ATLANTA HAWKS
Last season: 48 – 34
This season: 41 – 41
Atlanta thinks they ended up in the same place by swapping Al Horford, who signed with Boston, for Dwight Howard. I’m not with them on that conclusion or other ones.
How about the promotion of Dennis Schroder to starting point guard, effected when incumbent Jeff Teague was sent to Indiana? That move may work out eventually, but this season could be lost while it does.
Kyle Korver’s 3-point shooting percentage tumbled last season to under 40% for the first time in seven years. The man is 35 – I hope he can bounce back for the Hawks’ sake, because he can’t do much else than shoot anymore.
They still have Paul Millsap to do everything but sell beer in the stands, and Kent Bazemore is capable and versatile. Howard isn’t on his last legs. Unlike Miami or (shudder) Brooklyn, I don’t believe the Hawks are fated for a long-term tumble, but their chances of a playoff appearance are a coin flip.