by Juan Leer

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

For years, the Atlanta Hawks have been the laughingstock of the NBA. With countless failed draft picks, bad crowds, and mismatched players, they've struggled to escape from the cellar in the East and make it back to the playoffs. Heading into the 2007/08 season, they had hopes that things would change. The losing had allowed them to stockpile draft picks, meaning they had a collection of young, talented players, and they just needed to try and fit all of the pieces together.

They were able to do that during the year, winning enough games to finally make it back to the playoffs as the 8th seed. With their young team, this should provide momentum in future years for them to make repeated trips to the playoffs, regardless of how they fare against the Boston Celtics. The Hawks are led by veteran Joe Johnson, a solid scoring guard with a complete offensive game. He led the team in scoring with over 21 PPG, scoring in a variety of ways. He has a solid jumpshot, and can also score off the dribble. He also averages nearly 6 RPG to go along with 5 APG, setting the tone for the Hawks.

Their best all-around player is Josh Smith, who does a variety of things on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he has improved every year, and averaged a career high 17.2 PPG. He also used his great athleticism to snag 8.2 RPG. But his best asset is his defense, where he can guard multiple positions. With 2.8 BPG, he is one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. While Joe Johnson sets the tone offensively for Atlanta, Josh Smith sets the tone defensively.

For years, the Hawks have not had a reliable PG or a tough, low-post scorer. They were able to shore up both of those needs this year. At PG, they acquired veteran Mike Bibby, who added a calming presence to a young squad, as well as his vast playoff experience. He averaged 6.5 APG for them on the year. Down low, rookie Al Horford finished 2nd in the ROY voting, and looks to have a very bright future ahead of him. He nearly averaged a double-double in rookie campaign, coming up just a few rebounds short. He adds toughness down low on both ends of the floor, and will be a cornerstone for the franchise moving forward.

2007-2008 was the start of what the Hawks hope will be an extended run in the NBA playoffs. With their young, improving team, just making the playoffs as an 8th seed was a big step for them, and they should be able to build on it in the coming years. If they continue to develop, they could soon be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

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