NBA Predictions 2011-12: Bold Predictions for the Atlanta Hawks

As the Atlanta Hawks prepare for a shortened 66-game NBA regular season, their eyes are focused on the postseason, where they have faltered in the second round each of the past three years.

Hawks fans are past settling for a second-round playoff berth and subsequent exit. They are ready for this young team to contend. Atlanta made constructive efforts at doing just that by upgrading their bench as a whole instead of relying on just one player, while also focusing on keeping their core players together.

As Hawks fans prepare for what could be a surprising year, here are six bold predictions for how the season falls into place.

Jeff Teague Will Emerge as the Franchise Point Guard for Atlanta

In just his third year in the NBA, Jeff Teague has taken the Atlanta Hawks fan base by storm.

An untimely injury to point guard Kirk Hinrich throughout the playoffs left the Hawks depth slim with limited experience at the position and unproven time on the floor. Emerged from the shadow of Hinrich was Teague, who put on one of the most unexpected playoff performances in recent years.

The second-year player out of Wake Forest shot 53 percent from the field in the Hawks second-round series with the Chicago Bulls. He played a total of 85 minutes in the two Hawks wins that series, but had trouble defending league-MVP Derrick Rose.

Now Teague has an opportunity to garner the starting position permanently. He will need the trust of second-year head coach Larry Drew and his teammates, but Teague has the skills to become a franchise player for the Atlanta organization.

Tracy McGrady and Vladimir Radmanovic Will Provide Vital Bench Scoring

In 2010-11, the Atlanta Hawks relied on former-Sixth Man of the Year, Jamal Crawford, to bolster their bench scoring.

Throughout the year, the Hawks reliance on one bench player worked to perfection. Even into the first round of the playoffs, Crawford shot a blistering 45 percent from behind the three-point arc as the Hawks sped past the division-rival Orlando Magic. In the second round, the Chicago Bulls made a concerted effort to stop the red-hot Crawford, forcing him to shoot 17 percent for the series from three-point land.

In the offseason, Atlanta allowed Crawford to walk in free agency, but got veterans Tracy McGrady and Vladimir Radmanovic, who are both coming off career-reviving years with the Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors. Both players signed for the veteran minimum in a year where role players were drastically overpaid.

Both players will outplay the contract they signed and will fill the void left in Crawford's absence.

Marvin Williams Will Prove Hawks Fans Wrong

Small forward Marvin Williams won't prove that he deserved to be selected No. 2 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, ahead of Deron Williams and Chris Paul, but he will prove that he deserves a roster spot with the Atlanta Hawks.

Hawks fans have grown tired of the 25-year-old's inconsistent play and lackluster production, but the sixth-year veteran out of the University of North Carolina recently had back surgery, which should allow the forward to return to consistent play that forced Hawks management to draft the big man early in 2005. Fellow columnist Daniel Christian does an excellent job explaining William's steady decline and hopeful return to stardom in 2011-12 here.

Atlanta will stop the collective clamoring to trade Williams, but instead will watch his rapid return to stardom.

Jason Collins Will Dominate Opposing Centers

In just his second year with the Atlanta Hawks, veteran big man Jason Collins played in 49 games, mostly used in a defensive position against some of the league's larger centers.

According to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Collins made a preferable change to his offseason regimen, bulking up in anticipation of defending Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.

With more preparation throughout the offseason, expect the legitimate seven-footer to be a defensive force for the Hawks and fill a void they have struggled to cement since becoming contenders in 2007-08.

Josh Smith Will Earn Hawks Fans' Respect

Josh Smith has had seven tumultuous years with the Atlanta Hawks. A perennial fan-favorite at times, booed out of the building at other times, Smith was rumored to have been done with Atlanta and vice-versa.

According to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal Constitutional, something changed in the offseason. Smith came to training camp prepared to prove himself to his hometown fans. The veteran forward lost 25 pounds, which should allow him to display his immense athletic abilities on a larger stage. He also practiced his mid-range jumper, focusing on hitting from 16 feet instead of from beyond the arc, something he is consistently criticized about.

Critics, including myself, will be proven wrong. The more mature, team-oriented Smith will earn the fans' respect as well as respect from the league after flourishing into one of the more complete players in the NBA.

Atlanta Will Advance to the Eastern Conference Finals

After three consecutive years of Atlanta Hawks fans collective hopes rising and crashing to the floor like a Dwight Howard power-dunk, this up-and-coming team will enter the upper echelon of teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks will have to get past one, if not two, of the big three teams in the East—the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat—but this is the year for them to make the jump.

Behind a focused Josh Smith, a more experienced Jeff Teague, and stronger Jason Collins and an improved bench, the Hawks will be featured in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Whether or not this team plays for an NBA title, something that hasn't happened since moving to Atlanta, remains to be seen.