Scouting the Hawks

[transplant]

Bulls' fan and I come in peace.

Congratulations on your first-round win...great stuff.

I do some writing and plan to do an article on the Hawks. I'm pretty familiar with several of your players. Hinrich and Crawford both played for the Bulls. Last offseason there was a lot of talk that the Bulls were targeting Johnson, so he came under the microscope. Love Horford's game, particularly when he's allowed to play at power forward.

Still, until the playoffs, I haven't watched many Hawks games this season so I'd appreciate it if you could give me your far more informed perspectives. Any thoughts on the upcoming series would be appreciated, but I have a few questions:

- Of playoff teams, the Hawks probably finished the regular season the weakest. What were the problems and how have they been solved?

- What are your thoughts on Hinrich? Has his addition been positive...if so, how and if not, why?

- I'd love your thoughts on Josh Smith. The few times I've seen him I alternate between being stunned by his talent and wondering if he's lost his mind.

- How do you think Drew will handle the center position in the 2nd round?

- Down the stretch of close games, the Bulls go to Rose (duh). Statistically, it looks like the Hawks use more of a committee approach...Johnson, Smith and Crawford. Is this true and if so, do you feel that it's effective?

Many thanks.

[theatlfan]

- Of playoff teams, the Hawks probably finished the regular season the weakest. What were the problems and how have they been solved?

No, we're just maddeningly inconsistent. As you can see from Game 5 against ORL, we haven't really fixed that.

- What are your thoughts on Hinrich? Has his addition been positive...if so, how and if not, why?

He was a bigger upgrade than many suspected @ the time of the trade. He can create his own shot and adds some dribble penetration to our O while also being a huge upgrade defensively. I'll be shocked if he plays at all against y'all (injury last night, had to be helped off the court; initially called a hamstring, but MRI today).

- I'd love your thoughts on Josh Smith. The few times I've seen him I alternate between being stunned by his talent and wondering if he's lost his mind.

Same as Q1 - maddeningly inconsistent. When motivated and playing well, he can be a beast on both sides of the court. He can change the opponents' game plan with his shot blocking and actually has a well rounded offensive game when he attacks. He also can get into a "save energy" mode where he allows the game to happen around him without him influencing it. Same Josh we've always had really...

- How do you think Drew will handle the center position in the 2nd round?

Honestly, this is the underrated storyline of this series. If Horford/Smoove can match up with Boozer/Noah, then we could make some noise in this series. If not, then we could be toast before the opening tipoff. We've actually got enough athleticism and length to give the Rose/Deng combo on the perimeter some fits, but it won't happen if y'all can dictate when we've got to go with Smoove @ the 3. Especially now that it appears that we won't have Hinrich for the series, we've got to win this matchup by essentially playing straight up in the interior.

- Down the stretch of close games, the Bulls go to Rose (duh). Statistically, it looks like the Hawks use more of a committee approach...Johnson, Smith and Crawford. Is this true and if so, do you feel that it's effective?

It's more or less true. I think it's more that other teams can take away our #1 more easily than other teams' 1 and the combined with the inconsistent play of all 3. Is it more effective? Not really, the goal is to win games: if that can happen with 1 guy, then great; if not, then you go with what you've got.

Many thanks.

You're Welcome. Here's to hoping for a series full of great games...

[Ruhiel]

Congratulations on your first-round win...great stuff.


- Of playoff teams, the Hawks probably finished the regular season the weakest. What were the problems and how have they been solved?
+big lineup.
+Takes away Marvin Williams but gives us 2 post scorer in Al Horford and Josh Smith.
+Horford is now able to shoot over small centers (4s)
+ Josh Smith is now able to get out in transition and on the wing and pinstead of the trailer position where the
+ Smith is now able to play closer to the basket where he should be instead of a stretch 4.
+ As a 4 and 5 the defense has already been set when Al and Josh rebound and get back
+ This way we get to push the ball and the opposing defenders have to sometimes pick up a mismatch. Domino effect we have post scorers and doubles.

:::::
- What are your thoughts on Hinrich? Has his addition been positive...if so, how and if not, why?
Yes. Bibby was valued for his shooting but not only is Hinrich quicker and stronger on defense but he could even be called a better shooter because he can create better than Bibby.
While he is not an All Star he is an improvement over Bibby. FO gets some credit here.
:::
- I'd love your thoughts on Josh Smith. The few times I've seen him I alternate between being stunned by his talent and wondering if he's lost his mind.
+ As a 6'8 four man he has to rely on shooting and dribbling. For all the hooplah about he cant play the 3 yes we took him out of a post advantage and made him rely on his perimeter skills as a 4.
+ Against 3s he can get in the post area and draw doubles like Joe Johnson does at the 2. Which is actually better because it takes Josh off the perimeter and swings the ball to perimeter shooters at the 1 the 2 and Al Horford.
+PG-SF Cross screens could be key component, him and Joe give us the tallest wing tandem in the league.
He loves posting up switches and kicking out.
+ Turkoglu was 6'10 and guarded him surprisingly well often taking him out
of the mid post and low post. Luol Deng has guarded him well in the past.
+ Josh had bulked up from his former 220-230 lbs and has to rely on a set jumper because his quickness with the ball is not what it used to be.
+ He is an elite player and like Horford he has point guard skills (lead the middle of the fast break and make the pass when they commit, identify postup mismatches etc) but one thing I'm excited about is if he can identify leakouts the first person back will be a point guard.
+ If he identifies the time to cherry picks and "rim runs" the first man responsible for being back on defense will often be the point guard and will have to guard him. When used right Josh Smith is much like a lite version of Dwight Howard on the wing.
+rim runs and seals
+baseline cuts and sneaks
+PG-SF cross screens etc.
::::

- How do you think Drew will handle the center position in the 2nd round?

+ We all know which lineup had us limp into the playoffs but Who knows with Drew? Al Horford can outphysical Noah but still he expends too much energy without getting rest that he would get and the added FTA he gets at the 4.
+ Versus Bass, Bass was basically trying to defend by shoving him out of bounds. Horford can be a force at the 4. Horford at the 4 draws more fouls. We need to try the big lineup to make the Bulls foul and work defensively and for offensive boards.
:::[b] Down the stretch of close games, the Bulls go to Rose (duh). Statistically, it looks like the Hawks use more of a committee approach...Johnson, Smith and Crawford. Is this true and if so, do you feel that it's effective?[/b]

Joe Johnson at 6'8sg was our most consistent size advantage in the closeout. But the key is to give the ball to whoever is drawing the fouls. If we put Rose in foul trouble we cut off the head of the snake. Boozer, Noah, Gibson should be kept off the offensive Boards and put the onus on the refs to call them when they foul Horford/Collins.
Deng is not a higly productive player per minute but the secret is he'll play 44 minutes. He gives them a starter at all times. He can surprise on offense and we may need Marvin to cover and score on him if Smith is not gettng it done.


I honestly want to see Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams in the backcourt with Josh at the 3 and Al Horford at the 4. We could also try Josh Powell at the backup 4.

If it is one thing guards have is that they can score but they don't typically have post defense.
Rose seems very strong but I am very confident Joe/Marvin will draw fouls posting him up.

[transplant]

Thanks guys. Good stuff.

In my research on the Hawks, the word "inconsistent" seems to dominate.

Please don't take this as trash talk, but my conclusion is that the Bulls are a bad matchup for the Hawks. Rose is extraordinary and the Hawks have no answer (note: I'm a long-time Hinrich fan and think Kirk will give it all he has, but end up in constant foul trouble). The Bulls have plus defenders at SG for Johnson and when the Hawks go small (their best offensive lineup, IMO), Deng will make things tough for him.

To me, Josh Smith is your wild card. When you go small, Smith will be matched up against Boozer. If Boozer can't make his 260lbs an advantage, and he's totally sucked recently against lesser talent, Smith could end up owning Boozer on both ends. If Smith can hit some 3s on Boozer (Boozer won't go out to aggressively defend him), it'll be a very bad thing for my Bulls.

Good luck, but of course I hope that you lose and lose quickly.

[parson]

The biggest secret about the Hawks is that 2 out of every 3 of Josh Smith's dunks bounce out and go into the other team's basket. It's amazing. We live in fear of our opponents figuring that out.

Just let Smoove dunk; you'll score in bunches as a result. Even if he gets lucky and scores 100, you'll get the next 200.

I promise.

[Ruhiel]

Thanks guys. Good stuff.

In my research on the Hawks, the word "inconsistent" seems to dominate.

Please don't take this as trash talk, but my conclusion is that the Bulls are a bad matchup for the Hawks. Rose is extraordinary and the Hawks have no answer (note: I'm a long-time Hinrich fan and think Kirk will give it all he has, but end up in constant foul trouble). The Bulls have plus defenders at SG for Johnson and when the Hawks go small (their best offensive lineup, IMO), Deng will make things tough for him.

To me, Josh Smith is your wild card. When you go small, Smith will be matched up against Boozer. If Boozer can't make his 260lbs an advantage, and he's totally sucked recently against lesser talent, Smith could end up owning Boozer on both ends. If Smith can hit some 3s on Boozer (Boozer won't go out to aggressively defend him), it'll be a very bad thing for my Bulls.

Good luck, but of course I hope that you lose and lose quickly.

Our goal plan is to put Boozer and Deng in foul trouble by making them guard Smith and Horford and by crashing the glass when our shooters Joe and Hinrich/Crawford/Teague shoot it.

Like Howard Rose could go for 46 as long as they aren't three point plays and his teammates aren't hitting 3s or in a rhythm.