NBA Power Rankings: The Atlanta Hawk Rises

Well there was my best shot at comparing our Hawks to the recent Christopher Nolan series of Batman movies. But SSSSHHHHHH don't look now but the Hawks are 12-5 and close to the top of the conference in this early season. Might I say that we are starting to get a little respect? Well I for say that this team basketball and increase in ball movement is make this team look amazing since we don't know who will take the final shot. Already this season we have seen Korver sink a game-winner, Teague attacking when teams have no answer, DeShawn keeping the team alive with hot shooting, Lou igniting a 20-0 run against Memphis who by the way the best team in NBA before we beat them, and finally both Josh and Al win NBA Player of the Week. So as you can imagine it has got to be hard to prepare for a team that has this kind of depth. But before I rant on about how much I love this years Hawks team lets see what others have to say about us in the power rankings. John Schuhmann at NBA.com starts us off by raising us 4 spots and mentioning how great Al and Josh have been playing.

5

Atlanta (12-5) Pace: 94.9 (12), OffRtg: 102.1 (13), DefRtg: 97.8 (5) It's probably time to start believing in the Hawks, who are one of only two teams to win in Oklahoma City and now one of only two teams to win in Memphis. All of a sudden, they're just a half game behind the Heat, who they visit in a must-watch League Pass game on Monday. Both Al Horford and Josh Smith rank in the top five in restricted area shooting percentage at 74 percent.

Seth Rosenthal for SB Nation has us at the 7 spot recognizing how we have put more effort into our rebounding.

7 Atlanta Hawks 12-5 8 W: DEN, WAS, @MEM Pea Cht Re eHoops Hey now, Hawks. Atlanta hopped right back on track after last week's spill in Cleveland. After weathering comebacks from the Nuggets and the Wizards, they made one of their own to take down the Grizzlies in an impressive third quarter in Memphis. Of note: a trend of weakness on the boards came to a head when Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson out-rebounded the Hawks by themselves in that Cleveland game. The Hawks won the rebound battle in each of their three subsequent victories, and that includes a successful effort to keep the board-hungry Nuggets off the offensive glass. Problem addressed? If so ... hey now, Hawks.

Marc Stein at ESPN.com has the Hawks up 3 spots and #7 in his rankings.

Atlanta 12-5

3 Last Week: 10

Trivia time: Can you name the only team that has held every foe below 50 percent from the floor this season? Answer: It's the one and only team out there that can claim road victories at OKC and Memphis. Even more good news for the Hawks: Josh Smith, as requested here, is picking it up.

Kurt Helin at probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com also has us at 7 and moving us up a spot.

7. Hawks (12-5, LW 8). Quality wins this week over the Grizzlies and Nuggets, with the Heat on tap for Monday. While you weren’t looking they have been a strong defensive team this season behind Josh Smith and Al Horford.

At foxsports.com actually lowers us a spot even if he compliments Josh Smith.

Josh Smith has been a model pro in the coach Larry Drew era, and Hawks have been mostly balanced and cohesive. This team can go places.

And finally, at hoopsworld.com we have our guys at #8 jumping up a couple spots.

12-5 After a slow start, the Hawks have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the past few weeks.

Well, it's nice to see how the Hawks are getting some respect but yet continue to fly under the radar. Not bad for a team that is "rebuilding" But anyway, what do you guys think of these rankings and us getting some recognition?