Randolph Morris News

The little ones stood on chairs to get a good look at the main attraction as he made his way from the back of the room to the front.

With a little less thanA one-fifthA of the 2009-2010 NBA season in the books, it may be a bit soon to anoint a conference champion.

Win, win, win: It's getting to be a habit for these Hawks. Before Monday's game, someone mentioned to Mike Woodson that his team, wonder of wonders, had just ascended to the top of Marc Stein's NBA power ratings on ESPN.com . In case you missed that, let me repeat it: The Atlanta Hawks are, at least for this week, regarded as the finest basketball ...

As such, it took a significant ding to send the captain to the locker room last night with 3:15 left in the third quarter of the Celtics [ team stats ] ' 97-86 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford had 26 points each to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Sacramento Kings 113-105 on Wednesday night.

Dwight Howard poured in 25 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots, as the Orlando Magic finished a perfect preseason with an easy 123-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks are days away from Wednesday's start of the regular season, and the roster is set.

As in, he's shooting like the lights are out, and it's dark as David Stern's gaze whenA somebody mentions NBA officials.

It's an apt analogy. These games largely provide Hawks fans the opportunity they missed earlier in the year to overreact to Jeff Teague's performance in games that don't count.

There's no narrative to a game that doesn't counts. Hence, bullets... Joe Johnson looked sharp.

Hawks coach Mike Woodson issued the challenge after Saturday's first training camp scrimmage.

The line used to be short enough that Hawks center Zaza Pachulia could get as many reps as he'd like in practice.

Here's the depth chart on the morning of September 28th... Backcourt The Wing : Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans Frontcourt That's eleven guys.

I would look at these, as the title indicates, as standings predictions rather than win predictions.

From the minute Jamal Crawford hit the door Monday all eyes were on the Hawks' newest addition .

In the pantheon of awards Al Horford has won during his basketball career, being named Monday's MVP of the John "Beans" Beckett Invitational probably doesn't rank anywhere near the top .

First impressions amongst your peers in the NBA can go a long way. For Hawks rookie point guard Jeff Teague , the buzz traveled from an impressive mini-camp in late July all the way through Labor Day and until now.

First impressions amongst your peers in the NBA can go a long way. For Hawks rookie point guard Jeff Teague , the buzz traveled from an impressive mini-camp in late July all the way through Labor Day and until now.

Jason Collins can't score*, never could. He never rebounded well for a center. For all intents and purposes, he doesn't rebound** at all anymore.

Can Hawks evolve into contender? Story Highlights The Hawks are hoping internal improvement can move them into the elite Atlanta re-signed Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia this summer The Hawks lack a big-time star and a veteran with playoff know-how The problem with evolution as a way to build something is that it takes so darn much ...