Pieces coming together for Hawks

The Hawks were indeed lucky, as the Journal-Constitution’s Sekou Smith said, that the Sixers opted for Brand over a better prospect in Josh Smith. Now they have a chance to build off of what they accomplished last year and things should get better with the return of Speedy Claxton. Before last season, the Hawks didn’t have a point guard and now they have three with Mike Bibby, Acie Law IV and Claxton. Claxton potentially will give Atlanta a veteran point guard that can come in, run sound offense and score, especially with him playing against another team’s second unit. On many nights he’ll be playing against a less experienced player and will have the quickness that players with that level of experience usually don’t have. The only thing separating the Hawks from a second-round-type playoff team is a stronger post presence. But what better person to be developing down low than Al Horford, who was the most NBA-ready of those national championship Florida Gator teams.