TSN Season Preview : Atlanta Hawks
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:26 am
Seems like many are expecting big things from Marvin this year:
Always provide a link - HMFFL:
http://www.tsn.ca/nba/teams/story/?id=2 ... _nba-hawks
SF - Marvin Williams
Marvin Williams finally started to round into form last year. His averages of 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game were both career-highs, as was his 46% shooting clip from the floor. His role on the Hawks shields him from the responsibilities and pressures applied to most second-overall picks and that might be a good thing because while Williams has shown promise he hasn't quite demonstrated that he's up to the task of being a more than a number three or four option on a team. However, the encouraging signs are that he has been a willing student in Atlanta, and as such, has thoroughly rounded out his game. He's learned to stay off of the three-point arc where his game doesn't belong (only ten attempts last season) and keep his offense confined to the mid-range and triple-threat positions. He'll be using this season to determine his value going into free agency so we'll see if his willingness to sublimate his game is trifled with at all as a result.
C - Al Horford
He may not be the kind of player that Kevin Durant is, stopping people in their tracks to marvel at what's to come, but part of that is because Horford is so complete today. He was a double-double machine as an undersized rookie centre and there was little fault anyone could find with his game. Best of all, his stats and production were elevated in the playoffs, despite going against a far bigger frontline in Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. His offensive game could use a little bit of attention, perhaps looking to emulate the face-up game of P.J. Brown or Antonio McDyess, but after his thoroughly productive rookie season, Horford has inspired many to just leave him alone and trust that he's on the right path as a player. Avoiding the 'sophomore slump' would be a great way to repay that faith.
Always provide a link - HMFFL:
http://www.tsn.ca/nba/teams/story/?id=2 ... _nba-hawks