A Season of Unfulfilled Promises:
THE ATLANTA HAWKS
RECORD: 35- 47
2002-2003 Season Recap:
It all started with promises and guarantees of playoffs. Then coach Lon
Kruger, with endorsements from upper management, promised that with the new additions this team was making the playoffs. With that promise, came the famous money back guarantee. The Hawks promised all season ticket holders money back if the playoffs weren't reached. New
acquisition Glenn Robinson started off blazing hot averaging over 22 ppg. in the 1st month while stringing together consecutive 30 pt. outbursts. However the finished under .500 for the month.
The Hawks continued to underachieve in December finishing 4-9 for the month. With a 12-18 record to start the season and under intense pressure and a continuously shrinking crowd, Management decided it was time for a change, firing Lon Kruger and replacing him with Assistant Coach
Terry Stotts on an interim basis who immediately replaced
Ira Newble in the starting lineup with Dion
Glover. That forced Jason Terry to play the point.
January and February brought more of the same. Terry was struggling some adjusting to his distributor role.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim was very consistent. The Hawks were 22-37 going into the home stretch. In March the team looked like it was starting to jell. They went 7-8 during the month and started posing a challenge for the final playoff spot. Maybe Lon Kruger was actually on to something? Despite their efforts and a 6-2 record in April, the Hawks missed out on the playoffs. So the 10 season holders in Atlanta got a good portion of their money back.
Ending the season the way they did, there is reason for optimism in the "Dirty South". The team really started coming together at the end of the year. Terry was respectable at the point but is better when he doesn't have to be the manager of the offense. Abdur-Rahim and Robinson were their usual scoring selves.
Ratliff led the league in blocked shots and played in 81 games. Dion Glover showed promise was drifting on the perimeter too much. Stotts will more than likely be replaced, but he did an admirable job despite the per-existing pressures.
ROSTER
No Player Pos Ht Wt B-day College Exp
1 DerMarr Johnson ....... G 6-9 201 5/5/80 Cincinnati'00 2
-Promising start cut short by a tragic car accident. Vows to be ready to go on 2003. Decent shooter but still needs to bulk up to handle everyday duties. Could be the answer at SG.
2 Nazr Mohammed ......... C 6-10 250 9/5/77 Kentucky'99 4
-Excellent finish at the end of 2001-2002. Took a giant step backward in 2002- 03. Good offensive player but not real bruising under the boards.
3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim ... F 6-9 230 12/11/76 California'99 6
-Franchise player. Great person and better player. Needs to step leadership role. Good scorer but so-so defensively. Will he be moved?
4 Chris Crawford ........ F 6-9 235 5/13/75 Marquette'97 5
-Good shooter and energy player. BAD contract. Role player at best but getting paid a lot better. Stashed on IL last year with knee troubles.
5 Dion Glover ........... G 6-5 228 10/22/78 Georgia Tech'01 3
-Solid scorer. Very good post up threat but seems content to show off mediocre perimeter skills. Not quite the same since knee injury in college. Another possibility at SG.
6 Jermaine Jackson ...... G 6-5 204 6/7/76 Detroit'99 2
-Knows role. Good defender. So-so at the offensive end. Can play some point. Will he make it to or out of training camp?
8 Darvin Ham ............ F 6-7 230 7/23/73 Texas Tech'96 5
-Best know for thunderous dunks. That's about the extent of his offensive game. Great defender. Excellent weakside shot blocker. Power forward in a small forward's body.
12 Dan Dickau ............ G 6-0 190 9/16/78 Gonzaga'02 R-1
-Overmatched as a rookie. Not strong or quick enough on defense. Great shooter. Hopefully he has the same work ethic as another 'Zag, John Stockton. Could become that kind of player, but not for a while.
13 Glenn Robinson ........ F 6-7 230 1/10/73 Purdue'95 8
-Big Dog can score. But everyone already knew that. Still lacksidasical on defense. Shot way too many 3's last year. Locker room distraction?
14 Ira Newble ............ F 6-7 215 1/20/75 Miami-Ohio'97 2
-Great defender. No perimeter game. Played out of position at SG most of the year. Good guy to have on the team.
15 Emanual Davis ......... G 6-5 195 8/27/68 Delaware State'91 5
-Expected to be the answer at PG but tore Achilles and went out for the year. Good
distributor and shooter. Free agent.
31 Jason Terry ........... G 6-2 180 9/15/77 Arizona'99 3
-Biggest decision of the off-season. Cat-quick on defense. 2-guard trapped in a point's body. Played both positions last year and was somewhat effective at both. Not real good at keeping everyone involved and getting his own shot. Will he be back?
38 Mikki Moore ........... C 7-0 225 11/4/75 Nebraska'97 4
-Training camp body at best. Decent shot blocker but way too light to play serious a role. No offensive game, in fact looks uncomfortable with the ball.
42 Theo Ratliff .......... F-C 6-10 230 4/17/73 Wyoming'95 7
-Shot blocker extraordinaire. May never be healthy after hip injury 2 years ago. Needs to come back strong. Not used enough on offense.
44 Alan Henderson ........ F 6-9 240 12/2/72 Indiana'95 7
-Solid role player off the bench. Free Agent may not be back. Decent on both ends of the floor.
Starter Backup
- PG Jason Terry, Dan Dickau
- SG Dion Glover, Ira Newble
- SF Glenn Robinson, Darvin Ham, Chris Crawford
- PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Alan Henderson
- C Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed, Mikki Moore
Statistics 2003-04
REBOUNDS
G MIN PPG RPG APG OFF- DEF- TOT AST STL BLK TO PF
Glenn Robinson 69 2591 20.8 6.6 3.0 86- 371- 457 205 91 26 248 183
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 81 3087 19.9 8.4 3.0 175- 502- 677 242 87 38 212 240
Jason Terry 81 3081 17.2 3.4 7.4 37- 242- 279 600 126 14 249 175
Dion Glover 76 1890 9.7 3.7 1.9 62- 220- 282 141 71 15 108 146
Theo Ratliff 81 2518 8.7 7.5 0.9 154- 453- 607 73 56 262 137 271
Ira Newble 73 1931 7.7 3.7 1.4 86- 185- 271 99 50 26 69 174
Alan Henderson 82 1494 4.8 4.9 0.5 156- 242- 398 41 33 32 61 168
Chris Crawford 5 38 4.8 1.4 0.2 3- 4- 7 1 2 3 2 7
Nazr Mohammed 35 445 4.6 3.7 0.2 47- 82- 129 6 16 21 25 79
Corey Benjamin 9 152 4.4 3.4 1.1 10- 21- 31 10 1 2 6 20
Dan Dickau 50 515 3.7 0.9 1.7 9- 34- 43 85 14 2 53 66
Emanual Davis 24 340 3.7 1.8 1.5 5- 38- 43 36 12 2 25 28
Darvin Ham 75 926 2.4 2.0 0.5 73- 80- 153 38 16 19 65 127
Jermaine Jackson 53 559 2.3 1.1 1.4 19- 38- 57 74 19 6 34 51
Mikki Moore 8 43 2.3 1.0 0.4 6- 2- 8 3 0 4 2 7
FG 3PT FT
M-A PCT M-A PCT M-A PCT PTS HI
G Robinson 539-1248 .432 90-263 .342 268-306 .876 1436 37
S Abdur-Rahim 566-1183 .478 21-60 .350 455-541 .841 1608 33
J Terry 488-1141 .428 160-431 .371 259-292 .887 1395 33
D Glover 277-648 .427 56-158 .354 127-162 .784 737 28
T Ratliff 276-595 .464 0-0 .000 154-214 .720 706 20
I Newble 231-467 .495 32-84 .381 70-90 .778 564 23
A Henderson 153-327 .468 0-2 .000 88-138 .638 394 17
C Crawford 8-13 .615 1-3 .333 7-8 .875 24 14
N Mohammed 67-159 .421 0-0 .000 26-41 .634 160 16
C Benjamin 13-43 .302 2-13 .154 12-16 .750 40 14
D Dickau 70-170 .412 22-61 .361 21-26 .808 183 16
E Davis 32-88 .364 7-29 .241 17-22 .773 88 14
D Ham 71-159 .447 0-3 .000 38-79 .481 180 12
J Jackson 40-110 .364 1-10 .100 40-55 .727 121 10
M Moore 5-13 .385 0-0 .000 8-10 .800 18 8
Franchise Player:
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim F 6-9 245 12/11/76 California '99
Team Core:
- Chris Crawford F 6-9 230 5/13/75 Marquette '97
- Dan Dickau G 6-0 190 9/16/78 Gonzaga '02
- Alan Henderson F 6-9 230 12/02/72 Indiana '95 (PO)
- Nazr Mohammed C 6-10 250 9/05/77 Kentucky '99
- Theo Ratliff C-F 6-10 230 4/17/73 Wyoming '95 (PO)
- Glenn Robinson F 6-7 240 1/10/73 Purdue '94
- Jason Terry G 6-2 180 9/15/77 Arizona '99 (RFA)
Free Agents:
- Emanual Davis G 6-5 195 8/27/68 Delaware State '91
- Dion Glover F-G 6-5 228 10/22/78 Georgia Tech '02 (QO)
- Darvin Ham F-G 6-7 250 7/23/73 Texas Tech '96
- Jermaine Jackson G 6-5 204 6/06/76 Detroit Mercy '99
- DerMarr Johnson G-F 6-9 201 5/05/80 Cincinnati '03
- Mikki Moore C 7-0 225 11/04/75 Nebraska '97
- Ira Newble G 6-7 220 1/20/75 Miami (Ohio) '97
Player 2002-03 salary Total contract Signed through
Shareef Abdur-Rahim $12,375,000 6-yr; $70.9M 2004-05
Glenn Robinson $9,860,000 11-yr; 80.15M 2004-05
Theo Ratliff $9,375,000 7-yr; 57.00M 2003-04 (p)
Alan Henderson $7,091,000 7-yr; 45.00M 2002-03 (p)
Nazr Mohammed $4,750,000 5-yr; 25.00M 2005-06
Chris Crawford $2,750,000 6-yr; 15.75M 2004-05
DerMarr Johnson $2,423,000 3-yr; 6.80M 2002-03 (t)
Jason Terry $2,153,934 4-yr; 6.90M 2002-03 (t)
Dion Glover $1,584,312 4-yr; 4.47M 2002-03 (t)
Emanual Davis $824,935 2-yr; 1.50M 2002-03
Dan Dickau $776,880 4-yr; 4.12M 2004-05 (t)
Darvin Ham $699,935 1-yr; 699,935 2002-03
Ira Newble $587,435 1-yr; 587,435 2002-03
Jermaine Jackson $587,435 1-yr; 587,435 2002-03
Total $56,426,301
OFF SEASON OUTLOOK:
The Hawks won't have their #7 pick, which was sent to Milwaukee in the Glenn Robinson deal. The Hawks have the Pacers first rounder, which will be the 21st pick. The team also has the 42nd pick. Atlanta appears to be in good shape at the forward positions with Glenn Robinson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim but in fact they have bit of a logjam as both players are good scorers but weak rebounding and defensively. The Hawks need a PF or C, and to deal one of their two forwards. Both have substantial contracts and are signed over the next two seasons with Abdur-Rahim having the most value of the two. They're a team with the talent to reach the playoffs but they just have to change the losing attitude that so often haunts struggling franchises. The team's biggest area of need is shooting guard and power forward. Dion Glover has shown slight improvement in each of his last three seasons, but it's apparent he won't ever become the talent he was in college before the knee injury. The team could look for someone to eventually replace him. Nazr Mohammed and Theo Ratliff are both injury prone, so a big man wouldn't be a bad option. Jason Terry was 7th in the league in assists but lacks true point guard instincts. He is not a natural point guard and doesn't have the ability to involve everyone and control the flow of the game. Atlanta will have to decide whether to keep him, or let him walk in free agency. Teaming Terry with a taller true point guard is also an intriguing option. Alan Henderson is most likely gone unless he accepts a huge pay cut. He is solid but the team would be wise to go in another direction.
2003 NBA Draft
The Atlanta Hawks choose 21st thanks to the Jamal Tinsley trade with Indiana 2 years ago. The needs are as follows:
PG or SG : Either commit to Terry as a point guard or make him play the 2. If he plays the point a scoring 2 guard is needed. If he's at the 2, a big point guard will be needed so Terry can guard the opposing point guard.
PF/C : A big time rebounder is needed. Abdur-Rahim doesn't rebound well enough at the 4. Ratliff is good on the boards but needs help.
Actual Selection:
Boris Diaw-PG/SG-France (6-9/205)
Diaw can play the point while Terry slides over to the 2 on offense. Being the great defensive player he is will help him play right away. This is a very solid pick for the Hawks who need some stability in the backcourt.
Athletically there isn't much Diaw doesn't have with superior leaping ability, length, and quickness ... An underrated post passer who might be best playing the point ... Has the defensive skills that NBA team's love such as foot speed, long arms and quick hands ... Shows the ability to be a solid offensive rebounder on put backs ... Excels in the open court where his athleticism allows him to finish with flair ... Big time dunker...Unselfish although almost to a fault he looks constantly for open teammates ... Has amazing body control to make some SportsCenter type drives to the basket... His long arms and quick hands enable him to be a threat to steal the ball and disrupt passing lanes ... Does a very good job of using the baseline to gain the advantage over the defense on quick lay-ups ... Fundamentally he is very sound and able to do a multitude of tasks well ... Makes solid court decisions when the ball is on his hands ... Team player who does all the little things that don't show up on the stat sheet ... Has excellent court vision rarely seen at his position ... Needs to improve on his upper body strength ... Offensively he must focus on becoming more aggressive ... Perimeter shooting remains a very underdeveloped part of his game ... Struggles to make the 3-point shot with consistency ... Added improvement of his ball handling could enable him to take defenders off the dribble more efficiently ... Lacks the consistency to shoot off the dribble ... Confidence has a tendency to wavier at times ... Doesn't always finish in the lane after contact occurs ... Has few post up skills to take advantage of height mismatches of opposing defenders ... Should work on improving at moving without the ball as he has a habit of watching ... Doesn't play as hard as many coaches look for with his laid back demeanor ... Needs to play with more effort on the court consistently ... Sometimes he will defer to teammates instead of looking for his shot .
Who Was Looked At:
Sofoklis Schortsanitis-PF/C-Greece
Zoran Planinic-PG-Croatia
Jerome Beasley-PF-North Dakota
Zaur Pachulia-PF/C-Turkey (Georgia)
So in conclusion, this team could contend for one of the lower playoff spots in 2003-2004. It all depends on who, if anyone they decide to move. Abdur-Rahim would bring the most in return but he is the Franchise Player, so that may not be a great idea. Terry could be moved but he has a lot of talent. No coach has been found as of yet. Whoever comes in will need to do a better
job of getting this team to commit to playing together and clamping down to play better defense. It should be interesting down in the Dirty South!
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