The 2011-12 Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the improving teams over the past few seasons. They got past the first round of the playoffs, dismantling Dwight Howard and their more fancied opponents, the Orlando Magic convincingly. They provided resistance against the number one seeded Chicago Bulls but eventually went down in six games.

Second year guard Jeff Teague was a revelation in the playoffs, especially against the Bulls where he put up 15.8 ppg on 55% shooting and four assist per contest against the highly fancied Bulls. He will be their wild card this season and will look to provide that sort of contribution consistently. His defense is questionable. He struggled with League MVP Derrick Rose who put up MJ averages against the Hawks getting a tad under 30 points a game.

Their lack of depth at the five could be crucial in getting back to the playoffs in a shortened season. However, I think their starting centre Al Horford will have a career year. The Dominican centre has great hands and is arguably the best passing center in the game today. The Hawks’ success will revolve around how well Horford plays and if he can take the next step offensively. If he can become a bigger presence down low, then the Hawks jump shooters, namely Johnson, Kirk Hinrich (the guy with the Lloyd Christmas haircut and the out of fashion Oakley's) and Marvin Williams will reap the benefits and make the squad more balanced that it was in previous seasons.

It's safe to say that Marvin Williams, to date, has been a major bust. The North Carolina star has not turned out to be the player the Hawks envisioned when taking him second overall in the 2005 draft. Hopefully his woeful playoff performance (4.5 ppg in 18 mpg) should trigger a revival of some sorts and provide some decent a presence at the small forward position. If not, then the old 'Amnesty' chestnut could be just around the corner.

With that in mind and the debilitating Joe Johnson contact (six-year, $119 million - yuck!), the Hawks have gone out and brought in some veterans, more importantly, cheap veterans for the upcoming season. Jerry Stackhouse, Tracy McGrady and Vladimir Radmanovic provide the squad with years of experience and with Kirk Hinrich will provide some decent depth, which could be a winner in a shortened season.

The acquision of Radmanovic, the Hawks could push Smith back to the three and have ‘Vlad Rad’ out on the wings. His high-arching jumper is nearly unblockable and that extra three-point shooting from a big man is something the Hawks could really use, especially with the loss of their sixth man, Jamal Crawford to Portland. He could provide an ‘x-factor’ to which Ryan Anderson does so well for the Orlando Magic.

The Hawks will definitely press for the playoffs, but it will be tough for them to get past the first round, if they make it at all. I can see the East coming down to a handful of teams jockeying for the last couple of playoff spots. They are probably a two-way small forward a la Gerald Wallace or a Wilson Chandler away from being a serious contending team. They will have trouble against the top teams of the Eastern Conference and I predict a first round exit, but not without a decent fight.