Hooped Up

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Atlanta Hawks
Josh Childress is chiilin’ in Greece with a large contract, Marvin Williams is going to get a chance to prove he wasn’t a bust, Josh Smith got the contract he should of had from the beginning of the summer , Mike Bibby gives them the point guard upgrade they have always needed and Joe Johnson still has one of the smoothest games in the league.  After taking the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to seven games in the playoffs, the entire ATL is excited to get this season started.

But was last year a fluke?

Projected Starters: PG - Mike Bibby / SG - Joe Johnson / SF - Marvin Williams / PF - Josh Smith / C -  Al Horford

Additions:  Randolph Morris, Maurice Evans, Flip Murray, Thomas Gardner, Othello Hunter

Losses: Josh Childress, Salim Stoudamire, Jeremy Richardson

Projected Wins: 40+

Team Theme Song:  Kid ‘N’ Play – Energy
This is a very energetic squad and other clubs will have difficulties keeping up with the staring fives active legs. Ask the Celtics.

Overall
Losing Josh Childress was big but since they drafted Marvin Williams so high a few years back they might as well see if he’s got the mustard. The bench isn’t that deep but Zaza Pachulia and Ronald Murray should provide decent minutes for coach Mike Woodson when inserted into the line up.  Al Horford will build on he previous NBA campaign and be important to the line up and Joe Johnson will do all the things he does that makes him a special player in the league. 

This team is playoff bound but it will come down to the wire in an improving east.