Not Your Average Joe

No.......not "that" Joe...

As in "Joe the Plumber".......That Joe is officially off the radar. With the 2008 election over and done with, we can get back to doing the one thing we were put on this earth to do....that's talk sports.

Let's talk about Joe Johnson and his high flying Atlanta Hawks. A year ago these young birds made the play-offs for the first time in a decade and took the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to 7 games.

The off-season saw the Hawks lose free agent forward Josh Childress .....to Greece ....of all places ....in the European league.

Usher in 2008.......with the youngest team in the league.....these guys are 3-0.....with 2 of those wins coming on the road.

Going into last night, Johnson was the leagues leading scorer at 30 points a game. After San Antonio's Tony Parker dropped a double nickel (55) on Minnesota.....Johnson is 2nd.

This is the Hawks best start since 1997....and last nights win was against a previously unbeaten New Orleans Hornets team.

Yes........it is early.......No....I am not yet on that bandwagon .....But after so many disappointing losing seasons.......there is reason to hope.

Pro basketball has not been relevant in Atlanta since the days of Dominique Wilkins and Doc Rivers playing at the old Omni.

To these young Hawks........The City of Atlanta says, "Welcome back".....

Meet the Hawks:

Coach: Mike Woodson
Average Age: 24.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 227

NO	PLAYER	AGE	POS	HT	WT	DOB	SCHOOL
33	Randolph Morris	22	C	6-11	275	01/02/1986	Kentucky
27	Zaza Pachulia	24	C	6-11	275	02/10/1984	No College
15	Al Horford	22	PF	6-10	245	06/03/1986	Florida
44	Solomon Jones	24	PF	6-10	245	07/16/1984	South Florida
1	Maurice Evans	29	SF	6-5	220	11/08/1978	Texas
50	Othello Hunter	22	SF	6-8	225	05/28/1986	Ohio State
5	Josh Smith	22	SF	6-9	240	12/05/1985	No College
24	Marvin Williams	22	SF	6-9	240	06/19/1986	North Carolina
10	Mike Bibby	30	PG	6-2	195	05/13/1978	Arizona
12	Speedy Claxton	30	PG	5-11	170	05/08/1978	Hofstra
4	Acie Law	23	PG	6-3	202	01/25/1985	Texas A&M
22	Ronald Murray	29	PG	6-3	200	07/29/1979	Shaw
3	Thomas Gardner	23	SG	6-5	225	02/08/1985	Missouri
2	Joe Johnson	27	SG	6-7	240	06/29/1981	Arkansas
6	Mario West	24	SG	6-5	210	06/19/1984	Georgia Tech