Atlanta Hawks: Looking for history and NBA title

The Hawks may be flying towards a championship

Apr 24, 2009 Jeff Harrison

Last year, the Atlanta Hawks proved to the world that they had the talent and heart to reach the NBA Playoffs. This year, they are putting it on full display, and making another run at winning something nearly unfathomable to an entire era of Hawks fans, a championship title.

After winning 37 games in the 2007-2008 season, the Hawks, on the backs of Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson, propelled themselves to their first playoff appearance in nine seasons. Having backed into the postseason with the worst record of any playoff club, Atlanta garnered the dubious privilege of playing the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics.

The opening round, against the heavily favored Celtics, became one of the most heated postseason series in recent years, and an intense battle that took a full seven games to complete. Atlanta stood their ground at home, winning all three of their games at Phillips Arena.

Though they finally fell victim to the eventual world champs, the Atlanta Hawks gained a swagger and sense of confidence that would remain with the team throughout the 2008-2009 season.

From start to finish, the 2009 Atlanta Hawks proved once again, that they were for real. Atlanta finished the 2009 campaign 47-35, earning their first winning season since 1999, and a fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Thanks to a dominant record at home (31-10) and a much more seasoned team, the Hawks flew into this year's postseason with a squad more prepared for a deep run, home field advantage for the opening round, and a more favorable match up to begin the playoffs.

The Atlanta Hawks could very well gain momentum and make plenty of history in 2009. Not only could a very athletic Hawks team win their first playoff series in ten years, they could bring Atlanta its first ever NBA Championship, and the organization’s second overall (1957-1958 St. Louis Hawks).

-Why They Can Win

• The Team: Guards Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby provide the Atlanta Hawks with one of the best backcourts in the NBA playoffs. Whether behind the arch or pushing towards the rim, when the ball is in the hands of these two all-stars, good things happen for Atlanta. Along with Johnson and Bibby, the Hawks have received constant output from their “do-it-all” forward, Josh Smith. The talented youngster averaged 15.6 points per game for Atlanta, and has been a standout in the first two games against the Heat. With a kind athleticism possessed by few others, Smith manages to be a constant threat on both sides of the ball, and a live-action highlight real for those in attendance. Rounding out the starting five will be center Al Horford and forward Marvin Williams. Both players have benefited from another year of development (Horford is playing in just his second year), and will be key to any postseason success. The Hawks are hoping to see Williams acclimate quickly to a full game’s action, as he just returned to play, following a back injury that sidelined him for 16 games.

• They have played, and beaten the best: During the course of the season, Atlanta defeated all but one of the Eastern Conference teams playing in the 2009 postseason. Only Boston, which lost three of seven to Atlanta in last year’s playoffs, managed to defeat the Hawks in every meeting. Atlanta's first round opponent, the Miami Heat, lost three of four against them in the regular season. Should Atlanta continue their success against the Heat, they would likely face a number one seed, for a second consecutive year, in the form of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hawks dropped three of four to Cleveland in the regular season, but found themselves one basket shy of victory in an 87-88 home loss, on March 1 at Phillips. A meeting between these two teams, with Boston missing superstar Kevin Garnett, could prove to be the battle for the Eastern Conference Championship.

As is always the case in the NBA Playoffs, anything can happen on the road to a title. The heavily favored Lakers and Cavs could shock no one, and roll right into the 2009 NBA Finals. Or, underdogs, like the young Chicago Bulls and Portland Trailblazers, could rise to prominence and find themselves hoisting the Larry O’ Brien Championship Trophy. The only sure thing to be found in basketball’s postseason is the excitement it will undoubtedly bring to fans all around the country.

They may not be the most talented team in this year’s playoffs, and they don’t have anyone named Kobe or Lebron, but with a renewed since of confidence and talented team that can compete with the NBA’s best, no one should be surprised if Mike Woodson and his Atlanta Hawks finish atop the heap, and claim an ever elusive NBA championship.