Hot Hawks or Just Cold Turkey?

In the NBA, teams are all about commitment and working together.

Like most people say, there is no "I" in team. Teams have to work as a group in order to win games and be successful. When a group of players have great chemistry, they strive as a team.

The top two teams end up playing each other in the Championship. It then comes down to whoever has the most heart, determination, and confidence to win the trophy.

The Atlanta Hawks have already shown signs of brilliance in only 10 games this season. They have young, talented players, who are filled with confidence and always open to learning something new. They work together as a team to achieve their wins, and have blossomed so far this season.

Not to mention, they almost beat the world champions last season in the first round of the playoffs.

Starting Lineup

PG: Mike Bibby

Bibby is an excellent veteran, who knows how to carry a team on his back. He made many playoff appearances with the Sacramento Kings, and knows what to do in tight situations. Bibby is a huge piece to the Hawks' success.  Ever since Bibby came over from Sacramento, the Hawks have looked better as a team.

SG: Joe Johnson

Johnson has been a shooter ever since he came into the league. He has grown into an All-Star since leaving the Phoenix Suns, and is rated as one of the top ten players in all of fantasy basketball.

Johnson has nerves of steel, and the ability to drain buzzer beaters and take the ball to the basket. His talent exceeds most shooting guards in the NBA today, because of how versatile he is.  Johnson can read the court and other players better than most people in the league. He knows how to pass the ball, steal the ball, grab boards—and, of course, shoot.

As the captain of the team, Johnson is determined to pass the first round of the playoffs this season.

SF: Marvin Williams

The former North Carolina star is an outstanding player with much room for improvement. He has great athleticism, and can take the ball to the basket and finish. His career free-throw percentage is 79.9 percent, and he can also nail down perimeter jumpers from anywhere on the court.

Williams has a lot of upside, especially with the gifted players surrounding him. Expect Williams to step up this season, and put up career numbers in almost every category.

PF: Josh Smith

Josh Smith is definitely one of a kind in the NBA. He can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court—from nailing jumpers and three-pointers to blocking shots and grabbing boards.

Smith’s career averages for his four seasons in the NBA are 13.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg, and 2.5 bpg.  He is a major contributor for the Hawks, both offensively and defensively. His high-flying ability puts him up there with the best in the league, and he is another key piece to their success.

C: Al Horford

It’s pretty crazy to think that Horford was just a rookie last season. He plays like a veteran, and acts like one on and off the court.

Horford is undersized for his position, but makes up for it with his shooting and great fundamentals in boxing out the defender. In his rookie season, he nearly averaged a double-double. 

Horford will look to improve tremendously this season.  He is a huge part of the Hawks' success and has already established himself as a dominant player in the NB.

Bench

SG: Flip Murray

After playing on six different teams in only six years, Murray looks like he has finally found a home in Atlanta. He is currently the sixth man for the Hawks and is playing around 25 minutes per game.

Through 10 games, he is averaging a career high in points (12.6) and rebounds (2.6). Flip is contributing to the Hawks' success, and will continue to do so all season long.

SF/SG-Maurice Evans

Evans is also playing great ball for the Hawks this season averaging close to 25 minutes per game, with nine points and a career-high 3.9 rebounds. He is shooting 45 percent from the three-point line.

Outlook

The Hawks have the talent to make it far this season. Making the playoffs is pretty much locked in for them if they continue this level of play—which is a first in Atlanta!

They surprised fans all around the world last season when they almost beat the Celtics in Round One of the playoffs, pushing the series to a seven games.

If they can keep playing as a team, there will be no problem for the Hawks to make it past the first round this year.

Prediction

Hawks season record: 47-35.

Hawks playoff seed: Sixth.