The Atlanta Hawks ended their season on a downer losing 93-73 to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls defeated the Hawks in 6 games in the NBA playoffs, equally leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the Atlanta Hawks & their fans. Overall however you have to classify this postseason as a success for the Atlanta Hawks. They proved everyone wrong & defeated the Orlando Magic in 6 games in the 1st round. In doing so leaving questions about the Orlando Magic & their future when it comes to keeping Dwight Howard. In the next round, they put up a respectable showing against the number one seeded Chicago Bulls. They gave them a scare & Hawks coach Larry Drew did a nice job of adjusting linup & his gameplan. These Atlanta Hawks hiwever, still have a ways to go if they are ever going to be the championship contender, they we all hope they can eventually be. Here is what the Hawks need to do going forward:
1. Extend Hawks Coach Larry Drew: During the season, I was somewhat critical with what Larry Drew was doing. From night to night, the Hawks weren't playing consistent. The Offense at times struggled, The Hawks didn't play with effort everynight, Josh Smith was back to shooting jumpers, the playing of Jeff Teague & Zaza was up & down. The players wern't responding, however when the Playoffs came. The Hawks flipped the switch & their level of play picked up. The Hawks played with a sense of urgency. Against the Magic they played like a team that wanted payback for what the Magic did to them last year. Larry Drew made an adjustment, by playing Jason Collins against Dwight Howard & just getting the Hawks to buy in what he was doing. In the Bulls series, the Hawks shocked the world & won game one when most people thought the Hawks would lose to the Bulls in 4 or 5 games. He made adjustements in the Bulls series & helped the Hawks put together a respectable showing against the top seeded Bulls. Larry Drew did a great job in maximizing this Hawks team in the playoffs & he deserves to get his contract extended. PAY THE MAN!!!!
2. Let Jamal Crawford go & use the money to upgrade the bench: I know some Hawk fans don't want Jamal to leave, but I think its in the Hawks best interest to let Jamal go. Look Jamal Crawford has done some very good things with the Hawks, but lets face it. He going to get old in a couple of years & Jamal is a streaky player. One night he could score 28 points and make 5 threes & the next night he could score 7 points & go 2/10 from the field. Not to mention his horrible defense. I think its time to let Jamal Crawford go. Kirk Hinrich in my mind is a sutible enough replacement for Jamal, he's not the scorer that Jamal is, but he's a much better defender, he's tough, he can score enough, & he can do the little things that every championship team needs. The Hawks should use the money they could give Jamal & add some depth to the frontline. Josh Powell, Etan Thomas & Hilton Armstrong will not get it done if you're trying to get to the next level. The lack of depth is one of the main reasons why the Hawks lost to the Bulls. If you sign Jamal back then you won't have any money to address that weakness. One of either Jamal Crawford or Kirk Hinrich has to go. I don't see the Hawks parting with kirk Hinrich after the Hawks just traded for him three months ago & hasn't had a traning camp, so Jamal Crawford will likely be the main one out.
