After a dismal 31-51 record in 1976-1977 the Atlanta Hawks moved up the ladder in the Central Division and played .500 basketball the next year, going 41-41, in Armond Hill's second NBA season. To be sure it wasn't just the Brooklyn-born Armond's fine defense and ball-handling at the guard position, Hill played with a lineup of solid players, including forwards John Drew and John Brown, guard Charlie Criss, and center Steve Hawes, anchored by a young backup center, 7-ft 1-inch Tree Rollins.
In 1978-1979 Armond Hill averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game and a career-high in assists per game with 5.9 - ninth highest among all NBA players. He helped the Hawks reach the NBA postseason playoffs three consecutive years - 1978, 1979 and 1980.
During 1977-78 the Atlanta Hawks had no player over the age of 28 and defensive-minded coach Hubie Brown was chosen the NBA Coach of the Year.
Armond Hill career stats: 3214 points in 468 games, 1150 FGM, 2817 FGA, a .408 pct, 913 FTM, 1101 FTA, a .829 pct, 548 steals, 2194 assists, 839 turnovers created, 6.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.7 apg. |