Hawks Soar Past Raptors

Hawks 110 Raptors 92

As the old adage goes, “there are no shortcuts to the top.” Anyone who has watched the Hawks over the past nine years knows that this statement is painfully true.

Personally, I have had enough with references to the past. In fact, this is the last time I will ever refer to the hardships of the Hawks leading up to this season. The team is undefeated and has the best record in the Eastern Conference. It is time to turn the page and give the team the respect they deserve.

I could write a story about outstanding individual stats or how the team shot 54.3 % from the floor and 60% from the three point line. However, watching the game in person at Phillips Arena, it was apparent that there was a much more “big picture” accomplishment achieved by the Hawks. They believe in themselves and they believe they can beat any team in the NBA.

The Hawks did what good teams do to beat other good teams. They played outstanding defense, crashed the boards, and got outstanding support from the bench. Flip Murray is slowly becoming an X-factor with his energetic and effective play as a reserve.

Mike Woodson and the rest of the coaching staff deserve lots of credit for making a game plan that limited the production by Toronto’s big men, Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal. Extended minutes for Solomon Jones and Randolph Morris created a better matchup on the defensive side of the ball for the Hawks.

In the end, the Hawks out-executed the Raptors and continued to show signs that they have turned a corner toward becoming a team to reckon with in the Eastern Conference.