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"FacebookPinterest\n\nATLANTA HAWKS\n\n STRENGTHS: These are not your older brother's Atlanta Hawks. Their record has improved every season under Mike Woodson. They pushed the eventual NBA Champion Celtics to seven games two seasons ago, and have since matured into one of the best the Eastern Conference has to offer. Joe Johnson is the team's quiet leader; he can score from anywhere on the court and serves as the primary ball-handler and go-to guy in late game situations. Hawks fans worldwide have rejoiced this season at Josh Smith's commitment to removing the three pointer from his arsenal. He's always been a world-class athlete, and his basketball IQ is finally catching up. He and Al Horford are eager shot-blockers and rebounders, and are constantly active in the paint. Mike Bibby is a steady veteran influence with some serious playoff experience from his days with Sacramento. And while Smith may not be a perimeter threat, Bibby, Johnson and Jamal Crawford ensure that any slow-rotating defense will get burned.\n\nWEAKNESSES: None of the team's primary ball-handlers are elite passers (though the Hawks do average the fewest turnovers per game in the league). Marvin Williams is still more potential than production, and can disappear for quarters, halves, and even entire games at a time. Horford and Smith are a smallish frontcourt and need every bit of their toughness and athleticism to make up for it. And at times the Hawks settle for too many jumpers with better options available. Josh Smith's free-throw shooting is poor enough to warrant a mention here; don't be surprised to see hack-a-Josh employed if an opponent needs his 62% from the line to get back into a game. Finally, the Hawks tend to play down to the level of their opponents, something that could be a problem in the first round.\n\nX-FACTOR: One of the best bench scorers in the league has to keep it up come playoff time. Last season, Jamal Crawford was traded by two of the worst teams in the NBA, sticking in Atlanta after Golden State dealt him for expiring contracts. Nobody questioned his ability, though nobody was eager to keep him around. This season he's found his niche, shooting at percentages well over his career averages. He hasn't changed a thing about his game, but a gunner with no conscience looks a lot better if he's coming off the bench for a winning team. Crawford will be a 6th man unlike any other in the Eastern Conference playoffs.\n\nFEARLESS PREDICTION: The Hawks aren't the adorable young upstarts anymore. Look for them to pull together for a convincing first round win. Unfortunately, they will not get to play against their punching bags in Boston in the second round. They have to hope for an upset elsewhere, as they will not be consistent enough to take down Orlando or Cleveland in the second round.\u2014Nick Ingalls\n\nOther previews:\n\n Oklahoma City Thunder\n\n Milwaukee Bucks\n\n Boston Celtics\n\n Utah Jazz"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.gq.com/story/the-nba-playoffs-another-contender-in-the-east>