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Atlanta Hawks Atlanta's strength lies in the versatility of its roster
Updated: Wednesday October 03, 2001 7:13 PM
By Marty Burns, CNNSI.com After a franchise-worst 25 wins a season ago, Atlanta appears ready to rebound. The additions of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc give them a solid nucleus around which to rebuild. The emergence of Jason Terry at shooting guard only adds to the brewing excitement among Hawks fans. Atlanta's strength will be its versatility. Kukoc, Abdur-Rahim, Ratliff and Terry can all play more than one position, giving head coach Lon Kruger the opportunity to adjust depending on matchups. For example, the Hawks can go big with 6-foot-10 center Nazr Mohammed and use Kukoc or Alan Henderson to play point forward. Or they can go small with Ratliff in the middle and a traditional point guard.
The key in training camp will be to find which of their three point guard candidates can run the floor and make enough shots to keep opposing defenses honest. Emanual Davis, signed as a free agent in the offseason, provides some size (6-foot-5) and steady floor play, but he's never been a starter. If he falters, former Jazz point backup Jacque Vaughn or sharpshooting veteran Matt Maloney will have to fill the void. Kruger's vision is for the Hawks to play up-tempo and run past slower foes like the Heat, Knicks and Pacers. Ratliff, the NBA's leading shot-blocker a year ago, must recover fully from the broken wrist that kept him out of the second half a year ago. Kukoc, bothered by chronic sore feet, also must stay healthy. If the Hawks can avoid injuries, there's no reason they can't make a run at the playoffs. They now have two All-Stars in Ratliff and Abdur-Rahim, a proven third wheel in Kukoc, and a decent bench that includes Henderson and the fast-rising Dion Glover. It might take time for their many new faces to develop chemistry, but the talent is there. Standout stat: 20.5 Points averaged by new addition Abdur-Rahim in 2000-01, more than any other Hawk. Terry led Atlanta last season with 19.7.
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