chicagojay
08-25-2009, 10:32 AM
preface - what is this? Call it boredom but i felt like doing a season preview for all 30 nba teams i got the idea of a guy on bleacher report. Enjoy.
Last Year
47-35 Swept in the semi's by the Cav's
Additions
Jamal Crawford PG/SG from the Warriors
Jeff Teague PG from Wake Forest
Losses
Acie Law to the Warriors
Speedy Claxton to the Warriors
Flip Murray to FA
Projected depth chart
PG - Mike Bibby
SG - Joe Johnson
SF - Josh Smith
PF - Marvin Williams
C - Al Horford.
Is this possible? Last year the Hawks actually had a really good team. Mike Bibby in his first full year playing for the team, mastered the offense. Playing for a new contract he put up modest numbers of 14 ppg and 5rpg. Bibby was extended and it was a good move. He isnt needed to put up massive assist numbers as Joe Johnson plays alot of PG.
Johnson is the face of this franchise and does a bit of everything. He put up stellar numbers for the third year in a row. He is a good 3 shooter and can create his own shot and well as for his teammates. With rookie Jeff Teague in the line up spelling Bibby him and Johnson will be a scary threat shooting three's
At the 3 is the Hawks most excting player in Josh Smith, the guy is an athletic wonder and will go up and get boards. He is also a valuable wing defender but really needs to improve his free throw shooting as he was just 58% from the charity line last year. He is a premier shot blocker and stealer and will hope to continue to develop as he is only 23
At the other forward spot is recently re-signed Marvin Williams. He was never in any danger of leaving and he too at only 23 could still develop, so far he has been a disapointment. A poor defender he has struggled to develop post moves and is a bit undersized which would explain the poor number of 6.3 RPG as well as only 0.6 blocks. There is hope he could develop but the Hawks must wish they had picked CP3 or Deron Williams.
At center is Al Hawford. He is a natural power forward as he has some nice post moves as well as a nice mid range jumper. Defensively he dosent have the height or strength to match up with bigger, stronger centers in the league. He hits the boards well and would be an ideal fit for this team at the 4.
The Bench
This teams sixth man will be the exciting Jamal Crawford. This guy plays absolutely no defense and is the definition of an inconsistent shooter. However he has the ability to explode and carry a team offensively on any given night. He is my early favourite for sixth man of the year. Besides Crawford there is Jeff Teague who won't play to much this year but his three point shot is very nice. The froncourt depth looks sparse but Zaza Pachulia is a good back up who plays decent defense but will not give anything in terms of blocks.
Coach Mike Woodson is one of the better ones in this league IMO, he has turned this team from the worst in the league and given the city of Atlanta a legitimate contender.
Season Prediction
The Hawks will battle the Heat and Wizard for the 2 seed in the Southeast and i think they will win that battle comfortably. They should be able to repeat last years semi final appearance and who knows whether they could spring a suprise?
49 - 33 Second in the southeast. TBA in the East Conference.
Last Year
47-35 Swept in the semi's by the Cav's
Additions
Jamal Crawford PG/SG from the Warriors
Jeff Teague PG from Wake Forest
Losses
Acie Law to the Warriors
Speedy Claxton to the Warriors
Flip Murray to FA
Projected depth chart
PG - Mike Bibby
SG - Joe Johnson
SF - Josh Smith
PF - Marvin Williams
C - Al Horford.
Is this possible? Last year the Hawks actually had a really good team. Mike Bibby in his first full year playing for the team, mastered the offense. Playing for a new contract he put up modest numbers of 14 ppg and 5rpg. Bibby was extended and it was a good move. He isnt needed to put up massive assist numbers as Joe Johnson plays alot of PG.
Johnson is the face of this franchise and does a bit of everything. He put up stellar numbers for the third year in a row. He is a good 3 shooter and can create his own shot and well as for his teammates. With rookie Jeff Teague in the line up spelling Bibby him and Johnson will be a scary threat shooting three's
At the 3 is the Hawks most excting player in Josh Smith, the guy is an athletic wonder and will go up and get boards. He is also a valuable wing defender but really needs to improve his free throw shooting as he was just 58% from the charity line last year. He is a premier shot blocker and stealer and will hope to continue to develop as he is only 23
At the other forward spot is recently re-signed Marvin Williams. He was never in any danger of leaving and he too at only 23 could still develop, so far he has been a disapointment. A poor defender he has struggled to develop post moves and is a bit undersized which would explain the poor number of 6.3 RPG as well as only 0.6 blocks. There is hope he could develop but the Hawks must wish they had picked CP3 or Deron Williams.
At center is Al Hawford. He is a natural power forward as he has some nice post moves as well as a nice mid range jumper. Defensively he dosent have the height or strength to match up with bigger, stronger centers in the league. He hits the boards well and would be an ideal fit for this team at the 4.
The Bench
This teams sixth man will be the exciting Jamal Crawford. This guy plays absolutely no defense and is the definition of an inconsistent shooter. However he has the ability to explode and carry a team offensively on any given night. He is my early favourite for sixth man of the year. Besides Crawford there is Jeff Teague who won't play to much this year but his three point shot is very nice. The froncourt depth looks sparse but Zaza Pachulia is a good back up who plays decent defense but will not give anything in terms of blocks.
Coach Mike Woodson is one of the better ones in this league IMO, he has turned this team from the worst in the league and given the city of Atlanta a legitimate contender.
Season Prediction
The Hawks will battle the Heat and Wizard for the 2 seed in the Southeast and i think they will win that battle comfortably. They should be able to repeat last years semi final appearance and who knows whether they could spring a suprise?
49 - 33 Second in the southeast. TBA in the East Conference.