The Atlanta Hawks Thread (2014-15)

Dr Spaceman · Post #1 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:35 pm

They did win player of the month for January :wink:

Anyway, I think they're a really important development for basketball historically, and we end up discussing them so much anyway I thought this thread could be helpful.

There's some disagreement on who is the best player on this team, and since they're an ensemble I thought a combined thread would get more traffic for in-game observations.

ceiling raiser · Post #2 » by **ceiling raiser** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:51 pm

Dr Spaceman wrote:Anyway, I think they're a really important development for basketball historically, and we end up discussing them so much anyway I thought this thread could be helpful.

Agree 100%. In general, when my team's out of it, I like to see the marquee players of the league having some success, but I think Atlanta or Golden State (though Curry *is* a marquee player, I still think he's flying under the radar) winning it all would be huge. It is a copycat league, after all (SA winning again would also be big, or even Houston).

A lot of the recent champions have employed innovative strategies/concepts that have really changed the league's climate (Boston, Dallas, Miami, SA), in that teams are replicating their models of success, or at the very least attempting to do so. Atlanta plays a very interesting/unique brand of basketball (as talented analysts such as yourself have pointed out

), and it would be awesome if some of what they're doing catches on league-wide.

JLei · Post #3 » by **JLei** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:56 pm

Best player on their team is Paul Millsap. Strong on both sides of the court. Kind of embodies the new trends of the NBA big man. Take a traditional big with a decent jumpshot and extend his range out to the 3 point line to create problems for the defense and add a whole different dimension to their game (a lot of teams are trying this with mixed results Sullinger in Boston comes to mind). They've also expanded his role at the high post where he can execute and read all sorts of screening and dribble hand off type actions which is the new trend in the NBA. He's a good defender, good wingspan, mobile, strong. His height is not really a limiting factor for him on that end. His mobility helps especially on pick and roll, his length helps him string out guards on his hedges and shows. He's more aggressive than Horford though generally the Hawks are a more conservative pick and roll defense team.

Best offensive player is Kyle Korver. He's a poor mans Reggie Miller. He's a great passer and screener and is just very good at reading opponents and his teammates for when to move without the ball and when to set a back screen. I think he gets away with a **** ton of illegal screens because he's white and skinny so nobody really cares haha. Freeing up a teammate with a nice illegal back pick and then sprinting hard on the weakside creates all sorts of dillemas for the defense especially when you are the best shooter in the league.

E-Balla · Post #4 » by **E-Balla** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:01 pm

How are the Hawks unprecedented? I still don't get it. They're the 2000 Blazers all over again. The only difference is that the Blazers dominated the paint on offense and the Hawks dominate the 3 point line. The Hawks being great won't change anything just like the Blazers didn't and honestly just like the Blazers and the Spurs back in 2012 before Tim Duncan started playing like a star again and Kawhi became a great player they'll probably lose to talent.

ronnymac2 · Post #5 » by **ronnymac2** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:45 pm

E-Balla wrote:How are the Hawks unprecedented? I still don't get it. They're the 2000 Blazers all over again. The only difference is that the Blazers dominated the paint on offense and the Hawks dominate the 3 point line. The Hawks being great won't change anything just like the Blazers didn't and honestly just like the Blazers and the Spurs back in 2012 before Tim Duncan started playing like a star again and Kawhi became a great player they'll probably lose to talent.

Portland was an isolation post-up team that had a bunch of great isolation options. They also had the most size of any team in recent memory.

Atlanta is a little bit undersized and plays with the ball on a string.

As for the thread, Atlanta is definitely the best or second best team in the East. The only team capable of beating them in my opinion is Cleveland, and even then, I'm not sure, because ATL matches up well with them. Chicago vs. Atlanta was the matchup I most wanted to see in the East playoffs at the beginning of the season, but CHI has been so injured, and now there are talks of bad chemistry. I think CHI might get picked off by an inferior team or would be beaten soundly by ATL.

I do love watching ATL play. I love passing big men, and Horford and Millsap two of the best. Never liked Teague, but he's been impressive this year. Their bench is sick with Schroeder and Mike Scott and now Bazemore. Antic is a nice 3-point shooting C.

Carroll gets underrated, but he's the key to beating CLE or a healthy CHI. He's the best 30 MPG defensive wing on the team, which means he'll see plenty of time against LBJ vs. CLE and Jimmy Butler vs. CHI. You don't want those guys abusing Korver or Teague in the post or getting Millsap in foul trouble.

E-Balla · Post #6 » by **E-Balla** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:56 pm

ronnymac2 wrote:
E-Balla wrote:How are the Hawks unprecedented? I still don't get it. They're the 2000 Blazers all over again. The only difference is that the Blazers dominated the paint on offense and the Hawks dominate the 3 point line. The Hawks being great won't change anything just like the Blazers didn't and honestly just like the Blazers and the Spurs back in 2012 before Tim Duncan started playing like a star again and Kawhi became a great player they'll probably lose to talent.

Portland was an isolation post-up team that had a bunch of great isolation options. They also had the most size of any team in recent memory.

Atlanta is a little bit undersized and plays with the ball on a string.

As for the thread, Atlanta is definitely the best or second best team in the East. The only team capable of beating them in my opinion is Cleveland, and even then, I'm not sure, because ATL matches up well with them. Chicago vs. Atlanta was the matchup I most wanted to see in the East playoffs at the beginning of the season, but CHI has been so injured, and now there are talks of bad chemistry. I think CHI might get picked off by an inferior team or would be beaten soundly by ATL.

I do love watching ATL play. I love passing big men, and Horford and Millsap two of the best. Never liked Teague, but he's been impressive this year. Their bench is sick with Schroeder and Mike Scott and now Bazemore. Antic is a nice 3-point shooting C.

Carroll gets underrated, but he's the key to beating CLE or a healthy CHI. He's the best 30 MPG defensive wing on the team, which means he'll see plenty of time against LBJ vs. CLE and Jimmy Butler vs. CHI. You don't want those guys abusing Korver or Teague in the post or getting Millsap in foul trouble.

I was mostly speaking towards the team oriented, non-star team (both teams having a young pseudo-star; Sheed in Portland and Teague in Atlanta) winning a high number of games. I'm sure 99% of the NBA realizes the Hawks are the exception and that trying to follow their recipe for success is a terrible idea because it's hard to find 9 smart shooters with size (they have 3 legit bench bigs that can shoot) just like people realized they couldn't follow the Blazers because it's hard to find 4 legit post options.

GSP · Post #7 » by **GSP** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:30 am

How did we win :lol:

the only time we led was for the final score :rofl:

Dr Spaceman · Post #8 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 1:53 pm

GSP wrote:How did we win the only time we led was for the final score

Missed the game, only saw the highlights/ box score. I saw that Boston basically killed them on the glass. Any other observations? What worked for Boston?

I think that's the first time ATL has lost with a lead going into the 4th.

Dr Spaceman · Post #9 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:08 pm

Since Win Streak Ended (6G, 3-3)

107.2 ORTG/ 105.9 DRTG

2.35 SRS

Hopefully just a slump. Bad loss to Boston, and getting blown out by NOP didn't help. But the GSW and WAS wins were big.

Dr Spaceman · Post #10 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:26 pm

And here are some numbers I collected for their win streak:

January (17G, 17-0):
110.8 ORTG/ 97.4 DRTG

19 Game Win Steak:
12.84 MOV, -.06 SOS
12.78 SRS
(Note: didn't adjust for HCA)

ceiling raiser · Post #11 » by **ceiling raiser** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:35 am

So what's been going in with them recently? Can we attribute this mostly/entirely to the absence of Korver? I guess they have the 1 seed secured so all they're playing for is HCA against GS if they were to meet in the Finals, but you want to play better down the stretch. Antic played well tonight (though he's had a poor year), but they really need Scott back for big man depth...

Post #12 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:48 am

fpliii wrote:So what's been going in with them recently? Can we attribute this mostly/entirely to the absence of Korver? I guess they have the 1 seed secured so all they're playing for is HCA against GS if they were to meet in the Finals, but you want to play better down the stretch. Antic played well tonight (though he's had a poor year), but they really need Scott back for big man depth...

From the numbers quoted above, it's much more a defensive breakdown (if 3-3 can be considered a breakdown says the Wiz fan) than an offensive one. Is Korver that important defensively or is it more just a normal slump that all people/teams have sometimes?

ceiling raiser · Post #13 » by **ceiling raiser** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:51 am

penbeast0 wrote:
fpliii wrote:So what's been going in with them recently? Can we attribute this mostly/entirely to the absence of Korver? I guess they have the 1 seed secured so all they're playing for is HCA against GS if they were to meet in the Finals, but you want to play better down the stretch. Antic played well tonight (though he's had a poor year), but they really need Scott back for big man depth...

From the numbers quoted above, it's much more a defensive breakdown (if 3-3 can be considered a breakdown says the Wiz fan) than an offensive one. Is Korver that important defensively or is it more just a normal slump that all people/teams have sometimes?

I think they've been 10-5 since then. Their losses:

80-105 vs TOR
84-92 @ PHI
102-115 @ DEN
95-114 @ GSW
115-123 @ OKC

Post #14 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 3:22 am

A shocking breakdown for Atlanta. I know I'd be very upset if the Wizards ended up only 55-27 or so. (green font)

DamnWestbrook · Post #15 » by **DamnWestbrook** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 4:16 am

I really think other teams should follow the Hawks model. As opposed to what teams like the Thunder are doing where they just have Westbrook and everybody else is terrible, or the Pelicans with Davis and absolutely no one else.

Post #16 » by **PaulieWal** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 6:20 pm

DamnWestbrook wrote:I really think other teams should follow the Hawks model. As opposed to what teams like the Thunder are doing where they just have Westbrook and everybody else is terrible, or the Pelicans with Davis and absolutely no one else.

Dubeta is back :lol:

.

Dr Spaceman · Post #17 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 6:43 pm

fpliii wrote:So what's been going in with them recently? Can we attribute this mostly/entirely to the absence of Korver? I guess they have the 1 seed secured so all they're playing for is HCA against GS if they were to meet in the Finals, but you want to play better down the stretch. Antic played well tonight (though he's had a poor year), but they really need Scott back for big man depth...

Haven't caught much of them lately but I think the Korver injury is a big deal. They've also really missed Sefolosha; they don't have depth behind him and he's their best wing defender. Defense has fallen off a cliff without him, I think we can attribute a lot of that to him.

Their offense is trending back up again, should be much improved with Korver back. I think we could see a return to January/Decembner level once they get everyone back healthy. Also most of their losses have come at the hands of top teams, except the Philly game which is troubling. I'm gonna catch their game tomorrow for sure.

JordansBulls · Post #18 » by **JordansBulls** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:01 am

fpliii wrote:So what's been going in with them recently? Can we attribute this mostly/entirely to the absence of Korver? I guess they have the 1 seed secured so all they're playing for is HCA against GS if they were to meet in the Finals, but you want to play better down the stretch. Antic played well tonight (though he's had a poor year), but they really need Scott back for big man depth...

They have been letting guys get rest. Some games it is Millsap other games it is Horford. Also Korver, Scott, Thabo not around so instead of playing everyone like crazy they take games off to get rest.

ceiling raiser · Post #19 » by **ceiling raiser** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:44 am

Damn. 2-2 now.

Post #20 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:49 am

Surprisingly poor execution by atlanta to end regulation and in OT. They get gifted a chance to win the game in regulation, yet don't even get a shot off. Letting teague go 1 on 1 wouldn't have been a bad idea considering worst case scenario they go to OT. He had good separation for an attempt at the game winner.

Then korver starts visibly forcing up those 3s when they really didn't need a 3. He didn't look comfortable and clearly was pressured. Even some penetrate and kick for a better look would've made sense. Disappointing finish for them. Carroll's about to get paid, though. He was awesome tonight, especially keeping them in it at the end.