Josh Smith says the Atlanta Hawks can compete for an NBA title this season presumably with a straight face as well. In a season where the Eastern Conference is wide open, the Hawks seemingly regressed a little when they traded Joe Johnson from a roster that had remained largely unchanged for a few seasons, years in which Atlanta never progressed past the second round of the playoffs.
Despite that, Smith says his expectations have not changed for Atlanta heading into the season.
“My expectations are the same expectations I set for this ball club every year and that’s to compete for a championship. I think that we have the talent. We have the cohesiveness. All we have to do is be able to figure out a way to play consistently together on the defensive end. I think when we get that down pat, the sky is the limit for this team,” said Smith.
Presumably with a straight face.
