SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 24. Atlanta Hawks

+Atlanta Hawks  Overall Win/Loss Record : 44-38,  second place Southeast Division	Last Season’s Rank 9	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 24
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 98.0 (14th) Points Allowed: 97.5 (13th) Team FG%: .464 (7th) Opponent’s FG%: .450 (13th) Team FT%: .715(26th) Team Three Point FG%: .371 (7th) Rebounds per game: 40.9 (23rd) Opponents rebounds per game: 43.7 (25th) Turnovers per game: 14.3 (21st) Opponents turnovers per game: 14.7 (9th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): +Al Horford  (17.4)   Rebounds per game: Al Horford (10.2)   Minutes per game:  Al Horford (37.2)   Assists per game: Jeff Teague (7.2) Field Goal Percentage:  Al Horford (.543)   Free Throw Percentage:  Jeff Teague (.880)   Three Point FG Percentage: +Kyle Korver  (.457) Steals per game:  Jeff Teague (1.5) Blocked Shots per game: Al Horford (1.1)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: C. Al Horford PF Paul Milsap SF. Kyle Korver SG. John Jenkins PG. Jeff Teague	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: G. Lou Williams F/C. Elton Brand F. DeMarre Carroll G/F. Dahntay Jones G. Dennis Schroeder
Analysis: After a run of six years of heading into the playoff, it seems as if the Atlanta Hawks have finally stopped flying high as one of the teams to best in the East and has started on its slow descent to a crash landing.  The team had been heading into free fall since it reached its peak in 2010 having won 53 games that year--their first 50 plus win season since 1998--and were essentially trying to keep itself up in the air; however as the years passed, it seemed that this team had run its course and it was time for a change.  It started in the off season last year when they traded their star player of the past seven years, Joe Johnson, to the +Brooklyn Nets  in return for what can be essentially considered as spare parts and expiring contract.  Then came the news after this past season that the Hawks would no longer continue with head coach Larry Drew and would part ways with one of the key members of its playoff roster, Josh Smith allowing him to leave in free agency and to sign with the +Detroit Pistons.  Now all that is left of that once young and exciting playoff team +Al Horford, the team's starting big man and returning leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, and he may not stay there for long as it has become creepily obvious that Atlanta looks to start from scratch once again which is pretty sad considering the team's history. Here is a team that in its entire history, has not gotten any farther than the second round in the playoffs and has peaked at best as an average, if not marginal or mediocre team.  In fact there is so much apathy in the concerning the Hawks in city of Atlanta that it seems as the denizens have all but given up on their team resulting in Atlanta having one of the worst arena attendances in the league and who can blame them?  Throughout its entire history of more than 60 years in the NBA, the Hawks have had just eight season where the team has won 50 or more games with their best being in 1987 where they won a franchise record 57 games.  Before their successful six year playoff run that may have already ended, Atlanta had spent eight years prior out of playoff contention and now the city has to look forward to potentially another five to ten year long playoff drought.  And its so sad to watch once again this team only reach so far to have everything taken away from it forcing it to start over, take years to rebuild, reach a certain point and have it end with little or nothing to show for it. Although it seems as if Atlanta will be coming into opening day with a roster capable of making the playoffs once again, it has come blatantly apparent that the Hawks time has simply passed. They had the good fortune of being in a rather weak Eastern Conference where a mediocre 44-38 season can earn the fifth or sixth spot in the playoffs, but is no longer the case.  This time they were be entering the season with far improved Eastern Conference where there are five teams looking to surpass them and make a run for the playoffs themselves.  Two of those teams actually happen to be in the same division as the Hawks and had been at one time been pushovers, but now look to give Atlanta a run for its money--namely the +Washington Wizards and +Charlotte Bobcats. Although Washington just won 29 games last season, it was arguably one of the best defensive teams in the league finishing in the top five in points and field goal percentage allowed.  With their star point guard John Wall coming into opening day healthy and in shape, the lowly Wizards who Atlanta had paid little or no attention to over years may finally surpass them leaving the Hawks coughing in their dust. Once all the dust clears, the Hawks will suddenly get mauled and torn apart by another team climbing out of the league's cellar in the Charlotte Bobcats.  Last season, despite a sheer lack of talent, the Bobcats still managed to triple their win output from a league worst seven games the previous year to twenty one this past season and they have gotten even better in the off season.  They signed one of the league's best scoring and probably most underrated big men in Al Jefferson giving the team a 20 point and 10 rebound per game player to go along with their growing young core of players in +Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, +Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and +Bismack Biyombo.  Add a second unit that includes last year's Sixth Man of the Year candidate +Ramon Sessions , sharp shooting veteran Ben Gordon, defensive specialist Jeffery Taylor, and the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft +Cody Zeller, the Bobcats look to be quite the formidable team coming into the 2014 season.  With such stiff competition coming up from behind, it has become blatantly aware that these two team will not only surpass the Hawks, but tear the feathers of them in the process. In stark contrast, all Atlanta can boast for this off season is resigning their starting point guard from last season Jeff Teague who they could have lost had they not matched the offer sheet given to him by the +Milwaukee Bucks.  Teague had the best season in his career positing career highs in scoring while leading the Hawks in assists and looks to be a major piece in Atlanta's future plans; however as the losses start to mount, it is doubtful that the Hawks will be able to keep Teague as he'll probably look for greener pastures once his four year contract expires.  Atlanta also made an attempt to fill in the massive void Josh Smith keft behind by signing former +Utah Jazz player Paul Milsap, who is an adequate option at the power forward spot; however, don't expect Milsap to come even near the impact that Smith gave as he is not nearly as athletic or capable to be the presence on the defensive end that Smith once was.  As for the rest of the team, save for Al Horford, the cupboard is virtually bare as it consists of used up has beens such as Elton Brand and Dahntay Jones, an undersized and overrated chucker coming off the bench in Lou Williams, and a one trick poney in Kyle Korver.  With such a team coming into opening tip off, it is not only going to be a really ugly season for the Hawk, but potentially the start of a long hard road back to respectability.