Atlanta Hawks
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09-10 season Cap Room: -10,605,215 Best bench player: Jamal Crawford
7th place Overall Luxury Tax: No Power Rankings: 9
3rd in Conference Best Player: Joe Johnson Owner: Michael Gearon Jr.
Eastern Conference Semi Final Coach: Larry Drew Team Value: 306 million
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Starting 5
PG Mike Bibby PR#21 SG JoeJohnson PR#4
SF Marvin Williams PR#13 C Al Horford PR#18 PF Josh Smith PR#13
Bench Grade: A
PG Jeff Teague SG Jamal Crawford, Jordan Crawford SF Maurice Williams PF Josh Powell C Zaza Pachulia, Jason Collins, EtanThomas
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Is having no True Center going to hurt us?
The Hawks went after Shaq publically and need fully so. Al Horford can grab some rebounds and Josh Smith will block some shots but they still have no one who can bang down low and get points down on the block. No one who can draw a double team and then kick the ball out to the deadly shooters on the perimeter. Now Shaq is 38 but he could have certainly helped in some of these areas. Also defensively their is Dwight Howard. The Celtics showed the NBA how to play the Magic last year in the playoffs. Leave Dwight with single coverage and don't allow anyone else free looks. But the Hawks have no choice now but to double him because their lack of strength inside. This problem needs to be addressed in order for the Hawks to have a shot. But where to go with the free agent list dwindling away? How about Kwame Brown. I know he is a scrub but he has a big body and can match up nicely with Howard nicely on defense. Offence with Kwame is another story but Kwame could still come in handy for the Hawks. Erick Dampier is also out there and you wouldn’t have to give up much trade wise with the Bobcats. He is old but still would add some toughness inside for the Hawks.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2010-2011 Preview
The Atlanta Hawks where one of the teams that kept their core group of guys together. Joe Johnson is not worth max money let alone 6 years from now when he is 35 but the front office still believes in this core of guy. They definitely have talent on their roster. A strong bench led by reigning 6th man of the year Jamal Crawford. However unless Marvin Williams and Josh Smith emerge into all star caliber players, which they have the athleticism to do, this team will spend the next few years living in the shadow of Orlando and Miami both of whom are in their division. Teague should grow into a nice replacement for the aging Bibby and I would expect they make that move this year to put another guy on the floor that can get his own shot.
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