Wages of wins: Hawks are still soaring thanks to some amazing wings

[Admin]

The Hawks are still soaring thanks to some amazing wings

The Hawks are playing amazingly. It is only thanks to playing in the same division as the best team in the league that they are not leading their division. The Hawks made a mistake a few seasons ago by giving Joe Johnson a ridiculous extension and essentially destroying their flexbility. This season another blow was dealt when Al Horford went down with an injury that will essentially take him out the whole season. Somehow the Hawks are still contending and the question is: how? Has Josh Smith decided to carry the load on the front court? Has Joe Johnson decided to live up to his contract? No! It turns out the Hawks are being bailed out by some surprising play from some other players on the team.

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Summing up

The Hawks are doing very well this season and I suspect it’s a surprise to everyone including themselves. Of the three areas of major improvement (Jeff Teague, Marvin Williams and the cheap contracts of McGrady and Radmanovic) only one would be truly expected. Teague is supposed to develop and get better. It’s doubtful the Hawks thought Williams would finally play at a level near Chris Paul. McGrady and Radmanovic playing the best they have in years for peanuts is a pleasant surprise. Hopefully the Hawks are learning their lesson and will avoid pitfalls like Joe Johnson in the future. Of course the season is young and we’ll have to see if at the end McGrady and Williams get credit for their surprising play or if the Hawks decide to go another direction.

Read the full article (with lots of interesting stats) here

[Diesel]

Hopefully the Hawks are learning their lesson and will avoid pitfalls like Joe Johnson in the future.

Uhm?? Yeah...

Let's see, where to start....

If we didn't have Joe Johnson, we would have never made 1 playoff. Look at the peices, Josh is still inconsistent. TMac is still not dependable because of injury. Teague is still Young. Marvin is still A Question Mark. And Now.. Horf is gone. In that whole equation... what is it that keeps us at the top of the South?

Joe Freaking Johnson.

He's not a superstar like Lebron or Wade.. but the guy is great for our team. How in the hell can somebody call JFJ a PITFALL? Let's be real honest here:

In the course of the BK years, we made mistake after Mistake.

Childress was a mistake.

Shelden was a mistake.

Marvin is a mistake.

Acie was a mistake.

Not acquiring a big was a mistake.

Not acquiring a real PG was a mistake.

Keeping a 1 dimensional coach too long was a mistake.

However, there were two or three good notes.

1. Drafting Smoove.

2. Drafting Horf.

But Most importantly Getting JFJ.

[Joker]

Marvin has been huge for us. Numbers wise, he has mirrored both CP3 and Deron this season which is mainly due to their regression more than anything else. Jeff been huge. Joe has been what we expect him to be. About time.

[Gray Mule]

Opinions are like noses - - - Everyone has one and no two are exactly alike.

Two things, in my opinion, have been huge for the Hawks.

1--Veteran bench players. They have been there, not only to share their abundant talent but to set an example

and to encourage all the other players.

2-- A coach that believes in his players and encourages them. He sees the good things that his players can do

and, unlike LW, he doesn't keep players in his dog house on and on and on. He is better at developing and

trusting his players. Ivan J. has been good with us. I give coach credit.