Toronto at Atlanta

I haven't been this interested in the Hawks since the Spider from Split (pictured above) was running the floor for Atlanta.

Sure, the team came out of the gate playing strong defense last year, but this feels different. For one, the defense is better, and though the team will miss Josh Childress, the Hawks proved late last year that they can run a good offense when the time calls for it.

More interested in the Hawks in the first week of November than you were during the opening round of last year's playoffs?

You bet. The Hawks were criminally outclassed by the Celtics last year, and only took the series to seven games because the coin landed on "Hawks" three times in Atlanta. That series wasn't anywhere near as close as people credit it as being, and it came on the heels of a three-month defensive downswing for Mike Woodson's crew.

This year, things are different. And going up against an equally intriguing Raptors team adds to the bit of excitement. Not even the impending thunderstorm as predicted by Yahoo! in the game preview can dampen my spirits.

13 games tonight, kids, so comment away as you see fit.

Atlanta Hawks: 3-0, 88.6 possessions per game (24th-fastest in the NBA), 105.8 points scored per 100 possessions (13^th in the NBA), 94.9 points allowed per 100 possessions (3^rd). Breakthru.

Toronto Raptors: 3-1, 88.7 possessions per game (23^rd-fastest in the NBA), 107.4 points scored per 100 possessions (8^th), 104.2 points allowed per 100 (16^th). Spread Your Wings.