Hollinger Predicts Hawks Will Miss the Playoffs

[AHF]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/preview2011/story/_/page/EastForecast/nba-eastern-conference-projected-standings

9. Atlanta Hawks (33-33)

The Hawks won 44 games and made the second round of the playoffs in 2010-11, but that's misleading. They gave up more points than they scored in the regular season, went 10-17 after the All-Star break, lost one of the top sixth men in free agency and didn't do much to replace him, and will be without Kirk Hinrich for nearly half the season.

Pressed face-first against the luxury tax thanks to the bad contracts they lavished on Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, the Hawks were left to fill in around the edges with veteran retreads such as Tracy McGrady and Vladimir Radmanovic. These weren't bad pickups for the price, but they don't offset losing Crawford and Hinrich.

On the plus side, Jeff Teague takes over at the point after breaking out as a slashing, scoring guard in last season's playoffs, and Al Horford (25) and Josh Smith (26) provide a solid foundation as a frontcourt. Smith, however, is frustrated and spent the offseason angling for a trade.

Atlanta's bench looms as a major weakness; past editions of this team weren't deep, either, but Crawford and Zaza Pachulia often gave them an advantage against opposing second units. I can't see that happening with the current group, especially with McGrady likely to be the backup point guard until Hinrich returns. (Pape Sy, who has been talked up for this spot, has no chance of keeping it beyond the second quarter of the first game.)

As a result, this is going to be a harder slog for the Hawks than they might think, especially with a schedule that does a short-benched team few favors. Unless they're blessed with outstanding health, they're in danger of falling out of the playoffs entirely. After three straight trips to the second round, that's going to be a jolt.

Wow. He must be ragged relentllessly on this. (If it happens, I hope we get lucky and get Anthony Davis).

[Buzzard]

http://insider.espn....ected-standings

Wow. He must be ragged relentllessly on this. (If it happens, I hope we get lucky and get Anthony Davis).

If we somehow ended up in the lottery with this team, it could be almost as favorable as when the Spurs drew Duncan in the draft while still having The Admiral in his prime.

I do not think anyway this happens and agree 110% with your wow statement.

[Joker]

Hollinger knows that's not going to happen. We play in the East and a lot of games in the East. Not a chance.

[benhillboy]

His PER is a good evaluation tool to scratch the surface a little, but he is looked at like some kind of sage or expert, and I simply don't get that from his opinions, viewpoints, and philosophies on basketball. He knows no more than we do (the knowledgable ones here), and less than some. People love to react to his columns. I'd much rather read Bill Simmons.

[AtLaS]

People forget how many injuries we had last season.

[Buzzard]

Did Hollinger use his dopey playoff-predictor tool for this?

Dopey is a good word, like maybe he is on some.

[Guest]

Everybody and their stupid predictions (like how we wouldn't win any games against Boston, like how Orlando would sweep us last year), it's a good things the games have to be played. We will make playoffs:1. Miami and Chicago? well, they are Miami and Chicago.2. Celtics are old3. NY - Amare and/or Chandler are gonna miss a ton of games4. Orlando - Dwight and his situation5. Indiana - David West will not be the same after his knee surgery

[frankthetank966]

f*** HIM!

[willthepureshooter]

According to Hollinger, Herman Cain should become the Hawks next GM. His 999 plan would work wonders for our current cap situation.

[capstone21]

Everybody and their stupid predictions (like how we wouldn't win any games against Boston, like how Orlando would sweep us last year), it's a good things the games have to be played. We will make playoffs:1. Miami and Chicago? well, they are Miami and Chicago.2. Celtics are old3. NY - Amare and/or Chandler are gonna miss a ton of games4. Orlando - Dwight and his situation5. Indiana - David West will not be the same after his knee surgery

Dwight will be traded and so Orlando drops but NJ takes its place.NY is extremely overratedI think we will make it but it will be interesting to see where we fall. It will have a lot to do with how Teague responds to full time duty, JJ has recovered from his injuries (that he played with last season) and if our bench can step up with the absense of JC.

[MaceCase]

http://insider.espn....ected-standings

Wow. He must be ragged relentllessly on this. (If it happens, I hope we get lucky and get Anthony Davis).

Really, AHF? Another PF???

[AHF]

Really, AHF? Another PF???

I don't want to overload on power forwards, but he is a franchise player on a different level from anyone on our team. So yeah.

[Crank]

Good thing I dont bother listening to Hollinger on any topic ever or I might be worried

[MaceCase]

I don't want to overload on power forwards, but he is a franchise player on a different level from anyone on our team. So yeah.

Not sold on Drummond, huh?

[Gray Mule]

Well, once again we hear that the Hawks are really stinkers.

And, we did lose our first pre season game. Horrors. Terrible.

Yet, they do insist that the games be played. Perhaps we luck

out and win one or two - Maybe not.

We knew what Crawford brought. His offense will be missed

by us and his defense by our opponents. Great scoring machine.

Some over the hill players and some rookies fighting for the bench.

A recovering PG waiting in the wings for later in the season when

he is recovered. Should come in handy about half way thru.

Don't forget. Our Hawks have been together for some time. That

helps. A speedy PG who shined in the playoffs, backed up by a

new, veteran PG. JJ and Marvin both come in injury free, as opposed

to how they ended last season.

Yep. Hawks have a very good opportunity to win two or three games

this season. We ain't perfect, but then, who is?

GO HAWKS!!!

[WraithSentinel]

Every year it seem to be the same old thing. Hawks will miss the playoffs. I expected nothing less from Hollinger. Yeah the Hawks are frustrating as hell to watch at times. They are still a playoff team.

[DrReality]

Injuries could easily be our achiles. Not getting off to a good start with our pg's

[Guest]

Dwight will be traded and so Orlando drops but NJ takes its place.NY is extremely overratedI think we will make it but it will be interesting to see where we fall. It will have a lot to do with how Teague responds to full time duty, JJ has recovered from his injuries (that he played with last season) and if our bench can step up with the absense of JC.

Asssuming Dwight ends up in NJ...what if he makes it to LA. That means both NJ and ORL, not so good.

[Joker]

Hollinger said Denver will be better than OKC, LAL, and Dallas.

[Joker]

I don't want to overload on power forwards, but he is a franchise player on a different level from anyone on our team. So yeah.

He's not on a different level. I still think Horford can be a franchise player with the right PG.