Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sports, Atlanta
Are the Hawks for real?
The Buzz: What's moving and shaking in the world of sports
Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty ImagesSure, they’ve got five players—guards Joe Johnson (pictured), Jamal Crawford and Mike Bibby, forward Josh Smith and center Al Horford—on the 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot, but more importantly, the Atlanta Hawks are playing smart, team-oriented basketball. In winning six of their first eight games, the Hawks were one of just two teams to have four players averaging at least three assists per game. And when they’ve played selfish hoops, i.e. blowout losses to the Lakers and Bobcats, the suddenly vocal Johnson has taken to the microphone to call out his team for immature play. Maybe Atlanta is growing up: Josh Smith hadn’t even attempted a three-point shot in the first eight games. If they can stay healthy, these Hawks could advance to uncharted playoff waters come spring.
College hoops tip-off
College basketball is underway, which might provide Georgia fans a nice diversion from this tumultuous football season. Only it won’t. The Bulldogs, who lost 20 of 32 games last year (13 of 16 in the mediocre SEC), aren’t expected to improve much record-wise under first-year coach Mark Fox. The Georgia State Panthers also dropped 20 of 32 last season, and are expected to finish in the bottom third of the Colonial Athletic Association. And then there’s Georgia Tech, which lost 19 of 31 games (12 of 14 in the ACC) a year ago. But unlike at UGA and GSU, expectations are high on the Flats, as a superb recruiting class, combined with some experienced upperclassmen, has the so-called experts predicting a return to the Big Dance this year. Tech is just 78-77 (29-51 ACC) the past five seasons under coach Paul Hewitt, who could just as easily be named ACC Coach of the Year at season’s end as he could find himself out of a job.