Soaring Birds: Will the Atlanta Hawks Fly High in '08-09?

KEY PLAYERS: Joe Johnson (21.7 ppg), Josh Smith (17.2 ppg), Marvin Williams (14.8 ppg)

PLAYERS LOST: Josh Childress

PLAYERS ADDED: Mo Evans, Randolph Morris, Flip Murray

PLAYERS DRAFTED: No picks

2007-2008 RECORD: 37-45

2008-2009 PREDICTION: 44-39, Eighth in Conferenct

Coming off their first playoff appearance since the lockout-shortened '98-99 season, the Atlanta Hawks are ready for another crack at the playoffs this year.

Last season, the Hawks took the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to seven games before eventually losing by 34 points in Boston.

The Hawks won 37 games last season, increasing their win total by seven from the previous season and clinching a playoff spot.

Losing Josh Childress to Europe will hurt the Hawks in certain ways.  But with players such as Joe Johnson and Josh Smith doing much of the offensive work, and the acquisition of a nice nucleus of players include high-flying swing-man Mo Evans, Atlanta-native Randolph Morris, and a nice combo guard in Ronald "Flip" Murray, the Hawks still stand to contend in the Southeast Division and make another push toward the postseason.

Second-year player Al Horford, 2005 second-overall pick Marvin Williams, and veteran big man Zaza Pachullia should control the front court for the Hawks this season. Horford is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he was second in Rookie of the Year voting behind then-Supersonic rookie Kevin Durant.

But the Hawks also have some weaknesses, and one is the point guard play of Mike Bibby. Bibby is still an excellent point guard and still has the ability to run a club, but he isn't getting any younger.

He is also coming off a season where he had a foot injury that sidelined him for 34 games. Backup PG Speedy Claxton has been hurt for a few years and missed all of last season. Acie Law, another second-year player, played a vital role in the Hawks' lineup last season, until injuries forced him to miss time.

The experience of taking the Celtics to the brink of elimination should help the Hawks gain confidence this upcoming season, as they add new pieces to an already formidable puzzle in the East.

Last season, no one gave the Hawks a chance to contend in the Eastern Conference, but after the Hawks won seven of nine games in late March and early April, it seemed that the critics knew that they were going to make the playoffs.

Prediction? The Hawks will make the playoffs this upcoming season and contend—as long as they stay healthy and play as a team.