Zaza Pachulia News

Larry Drew is returning for his third season as the Atlanta Hawks' coach despite the team's first-round exit from the playoffs.

Whether it is widely accepted by the mainstream or not, the Atlanta Hawks have been one of the league's most successful franchises since 2008, boasting five consecutive trips to the playoffs over this time period.

As noted, the Hawks tripped over a splendid opportunity to reach the Eastern Conference finals.

Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia and Atlanta Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich, far right, double-team Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard during an NBA playoff game on April 28, 2011.

After advancing to the second round of the playoffs three straight years, the Hawks were eliminated in the first round with Thursday night's Game 6 loss at Boston.

For all the lip service that will be paid to the Hawks' perseverance through injury and their rousing efforts in Games 5 and 6, let's call this what it was: A massive missed opportunity.

Now the Celtics have just a 3-2 lead over the Hawks Tim Legler and Kevin Connors examine where the C's rank among the Eastern Conference teams.

Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce is covered by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA first-round playoff series basketball game Tuesday, May 8, 2012, in Atlanta.

The Hawks will go with their fourth different starting lineup in five games Tuesday night when they try to stave off elimination against the Celtics.

In this version of the Nicholson Watch, Can Ball Ray looks to another NBA Draft site and sees a marked shift up the chart for Andrew and gives a brief idea of why he thinks being selected could work for him ... There seems to be a huge difference in locations between the mock Draft's of Draft Express and NBADraft.net. That doesn't mean it's a 20 ... (more)

The Atlanta Hawks were able to win game one of their series against the Boston Celtics despite being down Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia.

As far as Hawks forward Josh Smith is concerned, the only thing could keep him from playing in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics on Sunday is an unexpected stumble.

When Rajon Rondo first saw his teammates again after Game 2 of their playoff series against Atlanta, he shook their hands and thanked them for pulling out a victory in his absence.

While Josh Smith has yet to practice since injuring his left knee in Game 2 Tuesday, the Hawks' power forward has not yet ruled himself out for Friday's Game 3 in Boston.

The Boston Celtics aren't yet a lock to advance beyond the first round, but they're on the right track.

Amare Stoudemire thinks there's a "great chance" he can play in Game 4 of the Knicks' series against Miami on Sunday despite cutting his left hand on a fire extinguisher case.

The team learned Wednesday that forward Josh Smith has a strained tendon in his left knee, perhaps costing the Hawks another key player for their playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Kirk Goldsberry charts the Truth's favorite shot locations . a Doc Rivers on where Game 2 ranks among Pierce's all-time great performances : "It ranks right up there when you factor in no Ray, no Rondo," Doc Rivers said.

Thirteen people were charged Wednesday in one of the biggest college hazing cases ever prosecuted in the U.S., accused in the death of a Florida A&M University drum major who authorities say was mercilessly pummeled by... A federal appeals court says it won't overturn a district judge's reprieve for a Texas man convicted of killing a neighbor and ... (more)

As we've again been reminder, the Hawks are unchallenged masters of the cosmic flop.