22-year old shooting guard Jordan Crawford is stuck on the depth chart behind Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. So unless one of those guys or one of the point guards (Mike Bibby and Jeff Teague) get injured I don’t see Jordan Crawford getting P.T. any time soon. Crawford has played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 9.6 minutes, 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

PF/SF Josh Smith is one of the most underrated basketball players in the entire NBA. He plays hard at both ends of the basketball court which results in his stuffing the stat sheet. Smith has played in 8 games (all starts) for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 34.4 minutes, 14.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.4 blocked shots per game. Smith is also hitting 50% from the floor as his shot selection has been excellent so far this year. One of these days Smith will start getting the respect he deserves around the NBA.

The Hawks will be without starting small forward Marvin Williams for a couple of weeks due to a knee problem. Williams has played in 5 games (all starts) so far this year and he is averaging 30.8 minutes, 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Josh Smith has replaced Williams as the small forward, Al Horford has moved from center to power forward and Jason Collins is starting at center while Williams is out of action. Collins has played in 5 games (3 starts) for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 10.8 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

26-year old back up center Zaza Pachulia has been very solid in his limited P.T. so far this season. He has played in all 6 games (0 starts) for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 19.0 minutes, 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Pachulia is also shooting 68% from the floor so far this year! The Hawks are thinking seriously about possibly starting Pachulia at center and shifting Al Horford to power forward and Josh Smith to small forward to give themselves a big lineup. In that scenario, Marvin Williams (the current starting small forward) would become the first big man off the bench. That kind of move would make the Hawks a very physical basketball team. But for now they likely won’t make that change as they are 6-0.

The Hawks shot 54.3% from the floor last night which helped them defeat the woeful T-Wolves in Minnesota. Jamal Crawford led the way for the Hawks last night with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in 32 minutes off the bench. Josh Smith stuff the stat sheet with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocked shots. Mike Bibby was also very efficient last night with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in 29 minutes on the floor. Al Horford (14 points), Joe Johnson (11 points) and Josh Powell (10 points) also pitched in for the Hawks last night. The Hawks are now 6-0 on the season.

The Hawks shot 53.7% from the floor and that was good enough to carry them to another win last night. Josh Smith led the way for the Hawks last night with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots. Al Horford had a solid game too with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. Joe Johnson had another tough shooting night (5 of 15 from the floor) but he still finished up with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists. Zaza Pachulia (12 points) and Marvin Williams (11 points) also pitched in for the Hawks last night. The Hawks are now 5-0 on the year.

The Hawks have given 24-year old center Al Horford a 5-year, $60 million dollar extension to his contract. Horford has played in 4 games (all starts) for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 27.0 minutes, 14.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He has now played in 233 games (229 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 33.2 minutes, 12.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. I love this signing for the Hawks as the NBA is, and always will be, a big man’s game.

The Hawks outscored the Cavs 26-15 in the 4th quarter to pull away from them in Cleveland last night. Marvin Williams led the way for the Hawks in this game with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Al Horford was tough around the basket last night finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. Jamal Crawford (16 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 22 minutes) and Mike Bibby (15 points and 1 assist in 28 minutes) really helped out in the backcourt for the Hawks lasst night. Despite only shooting 6 of 21 from the floor, Joe Johnson still finished up with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. The Hawks are now 4-0 on the year.

32-year old point guard Mike Bibby held off Jeff Teague in the pre-season to retain his starting job and it appears that he wants to keep it a while. Bibby has started 3 games for the Hawks so far this year and he is averaging 30.7 minutes, 13.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He has been shooting the ball well from everywhere on the court so far this year hitting 53.8% from the floor, 53.3% from three point range and 100% of his free throws this year. The Hawks hope the Bibby keeps up the good work because when he’s right they are very hard to defend.