"If the Hawks made a couple more of what are among the highest-percentage shots in basketball, they'd be 8-1 and the talk of the Eastern Conference.

Yet they didn't make those free throws, and so they aren't getting all the plaudits.

Still, the Hawks did more than just survive a difficult schedule to start the season. Atlanta posted a 6-3 record over 12 days with a couple victories against East contenders Chicago and Miami."