Hawks not getting a lot of love from Vegas or ‘experts’
Mike Woodson is smiling. He clearly doesn't read Bodog.com. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
After an offseason that saw the Hawks keep their three best free agents (Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia), strengthen their bench (Jamal Crawford, Joe Smith, Jason Collins), eliminate both a punchline (Limpy Claxton) and a draft mistake (Acie Law), and draft a promising guard (Jeff Teague), optimism surrounding the franchise seems near an all-time high.
So here’s my question: Is everybody else seeing something we’re not?
Loading ...By now, you’ve might’ve heard that several national media outlets have projected the Hawks this season to finish on par or even below last season’s results. Actually, I have yet to find one that has them either: 1) winning more games, or, 2) winning more than one playoff round.
This hit home a little harder Thursday night. I received an email from Bodog.com, an online sportsbook, which does a pretty good job accurately reflecting the feelings in Las Vegas (and I’m still waiting for at least one hotel-casino magnate there to say: “You know. We really blew it with those odds. I think I’m just going to build a nice little Best Western with a coffee shop over here.”).
According to some of Bodog’s prop bets, the over/under on the Hawks’ win total is 44.5, which is a step back from last season’s 47.
The “dis” factor doesn’t end there. Some examples:
♦ First coach to be fired: The Hawks’ Mike Woodson is 3-1. That ties him with Chicago’s Vinny Del Negro as the No. 2 favorite — barely behind the leader, Lawrence Frank (9-5). Not sure how that affects contract extension talks.
♦ Southeast Division: Hawks are 15-2 to win the division, which is third behind Orlando (1-4) and Miami (13-2), whom the Hawks beat in the playoffs last season, and they’re barely ahead of fourth-rated Washington (10-1). Looking for a longshot? Charlotte is 55-1.
♦ Eastern Conference: Hawks are 20-1 to win the conference title, which is tied with Chicago, Detroit and Miami for a DISTANT fourth behind Cleveland (5-4), Boston (2-1) and Orlando (3-1).
♦ NBA title: Hawks are 45-1 to win it, which ranks tied for 11th. (Lakers are favorites at 2-1.)
A few other observations follow.
♦The Sporting News has been previewing each team, one per day, backwards from No. 30. The Hawks check in at No. 12 overall and will rank only sixth in the East, behind — in uncertain order as of today — Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Washington and, yikes, even Toronto.
♦ ESPN had a panel of 10 each predict standings. Most have the Hawks fourth in the East. Once exception is Chris Sheridan, who tabbed them for seventh. His analysis: “Mike Bibby didn’t look like he had a lot left in the tank last season. I was surprised they re-signed him and thought Andre Miller would have been a better fit. Joe Johnson is entering a contract year. And newcomer Jamal Crawford likes to put up 20 shots a night. Hmmm.”
♦ Sports Illustrated picks the Hawks to finish fifth in the East. An excerpt from an unnamed scout: “I like their signings of Joe Smith and Jason Collins because they needed
size off the bench. Those are moves a contender would make, and moves the Hawks didn’t make in the past.
♦ ♦ ♦
Other odds:
♦ Georgia Tech is 7-1 to win the ACC championship (regular season), which ranks third behind North Carolina (3-2) and Duke (5-2). The Jackets are 35-1 to win the Final Four.
♦ Georgia is 30-1 (last among six teams) to win the SEC East title. (Kentucky is 1-8.) The Bulldogs are 150-1 to win the national title.
♦ ♦ ♦
So there you have it. Do you think the Hawks will be better, worse or the same? You can comment below and I’ve got a poll going.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
112 comments Add your comment
Freddy
October 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
Go Hawks
JacketsTN
October 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
First
JacketsTN
October 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
First
EW
October 23rd, 2009
11:34 am
Who cares what Vegas thinks! Take the over on wins and slap em in the face with all your money.
Marcus
October 23rd, 2009
11:35 am
I hope we gets ta whoopin’ on all of the naysayers and doomsdayers. ON paper, by far, this is the best team we have had in probably a decade…and outside of Bibby (oldest starter), the prospects of declined performance seems over-emphasized by the “experts”.
When the Hawks get to the Eastern Conf. finals and Falcons win the SB, looks like ESPN will have to pony up money for the domain name ESPN-ATL .. ha-ha.
Marcus
October 23rd, 2009
11:36 am
Fourth!!!
jim
October 23rd, 2009
11:38 am
-130 odds translates to betting $1.30 to win $1.00, not the other way around
dap01
October 23rd, 2009
11:40 am
We lost to Cleveland in the 2nd round last year. Marvin was hurt, JJ was hurt and Al was hurt.
This year we add JC, JS and JC. We are better at rebounding, penetrating, scoring and defense. Our team is deeper and has continuity and unity. All of our core can and will be better this year.
We will improve from our 47 win season and we will be better, fresher, deeper and more diversified in the playoffs.
That does not sound like 5th or 6th in the east.
HAWKSFAN4LIFE
October 23rd, 2009
11:48 am
I agree that the Bibby signing was alittle shocking to me too… He did look horrible deffensively in the playoffs… but he can still shoot.. but with our new and improved bench. I feel real confident in this teams ability to advance to the conference finals.. so go hawks
Leek
October 23rd, 2009
11:49 am
We like to be underdogs they never predict us to when so when we SHOCK THE WORLD don’t be suprised.
Marcus
October 23rd, 2009
11:50 am
the biggest mystery is why a lot of pundits feel WSH is expected to leapfrog us in the East just because of the return of Agent 0 and Brendan Haywood. That is what I don’t get.
Bryan G.
October 23rd, 2009
11:51 am
The bodog odds mean that the Hawks are MORE likely to win “over” than “under”. Not that big of a diss.
Also, though, the Hawks really didn’t do anything that makes me think “Man, they have a chance to compete with Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando.” They really just stayed the course. I’m not sure that’s quite good enough yet.
Sonny Clusters
October 23rd, 2009
11:57 am
We know this is a basketball blog today but we was eager to hear some news from the Double Dime. Jeff is dialed in there and should have something for us by now.
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
The Hawks are definitely improved. Most of the ESPN writers are lazy and don’t look at any team that is not NY, Bos, Clev, or LA. That is just the plain truth. I mean Sheridan actually thought we woud be better with Andre Miller, who probably won’t even start in Portland. How were people feeling about the Falcons two years ago? Experts, Whatever, thankfully the NBA isn’t college football and they actually play the games instead of just “talking about them”
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
11:59 am
The over on 44 is not less likely. Sorry Jeff.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
October 23rd, 2009
12:01 pm
Woody remains the biggest weakness. But the roster may be able to overcome him and go farther in the playoffs.
PoliticalMan
October 23rd, 2009
12:02 pm
No higher than 4th for Hawks. Their team is competent, but lacks the edge, the brilliance when it counts, to go any higher. Joe Johnson typifies Hawks. Good numbers, but not an elite player. Cannot take over a game.
SWAT Native
October 23rd, 2009
12:07 pm
All this illustrates how little attention you should pay to the preseason projections by the so-called “experts”. Mike Woodson and Vinny Del Negro are high on the list of most likely to be fired when both took young teams to the playoffs? Most of these “expert” have probably never even seen the Hawks play other than in the playoffs.
I agree with Leek, however, that the Hawks are better off as underdogs. The good news is that unlike college football, the pundits don’t get to decide who gets to go the playoffs.
Flappin' Hawk
October 23rd, 2009
12:08 pm
The National media has been wrong about the Hawks for the past 2 years. We’ll prove them wrong again this year. The Nat Med don’t even watch games to draw conclusions, they are strictly concerned with entertaining and selling newspapaers or web ads.
j-hawk
October 23rd, 2009
12:23 pm
I would not be surprised to see ATL finish as high as 2nd in the East. Here is why…Cleveland adding Shaq($21 mil. for 09-10) only looks good on paper. He is done as far as scoring is concerned, and Delonte West is crazy. Orlando is going to find out real fast how bad they miss Turkoglu and that V. Carter is not what he used to be. Boston has not made any major improvements other than Rasheed Wallace (35 years old). The average age of their 4 stars is 33.5. Rondo is only who he is because of the other players on the floor. He was above average at best at Kentucky. They will start to have injury problems just like KG last year. Hawks are much younger, deeper than the teams listed above. Look for Horford to have a huge season with the addition of J. Teague. He will penetrate the middle and leave Al open for easy buckets. I’m out!
Jeff Schultz
October 23rd, 2009
12:24 pm
Jackets TN: 2nd.
Jackets TN: 3rd
EW: Vegas smack talk!
Jim: Oops, you are correct SIR! Let me fix that right now.
ESPN2?
October 23rd, 2009
12:25 pm
On the Hawks page there is a banner that says Hawks vs Orlando 8:00 ESPN2
Comcast tv guide says Rutgers v Army live at 8:00 on ESPN2.
Which is it?
Jeff Schultz
October 23rd, 2009
12:30 pm
Jim (and others): actually it was easier to take the line out. Thanks again. (It seems we have a lot of gambling experts here. I used to be one. Then lost.)
Flappin Hawk: True enough. Certainly were wrong about the Falcons last year too.
Jhawk: I’ll be interested to see how many minutes Shaq actually plays during the regular season. Signing him was all about the post-season for them.
Jeff Schultz
October 23rd, 2009
12:31 pm
ESPN2? Our TV listings today say Hawks on ESPN and Rutgers on ESPN2. That’s all I know. Maybe it got switched.
The Grinch
October 23rd, 2009
12:32 pm
We’re gonna be worse because Bibby’s older, Crawford jacks up 20 shots a game and Joe’s in a contract year? First, Joe being in a contract year means he’s going to play better (like every NBA player in history always has, which is common sense), plus having another scoring option now means he won’t have to play 48 minutes a game. Every star in Boston is older than Bibby, while our core players haven’t even peaked yet. Shaq isn’t old for Cleveland? Vince Carter won’t jack up 20 shots a game in Orlando? Do these morons even WATCH basketball?
doggonit
October 23rd, 2009
12:34 pm
teague. watch him. he will run the floor!
ESPN2?
October 23rd, 2009
12:36 pm
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, comcast has Hawks on ESPN.
j-hawk
October 23rd, 2009
12:37 pm
Nice stuff Grinch…all the moves made by teams rated ahead of the Hawks involved major players that are all older than the Hawks starters and most of the bench. Bibby is going to have a great year since he will not be relied upon to score 15-20 per night.
j-hawk
October 23rd, 2009
12:41 pm
You are correct doggonit. Had Teague stayed at WF one more year he would have drawn every imaginable comparison to Chris Paul. ATL getting him where they did will play out to be huge!
Manny
October 23rd, 2009
12:43 pm
I think that the biggest good thing about this year is Mike Woodson’s attitude this preseason. The 2nd-stringers and rookies are getting more touches. He’s getting more comfortable with putting in rookies and 2nd-stringers on the floor. That’s a great thing because he’s improving depth on the bench.
If the Hawks can bring in a deep bench, the Hawks wouldn’t be so tired and spent going down the stretch and can make a stronger run in the playoffs.
Gwinnett Fred
October 23rd, 2009
12:46 pm
Just to fill folks in on the “Vegas Experts” and how to properly read odds or a point spread:
The number of wins posted by Vegas is NOT their “experts” prediction as to how many games the Hawks will win this year. It IS their prediction on the number of wins that will get equal gaming action on both sides of the “over” and “under”.
Thus, it isn’t Vegas that is saying the Hawks will win 44 games, it is the gaming public. Now then, do Casino’s win or the gaming public?
I’ll assume you know the answer is the Casino’s and bottom line, what the posted 44 number represents is the thinking of the LOSING gaming public. So anybody that knows how Vegas bookmakers work should be encouraged.
GeeMack
October 23rd, 2009
12:51 pm
Jeff
You gotta remember their has been 1 team that won an NBA championship without a star, and that was the 04 Pistons. The NBA is a star driven league, and the Hawks don’t have that.
I got us winning 48 to 50 games this year, and a 2nd round exit to one of the big 3 in the East.
This team is built perfect for a stud to take to the next level. Until we get that we won’t see the respect from the national media.
No in this city seriously believes the Hawks could take 1 of the Big 3 in a 7 game series although the team is deeper and better.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
12:57 pm
I don’t think the Hawks have gotten any love from “experts” since Bob Pettit played for them. This is no surprise.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
12:59 pm
Co-sign Gwinnett Fred. He is 100% correct about gaming lines. They are not the same as predictions.
atlanta sports fan
October 23rd, 2009
12:59 pm
I hope everybody under estimates us all year. GO HAWKS
Jeff Schultz
October 23rd, 2009
1:01 pm
Manny — That is a good sign, but the lineup is set now so there’s really no reason to play those other guys. We’ll see how it plays out.
Gwinnett — Yes, over/unders, like spreads, are based on perception to get an even amount of money on both sides. But that perception has stunning accuracy. I can’t explain that.
The Grinch
October 23rd, 2009
1:01 pm
I disagree, GeeMack. I’m buying into them this year. I don’t think it’s likely they’ll win the east, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them move up a notch or two in the standings, and further in the playoffs. I honestly believe they’re undersold; just a gut feeling.
j
October 23rd, 2009
1:01 pm
Seriously, who listens to these ANALysts? What makes them experts? Each one of them are biased and none of them really watch any of the games
HOW are Toronto or Washington going to finish above the Hawks? Just doesn’t make sense to me
Whopper Dawg
October 23rd, 2009
1:04 pm
I am actually a little excited about the team, a good mix I think, and that doesn’t happen often. I think we will contend in the East and fare better than Vegas forecasts.
Dawg in the Northwoods
October 23rd, 2009
1:07 pm
There is a key point with the “Big 3″ in the East that hasn’t been mentioned yet. If Boston loses Paul Pierce, Cleveland Labron James or Orlando Dwight Howard they’re DONE!!!!!! Who, on the Hawks roster is irreplaceable?????? No-one. That being said, the NBA season is quite long and full of potential pit falls. Thanks Vegas for providing me extra cash for next summer’s vacation.
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:09 pm
SO does anybody “still” believe the JJ can take this team to a Eastern Conference Championship…………..or was Belkin right?
layinlow
October 23rd, 2009
1:11 pm
I’m glad they are not getting the respect. The Hawks can use this as a tool of motivation to prove they belong. Sometimes teams that get to much love start drinking their own koolaid so to speak. Press clippings can sometimes derail a team because they start thinking they can just put it on cruise control. Let the national media continue to diss us anf hopefully our hawks will play with an edge to prove themselves worthy.
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:15 pm
Hey Dan…………..when did the national media pick the Hawks to do better than they’ve done at this point? Exactly! That why they all see the samething, and if you was to pull your head out of your ass you’ll see the same that they have seen. They was saying the same about the Majic untill they proved them wrong last year, so until the Hawks prove them wrong (being more that they been) then…………..yeah!
layinlow
October 23rd, 2009
1:18 pm
That over/under of 44 can certainly begin to rise if they start getting a lot of action with people taking the over. Jeff, could you check back with them right before the regular season starts to see where that over/under goes? I would be curious to see where the betters take that number. Because as of right now over 44 looks like a pretty damn good wager to make.
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
50 wins, 55 wins……it don’t matter! Until this clown organization can at least go to and push for the ECC, they don’t get no respect!
I don’t mean playing tough in the second round and getting eliminated. They haven’t been relavent in almost 20………yes I said 20 years!
Darrin "The Vent King"
October 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
All I can hope is that the additions of Teague, J Crawford, J Collins, and Joe Smith keeps the starters fresh so that we can play more “Hawk” ball getting up and down the floor on these “elite” teams in the East. When we play like that, we’re good. I still worry about the coaching though. It seems at times Woody loses these guys for stretches, then they come back. That will leave you finishing no better than fourth in the East and maybe winning a playoff series. If Horford can improve on the offensive end that’ll be a BIG help too. I just hope the coach can get it in the hawk’s collective head to play uptempo and keep the defensive pressure on teams all game, all the time, all season long. If they can somehow manage to do that they can be a surprisingly improved squad but that’s a lot of “ifs” to hang your hat on and until they actually prove they can do these things I can see why all these pundits have their doubts. As a Hawk’s fan, all I can do is pray they do.
GO HAWKS!!!
Hawk n the Ham
October 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
I haven’t been more excited to see the Hawks play since the last time I heard Dominique say “Heat Check!”
And he probably said it sometime last night, so that means I’m REALLY excited! Go Dirty Birds 2.0
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
They haven’t been getting NO respect…………and what’s been the results………………..yeah! This crew couldn’t get motivated if thier lives depended on it!
Brian
October 23rd, 2009
1:27 pm
Any strides this team makes this year will be tiny. Anybody expecting a lot more than last will be disappointed. This team still doesn’t have a superstar and they’re still stuck with Mike Woodson’s poor coaching.
I MUS WRITE
October 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Wow…..Much to do about nothing-These are the same idiots who said we wouldnt make it back to the playoffs last year. They also said The Falcons would win 2 games last year. I cant wait for the season to start so we can make the experts eat their words.
Lets kick sum magic azz tonite go HAWKS
I MUS WRITE
October 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
3rd seed ……7 game second round win, HAWKS SHOCK THE WORLD
bowman
October 23rd, 2009
1:32 pm
As long as Mike Woodson remains the head coach, this remains an under-performing team.
How many balls are allowed on the court at one time? With a roster including notorious “me first” ball hogs Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith, one ball is two too few. That might not be a problem if the team had a decent head coach, but until Woodson is gone…
sounding like a broken record,
bowman
– -
“Art will always be Art.” – Goethe
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
1:33 pm
GeeMack- I believe this team can take one of the “big 3″ in a 7 game series. So there is at least one person in this city.
theZaZaguy
October 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
I’m still fuming over Bibby missing that jumper against Cleveland in game four. Hawks couldn’t cover the spread, and I fricking pushed. bummer.
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
1:38 pm
IMUS- word up!
bowman- Joe Johnson, Crawford and Josh are “notorious ball hogs”? according to whom? Joe has lead the team in assists, Crawford has mostly been asked to be a scorer first but would rather pass, (have you read any of Sekou’s stuff or seen any of the preseason stats?) and Josh? He has not taken a single 3 pointer this preseason and has been dedicated to defense and an inside game. Do you have any original ideas or do you just repeat what you read on “the Vent” from 6 months ago?
lawton
October 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
WHY the surprise??? what have the hawks done in the previous 40 something years in atlanta to make people think otherwise????? lol
N.GA.DAWG
October 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
josh smith cant shoot from the outside. until he or his coach realize this the hawks will not win the div. or conf because he shoots way tooooo much(outside).
General Sherman
October 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
They should be sold or kicked out of Atlanta anyway! WHO cares ?
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
lawton……….Damn, I said 20 years cause I’m cutting them some slack. But, since these are pro’s, you are right. NOTHING IN 40!
JustaThought
October 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Yep, I’m a “naysayer”………..but THE TRUTH is THE TRUTH! And that’s a tough pill to swallow is it Hawks fans.
Jt
October 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
It bothers me that the Hawks do not get anymore national media love than they do, but what does it really matter. They must get it done on the court. I think they have the opportunity to be better than they have since Mookie and Steve Smith. I think that the Shaq acquisition by the Cavs is overrated. He is old and slow and will be hurt about half the time- not sure why he is still being slobbered over by the media- I guess they just like his quotes. While Vince is more versatile than Hedo, the actual point increase is small. In the playoffs, Turkoglu was their best player. Now they must incorporate a guy who likes to shoot all the time in Carter. We will see how they react to that. And the Celtics add Rasheed. So what? The key to that team is Garnett and he also has shown a propensity to be injured. Rasheed ain’t what he used to be and has the tendency to get ejected at a fairly high rate. The Celtics are getting old quickly while the Hawks are young and maturing. Let’s just hope the Hawks can rebound and if they can they have the chance to run the Celtics out of the gym. And sorry, Miami Heat, but despite how close you played a depleted Hawks team in the playoffs last year, they just do not have enough to break into the top five in the conference. So, let the Hawks be underrated. What does it matter any way?
MikeJones
October 23rd, 2009
1:58 pm
Maybe the hawks are not getting any love because Paul Johnson isn’t their coach.
"Chef" Tim Dix
October 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
A fast start like last year followed by a under performing dip will mean Woodson gone by the new year.
Woodson changed his style in the preseason and I wonder how long before his one man iso game is call back into play.
Unless he lets this young group of stallions run, his days as coach here are numbered.
GM Sund can’t afford a superstar game changer and his vision is 12 man depth. He’s given Woodson this, now can he coach to this style of play?
MyView
October 23rd, 2009
2:15 pm
I want to learn more about vegas sportbooks, because I would gladly wager a few hundy on the over in wins for the Hawks and winning the division. Orlando was a matchup nightmare with Hedo, & Lewis. The Magic are a different team with Carter, but i’m not sure it’s a better team.
I am amazed at how little foresight the national media has. You would think that at least a few would concede that the Hawks are a better team overall.
The other day on PTI Kornheiser(sp?) said the Hawks ’stink’. That is still the national perception.
Halsey
October 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Last year many weren’t projecting the Hawks to be better than the previous year. It’s almost like many NBA analysts simply expect every season to be just like the last.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
2:21 pm
If any one of the East’s Big Three is in a position to fall, I’d say it’s the Celtics. Their core players are all old with the exception of Rondo, a couple of them already missed time last year due to injury, and adding Rasheed Wallace to the bench might actually backfire over the course of the season since he tends to float to the perimeter and will take minutes away from bruisers like Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins. I’m not saying it will happen, but if the Hawks can leapfrog one of the Big Three in either the standings or the playoffs this year I think it will be Boston.
As for the supposedly improved teams below the Hawks in the standings, I still don’t see who is going to play defense for Washington or Toronto, and I don’t see why Philly and Detroit won’t experience the same chemistry issues as last year. Gordon and Hamilton are going to have just as much difficulty coexisting as Iverson and Hamilton, and Philly is going to try to run Eddie Jordan’s motion offense with two inexperienced combo guards playing point. Maybe the Hawks don’t have the star power to get past one of the Big Three, who knows, but I think it’s quite a stretch to say they are going to lose ground to any one of these flawed teams below them.
NC Braves Fan
October 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
Vegas and the experts kinda whiffed on this team last year, which was a little more understandable given the Hawks were coming off a losing regular season. I’m scratchin’ my head on what they’re thinking this year, quite frankly.
Maybe it’s nothing more than the Hawks not spending more money than the Federal Reserve to fill out the roster (as some teams do). If spending money was the only secret, the Yankees would be about 20 time defending champions in baseball right about now.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
2:29 pm
MyView, Kornheiser says that about everyone. I don’t think the national perception among NBA fans is that the Hawks stink. I think most NBA fans view the Hawks as a talented young team that isn’t going to be a serious title contender and that might not have as many wins if they were in the Western Conference.
DW
October 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
Most of it is about star power. Other than the presence of Dwyane Wade– he of the commercials with Barkley peddling cell phones– why on EARTH would you pick Miami to finish ahead of the Hawks? Similarly, are the Wizards so much better now? Arenas is back, but the guy has played what like 10 games over the last 2 years or so? How would we feel about the Hawks if JJ had gotten injured, hadn’t played much over the last 2 years, and only now appeared to be at full strength? I’d venture to say, not good.
I might have to go out to Vegas to bet the over on the Hawks; I think those are good odds.
Jeff Schultz
October 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
GeeMack, agreed, which is why with Joe’s contract coming up it’ll be interesting to see what they do.
T.C
October 23rd, 2009
2:41 pm
J HAWK,sounds good speaking of your comment about older/younger.The hawks will be better but so will the celtics,orlando,and clevelands additions.Thats all these older guys do is play basketball meaning they take care of there body hiring trainers.Basketball is higher mental so if a player is slower he’s still effective.My oppinion is the hawks finish 4th but it would be great if they finish higher.
BrittishAnger
October 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
The Hawks will improve in some ways and maybe remain stagnant in others, but the idea that we’re going to fall back and regress is something I can’t comprehend and that I’m looking forward to using as a pedestal to laugh at the “columnists” with when the season is up. I have a strong feeling we will have a better road showing this season, and I do believe we won’t get routed in the second round; but short of one of the top three squads deteriorating in a way we can’t currently see (my odds are on Boston with the Guaransheed injury implosion at some point in the season), getting out of the second round might still be a crap shoot in the dark with loaded die. It’s gonna take some serious show and prove movements to sway these stubborn fools otherwise, since I’m guessing our loading up on veteran bigs wasn’t what they had in mind when they said we needed to be deeper in the forward and center market and having Jamal Crawford as a replacement for Flip Murray isn’t a better conversion (tonight’s game might help to disprove that theory if he can keep dropping dimes and making shots). I think once Josh Smith proves himself to be a consistent threat night in and night out (and in the Miami game he certainly wasn’t), or one of the other players steps into that set of bronzed shoes (Marvin or Al stepping up, or Bibby returning to Kingly form), analysts will continue to dismiss our work as a happenstance of consistency vs. inconsistency, or whatever albatross they want to hang on our necks for what we’ve managed to accomplish compared to the mythic giants they pine for in their nocturnal emitted state of REM sleep. We know better, as fans in Atlanta we’ve always known what good fortunes we have when we’ve got them, so screw the analysts, start laying your bets, and by the end of the season we should be able to collect a pretty penny from these fools and their naysaying….GO HAWKS!
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
Najeh- co-sign your 2:21 post, 100%
DW
October 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
Daniel– I co-sign your 2:46 post co-signing Najeh’s post.
Daniel
October 23rd, 2009
3:10 pm
DW- I co-sign your co-sign and raise you one stamp.
Paddy
October 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
Sorry, no co-signs. Have no interest in the hawks or the nba.
Jesse
October 23rd, 2009
3:23 pm
I think most in the media projected us to win about 35 games last year. So if they’re projecting us to win 45 this year, we ought to win around 55 to 57 games. Not too bad.
WTF?!?
October 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
none of the predictions mean crap! remember the sporting news had the Falcons going 1-15 last year!?! they went 11-5, wonder if anyone got fired for that ignorant prediction?
WTF?!?
October 23rd, 2009
3:43 pm
hawks win totals have increased each year for 5 years, probably safe to think that will happen again this season. my prediction (for what its worth) is 55-27 and challenging for the SE division.
All I'm Saying Is...
October 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Hawks objectives this season are straightforward:
1) #4 seed or better and if the number of wins it takes to get the #4 seed is less than last year’s total then so be it.
2) Winning the first playoff round must occur.
3) Winning the second round series is the goal and, if healthy, we must take it to seven games to show progress and that this team doesn’t need to be broken up (i.e. let JJ walk).
We will know over the course of the season but I sense that our competitive advantage versus the top three teams in the East (Orlando, Cleveland, and Boston) is in our backcourt and if we go with a three guard lineup (JJ, Teague, Crawford) at times and really have them sprint and spread the floor with Josh and Horford boarding and banging, we can really do some damage.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
Elmo
October 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
The Real Issue about the Hawks is whether anybody gives a damn. This Club has fallen off most people’s Radar and it is going to be hard as hell to sell tickets . Trying to be real here.
Let’s don’t talk about Hockey.
Keep it Real!
October 23rd, 2009
3:47 pm
You have too win first to get some respect! The Hawks have only one problem Mike Woodson is still the coach. He is trying to get players to fit into his ideal of a system instead of playing to the strength of this athletic team. This team does not have great shooters therefore you need to run the ball to get easier shots at the basket!
They need to hire me as the coach! RIGHT NOW ESPN!
Truth-Serum
October 23rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Great article Schultz, one of your best if you ask me. I must agree with the majority of the analysis. Still no center. Resigning Koncak Paschulia was a waste of money. Horford has peaked and needs to be back a power forward, and that behind Josh. Our weakest link is still the middle. Should have resigned Flip and gave him the minutes Crawford will get. The point totals would have been effectively the same. Could have let the contracts of Limpy Claxton Acie law expire and thereby free a great deal of money to really position us to make a move and address the middle.
What was Sund thinking?
We would make it out of the second round.
Snowman Where are you?
World's biggest Nuttz
October 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
The fal cons are going no where. how many teams have a good record early only to reveal themselves later? Falcons are cons.
Truth-Serum
October 23rd, 2009
3:57 pm
I guess I cant argue with Gee Mack and Schultz on this one. I have the same forecast. The only difference in what Gee Mack is say and I’m saying is I think the stud has to be in the middle to solidify these Hawks. Other than that I’m in total agree me with Schultz and Gee Mack.
Ditto
ace
October 23rd, 2009
4:17 pm
Until the Hawks move Al Horford to the power forward position full time, and get 2 solid post players at center, ZA ZA and somebody else, they will never make it past the 2nd round and they will be susceptible to losing in the 1st round.
ugaaccountant
October 23rd, 2009
5:21 pm
For us to improve our playoff lot, we have to avoid the 4th or 5th seed. I see no way we beat the Cleveland Lebrons with the current group.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
October 23rd, 2009
7:10 pm
Vegas is dumb – the prognosticators can kick rocks! GO HAWKS!
YellowJacket
October 23rd, 2009
7:44 pm
We’re prejudiced, Vegas isn’t. The odds are what they are.
uberVU - social comments
October 23rd, 2009
7:49 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by JeffSchultzAJC: If #Hawks are supposed to be better, how come Bodog has Woodson as favorite to be fired? http://bit.ly/12×5at…
KakNiqueTree
October 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
It will always be like this for the Hawks until they actually achieve. Those ‘experts’ said and wrote the same things back when Dominique, Willis, Doc Rivers and co. were playing together. The true believers will relish the day when the Atlanta Hawks win a championship and force those ‘experts’ to give them their due.
Steve
October 23rd, 2009
9:18 pm
The Hawks ARE better, but so is most of the East. It passed the West last year in head to head winning percentage, and it will continue to pull away unless LeBron goes West after the season. So yes, the Hawks are better, but might not do as well as the competition is also stepping it up.
Oh, and you shouldn’t have to try to make Tech look better than UGA in basketball, but quoting the final four odds for Tech and the national championship odds for Georgia was not even close to fair. Did you do that on purpose? Not like UGA odds are going to better, so why the underhanded move?
JASon
October 23rd, 2009
9:53 pm
Then bet on them. Who cares
Joe
October 23rd, 2009
11:16 pm
The Hawks suck they will not be contenders in the east.
ltdbrave
October 24th, 2009
5:51 am
After last nights blow out loss to the Magic, you can see why there isn’t “any love” and the Hawks won’t win any more games than last year. Yes, this was an exhibition game, but it was still a 37 point loss, the main cast did horrible, Teague was 0-15, Hawks shot 37% or so. Again, Josh Smith did not do a thing.
ltdbrave
October 24th, 2009
5:51 am
Enter your comments here
Asheville Dawg
October 24th, 2009
7:18 am
The Hawks have peaked yet again and are swooping toward planet earth again. They win 43 games and no playoff’s.
Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA
October 24th, 2009
9:13 am
The Hawks improved, but so did most teams that were ahead of them last year. Their players seem to content with themselves, despite what they say; for example, Josh S. has the size and talent to get 10 boards a night against anyone, but not the drive. And Woodson as coach? The guy should be a warden at a minimum security prison, where he could yell and stomp and glare and it would not matter. He has no teaching, strategic or inter-personal skills that I have seen.
FIREMIKEWOODSONEXPRESS
October 24th, 2009
9:35 am
Come on people we want be as good until we get a real coach in here. Last night should show you that we can’t nor will ever beat the good teams. Mike Woodson is just clueless as they come.
Hawks73
October 24th, 2009
9:46 am
I was not shocked to see what “oddsmakers” picked for this Hawks this coming season. It goes to a lot to poor research and a bad reputation the Hawks have recently earned (8 years of horrible basketball play, terrible owners, and a VERY suspect head coach). Even though the Hawks made it to the playoffs two straight years, last year was their first winning season in 10 years.
J.C.
October 24th, 2009
12:44 pm
Jeff Shultz is a loser !
You are probably the dumbest, most stupid, arrogant person I have ever crossed. You are an idiot ! I wish someone could give an analysis of your home life. Obviously there is not much there. I would like your wife to write a column on how well you run the household. If you were handling your business, you wouldn’t be so critical of others. The problem is you have never accomplished a thing in your life. Anyone that is about something would not even want your job. Jeff, get a life and get over your past failures. Maybe selling insurance is more suited for you !
J.C.
October 24th, 2009
12:50 pm
Jeff Shultz is a loser !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J.C.
October 24th, 2009
12:51 pm
Once again, Jeff Schultz is a loser !!!!!!!!!
Ask his wife !
Bonus Babe - Casino News | Gambling News - CasinoGuide.com
October 24th, 2009
2:07 pm
[...] Hawks not getting a lot of love from Vegas or – experts’ Mike Woodson is smiling. He clearly doesn’t read Bodog.com. After an offseason that saw the Hawks keep their three best free agents , strengthen their bench , eliminate both a punchline and a draft mistakeA , and draft a promising guard , optimism surrounding the franchise seems near an all-time high. [...]
Barry
October 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
Hey Y’all
The time for setting these low goals like “JUST MAKE THE PLAYOFFS” are boggling. This is sports. The goal should be “LET”S WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP”. Those setting these goals are trying to hold on to their jobs. So when they don’t win, or are kicked out in the first round, they can say “WE DID MAKE THE PLAYOFFS”. Even after they reloaded for the year to get better than the previous year. If that is the Hawks goal of just making the playoffs and not winning a championship then this season is useless. THEY ARE JUST MASTURBATING OUR MIND IN THIS AREA. I HOPE I AM WRONG!!
WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a HAWK FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………..”SHOCK THE WORLD!!!”……………………..
J.C.
October 24th, 2009
8:23 pm
Jeff Schultz is a loser !
J.C.
October 24th, 2009
8:26 pm
Jeff Schultz is a loser !!!!
I will keep writing this until everyone understands that writing your opinion and trying to influence your insecurities is juvenile. My comments and Jeff’s are equal.
Jeff Schultz is a loser !
Now, who is the expert and who is the fool ! Both are the same !!!
G- Money
October 26th, 2009
1:42 pm
Last season Sports Illustrated rated the Hawks as the thirteenth best team in the Eastern Conference, and various other expert rating services were pretty much consistent with them give or take a spot or two. I feel as though the Hawks have made some trmendous non-sexy additions, that can prove to be significant improvements. Barring major injuries, I look for them to improve somewhere between four to seven wins over last season.Arriving at the playoffs young and healthy we will see what transpires from that point on.
G- Money
October 26th, 2009
1:43 pm
that is tremendous non- sexy improvements.
International Arts Management launches gaming brand | Costa Rica Gaming Association
October 27th, 2009
11:32 am
[...] Hawks not getting a lot of love from Vegas or – experts’ Mike Woodson is smiling. He clearly doesn’t read Bodog.com. After an offseason that saw the Hawks keep their three best free agents , strengthen their bench , eliminate both a punchline and a draft mistakeA , and draft a promising guard , optimism surrounding the franchise seems near an all-time high. [...]
wxwax
October 28th, 2009
5:33 pm
Last.
Harry
October 30th, 2009
10:30 am
This team is hard to peg because of the young players and the style of play. When they’re winning, it looks great, and when losing, it looks terrible! If the young guys can maintain some consistency this year, this team will be dangerous and will scare the pants off Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando. I’m not sure they have enough for LA, but they have the potential to scare some really good teams. Should be exciting! Won’t be a bust because there’s too much talent.