2007–08 Atlanta Hawks season

The 2007–08 Atlanta Hawks season was the team's 59th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the 40th in Atlanta. After missing the playoffs for eight straight seasons, the Hawks selected Al Horford out of the University of Florida with the third pick in the 2007 NBA draft. The Hawks started out the season by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 101–94 in their season opener, marking the first time they won their first game of the season since the 1999 lockout season. However, their struggles continued as they went on a six-game losing streak around the All-Star break. At midseason, the Hawks traded Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright, Anthony Johnson, and second-year forward Shelden Williams to the Sacramento Kings for Mike Bibby. The Hawks finished third in the Southeast Division with a 37–45 record, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Joe Johnson averaged 21.7 points per game, and was selected for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. Josh Smith provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, while Horford averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and made the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the top-seeded Boston Celtics in seven games. With their 37-45 (0.451) record, the 2008 Hawks are the worst team record-wise to push an eventual NBA Champion to an elimination game. Coincidentally, the Hawks in 2014 would be the 8th seed at 38-44 and take the top seeded conference finalist Indiana Pacers to a 7 game series. Following the season, Josh Childress left to play overseas.

Key dates prior to the start of the season:


 * The 2007 NBA draft took place in New York City on June 28.
 * The free agency period began in July.

Draft picks
Atlanta's selections from the 2007 NBA draft in New York City.

Game log
19,767 || 1–0 22,076 || 1–1 12,336 || 1–2 19,855 || 2–2 18,624 || 2–3 13,172 || 2–4 12,239 || 3–4 13,534 || 3–5 14,511 || 3–6 17,025|| 3–7 19,600||4–7 14,101||5–7 21,826 ||5–8 11,286||6–8 14,186||6–9
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 1 || November 2 || Dallas ||W 101–94|| J. Johnson (28) || Smith (11) || J. Johnson, Lue, Smith (4) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 2 || November 4 || @ Detroit || L 91–92 || J. Johnson (23) || Horford (11) || J. Johnson (4) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 3 || November 6 || @ New Jersey || W 82–87 || Childress, Smith (18) || Childress, Horford, Smith (7) || Smith (6) ||Izod Center
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 4 || November 7 || Phoenix || W 105–96 || Smith (22) || Horford (15) || J. Johnson (10) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 5 || November 9 || @ Boston || L 83–106 || J. Johnson, Horford (16) || Childress, Horford (7) || J. Johnson, Law (5) ||TD Banknorth Garden
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 6 || November 11 || Washington || L 90–101 || Smith (23) || M. Williams (12) || M. Williams (6) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 7 || November 14 || Charlotte || W 117–109 || J. Johnson (34) || Horford (13) || J. Johnson (10) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 8 || November 16 || Seattle || L 123–126 || J. Johnson (39) || Horford (14) || J. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 9 || November 17 || @ Milwaukee || L 96–105 || Smith (38) || Horford, M. Williams (8) || J. Johnson (9) ||Bradley Center
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 10 || November 20 || San Antonio ||L 83–95||J. Johnson (20) ||Horford (8) ||A. Johnson (7) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 11 || November 21 || @ Miami ||W 82–79|| J. Johnson (22) ||J. Smith (11) || J. Johnson, Josh Smith (4)||American Airlines Arena
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 12 || November 24 || @ Minnesota ||W 98–87 ||J. Johnson (25)||J. Smith (8) || J. Johnson, J. Smith (5) ||Target Center
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 13 || November 27 || @ Chicago ||L 78–90 ||J. Johnson (21) ||A. Horford (14) ||J. Johnson (5) ||United Center
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 14 || November 28 || Milwaukee ||W 96–80 ||J. Johnson (21)||J. Smtih, Z. Pachulia (8) ||J. Smith (7) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 15 || November 30 || New Orleans ||L 86–92 ||M. Williams (18) || A. Horford (15)||J. Johnson (9) ||Philips Arena

11,465 12,754 12,232 15,658 16,821 13,173 ||10–11 22,076||10–12 14,040 ||11–12 15,263||12–12 17,069 ||13–12 16,472 ||14–12 16,070||15–12 20,338||15–13
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 16 || December 3 || @ Philadelphia ||W 88–79|| J. Smtih (22)|| A. Horford (13)|| J. Johnson (7)||Wachovia Center
 * 7–9
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 17 || December 4 || Detroit ||L 95–106|| J. Childress (18)||A. Horford (10)||A. Johnson, S. Stoudamire (3) ||Philips Arena
 * 7–10
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 18 || December 6 || Minnesota ||W 90–89 ||J. Smith (28) ||A. Horford (15) ||A. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * 8–10
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 19 || December 8 || Memphis ||W 86–78 || J. Smith (25)||A. Horford (14) ||A. Johnson (8) ||Philips Arena
 * 9–10
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 20 || December 10 || @ Orlando ||W 98–87 ||J. Smith (25) ||J. Smith (15) ||J. Smith, A. Johnson (5) ||Amway Arena
 * 10–10
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 21 || December 11 || Toronto ||L 88–100 ||J. Johnson, M. Williams (23) ||A. Horford (10) ||A. Law (6) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 22 || December 14 || @ Detroit||L 81–91 ||J. Johnson (23)||L. Wright (12)||A. Johnson, J. Smith (3) ||The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 23 || December 15 || Charlotte ||W 93–84||J. Johnson (31) ||J. Smith (10) ||A. Johnson (7) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 24 || December 17 || Utah ||W 116–111 ||J. Johnson (26) ||J. Smith (12) ||A. Johnson (14) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 25 || December 19 || Miami || W 114–111(OT) ||M.Williams (26) || M.Williams (9) || A.Johnson, J.Johnson (9) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 26 || December 21 || @ Washington ||W 97–92 ||J. Johnson (32) ||J. Smith (14) ||J. Johnson, A. Johnson (8) ||Verizon Center
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 27 || December 26 || Indiana ||W 107–95 ||J. Johnson (26) ||S. Williams (10) ||J. Johnson (11) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 28 || December 29 || @ Dallas ||L 84–97 ||M. Williams (18) ||A. Horford (10) ||J. Johnson (5) ||American Airlines Center

20,562||15–14 10,797 ||15–15    15,766||15–16 16,246||16–16 16,064||16–17 16,065||17–17 18,235||18–17 14,506||18–18 19,800||18–19 17,400||18–20 14,213||18–21 13,647 ||19–21 20,438||19–22 18,422||19–23 14,874||19–24
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 29 || January 2 || @ Cleveland ||L 94–98 ||J. Johnson (24) ||A. Horford (9) ||A. Horford (3) ||Quicken Loans Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 30 || January 4 || @ Indiana ||L 91–113 ||J. Childress (26) ||J. Childress (8) ||M. West (3) ||Conseco Fieldhouse
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 31 || January 5 || New Jersey ||L 107–113 ||J. Smith (34) ||J. Smith (9) ||A. Johnson (10) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 32 || January 9 || Cleveland ||W 90–81 ||J. Johnson (29) ||A. Horford (15) ||A. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 33 || January 11 || Washington ||L 98–102 ||J. Smith (35) || A. Horford (19) ||A. Johnson, J. Johnson (9) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 34 || January 13 || Chicago ||W 105–84 ||J. Johnson (37) ||J. Johnson, J. Childress, A. Horford (9) ||J. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 35 || January 15 || Denver ||W 104–93 ||J. Johnson (22) ||M. Williams (9) ||A. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 36 || January 16 || @ Milwaukee ||L 80–87 ||M. Williams (22) ||A. Horford, J. Johnson (7) ||A. Johnson (7) ||Bradley Center
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 37 || January 18 || @ Toronto ||L 78–89 ||J. Johnson (25) ||A. Horford, M. Williams, J. Smith (9) ||J. Smith, J. Johnson (7) ||Air Canada Centre
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 38 || January 21 || Portland ||L 109–111 ||J. Johnson (37) ||J. Smith (17) ||J. Johnson (7) ||Philips Arena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 39 || January 23 || @ Denver ||L 100–107 ||J. Smith (22)||J. Smith (12) ||J. Smith (10) ||Pepsi Center
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 40 || January 25 || @ Seattle ||W 99–90 ||M. Williams (33) ||A. Horford (16) ||J. Johnson (7)||KeyArena
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 41 || January 27 || @ Portland ||L 93–94 ||J. Johnson (19) ||A. Horford (12) ||A. Johnson (11) ||Rose Garden
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 42 || January 29 || @ Phoenix ||L 92–125 ||M. Williams (18) ||M. Williams, J. Johnson (8) ||A. Law (4) ||US Airways Center
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 43 || January 30 || @ LA Clippers ||L 88–95 ||J. Smith (21) ||J. Smith, A. Horford (10) ||J. Smith (8) ||Staples Center

(24)||J. Smith (8)||A. Law (8)||Philips Arena 18,102||20–24 (21)||A. Horford (8)||J. Smith (9)||Philips Arena 14,563||21–24 (28)||A. Horford (20)||J. Smith (9)||Philips Arena 19,701||22–24 (23)||J. Smith (8)||J. Johnson (8)||Philips Arena 19,335||22–25 (21)||Z. Pachulia (9)||J. Johnson (4)||Toyota Center 18,177||22–26 (30)||A. Horford (16)||J. Johnson (4)||Philips Arena 18,227||22–27 (23)||A. Horford (14)||J. Johnson (4)||Charlotte Bobcats Arena 11,213||22–28 (18)||Z. Pachulia (12)||J. Smith (6)||Staples Center 18,997||22–29 (18)||A. Horford (12)||J. Johnson (4)||ARCO Arena 13,641||22–30 (27)||M. Williams (14)||J. Johnson (8)||Oracle Arena 19,596||23–30 (30)||J. Smith (12)||M. Bibby J. Johnson (9)||EnergySolutions Arena 19,911||23–31 (17)||A. Horford J. Smith (13)||M. Bibby J. Johnson (5)||AT&T Center 18,113||23–32 (26)||A. Horford (14)||M. Bibby (12)||Philips Arena 15,661||24–32 (25)||A. Horford (11)||M. Bibby (11)||Philips Arena 18,339||25–32
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 44 || February 2 || New Jersey ||W 104–92||M. Williams
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 45 || February 4 || Philadelphia ||W 96–91||J. Childress
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 46 || February 6 || LA Lakers ||W 98–95||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 47 || February 8 || Cleveland ||L 100–95||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 48 || February 9 || @ Houston ||L 108–89||J. Childress
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 49 || February 12 || Detroit ||L 94–90||J. Smith
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 50 || February 13 || @ Charlotte ||L 100–98||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 51 || February 19 || @ LA Lakers ||L 122–93||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 52 || February 20 || @ Sacramento ||L 119–107||J. Childress
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 53 || February 22 || @ Golden State ||W 117–110||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 54 || February 23 || @ Utah ||L 100–94||J. Smith
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 55 || February 25 || @ San Antonio ||L 89–74||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 56 || February 27 || Sacramento ||W 123–117||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 57 || February 29 || New York ||W 99–93||J. Smith

(22) ||A. Horford (11)||M. Bibby (9)||TD Banknorth Garden 18,624||25–33 (38)||J. Smith (11)||M. Bibby J. Johnson (6)||Philips Arena 16,575||25–34 (24)||A. Horford (11)||M. Bibby A. Horford (4)||New Orleans Arena 12,430||25–35 (20)||A. Horford (11)||M. Bibby (10)||Charlotte Bobcats Arena 15,203||25–36 (39)||J. Smith (8)||J. Johnson (8)||Philips Arena 17,022||26–36 (27)||J. Smith (12)||J. Johnson (11)||Amway Arena 15,921||26–37 (28)||J. Smith (22)||M. Bibby A. Horford (4)||Philips Arena 17,078||26–38 (28)||Z. Pachulia (10)||M. Bibby (14)||Philips Arena 16,107||27–38 (28)||A. Horford (10)||J. Johnson (11)||Madison Square Garden 19,763||28–38 (23) ||A. Horford (15)||J. Johnson (10)||Verizon Center 16,227 ||29–38 (24)||A. Horford (15)||M. Bibby A. Horford (6)||Izod Center 14,102||29–39 (34)||A. Horford (10)||M. Bibby (8)||Philips Arena 18,825||30–39 (22)||A. Horford (13)||M. Bibby (7)||United Center 21,806||30–40 (28)||Z. Pachulia (8)||J. Johnson (8)||Philips Arena 14,832||31–40 (30)||M. Williams (11)||M. Bibby (8)||Philips Arena 17,223||32–40 (27)||A. Horford (13)||J. Johnson (13)||Philips Arena 16,573||33–40 (26) ||J. Smith (8) ||J. Johnson (8)||FedExForum 10,281||34–40
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 58 || March 2 || @ Boston ||L 98–88||J. Smith
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 59 || March 4 || Golden State ||L 135–118||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 60 || March 5 || @ New Orleans||L 116–101||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 61 || March 7 || @ Charlotte||L 108–93||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 62 || March 8||Miami||W 97–94||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 63 || March 10 || @ Orlando ||L 123–112||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 64 || March 12 ||Houston||L 83–75||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 65 || March 14 ||LA Clippers||W 117–93||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 66 || March 16 || @ New York ||W 109–98||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 67 || March 17 || @ Washington||W 105–96||M. Bibby
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 68 || March 19 || @ New Jersey || L 125–117||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 69 || March 22 || Orlando ||W 98–90||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 70 || March 25 || @ Chicago ||L 103–94||J.Childress
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 71 || March 26 || Milwaukee ||W 115–96||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 72 || March 28 || Chicago||W 106–103||M. Bibby
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 73 || March 30 || New York ||W 114–109||M. Williams
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 74 || March 31 || @ Memphis ||W 116–99 ||J. Smith

(28)||A. Horford (12)||M. Bibby (12)||Philips Arena 14,691||35–40 (32)||J.Smith (8)||M.Bibby (11)||Philips Arena 18,729||35–41 (30)||A.Horford (12)||J.Johnson (6)||Wachovia Center 19,775||36–41 (22)||J.Smith (13)||J.Johnson (4)||Conseco Fieldhouse 10,876||36–42 (34)||A.Horford (11)|| J.Johnson (6)||Madison Square Garden 19,763||37–42 (21)||A.Horford (11)||J.Johnson (8)||Philips Arena 20,098||37–43 (16)||A.Horford (11)||A.Horford (6)||Philips Arena 18,738||37–44 (20)||A.Horford (12)||M.Bibby J.Johnson (5)||American Airlines Arena 19,073 ||37–45
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 75 || April 2 || Toronto ||W 127–120||J. Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 76 || April 4 || Philadelphia ||L 109–104||J.Johnson
 * -bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 77 || April 5 || @ Philadelphia ||W 112–98||J.Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 78 || April 8 || @ Indiana ||L 92–85||J.Johnson
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 79 || April 11 || @ New York ||W 116–104||J.Johnson
 * -bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 80 ||April 12||Boston||L 99–89||J.Johnson
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 81 || April 15 || Orlando ||L 121–105 ||M. Williams
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 82 || April 16 || @ Miami || L 113–99 ||J.Smith

(*)The final minute of the Miami game was played on March 8

Regular season
* Total for entire season including previous team(s)

Playoffs
18,624 || 0–1 18,624 || 0–2 19,725||1–2 20,016 || 2–2 18,624||2–3 20,425 || 3–3 18,624 || 3–4
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 1 || April 20 || @ Boston || 81–104 || A. Horford (20) || A. Horford (10) || J. Johnson (7) ||TD Banknorth Garden
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 2 || April 23 || @ Boston || 77–96 || Two-Way Tie (13) || A. Horford (9) || Two-Way Tie (3) ||TD Banknorth Garden
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 3 || April 26 || Boston || 102–93 ||J. Smith (27)||A. Horford (10)||M. Bibby (8)||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 4 || April 28 || Boston || 97–92 || J. Johnson (35) || A. Horford (13) || J. Johnson (6) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 5 || April 30 || @ Boston||85–110 ||J. Johnson (21)||A. Horford (10)||A. Horford (5)||TD Banknorth Garden
 * - bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 6 || May 2 || Boston || 103–100 || M. Williams (18) || Four-Way Tie (6) || M. Bibby (7) ||Philips Arena
 * - bgcolor="edbebf"
 * 7 || May 4 || @ Boston || 65–99 || J. Johnson (16) || A. Horford (12) || A. Horford (3) ||TD Banknorth Garden

Awards and records

 * Joe Johnson, Selected to the NBA All-Star Game
 * Al Horford, selected to participate in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge
 * Al Horford, named November Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month
 * Joe Johnson, named NBA Player of the Week
 * Al Horford, named February Eastern Conferenced Rookie of the Month
 * Joe Johnson named March Eastern Conference Player of the Month

Transactions
The Hawks have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.