The Hawks Blog: Player Grades at the All-Star Break

First Half (52 games) Grades for the Players

PG Mike Bibby
Grade: A-
Comments: Joe Johnson is still the closest thing the Hawks have to a superstar but I really think Mike Bibby has been the MVP this season. Of all the shitty moves Billy Knight made, at least he saved the best for last, bringing Bibby over in a deal last February. Since Bibby took over at point guard in Atlanta, the Hawks are 59-42 (including the postseason) in 101 games. Bibby was still coming back from injuries last year but he has been brilliant so far this year. He has played in 51 of 52 games, logging 34.9 minutes a night, and has averaged 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.45 steals. He leads the team in starts, Assist/Turnover Ratio, and steals. He is 3rd on the team in games played; 2nd in minutes; 4th in minutes per game; 2nd in points; 2nd in points per game; 2nd in assists; 2nd in assists per game; 2nd in steals per game; 2nd in 3-pt percentage; and 5th in FT percentage. Bibby is 41st in the NBA in minutes; 31st in 3-pt percentage; 21st in assists per game; tied 9th in Assist/Turnover Ratio; 16th in steals per game; and 47th in points per game. Bibby’s value to the team was never more obvious than during the 1 game that he missed. Without Bibby the Hawks lost to the lowly LA Clippers at home by 24 points. Joe Johnson is the Hawks best player but in my opinion they have a better chance of winning without Joe than without Bibby.

SG Joe Johnson
Grade: B
Comments: Joe is an All-Star for the 3rd year in a row. He has had a good season but a down January kept him from having a great first half. Joe has been healthy, playing in 50 of 52 games and logging almost 40 minutes a night while averaging 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.12 steals. Joe leads the team in minutes; minutes per game; points; points per game; assists; and assists per game. Joe is 4th on the team in games played; 2nd in starts; 5th in rebounds; 5th in rebounds per game; 4th in defensive rebounds; 4th in defensive rebounds per game; 3rd in steals; 3rd in steals per game; 3rd in Assist/Turnover Ratio; 5th in 3-pt percentage; and 4th in FT percentage. Joe is 5th in the NBA in minutes; 3rd in minutes per game; 11th in points per game; 18th in assists per game; 27th in Assist/Turnover Ratio; and 39th in steals per game.

SF Marvin Williams
Grade: B+
Comments: I give Marvin a B+ because although his stats don’t reflect it, he has taken another big step forward this year. He has added the 3-pt shot to his arsenal and has been able to function in more of a leading role at times. Marv has played in 48 of 52 games, averaging about 35 minutes a night, with 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Marvin is tied for 5th on the team in games played; 3rd in starts; 3rd in minutes; 3rd in minutes per game; 3rd in points; 4th in points per game; 2nd in rebounds; 3rd in rebounds per game; 2nd in offensive rebounds; 4th in offensive rebounds per game; 3rd in defensive rebounds; 3rd in defensive rebounds per game; 5th in steals; 5th in steals per game; 3rd in blocks; 3rd in blocks per game; 5th in FG percentage; 4th in 3-pt percentage; and 2nd in FT percentage. Marvin is 50th in the NBA in minutes per game; 45th in rebounds per game; 40th in offensive rebounds per game; and 43rd in defensive rebounds per game.

PF Josh Smith
Grade: B-
Comments: Josh’s grade would have been higher if he had not missed 12 games with an ankle injury early in the season. I was worried that Josh would suffer a serious drop off in play after signing the big extension in the off-season but it hasn’t been that bad. His attitude has been pretty good most of the time. However, he still doesn’t understand his strengths and weaknesses. He plays away from the basket way too much and he is not as strong as he should be when going up for rebounds. He insists on taking 3’s and other long jumpers despite horrific shooting percentages in those areas. He often drives to the hoop without any idea of what he is going to do and this often results in a terrible shot, a blocked shot, or a turnover. Even when a foul bails him out it isn’t always a positive because he is shooting just .583 from the free throw line. Another bad habit Josh has is a tendency to try and handle the ball more than necessary in the backcourt or on a fast break, often leading to a turnover. And defensively he hasn’t been as big of a force this year. But overall Josh has been solid during the first half of the year, playing in 40 of 52 games, averaging 35.6 minutes a night, and going for 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.50 steals, and 1.58 blocks. Josh leads the team in steals per game, blocks, and blocks per game. He is 4th on the team in starts; 4th in minutes; 2nd in minutes per game; 4th in points; 3rd in points per game; 3rd in rebounds; 2nd in rebounds per game; 3rd in offensive rebounds; 3rd in offensive rebounds per game; 2nd in defensive rebounds; 2nd in defensive rebounds per game; 3rd in assists; 3rd in assists per game; 3rd in steals; and 4th in FG percentage. Josh is 45th in the NBA in minutes per game and 36th in FG percentage.

C Al Horford
Grade: B-
Comments: Al’s grade would be higher if he had not been hampered by various injuries, including a bone bruise that caused him to miss 14 games earlier in the year. Al hasn’t taken the big step forward that we hoped but he has been very good. And again, his progress has been slowed by the health problems. Al has played in 38 of 52 games, averaging almost 32 minutes a night, and putting up 10.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.66 steals, and 1.53 blocks. Al leads the team in rebounds; rebounds per game; defensive rebounds; and defensive rebounds per game. He is 5th on the team in starts; 5th in minutes; 5th in minutes per game; 4th in offensive rebounds; 2nd in offensive rebounds per game; 4th in assists; 4th in assists per game; 2nd in blocks; 2nd in blocks per game; 4th in Assist/Turnover Ratio; and 2nd in FG percentage.

G Flip Murray
Grade: A-
Comments: Flip has been a huge boost coming off the bench for the Hawks this year. He has been instant offense when the Hawks needed it on a number of nights. He came over to the team during the off-season and the rap on Murray was that his bad nights would cancel out his good nights but that hasn’t been the case so far. Flip has played in all 52 games, coming off the bench in every game, averaging 22.5 minutes a night, and posting 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.02 steals. Flip is tied for the team lead in games played; 5th in points; 5th in points per game; 5th in assists; 4th in steals; 4th in steals per game; and 3rd in 3-pt percentage.

SF Maurice Evans
Grade: A-
Comments: Mo is the other half of the reserve tandem (along with Flip) that has replaced Josh Childress. Evans came to the team during the off-season following a career year in Orlando but people said he was not an adequate replacement for Childress. Like Murray, however, Evans has been all that the Hawks hoped for and more as a backup guard/forward, a spot starter, and a solid producer off the bench. Mo has played in all 52 games, including making 9 starts, and has averaged about 22.5 minutes a night, 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.63 steals. Evans leads the team in 3-pt percentage and FT percentage and is tied for the team lead in games played. Mo is 5th on the team in offensive rebounds; 5th in offensive rebounds per game; and 5th in Assist/Turnover Ratio. Mo is 23rd in the NBA in 3-pt percentage and 16th in turnovers per game.

C Zaza Pachulia
Grade: B
Comments: Zaza’s intense play against Boston in the playoffs has carried over into this year and he has been a valuable bench player and spot starter for the Hawks. He is still limited. He isn’t the best defender, he’s slow, he can get the ball taken away easily, and he isn’t a good free throw shooter. But he brings a lot of intensity and hustle, he is a good rebounder, and he can score. He is especially dangerous when the opposition underestimates him offensively. Zaza has had a few injury problems and when the team definitely missed him when he wasn’t there. He has played in 48 of 52 games, playing 20.3 minutes a night, and averaging 6.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.48 steals, and 0.44 blocks. Zaza leads the team in offensive rebounds and offensive rebounds per game. Zaza is tied for 5th on the team in games played; 4th in rebounds; 4th in rebounds per game; 5th in defensive rebounds; 5th in defensive rebounds per game; 5th in blocks; 5th in blocks per game; and 3rd in FG percentage.

PF Solomon Jones
Grade: B
Comments: I have been very surprised by how much Solo has added to the team on a regular basis this year. He has given the team decent play off the bench and has been able to step in and do a decent job when forced to play more minutes than usual due to injuries. Solomon can be exposed at times on defense and he is sometimes a step behind on offense, but when playing on just instincts and effort he can be surprisingly effective on both ends of the court. Solo has played in 43 of 52 games, averaging 11.8 minutes a night, with 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and 0.53 blocks. Solo leads the team in FG percentage. He is 4th on the team in blocks and 4th in blocks per game.

PG Acie Law
Grade: D
Comments: Law has been a major disappointment so far this year and in his career. I’m not going to give him an “F” because he basically holds his own when he’s in the game. The problem is that he doesn’t really add anything coming off the bench and when asked to play more minutes than normal he struggles. He has not been able to grasp what it takes to play the point for this team. At the same time, he has not shot the ball well at all. Defensively he is behind as well. Law has had some bumps and bruises and some personal off the court issues this year but he’s still played in 40 of the 52 games, making 1 start, playing 10.4 minutes a night, and averaging 3.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Law is 5th on the team in assists per game; 2nd in Assist/Turnover Ratio; and 3rd in FT percentage.

G/F Mario West
Grade: NA
Comments: Mario hasn’t played many meaningful minutes so far this year. He’s played in 29 of 52 games, averaging just 2.4 minutes a game, but when he has played you can rest assured he’s given 1000% effort. He’s always ready to come into the game whenever needed, most of the time as a defensive replacement late in a period. He’s a good guy to have around because of his attitude.

C Randolph Morris
Grade: NA
Comments: Morris has played sparingly, appearing in 15 games, averaging 4.0 minutes a game. When injuries or foul trouble or just matchups have called for an extra big man Morris has been adequate. He gets into foul trouble very easily but he can help out offensively and defensively when he is needed.

F Othello Hunter
Grade: NA
Comments: Early in the year it looked like Hunter might be of some value as a guy coming off the bench but then he sort of disappeared. He has played in only 10 of 52 games, averaging 3.3 minutes a game. Again, he seemed like he might be useful early on but has rarely been called upon.

SG Thomas Gardner
Grade: NA
Comments: Gardner is a fringe player who has appeared in 4 games, averaging 5.5 minutes per game. He played in 3 consecutive games during January. He’s not awful.