Moderators: Jamaaliver, dms269, HMFFL
Jamaaliver wrote:macd-gm wrote:I know you guys will accuse me of over-reacting but why is Travis telling the players what to do? I'm happy with his talent evaluation but seems like every thing he says is "I'm doing this" and then it's "and the coaches too".
I had the
exact
same
thought.
Literally seconds within reading that line: "Why is the GM involved in that conversation?"
tbhawksfan1 wrote:jayu70 wrote:So why did Bud bench him in the 2nd half of the 1st Heat game?
Maybe because he was in tank mode for an instant...?
Fruits of his labor—but that's just one step, and there's much more to accomplish. So, when the Hawks season came to an end, he felt it was necessary to seek out one of the best trainers to take his game to another level—Drew Hanlen.
Hanlen’s popularity has skyrocketed over the years, with plenty of video footage showing his workout sessions with A-list clients like Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Bradley Beal. Prince wanted to submerge himself in that environment because of what it could turn him into.
The improvements were there if you paid attention. If you opted not to, it doesn’t concern Prince in the slightest. He sets the opinions of his teammates and competitors above anyone—and not an ounce of that will change going into next season.“This year is more about putting my peers on notice than anything,” Prince told HawksHoop. “I’m not too worried about the GMs and all of those things. It’s about earning the respect of the people around me.
Discreet in his pursuit and invisible to the masses—that is the intersection Prince has found himself in most of his life. Many hoopers wouldn’t subscribe to that lifestyle.
When Prince shrugs off concerns about possibly being forgotten, as a new Hawks era begins, despite making strides in his game last season, you honestly believe it doesn’t bother him. He’s not trying to put on a facade or play up to some perception. The perception is who he is, but also a result of what he’s had to accept and experience.
“You talking to somebody who was top 10-15 in his state but was headed to Long Island University,” Prince told HawksHoop. “Other guys were going to Kentucky, like the Harrison twins. Marcus Smart and Phil Forte going to Oklahoma State. I’ve done the work and not gotten the credit for it.
Well, right now they’re saying Trae Young is the face of the franchise, no question. Occasionally, that can rub young returning players like Prince the wrong way. Occasionally being the operative word there—Prince takes no issues with the hype Young has brought to the A.
“In the end, all the eyes that are on him [Trae] are on me, too, so I ain't tripping,” Prince told HawksHoop. “I’m low maintenance and don’t need anyone's approval.”
reazun wrote:so post all star break Taurean led all small forwards in threes made with 73. He hit those threes at 41%
So..post all star break, he led all small forwards in the NBA in threes made and hit them at the same consistency as Steph Curry.
thats promising for a guy going into his 3rd year.
Jamaaliver wrote:reazun wrote:so post all star break Taurean led all small forwards in threes made with 73. He hit those threes at 41%
So..post all star break, he led all small forwards in the NBA in threes made and hit them at the same consistency as Steph Curry.
thats promising for a guy going into his 3rd year.
Yes...it is.
I know I'm in the minority, but I also thinks it's why we should consider trading TP over the next 11 months. He's still on the upswing, but is unlikely to be featured as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd option by this team in the long run.
He's also on a different timeline as he'll be 25 in about 6 months...while we're still building around 19 and 20 year olds.
He's a good guy, a productive player, and a valuable trade chip. Teams like TOR, MIA, OKC, POR could each use a player like him to balance their rotations.
jayu70 wrote:In theory that's sounds great - here's my issue, what will be the return we get from such a trade from the valuable trade chip? A very late pick from the teams you've mentioned?
None of those teams have a young player to toss us in exchange for Prince. Then the Hawks will have to fill a position of need that is a hard position to fill currently, particularly when we have no idea where we will pick in the draft in 2019 especially since lottery odds have changed.
reazun wrote:so post all star break Taurean led all small forwards in threes made with 73. He hit those threes at 41%
So..post all star break, he led all small forwards in the NBA in threes made and hit them at the same consistency as Steph Curry.
thats promising for a guy going into his 3rd year.
Thanks for the honesty.MorbidHEAT wrote:My dislike for Lin started during Linsanity. It was absurd. It's probably irrational dislike at this point, but man he gets on my nerves. He's been tearing us up though.
jayu70 wrote:Another TP article. I'm expecting big things from him this year.
What are your personal goals for this season?
To progress. I’m all about progression.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I should be an all-star.
Thanks for the honesty.MorbidHEAT wrote:My dislike for Lin started during Linsanity. It was absurd. It's probably irrational dislike at this point, but man he gets on my nerves. He's been tearing us up though.
Taurean Prince, Atlanta Hawks
Flying under the radar as the Hawks struggled, Prince showed improvements and made a big statistical stride as a sophomore, averaging 14.1 points, starting all 82 games, and putting his 3-and-D skillset to better use all around. He’s a jack-of-all-trades with the type of strong build and defensive utility that tends to come at a premium these days, plus an improving jump shot that should enable him to stick around the NBA for as long as he wants.
Prince still has to prove he can do what he does best while also producing winning results, and the Hawks have a long way to go in that regard. He was not a particularly efficient scorer last season, and he should be a big beneficiary from the additions of Trae Young, Jeremy Lin, and to a lesser extent, Kevin Huerter. If Prince's shooting splits continue trending upward and Prince evolves into a plus defender, he can be the type of player any team could use.
jayu70 wrote:SI: 2020 Top 100 Projections:Taurean Prince, Atlanta Hawks
Flying under the radar as the Hawks struggled, Prince showed improvements and made a big statistical stride as a sophomore, averaging 14.1 points, starting all 82 games, and putting his 3-and-D skillset to better use all around. He’s a jack-of-all-trades with the type of strong build and defensive utility that tends to come at a premium these days, plus an improving jump shot that should enable him to stick around the NBA for as long as he wants.
SI.com
The RingerBreakout Candidates for the 2018-19 NBA Season
Star-making seasons are often dependent on health, context, and opportunity. Should those things align, look out for players like Taurean Prince, Khris Middleton, and Julius Randle. They all have what it takes to shock the league.
Taurean Prince, Hawks
Prince emerged in his sophomore season, making what The Ringer’s Danny Chau described as a “Jimmy Butler–esque leap.” The Hawks utilized Prince all over the floor. One possession he’d jump a passing lane and dribble the ball down the floor for a dunk. The next time up the floor, he’d set a down screen, then pop for a 3, similar to the play the Timberwolves used to run endlessly for Kevin Love. Minutes later, he’d run a pick-and-roll and whip a pass to a 3-point shooter. Prince may never become the next Jimmy Buckets, but there’s a path there for him to carve out a similar career as a two-way player.
Prince had a stellar final stretch of the season, in which he scored at least 20 points in 14 of his final 22 games. He wasn’t exactly efficient over the course of the season (54.9 true shooting percentage), but his steady progress was encouraging. The careless turnovers and shots became less frequent because he got rid of the blinders and started looking for teammates, or simply moved the ball within the flow of the offense. Prince started to take what was there instead of trying to have it all.
The key this season is for Prince to iron out his existing issues. Prince too often lost focus on defense, resulting in opponents driving or cutting by him for easy baskets.
Peachtree HoopsTaurean Prince featured on “All-Breakout” team ahead of third NBA season
It might be a big year
it would be easy to overlook Taurean Prince. If not for a late-season breakout in the scoring department during his second season, in fact, it is possible that Prince’s national recognition would be considerably lower at the moment
However, Prince did put together an incredibly productive run at the end of the 2017-2018 campaign and, as a result of that and his overall profile, the former Baylor standout made an appearance on an intriguing list. James Herbert of CBS Sports highlighted 10 players for an “all-breakout” team across the league and Prince made the cut:
I never thought Prince would crack 30 points in an NBA game, but he did it four times in the second half of last season, including two 38-point games in mid-March. Of course, the Hawks were thoroughly tanking at that time, and it is unclear what to make of those outbursts when combined with Prince’s general inconsistency and the regression he showed on defense. Theoretically, though, there is now a clear path toward the 24-year-old turning himself into more than a 3-and-D guy. If he can clean up his handle, maintain his 38.5-percent mark from 3-point range and play the sort of defense he did as a rookie, he will earn himself a lot of money. CBS Sports
Soaring Down SouthAtlanta Hawks: Taurean Prince Is Most Important Player for Future
A dissection of the Atlanta Hawks future and where third-year wing Taurean Prince fits into the team’s nascent rebuild and future ascendancy
The Atlanta Hawks have completely transformed themselves since the incredible run the team went on during the 2014-15 season under the watchful gaze of Coach Mike Budenholzer. With new faces of the franchise on the roster now in John Collins and Trae Young, there is one player who bridges the gap between the old guard and the new: Taurean Prince.
Prince was selected 12th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, before Atlanta Hawks rebuild maestro Travis Schlenk took over GMing duties. Now, after a breakout second season that saw Prince average 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists all while starting all 82 games, leading the Hawks in minutes and shooting 38.5 percent from deep, Prince has set himself up as a focal point for the Atlanta Hawks going forward.
He is also the most important player for the future of the Atlanta Hawks.
Of course Trae Young’s selection could be seen as a definitive answer to what Travis Schlenk values most on an NBA court and the continued growth of John Collins will likely play a major role in the team’s future. But when thinking about the most important and valuable players in the NBA today, versatile and sweet-shooting wings spring to mind as the most important player archetype around the league.
Prince fits that description to a “T.”
While the continued development of Collins and the hopeful superstar turn for Young will lift this new rendition of the Hawks to new heights, the true barometer for the team’s success will be Prince.
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