Hawks Season Grades Coming in...

[Jamaaliver]

First up is CNNSI

Final Grade: C | Midseason Grade: B+


The Hawks secured the East’s final playoff spot, which would be the definition of mediocrity if the conference wasn’t so far below par. On first glance, Atlanta’s ranking of 17th in offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions) and 14th in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) looks uninspiring. There is value, though, in possessing foundational pieces that work together, respond through adversity and have enough heart to win five of six games to clinch a playoff berth after suffering through losing streaks of eight games and six games during the second half of the season...

Ferry nailed the decision to let free-agent power forward Josh Smith walk and replace him with Paul Millsap, getting a much more helpful player (and a 2014 All-Star) at a fraction of the cost ($19 million over two years instead of $54 million over four). Ferry also wisely matched Milwaukee’s four-year, $32 million offer sheet for point guard Jeff Teague, who has put up solid numbers (16.6 points, 6.7 assists, 17.2 PER) in his first season under coach Mike Budenholzer.

Overall, the coach/point guard fit looks solid, and the Teague/Millsap/Horford trio is a complementary, cost-efficient base to build from this summer.

http://nba.si.com/2014/04/16/nba-regular-season-grades/?eref=sihp

[Jamaaliver]

Sounds about right. I'd probably go with a C-, myself. But SI's assessment of personnel and fit is spot on.

They mention that a healthy AL could have been 50 wins, a top 3 seed...but that conversation is fairly moot.

I sure hope this isn't the type of success Ferry envisioned when he showed up. He's got to be planning some big move for the next 12 months, right?

"We're not focused on trying to be the eighth seed in the playoffs because that's not our goal. We're trying to build something that's good, sustainable and the components are in place for us to do so."

For a fun read, go on over read the grade Detroit received. Man, that franchise is at rock bottom

[PandaKidd]

Ferrys grade from me will come in the next 6 months, after FA and the Draft.

[theatlfan]

Not sure what I think on the grade. On the one hand, I agree that an 8 seed in the East might be the worst place to be in the entire NBA assuming the team hadn't traded their pick already. We were one game ahead of NYK who got an F. OTOH, unlike NYK we haven't already mortgaged our future on the present. Also, we were seemingly wracked with injuries all year. Horford and Antic missed significant time, but seemingly every key piece on the team missed about 10 games each and it seemed like every game we were missing someone. The team most definitely tired down the stretch, but kept fighting all the way to the end. That says something about the coaching and veterans on the team - there was plenty of times the team could have thrown in the towel (and, truth be told, I thought Teague did at least once or twice) but instead they decided to dig deeper and come out swinging. I wouldn't give us an A, but a C- seems a little harsh from this angle as well.

As far as Ferry and this off-season, the question I'd put forth here is how far should we expect for Ferry to build the team this offseason? Remember that the '15 FA class is really, really good - especially at the 2 big man positions. Now, I definitely think we shouldn't come out of this off-season empty handed but I also think that if we ended up a little stronger but retained the ability to throw max $$ around next off-season then overall, it could be our fastest road to a title. (Aside: Millsap, Lou, and Demarre will expire and give back ~$17.5M toward the cap which is enough to offer the max... as long as we don't block ourselves this offseason by oversigning and going over the cap.) Just a thought...

[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta Hawks: C+
(First quarter grade: C+, Midseason grade: B-, Third quarter grade: C-)

To make the postseason seems like an achievement, considering they lost their best player not even halfway through when Al Horford went down. Yep, being in the playoffs at 38-44 doesn't seem right or fair, but the Hawks are there, for a seventh straight season.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24530375/-14-final-regular-season-grades-eastern-conference