Since the NFL season and has begun and the NBA lockout has just started, there hasn't been much for me to write about, since I am not an avid football fan and don't want to write ignorantly, I give you the NBA team outlook of "next" season.
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| Photo courtesy of: http://www.sportslogos.net |
ATLANTA HAWKS
Expected Team Record- (53-29)
2011 Payroll-$65, 846,237
The Atlanta Hawks the perfect enigma of a basketball team, talented, but overpaid, needing just one move to hoist them into the upper echelon of playoffs teams, a 4th-5h seed, talented to get to the Conference Finals, disappointing in the lack of achievement. Atlanta has some of the most overpaid players in its roster compact together. Led by Joe Johnson with $18,000,000, Josh Smith at $12,400,000, Al Horford $12,000,000, the expiring contract of Kirk Hinrich at $8,000,000, underachiever Marvin Williams at $7,500,000, and Zaza Pachulia at a servicable but nasty $5,000,000. These grotesque numbers are enough to make former co-owners sue each other.
However, with this payroll comes talent. Joe Johnson is a 6-8 SG with ballhandling skills of a PG and the deadly signature J that makes him feared and makes up for his average lateral quickness and athleticism. Josh Smith is an enigma within an enigma, quick enough to play SF, big and bruising enough to play PF. However, he settles too much for outside jumpers when he should do his damage attacking and punishing slower, weaker forwards with his elite athleticism and explosiveness. Al Horford is a Carlos Boozer sized player forced to play C, which will eventually take its toll, he is still however averaging an Allstar berth and 15-10. Kirk Hinrich is a good backup PG who was overpaid, but is expiring. Marvin Williams, although a bust, has still averaged 10-5, which is still not worth his contract. Zaza is a backup C at best, but will still have to do.
In order for the Hawks to push through they must lose some payroll and risk to rise above. They are talented enough to defeat the Magic, push the Bulls into 7 games, and need only one of several things to push them to the finals. Frontcourt size and a servicable PG, one of which could be fulfilled without doing anything in the free agency or draft. Jeff Teague, had flashes of brilliance during the Eastern Semi-finals against D-Rose. Holding his own and helping the Hawks push MVP-led Bulls to seven games. Jeff Teague is athletic and quick, an underrated passer as well. He is unselfish, but prone to mistakes, because he was rarely given playing time. Next season is for him to shine with Jamal Crawford as a FA and Captain Kirk expiring. Next is frontcourt size, Al Horford is barely 6-9 but forced to play C against a weak Eastern conference front court, that still consists of D-12, Bogut, Brook Lopez, Joakim Noah. Keith Benson was drafted to alleviate the cause, but he barely weighs 220 lbs and is a rookie. In order for the Hawks to achieve once again, they will need to rise to the occasion and fulfill these needs.
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