The Hawks rank No. 1 in the NBA. Yes, the Hawks
Win, win, win: It's getting to be a habit for these Hawks. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Before Monday’s game, someone mentioned to Mike Woodson that his team, wonder of wonders, had just ascended to the top of Marc Stein’s NBA power ratings on ESPN.com.
In case you missed that, let me repeat it: The Atlanta Hawks are, at least for this week, regarded as the finest basketball team in the best league in the world. The … Atlanta … Hawks.
“That’s pretty nice,” said Woodson, smiling as he spoke. And Woodson, as you know, is frugal with his smiles. But think about where this franchise and this coach have been, and where they are now: From 13-69 in 2004-2005 to No. 1 after Week 3 in November 2009. (And not just according to ESPN. The power ratings by John Schuhmann of NBA.com likewise have the Hawks at the top. Can the BCS be far behind?)
“I didn’t know that,” said Josh Smith after being informed of his team’s new lofty perch.
“It’s just Week 2, though,” counseled Randolph Morris, who was seated alongside. (Actually, it’s Week 3. But close enough.) “We want to be there at Week 50.”
Which would be shortly after Halloween 2010, which I don’t believe is what Morris meant. Still, you get the drift. It’s a long season, et cetera. But you know what? These Hawks might be No. 1 for a while yet.
After three-plus quarters Monday night, it looked as if that ranking wouldn’t last 24 hours, let alone 50 weeks. The Hawks trailed the Trail Blazers by 10 points with eight minutes left. But the home team steadied itself and nearly won in regulation — Rudy Fernandez hit an outrageous tying trey over Al Horford at the horn — but did win in overtime.
And now this club is 9-2 having handled a good Portland team twice and having won in Boston and having blown out Denver here. That’s a flying start by any measure, and it shouldn’t be considered an aberration. This team is good, folks. This team is really deep, really gifted, really good.
“It’s kind of nice to sit at the top of the division,” said Woodson, speaking of an NBA South that also includes Orlando, Miami and Washington. “There’s nothing wrong with winning your division.”
Could that happen? Sure it could. The smart money will still ride with the Magic, but the smart money wouldn’t have had the Hawks at 9-2 having played six road games. The smart money wouldn’t have been on the home team with eight minutes left Monday night, but the Hawks wore down the Blazers and outclassed them in the end. (Joe Johnson owned Brandon Roy, FYI.)
And to those who keep saying the Hawks must have a big man to do anything of substance: Portland has LaMarcus Aldridge, the fourth player drafted in 2006, and Greg Oden, the first player drafted in 2007, at power forward and center. Aldridge and Oden combined for 29 points and 16 rebounds Monday. Josh Smith and Al Horford had 35 points and 26 rebounds between them. And the Hawks outscored Portland 56-38 in the lane.
“They’re playing for something,” Woodson said of his men. And then: “They know they’ve got a chance to win every time they step on the floor.”
Five years ago, the Hawks figured it differently. They figured they’d lose no matter what happened. But look now. Look at those power ratings. Save the Web page and print it out. Put it in a frame and hang it on yonder wall. Because seeing the Hawks as No. 1 in anything good is truly a moment to treasure.
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159 comments Add your comment
Peter
November 17th, 2009
9:20 am
Just imagine if Marvin Williams was NOT so Soft ?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 17th, 2009
9:24 am
Couldn’t have said it any better than you, Mark Bradley. The best part is seeing that everyone from the head coach to the 12th man isn’t putting too much stock into this and is focused on goals that matter. Celebrating power rankings is for fans like us.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2009
9:27 am
Marvin Williams hasn’t gotten off to a flying start, has he?
deejay
November 17th, 2009
9:28 am
No surprise here! They are playing like they are Number 1!!!!!
PMC
November 17th, 2009
9:33 am
I’d like to see the defense play a bit better but hey it’s the first month in the NBA season. Marvin is a good defender. I’m LOVING the offensive rebounding and second chance points. I could do with a little less Josh Smith outside shooting, but I’m loving this team. It’s must see TV.
PMC
November 17th, 2009
9:36 am
Josh Smith continues to embarass Jay Bilas.
The Hawks are#1 Open Thread — Peach Pundit
November 17th, 2009
9:38 am
[...] Atlanta Hawks, you know, our pro-basketball team here in Atlanta, currently sit atop the NBA power rankings. This should give Dick Williams plenty to talk about on next Sunday’s Georgia Gang. In fact, [...]
I LOVE my ATL peeps!
November 17th, 2009
9:38 am
2010 finals we will be there …… ATLANTA HAWKS vs LOS ANGLES LAKERS… HAWKS WIN IN 6….
THEY’RE PLAYING THE BEST BASKETBALLLLLLLLL OF THEIR LIFE!!
WORLD CHAMPIONS ATLANTA HAWKS!! THEY GONNA BURN THAT CITY DOWN AGAIN LIKE GENERAL SHERMAN DID!!
Chris
November 17th, 2009
9:39 am
At no point last night did I think the Hawks would beat the Blazers until about midway through the 4th quarter. Last night was possibly our worst we could play and we still won. That just doesn’t happen in years past. Let’s hope that Crawford doesn’t go cold like that again for a while.
Dashizz357
November 17th, 2009
9:40 am
JJ dribbles to much, coach doing a great job with the players minutes…..They can get better! I like what I see so far….Where’s all the coach haters at now…Library hours, real quite….I realize its early in the season, but I like what I see….
Doubtful
November 17th, 2009
9:42 am
They might be #1 now but it won’t last. Like every other Atlanta team they will choke when it counts. But watch how everyone turns to the Hawks and claim to be fans, but when they choke; all those fans will jump right off the bandwagon. Sad but true
F-105 Thunderchief
November 17th, 2009
9:52 am
If they keep this up, I may have to give Woody some credit. I’ll be glad to eat crow if this team tears up the league. As a fan, I hope they do, of course. Hot sauce or barbecue sauce?
All I'm Saying Is...
November 17th, 2009
9:53 am
First of all, everyone needs to calm down. Hawks have started their season better than this group and ended poorly — anyone remember our 15 win, 0 loss start a decade ago and how that season ended? So let’s be happy and thankful but not get too excited. As Randolph meant to say: it is way too early to think about anything other than the next game.
Second, playoff basketball is way different than regular season. The 2004 Pistons better be our model because they were the exception — undersized, overachieving center named Ben Wallace — that proves the rule that you typically must have size at the Center position to excel during the half-court, bump and grind game that is the NBA playoffs. So quit trying to gloat Bradley because its again way too early to say that we can get it down down low with what we have.
Third, let’s see how we compete against the Cavaliers who appear to have put it together recently and the Magic because the Celtics subsequently lost to the Indiana Pacers after we beat them, Denver was missing Kenyon Martin and JR Smith when we beat them, and the Lakers destroyed us. We will know more about what we can do against the elite teams as the season goes on and that’s what matters for this club since we proved ourselves to be a top eight team overall in the NBA last year after winning our first round series.
All that typed, I’d rather be 9 and 2 and feeling cautiously optimistic than otherwise.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
MyView
November 17th, 2009
9:53 am
I think that the success of the entire team is starting to make JJ’s job easier. In the past, I used to feel as though he had to work very hard to score. Lately it seems easier for him. In the Hornets game, Josh hit Joe with a bounce pass for a lay up as Joe cut to the rim. I can’t remember the last time Joe got such an easy basket in the half court offense.
All I'm Saying Is...
November 17th, 2009
9:54 am
Meant to type: “…get it done down low with what we have.”
Boston Hawks Fan
November 17th, 2009
9:56 am
Mark…Great stuff. Love this team’s depth and — imagine this — their heart. My only concern: Teague’s limited minutes and (it would appear) rapidly declining confidence. After the understandable excitement about this weeks’ Power Rankings fades, I hope you or Sugiura will take this on. I hate to see Woody destroy another young PG — and one who most agreed has lots and lots of upside. Thanks…
scott
November 17th, 2009
9:57 am
Think back to last year, at one point or another every major player went down with injury for the hawks. Playing a man (or more) down forces young players to learn and improve their game to compensate for the loss. Add the two playoff experiences and this is a team that can weather any hard times. I think the haters on Woodson can stop, yeah I disagree with some decisons and bench rotation too, but its impossible to argue with the results. This team continues to improve, Championship
Jim R
November 17th, 2009
9:57 am
A little history. How many fans out there remember when the Hawks drafted Josh right out of High school in 2004? A 17 year old athletic but raw future talent? Remember all the naysayers spouting about how we’d wasted a pick? Wonder what they are saying now? If he had gone on to college and graduated (last year) would he have been a # 1? I personally think we owe a great deal of gratitude to Billy Knight for having the guts and vision to draft him. I personally thought it was a great pick and I believe if he stays away from injury and matures( he’s only 23 wow) he will be a bonafide SUPERSTAR. Man this feels good to see this team doing the right things and having it pay off. How about that win in Boston? Was that great or what? Long season ahead but we should only get better. Keep your heads on straight Hawks and you will have a legitimate shot at the Trophy. JR
scott
November 17th, 2009
10:00 am
ALL I’m saying is.
How can you say the Lakers destroyed the hawks. Yeah it was real ugly for a while but in the last 9 mins Atlanta forced Kobe and all the other starters back into the game and the game went down to the wire. By your rational the Blazers blew us out too. Watch the games not the stat lines.
The Walrus
November 17th, 2009
10:02 am
Whoda thunk it?
Interesting sidenote – after the Hawks drafted Al Horford, in their annual who’s hot issue the Sporting News featured the Hawks and said they were an up-and-coming team.
It’s great to see this team come back. Here’s hoping they can sustain it.
Good Grief
November 17th, 2009
10:07 am
And the thing about last night’s win is that we got little to nothing from Marvin or Crawford. We’ve seen what this team does to team when Crawford’s clicking off the bench, just imagine what this offense could do if we got say 12 pts from Marvin! Go Hawks!!!!!!!!
MarkFan
November 17th, 2009
10:08 am
Congrats to Hawks, but feel free to ignore the humorous creative writing excercise, known as “power rankings”, Marc Stein is a fine reporter, but his (and Schuhmann’s) rankings are pulp fiction: shifting sands that consistently contradict and reverse themselves from one week to the next. Fun for readers and NBA geeks to debate-over, but useless for coaches and teams. Better for the Hawks to keep their eye on the ball, and remember the only thing that matters is what real awards they take home in the post season.
uberVU - social comments
November 17th, 2009
10:14 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by MarkBradleyAJC: The Atlanta Hawks rank No. 1 in the NBA. Yes, the Atlanta Hawks. http://tinyurl.com/yggjuo2…
Dominique
November 17th, 2009
10:15 am
That was a heat check!
Jim Barco
November 17th, 2009
10:18 am
jezzzz, to make it complete, please put the Hawks on the cover of Sports Illustrated and give the team time to get over it.
The American Dream
November 17th, 2009
10:18 am
The Hawks are pretty good. Bradley is pretty bad. All things even I would rather have Spud Webb writing articles for the AJC than Bradley. Can Spud reach the keyboard? Probably no but then again Bradley can’t dunk.
Febbie
November 17th, 2009
10:26 am
You all are happy now but you need to thank Billy Knight!
BoricuaHawkFan
November 17th, 2009
10:29 am
So good to finally find good press on the Hawks on a regular basis. As a long time hawks fan (even through the 13-win season), I am thrilled and DID several print-screens of both Power Rankings b4 reading Mark’s suggestion. Yes, all my facebook friends have gotten copies of them!!!
On a serious note, it feels so good to be a Hawks fan and through it took me a bit to buy into the re-building plan, I bought into it a couple of years ago and now reap the rewards. As Randolph Morris would say, I hope they’re still ranked #1 come week 50!!! Go Hawks!!!
Atl Hawk
November 17th, 2009
10:30 am
Watched the whole game last night from start to finish. I must say that even though we were down early we stayed with the game plan and came back. Sitting on my hands i was hoping that roy did not get out of control because it had the potential of getting out of hand. Defense and turnovers by the balze help this team will to win. It looks really good that the hawks are getting the attention from the league. I’m so impressed by JSmooth and his play, cant wait till he hoist one up from beyond three point range (he deserves to take one at this point) Hawks will win 60 plus games after getting through what was a tough start against some pretty good teams. Get the good teams out of the way and take care of the not so good teams. We already beat boston so matchup with orlando and cleveland are still in the air. Not worried about mia because they will be mia when as the season progresses. Go High Flying Hawks.
Brandon from Warner Robins
November 17th, 2009
10:30 am
I’ll be at the game tomorrow!!
marcus
November 17th, 2009
10:31 am
you have to admit that with the additions the hawks have made at the guard position. they are able to impose themselves on most teams in the league. whether or not joe johnson is playing for a contract or has just stepped up his game, the hawks are a better team from last year. i think it starts with their defensive mindset, plus the tenacity of josh smith and al horford makes for what should be a solid run in the playoffs. the only bad thing about this team is, now i can’t get cheap seats………
Jon Koncak
November 17th, 2009
10:37 am
Just to let everyone know, I am coming out of retirement (for a small fee) to add some depth to our small front court.
Tyler Perry
November 17th, 2009
10:38 am
I like dressing up as an old woman……OK….Confession time. I am a tranny.
Gamer
November 17th, 2009
10:39 am
Hawks winning ways is based upon a complete team. No one player is the superstar. Any starting five can get it done. And Oh, don’t forget about the sixth man(Jamal Crawford).
If Hawks stay free of any major injury and maintain the unselfish play. Then they will play for the Easten Conference Championship.
Woody must have shown Josh Smith some lowpost game during the off season. I remember Mike Woodson at Broad Ripple High School. He had a smooth game within 15ft and to the rack.
Josh Smith is becoming dangerous with that in between and to the rack game. No unpredictable and wild three pointers. GOOD GAME JOSH SMOOOOOTH SMITH.
props to Knight
November 17th, 2009
10:40 am
Yes, he made some very bad moves – Shelden comes to mind – but he turned Shelden into Bibby, brought us Joe and Josh and Al. Can you imagine what a disaster Babcock would have made of this?
At least some of Knight’s poor reputation comes from his unwillingness to kiss the posteriors of local media, especially the guys on the radio. For me, that orneriness always made him more likeable.
KSEE
November 17th, 2009
10:44 am
Glad to see the hard work paying off…nice to get some positive attention! keep winning!!!
SirReal
November 17th, 2009
10:54 am
I’m glad one of our bird teams is showing up. I have always been a Hawks fan…no fair weather fan here. I’m glad to see them enjoy this early success. Now we just have to maintain it…I like this group though and J. Crawford was a STEAL!
Jon Koncak
November 17th, 2009
10:58 am
I will be coming out of retirement to add some depth to the front court. Just in case any of you were wondering, I have completely burned through all of my savings from my big 1985 contract. I just lost my job as a bathroom attendant at a strip club in Wyoming so I am planning a return to my former team…the Atlanta Hawks!
Stat Man
November 17th, 2009
11:05 am
This early, it’s more important to have a reason to be excited about WHY they have a good record more than the good record itself.
WHY then?
1- J-Smooth is playing unselfish ball far more than in the past. When he sets his mind to get a rebound – he will get the rebound. Now PLEASE practice those FT’s! I know it’s boring, but missing 22 FT’s in 11 games is keeping too many potentially important points off the board.
2- Crawford has been the perfect fit for the team and one of the key benefits down the road will be that come April, JJ won’t be leading the league in minutes played and enter the playoffs exhausted.
3- Teague hasn’t put up much in the way of numbers, but the talent is certainly there. Kudo’s to Woody for getting him 10 minutes a game to he doesn’t totally rot on the bench (Law).
4- They are continuing to refuse to lose at Philips Arena. The crowds will be increasing once football goes away.
5- They simply don’t have to depend on any one person every night. As great as JJ has played (free agent year looms and he’s totally aware of that) if he’s not on that night, they can either (a) let someone else give it a legitimate try or (b) sit him down to regroup rather than in the past leaving him out there for 45 minutes to “shoot his way out of it”
6- Don’t look now, but these guys are shooting FT’s at 79.2% (and skyrockets to 84.1% sans J.Smooth). How important is this? Well, last year they shot 73.7% and at 26 attempts a night, that just raised their team scoring a point and a half a game and didn’t need any more posessions to do that.
BTW – To put the FT improvement in another light. This year they are 5th in the NBA in FT%, last year they were 28th!
So overall – the best thing I see with this team is that the great start is not a mirage. They got to 9-2 for solid reasons that there is no reason to believe should go away.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Steve
November 17th, 2009
11:06 am
You know at first I was sold on Woody as the Hawks coach but you know he finally has the players listening to him and well here are the results. It doesn’t hurt that we have a new GM that knows how to draft! Go Hawks make us proud!
Mink
November 17th, 2009
11:20 am
Couldn’t help but notice during a timeout that they had a feature of “favorite tv shows” on the jumbotron and Marvin said “Man, I sit at my computer and watch CSI ALL DAY.” I believe that; it reflects in your game…… That wide open baseline jumper that hit the side of the backboard told the story.
That said, Hawks are ballin’ playing 4 1/2 on 5. Unbelievable.
Gilley
November 17th, 2009
11:21 am
What a GREAT win from the Atlanta Hawks. I thought we would not bounce back from being down majority of the game but we showed effort that I haven’t seen before and this let’s me know we are special. Great win! HEAT next!!!
jloofatl
November 17th, 2009
11:33 am
We are first in ESPN, NBA, and Hoopsworld power rankings. We are #2 on SI rankings.
The Hawks are playing unbelievable ball.
Daniel
November 17th, 2009
11:34 am
Great stuff Mark,
Yes, the Hawks are the real deal. I think it is hilarious that Randolph can’t even get the calander right. What an embarrasment. Oh, well who cares.
Johnson did own Brandon last night. I was right there in 117.
HAwks A.I
November 17th, 2009
11:46 am
Put Marvin on the bench.Get A.I ..That would be epic.Go Hawks
The Hawks rank No. 1 in the NBA. Yes, the Hawks | Mark Bradley VX China
November 17th, 2009
11:52 am
[...] post: The Hawks rank No. 1 in the NBA. Yes, the Hawks | Mark Bradley By admin | category: nba | tags: atlanta, bradley, greatest, largest, nba, power-ratings, [...]
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2009
11:57 am
Get Allen Iverson? Why? To play where? I mean, really.
HAwks A.I
November 17th, 2009
12:01 pm
I am not saying Hawks need Iverson..but he would still provide valuable offense,steals and assists. He can take up the defense level and intensity with his fast feet.The hawks are already fast ..With A.I ,its a whole new ball game. But its still debatable. It might rupture the current team chemistry.What do you think,Mark?
RODRJ32
November 17th, 2009
12:01 pm
Is it just me or does Marvin Williams look completely lost. After all this time he should be playing much better. He looks clueless. At this point he is not an asset to this team at all. We’ve made enough excuses for his bad play. He can’t shoot, nor defend. It’s time to take a serious look at cutting our losses with this guy. Horrible!!! I agree with Mark. We don’t even need to entertain Iverson. For what????
What
November 17th, 2009
12:04 pm
Joe Johnson has been averaging over 40 minutes a game the last week or so. Will the Hawks continue to play at this level if the second string is not getting any minutes. How many minutes has Jeff Teague. Jason Collins, and Joe Smith put in lately?