We're a statistical Anomaly

[Diesel]

Statistically as a team, we're only top 5 in one category (steals).  However, we have a 7 game streak going and are first in our division.. 

[REHawksFan]

They are Top 5 in Defensive efficiency which helps.  It also helps that there's not a great team in the division and Charlotte has been on a slide recently (lost 6 of 10).  As for the 7 game win streak, other than SA there haven't been a lot of potential playoff teams in the streak.  But hey, 7 in a row is 7 in a row and I ain't complaining. 

The interesting thing to me is looking at the whole season:

Start 9-2 with wins over (playoff potential teams): Washington, Houston, Cleveland, Chicago, and Milwaukee

Then go 1-10 with bad losses to (non-PO teams):  NYK, NO, LAL, Phx plus blowout losses to Utah, Detroit, and Toronto

Then go 12-4 with wins over (PO teams):  Mil, Tor, OKC, and SA

 

The roller coaster is real.  Take out the 11 game stench and they are 21-6 (.778) with a lot of quality wins.  That's a good enough trend to be leading the East.  Crazy team and crazy season so far. 

Edited January 11, 2017 by REHawksFan

[REHawksFan]

Also, Atlanta has 9 wins so far against +.500 teams  

Boston has 7.

Toronto has 12.

Cleveland has 14.

Indiana has 6.

 

 

 

[frosgrim]

I think this was completely predictable given the changes to the starting 5 and bench. Guys had to learn to play together. What we are seeing now is a team starting to learn how to play together. It does sound like the change in the defensive strategy really helped as it pushed our energy guys back to attacking on defense instead of funneling to D8.

[lethalweapon3]

52 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

Also, Atlanta has 9 wins so far against +.500 teams  

Boston has 7.

Toronto has 12.

Cleveland has 14.

Indiana has 6.

 

 

 

And we've given other teams like a few weeks to catch up.

~lw3

[REHawksFan]

10 minutes ago, frosgrim said:

I think this was completely predictable given the changes to the starting 5 and bench. Guys had to learn to play together. What we are seeing now is a team starting to learn how to play together. It does sound like the change in the defensive strategy really helped as it pushed our energy guys back to attacking on defense instead of funneling to D8.

For me, the confusing part was the 9-2 start.  I agree there were a lot of changes to the team and so an adjustment period was expected and reasonable, but it would have made so much more sense if they had started 1-10 and then got it together and went 21-6 over the last 6 weeks.  But the 9-2 start followed by the 1-10 and now 12-4 including 7 in a row is just odd, imo. 

[macdaddy]

1 hour ago, REHawksFan said:

For me, the confusing part was the 9-2 start.  I agree there were a lot of changes to the team and so an adjustment period was expected and reasonable, but it would have made so much more sense if they had started 1-10 and then got it together and went 21-6 over the last 6 weeks.  But the 9-2 start followed by the 1-10 and now 12-4 including 7 in a row is just odd, imo. 

I think the 9-2 start was reflective of the fact that we were starting mostly seasoned vets and the opposition didn't know how to defend us because there was no history.   Plus it was somewhat of a weak schedule at the outset.   Once teams figured out what our offense was they prepared for it and it took some time for our guys to adjust.   

[Guest]

3 hours ago, REHawksFan said:

For me, the confusing part was the 9-2 start.  I agree there were a lot of changes to the team and so an adjustment period was expected and reasonable, but it would have made so much more sense if they had started 1-10 and then got it together and went 21-6 over the last 6 weeks.  But the 9-2 start followed by the 1-10 and now 12-4 including 7 in a row is just odd, imo. 

The bench was on fire to start the season, then tailed off significantly.  

The change to the starting line-up with Thabo at SF has really helped our defense.

 

[macdaddy]

7 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

The bench was on fire to start the season, then tailed off significantly.  

The change to the starting line-up with Thabo at SF has really helped our defense.

 

The question is can this lineup score enough against the top teams in the league.   I know we won some big games but it'll be different come playoff time and the lack of individual offensive talent has been what has sunk us the past few years. 

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

The question is can this lineup score enough against the top teams in the league.   I know we won some big games but it'll be different come playoff time and the lack of individual offensive talent has been what has sunk us the past few years. 

I just posted in the Nets game thread that the offense with Millsap and Howard is improving.

Baze is the wild card, but if the trend continues as he struggles he'll see less minutes in lieu of THJr .

Thabo, I take whatever he gives us on offense.  The scoring burdern will fall to Dennis, Paul and Dwight.

[macdaddy]

Just now, JayBirdHawk said:

I just posted in the Nets game thread that the offense with Millsap and Howard is improving.

Baze is the wild card, but if the trend continues as he struggles he'll see less minutes in lieu of THJr .

Thabo, I take whatever he gives us on offense.  The scoring burdern will fall to Dennis, Paul and Dwight.

That's my fear though.   Dwight will fix the rebounding issue so that will help.  But the scoring burden for us in the past was Teague, Paul, Horford.   Now it's Dennis, Paul, Dwight.    Other than rebounding how much difference is that on offense?  Not that much i don't think.   What team has ever been successful in the playoffs without at least one wing that can score?   Hopefully Hardaway can fill that role but he's a long way from being that type of player.   

[REHawksFan]

11 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I just posted in the Nets game thread that the offense with Millsap and Howard is improving.

Baze is the wild card, but if the trend continues as he struggles he'll see less minutes in lieu of THJr .

Thabo, I take whatever he gives us on offense.  The scoring burdern will fall to Dennis, Paul and Dwight.

 

The Hawks best lineup is actually THJ, D8, Sap, Dennis, and Thabo.  Good Def Rtg and excellent Offensive Rtg.  Net Rating of 32.1. 

 

Edited January 11, 2017 by REHawksFan

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

That's my fear though.   Dwight will fix the rebounding issue so that will help.  But the scoring burden for us in the past was Teague, Paul, Horford.   Now it's Dennis, Paul, Dwight.    Other than rebounding how much difference is that on offense?  Not that much i don't think.   What team has ever been successful in the playoffs without at least one wing that can score?   Hopefully Hardaway can fill that role but he's a long way from being that type of player.   

Dallas - Kidd, Dird and Chandler were the main guys - I don't remember the wings.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Dallas - Kidd, Dird and Chandler were the main guys - I don't remember the wings.

Hahaha Dird...:-) You just came up with a great nickname for Derek Nowinski. Yes!!!

Dird=Dirk+Bird lol

[AHF]

26 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

 

The Hawks best lineup is actually THJ, D8, Sap, Dennis, and Thabo.  Good Def Rtg and excellent Offensive Rtg.  Net Rating of 32.1. 

 

Look at the dropoff when you swap Moose in for Dwight!  

[RedDawg#8]

34 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

 

The Hawks best lineup is actually THJ, D8, Sap, Dennis, and Thabo.  Good Def Rtg and excellent Offensive Rtg.  Net Rating of 32.1. 

 

People stay sleeping on THJs impact. Baze just does the most, (that's meant as a bad thing) THJ has all the same tools but doesn't try too hard, he lets the game come to him. Baze could benefit from a trip down to the DLeague. Don't act like he is above the DLeague either. Baze needs to understand his role. Shoot if you're open, cut to the rim if there's a lane. Otherwise pass the ball back to your playmakers or find an open teammate. When he tries to create it leads to bad shots and turnovers and easy scoring opportunities for the other team. Just watch him closely. Watch how many bad basketball plays he makes during a single game. It's brutal. He was better when he KNEW he was last fiddle in the pecking order. Now he thinks he is worth the contract he got and tries to prove it.

Edited January 11, 2017 by RedDawg#8

[macdaddy]

28 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Dallas - Kidd, Dird and Chandler were the main guys - I don't remember the wings.

Really?  Jason Terry, Shawn Marion + we don't have Dird.

[REHawksFan]

3 minutes ago, RedDawg#8 said:

People stay sleeping on THJs impact. Baze just does the most, (that's meant as a bad thing) THJ has all the same tools but doesn't try too hard, he lets the game come to him. Baze could benefit from a trip down to the DLeague. Don't act like he is above the DLeague either. Baze needs to understand his role. Shoot if you're open, cut to the rim if there's a lane. Otherwise pass the ball back to your playmakers or find an open teammate. When he tries to create it leads to bad shots and turnovers and easy scoring opportunities for the other team. Just watch him closely. Watch how many bad basketball plays he makes during a single game. It's brutal. He was better when he KNEW he was last fiddle in the pecking order. Now he thinks he is worth the contract he got and tries to prove it.

I agree to an extent.  I think he can be a solid role player but like you say, he tries too hard to make things happen.  I'd much rather they start THJ and let Baze come off the bench as a defensive specialist.  They lose that much D with THJ and get FAR more offense.  Start and end the games with THJ and let Baze come in and find his rhythm in the middle.  Maybe with a lesser role he'd stop pressing so much. 

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

Really?  Jason Terry, Shawn Marion + we don't have Dird.

Predrag and C. Brewer (da Gator)and lil baby boy Juan Barea aka I'm gonna drive into Bynum's belly..GIT IN MA BELLY..

[hazer]

Starting lineup needs to be Shredder, THJr, Sef, Sap, and D8. Blaze off the bench at 2, freshPrince off the bench at 3.