NBA Offseason Buzz: Atlanta Hawks

[capstone21]

NBA Offseason Buzz: Atlanta Hawks

Comment Email Print Share var stobj = SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"NBA%20Offseason%20Buzz:%20Atlanta%20Hawks", url:"http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=4482096", published: "2009-09-20" }); stobj.attachButton(document.getElementById("espnstlink")); By John Hollinger and Ric Bucher

ESPN Insider

Want to know who's heating up for a big season on the hardwood? Insider is tapping into John Hollinger's projected player efficiency ratings to see who's trending up and down across the NBA. Ric Bucher rounds out the report by examining a pivotal player you'll want to watch as the season approaches. The series continues with the Atlanta Hawks.

The ownership mess took an important step in being resolved. GM Rick Sund re-signed three vital free agents -- Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams -- at prices that would have been impossible three years ago. Rookie Jeff Teague has been drawing offseason raves, and they added versatile vet Joe Smith. The only dark cloud is that coach Mike Woodson is entering the final year of his contract, not by choice, and has made his unhappiness publicly known.

To see which player is taking off, which is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.

Trending up: Josh Smith

Last season: 17.28 PER

2009-10 projection: 18.25 PER

Smith is only 23 years old, and while he hasn't figured things out as quickly as Hawks fans might have hoped, it's easy to forget the considerable progress he's made. Atlanta's addition of more perimeter players may help him focus on sticking to his knitting in the paint, and it would help him further if the Hawks' play calls gave him something to do besides stand 20 feet from the rim waiting for a kickout.

The fact remains that he's going to be only a third or fourth option for this team on offense. The way he can really make an impact is by dominating defensively with his shot-blocking ability. For whatever reason, that talent was largely AWOL last year, but if it bounces back, Smith can resume his push toward stardom. --Hollinger

Trending down: Mike Bibby

Last season: 16.38 PER

2009-10 projection: 14.56 PER

With his hand injury from 2007-08 healed, Bibby looked more like his old self last season, knocking down 39 percent of his 3s on nearly five attempts per game, directing the offense well with a low turnover rate and scoring more effciently.

But Bibby is aging. You can see it in the fact that he rarely attacks the basket anymore -- less than a fifth of his 2-point attempts were in the immediate basket area last season; of players with at least 100 2-point attempts, only three went to the cup less often. And because he is undersized and not a great athlete, Bibby's a poor defensive player who will only get worse. The Hawks performed some serious lineup gymnastics to stick him on a non-threatening offensive player whenever possible, with Joe Johnson usually bearing the brunt by covering anyone from the constantly expanding list of point guards whom Bibby can't handle.

Still, the Hawks brought him back, and the three-year, $15 million contract is a reasonable risk. Even as he slows down, shooters usually fare better with age than players who rely on athleticism. The Hawks also covered themselves in case of disaster by adding Crawford and Teague. Bibby's minutes should decline to about 30 or so per game. But his lousy 2007-08 season looks more like an outlier, and he still could come close to matching last season's numbers on a per-minute basis. --Hollinger

Bucher's name to know: Joe Smith

The Hawks' talent, envied around the league, is undercut by immaturity and sometimes an appalling lack of discipline. Hence the contractual vote of no confidence for Woodson; the overwhelming sense is that the Hawks listen to Woodson only when it suits them.

Hence, also, Smith's being a potential linchpin of Woodson's survival and of the Hawks' making good on their treasure trove of potential. Smith nearly had his career completely derailed 15 years ago while being mentored by teammate Latrell Sprewell on how to burn the candle at both ends. Smack him for not living up to No. 1-pick status, but he has developed a work ethic, focus and humility that has allowed him to endure and be far more useful than true busts who went first overall (Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi).

Does ol' Joe have enough game left for Josh Smith to heed any cautionary tale he might offer? Will the older Smith even offer it? He spurned Cleveland to sign with Atlanta because the Cavs shelved him come playoff time. At this point in his career, he doesn't want to sit on the bench, even if it affords a better chance of getting a ring. He'd rather make an impact with a playoff team trying to reach that championship level. There's no bigger contribution he could make than convincing the young Hawks that as early in their careers as it might seem, the clock moves fast, and sometimes early opportunities to make a mark are the only ones a player gets.

Joe knows. --Bucher

John Hollinger writes for ESPN Insider. Ric Bucher is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Insider.

Edited September 21, 2009 by capstone21

[bird_dirt]

The Hawks' talent, envied around the league, is undercut by immaturity and sometimes an appalling lack of discipline. Hence the contractual vote of no confidence for Woodson; the overwhelming sense is that the Hawks listen to Woodson only when it suits them.

that is one of the biggest statements made about this team in just two sentences. pretty strong words.

woodson has be hearing the drum beat in the background growing a little louder each day.

[joeschmoe]

thanks for the insider information

[ATLJA316]

On Joe Smith:

There's no bigger contribution he could make than convincing the young Hawks that as early in their careers as it might seem, the clock moves fast, and sometimes early opportunities to make a mark are the only ones a player gets.

Hell of a way to put it....

[DrReality]

The key issue is how much potential we have and the issue is maturing individually and collectively. And it's time for Woody to sh!t or get off the pot.

[Swatguy]

The key issue is how much potential we have and the issue is maturing individually and collectively. And it's time for Woody to sh!t or get off the pot.

Woody has not held a player back. Woody has been pushing and prodding for 5 years.

[macdaddy]

I think the players ignoring woody at times is a valid criticism of both the players and woody. We'll see how we fare with higher expectations. There are no excuses this year.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Why are people on here ( including Bucher ), act like the team in general didn't listen to Woody at times?

Ler's go down the line of the guys who got playing time, and see who possibly listened to Woody most of the time last year;

Johnson - yes

Horford - yes

Marvin - yes

Flip - yes

Zaza - yes

West - yes

Solo - yes

Evans - yes

Law - NO ( because he wasn't nearly as aggressive as Woody wanted him to be )

Bibby - sometimes

Smith - sometimes, but tended to do his own thing most of the time . . so I guess the answer is NO

When it comes to discipline and doing what Wody wants them to do, we all know who is most likely to "defy" Woody. No sense in acting like most of the team doesn't listen to Woody on a nightly basis.

[thefloydian]

Woody has not held a player back. Woody has been pushing and prodding for 5 years.

Yeah, and Josh should also keep shooting 3 pointers. Right?

[sillent]

Right!! Work on it seriously during the off season and add more to your resume. (Hedo/Rashard) Josh and Marvin can add a more athletic mismatch which would cover up some of what Horford is lacking playing his Dwight Howard role. Shooting is a learned skill. Nobodies born with a shot(You can't teach height/athleticism) but you have to learn how to shoot, dribble, pass and things of that nature.