(My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Hawks seem to be willing to try anything to improve their record. Over the summer, the team decided to take a chance when it traded for a talented yet volatile scorer -- Glenn Robinson.

Robinson was slowed by a hamstring injury at the start of training camp, but he appears to be on the mend and ready for the start of the regular season.

"I feel much better," Robinson said. "Any time you come back from injury, your rhythm is going to be off a little bit. But this is the time to get all your injuries out of the way."

Of course, the main concern with Robinson is not injury, but off-court antics. Ray Allen, a former teammate of Robinson's on the Bucks, has gone on record as saying Robinson was responsible for Milwaukee's horrible team chemistry last season. Robinson fired back after hearing the remarks.

"I have no respect for him [Allen]," Robinson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "If this was a street game, I'd be going upside his head when I see him. But this is the NBA."

Robinson will see Allen and the rest of his former Bucks' teammates on December 5.

FRONTCOURT:

The heart and soul of the Hawks is Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who made his first The heart and soul of the Hawks is Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who made his first All-Star appearance in his first season with Atlanta last year. Perhaps because he was callused from his time with the woeful Grizzlies, he did not let the mounting losses get in the way of his effort and production. Abdur-Rahim is not only a considerable talent, but he brings a commitment to the game that coach Lon Kruger can only hope is contagious.

Abdur-Rahim should benefit greatly from Robinson's presence. Much like the departed Toni Kukoc, the Hawks can't expect much from Robinson on the defensive end. The good news is, Robinson can score from both inside and outside. This will make him a legitimate second option -- and on some nights a first option -- for Abdur-Rahim to work with.

Atlanta also hopes to reap the benefits of a healthy Theo Ratliff. Ratliff will take the rebounding and defensive pressure off the shoulders of both Robinson and Abdur-Rahim. Ratliff's continued health throughout the season is far from certain given his fragile past, but if he holds up the Hawks will match up well with most of the weak sisters in the Eastern Conference.

Ratliff's ability to stay on the court gives the Hawks their best chance to win. He's athletic and is a tremendous shot-blocker. If Ratliff maintains his health and quickly regains confidence in his abilities after not playing regularly since February 2001, Atlanta will be a high-energy squad. The Hawks were a bad one-on-one defensive team last season, but they will be able to take more chances with Ratliff's shot-blocking to erase mistakes.

GUARDS:

Size may be a problem in Atlanta's backcourt, but talent certainly won't be.

Jason Terry can play both the point or shooting guard positions and is capable of dominating a game from either spot. Kruger says he plans on starting Terry at the point, but that is certainly subject to change. Terry struggled at point guard as a rookie three years ago and was indecisive with the ball -- torn between taking his shot or giving up the rock. After Jim Jackson was hurt two years ago, Terry shifted to shooting guard out of necessity and flourished. Last season, Terry finished the year at point guard, proving his decision-making skills had improved in the process.

Rookie Dan Dickau has a ton of potential and could at times pair with Terry in the backcourt. They would be small on defense but could put pressure on other teams on the offensive end.

Ira Newble is a tough player with a lot of heart. Newble will likely start at the shooting guard position, pending the development of Dickau and Terry settling in at one of the two guard spots. Newble has always provided perimeter defense, it's whether or not he can provide any offense that remains the question.

BENCH:

The Robinson acquisition will likely retard the growth of reserve small forward DerMarr Johnson. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, but was disappointing until late last season. Johnson would much rather be in the backcourt, and the Hawks will spot him as both a two and a three. Much like a young Terry, Johnson must work on his decision-making and focus. He's been known to take ill-advised shots at inopportune times. When he finally grows into his 6-9 frame, he will be a much more physical and confident player.

Reserve forwards Alan Henderson, who was slowed by a knee injury last season, and Chris Crawford can bring some grit to the table if healthy. It's hard to imagine, however, that both will be healthy all season.

Nazr Mohammed started 73 games at center last season in place of an injured Ratliff. Mohammed is better suited to play power forward, and this year he'll see his share of minutes at the four. Mohammed could end up being one of the best reserve centers in the league. The undersized Mohammed (6-10, 250) was thrown to the wolves in the pivot last season, but he played in all 82 games.

Emanual Davis will be the main reserve guard off the bench after the three-man rotation of Terry, Newble and Dickau. Davis can provide some scoring in spurts, but is limited on the defensive end.

OUTLOOK: The Hawks are an improved team entering the 2002-03 campaign. It's hard to predict how much of an improvement one can expect in terms of record, since there are so many players on the squad that are prone to injury. Stan Kasten and the rest of the Hawks' front office has guaranteed a partial refund to season ticket holders if the club fails to qualify for the postseason. This is a nice gesture from Atlanta's brass, now the Hawks have to deliver. If injuries are not widespread on the team, Atlanta could make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. If the injury bug once again feasts on the Hawks, they could be a 25-30 win team.