Home court advantage

I haven't written about the Hawks since the draft last year, when we were hoping that the Hawks would get both Al Horford and Acie Law.

I didn't write anything before the season, though there was some hope that the Hawks could threaten to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

I didn't write much during the season, including the one game I went to during the year - a game against Utah where the kids imploded in the third quarter and we missed the Hawks coming from behind to win.

I didn't write anything after they clinched a playoff berth with a "red-hot" 5-5 stretch run.

Did we think the Hawks had a good nucleus after the draft ended last year? Yes.
Did we think they could make the playoffs? Yes

Did we think they stood a chance upon making the playoffs? No. Did we think they would win two games against the #1 seed with 66 wins? No. Did I think we would show up in force and actually make Philips Arena sound like it should? No.

But it's happened, and the Hawks are guaranteed at least one more home game. Are the Hawks really this good, and coming together at the right time, or does this show how the Celtics and the rest of the Eastern Conference pale to the West?

It's probably a little of both. The Hawks would be 12th in the West, but they do have a good nucleus of players (lousy draft picks of previous years notwithstanding) that can provide some excitement - it's been a lot of fun to watch Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson shine as much as they have.

Considering how lousy the rest of Atlanta's teams have been lately, it's a welcome relief. (I don't want to talk about the drat, either, and the Falcons getting the second coming of David Carr.)

But I imagine Philips will again be very loud Friday night, whether they win or lose Game 5. That's how it should be.