You know what is funny? As many times as I've said on this blog "You have to remember it's a marathon, not a sprint" (or something like that), I still manage to find myself making definitive statements about this team all the time. They can do it. They can't. They are a shoo-in for the playoffs. They'll never make it. Yada, yada, yada.

I think we all realize this team is not perfect, yet they are perfectly capable of playing the kind of basketball that inspires us to believe the best is yet to come. Wednesday's victory over LA was a great example. Both teams played well, but the Hawks played better, and in the process took down one of the favorites to win the Western Conference. It's no accident Atlanta has beaten the likes of Utah, Phoenix, and Dallas this year, they have immense talent.

What hasn't developed yet is consistency, and the lack thereof is what keeps the Hawks sitting in 7th place in the East instead of knocking on Orlando's door in the Southeast Division.

Every time they start to string a few games together, I begin to lose my ability to keep the big picture in mind and find myself wondering, "Is this it? Is this the run that shows the team has finally figured it all out?" Anything is possible. Look at Golden State last year, or Portland this year. The light bulb can turn on at any minute.

Which is why I will be very curious to see how the Hawks perform tonight against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Atlanta is 3-0 on their current homestand, and with every win they put the first West Coast swing further and further in the rearview mirror.

The wins over New Jersey and Philly were expected; the win over the Lakers was not. But the things that will ultimately make this team successful were shown off in all of them - playing up tempo, sharing the ball well, rebounding, and getting the guys shots in their favorite spots. When Atlanta does that, they are tough to beat. When they don't, they make it awfully hard on themselves.

A win tonight would seem, on its face, to be a huge step forward for this team as it approaches the All-Star break. A 4th straight win for the second time this season, made all the more important as they play 7 of the next 8 on the road.

Cleveland would seem beatable tonight. They are on the second night of a back-to-back, and they are dealing with a plethora of injuries. Anderson Varejao is out, as might be Drew Gooden and Daniel Gibson. LeBron James jammed his thumb last night as well.

Still, the Hawks have struggled in this setting before. I'd almost feel better about our chances if the Cleveland's whole squad was healthy.

But maybe this is it. Maybe the things that led to three straight wins will also lead to four, then five, then who knows?

Both games against Cleveland this year have been winnable, and they managed to beat the Cavs relatively easily in the previous game at Philips.

How they perform tonight will say a lot about what we can expect from them the rest of the season - unless it doesn't.

After all, as I have to keep reminding myself, it's only one game.

See you there!