(Sports Network) - A pair of Eastern Conference rivals kick off their seasons Wednesday when the Atlanta Hawks play host to the Indiana Pacers at Philips Arena.

After missing the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, the Hawks have blossomed into one of the better young teams in the NBA over the past two years. Atlanta has improved its win totals in each of coach Mike Woodson's years at the helm from a miserable 13 in 2004-05 all the way to 47 in 2008-09.

The Hawks finished last season as the fourth seed in the conference and outlasted division rival Miami in a hard-fought seven-game series before being swept by the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals.

Now, with all five starters back and eight of the top nine players from last season's club, The next step is cracking the upper echelon in the East and challenging the Orlando Magic for a Southeast Division title.

Woodson has a solid, youthful core to build upon. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford and Marvin Williams are the talented building blocks for the Hawks' coach. The team was also able to re-sign veteran point guard Mike Bibby to run the show, while bringing in high-scoring guard Jamal Crawford as well as the underrated Joe Smith, a solid rebounder and terrific low-post defender. Former Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague was also a solid addition on draft night.

On the injury front Bibby is struggling with a sore wrist but is probable for the opener while Horford is a question mark with a balky ankle.

The Pacers, meanwhile, were nearly a playoff team a year ago, but injuries derailed the club.

Like most lottery teams, the Pacers lacked defensive prowess and toughness on the boards. Under Jim O'Brien, Indiana can score, however, averaging 105.1 points per game last season, good for fifth in the NBA.

All-Star forward Danny Granger was the 2009 Most Improved Player, netting 25.8 points per game while Troy Murphy averaged a double-double with 14.3 points and 11.8 boards per game.

This summer the Pacers made the decision to add defense and take the shrinkwrap off talented young center Roy Hibbert and guard Brandon Rush. Draftee Tyler Hansbrough and free agent signings Earl Watson, and Dahntay Jones should also all offer a defensive mindset.

All that said, the biggest boost to O'Brien's lineup would have been the healthy return of sharp-shooter Mike Dunleavy. But, Dunleavy, who was limited to just 18 games last season, is sidelined again with a knee strain and will not be allowed to practice until some time in November.

"(The strain is) on the back of his ligament," O'Brien said. "It's going to take some time for that to heal before he can get on the basketball court."

Granger is probable for tonight's game with a bruised heel, while center Jeff Foster is questionable with a balky back.

Atlanta took three of four games vs. the Pacers last season, including both meetings at Philips Arena.



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