Game Thread: Banner goes up tonight

092914 ATLANTA: Hawks guard Kent Bazemore smiles at a question during Media Day at Philips Arena on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Credit: Chris Vivlamore

Credit: Chris Vivlamore

092914 ATLANTA: Hawks guard Kent Bazemore smiles at a question during Media Day at Philips Arena on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

The Hawks will raise their 2014-15 Southeast Division banner before tonight's game against the Hornets.

It's the fifth division championship in franchise history - so it's reason for celebration.

Al Horford, who raised to national championship banners while at Florida said it's not small accomplishment.

"It will be cool," Horford said. "I've been here for eight years and I get excited about winning. When I was at Florida coach (Billy) Donovan celebrated every single little thing. I'm definitely excited about it."

Also:

* Mike Muscala will get the start at center tonight with Paul Millsap out two more games with a right shoulder strain. That much we know. Mike Budenholzer would not say who will start in Washington on Sunday.

* In a cool scene before tonight's game, Kent Bazemore took a large laundry basket on wheels full of old sneakers that he had signed to distribute to youth. "Spring cleaning," he said when I asked about the gesture.