The Atlanta Hawks ended the 1998-99 NBA season with a sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Such an abrupt exit was surely disappointing, but it was nothing compared to the agony the Hawks would soon experience. Over the next eight seasons they would compile a 218 - 438 record and never make the playoffs.
Even when that streak was finally broken there seemed to be little reason to celebrate. Surely they would be bounced early and quickly forgotten, right? No one could've predicted what was to come.
2007 - 08
In March Joe Johnson became the first Hawk since Dominique Wilkins to be named Eastern Conference Player of the Month (he was also twice named Eastern Conference Player of the Week). Josh Smith once again finished second in the league in blocks. Rookie of the Year runner-up Al Horford was the only unanimous NBA All-Rookie Team selection. Mike Bibby was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in February and helped the team increase its points per game average by nearly nine points. Still, all the individual successes resulted in a mere 37 - 45 record and the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Facing the 66-win (and eventual world champion) Boston Celtics in the first round, the series appeared a certain cakewalk.
But appearances can be deceiving.
After getting blown out in the first two games, the Hawks came home and beat the Celtics 102 - 93. When the final buzzer sounded streamers fell from Philips Arena's ceiling in celebration. In Game Four Johnson scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, Smith added 28 points and the Hawks prevailed 97 - 92. Every Game Six starter scored in double digits and Johnson's three-pointer with approximately a minute left in the game secured the Hawks' 103 - 100 win. Alas, in Game Seven the Celtics crushed the Hawks by 34 points. Still, pushing the top seed to the brink of elimination could hardly be considered a disappointment.
2008 - 09
For the first time in 10 years the Hawks exceeded .500, finishing 47 - 35. There was truly no place like home for the Hawks, who had a 31 - 10 record at Philips Arena.
Facing the Miami Heat in the first round, Josh Smith opened the series by scoring 23 points and showing off five terrific dunks as the Hawks routed Miami 90 - 64. "There's no one on the court, really no one in the NBA, who can match his athleticism," the Heat's Dwayne Wade said afterwards.
After losing the next two games the Hawks won Game Four 81 - 71, the team's first postseason road win in nearly 12 years. Johnson scored 25 points and Flip Murray came off the bench to score 23 in a 106 - 91 Game Five win. This series also went seven games, but this time the Hawks prevailed 91 - 78. Not only was it the first Game Seven ever played in Atlanta, it was the first Game Seven the Hawks had won since 1961, when they played in St. Louis.
Their second round opponent was league MVP LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Hawks.
2009 - 10
In June the Hawks acquired Jamal Crawford from the Golden State Warriors. He rewarded their investment by becoming the first Atlanta player to receive Sixth Man of the Year honors. Crawford also led the league in scoring by players who didn't start a game and set a new NBA record for four-point plays.
Meanwhile, Johnson became the first Hawk since Dikembe Mutombo in 1997 - 98 to earn a starting assignment on the All-Star team. Horford was also selected, giving the Hawks two All-Stars for the first time in 12 years. The team finished with a 53 - 29 record.
The Hawks faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and took a 2 - 0 lead, the first time they had done so in a seven-game series since 1970. They lost the next three games, but a 27 - 2 run allowed them to win Game Six 83 - 69, and they wrapped up the series with a 95 - 74 Game Seven win. Crawford was the leading scorer in each of the final two games.
All that would be forgotten, though, against the Orlando Magic in the conference semifinals. Not only did the Magic sweep the Hawks, their average margin of victory was 25 points.
2010 - 11
The season began with a major change on the sidelines. Following the Orlando series, Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund chose not to renew head coach Mike Woodson's contract, ending his 6-year tenure. Larry Drew, Woodson's longtime assistant, was hired to replace him.
What didn't change was Johnson's performance on the court. He made the All-Star team for the fifth straight time, the most for a Hawk since Dominique Wilkins' nine consecutive appearances.
Despite finishing 44 - 38, nine fewer wins than the previous season, the Hawks would make their mark in the playoffs. First they got revenge on the Magic by defeating them in six games in the opening round. Next they faced the Chicago Bulls, owner of the league's best record and Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau. They upset the Bulls in Game One, 103 - 95, on Chicago's home court. Johnson made all five of his three-point attempts and went five-for-five at the free throw line, while Crawford scored 22. In Game Four, the Hawks evened the series with a 100 - 88 victory, outscoring the Bulls 16 - 4 in the game's final four minutes. For the first time in three years the Hawks had managed to avoid being swept in the semifinals, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Bulls from taking the series in six games.
2011 - 12
A 66-game season resulting from the protracted lockout meant every time will have a tight schedule this year, but it was tightest for the Hawks, who played nine games in the first 12 days. Despite this, they beat the New Jersey Nets by 36 points in their season opener and won their home opener by 18 points over the Washington Wizards. Another obstacle came on January 11, when Hoford tore the pectoral muscle in his left shoulder during against Indiana, forcing him to miss three to four months. How did the Hawks react? They won six of the seven games following Horford's injury. Heading into February they are 16 - 6, having won three consecutive games.
Clearly, the Atlanta Hawks have soared to amazing new heights in recent years.
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