Millsap: Howard should help Hawks ’ floor spacing

[JTB]

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/millsap-howard-should-help-hawks-floor-spacing/nr8Ts/

 

Count Paul Millsap among those in the Hawks organization would initially believe that the addition of Dwight Howard will help the team’s offensive floor spacing next season.

While the Hawks are still two months from the start of training camp — when principles turn into practice — several players and coaches have indicated such a change may be the end result of the acquisition.

Howard is a traditional center, a roll-to-the-basket big man, signed this summer. He replaces Al Horford, a stretch-five with a 3-point shot, who joined the Celtics last month.

Curtis Compton

Hawks defenders Al Horford and Paul Millsap double team Cavaliers LeBron James during the second period in Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series at Philips Arena on Sunday, May 8, 2016, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

How does Millsap expect the Hawks’ offense be different with the addition of Howard?

“Offensively, we have a consistent roll guy, a guy who can put pressure on the basket every time you set a pick-and-roll,” Millsap told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “He’s a guy you have to pay attention to down low. We are hoping, and I think everyone sees the vision, of the court opening up. A lot more open shots. A little more physicality. Things that we needed to get better at, I think we have.”

Millsap added that opponents will have to pay close attention to Howard’s ability to play inside. If that is the case, shots should be available on the perimeter. It will be a contrast from a system where Horford pulled the opposition away from the basket.

“They are two good players,” Millsap said of Horford and Howard. “Al has evolved into a good 3-point shooter. A lot of times, he was popping on the screens. We know what Dwight is going to do. He’s going to roll hard to the basket. The defense has to zone in and sync down. The open shots will be available. We’ve got to knock them down.”

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said last month that he may be more comfortable with an offense that incorporates a traditional big man who can get inside the paint on offense and protect the rim on defense.

Millsap spoke before a charitable event where he distributed 600 backpacks filled with school supplies to students at Hollis Innovation Academy. Here are his thoughts on some of the other offseason moves of the Hawks:

On the overall roster changes: “Good moves. It should be a great year for us. We filled in the gaps that we needed to fill in. I think we’ve got a lot of young talent that is capable of being something special. Around the board, I think we did a good job of being able to compete in this league.”

On losing Jeff Teague and Horford: “Al, congratulations on his new big contract. I know he’ll do well. It’s always tough to see your friends and teammates who you went to battle with through the year to leave and go somewhere different, especially in the East.”

On Dennis Schröder replacing Teague at point guard: “Dennis and Jeff are two different players. Dennis is still learning. He’s on the rise. I think he knows what he needs to get better at. He knows what we want from him. Hopefully this year, he’ll put all together.”

 

[macdaddy]

Let's hope we gel.   Sap is going to take off if this season ends up being a lot of Dw-ama.

[Guest]

47 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

Let's hope we gel.   Sap is going to take off if this season ends up being a lot of Dw-ama.

That's why I'm a little afraid of Dwight...still

[QuantumHawkz]

Wow. That comment about DS17 and Teague tells me who he really wanted to run the point. IMO, he basically said he would have liked to keep Teague a little longer.      

[macdaddy]

1 hour ago, QuantumHawkz said:

Wow. That comment about DS17 and Teague tells me who he really wanted to run the point. IMO, he basically said he would have liked to keep Teague a little longer.      

No doubt Teague is the better player right now.   But I think the team will come around because of Dennis' D.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, QuantumHawkz said:

Wow. That comment about DS17 and Teague tells me who he really wanted to run the point. IMO, he basically said he would have liked to keep Teague a little longer.      

Not a wow for me - we've all said Dennis is still learning.

[Diesel]

I like the fact that Sap Acknowledges that Dw8 is a dedicated "roll guy".  For so long we haven't had one of those.  The pressure that Dw8 will put on defense will be massive.  Everytime they see a pick, I suspect that they will go into panick mode.   The reason being is that Bigs don't play that way anymore.  Maybe Marc Gasol or Amare but the latest bigs are SAWFT in the paint.  I'm looking for this from now on... THEME SONG

 

 

[Thomas]

On August 3, 2016 at 9:18 PM, JTB said:

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said last month that he may be more comfortable with an offense that incorporates a traditional big man who can get inside the paint on offense and protect the rim on defense.

He certainly was involved with that situation before he came here. Very happy he made that statement because the Cavs showed us they didn't feel they had to worry about anything in the paint with us on either end of the court. Believe things have seriously changed for our next meeting with them.  

[JTB]

On August 4, 2016 at 0:34 PM, Diesel said:

I like the fact that Sap Acknowledges that Dw8 is a dedicated "roll guy".  For so long we haven't had one of those.  The pressure that Dw8 will put on defense will be massive.  Everytime they see a pick, I suspect that they will go into panick mode.   The reason being is that Bigs don't play that way anymore.  Maybe Marc Gasol or Amare but the latest bigs are SAWFT in the paint.  I'm looking for this from now on... THEME SONG

 

 

Never thought about it but since you brought it up...when I try to name the Bigs that roll hard to goal on a consistent basis in this new 3pt happy NBA era, I can't think of many at all.

Putting pressure on the rim is huge! Look at lebron for example...he plays heavy isolation but when he gets serious he puts pressure on the rim forcing teams to double him consistently and he makes great passes out the post or out of his driving to wide open teammates.....works every time including sweeping the east with his pinky toe on to the championship the last 6 years.

[Thomas]

Yeah, with D8 back there we should really be able to stay tighter on the Cavs three point shooters no matter what position they play. Help defense causing open shots will be less of a thorn for us moving forward. Feels so different just thinking about it.  

[Buzzard]

On 8/4/2016 at 11:21 AM, QuantumHawkz said:

Wow. That comment about DS17 and Teague tells me who he really wanted to run the point. IMO, he basically said he would have liked to keep Teague a little longer.      

He also may have been challenging DS17. You wanted it kid, you got, its time to roll.

I like that he is speaking of his new teammate , Howard, in a positive light; and somewhat agrees by mentioning it that to some extent him and Horford were duplicating similar roles. Sap is a better post player, but they both developed the ability to stretch the floor under Bud.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Buzzard

[Diesel]

On 8/5/2016 at 1:31 PM, JTB said:

Never thought about it but since you brought it up...when I try to name the Bigs that roll hard to goal on a consistent basis in this new 3pt happy NBA era, I can't think of many at all.

Putting pressure on the rim is huge! Look at lebron for example...he plays heavy isolation but when he gets serious he puts pressure on the rim forcing teams to double him consistently and he makes great passes out the post or out of his driving to wide open teammates.....works every time including sweeping the east with his pinky toe on to the championship the last 6 years.

Exactly.

Lebron is not a gifted player with a shot like Korver or even ball handling skills like Steph.  However, they give him credit for being like Magic and Jordan.  However, in all truth, Lebron is Shaq.  He does all this playing around but when he's serious, he's attacking the rim because he knows that either he will get a bucket or a trip to the line.   It's a lost art... somebody being Shaq.  Finesse doesn't win many championships.