RealGM

I noticed that the Hawks all around team statistics look pretty good. One that is a little concerning is our perimeter D. Despite being 8th in opponents' overall FG%, we are 18th in opponents' 3pt FG%. Rank our perimeter defenders and comment on if any of them in the lower half are expendable (except JJ of course).

Johnson
Bibby
Williams
Evans
Murray

(These are in no particular order)

On a side note, I adhere to the philosphy that defense starts from the inside out, and perimeter defenders are less effective if their weight is back on their heels and their mind is on back pedling to defend an vulnerable lane. I would actually be more interested in acquiring a big to help sure up the inside D. In addition,rebounding is a bigger concern, as we are rated 21st in rebounding difference (the diference between our rebounds and our opponents'). That's just another reason to get a big, but I wanted to see what people's opinions were on our perimeter D anyway.

Agree with your second post.

My thoughts:

Evans
Marvin
Murray
JJ
Bibby

JJ has the ability to be much better defensively, but he clearly expends a lot of energy on the offensive side.

marvin->evans/JJ->flip>bibby

I don't have a problem with our perimeter D for the most part.

I also think one of the biggest aspects in our defense's success this year has been Bibby. For the first time in a while, he has truly committed himself to playing on that side of the ball. He's still not a very good defender, but his effort in playing solid man/teamdefense has completely changed the way teams attack us offensively.

I'd go:

1. Evans (he can play lockdown D on the perimeter)
2. JJ (does all he possibly can, especially considering how often we call on him offensively)
3. Marvin (Solid defender, but still falls asleep on backdoor cuts way to often for my liking)
4. Murray (not a great man defender, but gets in passing lanes and forces turnovers)
5. Bibby

Marvin
Joe
Bibby
Murray
Evans

JoshB914 wrote:I don't have a problem with our perimeter D for the most part.


1. Evans (he can play lockdown D on the perimeter)

What? When did he do that? Who did he stop?

Rio
Evans
Murray
Marv
Joe
Bibby

Rio never plays but I do like his D when he makes it in. Evans has settled in, he isn't a stopper but he gives the best effort out of the rotation players. Murray's hard to tell because visually, he isn't special as a defender but we tend to defend a lot better with him on the floor; maybe its because he's not Bibby - I'd have no problem with people knocking him down to second to last even. Marv is solid, physically, he could be a lockdown guy if he got smarter, nastier, and less clumsy, as it is though he's rarely a mark on that end. Joe has shown the ability to be very good but we just put too much on him on offense and he gets tired. Bibby has been giving better effort, unfortunately his defensive ineptitude seems to have little to do with effort one way or another.

I think one of the reasons Rio doesn't play big minutes as a defensive guy is because he can't get around screens. He's good at getting in a guys face and making him work, so he's good in iso situations (i.e. at the end of quarters when he logs most of his minutes), but I've seen him struggle in other situations defensively. But if Woody would give him a little more PT I think he could develop into a more well-rounded defensive player.

JJ is our best perimeter defender. He can even hold his own when there's a switch and he's got to guard the other team's big man. For a guy 6'7, he's got a very nice foot work. Now, the guy also has to carry our offense, so even when he doesn't play great on D, I do not pick on him. Marvin is very slow to guard most perimeter guys and knows very little how to use his body. Mo Evans is not as good on D as thought. He's on the guys faces too much and too close, then everytime they put the ball on the floor, he gets called for a foul. Flip Murray is bigger and stronger than Bibby, can move fairly well, while he's not great, he's not that bad( T. Lue). Bibby is a bit too slow and always comes under the screen to defend. I know that's probably a coach instruction, but he could do better.

1st JJ
2nd Flip
3rd Mo
4th Marvin
5th Bibby

JJ is the best defender. He just expends too much energy on the O. When he decides to give full effort on D, he shuts down his player.

The Hawks are not good enough at off the bench. You've got to have at least two starter quality subs to bring in.

We are especially thin (size/talent) at C and at SG. Law hasn't been able to establish himself off the bench either. Zaza/Mo/Flip as the numbers 6, 7, 8 is not getting it done.

The starting rotation has it's problems too. After JJ, we have no other player with a combination of talent/size/co-ordination. Bibby is probably next with good co-ord and talent, then Horford. Smoove and Marvin are really tweeners. Not enough size to play power PF, not fast enough to play fast SF and definately low on the co-ordination scale.

The Hawks could really use one more good player. Brad Miller would look really nice scoring, boarding and teaching Smoove, Horford and Marvin how to work smooth inside. He's a good inside passer. He would give the other three nice opportunities cutting to the basket. He shouldn't cost too much.

killbuckner has a nice trade proposal for him.

Smoove, Horf and Miller split about 90 minutes with Zaza getting the change.

Still need an upgrade behind SG/SF.

That doesn't seem like too much to give the Hawks a chance at a Championship.

I'll look for that trade proposal. Brad Miller has been one of my favorite players over the years due to his passing. His D is slipping though and I remember his salary being high.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=870999

He has two years left with a reasonable (for his skills) contract.