The opening two weeks of the 2008-09 NBA season have seen the resurgence of many teams that have not poked their heads above the .500 mark for much of the past decade. The Atlanta Hawks are leading the pack, and after years of disappointment and a plethora of first-round draft picks, the franchise seems to have finally turned the page. Although they have dropped their last three games, the Hawks opened their season in at impressive fashion at 6-0, beating the Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Hornets on the road before losing to the defending world champion Boston Celtics by just one point. The Hawks' recent success can be tracked back, ironically, to their failures across the last 10 years. Since going 50-32 in 1997-98, the Hawks have not had one full winning season. In fact, between 2003 and 2006, they weren't able to even break the 30-win mark. But the prolonged period of poor performance had a bright side, as it allowed the Hawks to acquire a slew of top lottery draft picks, which in turn led to the end of their long-term suffering in the NBA's cellar.
In 2004, with the 17th pick in the draft, the Hawks chose 6-foot-9 Josh Smith out of Oak Hill Academy. Smith played at one of the most decorated high school basketball programs in the country, and thanks to his extraordinary athleticism and size, he gives the Hawks a unique versatility at the small forward position.
He's currently averaging 12 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He also provides the Hawks with a presence in the middle and has the ability to use his athleticism to penetrate from the wing and rise over shot-blockers. The 2005 Slam Dunk Champion is in his fourth year in the league, albeit at the tender age of 22, and the Hawks see him as a possible All-Star once he realizes his full potential.
One year after picking Smith, the Hawks drafted University of North Carolina standout Marvin Williams. Williams did not even start on his team's national championship squad, but his eventual NBA home saw in him a potential that could translate into big things for the Hawks organization.
Two years later, in 2007, the Hawks drafted another NCAA national champion, Florida swingman Al Horford. Williams and Horford, at 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-10 respectively, give the Hawks size and athleticism in the paint. Williams is averaging a modest 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Horford is netting 10 and nine in the same categories. Their mobility creates mismatches for slower big men, and the front three of Smith, Williams and Horford provides a balanced attack that endows the Hawks with a presence down low that currently ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding.
The front office of the Hawks organization has also done a good job of acquiring talent via trades and free agency. In the summer of 2005, the Hawks signed free agent Joe Johnson from the Phoenix Suns, who only filled a small role on the talent-laden Phoenix team. Since signing with the Hawks, Johnson has emerged as a real NBA star, earning two All-Star appearances and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team that won Gold in Beijing this summer.
Johnson can shoot from anywhere on the court, and at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, he uses his strength and speed to get to the rim and finish. Johnson is currently fourth in the NBA in scoring, at 26.0 points per game, and does not hesitate to take the game into his hands in the final quarter. His leadership holds the team together, and he provides a nice complement to the young talent up front.
The acquisition of veteran point guard Mike Bibby last season was the final component in launching the Hawks as a true contender in today's NBA. Bibby's vision and shooting ability give the Hawks a quarterback on the court, and when paired with such a young group of players, Bibby's experience proves invaluable in helping the team develop together.
The Hawks, who are the second-youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 24.9, have the tools to make a serious push into the playoffs this year. After taking the eventual world champion Celtics to the brink in a contested seven-game set in the first round of last season's playoffs, the Hawks have shown the rest of the league that they now have the rare mix of youth and playoff experience necessary to contend for, and possibly win, a world title.
