Hawks roll again (and what’s this about Dwight Howard?)
Guard Jeff Teague and the Hawks are off to a flying start this season. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(UPDATED: 10:45 p.m.)
They won their season opener by 36 points at New Jersey. They won their home opener by an easy 18 over Washington on Wednesday night at Philips Arena.
They have a point guard (Jeff Teague) who is dishing, a sometimes-maddening star (Josh Smith) who is playing under control, a team that is defending and … wait, did somebody just show Marvin Williams where the paint is?
So this is what Hawks’ bliss looks like. Feels like. Sounds like.
Well, maybe not sounds like. Considering this was the home opener, the crowd in Philips Arena was remarkably small (generously announced at 17,750) and relatively staid. But if the Hawks can continue to play like this against teams that figure to finish well north of New Jersey and Washington in the standings, they’ll get some deserved attention. Maybe even a sellout. Maybe they’ll even attract a buyer.
Williams, who has had a largely unspectacular career, led the Hawks with 17 points and eight rebounds. Yes, that was him crashing the boards for a follow slam dunk after a missed shot.
He says he feels better after having back surgery in June, adding that the lockout afforded him extra time to rehabilitate. “It [the lockout] was a blessing for me,” he said. “I know not a lot of guys would say that, but it was good for me.”
Al Horford said that William has “gone back to just playing, not thinking too much out there. He’s being aggressive on the offensive boards. If Marvin plays like that, we’re that much better.”
So, seemingly, is everybody to this point. Smith (15 points) was patient and had a spectacular block when he ran down the Wizards’ Andray Blatche and slapped away a would-be dunk. Joe Johnson scored 18. Teague, who looks more like a real NBA starting point guard every game, had 11 points, five assists, two steals and was strong on defense. Tracy McGrady — yes, he can still play — had 11 off the bench.
A 2-0 record doesn’t ensure anything, not even in a 66-game season. But it has been a comforting start for coach Larry Drew, who has his team playing with energy and defense.
“We’ve been preaching for the longest time about trying to be a better defensive team,” Drew said before the game, the inference being that the Hawks are finally getting there.
Marvin Williams, who feels better after back surgery, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Afterward, Drew bemoaned the fact the Hawks led the Wizards back in the game after blowing them out early.
“Against a team like that, you have to take away their hope,” he said.
But it’s nice to be picky about a win.
True, it’s dangerous to draw too many conclusions yet. Short training camps and an abbreviated preseason will affect some teams more than others. At some point, probably six weeks into the season, there will be market corrections all over the league. But the early results are encouraging for a Hawks team that returns the same core as a year ago (save Jamal Crawford, a payroll casualty). The Hawks never seemed inclined to make a major move in the summer, especially with the ownership situation in flux. Obviously, if they continue to win, making a significant trade remains unlikely.
But the question is whether they are still considering a roster-shaking deal – particularly one that involves Orlando center Dwight Howard.
We’ve beat this drum before about Howard. He’s the most dominating center in the game. He’s a hometown product who would give the Hawks the marketing centerpiece they desperately need. And he’s available. Howard is due to become a free agent after this season and, while the Magic claim they’ve pulled him off the market, it still seems likely they’ll trade him during the season rather than risk losing him for nothing.
It’s also now apparent that the Hawks have made a run at Howard. Our Michael Cunningham reports that Horford (not Johnson) was the most likely centerpiece of a multi-player trade offer, with the Hawks keeping Smith in hopes that Howard would want to play with his childhood friend. The obvious question is whether Howard would be willing to sign a contract extension with the Hawks. To this point, he has said the only teams he would sign with are Dallas, the Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey.)
If the report of a trade offer is true, it would be a bold move by the Hawks. Trading for Howard without assurances of a contract extension would be a huge risk. But going after one of the league’s top players – and the most dominant center – would have support among the fan base.
And if the Hawks remains as currently constructed, maybe they’ll be OK after all.
By Jeff Schultz
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117 comments Add your comment
All I'm Saying Is...
December 29th, 2011
1:35 pm
In sports, you have to beat the crappy teams to be relevant so 2 wins matters even if it is the first two with 64 more to go and over the awful Nets and Wiz. (By the way, I like the Wizards keeping their name while re-adopting the uniform colors of the old Washington Bullets.)
The bench does appear deeper and more balanced than when it was Jamal and the rest of y’all.
I think that is a good crowd considering the disinterest in the NBA engendered by the lock-out, the low quality of the opponent, and the fact that folks long ago made other plans for their holiday break given the uncertainty of the season.
This year, Miami is going to put it all together and go neck and neck with Chicago for the #1 seed in the East. Hawks can get to #3 since Boston will continue to struggle due to an aging line-up coupled with too many back to back games. Orlando will have trouble all year as long as Dwight wants out especially since they have gone backward since losing Gortat and trading for Vince Carter two years ago.
I LOVE THE IDEA THAT HAWKS ARE IN THE MIX FOR DWIGHT! Hate to think that Al would be part of the deal. Personally, I think Dwight would be better off playing with Horford and not Smith if he wants to win a ring.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
All I'm Saying Is...
December 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
By the way, I know Vince is no longer with the Magic, Pacers are also 2 and 0 so don’t get too excited, and forgot to mention that Knicks will likely surprise this year and challenge for a 4 or 5 seed as they are much more competitive.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
Hit A Single
December 29th, 2011
1:51 pm
Dang just our luck. We are going to go 66 and 0 and had a chance to go 82 and 0 and set a record. Dang I told you not to strike!
Hit A Single
December 29th, 2011
1:54 pm
I would have made this team if I had gotten my new Air Jordans earlier.
T-Mac for Comback POY
December 29th, 2011
3:03 pm
I think Dwight Howard makes us better. If we can get him for Josh/Joe and a first rounder or Al/Joe and a couple of first rounders, you do it. Take your chances on getting him to commit longterm. You have gotten rid of Joe’s terrible contract and finally have that legit center that every team covets. Without him, we are still legit! Teague is everything Bibby wasn’t, Marvin looks like the player we hoped to have drafted and our bench is deeper without Jamal. I like T-Mac’s leadership and passing. I like the way we matchup with Miami and Chicago. Get Howard if you can but the season is not over if it doesn’t happen.
BravesFan79
December 29th, 2011
3:33 pm
To all those saying “looserville Atlanta”, and then mentioning New York and LA.. .when was the last time the Knicks were any good? Not since Oakley, Starks and Ewing! Carmello and Amare were closer to a title in Denver/Pheonix than they are in NY, and we all know the Nets suck. And as for the Lakers, once Kobe starts to loose it, you will see them go on a 10 year drought at least until they get back to the finals.
AtL is in great shape, as a long time fan i cant remember to many years where the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks were all near the top of their Confrence at the same time. Its a great time to be a Atlanta fan! Now GT basketball just needs to get back to their high level.
BravesFan79
December 29th, 2011
3:40 pm
How about those “looserville” Yankees, cant even win the world series anymore despite a 200 million payroll! And we all know the Dodgers havent been a top team since Orel Hershisher, which was 1988. The newer Lakers have lost their edge, and the Knicks/Nets/Clippers never had one.
So… to all you people who are probably college football fans from Alabama and know little about real sports that arent “voted on”, if Atlanta is “looserville”, then what are NY/ LA? Show me proof, because you all sound like you dont have a clue about pro sports.
Hawks2012
December 29th, 2011
3:45 pm
The reason the crowd was so small was that about maybe 300ish seats got taken out in renovations for the new restaurant, RED and also, idiot ASG kept the 400 sections closed, even though it looked like every other non-club seat was occupied. The 400 sections are about 700-800 seats by my guess. It’s almost like they don’t want to make more money. So take about 1000 seats out from a sellout of what used to be just under 19,000 and I would call this just to as close to a sell out as it can get, in the terms of how Philips was arranged last night. The crowd was late arriving (not me) and seemed a bit quiet, but it was a blow out for most the game. At the beginning it was lively then quieted down when we started to lead by 15-20. We can be loud (game 3 against the Magic) so don’t take any credit out of last night being a little sub-par attendance.
KZ
December 29th, 2011
4:01 pm
The 300s seemed pretty empty
Hawks2012
December 29th, 2011
4:07 pm
I somewhat agree, but I think that it was mostly filled at one point during the game (at least the baseline 300s, I could not see behind me to the sideline) but also before the game it seemed that on Ticketmaster that 95% of the seats in the 300s were at least sold, maybe not occupied.
CGD..
December 29th, 2011
4:51 pm
Dewight is built for the playoff’s..All NBA is built for the regular season..
ALL NBA Tito Jr avg. in 39 playoff games, 7pts, 4 rebounds…..Championship stats? LMFAO!
CGD..
December 29th, 2011
4:52 pm
Dwight^^^
NATIVE SON
December 29th, 2011
6:55 pm
I say give this team an opportunity to gel. Especially let’s see how the second unit can come together. I’d rather have a team with balanced scoring, and team defense, than for a so called super star demanding the ball in the paint. ( He will pout if he doesn’t and take his ball home) That leads to an offense that leaves the rest of the team standing around and watching, same as ISO Joe. If our defense holds, we can surely keep up with the so called elite and maybe steal a championship. Dwight Howard does not garuantee that, and maybe he sets the team back some. Fundamental teamwork, trumps super stardom.
Peace; from more Native than Dwight Howard will ever be
Hawk on Fire
December 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
These hawks are the real deal—mark this down—the Hawks will win the nba east with a huge upset over the heat! Al and Marvin—can’t be stopped!!!
JSS
December 29th, 2011
8:25 pm
I hate the NY Yankees but BravesFan79 come on now… They won the WS with their massive payroll… As for the rest of the your prognostications, Jerry Buss can go all Ted Williams and still find a way to get a UFA superstar or luck into a high draft pick from some team that needs Gasol, Bynum, or cap space to stay out of the luxury tax… Just saying… And the Knicks made a FInals after the aforementioned trio were an afterthought!
NY Rules
December 29th, 2011
9:44 pm
With melo and amare, the Knicks will win the east — bet the house!
aries
January 2nd, 2012
9:32 am
it is hard to say if hawks are better, they haven’t played any good teams yet. they beat new jersey nets and washington wizards. that was no test. then they got beat down by houston. so, i think they made a huge mistake getting rid of Jamal Crawford and even Mike Bibby. cause non of the players are exciting to watch. Josh is exciting when he dunks, but he is always shooting 3 pointers and trying to bring the ball up, like a guard. so i am not excited bout the new year.