The Side Line
Our professional teams are winning again, and doing it with average budgets at best. Through good draft selections and worthwhile trades, both teams have seemingly turned the corner and are looking ahead to brighter days.
The Falcons are 6-3 and playing with a confidence that I have not seen from this team since the days of the “Dirty Bird”. Matt “Matty Ice” Ryan has emerged as a bona fide young star, and the tough rushing attack of years past is back. Oh, and the defense has showed up, too. They won’t field many Pro Bowlers, but they play well as a unit and even the youngest defenders don’t seem rattled.
Now, as I’m writing this, I understand they could finish 6-10 and be right back in the dumps come season’s end, but I also have a new faith in this team that has been missing for a while.
As for the Hawks, they have made me realize that my interest in the NBA is directly proportional to how well they are playing. Thus, as you may have guessed, I haven’t liked the NBA for a long time now, like ten years or so.
Another thing I have realized is that the reason I particularly like this Hawks team is that they play like a good college team, with smothering defense and fundamentals, and most importantly, T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K.
They seem to genuinely want to get better, and know that each player is vital to the team getting there. Last year it was Joe Johnson and Crew. Now opponents officially cannot come up with a definite game plan to stop these Hawks.
Josh Smith can take over a game with his athleticism, and Al Horford is an absolute monster inside. With the loss of Josh Childress, Marvin Williams and others are stepping up to fill various roles on the court.
They can play half-court offense, they can beat you up inside, and they can run with the quickest teams when the time comes. This Hawks team is special, very, very good, and even makes me care about professional basketball.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Nov 14 2008. Filed under Sports.
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