Are the Hawks the 2nd Best in the East?

[PhoSita]

Last night, the Hawks beat the Cavs in Cleveland 110-106. 

Dwight Howard grabbed 17 rebounds.  The Hawks as a team outrebounded the Cavs 50-39.

This is a marked departure from how matchups between those two teams have gone in the past.  The Cavs have tended to destroy the Hawks on the boards and use the possession / free throw disparity to win handily.


The Hawks are now 5-1.  At this very young stage of the season they have the 4th highest SRS in the league.

Millsap is averaging 18 pts 8 reb and 4 ast. 

Howard is averaging 15 pts 13 reb 2 blks 1 stl. 

Schroder is averaging 17 pts 6 ast on 57% TS.


Are the Hawks the second best team in the Eastern Conference?

[jpotter33]

They're 5-2, and, no, I don't think so. I think they'll average out to around the 4th or 5th seed by the end of the season.

I think a lot of it is due to the early season. Plus, they had 3 gimme games at the start of the season in the Wiz, Lakers, and Kings and then lost to the Lakers and then the Wiz at home.

You have to spread Howard out from the lane. I'd play small against them, because they're not really that big outside of Howard (Milsap is only 6'8" and plays a more perimeter game). A lineup of IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, and Horford would really be a bad matchup for them, because it would take Howard away from the basket and force him to guard a playmaking Horford out on the perimeter.

[alldaboston]

They've been a lot better than I expected. They may have actually gotten better letting Horford go, since they could now pursue a legit rebounder and defensive presence in Howard. Obviously, Hawks fans will now use this to bash us for maxing Horford, but I don't care. I also thought that losing Horford's spacing would hurt them, but apparently not. They look legit (albeit their schedule has been rather kind too)

[PhoSita]

A lineup of IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, and Horford would really be a bad matchup for them, because it would take Howard away from the basket and force him to guard a playmaking Horford out on the perimeter.

Unless of course they struggled to hit shots, Howard deterred the little guards from getting good shots in the paint, and the Hawks were really strong on the boards.

I think the Celts are going to struggle all season against teams that are built to be strong on the boards.  There are a number of teams in the East that fit that profile.  Cavs, Hawks, Pistons, and Bulls chief among them.

[Who]

They are in a hot patch. I wouldn't read too much into it. They'll fall off some.

[otherdave]

They will go as far as a healthy Howard takes them.

But if Howard's back acts up, they will be in trouble and fall back to the pack.

[Diggles]

I wish when we missed with Kevin.   I wish we would have made Howard a target earlier in off season.   He is playing better then any big we have currently.  Not saying he is better. 

Also who cares if he is not the system guy we need.   He can set screens, roll to the hoop right.  Offensive boards, and easy put backs.      We would be 10-2 right now with him and our injury problem.     

[footey]

I wish when we missed with Kevin.   I wish we would have made Howard a target earlier in off season.   He is playing better then any big we have currently.  Not saying he is better. 

Also who cares if he is not the system guy we need.   He can set screens, roll to the hoop right.  Offensive boards, and easy put backs.      We would be 10-2 right now with him and our injury problem.   

We did talk to him, but he wanted a longer term deal than what we were willing to give him, reportedly. Much prefer Horford. Could not have signed both, and would not want to.

[jambr380]

I honestly preferred Howard, but was also super-psyched we were able to sign Horford. I think it is unfair to say that we would be doing better with a healthy Howard than an injured Horford. Who's to say that Zeller wouldn't have given Howard the same concussion?

They both probably have a similar impact and Danny/Brad went with the player they thought was better for our system and [likely] less dramatic. I will wait to determine who I think is '2nd best' when we have a healthy team for the first time this season.

[Rosco917]

It's a bit early to think the Hawks are the 2nd best team in the East. I'm sure Toronto and the Celtics will have a say in that.

When considering Howard as opposed to Horford, I liked Horford because he's a small-ball center, and an excellent big ball PF. I though DA would include a serviceable center in his off season acquisitions.

The Celtics brass are failing to see that small ball is nice, IF you have talented, good sized small ball players, with good length to play your small ball. Playing small ball with tiny, undersized players at their positions, without having a big ball lineup with any talent, isn't a plan, it's a prayer.

[timpiker]

God I wish we had rebounding like this

[NHCelticsFan]

I honestly preferred Howard, but was also super-psyched we were able to sign Horford. I think it is unfair to say that we would be doing better with a healthy Howard than an injured Horford. Who's to say that Zeller wouldn't have given Howard the same concussion?

They both probably have a similar impact and Danny/Brad went with the player they thought was better for our system and [likely] less dramatic. I will wait to determine who I think is '2nd best' when we have a healthy team for the first time this season.

Also, Horford was reportedly one of the players Durant wanted to play with.  No coincidence that those two guys were our big free agent targets.  I seem to recall Stevens or Ainge saying that Horford was a target regardless of Durant, but I don't doubt that he was also an effort to get KD as well.

I think Al is a better fit for the C's, but no doubt Dwight would help our rebounding woes.

It's a small sample size, but I can't imagine Dwight having the +/- impact that Al has had so far.  Our team as is is simply better when Al is on the court....a LOT better.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I've always said that Dwight Howard's demise has been greatly exaggerated. The Hawks are a good team, and I don't know about 2nd best team, but they're a dangerous team.

[Future Celtics Owner]

A lineup of IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, and Horford would really be a bad matchup for them, because it would take Howard away from the basket and force him to guard a playmaking Horford out on the perimeter.

Unless of course they struggled to hit shots, Howard deterred the little guards from getting good shots in the paint, and the Hawks were really strong on the boards.

I think the Celts are going to struggle all season against teams that are built to be strong on the boards.  There are a number of teams in the East that fit that profile.  Cavs, Hawks, Pistons, and Bulls chief among them.

LOL and Philly will pound us with their big men too. They do not pose a legit threat but they do have more muscle than the celts.

[mr. dee]

A lineup of IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, and Horford would really be a bad matchup for them, because it would take Howard away from the basket and force him to guard a playmaking Horford out on the perimeter.

Unless of course they struggled to hit shots, Howard deterred the little guards from getting good shots in the paint, and the Hawks were really strong on the boards.

I think the Celts are going to struggle all season against teams that are built to be strong on the boards.  There are a number of teams in the East that fit that profile.  Cavs, Hawks, Pistons, and Bulls chief among them.

LOL and Philly will pound us with their big men too. They do not pose a legit threat but they do have more muscle than the celts.

Detroit didn't seemed to pound us on board outside Drummond. Horford also grabbed 11 rebounds that game.