Do six teams have two better point guards?

[dejaman]

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/08/18/atlanta-hawks-do-six-teams-have-two-better-point-guards/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks

Atlanta Hawks: Do six teams have two better point guards?
Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don’t Lie is ranking positions 1 to 30, starting with point guards. According to Dwyer, every team in the league has a point guard better than Bibby and Teague. Dwyer believes six teams have two better points: the Rockets (Kyle Lowry and Aaron Brooks), Raptors (Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack), 76ers (Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams), Cavs (Ramon Sessions and Mo Williams), Nuggets (Ty Lawson and Chauncey Billups) and Spurs (Tony Parker and George Hill).

Dwyer’s list should bring one of Atlanta’s main dilemmas into focus. The Hawks’ so-far fruitless quest for an impact big man has crowded out most other conversation surrounding the team, though I’ve tried to sound the bell at times about point guard/perimeter D being larger concerns. If Teague can’t take control the way the Hawks hope and play major minutes as an offensive spark/defensive deterrent, then center could be the least of Atlanta’s problems.

Perhaps L.D.’s “interchangeable parts” offense will mitigate the need for a playmaking point guard who can help the Hawks fight the temptation to fall back into Iso-Joe. But I don’t have to tell my blog people that the other half of the equation, perimeter D, isn’t easily solved by scheming around Bibby and JC.

– Miami’s point guards also didn’t make Dwyer’s list, and neither did those for the Lakers, Bobcats and Kings. I’m guessing the Heat’s concern with the position is somewhat mitigated by the fact that they have the East’s three best offensive players and two of them, LeBron and D. Wade, are pick-and-roll demons and defensive dynamos.

Caron Butler certainly isn’t concerned about Miami’s potential holes (which also include center, by the way, unless that Big Z/Joel Anthony/Jamaal Magliore rotation gets you going). Butler joined Jeff Van Gundy in predicting the Heat will challenge the NBA record of 72 victories. If you think Van Gundy is a blowhard and Butler is just repping the franchise that drafted him, The Sporting News polled seven former NBA coaches and all but one predicted at least 60 Ws for Miami.

– Magic Basketball took a look at Orlando’s 4-out/1-in offense and figured the best way to show its effectiveness is to play a few clips of the Hawks haplessly trying to defend it in the playoffs. Worth checking out the comments on that post to see what Magic fans think is the best approach to slowing their squad.

– The Cavs are among the teams who have announced they will wear new uniforms for 2010-11. The Hawks won’t change their unis as far as color scheme or design but the league is tweaking some of the trimmings and materials as seen in Jordan Crawford’s rookie portrait. (H/T to Super Commenter I Heart Atlanta)

[azuresou1]

I would like to see us acquire Lou Williams. I think he's massively underrated and probably could be had cheap, given that Philly wants to hand the keys to Holiday.

[evildallas]

I agree with Dwyer's assessment because Bibby's fell off so much defensively and Teague hasn't played. I want Teague to get a real trial this year so that if he can't hack it that we can focus on a PG in next year's PG heavy draft. 2009 was PG heavy as well, but we took a project PG based on upside and physical abilities rather than a more experienced PG prospect like Darren Collison or Eric Maynor. Not sure if that was based on a projection of what he might become or whether it was influenced by Woodson's iso-heavy system. If Teague breaks out then great, if he flops then I would want to plug in someone like Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Josh Selby, or Kemba Walker. We could possibly get a band aid in trade or free agency, but to land a stud at that position we're most likely going to have to use the draft.

[evildallas]

They are now on shooting guards and with Jamal at 12 and the top 10 not revealed yet it is obvious that we'll have 2 of the top 12 shooting guards to offset none of the top 30 PGs. We're just an unconventionally built team.

[dpaulh]

I wonder where Jamal would have ranked as a point guard... He has been our 2nd and 4th quarters PG

[evildallas]

I wonder where Jamal would have ranked as a point guard... He has been our 2nd and 4th quarters PG

Hard call. I looked back at their list and I would think between 19-22. #22 was Raymond Felton, #21 was Aaron Brooks, #20 was Jose Calderon, and #19 was Mo Williams. Those are not complete PGs. In the cases of Williams and Brooks they are score first, create for others 2nd PGs (which Jamal would be). Calderon and Williams are extremely weak defensively at PG (which Jamal would be as well). I could argue that Crawford is as good if not better than Mo Williams, but I wouldn't have him ahead of Aaron Brooks so 19 seems high. I like Jamal because of his ability to get his shot and to hit big shots, but it wouldn't be right to give him high marks for creation for others or his defense.

[D21]

I wonder where Jamal would have ranked as a point guard... He has been our 2nd and 4th quarters PG

When you think at what this team did almost all the 4th quarter of the regular season, it would not have helped him

[evildallas]

Joe came in at #4 on their SG rankings.

Marvin was at #21 on the SF rankings (oddly Josh Childress was ranked #22)

There are some nights where Williams will play much better than those who are listed ahead of him on these particular rankings, but overall Williams just doesn't stand out. Doesn't do anything spectacularly, nor poorly, and is quite replaceable. Just right in the middle of everything, a Milford Man through and through. Appreciate his production, though. And his taciturn tone.

[azuresou1]

Milford Man is a pretty good description. Remember when Marvin wasn't just a spot up shooter and actually touched the ball on offense and played aggressively and with some sort of emotion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNtwNpbPOCU

[evildallas]

Milford Man is a pretty good description. Remember when Marvin wasn't just a spot up shooter and actually touched the ball on offense and played aggressively and with some sort of emotion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNtwNpbPOCU

One of the things I'm most interested in seeing is whether Drew's offense and leadership can salvage Marvin by forcing him to be involved. I'm still uncertain what gets the most credit for his retreat into afterthought last year: his personality, his teammates unwillingness to involve him, or Woodson's schemes. I'm not expecting great stats from Marvin because of the number of offense options the Hawks should have, but I'm hoping that the nature of his offense utilization be more varied, exciting, and aggressive.

[evildallas]

Still waiting to see where Josh and Al come in on the lists. They're up to 11 on PF and no sign of either one.

[D21]

Still waiting to see where Josh and Al come in on the lists. They're up to 11 on PF and no sign of either one.

Josh is 7th, but it will be harder than last season :
number 3 is Stoudemire who comes in the East Conference, and same for number 6 Boozer.
And number 5 Bosh is now in the same division.

Link

[evildallas]

I think Josh can go higher if he remains disciplined, focused, and active. Really the only spot in his numbers that is a bit soft is the rebounding and that should go up if he actually stays around the basket more. The sad thing for him is that it probably won't lead to any All-Star recognition because of all the names in the East now at the position. Stoudemire should put up big numbers for a so-so team. Bosh's stats and impact may take a hit in the Superfriends lineup, but normally once you've built name recognition it takes some time for it to drop off (see Kevin Garnett). Boozer's role will probably be large with Chicago which could help his All-Star prospects. Of course that's assuming health which is not a given with Boozer, Amare, or Garnett.

[evildallas]

Al comes in at 4 among the Centers which means that we have SGs of 4 and 12 ranking, a PF of 7, a C of 4, and SF of 21. Lack of PG production and not getting enough bang for the buck from SF are the obvious shortcomings of this unscientific evaluation.