Eastern Conference Preview - Atlanta Hawks

[W <titans@ihug.com.au>]

Hey all,

Each day from now until they are all completed I will submit my previews
on two of the Eastern Conference teams culminating with the final one
being the Boston Celtics

Today it is the Atlanta Hawks

Cheers,

Warwick

Atlanta Hawks

1998'99 Lineup

C - Dikembe Mutombo  - Mark West
PF - Alan Henderson  - Grant Long      - Roshawn McLeod
SF - LaPhonso Ellis  - Tyrone Corbin   - Chris Crawford
SG - Steve Smith     - Ed Gray
PG - Mookie Blaylock - Anthony Johnson

Out - Mark West, Grant Long, Tyrone Corbin, Steve Smith, Ed Gray, Mookie
Blaylock
In - Lorenzen Wright, Isaiah Rider, Jim Jackson, Jason Terry, Vernell
Coles, Cal Bowdler, Dion Glover

1999'2000 Projected Lineup

 C - Dikembe Mutombo - Cal Bowdler
PF - Alan Henderson  - Lorenzen Wright
SF - Chris Crawford  - LaPhonso Ellis   - Roshawn McLeod
SG - Isaiah Rider    - Jim Jackson      - Dion Glover
PG - Jason Terry     - Vernell Coles    - Anthony Johnson

Center - Dikembe Mutombo is one of the top defensive big men in the game
today which means that the center position is sound for the Hawks. The
new rules may hurt Dikembe's game a little which may lead to more
minutes opening up at the backup spot which will go to Lorenzen Wright
with rookie Cal Bowdler seeing limited minutes. Expect fifteen points,
fifteen rebounds and three blocks per game out of this rotation.

Power Forward

Alan Henderson may have trouble early in the season as he may still be
seeing double vision after an altercation in the playoffs saw him under
go repairive surgery to an eye socket. Lorenzen Wright will see most of
his minutes here as a backup and may prove to be the major addition of
the Hawks off-season. Roshawn McLeod may see limited minutes here.

Small Forward

This is the problem position for the Atlanta Hawks. They renounced the
rights to Tyrone Corbin who gave the organisation a solid veteran
presence. This will allow Chris Crawford to step into the starting
position on a full-time basis ahead of free agent bust LaPhonso Ellis
and Roshawn McLeod. Jim Jackson or Isaiah Rider will see time in the
position in a three-guard lineup with Jackson, Rider and Jason Terry on
the floor at the same time.

Shooting Guard

Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson will carry alot of the offensive workload
this season and will be out to prove that the trade of Steve Smith was
the right decision by the organisation. Rookie Dion Glover has looked
lost on the floor throughout the off-season, but may be a surprise just
as Ricky Davis was for Charlotte last season.

Point Guard

In trading Mookie Blaylock to the Golden State Warriors the Hawks lost
one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Blaylock was one of the
Hawks heroes for many seasons but finally the Hawks had had enough of
too much poor shooting and not enough passing and decided to rebuild at
the position. In came the tenth overall pick of the draft, Jason Terry
of Arizona, Vernell Coles' veteran leadership and backup and the
relegation of Anthony Johnson from main backup to third string and the
Hawks have rejuvenated their entire backcourt throughout the course of
the off-season.


Biggest Questios - How will Isaiah Rider respond to playing for the
Hawks come regular season time? If his initial reaction is anything to
go by the Hawks may be in much trouble. How will Jim Jackson take
handling coming from the bench again or at least being outmatched most
nights at small forward? How will Jason Terry adapt to the new style of
game that is the NBA?

Win-Loss ratio throughout the season

November - 6-9   - .400
December - 7-7   - .500
January  - 8-5   - .615
February - 4-8   - .333
March    - 7-10  - .412
April    - 4-7   - .364
TOTAL    - 36-46 - .439

My Expectations;

I fully expect Isaiah Rider to come around a month into the season when
he notices that the team is struggling without his performance. He will
buckle down for two months before exploding again and taking any chance
that the team had of winning and making the playoffs with him. I expect
Jim Jackson, Lorenzen Wright and Jason Terry to grow into their roles as
the season progresses and for them to be the highlights of a
disappointing season for the Hawks. Mutombo will continue on with his
normally high performance but will demand to be traded at the end of the
season as he wants to play for a winning team.