2021 into 2022 OFFSEASON News and Notes

[bleachkit]

1 hour ago, RedDawg#8 said:

Y'all, Im so used to us being home in May. Do you realize we are in July and those dates are literally just around the corner?

July- Draft

August- Summer League/Olympics

September- Training Camp

October - Live Basketball

Usually by now we have gone though about 1,000 mock drafts. Imagine if we had tanked again and were picking 2nd or 3rd. There would be a fierce debate about who to take. 

[macdaddy]

I'm not sure how a bunch of these guys are going to go play Olympic ball now and then turn around and be back in training camp.   

[JayBirdHawk]

8 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

I'm not sure how a bunch of these guys are going to go play Olympic ball now and then turn around and be back in training camp.   

I'm pleased now that Trae is not on the team and Serbia got bounced, so no Bogi.  My guess is when Gallo returns he will be seeing limited minutes in the early part on the season.  It will give OO more run so I'm good with it.

[HawkingAwesome]

 

[RandomFan]

For those that didn't watch the Travis interview, I thought this was a particularly interesting answer. Especially for anyone that might think Bogi could be trade bait soon. 

 

On which Hawks player pulled off the biggest surprise this season:

“I think there are a lot of guys that improved this year, I really do. Obviously we just talked about (Okongwu) and the growth for a rookie coming in. I thought Kevin Huerter, from the start of the year to the end of the year, what he was able to do on the defensive side of the floor, for large stretches of the season being asked to guard the other team’s best player. I don’t think anyone ever thought of Kevin in that light, so a ton of growth there. But I think really and it’s not necessarily a young guy but a new guy to us, Bogdan, Bogi. Obviously I’ve been a fan of his. I remember watching him all the way back when he played at Fenerbahce all the time, but he’s even a better player than I thought. He’s just a really good basketball player, so I guess I would go with him, but like I said, we’ve got a bunch of guys step up and have good years for us.”

[RandomFan]

Also, I posted this in the Onyeka thread but I don't think it got enough attention. Onyeka is a future PROBLEM for other teams. 

https://premiumhoops.org/2021/07/05/onyeka-okongwus-rare-movement-skills-and-high-touch-offense/

Read the whole thing, it's excellent, but the last two paragraphs from the article: 

The next step for Okongwu is adding the playmaking. He’s probably never going to be a guy you run things through at the elbow or high post but he doesn’t need to be. The key step is proactively and decisively manipulating the tag man to hit open shooters, and passing out of double teams in the post. These will become more plentiful as he increases the scoring arsenal and becomes seen as more of a threat to the defense. It’s likely more important he has the touch than the natural passing ability because playmaking becomes more fruitful and more simple the better a scorer you are.

The Hawks have been built around the fact Trae Young can execute pretty much every counter against any type of coverage. If you trap him, he kicks it to a variety of roll-men or excellent shooters who can then get you back into rotation if you close out well. If you drop, he hits the floater. This is all fueled by the fact he can legitimately pull up from 30-feet. There is a chance Okongwu can be the same on the defensive end. As in, he could be able to execute pretty much any type of coverage you want him to. He’s fluid plays bigger than his overall size and has some enticing defensive movement skills that you don’t see from many big men. It’s an A Plus in roster construction at the moment from Travis Schlenk. Having two cornerstones who are flexible from a tactical perspective is a huge advantage.

[RandomFan]

An interview with Ressler today. I think this is a free article. 

https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/owner-tony-ressler-says-hawks-are-just-getting-started-after-deep-playoff-run/2B5OBGO77ZHXZCZDENQCCN6P4M/

 

[JayBirdHawk]

16 minutes ago, RandomFan said:

An interview with Ressler today. I think this is a free article. 

https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/owner-tony-ressler-says-hawks-are-just-getting-started-after-deep-playoff-run/2B5OBGO77ZHXZCZDENQCCN6P4M/

 

good read

[RandomFan]

 

[NBASupes]

Just now, RandomFan said:

 

We don't have good dribble penetration outside Hunter and Trae. Cam flashes and Bogi when healthy can attack closeouts well

[bleachkit]

Ayton is way better than Capela.

[ATLHawks3]

3 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Ayton is way better than Capela.

So fluid on offense, which is the biggest difference.

[bleachkit]

4 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

So fluid on offense, which is the biggest difference.

Cap is just another big stiff. He got exposed in the post season.

[ATLHawks3]

2 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Cap is just another big stiff. He got exposed in the post season.

I agree but he's our best option right now, until OO outplays him anyway.

[Carmine]

33 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Ayton is way better than Capela.

You'll notice a lot less of those lopez tip outs because he actually boxes him out. Capela has no situational awareness. Ayton with his 15th rebound in the 3rd rn.

[RandomFan]

58 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

We don't have good dribble penetration outside Hunter and Trae. Cam flashes and Bogi when healthy can attack closeouts well

Mostly agreed. But don't forget about Heurter. And a healthy Bogi is probably #2 behind Trae in that regard. I think we see Cam take that leap next season. 

Edited July 7, 2021 by RandomFan

[Spud2nique]

7 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

It will give OO more run so I'm good with it.

Oh yaaaa!!!

[Spud2nique]

10 hours ago, RandomFan said:

 

Damn that’s like 3.5 months that’s awesome! Perfect mental and physical break I’d say from game action. Heal guys heal and strengthen! 
 

GO HAWKS!

[bleachkit]

Chris Paul 12-19, 4-7 from three, 32 pts, 9 assists. He is playing out of his mind right now. 

[bleachkit]

1 hour ago, Carmine said:

You'll notice a lot less of those lopez tip outs because he actually boxes him out. Capela has no situational awareness. Ayton with his 15th rebound in the 3rd rn.

Cap got completely owned in the Milwaukee series. He actually got owned in the Philly series too, but not quite as badly.