Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Hawks' web site gives fans a chance to grade the offseason. About half of the nearly 7,000 respondents put Atlanta on the honor roll and about half gave it less than stellar marks. The truth is that had they gotten Erick Dampier, this summer would have been an easy A-.
Coming into the offseason, the Hawks had holes at every position except point guard. Then they traded Jason Terry and suddenly they had holes at every position except power forward, where Antoine Walker will do his business this season. They did a sign-and-trade of Stephen Jackson for Al Harrington, shoring up their forward positions as Harrington can play either forward spot, but were left with a big hole at center and point guard. Boris Diaw and Josh Childress are swingmen who could potentially play shooting guard in a pinch but otherwise there was no real backcourt save Tony Delk, a shooting guard in a point guard's body.
With the signing of free agents Jon Barry and Kenny Anderson, the Hawks got themselves a playoff-worthy backcourt and have reunited three key parts of the Celtics team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 with Walker, Delk, and Anderson. They even have backups or potential starters in Diaw and Delk so their depth is not terrible.
Their biggest hole remains center with Predrag Drobnjak slotted to eat up most of the minutes at that position. Drobnjak is tall but a surprisingly ineffective rebounder. Even in his best year in Seattle during 2002-2003 when he started 69 games and played in all 82, averaging more than 24 minutes, he nearly averaged double-digit scoring but less than four rebounds per game.
Given Walker's tendency to roam the outskirts of the court more than the paint, and Harrington playing more of a wing role, rebounding will be a major problem for the Hawks. That's why the roster as it currently stands earns the Hawks a C+ for the offseason. It's not quite an honor roll but it's certainly not an abysmal failure.
TEAM NOTES
Dance Team Named: After a thrilling final audition Saturday night at Club Eleven50, the 36 finalists were narrowed to the 18 dancers who will make up the 2004-05 Hawks Dance Team. Congratulations to Angie, Brandy C., Brandy K, Casey, Danielle, Denisse, Desiree, Jennifer B., Jennifer D., Jessica, Lindsay, Natalie, Rae, Sonni, Star, Tameka, Terri and Vera.
Angry at the Hawks owners? Pleased with how they've handled the offseason? Got an idea for how they can make more money? Send email toowners@hawks.com.
Joe Davidson ofThe Sacramento Beegives the Hawks a grade of 'C': Upgrades include Antoine Walker, Al Harrington, Jon Barry and Kenny Anderson. There's talent but also a ton of mileage.
Dave Baker ofThe Rockdale Citizen writes: The Ryder Cup is that biennial display of professional golfers from the United States playing just like you and me. That’s what makes the Ryder Cup so great.In no other sport (save Atlanta Hawks basketball) do I watch on television and think, “Man, I could do that.”However, when it comes to the Ryder Cup, I watch the Americans play golf and I say, “Man, I do do that.”
Carl Schreck ofThe Moscow Timeswrites: CSKA officials were notably disappointed that the NBA decided to pull out of the game, which was scheduled for Oct. 8 at the CSKA Universal Sports Complex. It would have been the first time an NBA team had played in Moscow since 1988, when the Atlanta Hawks toured the Soviet Union for a three-game series with the Soviet national team.Atlanta won the first two games in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Vilnius, Lithuania, respectively. They dropped the third game in Moscow 132-123.