Last night’s win over Golden State Warriors showcased the Hawks scoring depth and versatility. Atlanta scored 127 points and Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford only had 24 between them. Thinking back to last season’s playoffs, especially in the East, the elite teams had their supporting cast step up and make big plays in big games. Orlando has “Superman” Dwight Howard, but it was Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Courtney Lee and the rest of their supporting cast that made the biggest difference last year when they upended the Cavs last year in the conference finals.

GROWTH SINCE LAST SEASON
Last year the Cavs swept the Hawks out of the second round. This year A) the Hawks are healthy, and B) the supporting cast has made big improvements.

Josh Smith’s improvement has been well documented all season long (see Lang’s latest feature: A ‘Smoove’ Upgrade), but his recent play has been even better. His scoring and assists have increased substantially since the All-Star break.

Al Horford is an All-Star and has shown the ability to have big offensive outbursts to go along with his dominating play on defense. Mike Bibby continues to spread the defense effectively and recently has caught fire from long range. Finally, someone (maybe Kirk Hinrich in Chicago) lit a fire under Marvin recently, and if he can maintain his aggressiveness he gives the Hawks a dominant rebounding trio and another scoring threat.

This doesn’t even mention the main scoring options. Joe was forced to settle for jump shots last year in the playoffs due to health issues with his ankle. Joe can still be effective shooting jump shots (see Game 7 in 2009 vs. Miami) but he can be dominant when he busts out his full arsenal (see Game 4 in 2008 vs. Boston). Plus, simply put, Jamal Crawford is “The Difference“.

After a tough time in Miami and losing a season high four games in a row, this is the time for the team and fans to be tough.  Mired in the longest losing streak of the year, finger pointing and the blame game could easily begin for players and fans but won’t solve the issues surrounding the team at this juncture.  

While there is a difference between losing games and being beaten, the issue for the Hawks at this point is that they are having both happen to them.  The first three games of the rocky road saw the Hawks get up big, but fail to close the deal in the final period of play.  In Miami it was over after getting down 25 in the first half, which is most atypical of the team this season.

Things are not uncorrectable, but the team needs to avoid bad habits. The ghosts of bad games past have shown up too much and do not need to fester.  Standing around, too much one on one play, missing wide open shots, not running the floor and giving up easy buckets are the symptoms which need to be inoculated to cure this losing cold

The Hawks that got out to a 19-6 start, destroyed teams in the fourth quarter, ran the floor and owned the paint while putting up 100 points seemingly every night.  Now the fast break points have dwindled, the team is not winning the battle in the post, and scoring has come down.

With all that being said it is time to get back to what worked early, not play the blame game and get back to the team mantra this year: “DEFEND, REBOUND AND RUN” which is the solution to ending this streak.

GETTING BACK TO BASICS

The Hawks simply have not been able to score enough to put teams away.  Throwing up 100 point games came effortlessly up until this point and now during the losing streak, scoring has gone down to 92 points per contest. Much of that can be corrected by finishing up strongly in the fourth quarter, making free throws and attacking the basket.

NOT SHOOTING THE LIGHTS OUT

There have been plenty of opportunities for the Hawks to snap their streak but have basically shot themselves out of games.

-Against Cleveland it was going nearly nine minutes without a bucket then blowing a 17 point lead.

-Against the Knicks it was shooting under 40 percent in the fourth quarter(and Nate Robinson going Teen Wolf , my goodness).

-Against the Heat it was shooting into a 25 point deficit in early in the game and not being able to recover.

Go to the basket!

Streak Stats not in favor of the Hawks

Outscored 188-154in second chance points

Outscored 50-24 in fast break points

Outscored 113-71 in the fourth quarter and overtime

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Hawks have been very good care takers of the ball, leading the league with the fewest turnovers per game so they are not giving many possessions away.  Cleary the execution and ball movement have been major factors but there is no need to panic.  This team is still 12-4 at home and is a top ten team in the league (7^th) on the road.  It is not always easy and losing streaks come to all teams.  This is the time to rally around the birds and be tough together.

Many will go on and on about the unimaginable offensive breakdown in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s loss to the Cavs. It was crazy, I will give you that, but trying to draw conclusions about the Hawks (or Cavs) as a whole based on that 8 minutes and 48 seconds would be a mistake.

I will make a bold statement – The Hawks were one basket away from winning the game tonight. One basket in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and 1) the Hawks take the lead, 2) everyone takes a deep breath and refocuses. As it was, that basket never came. It was a cold spell when everyone fell a little out of rhythm. Don’t try to tell me that “the pressure got to them”. The Hawks have won close games in hostile environments and in the Highlight Factory. Sometimes there are cold spells that can’t be explained. The Cavs defense is good, but it did nothing to make two of the Hawks best free throw shooters miss three in a row.

Even with the absurd drought, the Hawks fought back to within five points in the final minute and had the other team’s back-up center shooting a 3-pointer from the corner. Ilgauskas is not your typical back-up center when it comes to long-range shooting, but it was still the shot Atlanta wanted to give up. The shot went down, and that was that.

The beauty of the quirk in this year’s schedule is that there is little time to dwell on this “fluke”. The two teams do it all over again tomorrow night in Cleveland. (7pm, Fox Sports South HD)

Closing out 2009 this week with back to back games against the Cavs, the Hawks need to send a message by beating the Cavs.  While winning early has put the Hawks in a great spot, beating a team like Cleveland now that they have hit their stride, could be huge for confidence and momentum. I have no doubt that beating the Celtics early this year has done wonders for the Hawks’ young season. The Cavs had some things to work out early and but winning nine out of your last ten shows that you have fixed the parts when needed. With back to back games and finishing out 2009 with the Cavs this week, the Hawks will undoubtedly learn about themselves and their opponent.

Both games take place in the toughest buildings in the conference as the Hawks are 12-2 tied for best mark at home in the east tied with King James on his court. Defending home your own court is a must

The last time we saw the Cavaliers they were celebrating here in Atlanta as they were moving on in the playoffs.  The last time we saw the Cavaliers, Joe Johnson and Al Horford were both less than 100 percent healthy.  Al said this week that if he had to do it again, he would sit out longer and may not play with the same injury to reduce the risk of long term injury, which illustrates how hurt he was. 

With Joe Smith being the only injury of note, closing out the calendar year on a good note is within reach and important as a tough road lies in wait in January.

KEYS FOR BEATING THE CAVS

RUN SHAQ- he is still Shaq in the post and still 37 in transition.

SHOOT THE THREE- the Hawks and Cavs both can make the long range shot.  I have no problem going inside and keeping up the good work in the paint but if we can make the money ball shots early it may force the Cavs to do the same and put pressure on them.

FOUL WHEN NECESSARY- Cleveland is 21^st in the league at the foul line.  In a pinch give up no easy buckets and make them shoot free throws.  We have a lot of big bodies…and a lot of fouls to give.

CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON THE ROAD

The Hawks have not lost a road trip (when playing multiple games) this season and have not lost back to back road games in the process either.

WHO AM I?

I’m averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds in the past five games and am shooting 85 percent from the free throw line.  Ladies and gentleman I am Al Horford.

WHEN SMOOVE IS IN FOUL TROUBLE…

He plays hard.  I asked josh Smith if he changes his play when he is in foul trouble and he said he remains aggressive.  He knows his teammates feed off of his energy and he will continue to play hard and defend the paint. Let’s hope he is not sidelined by the whistles this week.