Marvin Williams’ production has dropped this season, but he is getting less minutes and has become more of a role player for the Atlanta Hawks this season.  He has been a solid role player this season, averaging 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.  All of those averages are his lowest since his 2005-’06 rookie season, including his minutes.  Yet, in the past two games he has put together two of his best games of the season.  He didn’t look like a guy who shoots 44% and only averages 10 points and 5 rebounds.  That’s because on Monday night in a 112-93 win over the Chicago Bulls, he played 32 minutes and went 7-14 for 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.  He followed that impressive performance up with another one last night in a 112-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, where he went 8-12 for 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal.  The Hawks are already one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, so if they can get some more games like this out of Marvin Williams it will be a great bonus.

The Hawks shot 50% from the floor and they outrebounded the Sixers 47-32 which helps explain the ease of the win last night at home. Marvin Williams stepped up as he led the way for the Hawks last night with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jamal Crawford pitched in with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench last night. Joe Johnson had a solid game for the Hawks last night with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists. The Hawks are now 39-21 on the year.

The Hawks outscored the Bulls 41-24 in the fourth quarter last night and they outrebounded them 63-37 in the game which were the biggest reasons for the impressive win on the road. Jamal Crawford led the way against his old team with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes off the bench last night. Marvin Williams (18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists) and Josh Smith (17 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots) gave the Hawks a huge edge at the forward spots last night. Al Horford (15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) and Joe Johnson (14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists) also pitched in on the Hawks’ offensive assault last night. The Hawks are now 38-21 on the season which has them only 2 games in back of the Magic in both the Southeast Divsion and for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Starting shooting guard Joe Johnson is one of the biggest reasons for the Hawks being so good this season. He has played in 57 games (all starts) for the Hawks this season and he is averaging 38.0 minutes, 21.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Hawks have their eyes on winning the NBA Championship this season but Johnson is going to be a free agent at the end of the year so it will be interesting to see if the Hawks pay him or let him walk away.

The Hawks just don’t trust rookie guard Jeff Teague enough to give him more minutes. Teague has played in 48 games (0 starts) for the Hawks this season and he is averaging 9.6 minutes, 2.9 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is only shooting 34.4% from the floor and it’s hard to justify giving him minutes over Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford or Mike Bibby.