It would be easy to reject the 2006-2007 Hawks as playoff contenders. It would be even easier to lump them in with the teams of the previous few years when they compiled records of 28-54, 13-69, and 26-56. After all, the Hawks opened the season getting hammered by Philadelphia. The season started on a bad note and continued as the Hawks were on a stretch of losing 6 of 7 games entering last night.

This Hawks has a lot of work to do to start making playoff plans, but this team is far different from the previous versions of the Hawks. Before going on that stretch of losing 6 of 7, they had won 4 straight. So are they streaky? Not likely. They have only been out of two games all year…the opening night loss to Philadelphia and the loss to Orlando. Both were road games. In the Hawks other 5 losses, they have lost by a total of 14 points twice losing in overtime.

Do the math. That is less than 3 points per game. Sometimes numbers don’t really tell the story, but the numbers are dead on here. The Hawks are playing everyone competitively and are in the game until the end.

A few more numbers…How about points being scored by two key players? Joe Johnson is leading the Hawks and 5^th in the NBA with 27.8 points per game. He is everything the Hawks had hoped when signing him to a max deal before last season. While Joe Johnson has been Mr. Everything for Atlanta, Tyronn Lue has been Mr. Clutch.

Not only has Lue stepped in for while Speedy Claxton was injured and averaged nearly 16 points a game, but he has been a catalyst for the Hawks late in games. Lue seems to play better with a 7 footer in his face or the clock running out. Bringing in Claxton seems to have lit a fire under Lue who was already a quality point guard.

A key aspect of this team that will not jump out in the stats is the chemistry. The Hawks of the past few years could brag about young talent, but the parts never seemed to fit just right. A year ago, they featured two leaders with Joe Johnson and Al Harrington. That mix never seemed to get going. The Hawks of the present seem to have finally accepted their roles and are playing extremely well together. There are the occasionally ill-advised shots and passes that scream a young team, but the players seem more aware of what they are trying to accomplish as a team.

Maybe the most obvious aspect of this was with the play of Josh Childress early in the season. Being a high draft pick, many expected him to grow into an everyday starter and potential all-star. Fans hoping for that can let all that go. Josh has and seems very happy. Coming off the bench, he provided a ton of energy, great transition play both offensively and defensively, great half court defense, and a quick offensive punch if needed. Not a bad option to have a 6-8 long armed two guard coming off the bench bouncing from end to end as if just having downed some Red Bull. Childress has been missed in recent weeks with an injury, but his enthusiasm still exudes from the bench.

Feeling ready for a playoff push yet? I did say that there is a lot of work to do before talking playoffs, but the Hawks can definitely start talking improvement. They can definitely start talking Joe Johnson for All-Star (we will save MVP for later in the season). They may even be able to talk Tyronn Lue as the best 6^th man in the NBA. That is if he doesn’t finish the season as the Hawks starting point guard with last year’s 6^th man runner up Speedy Claxton coming off the bench.

Hopefully the fans start taking notice. It is nice to pack out the arena for teams like New York, but the arena was empty as the Hawks beat Charlotte. Maybe the lack of enthusiasm inside the arena deflated the Hawks allowing the Bobcats to make a game of it. The Hawks still managed a convincing win. It is time for this city to get behind the Hawks. It truly is a fun event. It is not like the Falcons are giving you much.