NBA JAM: ATLANTA HAWKS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neil Acharya takes a look at the Atlanta Hawks.

Last season: 26-56, tied for 13th in Eastern Conference
Coach: Mike Woodson
New faces: Speedy Claxton (out with a broken hand to start the season), Shelden Williams (first-round pick from, grrrr, Duke)
Funny-looking white guy: Zaza Pachulia
Blogs: Hotlanta, Impending Firestorm

Here’s one for you: When was the last time the Hawks won the NBA championship? Well, it certainly didn’t come in Atlanta, although when you ask that you have to be prepared for the resident wiseass to say, "Never!"

Some of you might remark, "That sounds like something Neate would say," except that Neate, a total stats geek, can tell you that the Hawks won the NBA championship in 1958, when the franchise was in St. Louis, and Bob Pettit and the boys outlasted Bill Russell's and Bob Cousy's Celtics in seven games. (Weep not for Boston – beginning in '59, they won eight straight titles.)

What the Hawks share with most of the other teams the franchise has put to the court while in Atlanta is that they are not predicted to win it all. British oddsmaker William Hill has them at 151-1, last of the 30 clubs, although tied with three other teams (two of whom also play in the Eastern Conference – care to guess who they are, Isiah?).

The Hawks are nearly identical to last year’s club who showed energy and raw skill and had some triumphs along the way, toppling NBA giants Detroit and San Antonio during the regular season. Anchored by swingman Joe Johnson, a legit 20-points-per-night player, Atlanta has some weapons in former dunk champion Josh Smith, who came into his own toward the end of last season, the emerging Josh Childress and one the most underrated big men in the league in 22-year-old centre Zaza Pachulia (a Georgian twice over).

Rookie post player Shelden Williams should get plenty of chances to show why he was drafted 5th overall and is having his number retired by Duke this season, although his namesake from the other side of college basketball's greatest rivalry, 20-year-old Marvin Williams, is eager to make the leap after averaging 8.5 points in '05-06 and by most accounts dominating in the Vegas Summer League.

Watch out for Atlanta, two years removed from that 69-loss season in '04-05, to be a year older, wiser and better. The question is, will they be tougher, especially on the road, where they went just 8-33 last season? Long-suffering Hawks fans hope so, and it says here they keep making substantial gains in the win column.

Also in Southeast Division: Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards