5 reasons the Hawks will reach the Eastern finals
Jeff Teague: More help off the bench. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
1. They can match depth with any team anywhere. The Hawks didn’t change a starter, but they redid their bench almost completely. Zaza Pachulia and Mo Evans are still around, but Jamal Crawford represents an upgrade over Flip Murray and Jeff Teague seems more NBA-ready than Acie Law was. And even if Joe Smith doesn’t have much left, Jason Collins could be the hidden hinge to the second unit.
2. Mike Woodson has no choice but to deploy his subs. Contrary to popular belief, the coach isn’t a fool. He saw how Joe Johnson wearied at the end of last season, and he concedes he ran his starters too long. But Woody, like most coaches, trusts experience over youth, and that means he’ll give Crawford and Smith and Collins longer looks than he gave Law and Solomon Jones. And Woodson appears to have warmed to Teague already, which never happened with Law. (The feeling was mutual.)
3. Johnson won’t have to play as long or do as much. The Hawks are tinkering with a lineup that deploys Johnson at small forward, which means he won’t be asked to distribute and score — just to score. The belief around the team last season was that Al Horford didn’t the get the ball nearly enough, which could change if Joe agrees to delegate more responsibility. Which he must. He’s one of the league’s 20 best players, but he’s not LeBron James.
4. The teams above the Hawks in the East geared up but didn’t necessarily improve. Shaquille O’Neal will slow Cleveland and clog the lane for LeBron, who operates best in the lane. The Magic lost more with Hedo Turkoglu’s departure than they gained with Vince Carter. And the Celtics, who were already old, got older still with Rasheed Wallace.
5. It’s time to take the next step. The Hawks have improved over each of the past four seasons, and when last we saw them they’d grown from an eighth seed with a sub-.500 record to a 47-game winner that advanced to Round 2. Round 3 is the Eastern Conference finals. The Hawks will win 54 games, claim the East’s No. 3 seed and upset Boston in the second round.
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122 comments Add your comment
preston
October 27th, 2009
9:09 pm
I meant Jameer Nelson in my quote referencing Orlando.
Kevin G.
October 27th, 2009
9:16 pm
The hawks will win the NBA championship next season …..know why?? Because Joe johnson will not be resigned and Dwayne Wade will be an Atlanta Hawk….Think about that for a second … Wade playing for the Hawks with its athletes. I cant wait were waiting on you Wade!!!
Cavalier Fan
October 27th, 2009
9:51 pm
What planet are you on? THE HAWKS??
Lee Martin
October 27th, 2009
10:24 pm
You can’t be serious! I’ve heard of “Homers” but the Hawks are a solid #4 in the East and that is ALL.
How can they match up with Boston’s Front Line Now?
Orlando’s Athleticism & the Beast in the middle?
Cleveland is better w/ Shaq than Ben Wallace in the Middle (c’mon now)
Now as much as I love JC, another Shoot-First, Team 2nd, SG is the last thing the Hawks needed, until you get Tougher & Better in the Post! Forget About IT! You might get out of the 1st Rd., but that’s it!!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 27th, 2009
10:56 pm
I like the optimism. But as big of a step as last year was (getting swept in the 2nd round instead of losing in 7 in the first), just being competitive in Round 2 might be just as big of a step, and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals may be a step further. The C’s or Cavs may see their moves backfire, who knows (I don’t think Orlando’s taking any steps backwards). But there was a huge gulf last year between the Hawks and the East’s Big 3, and even if that gulf has narrowed, it’s hard to say that it has closed entirely.
Being competitive in Round 2 is a realistic goal for the Hawks. If they can take what may be the eventual NBA champions to 6 or 7 games, they will show that they have clearly improved from last season. If they can make the conference finals, that will be incredible.
DecDawg
October 27th, 2009
11:22 pm
The Hawks have a better chance of falling from the 4th seed than challenging any of the three teams that finished above them last year. The main reason they will not challenge these teams is because of the one thing MB fails to mention in his analysis…DEFENSE. This team will have a tough time breaking the top 15 in total defense in the NBA while at least two of the three (CLE, BOS and ORL) will easily be in the top 5 and all three will be in the top 7 defensive teams. And we all know that playoff basketball is about DEFENSE. If you do not play defense, you will be going home.
DEFENSE is about desire and hustle…two things our so-called best player (JJ) does not possess. Until the “leader”, JJ, becomes the change we need to see, we will never beat one of the elite teams in a series.
Jody
October 27th, 2009
11:24 pm
Mark,
Sorry buddy, but you can’t honestly think the Hawks frontline can compete with the best in the east. Secondly, I agree with you that Horford is a back to the basket player. But, due to his size, wouldn’t he be more formidable against power forwards in the post than centers. At least at the 4, he could take advantage of his size. At the 5, his size is COMPLETELY negated.
dawes
October 28th, 2009
12:15 am
the dreamer the hawks will play the lakers in the final and idon.t smoke or i don.t drink any thing stronger than diet dr peppper so mark much know what he talking about
dawes
October 28th, 2009
12:32 am
jody i do belived the will don.t dare me be cause i not wrong too many time when it come to sports just ask my friend they will tell you so
MitchC
October 28th, 2009
5:10 am
Okay, Mark, now that I know what you really meant, I’ll say I agree. If we were to play in the Eastern Finals, that would be a good year, because it would again represent another step forward. Hopefully, your prediction will come true.
Eric
October 28th, 2009
8:19 am
Wow, this truly is an insane article. The Magic are the deepest, most talented team in the East. The Celtics will start showing their age, and the Cavs still can’t match the Magic. The Hawks are the number four in the conference, and way below the top three.
Decatur 4 Life
October 28th, 2009
8:29 am
lawton
You should never start a sentence with “if”, everything that comes after that word is B.S.
Decatur 4 Life
October 28th, 2009
8:39 am
How far below a fourth seed could we be? The three teams you guys say are in front of them are not that great bottom line. I agree we seem to always have problems with the Magic but without Turkoglu they won’t be as good. Vince is good but at 6′ 10 inches Hedo poses a far better matchup problem, and that’s why he gave the league fits last year. Orlando doesn’t have the same magic and the Celtics won’t keep up the pace for 82 games this year, that only leaves Cleveland and we know they have a little goat in them in the post-season. Face it, we shouldn’t finish no less than second this year in the Eastern Conference.
Brian
October 28th, 2009
9:02 am
Let me start by sayin this if KG wouldnt have been hurt last yr. in da playoffs da Magics wouldnt have went to the finals..you will see that this year. The best team in the east is still Boston..age or whateva..they still are the best defensive team and have three future hall of famers who can get them the basket when they need it. Now as far as the home team goes..Hartford is a 4 plain and simple and te sooner we realize that the better we will be. We will not be able to handle the big 3 in the east..Boston, Orlando or Clevland..due to our lack of size at the center position. I honestly believe if Al is moved to the 4 he would turn into an above average player in the league. I love the home team but I dont see the Eastern Conference final at best the 4th seed and an exit in the second round..and less not forget the Wizards are back in looking good.
Gabron Salome
October 28th, 2009
9:07 am
I like the way you think. Jeff Teague is going to be a stud, I promise. Take it from a die hard Tarheel fan that saw him regularly rip the nets. Joe needs to take less shots and not feel like its all on him. Bibby, another year in the system and automatic from 15 ft. Josh Smith, needs to keep perfecting his jump hook and midrange game, keep him off the 3pt. line, please! Marvin, its time dude! Al, will average a double double with his eyes closed. Jamal, Flip w/ better hops and penetration game. Sorry if I left anyone out but with this squad anything can happen, I instantly think of the Hornets from a couple of years ago, a long shot but not a fantasy by any stretch of the imagination.
Decatur 4 Life
October 28th, 2009
9:10 am
Cavalier Fan
The Cavaliers?? What have they done lately, besides have the best record in the league, sweep through the eastern conference and choke in the Finals. Who do you think you are the Braves?
Gabron Salome
October 28th, 2009
9:11 am
I love the Celtics squad, they are the favorites easily. The Cavs have Lebron, nuff said. Argue all you want but the guy is Unbelievable and can put any team on his back. Orlando, is gonna miss Hedo, but they’ll move Rashad to the 3 to cause matchup problems and who can stop Howard? My east looks like this- Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Cleveland. Goodnite Irene.
Gabron Salome
October 28th, 2009
9:12 am
Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, Cleveland in that order. Goodnite Irene!
Decatur 4 Life
October 28th, 2009
9:35 am
new cars
Rick Adelman and Jerry Sloan?? They haven’t won anything, Adelman couldn’t win with what he had in Sacramento and Sloan’s a good coach but he has as many titles as Mike Woodson. I can somewhat hear Pat Riley but he maybe a little out of his element now. Woodson’s a good defensive coach but needs help on the offensive end of the court, hire some help.
Decatur 4 Life
October 28th, 2009
9:45 am
Harry B
Vince Carter is a good player but he doesn’t pose the same matchup problem for teams. There are a lot of players on everyone’s roster that can matchup with a player that’s 6′ 5 rather than 6′ 10. You can’t put a big man on him because he’ll go right by them and a smaller defender he’ll just back down in the paint. No matter what that trade doesn’t make Orlando any better, I don’t think it makes them any worse but it definitely changes how well teams matchup against them. And matchups are what the NBA is all about.
Nicholas
October 28th, 2009
6:22 pm
We can’t be #3 seed unless we beat Orlando. Top team from each division gets top 3 seeds, so even if we have 2nd best record in the league, if Orlando has the best record, we are #4 seed
Blackbird
October 30th, 2009
7:19 pm
If you think winning 54 games is indicative of a team capable of getting to the conference finals, the Lakers will relish the opportunity to administer a very embarrassing smackdown!