I-Light Media
Atlanta Hawks
Images
Images: Not Available
Author Details
- Jason McDonald
Hawks Sport New Plumage
By: Jason McDonald
Following a summer full of draft picks, trades, and management changes, the Atlanta Spirit is ready for a breath of fresh air. On Monday afternoon the Atlanta Spirit introduced the new look Hawks for the 2005-2006 NBA season.
Twelve new faces including five training camp invitees, two of the 2005 draft picks, and five free agent signees will vie for eight roster spots alongside the seven returning veterans. Seven of those spots are spoken for by highly coveted free agent Joe Johnson, Zaza Pachulia-free agent, Tyronn Lue-free agent, Esteban Batista-free agent, John Edwards-free agent, Marvin Williams-draft pick, and Salim Stoudamire-draft pick.
Johnson, a 6'-7" combo guard was the center of this summer's controversy that ended with businessman Steve Belkin leaving the Atlanta Spirit ownership flock. The sharp shooter arrives in the ATL after posting very respectable numbers with the Phoenix Suns. His signing was monumental considering Johnson comes to Atlanta from a team that went deep into the 2005 NBA playoffs. An achievement Johnson believes he can help his new club achieve.
With the Suns Johnson was primarily a shooting guard that moonlighted at the point in relief of NBA MVP Steve Nash. This season, the former Arkansas Razorback will be asked to direct the Hawks offense. The million dollar question hanging on everybody's lips is is he capable? "I don't think my game can really be defined as a scorer or play-maker. I think I'm more of everything" Johnson said confidently.
Scoring shouldn't be as much of a problem with last season's rookies returning with a year of intense court experience under their belt. Some, like Josh 'J-Smuv' Smith, returned quite a bit larger. "I'm about 230 lb. now" gushed the noticeably thicker nineteen year-old from nearby Powder Springs,Georgia. Make no mistake about it every one of those added pounds is sheer muscle mass. The 2005 Slam Dunk Champion owes a lot of his new ripped heft to a solid off-season weight training and conditioning program structured by the Hawks staff. Opponents should expect to see more explosion in Smith's aerial and low post game.
Eight preseason games will give basketball fans plenty of chances to see the new feathers on the Hawks wings. Atlanta area fans get first dibs when the Hawks welcome Southwest Atlanta native Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic to Philips Arena on October 11, 2005. The pre-season game will be the only one on the Hawks home court until the season begins. If gas prices are not a problem, the Hawks will play five other pre-season games at arenas located within a three hour drive of Atlanta.
The Hawks Pre-season Schedule
- October 11 vs Orlando at Philips Arena Atlanta, GA
- October 12 vs Charlotte at BJCC Birmingham, AL
- October 17 vs Charlotte at Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC
- October 18 vs New Orleans at AllTel Arena Little Rock, Ark
- October 22 vs Orlando TD Waterhouse Centre Orlando, FL
- October 24 vs Miami Gaylord Entertainment Center Nashville, TN
- October 27 vs Memphis at UTC Arena Chattanooga, TN
- October 28 vs New Orleans at Columbus Civic Center Columbus, GA