The Hawks keep drafting the same kind of player which is big, athletic forwards.  Shelden Williams played in 81 games for the Hawks and he averaged 18.7 minutes, 5.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Williams really showed that he’s got game at the end of the season with a series of double-doubles with extended playing time.  F/C Solomon Jones played in 58 games last season and he averaged 11.5 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  Jones also played well when he got more playing time at the end of the season.  The Hawks have proven they can draft big guys, but they need a point guard and that should be their focus in this year’s Draft in June.

The Atlanta Hawks finished in last place in the Southeast Division with a 30-52 record, 14 games behind the Miami Heat.  The Hawks were 18-23 at home and a horrible 12-29 on the road.  The Hawks were an awful 17-35 against the Eastern Conference and 5-11 against the Division.  They averaged 93.7 points per game and allowed 98.5 points per game.  They limped to the finish line as they were decimated by injuries and only won 3 of their last 10 games.

With Speedy Claxton out for the season the Hawks really need Anthony Johnson to play more minutes, but he’s not doing well with the added playing time.  In 5 games in April so far, he’s averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.  He also is only shooting 37.8% from the floor this month.  He’s playing the last few games to solidify what his role on the Hawks will be next season, so he better get his act together.

The Hawks have a couple of guys that have stepped up in the eye of all of the injuries the team has suffered as of late.  Reserve shooting guard Salim Stoudamire has been very good over the last two weeks.  He has played 4 games and has averaged 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game the last two weeks.  He also has nailed 9 of 20 (45%) of his three-point shots.  Look for him to continue to play well with the extra playing time.  Point guard Tyronn Lue has also played very well the last two weeks.  He has played in 5 games (2 starts) and he’s averaged 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in those games.  Lue also has hit 5 of 12 (41.7%) of his three-point attempts. 

The Atlanta Hawks have one huge hole to fill and if they do it right they will be a good basketball team.  They have a black hole at the point guard position and they will need a pass-first point guard to take advantage of their great athletic ability as a team.  They are 28-48 on the season and they’ve only won 2 of their last 10 games this season.  The young Hawks also need to learn how to win on the road where they are 12-26 so far this season.