Underestimated..

[Hawkeyes]

Anytime someone talks about the Hawks being a contender, we have to hear about how Cleveland swept us last year. How we don't have a star, or how we always start hot, then come back to earth. It's quite annoying how people continue to point to the past to judge this team, but we'll just have to prove we belong on the court. What people forget about last year: A. Joe Johnson was hurt. B. Marvin Williams was hurt. C. Our only consistent option off the bench was Flip Murray, and he was a ballhog. D. The improvement of Josh Smith and Al Horford. These two are still young, and have improved their games big time, and have shown how much more mature they are this season. E. The addition of Jamal Crawford has sparked the bench, and our bench is much more deeper than usual with Crawford, Joe Smith, Mo Evans, Jeff Teague, and Zaza.

This team is mentally tougher than last year's team, and better skill wise. It's obvious people do not watch our team play, because all they do is point back to last season to judge us. I believe we can easily hang with Cleveland, Orlando, or Boston if we make the 2nd round of the playoffs because of our improvement inside. After all, did we not show that improvement on national TV vs Boston when we manhandled them on the boards? I can't wait for our future matchups vs the "top 3". I was at our game vs Utah, and was talking to people around me, and they said they haven't been this excited about an Atlanta sports team in a long time. They even told me they planned on buying several more tickets, and attending as many games as possible. Slowly, but surely, attendence will increase, and our national exposure will increase.

[HoopsGuru25]

IDK about other people....but I enjoy being under the radar.

[dpaulh]

I love being under the radar as well. When the media starts writing stories about you, you tend to lose a little focus. We come out every night looking like we have a chip on our shoulder and it shows in the way we play. Our guys are hungry, and I would like for them to remain hungry.

I was at the game last night as well and you could see it in their eyes coming out of halftime. Did you notice the way they all seemed to have that same focus at the start of the third quarter. Man, I knew something big was going to happen and it did.

Trust me though, the only place we are getting underestimated is in the media. The other teams in the league all know who we are and I will bet that 99% of the players and the coaches in the league would tell you that we are for real.

[ATL DirtyBird]

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We have played great, but still have a lot to prove. We are for real but can really solidify ourselves as contenders with more wins on the road against crappy teams.

[JoshB914]

To be fair, this is a COMPLETELY different team than last year. I think we get swept by Cleveland last year whether we're healthy or not. This team has a different mindset this year. We go out every game looking to crush people. The focus level and maturity is in another stratosphere.

How awesome is it to sit back and relax in the 4th quarter while we have a 20+ point lead and make fun of how fat Jason Collins is and Josh Smith for doing that stupid celebration with the towel every time a scrub makes a play? I'm loving it.

[ATL DirtyBird]

To be fair, this is a COMPLETELY different team than last year. I think we get swept by Cleveland last year whether we're healthy or not. This team has a different mindset this year. We go out every game looking to crush people. The focus level and maturity is in another stratosphere.

How awesome is it to sit back and relax in the 4th quarter while we have a 20+ point lead and make fun of how fat Jason Collins is and Josh Smith for doing that stupid celebration with the towel every time a scrub makes a play? I'm loving it.

Im reluctant to say this is a new team and until they play liek this every game. Sure theyve played great teh first 25 games but if they can continue this up to the all star break ill be all for it. I still wanna see how they play in tough road games.

They Also need to improve in close games that are decided by one possession. We give it to Joe and let him go one on five.

Beating the Thuggets after a game in Minny would be a huge confidence builder in my book and would really show how far weve come

[JoshB914]

^^^ Totally agree. Everything has been gravy so far but it is a long season. There is a thread about this on the general board right not regarding whether we're in the discussion in the EC. I think we are indeed in that discussion right now which is great, but whether we will still be right there in May is another issue altogether.

[MaceCase]

It only bothers me because people mention the teams ahead of us as if they are and have always been invincible.

3 years ago the Cavs weren't considered contenders because the east was dominated by Detroit and Miami.

2 years ago the Celtics weren't considered contenders or even playoff worthy until they traded away most of their roster for two hall of famers.

1 year ago the Magic weren't considered contenders all the way up to their finals appearance.

Why is it absolutely impossible now to think that the east has improved to 4 elite teams?

[ATL DirtyBird]

^^ Bc this is the Hawks. Any explanation needed?

[LL Cool Scott]

You we're underestimated like it's a bad thing...

It's a good thing for gambling purposes. Our lines are way lower than they should be.

It's a good thing for motivation purposes. There's no way other teams get as pumped up to play the Hawks as they do the C's, Lakers, Magic, and Cavs. And that gives us a better chance to win.

[Hawkeyes]

Maybe this thread needs to be taken down since we are 0-1 since I've made it, haha. Either way, I think this year's team is getting underestimated. Why? Everyone looks to last season, or the year before to judge people. The thing that everyone overlooks is not the added bench help with Crawford, or the depth of our bench now. It's the fact that Al Horford and Josh Smith are much better, which is why we're 2nd in the NBA in points in the paint. Our biggest issue has always been inside play, and now we are starting to get consistent play inside. It'll be interesting to see what happens with 56 games left, but if we stay healthy it should be a great season.