AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 08
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Anything is possible
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Raise your hand if you thought the Hawks would start the season 3-1. I didn’t think so. Not even the die-hardest of the die-hards could have seen this coming. And certainly when Marvin Williams broke his finger the idea of a hot start disappeared for some.
But it’s time to give the boys in Hawksville a little credit for just being gritty enough to dig out some tough games, games that on paper they have no business winning.
But that’s the reality-TV beauty of sports. Anything can happen once the game starts. The team that isn’t supposed to win can win. The guy that isn’t supposed to be the hero makes the big play. And the coach everyone’s been cranking on for the past two years suddenly is being talked about like a coach of the year candidate (and I mean that, three different reporters in the press room in Cleveland mentioned Mike Woodson in that context after Tuesday night’s game).
I know, I know. It’s early still. November’s darlings can be old news by Christmas. But you have to admit it’ll be interesting to see how the Hawks’ 2006-07 season progresses. Admit it, they’ve piqued your interest after these first four games. They’ve made you wonder if you missed something along the way, made you wonder if you underestimated them, made you wonder if you’re overestimating them now. Anything is possible when you’re 4-1, right?
I love the drama. I love that no one is sure what to make of this team, particularly those outside of this city who don’t pay close attention to the Hawks on a daily basis the way we do.
What will be even more interesting will be the national reaction if the Hawks keep up their winning ways (as much as you’re embracing the winning right now, be prepared for the inevitable struggles, as it’s only reasonable during a season that spans nearly seven months).
Now, without further ado here is hump-day’s version of the five things we already know (actually, five things gleaned from Tuesday night’s stat sheet):
All the Josh Childress haters have gone into hiding. And for good reason. Outside of Joe Johnson no player on the roster has been as consistently effective through four games as Childress, whose four-point, five-rebound, three-block, two-assist effort might not look like much statistically. But you have to factor in the lift he gives you with his energy and length off the bench. He’s playing his role to perfection right now. And it doesn’t matter if he’s scoring points or not. He’s doing exactly what his team needs him to do.
Ced Bozeman and Matt Freije are here to stay. Any doubts about either of these free agent pick-ups should be silenced by now. Bozeman continues to provide quality minutes (dude does not play like a rookie at all) and Freije is the spot-up shooting big man the Hawks never had last season. They’re not spectacular but they’re solid NBA role players, the kind of guys some teams pay the mid-level exception without realizing that’s all they’re getting. They combined for 10 points, four rebounds and about 28 minutes of prime relief for the starters.
Josh Smith will do more. How quickly everyone forgets the contributions this guy made late last year. He was solid as a rock Tuesday night with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. He had just one turnover and spent much of his night trying to contain LeBron James, one of the few 6-9 guys in the league that actually makes Smith seem tiny. His defensive work on James was about all you can hope for, given the calls the King is afforded these days. Smith’s still certainly a work in progress, but at his age I’d rather there still be plenty of room to grow as opposed to him being a finished product.
Marvin Williams will be much needed when he returns. Anyone worrying about how Marvin will fit into the rotation when he returns need only peek at the heavy minutes currently being logged by Joe Johnson, Childress, Smith and Tyronn Lue. The minutes will always be there. It’s just a matter of how to break them down. Marvin’s return and Speedy Claxton’s eventual return to health will allow everyone to play fewer minutes as the season progresses. It’s called depth, something the Hawks haven’t had in recent seasons and still have issues with.
Speaking of Speedy, it would be wise to allow the guy time to get back into game condition before passing judgment on his play (basically, it might be wise to calm down before you go calling for the guy’s head). I can’t tell you how many people have asked me if the “Hawks blew it with this guy.” Are you serious? The season is four games old. Claxton missed so much time during training camp that his body hasn’t been able to bounce back like it would if he were say, 20 or 21. He’ll need time. And with Lue and Johnson playing as well as they are, he might get the time he needs to get back into the condition he’s accustomed to.
