What if Zion Williamson...

atlantabbq99 · Post #1 » by **atlantabbq99** » Thu Nov 8, 2018 8:32 am

I'm not a big fan of Zion, and I still think the 2019 draft will be weak, but what if Zion Williamson becomes a Hawk?

Do you play him as a PF like Blake Griffin or play him as a Draymod Center, or as a SF like Charles Barkley in PHX?

What will happen or how will this affect Collins, Trae, and Prince?

hawkmanreturns · Post #2 » by **hawkmanreturns** » Thu Nov 8, 2018 11:38 am

SF mostly or a small ball PF with Collins at center on occasion. Collins and Trae will be more than fine, but Prince will probably end up on the bench where he will thrive and become a 6th Man Of The Year candidate. I think Zion is a generational talent and should be on the Hawks' radar regardless of fit.

Post #3 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Nov 8, 2018 12:43 pm

I have, similarly, not paid much attention to Zion as I view him a poor fit alongside Collins.

But, he is an intriguing player.

Collins seems like a fixture here (for now). So I'd guess eventually SF or Center would be Zion's role on our team.

But I don't think Zion has the jumper to play SF in our system. Nor the defensive chops to play Center. (Asking him to guard 7-footers is unfair.)

Based on that, if Zion becomes a Hawk -- there's a good chance he's the long term answer at PF...making Collins (and Omari?) expendable.

Post #4 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Nov 8, 2018 2:21 pm

Zion Williamson Is Here to Melt Your Brain, Over and Over Again

The crown jewel of Duke’s instant-classic recruiting class didn’t disappoint against the preseason no. 2 team in the nation. One game in, he’s cemented his place as college basketball’s newest superstar

Williamson’s pulverizing dunks will lure you in, but the rest of his game will make you a believer in his superstar potential.

Williamson moves so fluidly that it’s easy to forget he’s so heavy. He’s 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds with a 6-foot-10 wingspan.

But Williamson is skilled: He’s a power guard who can do it all on the court. He’s energetic on defense. Williamson lacks ideal length and standing reach to be a true rim protector, and his defensive technique and discipline needs work, but he plays hard and displays the agility to move laterally and the strength to contain opponents on the interior. Zion’s defense is at a satisfying point for his age—he just turned 18 in July.

It’s not an exaggeration to say the last player to possess this type of skill with similar physical makeup was Charles Barkley. That’s what makes Williamson such a fascinating fit for the NBA. In today’s position-less league, Williamson could serve as the screener or as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll.

We saw the hype machine go into overdrive last season for Trae Young. It’s about to go into hyperdrive for Williamson. Once January comes along, and conference play begins, it’ll be a new challenge for Williamson, like it was for Young, whose production crashed once teams had a chance to build their game plans around his singular talents. But I would bet against that happening for Duke.

The Ringer

ChokeFasncists · Post #5 » by **ChokeFasncists** » Fri Nov 9, 2018 6:07 am

Seriously doubtful it'll be SF, kinda like Poythress.

I'd say a three big men rotation of him, Collins and Spellman should work just fine.

MaceCase · Post #6 » by **MaceCase** » Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:32 am

If Trae is Nash then Zion and Collins are Matrix and STAT.

atlantabbq99 · Post #7 » by **atlantabbq99** » Sat Nov 10, 2018 11:08 am

^It would be more like Nash, Barkley, and Shawn Kemp on the same team

MaceCase · Post #8 » by **MaceCase** » Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:44 pm

Why make that stretch when you can more easily point to an actual undersized team that was super successful?

I mean, I get the desire to build a fantasy team but still, it’s just easier to visualize an example where a mix of similar skillsets and physiques actually coexisted.

~Wretch~ · Post #9 » by **~Wretch~** » Sat Nov 10, 2018 11:01 pm

He does some NASTY ish off the dribble. For his size, he's so fast... He is a mix of size, speed, athleticism, and handles that I would not pass on. It's a tough call, but I'd honestly take him #1 and play him at PF.

With maturity and a consistent shot, it's scary to think about a Trae/Zion combo.

tbhawksfan1 · Post #10 » by **tbhawksfan1** » Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:37 am

Careful to not fall in love. Hawks are one of the least talented teams in the league and we need much better than Collins. Trae may turn into something. No one else on this team has any realistic chance at being more than NBA AVG, if that.

Post #11 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Dec 3, 2018 6:23 pm

NBA Teams in Desperate Need of Zion Williamson

Atlanta Hawks

Optimal Atlanta Hawks Frontcourt

C: John Collins

PF: Zion Williamson

SF: Taurean Prince

The Atlanta Hawks took a step in their rebuild during the 2018 draft, particularly by adding point guard Trae Young. But a nucleus of Young, Prince and Collins won't be enough. Williamson takes the roster to new heights and gives it a centerpiece Atlanta presumably wouldn't land in free agency.

Few opposing frontcourts would be able to match the athleticism of Williamson and Collins. The Hawks should also be salivating at the idea of adding the Duke freshman to a lineup with Young, who has his team No. 1 in the league in pace (108.4 possessions per game). A one-of-a-kind athlete, Williamson ranks in the 99th percentile in transition scoring (1.73 points per possession).

He fits with Atlanta's uptempo style, and he gives Young an elite finishing target in the open floor and off his dribble penetration.

Williamson's fit in Atlanta would go even smoother if Collins continues to develop into a three-point shooter, which the Hawks coaching staff seems interested in pushing since he's taking two triples per game as a sophomore.

Bleacher Report

Post #12 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 1:00 pm

Read on Twitter

macd-gm · Post #13 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:14 pm

Geez Duke freshman players just openly talking about being in the nba next season and we're in december.

Post #14 » by **ATL Boy** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:27 pm

I think they'll start Collins at C. A decade ago that would be unthinkable, but with the small-ball movement in the NBA today, we can get away with that. RJ Barrett would be a better roster fit but Zion has a chance to be once in a generation. It'll be hard to pass that kind of player up two years in a row.

kg01 · Post #15 » by **kg01** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:30 pm

macd-gm wrote:Geez Duke freshman players just openly talking about being in the nba next season and we're in december.

I'd put it more on the guys asking the question.

Also, I get that this kid is a physical talent but his 'game' is still pretty rudimentary. I'm not saying he can't improve skill-wise or that I'm against drafting him. I'm saying whoever drafts him will have to understand that they'll have a lot of development to do.

He can certainly make a living (i.e. get paid) off of put-backs, duck-ins and effort plays at the next level. However, an NBA team can't win on a steady diet of that "offense" from their main guy. That's like asking a poor man's Julius Randle to lead your team. yeesh

macd-gm · Post #16 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:32 pm

kg01 wrote:
macd-gm wrote:Geez Duke freshman players just openly talking about being in the nba next season and we're in december.

I'd put it more on the guys asking the question.

Also, I get that this kid is a physical talent but his 'game' is still pretty rudimentary. I'm not saying he can't improve skill-wise or that I'm against drafting him. I'm saying whoever drafts him will have to understand that they'll have a lot of development to do.

He can certainly make a living (i.e. get paid) off of put-backs, duck-ins and effort plays at the next level. However, an NBA team can't win on a steady diet of that "offense" from their main guy. That's like asking a poor man's Julius Randle to lead your team. yeesh

That was exactly my opinion of Bagley. Zion has more skills to me. And damn he's exciting as hell.

kg01 · Post #17 » by **kg01** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:37 pm

macd-gm wrote:
kg01 wrote:
macd-gm wrote:Geez Duke freshman players just openly talking about being in the nba next season and we're in december.

I'd put it more on the guys asking the question.

Also, I get that this kid is a physical talent but his 'game' is still pretty rudimentary. I'm not saying he can't improve skill-wise or that I'm against drafting him. I'm saying whoever drafts him will have to understand that they'll have a lot of development to do.

He can certainly make a living (i.e. get paid) off of put-backs, duck-ins and effort plays at the next level. However, an NBA team can't win on a steady diet of that "offense" from their main guy. That's like asking a poor man's Julius Randle to lead your team. yeesh

That was exactly my opinion of Bagley. Zion has more skills to me. And damn he's exciting as hell.

Me too, however, I think Bagley is better with the ball in his hands which scares me (about Zion).

Williamson is exciting but every time I see him take off for a dunk I think, "Man that was cool but when was the last time somebody won a playoff game with a steady diet of dunks?" or "When was the last time the game-clinching/winning/saving shot was an uncontested dunk?" I'm sure it's happened. Shaq assassinating the Blazers on the Kobe lob comes to mind, but the reason that's an iconic shot is because it's so rare.

Just thoughts ...

Spud2nique · Post #18 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:47 pm

Zion needs to concentrate on Duke basketball right now. That’s what I would have loved to hear from him. He’s young and impressionable though..like Jamaal.

Post #19 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:55 pm

kg01 wrote:Also, I get that this kid is a physical talent but his 'game' is still pretty rudimentary. I'm not saying he can't improve skill-wise or that I'm against drafting him. I'm saying whoever drafts him will have to understand that they'll have a lot of development to do.

He can certainly make a living (i.e. get paid) off of put-backs, duck-ins and effort plays at the next level. However, an NBA team can't win on a steady diet of that "offense" from their main guy. That's like asking a poor man's Julius Randle to lead your team. yeesh

YES!!!

I'm trying to get on board with this kid as consensus #1.

But i just don't see a great basketball player.

I see a good player who's a great athlete -- while simultaneously being undersized and overweight.

He'll be a productive NBA player. But I can't see him carrying an offense, shutting down opposing bigs or wings.

Or he's young Blake Griffin. :dontknow:

macd-gm · Post #20 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 3:58 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
kg01 wrote:Also, I get that this kid is a physical talent but his 'game' is still pretty rudimentary. I'm not saying he can't improve skill-wise or that I'm against drafting him. I'm saying whoever drafts him will have to understand that they'll have a lot of development to do.

He can certainly make a living (i.e. get paid) off of put-backs, duck-ins and effort plays at the next level. However, an NBA team can't win on a steady diet of that "offense" from their main guy. That's like asking a poor man's Julius Randle to lead your team. yeesh

YES!!!

I'm trying to get on board with this kid as consensus #1.

But i just don't see a great basketball player.

I see a good player who's a great athlete -- while simultaneously being undersized and overweight.

He'll be a productive NBA player. But I can't see him carrying an offense, shutting down opposing bigs or wings.

Or he's young Blake Griffin.

I haven't seen enough of him to really say whether he'll be great or a bust but his physical gifts are pretty damn impressive. I mean what were Lebron's basketball skills coming into the NBA?