Hey guys,

Last Year, the Atlanta Hawks finished up in 8th place in the Eastern Conference and the Indiana Pacers were the #1 team in the Eastern Conference, but now, this year, the tables have turned

The Hawks def. the Pacers tonight to get their 14th straight win (the longest streak in franchise history) and not only that, but they also lead the Southeastern Division, the Eastern Conference and most of all, they remain the #1 team with the Best Record in the League with a record of 35-8

Here's the story:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20150121_IND@ATL

Korver dunks, Hawks win 14th in a row, 110-91 over Pacers
By PAUL NEWBERRY | AP Sports Writer
Jan. 21, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) Kyle Korver got out ahead of the break, took a pass from Al Horford and saw a clear path to the basket.

It was time to show his teammates that he really can dunk.

With Korver providing the highlight of the night with his first slam in more than two years, the Atlanta Hawks cruised past the Indiana Pacers 110-91 on Wednesday night, tying the franchise record with their 14th straight victory.

Even though it was another balanced effort, led by DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague scoring 17 points apiece, everyone wanted to chime in on Korver's above-the-rim exploits.

''It's been a while,'' Korver said, looking over at teammate Dennis Schroder with a big smile. ''Dennis didn't think I could dunk. He asked me if that was my first one ever.''

Actually, it was the 16th in a 12-year NBA career, according to STATS, but Korver's first since Nov. 16, 2012, at Sacramento - a span of 198 games.

''I didn't even know it was him,'' Horford said. ''Once he got it, I didn't think he would dunk it. He caught me by surprise.''

With the victory, which improved the Hawks' conference-leading record to a stunning 35-8, Mike Budenholzer clinched a spot as the Eastern coach in next month's All-Star Game in New York City.

''I had hoped you wouldn't mention that,'' said Budenholzer, in his second season as Atlanta's coach after a long stint as an assistant to Gregg Popovich at San Antonio.

Budenholzer should be taking several players with him. The Hawks romped to their 28th victory in the last 30 games, showing the kind of teamwork that has become their trademark in a season no one saw coming.

''It's a great honor, but I think it's the players that put you in that position,'' the coach said. ''We're the fortunate ones who get the honor of coaching an All-Star Game. I'll do my best to enjoy it.''

Ten Atlanta players scored before halftime, with the pesky Carroll leading the way. All five starters finished in double figures, and Pero Antic chipped in off the bench with 12 points.

C.J. Miles led the Pacers with 18 points. Indiana shot just 39.7 percent and lost its sixth in a row.

''They're a team that's hot and we're not playing very well,'' said the Pacers' Luis Scola. ''We had a bad game and this is what happened.''

The Hawks seized control late in the second by simply outworking the Pacers. After David West let a pass slip through his hands and roll back across the midcourt line, he paused briefly in frustration while Teague raced by him to scoop up the loose ball for an uncontested layup.

Indiana missed on its next possession, and Antic knocked down a 3-pointer. Just like that, the home team had stretched its lead to 47-32.

Up 52-41 at halftime, the Hawks quickly put things away at the start of the third, burying the Pacers from the 3-point stripe. Paul Millsap, Teague and Carroll all swished from long range in a 13-4 spurt that made it 65-45.

Carroll wasn't done. After the Pacers deflected one of his passes, he hustled for the loose ball, drove for the basket and put up a shot that rimmed out. Antic rebounded, whipped it back outside, and the Hawks passed all the way around the arc, setting up Carroll for an open 3-pointer from the corner.

Nothing but net.

A few seconds later, with his team up by 25, Carroll knocked the ball away, dove to the court and called timeout to ensure the Hawks kept possession. The crowd gave him an appreciative cheer on the way to the bench.

''They don't call me the Junkyard Dog for nothing,'' said Carroll, who bounced around to four teams before finding a home in Atlanta. ''I don't take anything for granted.''

ALL STARS

Budenholzer is the first Hawks coach since Lenny Wilkens in 1994 to lead a team at the All-Star Game. Budenholzer's staff will include Kenny Atkinson, Darvin Ham, Taylor Jenkins, Charles Lee, Neven Spahija and Ben Sullivan.

TIP-INS

Pacers: This is their third losing streak of at least six games. ... The starting frontcourt - West, Roy Hibbert and Solomon Hill - combined for just 20 points.

Hawks: Atlanta tied the record for consecutive wins set during the 1993-94 season, when they finished with the best record in the East. ... The Hawks shot 50 percent from the field, including 13 of 29 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Pacers: Play the fourth in a five-game road trip when they travel to Miami on Friday night.

Hawks: Host Oklahoma City on Friday night, the third in a seven-game homestand.

credit: cbssport.com

and BTW, had the NBA Playoffs started today, the playoff picture would look like this:

Eastern Conference Playoffs:
#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Miami Heat
#2 Washington Wizards vs. #7 Brooklyn Nets
#3 Toronto Raptors vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
#4 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference Playoffs:
#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 Phoenix Suns
#2 Portland Trailblazers vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs
#3 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #6 Los Angeles Clippers
#4 Dallas Mavericks vs. #5 Houston Rockets

If Chicago played Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs, that would be a good series and I hope Cleveland would win. Atlanta is a very good team and it'll be interesting to see how far they can go in the playoffs. I think they might go to the finals and the thing that's surprising is that they don't have any superstars. I know Dominique Wilkins is happy Atlanta is doing well since he used to play for them and he's a Hawks broadcaster. Dominique is one of my favorite NBA players and the Hawks are stupid for trading him to the Clippers for Danny Manning hahahahahahahahahaha. He should've retired with the Hawks.

I thought the Cavs were going down, but I'm sure by the All-Star Break...the Cavs may be a better team than they were earlier this year.

MrCleveland, the Cavs are playing Oklahoma on Sunday on ABC network at 3:30. That should be a good game. Former Cavs player Deion Waiters who's with Oklahoma is gonna want revenge against his old team. I hope Cleveland wins because Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are very good and they're tough to beat in Oklahoma. Deion said to the media recently that he wasn't getting the ball that much in Cleveland. Yeah right LOL. Before Lebron came back, Deion, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were carrying the scoring load. So I don't know why he lied. Even when Lebron came back, Deion was still getting the ball. I was surprised he was only averaging 10 points a game because he should've averaged way more than that because he's a good scorer. MrCleveland, did you see Lebron shot a airball free throw against Utah on Wednesday? LOL. His free throw shooting is terrible and I don't know why because he has a nice release on his shot. I saw him last week against the Clippers miss 3-4 free throws in a row.

Atlanta plays Golden State tonight in Atlanta and that's gonna be a good game between the 2 best teams. I wish it was gonna be on ESPN. I wanna say happy belated birthday to former Hawks star and Hawks broadcaster Dominique Wilkins who's birthday was January 12th. He's 55. He's one of my favorite NBA players and he was a awesome dunker. The Hawks should've never traded him to the Clippers for Danny Manning LOL.

Hey guys,

Last Night, 2 #1 ranked team played each other last night, but only one came out the winner and that team in the Atlanta Hawks who def. the Golden State Warriors 124-116 and now, they have THE Best Record in the NBA and they are STILL #1

Here's the story:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20150206_GS@ATL

Hawks use balance to win showdown with Warriors, 124-116
By CHARLES ODUM | AP Sports Writer
Feb. 6, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks climbed back to the top of the NBA standings by leaning on their depth.

Jeff Teague scored 23 points and the Atlanta Hawks overcame Golden State's one-two backcourt punch with balance, beating the Warriors 124-116 on Friday night in a showdown between the NBA's two conference leaders. Seven Hawks scored in double figures.

''I think we share the ball more than they do,'' said Atlanta's Dennis Schroder, who had nine points and seven assists off the bench. ''I think that's why we won the game tonight.''

The anticipated matchup did not disappoint. It was tied 52-all at halftime and Atlanta led by four entering the final period.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Mike Scott and Kyle Korver, who each had 17 points, helped stretch the lead.

The Hawks (42-9, .824) passed the Warriors (39-9, .813) for the league's best record.

It was tempting for all - with the possible exception of Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer - to view the game as a possible NBA finals preview.

''I don't think one bit about that,'' Budenholzer said without a smile after the game.

The Warriors leaned on their one-two punch of Klay Thompson, who had 29 points, and Stephen Curry, who had 26 with nine assists. Golden State had only two other scorers in double figures.

Al Horford had 12 points and 14 rebounds, despite playing only eight minutes in the second half due to foul trouble, and Paul Millsap had 21.

Nine of the 11 points Teague scored in the final frame came on free throws.

''They were good,'' said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. ''They were better than us. We broke down defensively. They had a lot to do with that because of the way they stretch you out.''

Atlanta led 100-90 with 8:32 remaining. Golden State cut it to six points when Horford was charged with an offensive foul - his fifth. Horford drew a technical when protesting the call. He had to leave the game, just as he did with 8:21 remaining in the third, when he drew his fourth foul, also on a charge.

Less than three minutes later, Golden State's Draymond Green drew a technical for arguing a foul call.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Golden State had its three-game winning streak snapped. ... Curry had 15 points in the third period. ... Had their five-game winning streak over the Hawks end with their first loss in Atlanta since Dec. 29, 2010. ... Curry has at least one 3-pointer in 58 consecutive road games, the NBA's longest active streak. ... Harrison Barnes and Green each had 12 points. Green had a career-high 20 rebounds, the team's first 20-rebound game since Andrew Bogut grabbed that many on Dec. 21, 2012.

Hawks: Atlanta had 72 second-half points. ... G Shelvin Mack was in uniform but did not play after being inactive nine straight games with a left calf strain. ... Horford, Teague and Millsap were handed their All-Star jerseys in a pregame ceremony. ... The Hawks said about 170 credentials were issued for the game - more than for any Atlanta playoff game last season.

KERR'S COMEDY

With the Warriors in the middle of a stretch with four games in five nights, coach Steve Kerr was asked before the game if he plans to rest any players against Atlanta.

''I am. I've decided to rest Steph, Klay, Draymond and Bogut,'' Kerr said, naming four starters.

Just kidding.

Kerr added with a laugh: ''Can I get fined for a joke?''

THREE FOR ALL

The game brought together three contenders in next week's NBA Three-Point Contest at the All-Star game. The ''Splash Brothers'' of Curry and Thompson and Atlanta's Korver will join five others in the contest.

Korver had support from other long-range shooters. Kent Bazemore made each of his three 3s in the first half. Scott hit back-to-back 3s at the end of the third to give Atlanta an 89-85 lead entering the final quarter.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Visit Knicks on Saturday

Hawks: Visit Grizzlies on Sunday.

credit: cbssports.com

and BTW, had the Playoffs started today, this what it would look like

Eastern Conference Playoffs:
#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets
#2 Toronto Raptors vs. #7 Charlotte Hornets
#3 Washington Wizards vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
#4 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference Playoffs:
#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 Phoenix Suns
#2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs
#3 Houston Rockets vs. #6 Los Angeles Clippers
#4 Portland Trailblazers vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks