The Atlanta Hawks have been an organization that has been on the brunt end of a lot of jokes lately. They have became the Clippers in the East and maybe just the Clippers of the NBA. One big difference right now is that the Clippers let guys walk and never wanted to pay out the money. The Hawks haven’t followed that road yet and from the multi-owner group that owns the Hawks, it appears they have some deep pockets. Not as deep with Belkin gone, but they have a few pennies to spend on B Ball in the Peach State.
So many different people have suggestions on what the Hawks need to do. Stay the course and let the young guys develop, bring in experience, get a new coach/GM, etc…
I would like to focus on a different view of how these Hawks from Atlanta can become a playoff team. They have one of the most amazing athletes in the NBA and in the world if you look at what the average man can do. I’m not sure anyone in the NBA has the raw skills of this young man and if he would have chosen college, he would still be there (due to being under 22 years of age). I’m talking about Josh Smith and by all accounts, he is a Hawk amongst the other hawks and I’m not talking about basketball players. This guy flies around in the air like an actual hawk and it’s amazing to see him leap against gravity and reach the heights he does.
I have seen players like Patrick Ewing, Shaquille Oneal, Dikembe Mutombo, and other 7 footers have such a presence in the lane and around the rim in a defensive manner. I have also watch under-sized guys like Charles Barkley and Ben Wallace have that same presence in the paint. Now Josh Smith is built more like a Mutombo, but his size would be more like Ben Wallace. It’s a recipe that would equal getting pushed around in the paint and not being an effective player on defense. However, when you see the product of Josh Smith and see how he controls the paint, it’s unreal how much of a Mutombo-like presence he brings on defense for the Atlanta Hawks. Forget where the Hawks list him in the line-up, and who he is matched up with defensively, because the guy keeps an eye on the paint for the Hawks.
There are not 12 guys in the Eastern Conference that are better than Josh Smith. He should be an all-star player, but playing in Atlanta he doesn’t get the recognition and no one in the NBA really know just how talented he is. They see a few highlight dunks or blocks and quickly write him off as the defensive guy with hops. He can shoot the basketball and many times he might just be shooting too far away from the basket. He needs that jump shot to keep players honest, but when you have the leaping ability he has, forget about honesty and start looking to expose.
I think he can put this Hawks team on his back and carry them to a playoff appearance in 2007/2008 Season. It should be interesting to see how the Hawks fare against the Boston Celtics at Boston on November 9th. It’s not just a match up against the favorites to win the East this year, but it will be the end of a tough start to the season for the Hawks. They will play the Mavericks, Pistons, Nets, Suns, and then Kevin Garnett to start the season. If the Hawks win 3 of these 5 games, others will mention the Hawks in the same breath as playoffs. If they are 5-0 after the Celtics game, they will be mentioning the New England Patriots and Atlanta Hawks in the same breath. If they lose the majority of these games, then the Hawks will not even get mentioned, which will be a way to fly under the radar. You might think they couldn’t fly any further under the radar, but I think most people wait to those first few games of the season before they pick the winners and losers of the league.
Josh Smith is a good kid and his middle finger to the Charlotte Bobcat fans was a lot different than Michael Vick’s middle finger to the home crowd at the Georgia Dome. Michael Vick was on the sideline and had been there awhile as the Falcons game had already been settled. It was then he elected to show the rude gesture to the Falcon faithful. Josh Smith had just received a horrible officiating call and he let the referee know about it and got 2 technicals in his rage and did his gesture to the Charlotte crowd in the heat of the momment. So while the stars in Atlanta are making headlines with one of their digits, just know that Josh’s case was a lot different than the former number 7 in Atlanta.
Maybe the NBA will recognize him this year and he will get an All Star appearance for the Eastern Conference. If the Hawks are below .500, then don’t hold your breath Hawks fans. He is a top 10 player in the Eastern Conference and once the NBA recognizes it, he will not miss an All Star Game!
Fans are still talking about Carlos Boozer’s performance for the Utah Jazz and what he accomplished in the post-season last year. If Josh Smith gets his chance to play in a playoff series, LOOKOUT!
ATLANTA HAWKS 2007/2008 PREDICTION: 53 WINS AND 29 LOSES
NOTE: Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008. This will be the first game for the 2008 year and against LeBron James and company. This is the statement game and this is where this organization will turn that magic corner!
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