the same.

 

King James, in the prime of life for the next decade or two, makes the Cavs

the favorites regardless of who he has with him on the team and it seems

that whoever he wants, he gets.  And why not.  Sometimes winning is more

than money and who can say how many side benefits are available to his

players.  Just being on his team is worth a lot, or so it seems.

 

Who do you see as our biggest rival?  Last season Atlanta had Hawk fans

in the audience when some of the super stars came to play and it didn't seem

to be a home game away from home to some of them.  Wasn't that great!

 

Searching for that elusive jewel among our signings.  Hopefully, more than one.

 

We're not done yet.  At least I don't think we are.  Bud and his staff are stirring 

the pot, waiting to see what comes to the surface.  Atlanta may not be the place

where all stars want to come yet, but a lot of players would be delighted to

come here and be a part of a team that just won 60 games!

 

What do you think.  How many teams will finish ahead of the Hawks next season

and who do you feel is our greatest rival?  Which team do you really, really want

to put a big whipping on? 

 

 

 

[thescout5]

Greatest rival the Cavs. Right now they look like the cream of the Eastern Conference. Hawks will be fighting it out with the Bulls and Toronto for 2nd best record and the surprise teams should be Miami and Milwaukee.Team I want to beat the most is the Cavs in the playoffs. Regular season means something but the playoffs as we saw is the deciding factor who is better.