Wednesday's win over Orlando was an outstanding way to start the season. You know what else would be outstanding - getting out of the gate 2-0. It won't be easy tonight, as the Philadelphia 76ers come to Philips Arena, a team many are touting as a potential threat to the Boston-Detroit hegemony in the Eastern Conference.

This is a big game for the Hawks, even for this early in the season. With so many early games on the road, it's imperative for Atlanta to take care of business at home. The Sixers are a good team, but the Hawks can match their talent. With a rocking crowd expected, there is no reason to think the home team can't get a victory, especially with Philly on the second night of a back-to-back (they drummed the Knicks at home last night).

The buzzword around the Hawks so far this preseason and in the opening few days of the season has been focus. The team knows it wasn't there at all times last year, and they are determined to keep their intensity level high in 08-09. It was there on Wednesday at Orlando, and I saw it at practice yesterday, as the team engaged in perhaps the most intense scrimmage I've seen in years. Bodies were flying, words were exchanged (mostly in the direction of assistant coaches Bob Bender and Tyrone Hill, who were given the unfortunate task of refereeing the action) - there was definitely a fire in everyone's eyes.

I asked Joe Johnson about it after practice, and he talked about how the team's focus has to be there if the team wants to be a factor in the playoff chase this season. Assistant coach Larry Drew mentioned it as well in our Breaking Down the Sixers segment, particularly on the defensive end.

The Sixers have a lot of young athletes just like the Hawks, so I am expecting an up-and-down affair. It's early, so I don't expect Philly's legs to be particularly weak after a game last night, but it's still something I hope we will try to take advantage of tonight.

Come down to Philips tonight and let's see if we can't recreate some of the atmosphere we all enjoyed so much during the playoff run back in April.