STRENGTHS: The addition of Jamal
Crawford (19.7 ppg) gives the Hawks a deep backcourt
... Crawford is skilled at creating his own shot and he’s
not afraid to shoot ... He should be hungry since he has yet
to appear in a playoff game ... Mike Bibby isn’t
an all-star point guard, but he knows how to run a team ...
Three-time all-star Joe Johnson is somebody
who makes his teammates better ... Johnson (21.4 ppg) has
developed into a leader and a solid defender ... Josh
Smith and Marvin Williams are one
of the NBA’s more athletic forward tandems ... Williams
has continued to improve his long-range shooting, although
he’s not a finished product ... Smith is one of the
best shot blockers from the forward position ... He is also
one of the NBA’s top finishers off the break ... Al
Horford plays within his means, rarely forcing shots
... Despite their lack of size, the Hawks are a solid defensive
team, relying on their quickness and athleticism ... Adding
Joe Smith was a great move, giving the Hawks
a veteran frontcourt presence off the bench ... Jeff
Teague could provide immediate minutes in a backup
point guard role.
WEAKNESSES:
The Hawks lack size ... Horford is undersized and probably better at power forward, but he’ll have to play center for Atlanta ... Due to the lack of size, the Hawks don’t have a strong inside offensive presence ... Josh Smith has shown great improvement, but he still tends to hit inconsistent streaks ... Neither Bibby or Crawford are known for their defensive play ... Zaza Pachulia is serviceable at best as a frontcourt reserve or fill-in starter ... The Hawks were 28th in free throw percentage, although Crawford (career .843) should help in that area ... Atlanta is a below average rebounding team.
PROJECTION: 2nd in the Southeast Division
/ 4th in the Eastern Conference
.PROJECTED STARTERS
Point
guard Mike Bibby
Shooting
guard
Joe Johnson
Small
Forward Josh Smith
Steady
veteran point guard with great shooting skills. We
probably have already seen his best basketball.
The
team's only All-Star. Silently gets the job done.
Versatile. Able to lead the team in scoring and assists.
One
of the top athletes in the game. All-Star potential
if he plays within his limits. Shoots too much from
the outside.
Power
Forward Marvin Williams
Center Al Horford
Sixth
Man Jamal Crawford
Has
shown progress every year since he entered the NBA.
If he's able to take it to the next level, Atlanta
is really dangerous.
Strong
big man with great talent to boot. Likely to average
a double-double. Must give ATL the mean streak it
often lacks.
A
pure scorer. We'll have to wait to see how he adapts
to a bench role after several seasons starting.
2002-2009 BALLERS MEDIA SL Terms
of Service | Privacy Policy
No part of this website may be copied, transferred, or re-created without
the express consent of HoopsHype.com.
HoopsHype.com reserves the right to take legal actions against anyone
who does not respect its intellectual property rights.
Got something to tell? E-mail us at hoopshype@hoopshype.com
