2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Atlanta Hawks

In Atlanta, the Hawks of the NBA have many times been the butt of jokes, especially throughout the late 1990s, with their string of eight straight seasons having missed the post season. In that time since 1999, Atlanta has selected a number of prospects that have ranged from bad to decent to legitimate studs, going from Cal Bowdler and Dion Glover to Jason Terry (now with the Dallas Mavericks) and Boris Diaw (also departed and with the Phoenix Suns) to current swingmen Josh Smith and Josh Childress.

Despite an overall success in selecting first-round prospects in the NBA Draft of past years, most recently heading into the 2007-08 season is the overabundance of forwards that the Hawks have. Along with recent No. 3 pick Al Horford from the two-time NCAA champion Florida Gators, add to the list Smith, Childress, Joe Johnson (who also starts at shooting guard), Marvin Williams and Shelden Williams (who himself slides over to play center)-with that many talented forwards, all first-round selections, with only three starting positions in the frontcourt with no true center in the pivot, there can only be strive in deciding how to divide minutes among all the players who can contribute.

The lining in the cloud can be the forwards all being versatile players and being no shorter than 6'8" in height. With Childress and Johnson able to play both guard spots on the floor, Shelden Williams and Horford possessing ability to play center, and with Smith and Marvin Williams also able to play the "2" through "4" spots on the floor, the lethal combination of length, skill, and athleticism could potentially exploit many matchups with other teams in the league, especially in the weak Eastern Conference.

A starting lineup of those players could project as this (including each player's height):

Power forward: Al Horford, 6'10"

Small forward: Josh Smith, 6'10"

Center: Shelden Williams, 6'9"

Shooting guard: Josh Childress, 6'8"

Point guard: Joe Johnson, 6'8"

* (Followed with Marvin Williams as a substitute shooting guard, small forward or power forward)

Though this is highly unlikely because of the forward unit's youth and relative inexperience (with Johnson being the most tenured player with 6 seasons played, with the second-most tenured forwards being both Josh Smith and Josh Childress with only 3 NBA seasons played), the team took the liberty of assuring itself with leadership at the starting point guard position.

Acie Law IV, from Texas A&M University, was taken with the Hawks' second first-round selection in the 2007 Draft and is expected to play significant minutes and challenge point guards Tyronn Lue and Craig Claxton. (Clayton signed in 2006 but was ineffective due to injury.) Along with veteran guard Salim Stoudamire, centers Zaur Pachulia and Solomon Jones, Atlanta is aiming to flap its wings to the tune of the 2008 NBA Playoffs for what will be the first appearance in nine years.