It is about to get interesting in Atlanta.
There is a new look Atlanta Hawks team; stars have moved around, Jeff Teague and Al Horford have found new homes while Dwight Howard has moved in. But what can Hawks fans expect from their team with the loss of two former all-stars and the addition of one of the biggest question marks in the league, Dwight Howard? There is uncertainty with this team, and while some of that uncertainty is associated with Howard’s health and physical abilities, the Hawks still have one of the most respected coaches in the league in Mike Budenholzer, and an elite defensive team. Howard will fit in with this team defensively – it might possibly be one of the best teams defensively that Howard has ever been apart of. With Kent Bazemore resigning with the team, Thabo Sefolosha, and Paul Millsap coming off his All-Defensive Second Team nod, this team that was second last year in defensive rating has potential to match and even surpass that. Dwight might not be the physical presence he once was in Orlando – back injuries and lingering knee issues has changed the physical presence Dwight is – but he is still an intelligent and productive player defensively. Dwight should fit in well right beside Millsap, one of the most talented 4’s he has ever played with. Dwight’s strengths lie in his rebounding and shot blocking, and while not as elite as it was in previous years, it will prove to be significant with regards to Atlanta’s future success. Dwight should be able to immediately help Atlanta’s rebounding woes, who ranked 24th in the league in total rebounds last year. Offensively, this will be a different Atlanta Hawks team compared to what we were used to in the Budenholzer era. The addition of Dwight, and Dennis Schroder now taking over point-guard duties full time, will prove to be a change for the Hawks. The Hawks are now less spaced out compared to what they were in the previous 2 years. Some of the lineups on the floor for the Hawks the past 2 years would consist of 5 players who can all shoot the ball respectably from mid to long range (Teague, Bazemore/Carroll, Korver, Millsap, Horford). Exchanging Horford for Howard is a big change, especially considering that Dwight demands touches in the post, stopping ball movement. Coach Budenholzer - learning from the Popovich system - excels at creating an efficient offensive system, so there is a belief that Budenholzer will get Dwight the easy looks he needs to succeed. If Budenholzer can get Dwight to play the pick-and-roll with Schroder effectively, they can be a formidable threat as Dwight is an excellent roller scoring 1.1 points per possession shooting 63%. The only problem is that Dwight despises the pick-and-roll; he would rather stay stagnant in the paint. Dwight has to be engaged and focused. Easier said then done as many coaches have tried, but if Budenholzer can sell Dwight on playing the pick and roll, the Hawks will be in good shape offensively. This will help Dwight return to being a more formidable offensive threat. Defenses will crowd Dwight more often, which would then open space for others. Houston, in my opinion, was a misrepresentation of Dwight’s abilities. Dwight joined Houston as a star. 2 years later, after a coaching change that saw a young J.B. Bickerstaff take the helm, Dwight regressed offensively and looked less engaged. Whether this was because of the physical toll of injuries and 11 years in the league, different coaching philosophies or because of internal issues, Dwight seemed unable to accept and adapt to the new reality of his lesser role. If there is a team where Dwight can adjust, I think Atlanta is this team. Dwight needs a fresh start, and under a Budenholzer system, Howard has a real chance to turn around his career. Dwight is saying all the right things with regards to the media, him and his new coach seem eager to show the league what they can do together. This might be Dwight’s best chance to succeed since Orlando; it will be interesting to see how this chapter in Dwight’s career unfolds.
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