How the ATL '08 looks so far

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Aside from being full of injuries last year, I dont think tanklanta will be much better than most the teams out there, especially east coast. Their 08 pick seems pretty solid so far.

East Coast Teams that will be above Atlanta

• New Jersey
• Toronto
• Chicago
• Cleveland
• Detroit
• Miami
• Washington
• New York
• Orlando

East Coast Maybes

• Charlotte
• Indiana
• Milwaukee
• Boston
• Philly

West Coast

• Golden State
• LAL
• Phoenix
• Dallas
• Houston
• San Antonio
• Denver
• Utah

West Coast Maybes

• LAC
• Sacramento
• New Orleans
• Memphis
• Seattle
• Portland
• Minnesota

What would you change?

 

[Bufalay]

I think that Atl is really hard to pick right now. It all depends on how well horford and law do. If those 2 play well, then they pretty much make that a complete team.

BTW does Kevin Durant remind anyone else of a taller Joe Johnson? I've only seen him play one game, but he seems to have a similar offensive game.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Orlando, Charlotte, and New York definitely belong in the maybes.

 

[SunsTzu]

The Hawks have more talent than a lot of those teams. On the bright side their roster seems mismatched and they have a horrible coach.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The Hawks have more talent than a lot of those teams. On the bright side their roster seems mismatched and they have a horrible coach.

I believe these teams are superior to Atlanta:

Toronto
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Miami

However, anything could happen between picks 6-8. The Hawks have an over abundance of young talent and stat first guys, and that rarely translates into a winning record.

 

[Bufalay]

I believe these teams are superior to Atlanta:

Toronto
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Miami

However, anything could happen between picks 6-8. The Hawks have an over abundance of young talent and stat first guys, and that rarely translates into a winning record.

who are the stat first guys?

 

[azirish]

Overall, the Hawsk averaged 93.7 ppg on 44.4% shooting while opponents averaged 98.4 ppg on 46.6% shooting. Their explanation is that they lost a whole bunch of games from injuries, but it was still pretty dismal. It's funny how bad a team can play when deliverately tanking.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

who are the stat first guys?

Salim Stoudemire, Al Horford, Speedy Claxton, off the top of my head. Salim was suspended last year for complaining about his role on the team. Claxton is Marcus Banks with injuries.

The real key is Horford. My friend who has been in Florida's locker room during games says Horford is always conscious of his stats. Blending his talents with Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, Josh Smith, and Pachulia should be quite the feat.

Horford isn't large enough to play center or quick enough to be a 3 so his minutes will come at the 4. That is where Josh Smith had blossomed last year ala Shawn Marion.

If Horford is going to get his minutes you have to sacrifice Shelden Williams AND Marvin Williams. If not, then Horford isn't going to be happy. Had the Hawks been wise they would have taken Conley at #3.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

LOL the Hawks list Horford as a F-C. Looking at their roster you just see a crappier copy of the Suns.

 

[slinslin]

The only teams that could be below Atlanta right now imo are Portland, Seattle, Indiana, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Philly and maybe Charlotte and Minnesota depening on Garnett.

New York should be a playoff team next year, Boston should be... none of the playoff teams of last year got worse. Orlando got better. Charlotte added Jason Richardson.

It should be top 10 quite easily.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I will be changing the list as the thread progresses

 

[scotsman13]

the area where the hawks have the biggest problem and the area that will keep them in the lottery is everything from the coach on up. the ownership group is in a fight as to who is going to own the team. and so far the person that looks as if he is going to win is the cheap one.

they scouting team has lead them to draft 3 power forwards in the last 3 drafts and then their new point guard is a rookie and share the ball on with a bunch of me first players.

and last but not least is the coach. first of all he is backing the losing side in the ownership fight. he has never lead a team to a winning record, and no matter what he does knows that when ownership fight is over he is out of job.

it all comes down to the hawks having nothing of a solid foundation and this will play over on to their team.

 

[MastersofCombat]

Bottomline is:
The Hawks have not developed one player since they arrived in Atlanta. Even Boris Diaw looks night and Day since his time in Atlanta.

The management is in Disarray, the coaching has to feel its hands are tied, because 2 assistants tried to sign with other teams as a unitlateral movement and were denied by upper management.

The only player of any magnitude that has ever wanted to go to Atlanta in the last 20 years was Joe Johnson. Whom had a chance to help a team win a championship but he was definitely statpad happY and wanted to be an all-star go to guy. In Phoenix he was the 4th option.

Atlanta is not playing as a team but for one stretch in february of 2007 which extended for about 15 games. The team completely fell apart again and it will be interesting because its possible that Law will not be ready for 2007-8 season and if they are lucky Horford will. Not alot of improvement from the last inept squad.

 

[The_Matrix]

A roster full of me-first players isn't an unworkable problem for a team trying to improve and make the playoffs. You just need a decent point guard. The Hawks got him in Acie Law IV. The kid will play well.

It's interesting looking at sucess vs. busts in recent NBA drafts. Take a look at the list of PGs drafted top 25 the past 3 years.

2004 2005 2006
Shaun Livingston Deron Williams Brandon Roy (pg/sg)
Devin Harris Chris Paul Randy Foye
Sebastian Telfair Ray Felton Rajon Rondo
Jameer Nelson Nate Robinson Marcus Williams
Delonte West Jarret Jack Kyle Lowry
Luther Head

Half these guys are starters, the rest are crucial bench players. The only bust is Bassy Telfair, and Livingston/Lowry have been injured. It would seem that drafting a point guard early is a great decision that will land you an impact player.

Figure that the Hawks will need to finish .500 to squeak into the playoffs, so they need to improve about ten games from last year. Can this lineup do it?

Wright/Pachulia
Horford/Shelden/Marvin
Smith/Childress
J. Johnson
Law/A. Johnson

 

[devilalum]

The best thing that happened to the Hawks pick was the draft day trades. The Knicks, Bobcats and Celtics all made trades that make them better immediately and Orlando signs a really good VETERAN player.

There have only been a handful of rookies in the history of the league that have come in and made a losing team a winner. As good as Horford may one day be he is no Kareem or Duncan.

 

[The_Matrix]

There have only been a handful of rookies in the history of the league that have come in and made a losing team a winner. As good as Horford may one day be he is no Kareem or Duncan.

Very, very true. The only guy from my list who made his team a playoff contender the first year was Chris Paul.

 

[azirish]

Our secret weapon is Mike Woodson, their coach.