Are The Hawks Ready to Take Flight?

Liftoff, we have liftoff....... Often the beginning of a new NBA season is a time for optimism for any team (unless you live in Memphis), especially for a young team just coming off a surprising playoff berth.  For the Atlanta Hawks, however, the actions of this past summer was enough for the pundits to predict that they would slip back into the lottery, where they made their living for the past 9 seasons before taking the World Champion Boston Celtics to the limit in the first round of last spring's playoffs. Think about it: they lose Josh Childress , one of the league's best sixth men, to Greece. Josh Smith , he of the spectacular dunks/defense, yet also the master of creating headaches for his own teammates, almost headed to Beale Street before Atlanta manned up and re-signed him.  Mike Woodson , who is more hated in Atlanta than General Sherman, is signed to a two-year deal by new GM Rick Sund. Also, the front office drama is guaranteed to be an issue long after the ... (link)