Hawks season reviews

atlncrooks

In case you missed it, below are all of the 2013-14 Atlanta Hawks player reviews.  

Note:  We use stats per 36 minutes instead of stats per game on the graphics.  The reason behind that is stats per 36 tell a more complete story of how a player did while he was on the court, as opposed to per game stats which averages a player’s stats based on the number of games that player appeared in, regardless of how many minutes he played.  The per 36 minutes compares all players equally by taking the minutes played out of the equation to measure the most effective players during their time on the court.

2013-14-season-reviews

2013-14 Season Reviews

atljwilson

Still recovering from a torn ACL, Lou Williams’ 2013-14 season did not begin until Nov. 15 when he debuted against the 76ers, scoring seven points in a Hawks win. His season had plenty of ups-and-downs as he worked his way back into form after the first major injury of his career. He finished the season averaging 10.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game on 40 percent shooting (34.2% from three).

By his own admission at exit interviews, WIlliams felt he was lagging behind early in the season because he had not gotten the opportunity to work in Coach Bud’s system in training camp and practices because of his rehab, and he admitted that it affected his play.

Williams showed flashes of his old self in December, as he scored 25+ points three times, including a season-high 28 points in a win over the Bobcats. In those games he was attacking the rim, getting to the free throw line, and showing that burst that we hadn’t seen since the injury. He had the bounce and rhythm to his game that made him such a dynamic offensive player prior to the injury, which was an encouraging sign.

In February, as the team was decimated by injuries and hitting its worst losing streak of the season, Williams had to play a bigger role in the team’s offense because they lacked scorers. He had seven consecutive double-digit scoring games in the end of Feburary and beginning of March, but the team continued to struggle. Williams' season reached it’s low point when he was benched for seven straight games in March, as the team was getting healthier and Coach Bud tried to re-work his rotations to achieve a different result -- something he was successful with as they won five straight during that stretch.

He would be called on again, and he responded with some big performances down the stretch of the season to help the Hawks clinch a playoff berth. One of Williams’ best games came against the Heat in April, when he had 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting (4-of-4 from three) to help the Hawks clinch a playoff spot.

Williams season was a bit of a roller coaster, but towards the end of the year he seemed to be grasping the concepts Coach Bud wanted him to on both ends of the floor. He seemed more active on defense, did well facilitating on offense, and was active on the boards -- something Bud wants to see out of his wing players.

season-review-lou-williams

Season Review: Lou Williams

Kyle Korver re-signed with the Hawks in the offseason and before training camp even started expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play in Coach Bud’s system. Korver said at media day in September, “I feel like I’ve been trying to play for San Antonio for 10 years and now that system is coming to me!”

That excitement was warranted, as he thrived in the Hawks’ offense, leading the NBA in three-point percentage at 47.2 percent and in true shooting percentage at 65.3 percent. His exceptional shooting opened up the Hawks’ offense to be as successful as it was, and, going back to last season, he became the most consistent three-point shooter in NBA history as he made one in 127 consecutive regular season games, shattering Dana Barros’ previous record of 89. The streak was the perfect representation of Korver for this past season, as he was the offense’s steady hand that could always be relied on.

Korver set career-highs in points (12.0), rebounds (4.0), assists (2.9), and steals (1.0) per game this season, doing much more than just shooting the ball. His offensive presence was tremendous, as the Hawks were 5.1 points better per 100 possessions on offense when he was on the court than off. On defense, he was also a steadying influence as Atlanta allowed 4.1 fewer points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. (per NBA.com/Stats)

As he’s shown for the past two seasons in Atlanta, Korver is much more than just a three-point specialist. Defensively, he’s constantly in the right position, makes the proper rotations and digs, and has active hands to get in passing lanes to get steals and deflections. his defensive skills are often overlooked because of his tremendous shooting acumen, but he continues to prove himself as a very solid defender on the wing.

The importance of Korver to the Hawks’ success at both ends of the floor was apparent all season. He opened up the floor for the rest of the team because defenses had to keep one player focused on him at all times in the halfcourt and in transition. His presence behind the three-point line is feared like few others, with defenses choosing to allow layups in transition over offering him the chance for a three. On defense, he has improved as a one-on-one defender, uses his length to bother shooters and get in passing lanes, and is adept at helping down on bigs to get a block from behind or a reach-in steal. 

season-review-kyle-korver

Season Review: Kyle Korver

After spending much of his rookie season playing in Spain, Mike Muscala was brought to the Hawks in late February to help bolster a frontcourt rotation in need of depth after so many injuries. He played in 20 games for Atlanta, averaging 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks in 10.8 minutes per game.

Muscala, known as an excellent offensive player, got off to a rough start in his first nine games, shooting just 30.8 percent from the field and averaged just 1.9 points per game. As he got more accustomed to the offense and the game slowed down for him, he started to show the potential in his offensive game. Muscala shot 48.9 percent from the field and averaged 5.4 points per game in his final 11 games of the season, culminating in a terrific final game against the Bucks where he scored 15 points along with four rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks.

He showed in those final 11 games why he was the leading scorer on his Spanish League team with 14.6 points per game in just 26.3 minutes per game. Muscala shot 50 percent on two-point shot attempts 16+ feet from the basket -- per Basketball-Reference.com -- and gives the Hawks another big man capable of stepping outside for a jump shot in pick-and-roll/pop or just spotting up to help space the floor.

Muscala is still developing as a defender, particularly in learning how to defend pick-and-rolls, but his length and activity were very apparent. Muscala’s incredibly long wingspan allowed him to erase some of his own mistakes by recovering to alter a shot or get a block. As a help-side defender, his instincts are still developing as he learns Coach Bud’s defensive system, but when he was committed to the rotation, you could see the potential he has to erase shots at the rim on the help-side.

Muscala’s short stint with the Hawks this season showed why they were so pleased to have gotten him in the second round of the draft last season. He played with great energy and has the talent, particularly on offense, to be a difference maker when on the court. His length in the paint is something the Hawks need off the bench for rim protection and rebounding, and his offensive skillset seems to fit perfectly with what Coach Bud wants to see out of his bigs.

season-review-mike-muscala

Season Review: Mike Muscala

nbaplatformservices

demarre-carroll-reflects-on-season

DeMarre Carroll Reflects On Season

After spending his first four seasons bouncing between four teams as a role player, DeMarre Carroll found a home with the Hawks as Atlanta’s starting small forward. He set career-highs in nearly every statistical category, and while known for his defensive tenacity, Carroll became a much improved offensive player this season in Atlanta.

In 32.1 minutes per game, Carroll averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. On defense, Carroll was the Hawks top perimeter defender, drawing the assignment of the opposing team’s best wing player -- whether they were at the two or the three. Going against the opponent’s best offensive wing night in and night out, Carroll held opponents to 40.9 percent shooting (36.8% three-point) for the season, per Synergy Sports.

His tenacious approach made him one of the league’s better defenders against screening action. Carroll fought through screens -- on and off the ball -- consistently to rank 40th against off-ball screens allowing opponents just 0.8 points per possession, and he 76th in the league against pick-and-roll ball handlers allowing just 0.75 PPP -- again per Synergy Sports. Like many of the Hawks, his defensive numbers take a hit on spot-up attempts, allowing 1.04 PPP, because the Hawks system commits heavily to protecting the paint first, which opens up opportunities for open spot-up shots.

Even still, Carroll had by most any account a very productive and effective season defensively. The Hawks' defense relied on Carroll’s length and strength to disrupt opponents on the perimeter and he took that challenge and succeeded. His 2.6 defensive win shares were second to Paul Millsap’s 4.0 for the Hawks on the season. Carroll’s 101.8 defensive rating (per NBA.com/stats) was the best for any perimeter player and 4th on the team, and his +3.4 net rating was third on the team only to Pero Antic and Al Horford.

On offense, Carroll took huge strides this season to become a more effective and efficient player. A career 42.8 percent shooter (28.4% from three) coming into the season, Carroll shot 47 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from three-point range. His development of a consistent three-point shot was huge for the Hawks’ offense this season, as they were in need for another spacing option on the wing next to Kyle Korver.

Carroll attributed his improved jump-shooting to the work he did this summer and in training camp with assistant coach Quin Snyder.

“This was like the first year, you know I have to give a shoutout to Coach Quin Snyder, because this was the first year a coach really worked with me on my footwork, my shot, and spent time with me. Credit to Coach Quin, cause that shows me that he cares about me as a person and cares about my career. I think I'm headed in the right direction. I feel like I'm a rookie. Finally got to play and did what I did. Think there's a lot of room to get better and improve.”

That work paid great dividends for Carroll as an individual and the Hawks as a whole. Carroll’s ability to be a positive offensive player allowed Coach Bud to play him as many minutes as he did without hampering the Hawks’ offense. Carroll did a great job of taking high-efficiency shots as 70 percent of his offensive possessions came from spot-up shots (32.9%), transition (23.7%), and cuts (13.4%). Because he took such efficient shots and made them consistently, Carroll was a very good offensive player for the Hawks. Carroll finished the season averaging 1.03 PPP, good for 47th in the entire NBA, per Synergy Sports. Carroll not only accepted but thrived in his role off the ball in the Hawks’ offense by spacing the floor and making timely cuts in the halfcourt offense and he created a lot of transition opportunities with his defensive play.

He hopes to continue his growth as an offensive player this offseason and become an even better shooting threat as a shooter and ball-handler.

“I wanna get my shot automatic. Like Kyle Korver. I want people to be like, 'that's the African-American Kyle Korver.' That's what I want people to know. Then I want to work on my ball-handling, get my ball-handling better. Pick-and-roll, you know, pick-and-roll's going to be big for me. There aren't a lot of small forwards that do pick-and-rolls besides LeBron James and Paul George so I want to step outside myself and work on it.”

Carroll was one of the Hawks best and most consistent players this season, bringing great intensity and production at both ends of the floor to do the little things, and showed why he’s known as the Junkyard Dog.

season-review-demarre-carroll

Season Review: DeMarre Carroll

The Hawks were in search of bench scoring all season, and when called upon, Cartier Martin provided the Hawks with a scoring threat from the wing. He played in 53 games with the Hawks this season over two stints with the team -- in between playing six games for the Bulls.

Martin provided the Hawks with another three-point threat off the bench as he shot 39.1 percent from deep on the season. He averaged 5.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game and scored in double-figures in 12 of his Hawks appearances.

His minutes were constantly in flux with Coach Budenholzer searching for the right combinations and rotations throughout the season as injuries began piling up. When his name got called, Martin gave the Hawks an offensive boost and gave the bench unit much-needed floor spacing when Kyle Korver was getting rest.

Martin was terrific using off-ball screens, ranking first in the NBA with 1.33 points per possession in 45 opportunities and shot 56 percent from three-point range running off-ball screens. Most of Martin’s looks came as a spot-up shooter, where he shot a respectable 38.9 percent from three-point range and averaged 1.06 points per possession (101st in the NBA), per Synergy Sports.

He provided the Hawks with a solid scoring option off the bench who helped to space the floor, something crucial to success in Coach Bud’s offense. Like so many Hawks, Martin stayed ready and positive even when he was not playing much, knowing that at some point Coach Bud would call his name, and he made a solid impact in those opportunities.

season-review-cartier-martin

Season Review: Cartier Martin

Note: We use stats per 36 minutes instead of stats per game on the graphics. The reason behind that is stats per 36 tell a more complete story of how a player did while he was on the court, as opposed to per game stats which averages a player’s stats based on the number of games that player appeared in, regardless of how many minutes he played. The per 36 minutes compares all players equally by taking the minutes played out of the equation to measure the most effective players during their time on the court.

After a lengthy career in Europe, Pero Antic made the decision to join the Hawks this past offseason for his first NBA season at age 31. Coming into camp the Hawks had a crowded frontcourt, led by Al Horford and Paul Millsap, but Antic was able to find his way into the rotation with his ability to space the floor and passing. Once Horford went down, Antic became an increasingly important part of the Hawks rotation, becoming the starting center next to Millsap. 

For the season, Antic averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game in 50 appearances (26 starts). Antic shot 41.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range on 3.4 attempts per game. Antic was never going to fill Horford's production or even the same role, but he did an excellent job of carving out his own role in Coach Budenholzer's offense, and his presence in the starting lineup was crucial in the Hawks making the playoffs.

Antic's three-point shooting had the ability to lift the Hawks' offense and get the rest of the team going. He made three or more three-pointers in seven games this season -- Hawks were 4-3 in those games -- and did so in both of the Hawks' regular season victories over the Pacers. Antic's most memorable three-pointer came against the Bobcats, when he launched a one-footed, off balance three in the closing seconds that tied the game and sent it into overtime, where the Hawks would go on to win. 

Antic struggled with his shot in the playoffs against Indiana, but his impact was evident, particularly in getting Roy Hibbert out of his game. Antic's presence outside the three-point arc forced Hibbert and the Pacers' bigs to step out of the paint, which helped to open up space for the rest of the Hawks' offense to operate. 

After the Horford injury, the Hawks were a completely different team with Antic in the lineup (16-16; 13-13 with him starting) than when he was out  (5-14) due to injury. His impact on the game was huge even when he was having a poor shooting night. His spacing opened up driving lanes for Jeff Teague and the rest of the Hawks' guards, and also created space for Millsap to operate. The Hawks' offense scored 102.8 points per 100 possessions with Antic on the court and 99.5 points per 100 possessions with him off the court for the season. 

On defense, Antic improved over the course of the season, and the Hawks' team defense was much better in the second half of the season with him on the court than without him. With him on the floor, the Hawks allowed 1.039 points per possession on 45 percent shooting compared to when he was off the floor where the Hawks allowed 1.101 points per possession on 46.9 percent shooting, per nbawowy.com. 

The Hawks owe much of their success this season to players stepping up into bigger roles than they were expected to play at the beginning of the year. We've already detailed how Elton Brand, Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack did that this season, and Antic certainly falls into that same category. Antic was a bit of an unknown coming into the season with questions about how he would adapt to the NBA game, but he certainly adapted well and became one of the key players for the Hawks' postseason run.