Are the Hawks the 3rd best team in the East?

[bsanders]

1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. Atlanta

the Magic are not better than the Hawks and the Celtics will be on the decline next year. if Boozer and Bogans gets on the decline, the Hawks = Bulls, the Hawks could share the 2nd best with the Bulls

[ATL Boy]

We are 3rd best (my opinion) but there's no way ATL=CHI unless rose gets hurt in which case it'll be ATL over CHI, or if Noah and Booz get hurt then it's ATL=CHI.

[Ruhiel]

Bulls have 3 picks. they are getting a 2, if they get Leslie the NBA is rigged.

No team outside the top 8 defensively has won the title in nearly 2 decades.
Hawks need to make a move as they are only a top defensive team...when they play Jason Collins.

"Blue-collar guys, guys who do a lot of dirty work and do a lot of things that don't show up in the stat book, those are the kind of guys that can help us out,"

Orlando will likely become New Jersey with Deron Williams+D12
Knicks are always a threat with their willing front office

Philadelphia have better depth than our top heavy team.
Boston is on the decline but don't be fooled. Miami, Chicago, and Boston are the top 3 defensive teams in the league. Atlanta is not

[Pacerlive]

From an unbiased perspective I would say no. I think Boston is still one year away from being dismanteled and when they are they will reload not rebuild. I also think the Hawks will suffer from the bad contracts that are on their roster.

You have to replace Crawford which I think will be very hard to do given the new CBA and if no MLE is available it will have to come from the draft. I think the Hawks take one step back next year but thats just my opinion.

[The Real Dalic]

I'm sorry but as a Magic fan i'm gonna have to disagree. there were a few reasons we didn't beat the Hawks. our Chemistry was out of whack with the midseason trades and our players were just struggling it happens.

[HMFFL]

I'm sorry but as a Magic fan i'm gonna have to disagree. there were a few reasons we didn't beat the Hawks. our Chemistry was out of whack with the midseason trades and our players were just struggling it happens.

Your Magic need to improve this off-season and upgrade many areas of the team. Jason Richardson is a free agent and your team still has a great deal of bad contracts. Poor chemistry is only one problem the Orlando Magic are dealing with.

[The Real Dalic]

I'm sorry but as a Magic fan i'm gonna have to disagree. there were a few reasons we didn't beat the Hawks. our Chemistry was out of whack with the midseason trades and our players were just struggling it happens.

Your Magic need to improve this off-season and upgrade many areas of the team. Jason Richardson is a free agent and your team still has a great deal of bad contracts. Poor chemistry is only one problem the Orlando Magic are dealing with.

Yeah i agree we're a mess right now. but i truly believe Gil gets back to at least 80% and we make a move to turn this team around.

[johnny878]

its not like the magic were even injured.... hawks will keep getting better with a young core and the emergence of teague, and magic worse sattled by massive contracts of aging borderline nba starting quality players.

Knicks are the only the team i see that may pass the hawks for the 3rd in the east if they can manage to get a C this offseason. its also hard to completely pass over the C's as well, though they are getting old and have a massive hole at the 5.

[The Real Dalic]

its not like the magic were even injured.... hawks will keep getting better with a young core and the emergence of teague, and magic worse sattled by massive contracts of aging borderline nba starting quality players.

Knicks are the only the team i see that may pass the hawks for the 3rd in the east if they can manage to get a C this offseason. its also hard to completely pass over the C's as well, though they are getting old and have a massive hole at the 5.

Again i disagree but you're entitled to you're own oppinion.

[Ruhiel]

Hawks don't have a young core. everyone but Teague has peaked and in 2 years Josh expires.
No team outside of the top 8 defensively has won the title for near 20 years.

We are top 5 when Jason Collins is in and 15th when he's out. Rock and a hard place.

[Ruhiel]

its not like the magic were even injured.... hawks will keep getting better with a young core and the emergence of teague, and magic worse sattled by massive contracts of aging borderline nba starting quality players.

Knicks are the only the team i see that may pass the hawks for the 3rd in the east if they can manage to get a C this offseason. its also hard to completely pass over the C's as well.

we don't have much upside outside of Teague.

And no team has won in the past 16 years without a top 8 defense.
Last year we were 15th with Smith and Horford down low. We were top 5 with {Jason Collins} and Horford down low with Smith and Joe on the wings.

we have pretty much peaked unless Teague turns into Chris Paul or Tony Parker back when he was dropping 40.

[jagstang76]

Dude, is there a reason why you post essentially the same thing back to back, Ruhiel. The more you post like this, the sooner you will be booted off because you're just annoying everyone. You've been preaching top 8 defense on every post lately. We've got it, give it a rest! What you could do is stop correcting everyone and start purposing some moves that make sense. And test those ideas on the trade board to see if people from those teams would even consider them. If you find something that works, let us know.

[HMFFL]

its not like the magic were even injured.... hawks will keep getting better with a young core and the emergence of teague, and magic worse sattled by massive contracts of aging borderline nba starting quality players.

Knicks are the only the team i see that may pass the hawks for the 3rd in the east if they can manage to get a C this offseason. its also hard to completely pass over the C's as well.

we don't have much upside outside of Teague.

And no team has won in the past 16 years without a top 8 defense.
Last year we were 15th with Smith and Horford down low. We were top 5 with {Jason Collins} and Horford down low with Smith and Joe on the wings.

we have pretty much peaked unless Teague turns into Chris Paul or Tony Parker back when he was dropping 40.

Actually, I think we have a great deal of upside all around, and not just with the recent emergence of Jeff Teague. It's apparent that Josh Smith needs to work very hard on his overall game (Take some lessons from Kevin Love). If Josh can improve and make better decisions, not only will he be closer to an All-Star level, but our team success will greatly improve. I still prefer him at the 3 as long as Marvin William is our option there.

If we make adjustments and find a suitable big man to play the 5, I think all of our starters will benefit, and it should be more enjoyable to watch our team play.

[myrak433]

Hawks don't have a young core. everyone but Teague has peaked and in 2 years Josh expires.
No team outside of the top 8 defensively has won the title for near 20 years.

We are top 5 when Jason Collins is in and 15th when he's out. Rock and a hard place.

Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams are all 25 or younger. they are part of the Hawks core. if that isn't young I don't know what young is.... this should be all three of them forth year coming up. and yes I said Marvin. even though he has been coming up small lately, he still has some upside.

[Ruhiel]

Hawks don't have a young core. everyone but Teague has peaked and in 2 years Josh expires.
No team outside of the top 8 defensively has won the title for near 20 years.

We are top 5 when Jason Collins is in and 15th when he's out. Rock and a hard place.

Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams are all 25 or younger. they are part of the Hawks core. if that isn't young I don't know what young is.... this should be all three of them forth year coming up. and yes I said Marvin. even though he has been coming up small lately, he still has some upside.

I assumed young meant ability to get better on both sides of the ball.
Marvin won't improve much with Joe here and Teague will have to become the straw that stirs the drink. Smith's abilities will wane with his weight as he should be in transition and posting up instead of the 4 man on the break. The 4 man has to rebound for others and has few transition opportunities unless he decides to push the ball himself and not wait for an outlet. In which case our outlets can't run the floor and we always employ a 3 guard lineup that's incapable of anything but petering off for jumpers. Nonexistent transition game as currently constructed.

Horford in the halfcourt will always have to stand outside to hit shots over defenders we'll commonly see in the top 3 in the East.
What weapons do these guys have that make them such a mismatch that I'm missing? Their brain doesn't necessarily make them a mismatch as other top players have a BBall IQ as well.

[jagstang76]

Our team is one of the most athletic frontcourts in the NBA. All of them have the ability to run and jump better than most, and they are all solid passers. For years, we've been craving a PG who could get this team running and gunning, and we hope that Teague can eventually do that. And Josh is practically the standard for a big rebounding and starting the fastbreak as he's great at putting it on the floor and taking it all the way. These guys do break the mold of the typical 4 & 5, but that's why they have been very effective and have been to the 2nd round of the playoffs 3 years in a row. I believe they do have the ability to get better. Al specifically, if he can work on his post game, could become exactly what we have been needing to bring this team more balance. Right now, he's too one-dimensional with his moves, but there's lots of room for improvement. It doesn't matter whether he and Josh play the 3/4 or 4/5, because they will be a mismatch at either position because of their athleticism. I'm not so sure about Marvin, but I still hope he will come out of his shell. I just think you can't pigeon-hole guys and say this is all they will ever be.

[Ruhiel]

For years, we've been craving a PG who could get this team running and gunning, and we hope that Teague can eventually do that.

Playing Time and offseason practice.

And Josh is practically the standard for a big rebounding and starting the fastbreak as he's great at putting it on the floor and taking it all the way.

These guys do break the mold of the typical 4 & 5, but that's why they have been just effective enoughh to have [lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs 3 years in a row].

I believe they do have the ability to get better. Al specifically, if he can work on his post game, could become exactly what we have been needing to bring this team more balance.

A balanced team has 2 defenders down low and Josh would be a 2nd or 3rd layer of defense from the weakside not the 1st line of defense or shot erasing.
If Josh is not hauling @ss and doesn't get back we have no defense. Hinrich can defend as much as he wants but defense relies entirely on Smith. Which is like the Suns relying entirely on Marion for defense. It never worked.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZWzs5Y_B2A&NR=1[/youtube]

Right now, he's too one-dimensional with his moves, but there's lots of room for improvement. It doesn't matter whether he and Josh play the 3/4 or 4/5, because they will be a mismatch at either position because of their athleticism.

The NBA isn't all about "athleticism" but there are more ways to define athleticism. Alexis Ajinca but Ajinca jumps higher than Dirk. who's more "athletic".
Joakim Noah is taller longer and just as fast as Josh and Horford. Did their athleticism help us on the boards?
The 3 Man is the glue that holds the team together. Bruce Bowen/Ron Artest/Trevor Ariza/Lebron/Shawn Marion/Carmelo
then we have to choose Josh Smith or Marvin Williams. I think its an easy choice.

I'm not so sure about Marvin, but I still hope he will come out of his shell. I just think you can't pigeon-hole guys and say this is all they will ever be.

Marvin has already come out of his shell. His advanced stats show he's a pure shooter but not very good at getting good shots against the Lebrons Luol Deng's etc.
Give those guys some credit before you hope Marvin can dominate that 3 slot. As far as pigeonholing, Ben Wallace was a 6'7 center. He knew his role. Rasheed Wallace was a 6'11 tip out man who could roll to basket dunk and get tips he knew his role.
Rip knew his role. Billups knew his role. They had a shallow bench and still won because their starters played 40+ minutes. They defeated Shaq and Kobe.
I think its time we define roles. Josh Smith is either Ben Wallace or Tayshaun Prince he can't be both. Horford Rasheed Wallace? fine. who's Ben Wallace.
Billups won the title before he even peaked his IQ. Teague plays like Billups. fine.
Let's pretend Joe Johnson or Marv Williams can be as efficient as Rip Hamilton or at least Ray Allen in 2008.
Kirk Hinrich our vet off the bench to lead the 2nd charge; Lindsey Hunter.

Teague - Billups
Johnson - Allen/Hamilton

? - Tayshaun Prince
? - Rasheed Wallace
? - Ben Wallace
...
????? - Corliss Williamson
Hinrich - Lindsey Hunter
????? - Mehmet Okur

Our team is one of the most athletic frontcourts in the NBA.

the 3 is included in the frontcourt.
Josh Smith+Al Horford+{Jason Collins}
{Marvin Williams}+Josh Smith+Al Horford
Collins, is big and coordinated but he has no speed and can't pursue rebounds. We obviously/statistically defend and boxes out better with him rather than Marvin Williams.

I seriously hope you did not consider Williams a part of our athletic front court. He never gets out in the open court and is uncoordinated/skilled at any one thing in the half court.

[Both]l of them have the ability to run and jump better than most, and they are [both] solid passers.

fixed I feel Atlanta has no idea how to prosper or what they're talking about when Rick Sund gives his interviews. The only one who runs and jump better than most in the playoffs ie they run and jump consistently is Smith. Horford's run and jump ability should not be counted upon to score. He is a elbow pinch hitter and has never shown ability to be anything more than a banger in the post.
Smith has shown he can rebound and post up.

This lineup is like James Jones+Lebron+Bosh only Smith is not Lebron and Horford is not Bosh.

[Wizard of POOH]

1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. Atlanta

the Magic are not better than the Hawks and the Celtics will be on the decline next year. if Boozer and Bogans gets on the decline, the Hawks = Bulls, the Hawks could share the 2nd best with the Bulls

Bogans will be gone soon, and Chicago will focus on getting a new SG. So I don't know about that one, there's also been talks about Rip getting bought out and coming over too, and he might be the veteran leadership and talent at the 2 guard that Chicago might need. But as of this exact moment I guess you can say that.

[Ruhiel]

several teams are stacking there rosters via draft & trade. MIL + PHILA come 2 mind.

[bsanders]

1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. Atlanta

the Magic are not better than the Hawks and the Celtics will be on the decline next year. if Boozer and Bogans gets on the decline, the Hawks = Bulls, the Hawks could share the 2nd best with the Bulls

Bogans will be gone soon, and Chicago will focus on getting a new SG. So I don't know about that one, there's also been talks about Rip getting bought out and coming over too, and he might be the veteran leadership and talent at the 2 guard that Chicago might need. But as of this exact moment I guess you can say that.

Chicago are going to go on the same path that the Magic and Cavs. Boozer's contract is Chicago's version of Rashard Lewis' contracts or Larry Hughes' contract, and Boozer's contract will cripple the Bulls ability to build a championship team

as a result the Bulls will do the same thing that the Cavs and Magic did and panic and sign some washed up vets (Vince, Jamison, Gilbert), like Vince Carter or Rip Hamilton or Jason Richardson, which will end up having the same results in Chicago as it did in Orlando and Cleveland and will escalate the Bulls' decline