Hawks Season Previews: What the Pundits are Saying

[Jamaaliver]

Just a few excerpts from around the league:

From Lang Whitaker at NBA.com:

The Spurs proved in the NBA Finals that sharing the ball and finding the open man can...beat the best teams in the NBA. The Hawks are on a path trying to build something similar...At 26 years old, signed to a long-term contract and with five seasons under his belt, Teague is on the verge...In the era of the point guard, for the Hawks to reach that upper echelon, they need Teague to bring it every night...

From SI.com:

This summer set up for the Hawks to add pieces to a so-so core with a modest ceiling...In the end, they spent $12 million over three years for a defensive-minded role player whose minutes were limited in last year’s playoffs. ​Yet the Hawks’ biggest source of improvement may come...Al Horford...getting him back will jolt a team that went 16-13 and was 5.7 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. There’s also hope for more steady progress from Teague...

Best case: ...Mike Budenholzer wrings 48 wins out of a team with middling talent.

Worst case: ...the Hawks fall short of the playoffs.

[Jamaaliver]

From Fox Sports:

Horford should help Hawks soar

So, which team are these Atlanta Hawks, anyway? The one that basically backed its way into the postseason, or the one that looked really impressive once it got there? Either way, that intense first-round matchup versus the Indiana Pacers was a valuable learning experience for this team. All the Hawks need to do is keep doing what they did then: Keep the ball moving and keep building on the best parts of last season. If that happens, this may be your sleeper team in the East. All the pieces are there.

From SheridanHoops:

Entering the 2014-2015 season, Atlanta expects to continue the second-longest active postseason streak with what would be an eighth straight playoff appearance.

In terms of talented assets, roster cohesion and youth, things are looking pretty good in Atlanta on the court...Ferry’s vision is at least halfway home, and the Hawks will be fielding one of the deepest and strongest teams in the Eastern Conference this season. While the team’s sale may drag well into December or even 2015, the Hawks in their current state are a fascinating team.

[Jamaaliver]

From CBS Sports

Their predictions vary from pundit to pundit with one predicting we finish fourth in the SOUTHEAST (damn) and another predicting we win the division. They do speak highly of Horford. If you recall, they actually named him the 13th best player in the NBA as well.

OUR PRESEASON MVP

Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks:It's easy to point to Chris Bosh and be done with it. Bosh is the best defender in the division and arguably the best offensive player as well. But the Heat can find ways with Wade and Luol Deng to create some points. If the Hawks lose Horford, well, we saw it last year. They were on a 46-win pace last season before his injury. Then the Hawks dropped off a cliff. Horford is the Hawks' best defender, best offensive player, an a do-it-all contributor. No team suffers as much as the Hawks do without Horford, with apologies to Bosh, Al Jefferson, and John Wall.

[ATL Boy]

Season is so close, can't wait!

[azuresou1]

Bradford Doolittle at ESPN has us at 3rd in the East:

3. Atlanta Hawks (52.7)

While the consensus seems to be that Toronto and Washington will battle it out for the third seed in the East, NBAPET likes a Hawks team that should roll out an elite offense. Only Cleveland projects to have a more efficient attack in the East, thanks to the multitude of long-range shooters led by Kyle Korver. But don't sleep on the Atlanta defense, which adds perimeter stopper Thabo Sefolosha and welcomes back its backbone in Al Horford.

[Jamaaliver]

Bradford Doolittle at ESPN has us at 3rd in the East:

3. Atlanta Hawks (52.7)
...Only Cleveland projects to have a more efficient attack in the East, thanks to the multitude of long-range shooters led by Kyle Korver. But don't sleep on the Atlanta defense, which adds perimeter stopper Thabo Sefolosha and welcomes back its backbone in Al Horford.

THAT...is fantastic. Easily the most optimistic forecast of the previews I've read. As good as we have looked in pre-season, it boggles the mind how poorly many pundits project us to fare this year.

Sadly, another ESPN analyst, Tom Haberstroh of ESPN Insider, is very skeptical of our upcoming season:

WIN
PROJECTIONS
41
ESPN Forecast

41.5
Las Vegas

...they reeled in former Thunder 3-and-D specialist Thabo Sefolosha to add much-needed depth. However, the team's bench is still as shallow as a puddle after they shed Lou Williams' contract. Feel free to pencil in another playoff trip for Millsap and the Hawks. But with a front office in flux, anything's possible -- even a playoff miss.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Bradford Doolittle at ESPN has us at 3rd in the East:

3. Atlanta Hawks (52.7)
...Only Cleveland projects to have a more efficient attack in the East, thanks to the multitude of long-range shooters led by Kyle Korver. But don't sleep on the Atlanta defense, which adds perimeter stopper Thabo Sefolosha and welcomes back its backbone in Al Horford.

THAT...is fantastic. Easily the most optimistic forecast of the previews I've read. As good as we have looked in pre-season, it boggles the mind how poorly many pundits project us to fare this year.

Sadly, another ESPN analyst, Tom Haberstroh of ESPN Insider, is very skeptical of our upcoming season:

WIN
PROJECTIONS
41
ESPN Forecast

41.5
Las Vegas

...they reeled in former Thunder 3-and-D specialist Thabo Sefolosha to add much-needed depth. However, the team's bench is still as shallow as a puddle after they shed Lou Williams' contract. Feel free to pencil in another playoff trip for Millsap and the Hawks. But with a front office in flux, anything's possible -- even a playoff miss.

Its pretty easy. The majority of these writers dont have a single clue about the Hawks and are piggybacking off of what other writers are saying. I highly doubt that they go out of their way to watch Hawks games and we are never on national TV.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[PandaKidd]

Yeah Atlanta gets a lot of flack based on its history. Kind of deserving, I still tend to be more pessimistic, Injuries always play a part (just look at the Falcons) and that can swing a season.

If we stay healthy, it comes down to how well everyone is into the offense. We just cannot sustain any major front court injuries and like ATLHAWKs said, most teams cant either.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Yeah Atlanta gets a lot of flack based on its history. Kind of deserving, I still tend to be more pessimistic, Injuries always play a part (just look at the Falcons) and that can swing a season.

If we stay healthy, it comes down to how well everyone is into the offense. We just cannot sustain any major front court injuries and like ATLHAWKs said, most teams cant either.

Well let's be thankful that our guys won't be playing a sport like football where injuries are a million times more common.

[PandaKidd]

Im just saying you can look at how quickly a team can fall with 1 significant injury, like Indy

[ATL Boy]

I don't think I've ever had this much hope for a season than I do this season. The guys have had a full year to adapt to Bud's system, and the offense really does look to be elite with Horford back. I can see us getting homecourt advantage and surprising some people in the playoffs (barring injury of course).

[Hawk Eye]

I am so excited. We look really good through pre-season and after returning almost all of our guys our chemistry should be that much better. This is the deepest we have been for a long time and I hope Bud utilizes everyone's minutes properly and takes advantage of it. I'm really interested to see Jenkins play. He has completely suprised me through pre-season. I'm also curious to see if Thabo will beat out DeMarre around mid season for that starting SF spot. All in all, this should be a great season for the Hawks!

[ATLHawksfan21]

Im just saying you can look at how quickly a team can fall with 1 significant injury, like Indy

We don't know how far Indy will fall since they haven't played any games yet. If Lance was still there, I don't think they would fall as far as many expect since they would still be solid defensively. The fall will be exagerrated a bit since we are used to seeing them with George and Lance. Also, they rely much more on George than we do any single player on our team. That's one of the best things about our team and why I felt comfortable in making a large bet on us to win more than 41 games. Losing a Teague/Millsap/Horford will hurt, but it will not completely crush all hopes of the season like the Knicks losing Melo would do.

[rmdlwajazz]

Tom Kirkland, NBAwire

ATLANTA -



Sent Box– Shooting G Lou Williams dealt to Toronto for John Salmons (since waived, signed w/Pelicans) and rights to Spanish league C Lucas Nogueira. Eventually 2013’s #1 pick (17th overall) Dennis Schroder will be sent elsewhere since he’s a talented pass-first pt but can’t shoot so can’t play in Coach Bud’s system, there’s interest so Hawks should be able to get something at some point.

WELCOME BACK!—All Star C/F Al Horford. Torn Pectoral muscle cost him most of last season and Hawks suffered in Horford’s absence. Now good to go and so is this developing ‘defend, run and hit 3’s’ Hawks team. Jeff Teague’s pushing the top PG’s in East, possible All-Star.

The “Jazz-East” trio of Carroll (nickname “Junkyard Dog” says all you need to know about Demarre’s motor) Millsap and Korver (right there with Ray as best 3 pt shooters, EVER) are a solid part of Atlanta’s emphasis on defending then running then firing away!

INCOMING—Thabo Sefalosha (sign-trade with Oklahoma City- 3yrs /$12M/, Hawks send $4M trade exception and rights to foreign players to OKC).

Sefalosha will def help on the “stop-side” of the court. Athletic, can go and finish (a little), good locker room guy.

DRAFT—15th Overall- Michigan St Sr. Adreian Payne.

Skill set fits well with Hawks new philosophy. Defend like crazy (Payne played for Tom Izzo, OK?) get out, run and fire away. He’s a 6’10”/240 lbs stretch-4.

What’s Next??—Follow Horford’s recovery very closely! Started playing low minutes at the end of the preseason. If he can get all the way back, should be way fun in Atlanta this season. Definite playoff team. Could challenge for homecourt in 4/5 matchup.