
@
Atlanta Hawks (11-6)
Philips Arena
7:30 p.m.
The Knicks are heading down to Atlanta tonight for a matchup with the Hawks. Both teams were 6-3 on Nov. 15 but their fortunes have differed since. The Knicks traded away their top two scorers while the Hawks (who cooled a bit following a 6-0 start) have proven themselves to have more in common with the team that earned the Association's respect by taking the Celtics to seven games in the opening round of last year's playoffs than with the team that finished the 2007-2008 regular season with a 37-45 record. With Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford the Hawks have a solid nucleus of young talent and have emerged a butterfly from the REBUILDING cocoon. The Knicks, however, are just entering the chrysalis stage. This life cycle mismatch is one of the many reasons that Atlanta is favored by 10.5 points tonight.
As (is now) per usual, I've been trading emails today with a blogger who covers the Knicks' opponent. Below you'll find a back-and-forth with noted Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops. And if you head over to their shop, you'll find my answer to one of their Knicks-related questions.

Peachtree Hoops: If they can remain healthy from here on out, I think the Hawks can contend for the fourth seed. As long as the avoid a first-round matchup with either Boston or Cleveland, they should have a reasonable hope of winning their first-round series.
WWOD?: As a Knicks fan who came of age as hoops watcher during the late 1980s and early 1990s, I'm accustomed to hanging my hat on some dramatic postseason series which ended in defeat. With that in mind, how much did that seven-game loss to the Celtics mean to this team and to Hawks fans?
PTH: Reclaiming the long-lost home court advantage for those three games against the Celtics which were played in Atlanta was an eye-opener. Unfortunately that hasn't carried over to this regular season in terms of attendance or noise but I think that will change for the better if the team continues to play well.
WWOD?: Speaking of Hawks fans, is the city behind this team yet? Do they believe? Is everyone too distracted by Matt Ryan? Did the team's sudden relevance in the playoffs almost happen too quickly, considering the team was 3-5 in April before the playoffs began, for enthusiasm to build organically?
PTH: There's definitely more interest and enthusiasm about the Hawks. I think there's some residual distrust from the rebuilding process taking so long but I believe people want the Hawks to be successful and will warm to them as the proof that this is a good basketball team accumulates.
It's interesting that last season, the more serious, long-suffering Hawks fans were relatively non-plussed with what was perceived as a poorly coached, underachieving team making the playoffs while the more casual fans were pleasantly surprised. This season, I think the casual fans haven't yet recognized (and this may be where Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Mike Smith come in) how improved this year's team is compared to last year's but the hard-core fans are enjoying the consistent competence to a significant degree.
WWOD?: Between Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith is this as good a nucleus as you've seen since Steve Smith, Mt. Mutumbo and Mookie? Or, could it be better?
PTH: I think they're similar. Johnson/Horford/Smith is a good enough nucleus around which to build a consistent playoff team, but unless they seriously upgrade the bench or acquire a true superstar the Hawks are unlikely to contend for an NBA championship.
WWOD?: And, speaking of that Smith/Mutumbo team, from afar it never felt like Atlanta took to them the way they embraced the Dominique-era clubs. I have memories of a lot of empty seats showing up on television when the Knicks and Hawks met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1999. Is that true?
PTH: I think it's fair to say that a generation of Hawks fans will never take to any player as they took to Dominique. That being said, there were no empty seats for the playoff games last season and very few of those seats were filled by Boston fans.
WWOD?: Mike Woodson's job was saved (right?) by the team's brief playoff run last year. Good or bad thing for the long haul?
PTH: I thought it was a disastrous decision at the time. I'm still not very impressed with him but I credit him for doing a fine job so far this season.
WWOD?: The Hawks have played 6 games where neither team broke 100 points whereas the Knicks have played just 2. What is the ideal pace for the Hawks club? Is this team better playing up-tempo or letting Bibby run the half-court?
PTH: I'm not sure there's an ideal pace for this club. It'd be wonderful to watch Smith and Horford (and to a lesser extent Marvin Williams) in an up-tempo attack but that would not be the best context for Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Zaza Pachulia, or Acie Law. Plus Flip Murray would really miss being able to dribble out most of the shot clock before missing a shot. Overall, a below-average pace that allows them to focus on defense, three-point shooting, and offensive rebounding is the best way for this team to play, and, for the most part, that's what they've done.
WWOD?: As someone who doesn't get to see the Hawks play too often, which player(s) should I keep my eye on? Who is under-the-radar guy on this club?
PTH: Maurice Evans has had an excellent year as a role player off the bench. There isn't really an under-the-radar guy to watch. You know the good players and it's a fair question whether the guy's at the back end of the rotation/end of the bench should even be in the league. The Hawks are better but they're still not deep at all.
WWOD?: What's happening with Acie Law? He was lights out at Texas A&M and one of the more fun guys to watch his senior year. Has he just not been needed or has he not progressed as much as you would have hoped?
PTH: Mike Woodson doesn't let him play point guard much and Law has no off-the-ball skills. Now, Law hasn't been especially effective in the brief stretches he's played at the point, but those opportunities have been so irregular that it's difficult to write him off. I think he'd be an effective offensive player running the pick-and-roll but I've been wrong about players before. I'd much rather figure out if Acie Law can be at least a backup point guard in the NBA than watch Flip Murray further prove that he can not.
WWOD?: In the national media there is incessant chatter about the Knicks options in 2010 but I see that the Hawks have just four players (Horford, Law, Smith and Maurice Evans) under contract past that point? Will Lebron end up in Atlanta? Or will the Hawks try to keep this current group together?
PTH: The summer of 2009 will be interesting for the Hawks. They've got a decision to make on Marvin Williams and how to spend the $15 million that will come off the books when Bibby's contract expires. I'd like to see them try and get a young point guard that isn't succeeding in his current environment (say Raymond Felton or Mike Conley). I expect the Hawks will sign Joe Johnson to an extension before 2010 which will likely eliminate them from adding a significant piece that summer.