Hawks of Atlanta

The Hawks of Atlanta ( Atlanta Hawks in English) are a frankness from Basket-ball of NBA

History of the frankness

Chaotic beginnings (1946-1956)

The frankness is founded in 1946, under the name of Tri-Cities BlackHawks . The name of the frankness refers to the Guerre of Black Hawk, a war opposing in 1832 the American army to the Indiens directed by Black Hawk which sought to recover their grounds in the North of the Illinois.
At the time, the frankness is shared by three cities: Moline and Rock Island (Illinois), and Davenport in the Iowa. The team evolves/moves in the National Basketball League (NBL); league which amalgamates with BAA to create NBA in 1949. The frankness belongs to the five surviving ones of the NBL which joins a new championship of 17 teams. During her first season, the team replaces after 6 defeats in 7 matches the trainer Roger Potter by Red Auerbach. It leads the team to an assessment of 28 victories for 29 defeats, but falls with the first turn of the playoffs. During the intersaison, Auerbach leaves BlackHawks for the Boston Celtics, and Bob Cousy is exchanged with the Chicago Stags against Gene Vance. The first will finish with the Hall off Famed , the second will have an average of 8 points over 5 seasons in NBA.

At the beginning of the season 1950-51, the NBA passes to 11 teams but BlackHawks finish last Western Division . Before the season 1951-52, the owner Ben Kerner moves the frankness with Milwaukee, and re-elects the frankness in Hawks . But during three seasons, the team finishes last her division. The arrival of Bob Pettit in 1954-55, does not change anything, although the player finishes fourth better marker of the championship as of his first season. These bad results push the fans to be turned to the team of Baseball, the Braves. Ben Kerner moves once again his team for the season 1955-56, this time at Saint Louis. The change operates on the sporting level, Bob Pettit is named better player of the season by leading the league to the points and the rebounds, whereas Hawks finish second at the end of the regular season. The team is eliminated by the Fort Wayne Pistons with the second turn from the playoffs.

Hawks have the second choice of the draft 1956. At the time, a territorial system of selection makes it possible a team to select a player having evolved/moved in a university close to the frankness, provided that the team gives up her first turn of draft: it is the Territorial Claim . The Boston Celtics use it to select Tom Heinsohn, but the team of Red Auerbach also covets Bill Russell, a pivot which seems to be equipped with marvellous defensive capacities. Hawks select Russell, but finally transfer it to Celtics for ED Macauley and Cliff Hagan. Although these two players made a satisfactory career, Hawks quite simply left passed the best defensive pivot of the history, which helped Celtics to conquer eight consecutive titles.

Bob Pettit and the years records (1956-1968)

After a difficult departure, the team finishes first of the Western Division with equality with the Mineapolis Lakers and Strong Wayne Pistons. Bob Pettit finishes second better marker of the championship and passes the end of the season the wrist in the plaster. The team spawning time a way until in finales NBA, vis-a-vis Boston Celtics which seem promised with the title. Hawks, led 3 matches to 2, gain the 6th match thanks to a clapper of Cliff Hagan to the buzzer, forcing a seventh and decisive match. The seventh match goes in double prolongation, but Bob Pettit misses the shooting with the buzzer which would have made it possible Hawks to equalize.

The frankness returns in force, with the addition of the pivot Clyde Lovellette, and finds Celtics in finales of the season 1957-58. The series is announced disputed but Bill Russell is victim of one ankle sprain at the time of the third match. All becomes easier then for Saint Louis which gains the title at the end of the sixth match, where Bob Pettit marks 50 points (record in playoffs at the time). This title NBA only is to date gained by the frankness.

The following season proves to be same level, Bob Pettit gains its second title of MVP (better player of the league), but Hawks are stopped finally division by Lakers of Elgin Baylor.

Atlanta always forms part of the best teams of the league in 1959-60. The best defense of the championship (110 points boxed by match) turns over in finales but loses at the time of the seventh match vis-a-vis Celtics de Bill Russell which collects 35 rebounds there this evening.

During the draft 1960, Hawks select Lenny Wilkens. They find once more Celtics in finales 1961. Exhausted by the series vis-a-vis Lakers (which resides from now on at Los Angeles) long of 7 matches, Hawks are swept 4 victories with 1 in finales.

The following season proves to be catastrophic. Lenny Wilkens must fulfill its military obligations and Clyde Lovellette is wounded at the semi-season. After five seasons at the top of the NBA, the team does not qualify itself for the playoffs.

Hawks are rectified for the season 1962-63, the team benefits from the collapse of a concurrent league, the ABL, to be reinforced and finish second in the West. Harry Gallatin, the new trainer, gains the very first title of trainer of the year. The team finishes the season on a defeat with the seventh match vis-a-vis Lakers finally of Division. The following season, Bob Pettit is wounded. The team is eliminated with the first turn by the Baltimore Bullets. Pettit takes finally its retirement at the end of the season 1964-65, after 11 seasons spent with Hawks by adding up an average of 26 points and 16 rebounds. Weakened, the team finds all the same Lakers in finales of Division to lose once additional with the seventh match.

With the draft 1966, Hawks select Lou Hudson. The rookie is better marker of the team as of her first year with 18 points of average. The team goes until in finales of Division before being eliminated by the San Francisco Warriors. The following season, Hudson is called to make its military service, but Lenny Wilkens and Paul Silas, which explodes after three seasons spent on the bench, take the orders of the frankness which finishes first of its division, but is eliminated with the first turn by Warriors.

First years in Atlanta (1968-1982)

The May 3rd 1968, the owner Ben Kerner decides to sell the frankness, thinking that Hawks could not economically remain viable if they remained at Saint Louis. The NBA must indeed undergo the fierce competition of ABA.

The new owner moves the frankness with Atlanta. Atlanta is always among the best teams of the league but fails in playoffs and does not manage to find the finales, often barred by Lakers. The contribution of '' Pistol Pete '' Maravich for the season 1970-71 does not prevent Hawks from finishing in lower part of the bar of the 50% at the end of the regular season two seasons of continuation before being made each time leave to the first turn playoffs. The duet Hudson-Maravich makes nevertheless wonders while adding up with them two more than 50 points per match lasting their best years. But the collective results are more disappointing, and Hawks do not reach the playoffs during the season 1973-74, putting an end to a series of long appearance in playoffs 11 seasons. During the intersaison, Pete Maravich is sent to the New Orleans Jazz. During two seasons the team does not reach the playoffs, and sees itself been sulky by her first choices of draft which prefer the ABA to him. Hubie Brown, which led Kentucky Colonels to title ABA in 1975, takes the orders of the frankness with starts season 1976-77, but without more success. Hawks remain four years without playoffs.

In January 1979, Ted Turner announces that it repurchases the frankness. Lou Hudson is exchanged, and Hawks draftent Wayne Tree Rollins and Eddie Johnson. Hubie Brown leads the team to an assessment of 41 victories for 41 defeats and reaches the last qualificative place for the playoffs. It gains this year the title of trainer of the year. The team improves the following year and reaches the semi-finals of conference.

Hawks gain the title of Central Division in 1979-80. The team is eliminated in play-offs by the Sixers from Julius Erving. Inexplicably, the team crumbles the following season, and Hubie Brown is dismissed. In 1981-82, under the direction of Kevin Loughery, the team becomes the best defense of the NBA and hangs a place in play-offs.

The period Wilkins (1982-1994)

The September 3rd 1982, Atlanta exchanges two players against Dominique Wilkins, selected in third position by the Utah Jazz. In 1984, the club drafte Kevin Willis and signs Spud Webb. But Hawks do not pass the first turn of the playoffs before 1986. This year, the team reaches the 50 victories at the end of the regular season, under the impulse of Dominique Wilkins who finishes better marker of the league with more than 30 points of average per match. Mike Fratello is elected trainer of the year, and Spud Webb created the surprise by gaining the contest of dunk top of its meter 70. Hawks are eliminated by Celtics with the second turn from the playoffs.

With Dominique Wilkins among the best markers of the league, the team gains 50 victories during four seasons of sharp but does not manage to exceed the stage of the half finales of Conference. During the playoffs 1988 the series vis-a-vis Celtics is pushed until the seventh match, in an offensive duel between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. The following season, in spite of the arrival of Moses Malone, Kevin Willis is wounded, and although the team again reaches the bar of the 50 victories, it is made eliminate with the first turn by the Milwaukee Bucks. Many wounds in 1989-90 put an end to the series victorious seasons. With 41 victories for as many defeats, Hawks do not reach the playoffs.

The frankness makes changes by sending Doc. Rivers to the Clippers against a choice of draft (used to select Stacey Augmon) and Spud Webb with the Kings. With the first third of the season, Wilkins is wounded with the tendon of Achilles and is inalienable for the remainder of the season. At the semi-season, Hawks recover Mookie Blaylock, but in the absence of leader, finish with 38 victories. Kevin Willis carries out the season of its career with 18 points and 15,5 rebounds of average.

The return of Dominique Wilkins in 1992-93 ensures Hawks a place in playoffs. This year, Wilkins becomes the best marker of the frankness by exceeding Bob Pettit. Atlanta is made leave to the first turn by the future champions, bulldozers of Michael Jordan.

Lenny Wilkens returns to the club as a trainer in 1993-94. Its defensive style brings the title of Central Division to the frankness which gains 57 matches. During the semi-season, emblematic Dominique Wilkins, player of the frankness, are exchanged with the Clippers against Danny Manning, which will remain only one half season. Although beaten in semi-finals of Conference, Wilkens is named trainer of the year.

Rise and fall (Since 1994)

At the beginning of the season 1994-95, Hawks exchange Kevin Willis against the back shootor Steve Smith. The exchange modifies the configuration of the team, which passes from a powerful team inside (with the duet Manning-Willis) to a team based on a talented duet of backs: Smith and Blaylock. The excellent defense of Hawks, especially thanks to Mookie Blaylock, does not hide the offensive gaps. Nevertheless, the trainer Lenny Wilkens exceeds the January 6th 1995 Red Auerbach and becomes at this time the trainer having added up the greatest number of victories in NBA. Atlanta is swept with the first turn of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.

Without player dominating in the team, Hawks finish the season with 46 victories. Wilkens becomes this season the first trainer to gain 1  000 matches in career. The team is again beaten by Pacers, this time at the second turn of the playoffs. During the intersaison, Hawks carry out a large blow by signing one of the best defensive pivots of the history of the NBA: Dikembe Mutombo . At the conclusion of the season the player gains the title of better defender of the NBA and leads the team to 56 victories. The team loses in playoffs vis-a-vis the bulldozers on the way towards their second Three-Peat . The end of the regular season 1997-98 brings many satisfactions: the team reaches once again the bar of the 50 victories, Mookie Blaylock leads the league to the interceptions, Steve Smith and Dikembe Mutomobo is called with the All-Star Range, Alan Henderson is named player having progressed more , and the club beats its record of audience. But the playoffs bring a new disillusion, the team is beaten with the first turn by the Charlotte Hornets.

The victorious series lasts until the season 1999-2000. This season, Hawks gain only 28 matches, the worst result of the history of the frankness. Lenny Wilkens resigns at the end of the season. In spite of the attempts at rebuildings, through many transfers (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Toni Kukoč, Theo Ratliff, Glenn Robinson), the frankness did not know to recover from this year of crisis and does not have since gained step more than 35 matches.

At the dawn of the season 2004-05, only two players, Boris Diaw and Chris Crawford, were already present at the beginning of the former season. The frankness presents nevertheless a more ambitious face through a mixture of promising young talents (Josh Childress and Josh Smith) and veterans confirmed (Kevin Willis, Jon Barry, Kenny Anderson), taken along by Antoine Walker, arrived during the intersaison of Dallas in exchange of Jason Terry and Alan Henderson.

The season 2004-05 is quite simply the worst of the history of the frankness, with only 13 victories for 69 defeats. Antoine Walker is given to the Boston Celtics against almost nothing in return (Gary Payton, included in the transfer, turns over quickly to Celtics), leaving the team without any star in her rows.

These bad results place Hawks in useful order for the draft 2005 at the time which they obtain the n°2 choice with which they select the great university hope Marvin Williams, which evolved/moved one season in the rows of North Carolina. Atlanta also manages to sign Joe Johnson, which leaves an excellent season with the Phoenix Suns (Boris Diaw is sent in exchange to Phoenix to respect the wage bill, Hawks also add some futures turns of draft). Géorgien Zaza Pachulia is the last notable reinforcement for the team. Unfortunately, before even the beginning of the season 2005-06, Hawks are struck by the death of their pivot Jason Collier, embanked by an heart attack.

In spite of the many numbers of soloists of Al Harrington and Joe Johnson, Hawks carry out an insipid springtide. Their final assessment 2005-2006 of 26 victories for 56 defeats the place in last position of Southeast Division is with before last row of the Conference Is.

At the beginning of season 06-07, Hawks start with a new manpower, Al Harrington was transferred in its former team, the Indiana Pacers, and good players like Lorenzen Wright and Speedy Claxton.

The year 2007 seems nevertheless to be the year of the changes for Atlanta, the Frankness in particular decides to change shirt radically, passing from the red dominating with blue dominating, but also to change emblem. They also profited from step badly of chance to obtain the picks 3 and 11 with the draft which seemed so promising, with the pick 3 they select the PF Al Horford and with the 11 the leader Acie Law IV.

Prize list

Current manpower

withdrawn Shirts

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Statistical detailed on basketball-reference.com
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Be-X-old: АтлантаХокс

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