The Hawks have the best rookie in the NBA this season in center Al Horford. Horford has played in 54 games this season for the Hawks and he is averaging 31.5 minutes, 9.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 block per game. He is shooting 47.2% from the floor but he needs to improve on his 67.9% shooting from the free throw line. Look for Horford to improve on offense as long as he gets a tad more selfish with the basketball but that’s nitpicking. Point guard Acie Law has not played well this season despite high hopes from the Hawks Front Office. Law has played in 40 games this season for the Hawks and he is averaging 17.3 minutes, 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Law has not shot too well this year as he is hitting only 38.3% from the floor but he’s solid from the free throw line (80.6%). With Mike Bibby now a Hawk, it will be hard for Law to get much playing time. G/F Mario West doesn’t play much but he appears to be a talented guy. He has played in 42 games this season for the Hawks and he is averaging 4.6 minutes, 1.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has shot 47.6% from the floor but only 66.7% from the free throw line which he needs to improve on. Overall, the Hawks have to be pleased with this rookie crop which will help them big time both now and in the future.

The Hawks outran the Kings last night. Joe Johnson led the way for the Hawks with 26 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists. Josh Childress was outstanding off the bench with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Mike Bibby was outstanding directing the offense with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists. The Hawks are now 23-32 on the season.

The Hawks outrebounded the Spurs 53-43 last night but they only shot 33.3% from the floor and that did them in. Joe Johnson led the way for the Hawks last night with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Zaza Pachulia was outstanding off the bench as he finished with 14 points and 3 rebounds in only 19 minutes. Al Horford was solid near the rim with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals. The Hawks are now 22-32 on the season.

The Hawks just couldn’t finish the deal Saturday Night in Utah despite hanging tough. Josh Smith stuffed the stat sheet for the Hawks as he finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots. Mike Bibby did a good job of running the offense as he finished up with 18 points and 9 assists. Marvin Williams pitched in with 16 points and 5 rebounds. The Hawks are now 22-31 on the season.

The Hawks outscored the Warriors 68-50 in the first half and they needed that cushion as the Warriors played well in the 2nd half. The Hawks also outrebounded the Warriors 53-40 in this game. Joe Johnson led the way for the Hawks with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Salim Stoudamire was outstanding off the bench with 18 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in only 23 minutes. Josh Smith was busy as he finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots. Mike Bibby only played 24 minutes in this game but he still finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists. The Hawks are now 22-30 on the season.

The Hawks were outscored 26-17 in the 4th quarter on Wednesday Night and it did them in. Josh Childress led the way for the Hawks with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Mike Bibby pitched in with 17 points and 3 assists. Joe Johnson finished up with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. The Hawks have fallen to 21-30 on the season with this loss.

The Hawks never had a chance in the game on Tuesday Night as they trailed 73-37 at the HALF! Joe Johnson led the way for the Hawks with 18 points and 3 assists. Josh Childress (16 points, 3 rebounds) and Acie Law (16 points, 3 assists) each played decent. Zaza Pachulia had a solid game off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Hawks are now 21-29 on the season.

The Hawks have acquired 29-year old point guard Mike Bibby for Shelden Williams, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright and a 2nd round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. This was a move made with an eye on making the playoffs in 2008 as point guard was the biggest weakness on the Hawks this season. Bibby has played in 15 games (12 starts) this season for the Kings and he was averaging 31.5 minutes, 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Bibby has now played in 690 games (687 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 36.4 minutes, 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Bibby has also been a solid shooter in his NBA career as he has hit 44.1% from the floor, 37.1% from three point range and 80.6% from the free throw line.

The only player the Hawks might miss a little bit that they traded is power forward Shelden Williams. Williams was the Hawks first round pick in the 2006 NBA Draft but he hasn’t progressed the way the Hawks had hoped he would. Williams has played in 35 games (0 starts) this season for the Hawks and he averaged 11.4 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. 33-year old Anthony Johnson was the starting point guard for most of this season but Mike Bibby is a HUGE improvement over him. Johnson played in 41 games (40 starts) this season for the Hawks and he averaged 26.4 minutes, 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Reserve guard Tyronn Lue has played in 33 games (3 starts) this season for the Hawks and he was averaging 17.1 minutes, 6.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assist per game. Reserve center Lorenzen Wright has been a huge bust since joining the Hawks. He has played in 12 games (1 start) this season for the Hawks and he has averaged 11.8 minutes, 0.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

This trade will likely get the Hawks into the playoffs as they now have one of the better starting units in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks were outscored 29-19 in the 4th quarter Wednesday Night and it killed them. Joe Johnson led the way for the Hawks with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Tyronn Lue had a good game off of the bench with 19 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Marvin Williams kept busy in this game with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. The Hawks are now 21-28 on the season.

The Hawks outrebounded the Pistons 47-34 tonight but they were outscored 20-14 in the 4th quarter and it did them in. Josh Smith was outstanding as he led the way for the Hawks with 30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocked shots. Al Horford was solid in the paint with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Josh Childress pitched in with 12 points and 2 steals off the bench. The Hawks are now 21-27 on the season.