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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Atlanta Hawks

by vt, updated on Tuesday, November 29 2011, 01:51 pm EST

Team by Team: Atlanta Hawks
2010-2011 Finish: 33-49

What went bad

Those poor Hawks, just when it looked like they had a good thing going, their GM up and quits. After less than a year, GM Ocinnh decided not to continue on with his team and left the squad skipper-less yet again. With the loss of the GM, a numerous players decided to skip town as well, including Al Harrington, Kyle Lowry and Quentin Richardson.

With Ocinnh out of the picture, the NLL stepped in and helped the Hawks during the free agency period, helping the team put together one of its best offseasons in league history. While fans could care less that players such as Brian Cardinal and Eddie House left, the signings of Dorell Wright, Amir Johnson, Drew Gooden and Luke Ridnour help improve morale. The Hawks also matched the offer sheet on Lowry and convinced Q-Rich to return to the fold.

While deeper than ever, the team lacked a true shooting guard, meaning that Lowry, Ridnour and Derrick Rose all had to take some time at the two. It didn't matter. The Hawks entered the season with pride, something the time had lacked for a long, long time.

What went worse

Yeah, the Hawks didn't play that well. But so what? They bested their record from the season before, which is an accomplishment without a GM. Injuries to Gooden (who suffered from plantar fascitis), Lowry and Francisco Garcia weakened the roster. It was business as usual in Atlanta, except with a better roster.

Stars

- Derrick Rose, PG -

Rose just keeps getting better and better each season, pushing himself for a career high in both rebounds and assists, finishing with a 21-7-4 line. If the Hawks were a major player here in the NLL, Rose could actually contend for the MVP honor. He played in 78 games and is a cornerstone for this franchise.

- Dorell Wright, SF

Wright managed to stay healthy for an entire season and proved why the Hawks went all out to bring him to Hotlanta. He easily had career highs in almost every single statistical category. While he will never likely be an All-Star, if Wright can stay healthy he will be a solid player, especially on a team like the Hawks who need consistency.

Goat

- Drew Gooden, PF –

When the Hawks lured Gooden away from the Clippers, they hoped he would take over the power forward slot. But his inability to stay healthy during the season ended up with him appearing in only 32 games, starting only 12 of them. Gooden is certainly capable of better. Will the prolonged summer produce a Gooden who is in better shape or one that did nothing to rehab his injured foot?




Looking to the future

More than anything, the Hawks need a GM. With just a few tweaks, this team could be a contender. The biggest question mark right now is the center position. It is unlikely that Samuel Dalembert is going to stick around. Luckily, the team will have money enough to land a decent big man, but that position can be difficult to fill. Backup Nazr Mohammed's deal has also expired (little known fact: Mohammed has been with the Hawks for nine years, since the beginning of the NLL. The only other player on his original team is Jason Kidd...I think). Trading one of those point guards for a center or a shooting guard could really help the team as well.

In the draft, the Hawks selected Congolese big man Bismack Biyombo with the eighth pick overall. Long and athletic, Biyombo is still very raw with his skills set and will unlikely contribute much for a few years. It may have been a reach, but the Hawks need that big body. Let's hope the pressure isn't too much for him. The Hawks grabbed another big man in Jon Leuer at pick 38. After a solid season at Wisconsin, Leuer might see big minutes in Atlanta, especially if Gooden doesn't get healthy.

It's frustrating to see a team on the cusp of being good without anyone to guide them. Let's hope something works out soon for these Hawks and their fans. They certainly deserve it.

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