Moderators: dms269, Jamaaliver, HMFFL
D21 wrote:One more reason to not trade Bogi (added to him having the best Net rating difference of the team in the last playoffs):
Jamaaliver wrote:Wow. Impressive efficiency by Bogi. I kinda wish he was starting at SG for us...
I've long wondered what could we do if we just embraced the 2006 'Seven seconds or less' Suns approach and just pushed the ball, attacked the rim, let it fly from deep -- with Trae doing his best Steve Nash impression.
It might not win a title, but I'd be happy with a few 60-win seasons, All NBA awards, and MVP seasons from Young and the Rest...
Hard Truth: I think the Hawks can only win a title with Trae if we have an all-time great offense that no one else can keep up with. It's simply impossible to have a balanced or defense-first approach with a dude who struggles so much defensively.D21 wrote:One more reason to not trade Bogi (added to him having the best Net rating difference of the team in the last playoffs):
D21 wrote:One of the reason MIA stopped Trae one year ago, besides him being limited to play faster with Collins and Capela as they were injured and very limited, was that Nate wanted to much half court plays, giving the opportunity for MIA to set their defense on Trae.
Bleacher ReportThe Weakest Link in Every NBA Team's Starting Lineup
Atlanta Hawks: De'Andre Hunter
Projected Starters: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey (?) and Clint Capela
If Hunter is going to have a breakout, it feels like it needs to happen soon.
Dunks and Threes' estimated plus-minus (one of the most trusted catch-all metrics in NBA front offices) has pegged Hunter as a below-average player in three of his four seasons (with the lone above-zero season coming in 2020-21).
He's a slightly below-average three-point shooter for his career, and there just aren't many contributions (at least ones measured by the box score) beyond that.
If he was playing at or near All-Defense level on the other end of the floor, lack of rebounding, passing and scoring efficiency wouldn't be as big a deal, but he's not doing that either.
Without some steps forward in any of the above categories in 2023-24, he'll likely be the weak link in this starting five.
Jamaaliver wrote:
Geaux_Hawks wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:
I've been crying for an upgrade for years. Just someone t hat can actually make a play off of what Trae initiates besides a PnR lob.
jayu70 wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:
I've been crying for an upgrade for years. Just someone t hat can actually make a play off of what Trae initiates besides a PnR lob.
JJ at the 4 would help.
Geaux_Hawks wrote:jayu70 wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:
I've been crying for an upgrade for years. Just someone t hat can actually make a play off of what Trae initiates besides a PnR lob.
JJ at the 4 would help.
That's my hope at this point. I think he's bound for a leap this year.
D21 wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:jayu70 wrote:JJ at the 4 would help.
That's my hope at this point. I think he's bound for a leap this year.
Most chances are that he's not as long as Capela is here, like it was the case with Collins.
Capela is a great defender, but on offense, even if efficient by himself, he will reduce other PF opportunities.
As he can only plays near to the rim, he will always reduce opportunities for the PF players, always
One of only things that JJ can bring is that he looks like a better passer than Collins, like what they are searching in Siakam, but it won't be as efficient as it can be when your C is always in the paint
Jamaaliver wrote:D21 wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:That's my hope at this point. I think he's bound for a leap this year.
Most chances are that he's not as long as Capela is here, like it was the case with Collins.
Capela is a great defender, but on offense, even if efficient by himself, he will reduce other PF opportunities.
As he can only plays near to the rim, he will always reduce opportunities for the PF players, always
One of only things that JJ can bring is that he looks like a better passer than Collins, like what they are searching in Siakam, but it won't be as efficient as it can be when your C is always in the paint
I...have the same concerns regarding JJ. Long-term, he's likely a starting caliber player in this league. But he isn't a floor spacer at the 3 or 4, meaning he needs to play next to stretch big men to be effective on offense.
He basically projects as a mini Ben Simmons. If he can get a mid range jumper, he's easily a starter. If he gets a consistent 3-ball to where he can knockdown 36% of his deep shots -- he's an All Star caliber player.
But those are some big 'ifs'.
Geaux_Hawks wrote:I would hold on calling him one of the worst shooters in the league considering Simmons just refuses to shoot anyway.
Jamaaliver wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:I would hold on calling him one of the worst shooters in the league considering Simmons just refuses to shoot anyway.
I was actually using the Ben Simmons comparison as a compliment...You know, cause he's an All Star, All-NBA, All Defensive Team player.
Jalen's strengths are pushing the ball in transition and play-making off the dribble -- creating for others in the process.
Like a younger Ben Simmons used to.
Geaux_Hawks wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:I would hold on calling him one of the worst shooters in the league considering Simmons just refuses to shoot anyway.
I was actually using the Ben Simmons comparison as a compliment...You know, cause he's an All Star, All-NBA, All Defensive Team player.
Jalen's strengths are pushing the ball in transition and play-making off the dribble -- creating for others in the process.
Like a younger Ben Simmons used to.
Eh. Seemed like you shared concerns about him as a floor spacer that would align with complimenting him as well. Recency bias suggest Ben Simmons is only known as a horrific shooter, and not the above you mentioned.
I agree though. Pre-collapse Ben Simmons was a cornerstone piece to any franchise. So if Jalen is even 80% of that, with better shooting, then we've got ourselves a stud star.
Jamaaliver wrote:Geaux_Hawks wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:
I was actually using the Ben Simmons comparison as a compliment...You know, cause he's an All Star, All-NBA, All Defensive Team player.
Jalen's strengths are pushing the ball in transition and play-making off the dribble -- creating for others in the process.
Like a younger Ben Simmons used to.
Eh. Seemed like you shared concerns about him as a floor spacer that would align with complimenting him as well. Recency bias suggest Ben Simmons is only known as a horrific shooter, and not the above you mentioned.
I agree though. Pre-collapse Ben Simmons was a cornerstone piece to any franchise. So if Jalen is even 80% of that, with better shooting, then we've got ourselves a stud star.
I honestly don't even understand what we're talking about any more.
I've been advocating for Ben Simmons to the Hawks for 2 years now.
Ben'ss biggest deficiency is his lack of shooting. Jalen has a game similar to Ben, including the lack of shooting. If JJ is our starting forward, we'll need players who can provide better spacing in the front court. Otherwise teams will play off him and just pack the lane -- the same way Boston did to him during this year's playoff series.
