2012 Atlanta Hawks Schedule: Four Game Home Stretch Begins Against Memphis

Ask the “Elite” Bulls and the “Elite” Heat….Who are supposed to be in a class by themselves.

We will go at least go 3-1.

I realize I shouldn’t care what he thinks, but I do. I read his Book of Basketball, and I know he is a very knowledgeable and passionate NBA fan, which is what makes me so frustrated that he doesn’t take the time to understand or appreciate the Hawks.
-———
Simmons,

The national media continually ignores the Hawks, but I would expect a real basketball fan such as yourself to be different. First, you crapped on us in your “closest to the pin” podcast by projecting in the low 30s for our win total (I’m not going to bother to listen to it again to determine your exact prediction). Your reasoning? We lost JAMAL CRAWFORD — you indefensibly placed value in an inconsistent, selfish, streaky scorer who was such a defensive liability that he might as well have cherry-picked on every play so he could get the long outlet pass and run his patented “22-second-iso-contested-long-jumper” play. Replacing him with T-Mac, Willie Green, and Vlad-rad was scoffed at by the media at large, but they have provided solid, unselfish, and consistent play. It’s no wonder that our ball-movement, assists, and clean looks have skyrocketed this season. Well, we’re on pace for a 48-win season (60 in 82! Unsustainable, I realize), and we’ll hit your joke par 3 prediction by mid-March. Also, beyond your ignorance of the Hawks generally, your denigrating the fan base is particularly maddening. You were on a podcast with House, a fan of the most laughable and worst fan-supported team in the NBA! I can’t believe that I had to hear more about Jevale McGee and the Clowns than a top-4 team in the East.

The latest injustice came in your 20 Questions, Part I column, in the question about point guards. Without a doubt, the most significant factor for the Hawks’ success this sesaon has been Jeff Teague, who is also an MIP candidate. The guy’s speed rivals that of Ty Lawson, he’s a creator and a scorer, and he’s become such a good floor general that it has made us fans laugh uncontrollably that we used to watch Mike Bibby scoot ass-first down the court and pretend to play dead on defense. Teague belongs firmly in your “we’re blessed with” category, and I’m incredulous that you even mention guys like Calderon, Felton, Evans, etc. without giving any props to JT. You even have a footnote explaining Jameer Nelson’s omission — REALLY? Though his stats aren’t jaw-dropping, Teague’s biggest contribution is on the defensive end, where he is capable of putting the clamps on the likes of D-Rose (as he did in the Hawks’ convincing win over the Bulls). You must make this right.

Look, everyone is trying to explain the Hawks’ solid play since Horford went out, with the most common theme being the weak schedule. I’ll concede that it has been favorable, but we went through 9 in 12 days, played the Heat and Bulls four times, beat each once, should’ve beat each twice, went 4-1 on a geographically insane roadtrip, and continue to blow out bad and mediocre teams and play with or beat “contenders.” The Hawks’ are tied with Miami and Philly for the 2nd best record in the East, only 1 game behind the Bulls. Also, if Josh Smith doesn’t make the All-Star team this year, I will use my enormous power and influence to make this country stop watching the NBA and not bat an eye when the League goes on strike — oh, wait.

Losses to MEM, @LAL, @CHI, @POR, and MIA. Wins against everyone else.

Tonight’s game will be tough, but a win will go a long way toward securing a successful month. Also, wins against Phoenix are key — we can sweep them but will need to show up both games. I also think we can sweep Orlando. They’re a mess right now and we’re getting them at the right time. Add on wins against Golden State and NYK, and that gets us to 7 wins for the month.

I think we win the Philly game and even the LA game. Possibly lose any or all of Indy, @Pho, @NY. Either way, I agree with the 7-6/6-7 prediction.

And even with that we’d be 10 games over .500 at the end of this rough stretch.

We lost on the road, but the Indiana game was when Al got hurt. Traditionally we play them better and while they have a front court advantage we should dominate their backcourt right now. Up in Philadelphia we dominated a good portion of the first half and then buckled under their defensive pressure in the 2nd. This time I don’t expect the players to “quit” nor do I expect the coaches to sit back and watch the game turn without making adjustments. Philly also has only played 8 road games so far going 4-4. I think it might be fair to call them a different team on the road.

I’m sure I’ll get greedy when the other games come up, but right now I want to return serve on those 2 teams even more than the upcoming Miami and Chicago games.