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The 2010/11 Atlanta Hawks will be led by new head coach and long time Hawks assistant Larry Drew. Drew inherits pretty much the same team his former boss took into the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic.
With the strong starting five of Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford, not to mention a bench with three returners, team owners are confident that with another year together will help immensely. The team added 2nd round draft selection, French SF Pape Sy and resigned Joe Johnson to a 6-year deal worth $119 million..
In this the 60th NBA season for the Atlanta Hawks, head coach Mike Woodson, who is now in his 4th full year in that position, has steadily improved his team since his arrival. In 2005/06 his win/loss % was .317, in 06/07 it was .366 in 07/08 it was .451 in 08/09 it jumped to .580 and this year his team is poised to have its best season ever. Currently, the Hawks are at 17-6 (.739) and in 2nd place in the tough Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. This year’s team is led by Joe Johnson who is averaging 21.0 ppg, 5.1 apg, and Al Horford who is averaging 13.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg. With the addition of Jamal Crawford the Hawks are averaging 103.7 ppg compared to 98.1 ppg last season.
The Atlanta Hawks began play as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 and quickly changed their name to the Tri-City Blackhawks (after the Black Hawk War fought mostly in Illinois). They would keep the name through the 1951 season. In 1951, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and changed their name to the Milwaukee Hawks and they again moved in 1955 to St. Louis, Missouri but retained the “Hawks” moniker. Two seasons later, the Hawks would get to their first NBA Title series losing to the Boston Celtics in a thrilling double-overtime game seven. The next season, the Hawks returned to the championship as did the Celtics but it was the Hawks who won, capturing their first NBA Title in six games.
In 1968, after many Division Championships and their NBA Title, the team relocated one last time to Atlanta, Georgia as the team was sold the then Georgia Governor Carl Sanders and his partner Tom Cousins. In 1976, the team was sold to television mogul Ted Turner who kept the team successful and relevant in the league. The team was again sold in 2004 to Atlanta Spirit LLC and it was in 2007 that real hope for the team arrived in the form of the draft and # 3 overall pick Al Horford and # 11 overall pick Acie Hall IV.
In February 2008, the Hawks strengthened their team with the acquisition of Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings and in the 2008/09 season, took the team into the Eastern Conference Semi Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers where they were swept by LeBron and company. Be sure to catch your Atlanta Hawks this season. Get your tickets to see Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, Al Horford and the rest of the Atlanta Hawks as they take on the rest of the Eastern Conference to get a shot at the NBA Championship.
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