SQUEEZE the ORANGE...the HIGHLIGHT Factory use to be HIGHLIGHTS Only...now they are putting W's Up at a HIGHLIGHT Pace...Put your Mitts Together for the 2012-13 New ATL HAWKS led by Big TEAGUE, Big AL, and J-SMOOVE 5 #HAWKSnation Stand Up!

With a Big Match Up Tonight between Southeast Division Leaders the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks something catches your Eye. It's not that the Heat have hit a Bump in the Road or the Hawks are without traded Joe Johnson. It's the New Hawks come in with a 12-5 Record which includes a Eastern Conference Best 5-2 playing out of the Motel.

When New and Current Hawks GM Danny Ferry (Formerly a Spurs Exec and Cavs GM over the LeBron Watch) entertained the Idea of the Hawks getting rid of Salary Cap Pac Man Joe Johnson its was about the Cash but having Salary Cap Flexibility and at the same time still being competitive in the Southeast Division and Eastern Conference. Now without Fan Fare the Hawks enter Tonight's Game in 305 tied with White Hot at 12-5.

Who are the Leaders of the Hawks the Players who GM Ferry thought would lead in All-Star PF/C Al Horford and SF/PF Josh Smith. Let's look at the Key Players in the Hawks Mini-Resurgence:

SF Josh Smith (#5) 17 ppg 8 rebs
PF Al Horford (#15) 16.5 ppg 10 rebs
PG Jeff Teague (#0) 13.5 ppg 7 assts
Combo G Lou Williams 14 ppg
Sniper Kyle "Hot Sauce" Korver 11 ppg

Smith, Horford, and Teague are the Three Players the Hawks and Ferry chose to build around. Korver was a 2012 Free Agent Pick Up along with Lou Williams who the Sixers just let go. Hot Sauce and Lou have been Huge with Timely Money Balls from the Arc and excellent Team Guys in the Locker Room. The Bench has been Huge as well as most of that is on Expired Contracts as the hawks will have plenty of Cap Space to be a Player in the Summer of 2013 and look what is coming off the Pine for the Highlight Factory:

PG Devin Harris 7 ppg
SG DeShawn Stevenson 7 ppg

PF/C ZaZa Pachulia 6 ppg 7 rebs
SG/SF Anthony Morrow 5.5 ppg
PH Ivan "the Terrible" Johnson 5 ppg 3 rebs

Stevenson and Morrow came over in the Joe Johnson Trade. Harris was a a Big Piece in sending Hawks SF Mavin Williams. And Johnson was a Free Agent Find as well as Pachulia has been an Important Piece for Hawks for a Few Seasons.

The Hawks have put it together and off their Bench there is Hardly any drop off and that's why they are out the Gate at 12-5. Harris, Stevenson, Pachulia, and Stevenson have all been Starters for Teams and somewhat Important Cogs at one point or another. Look for the Hawks to stay in that Top Half of the East as at 12-5 that is no fluke through the Beginning of December.

Note: Numbers from Hawks.com