Jason Walker of Peachtree Hoops: The Atlanta Hawks tumultuous offseason and the (yawn) preseason is behind us and now it’s time to get back on the court, for reals now. The Peachtree Hoops staff is bursting with fervor and excitement as Opening Night moves ever closer, so we wanted to share our thoughts about what will happen this season to the Good Guys.
Buddy Grizzard of Hawks Hoop: With the new-look Cavaliers unproven, the Heat missing the game’s best player, the Pacers decimated by injury (Paul George) and defection (Lance Stephenson) and the Wizards replacing defensive ace Trevor Ariza with the aging Paul Pierce, the Eastern Conference is as wide-open as it has been in recent memory. As such, I believe the Hawks should be setting lofty goals. Assuming Al Horford is able to fully recover from his most recent injury and have a healthy season, I believe the Hawks should be aiming for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Chris Vivlamore of Atlanta Journal Constitution: On Monday, former NBA All-Star Daron “Mookie” Blaylock was sent to prison for killing a woman in a crash on Tara Boulevard. The sentence put another face on the golf-loving basketball legend than the one once so familiar with NBA fans. The 47-year-old former Atlanta Hawk, was sentenced to 15 years but with only three to actually serve in prison for vehicular homicide and other charges in the death of Monica Murphy — a mother of five — in a head-on collision in Clayton County on May 31, 2013.
