RealGM

Before the season started (after all the free agents were signed) i said that the Hawks would be a top 3 team and could possibly be #2 or #1 in the east. I was arguing with alot of people, because most non-Hawks fans and some Hawks fans on this board, had them finishing 8th or missing the playoffs. Those people said that Cleveland got better, Wizards, Hornets, and Bulls got better, and the Nets will get Lopez and Deron back. They said that the Hawks will be competing for the 8th spot with the Magic and Nets. Those people said that the Hawks didn't get better and got worst by trading away Louis Williams and not signing Deng or Monroe or even Boozer, etc.

Anyway, those are the same people who said that Cleveland was the clear #1.

Its no surprise to me that the Hawks are an elite team in the east, or even #1, but what is a surprise to me is that they are #1 by 5 or 6 games.

The Hawks had a mission, beat good teams and beat them on the road, and they just did that without even batting an eye. They made it look easy. Not only that but they are winning with a calmness, a confidence, a maturity, and a humbleness that is rarely ever seen in the NBA, only from the Spurs or Jordan Bulls has a team had this much of a mix of winning and professionalism.

The Hawks need to keep winning, they need to protect the home floor and they can't overlook the teams below .500, because so many people are waiting for any excuse to write them off but, after the Chicago and Toronto games, not only people in Atlanta, but also people around the NBA should start putting the Hawks as real contenders for the title, and not just lump them in there with the dozen other so "contenders" but a legitimate top 3 favorite in the NBA to win the Championship.

If the Hawks win the NBA Finals this year I'm buying a round of drinks for every Hawk fan on this board

What would the reaction have been back in October if someone had said: 'The Hawks are so good that by mid-January there will be nothing to talk about until the playoffs.'

As for the defense, Atlanta leads the league in defensive efficiency during its 28-game surge despite the lack of the classic, shot-blocking rim defender everyone seems to think they need.

"It's team defense," Korver said. "We have really mobile bigs. They can really move and are intelligent. We can switch up coverages because we have guys who can do that."

The Hawks join Golden State as the only teams to rank in the top five in efficiency on both ends of the court and yet continue to fly under the radar.

What's mystifying is how much the defense has improved thanks to Bud simply identifying the issues and yelling at the team in a film session. I acknowledge that Horford was still working through mobility issues, but the entire team has stepped up so drastically in just a matter of weeks. Where the h3ll was this defensive intensity all last season? Can it be maintained or even improved by adding Tavares and/or KJ McDaniels next season?

Defense wins championships...and for the first time in years, we have an elite top of the league defense capable of shutting down the opposition and create easy offense for us as well. Amazing.

Play smart. Play hard. Play as a team. We're doing it and it is beautiful to watch...

I hope we win it all guys

Teague has clearly improved defensively. I am guessing he was challenged by this coaching staff. That combo of Schroder with either Bazemore and Thabo with Antic being able to be a bench player is all contributing to this stout defense.

I think the best thing about this team is the offense is no "7 seconds or less" get in the open court run and gun team. We are executing in the half court...THAT is playoff ball. If we were a free wheeling, ISO centric team I would be worried. Right now...i am pretty confident this could be our year.