RealGM

Both Smoove and Horford had less productive years statistically last year than the previous year. Both were relatively injury free in 07-08 and both had an injury in 08-09.

Though the starting C and PF had less productive years, the team improved by about 10 games. If Al and Josh can return to 07-08 production, they will be one of the best PF/C duo's in the league. With the addition of Crawf / Jo Smith / Collins and a "return to form" for Al and Josh, the Hawks could compete.

I was thinking about the PF position. Smoove's 07-08 numbers were near all-star. If he can play that kind of PF, he can be one of the most dominant PF's in the league. What is his game? Is he a tweener or a PF ? I think the muli-position ideology has hampered Smoove. he is not an NBA SF. The question is, is he a dominant PF ?

He needs to move inside. Exploit his unstopable first step and score game, get his 8 or 9 boards a game and shut down the defensive paint to penetration with his blocking abitlities. If he can do that, he's my PF. If he can't move his game inside and man up at PF:

Al Horford to PF seems the next thought. Smoove could bring in a very capable starting C in a trade. Horford would be a load at PF with a skilled C to play off of.

I like the idea of Smoove totally embrassing the PF role and he and Al becoming a prototype PF/C combo.

A Marc Gazol, Kaman, Biendrins etc.... and Horford front-court is not a bad thought though.

Smoove was plagued with the ankle injury for quite a while and no one knows if he ever healed fully!

Horford's numbers did not go down. Al's PER went up and Josh and Al's FG% went up to an average of .505, their previous FG% was .472

the blocked shots went down, but the defense improve, because last year the opponents FG% was .454. while the previous year it was .463

and with all of that said, both Al and Josh missed a total of 26 games last year due to injury.

They were more efficient, but most of their numbers were down. The injuries were a factor. If, they can get the numbers back up to the previous year and keep the efficiency, things can get very interesting.

Harry10 wrote:Horford's numbers did not go down. Al's PER went up and Josh and Al's FG% went up to an average of .505, their previous FG% was .472

the blocked shots went down, but the defense improve, because last year the opponents FG% was .454. while the previous year it was .463

and with all of that said, both Al and Josh missed a total of 26 games last year due to injury.

Smith clearly had a down year last season. There is no way you can make an argument to the contrary just because of his FG%. I do think the ankle injury had something to do with it, and maybe he got a little bit complacent after getting the big $$$. I'd expect him to be back to his previous form this year though.

Horford was the guy who was somewhat exposed last year. Still love the guy as a leader and source of toughness, but if Josh can handle more of the load offensively I think we could see quite a bit more of Smith/Zaza while Al sits.

Zaza over Horf, you must be joking.

Just playing matchups. There are times where Zaza's size alone and sudden offensive efficiency (we'll see if that continues this year) makes him a better option to me. Granted I'd expect Smith to be the guy in at the 5 over Horford rather than Zaza the vast majority of the time.

Zaza is far from as efficient as Horford.

Zaza:
.497 eFG, .571 TS, 4.2 FGA, 17.4 TRB, 6.0 AST%, 1.4 BLK%, 17.8 TOV%, 5.1 PF/36

Horford
.525 eFG, .565 TS, 8.9 FGA, 16.3 TRB, 11.9 AST%, 3.3 BLK%, 13.1 TOV%, 3.1 PF/36


For non-stat-nerds:
They score at about the same rate, but Horford can do it while taking more shots, and the more shots you take the harder it is to maintain percentages. Zaza is slightly better at rebounding, but is far worse at passing and blocking. He also fouls and turns the ball over more as well.

I would never put in Smith/Zaza; it just doesn't make any sense. If you're trying to go big, you might as well go Smith/Horford/Zaza, or Horford/Zaza.