After eight straight seasons of misery, three straight last-place finishes, so many luckless draft lotteries and, maybe worst of all, the final days of Alan Henderson, the Hawks are close to completing perhaps the biggest exorcism in franchise history. They are nearing a playoff berth.

These moments generally are celebrated by the thirsty masses. Strangely, the Hawks seem to have no masses, at least none that are celebrating.

Instead, they're waiting. When is the collapse? They're wondering. Does this mean Billy Knight and Mike Woodson aren't getting fired? They're bracing. Is an eighth seed just the backdrop for a public stoning by the Celtics?

Unfair? Maybe a little. The Hawks have won eight out of 10. There was a time when winning eight out of 10 would've been viewed as paradise, style points be damned. But if there was any doubt that the futures of the franchise and its principal parts remain a concern, owner Michael Gearon reaffirmed as much Tuesday.

Nobody got a guarantee on future employment.

Gearon would prefer the focus not be on the organizational structure right now. (It's not what you would call a great marketing tool.) But he did nothing to douse speculation that the futures of his general manager (Knight) and coach (Woodson) are open-ended.

"All I can tell you is we continue to evaluate the GM, the assistant GM, the coach, the assistant coaches and the players on an ongoing basis," Gearon said. "With respect to what we're going to do after the season, I don't have a crystal ball. With respect to now, I like the way we're playing.

"I will say this: I'm not opposed to doing anything. I want to make the playoffs and I want to win long-term. But what matters to me most is: Are these kids learning how to win? That question is more easily answered when the season's over. We're not in the mode right now of, 'Is our GM going to be here or not? Is our coach going to be here or not?' Are certain players going to be here or not?' "

He neither confirmed nor denied that Knight and Woodson both are at the end of their contracts, saying only: "Whether somebody has a contract has nothing to do with whether we want somebody back."

He intentionally stayed clear of tangibles. What if the Hawks miss the playoffs? What if they reach the postseason with a record of 38-44 in the weak Eastern Conference, and then get drilled in four games by Boston? Do Knight and Woodson have magic numbers?

Bottom line: What defines success?

"That I can answer: Learning how to win on a regular basis," Gearon said.

"Look, I don't know if we're going to make the playoffs. I hope we do. But I would tell you what's more important to me than making the playoffs —- what I want is for our kids —- is that they believe in themselves. I want them to realize that they're capable of being a premier team in the East. That's been my goal from the beginning. If we play well and improve and make the playoffs, then I feel good about that. If we make the playoffs and win the first series but then play awful in the second series, I may not feel good. It's not just about the wins and losses. I'm looking at the development of players."

It has been a losing PR battle. Knight does or says little to ingratiate himself to fans or media (nor does he seem to care). Woodson's career record is a cartoon (103-217). The ownership brand, the Atlanta Spirit, more often ends up being a punch line (and will continue to be until litigation ends). And then there's all that history.

"I would agree with you [about fans' feelings]," Gearon said, "and that's a product of two things: The franchise has been out of the playoffs for a long time, and the perception of this team."

After all of those seasons of misery, a playoff berth nears. But tonight, when the Hawks play host to Toronto, Philips Arena could be half-empty again. It will take a lot more winning to convince the masses, define direction —- and, apparently, guarantee employment.

jschultz@ajc.com

NEXT FOR HAWKS

> Who: vs. Raptors

> When: 7 p.m. today

> TV; radio: SportSouth; 790 AM