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http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-2013-cha ... n-preview/

hoopsworld starts us off with a well written preview. these guys know their hoops.

Our division is the weakest its been in a while, aside from the superpower Heat (who continue to add terrific pieces to compliment their starts; all that they are missing is a great rebounder/low post defender). You figure the Hawks, despite their additions, lost their best player in Joe Johnson and really didn't pick up anyone who could make up for his production.
The Magic will enter the 2012 NBA season with their best player being Aaron Affloa, and with a new coach for that matter.
I could see the Wizards finishing #2 in the division this year, they have great post defenders both in their starting rotation and on the bench (Kevin Seraphin), not to mention they have the best PG in the division in John Wall.

The Bobcats could take a major step this season, and by that I mean we will be a competitive team. We enter this season with a pretty decent roster, At the PG spot we have 2 players who are both starting caliber, and even more importantly they play differently, meaning that teams will have to prepare to deal with 2 distinctly different play styles from us at the PG position. At the SG spot we have plenty of talent, Gerald Henderson looks as if he is prepared to take the next step and become an impact player, something that wouldn't be surprising given his level of efficiency last year on a team that was incredibly inefficient. Not to mention we have Gordon who will provide some much needed range on our offense, as well as a hopefully recovered Reggie Williams, who if returned to his form should be a spark off the bench. At SF we have MKG, a guy who will be dominant in the transition game and should be a defensive leader. Backing up MKG will be Taylor, a player also known for his defense but who also posses 3 point range. At PF we have Mully and Biz, both are young players rapidly improving their game. And finally at Center we have Haywood, who is probably one of the better post defenders/rebounders in the league right now. That stated we will be playing under a new coach and trying to find a new identity. I think we finish 4th or 5th in the division, but we aren't that far behind the Magic or Hawks.

No way Washington is better than Atlanta. The Hawks still have Horford and Smith. The Wizards have John Wall...





...and Emeka Okafor...

Nene and Okafor are two of the best bigmen defenders in the league, with Nene having some of the best advanced defensive statistics among centers in the last decade, and consistently too, in fact only Garnett has been more consistently able to alter shots. Okafor is no lousy defender either. If the Hawks do end up placing higher than the Wizards it will be because of Coaching, not necessarily an indication of talent. The Hawks lost a 20ppg 5apg player in the Joe Johnson trade, and they have no player who can really fill in that void. Sure they got Jenkins in the draft and Morrow in the trade, but both of those guys are undersized. Morrow hasn't proven that he can be a consistent scorer in the NBA, sure he is a lights out marksman but he isn't going to break the defense down on a drive, Jenkins had an up and down summer league and could turn out to be no better than Reggie Williams. Lou Williams is a pretty good scorer, but doesn't pass well and isn't exactly an "efficient scorer", in other words he isn't a PG despite being PG sized. Devin Haris is innefficient and terribly inconsistent- I look for him to have a down year as shifts to an organization with less talent He had Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Paul Millsap, Hayward, and Alec Burks to pass the ball to last year, that lineup features allot of size and efficiency that he won't see in Atlanta. That leads me to Jeff Teague, who while possessing the speed to break down Defenses lacks the discipline, passing ability, and shooting streak to be a reliable option on offense. Finally the Hawks don't have anyone to speak of at SF, is Kyle Korver (9ppg) going to start there?
Also a quick look at their players stats
Hawks:
PG: Devin Harris (27.6 min: 11.3ppg, 45%, 5apg), Jeff Teague (36min: 14ppg, 41%, 4.9 apg)
SG: Anthony Marrow (26.4min: 12ppg, 41% FG, 37% 3pt, 1apg), Lou Williams (26min: 14.9ppg, 3.5apg), John Jenkins
SF: Kyle Korver (22min: 8.1ppg, 43.2%, 43.5% 3pt, 1.7apg), Mike Scott(?)
PF: Josh Smith (35 min: 18.8ppg,45.8%, 9.6rpg)
C: Al Horford (31.6min: 12.3ppg, 7rpg)

Wizards:
PG: John Wall (36.3 minutes: 16.3ppg, 42%, 8apg),
SG: Brady Beal, Jordan Crawford (27 minutes: 14.7ppg, 40%, 3apg)
SF: Trevor Ariza (33 minutes: 10.8ppg, 41.7%, 5.5rpg, 3apg), Martell Webster (24 minutes: 6.9ppg, 42%, 33% 3pt), Chris Singleton (21.7min: 4.6ppg, 37%, 3.5rpg).
PF: Nene (28.5min: 13.7ppg, 53%, 7.5rpg), Kevin Seraphin (20min: 7.9ppg, 53%, 4.9rpg)
C: Okafor (28min: 9.9ppg, 53%, 7.9rpg),

All in all right now the Hawks are deeper, but I like the Wizards starting 5 quite a bit more. I think that Al Horford is overrated, and in honesty I would rather have the Wizards PF/C situation than the Hawks...

So I ask you; Are the Hawks really better?

i have been predicting the demise of the hawks for years and they never falter, just keep running on that treadmill. but this year, they are definitely going down, right? i could see both hawks and wiz around 35 wins.

I think Ferry is doing his best to get the team off the treadmill. Brilliant trade to swap Johnson for expirings and a pick, immediately changed that team.

ene and Okafor are two of the best bigmen defenders in the league, with Nene having some of the best advanced defensive statistics among centers in the last decade, and consistently too, in fact only Garnett has been more consistently able to alter shots. Okafor is no lousy defender either.

Okafor is one of the better shot blockers in the league, but he maybe the absolute worst pick and roll defender in the nba. Nene has also had a history of being one of the most injury prone big men in the league.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/0 ... bcats.html

Bobcats 5 new faces - by Bonnell

season preview by bonnell and the observer

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... bcats.html

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... ut-up.html

fatlever wrote:season preview by bonnell and the observer

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... bcats.html

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... ut-up.html

Great analysis. Not. Bonnel should make sure he is using right stats, i.e. update them after last pre-season game. Because now I have to wonder how long it took to write and what games are not included in consideration.