How does Atlanta Hawks get over mediocrity?

[dc]

Capela has lost a step and doesn't stretch the floor at all, so we can't play him and OO together. It's like we can play Capela/OO together and get rebounds and stops, but we can't space the floor. Or we play Bey/Hunter at the 4 but can't rebound or get stops. Thank GOD Jalen Johnson is back. If he gets hurt again we are screwed.

Capela looking a bit washed this year (even if his nominal stats still look alright) makes me question his age a bit, sort of like people did with Ibaka. Like a 29 year old big shouldn't be falling off this soon in his career. I don't know if he's had injuries that have slowed him.

Looney looks washed this year at age 28 but the guy had a bad hip from the beginning and needed surgery early in his career so it's a little less surprising. I feel like Capela was a big reason they made a run to the ECF in 2021 and his falling off at a relatively young age has really hurt them.

[ShootersShoot]

It's crazy because this team runs 8 deep with starter-quality players, and they feel well built without holes. This is how I would have designed the team around Trae:
- Get him a screen & roll specialist who can also protect the rim. They got Capela.
- Get him a secondary ball handler who can guard at the point of attack. Enter Dejounte.
- Surround the core with an armada of versatile 2-way forwards. How about De'Andre, Saddiq, Jalen Johnson, maybe AJ Griffin if he ever learns defense.
- Get a defensive and offensive booster pack off the bench to back up key positions. Okongwu and Bogbog sounds pretty good!

But the result is just mid. Almost everyone is slightly underwhelming in these roles.

That's the weird part about it all. Hell, Dejounte has even become a better shooter this year, which means he should be able to play off-ball even better now than before. On paper, this team should work.

It's hard to know where to put the blame. On paper, everyone is doing their job.

De'Andre Hunter has underwhelmed and definitely not become the star-level 2-way wing they hoped for. But he's also having his most efficient shooting season to date, and still passes the sniff test as a solid starter. Jalen Johnson has been incredible this year, but is injured now. Saddiq Bey is fine. Bogdan is averaging 17ppg and sniping. Trae is having a career year. Clint is still Clinting and Onyeka is still an excellent defensive backup.

Like what do you do when the plan goes right from a roster construction standpoint, and you got the reputable coach you wanted...but the results are just a .500 team. I don't know where to start with the Hawks.

Trae and Dejounte still isn't working. They're both performing well individually, but they're -3.9 per 100 on the floor together, and the combinations involving Bogdan are more successful (the Trae/Dejounte/Bogdan 3-guard lineup also works well). The forward rotation minutes are pretty bad since Johnson got injured. The bench generally outplays the starters.

Saddiq bey is not fine. He is at 55% TS for the season and doesnt stand out defensively.. He is their weak link in the SL not sure why they continue to start him

[cupcakesnake]

That's the weird part about it all. Hell, Dejounte has even become a better shooter this year, which means he should be able to play off-ball even better now than before. On paper, this team should work.

It's hard to know where to put the blame. On paper, everyone is doing their job.

De'Andre Hunter has underwhelmed and definitely not become the star-level 2-way wing they hoped for. But he's also having his most efficient shooting season to date, and still passes the sniff test as a solid starter. Jalen Johnson has been incredible this year, but is injured now. Saddiq Bey is fine. Bogdan is averaging 17ppg and sniping. Trae is having a career year. Clint is still Clinting and Onyeka is still an excellent defensive backup.

Like what do you do when the plan goes right from a roster construction standpoint, and you got the reputable coach you wanted...but the results are just a .500 team. I don't know where to start with the Hawks.

Trae and Dejounte still isn't working. They're both performing well individually, but they're -3.9 per 100 on the floor together, and the combinations involving Bogdan are more successful (the Trae/Dejounte/Bogdan 3-guard lineup also works well). The forward rotation minutes are pretty bad since Johnson got injured. The bench generally outplays the starters.

Saddiq bey is not fine. He is at 55% TS for the season and doesnt stand out defensively.. He is their weak link in the SL not sure why they continue to start him

You're quoting me from almost 2 months ago and people already responded and discussed that point. He wasn't a full-time starter at that point. The Hawks were tinkering with their forward rotation and Bey looked like he was just a fill in starter until Jalen got back.

I agree that he's an underwhelming starter, but you're quoting me from a time when he was their 3rd or 4th wing.

[Johnny Bball]

Burn it all down to the ground?

Read on Twitter

Just as sample sizes that are too small can be dumb and useless, they can be the same when they are too large apparently. Amusing though.

[NDaATL]

Capela has lost a step and doesn't stretch the floor at all, so we can't play him and OO together. It's like we can play Capela/OO together and get rebounds and stops, but we can't space the floor. Or we play Bey/Hunter at the 4 but can't rebound or get stops. Thank GOD Jalen Johnson is back. If he gets hurt again we are screwed.

Capela looking a bit washed this year (even if his nominal stats still look alright) makes me question his age a bit, sort of like people did with Ibaka. Like a 29 year old big shouldn't be falling off this soon in his career. I don't know if he's had injuries that have slowed him.

Looney looks washed this year at age 28 but the guy had a bad hip from the beginning and needed surgery early in his career so it's a little less surprising. I feel like Capela was a big reason they made a run to the ECF in 2021 and his falling off at a relatively young age has really hurt them.

Capela is still a very solid C, but in 2021 he was a BEAST. He was top 5 defender in the league good, and also led the league in rebounding.

But now he's just a solid defender and very good rebounder, but offensively he doesn't space the floor at all. We need someone who can shoot at the 5. Will make Trae's life a lot easier.

[louc1970]

Trade everyone for picks and expirings except Johnson and Griffin. And rebuild.

[durden_tyler]

Burn it all down to the ground?

Read on Twitter

Just as sample sizes that are too small can be dumb and useless, they can be the same when they are too large apparently. Amusing though.

Whichever stat you go to though, it's clear they are forever mediocre so at some point they have to take that risk (trade Trae) and just invest on the future. Unless you want to stick with being mediocre again for the next 10 years though because they'll never be legit title contenders with this current roster.

[Ballerhogger]

By trading young and hoping for a star draft pick?

Still true

[UcanUwill]

By trading young and hoping for a star draft pick?

Still true

I am not trying to troll you, but that Lakers pick they just got can really be something next year. How protected was it? Lance is obviously just a salary filler, they are counting on Dyson Daniels getting good and Lakers being trash. Both of those scenarios are possible.

[Ballerhogger]

By trading young and hoping for a star draft pick?

Still true

I am not trying to troll you, but that Lakers pick they just got can really be something next year. How protected was it? Lance is obviously just a salary filler, they are counting on Dyson Daniels getting good and Lakers being trash. Both of those scenarios are possible.

Lakers will have ad and Lebron next year so how will that work?

[UcanUwill]

Still true

I am not trying to troll you, but that Lakers pick they just got can really be something next year. How protected was it? Lance is obviously just a salary filler, they are counting on Dyson Daniels getting good and Lakers being trash. Both of those scenarios are possible.

Lakers will have ad and Lebron next year so how will that work?

LeBron is ancient plus his son is on the team now, I think that team has by far the most potential to be the dysfunctional team of the year. I just do not trust James family at this point. Not like they are world beaters now and both AD and James had incredibly injury free seasons.

[Ballerhogger]

I am not trying to troll you, but that Lakers pick they just got can really be something next year. How protected was it? Lance is obviously just a salary filler, they are counting on Dyson Daniels getting good and Lakers being trash. Both of those scenarios are possible.

Lakers will have ad and Lebron next year so how will that work?

LeBron is ancient plus his son is on the team now, I think that team has by far the most potential to be the dysfunctional team of the year. I just do not trust James family at this point. Not like they are world beaters now and both AD and James had incredibly injury free seasons.

It will be fine . JJ had great press conference . He will be good coach . See how it goes

[UcanUwill]

Lakers will have ad and Lebron next year so how will that work?

LeBron is ancient plus his son is on the team now, I think that team has by far the most potential to be the dysfunctional team of the year. I just do not trust James family at this point. Not like they are world beaters now and both AD and James had incredibly injury free seasons.

It will be fine . JJ had great press conference . He will be good coach . See how it goes

I believe JJ can be great coach, will he be allowed to be one? JJ and James are pals, but JJ didn't send Bronny to G league yet...

[Capn'O]

Well. They aren't mediocre anymore. So there's that.

[thamadkant]

Trae Young needs to be surrounded by elite defenders and he needs a partner who is a 2 way superstar like KD or Kawhi or Paul George. His offense is pretty good but the team needs to be elite defensively even if Trae isn't...

Now build that recipe.