Atlanta Ends Brutal Season Opening Stretch With Head Above Water

by Kris Willis on Jan 9, 2012 8:50 AM EST

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 06: Jeff Teague #0 of the Atlanta Hawks calls a play against the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The start may be remembered more for what could have been, but the Atlanta Hawks just completed a brutal stretch to open the season and came out on the other side with a 6-3 record. Atlanta played nine times in the first 12 days of the NBA season that included three sets of back-to-back games and their first set of three games in three days.

In that opening stretch Atlanta played five of the nine games on the road. The Hawks also held their own against the Eastern Conference's elite splitting four games with the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls and coming within an eyelash of taking all four.

The schedule lightens up slightly in the coming weeks for the Hawks although it is important to point out that it never really lightens up in this compressed 66 game jaunt. Over the next two weeks, Atlanta will have just two sets of back-to-backs.

The Hawks open a two game road trip tonight in New Jersey that will continue Wednesday in Indiana. They return home on Thursday to open a four game home stand that takes them through January 18. Opponents on the home stand include Charlotte, an potentially entertaining matchup with Minnesota, an MLK day matchup with Toronto and an ESPN game against Portland.

There won't be that many stars on the opposing teams lining up to motivate the Hawks whose goal for the week should be consistency no matter the opponent.

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Comments

The Good News is that We know this team can compete with any of these teams as long as they show effort.

Even with Chicago and Miami sneaking a win out of us, the players know that they can take it to what amount to the favorites for 4 straight quarters.

as long as the effort is there (and it will be for the playoffs), I believe that we have the Eastern Conference representative for the finals in Atlanta.

by Bryant Singleton on Jan 9, 2012 10:02 AM EST reply actions

Interesting

Hmmm…I like it. It’s a bold statement, but i struggle to find a real reason the Hawks can not pull that off.

by Mr. Phil on Jan 9, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

+10000

by Rufus1 on Jan 9, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

I like our chances...

TMac can’t wait for the playoffs to start. He has already shown that he coasted through the two preseason games and he has said that he has no appetite for meaningless games and even practice. TMac will definitely turn up when the playoffs begin.

Also, Kirk Hinrich’s return will be the piece that puts the Hawks over. The bench looks really good right now, it will be even better when Hinrich returns.

by jdewayneatl on Jan 9, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

willie green seems to be shooting better so he isnt a total loss.......... atleast of what i have seen

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 9, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, and we will need him to keep that up until Hinrich can get his legs under him.

Pargo has given a better shooting effort also. He has hit some big 3’s in the last few games. But I can say, if Stackhouse isn’t effectively player/coaching, I don’t see him sticking around for a finals run. TMac has definitely proved that he still has something left and can be very productive on the court. Stackhouse hasn’t been productive in the preseason or in garbage time.

by jdewayneatl on Jan 9, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

Our bench has given the Hawks offensive consistency...

And fundamental basketball. They cut, move without the pass and pass…TO THE OPEN MAN!!!

When Kirk returns, we will have 4 players on our bench that could score 15pts in a game..That will be HUGE in the playoffs.

by Rufus1 on Jan 9, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

move without the ball^^^

by Rufus1 on Jan 9, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

lol

we know what you mean,

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 9, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

since nobody will say it

our ability to win 4 straight games is mental. That’s not going to change this season or the next. The players have known they can beat the best teams in the league for 3 years now b/c we’ve always been able to beat great teams. Doing it consistently and on demand has and will be the problem. We don’t have coaching or leadership that will make us a ECF rep. Hate to say that, but that’s the truth…

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jan 9, 2012 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

hello

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 10, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

That's what I do

Sorry it’s not what you want to hear

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jan 11, 2012 2:14 AM EST up reply actions

And it's all Josh

when he comes out active and playing hard, it seems to rub off on everyone else. When he’s not focused and playing poor and passively, we have problems. He is the key, as we’ve always said.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 11, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

yep

you can basically tie our season to – will josh stop shooting jumpers and play with energy. When I see him shooting jumpers and leading the break, I know the ultimate outcome.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jan 11, 2012 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Sitting pretty

As I mentioned after the Heat win, we would be sitting pretty if we took 2 out of 4 of the Bulls/Heat matchups during that brutal stretch. Would’ve been nice to have those we should have won, but 6-3 after those 9 is not bad at all. Now the schedule lightens significantly.

Kris, your last line says it all — this team needs to find it motivation not in seeing and beating superstars like Lebron and Rose, but from the desire to place some distance between them and the rest of the Eastern conference field. Winning is all that matters, not one-upping the more hyped individuals. Make the goal of the next few weeks to sit at or near the top of the conference at the end of January.

by dchawk on Jan 9, 2012 10:06 AM EST reply actions

Also, ATL pride

This city has been crapped on too many times recently to lay down in the early rounds of the playoffs. Braves let us down, Falcons absolutely eviscerated our souls yesterday, so we need something good to happen here. I’m getting sick and tired of the Barkeley/Barry/Berman/Insert ESPN/TNT talking head here dissing us like a joke of a city and a franchise (for all three sports).

When will we have our Tebow moment?? And no, Joe’s 35 against Boston in round 1 is too stale now to carry us through…

by dchawk on Jan 9, 2012 10:10 AM EST reply actions

I know this is not a 66 game team....

I want to see how the perform against the ELITE in the EAST. This will tell what I can expect from them in the playoffs. Just like the Magic last year…..The Bulls fans sound just like the Magic fans did…..I think the Bulls are in TROUBLE if they meet the Hawks.

I think the Hawks have found the formula for the Bulls, just like the Magic and the Celtics.

by Rufus1 on Jan 9, 2012 10:50 AM EST reply actions