Atlanta Hawks: Grading Each Player’s Performance In 2012-13

Al Horford had his best season yet for the Atlanta Hawks this year. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule

Going into the season, the big question surrounding the Atlanta Hawks was how they would perform without Joe Johnson. As it turned out, the situation wasn’t much different. They were still a solid-but-unspectacular team that wrapped up a playoff spot and then proceeded to go down in round 1, this time at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. But while the Hawks were somewhat underwhelming, they had several individual players who were solid contributors, as we’ll find out now as we look at the individual performance of each player on the Hawks during the 2012-13 season.

Jeff Teague

Teague had been under the radar for a few years, as diehard basketball fans discussed his potential, while casual fans barely noticed him. This year, however, Teague had his best season as a pro and established himself as a legitimate starting NBA point guard. He’s one of the more explosive players in the league and while he’s not quite on the level of an all-star yet, he might be on that level soon. Teague’s biggest improvement came in the assists department, where he improved from 4.9 per game in 2011-12 to 7.2 this year. Definitely a player on the rise.

Grade: B+

Devin Harris

Harris’s career got off to a bright start, as he thrilled fans with electric speed. In recent years, however, he’s become increasingly pedestrian and the idea that he could be an elite point guard has essentially vanished. Still, Harris was a viable contributor to the Hawks this season, demonstrate the ability to switch between the point guard and shooting guard positions. His scoring average was only 9.9 points per game, down from the previous year for the fourth straight season. Still, while Harris has been somewhat underwhelming, he was a solid contributor to the Hawks for most of the season.

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Grade: B-

Kyle Korver

Korver is known for one thing, the 3 ball. And boy is he good. Korver attempted 601 shots this season and 414 were from downtown. He continued to  show that he is one of the best in the game in this category, as he drained .457 from beyond the arc this season. No matter what team Korver is on, he is basically asked to do that same task, but he continues to do it well. As long as teams need a guy who can be counted on to come through from 3, there will be a place for Kyle Korver in the NBA.

Grade: A-

Josh Smith

Smith comes up in trade talks so frequently that it’s hard to put his actual performance in perspective, as we’re too busy thinking about what he might do if he were in another uniform. Still, Smith was effective once again this season, as he averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. Smith’s biggest problem continues to be that he fails to harness the power of athleticism.  He has the ability to drive to the hoop and throw down thunderous dunks, but for some reason, he often settled for questionable, low-percentage shots. Still, his talent is undeniable and wherever he winds up next season, they’ll be getting one of the best athletes in the NBA.

Grade: B

Al Horford

After missing Horford for much of last season, the Hawks were likely relieved to have their All-Star center back in the lineup. There was no wear and tear on Horford when he came back, as he put together his most productive season as a pro, averaging a double-double. While his efficiency suffered a little bit as a result of him being used in more possessions (the effect of Joe Johnson leaving), he was still very effective. If Smith does leave, the Hawks will be sending a message that Horford is the player who will lead them into the future. After his performance this season, it makes sense.

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Grade: A-

Lou Williams

One can’t help but wonder what the Hawks might have done if Lou Williams had stayed healthy. The dynamic sixth man was a big part of the Philadelphia 76ers playoff run in 2012 and when he joined the Hawks, he added some much-needed potency to their offense. Unfortunately, he went down with a knee injury halfway through the season, and the Hawks suffered without him. It’s interesting to think about how the Hawks might have done in the playoffs if Williams had been around. One thing’s for sure, he can’t wait for next year.

Grade: Incomplete

John Jenkins

The Hawks don’t get a great deal of nationwide coverage, but there was a fair amount of buzz for Jenkins, the rookie from Vanderbilt who proved to be one of the Hawks’ stronger weapons off the bench this season. Jenkins averaged just 14.8 minutes per game, but he made good use of his time, hitting .448 from the field, and .384 from downtown. As Jenkins continues to improve, he’ll likely receive more and more playing time. Expect to hear a lot about Jenkins over the next few years. He has a very bright future in this league.

Grade: B+

Ivan Johnson

After taking the league by a storm as a 27-year-old rookie in 2011-12, Johnson had considerably less hype surrounding him during his sophomore season. The quality of his play did not change, however, as he continued to be a tough-playing, hard-nosed forward who lent a ferocious quality to the Hawks’ second unit. Johnson is best known for his stingy defense, but he’s surprisingly efficient on the offensive end, as he shot .520 from the field this season. If the Hawks ever make the leap and become a serious contender, Johnson is the sort of guy you could picture getting into a fight in a playoff game. And yes, that’s a compliment.

Grade: B+

Zaza Pachulia

There’s not a great deal left to say about Pachulia at this point; he’s a reliable backup center who won’t blow your mind on the stat sheet, but tends play well quietly.  After starting 44 games with Horford out at last year, Pachulia returned to the second unit and was marginally effective. He’s not the best shooting big man in the game (he shot an underwhelming .473 this year), but he plays solid defense and is effective at the line. After 10 seasons, we know what we’re getting out of this guy. He’s a bit boring, but he’s certainly reliable.

Grade: B-

DeShawn Stevenson

As a member of the former New Jersey Nets in 2011-12, Stevenson had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. He couldn’t hit much of anything and his PER was a dreadful 4.3. This year, however, Stevenson got his groove back and became an effective shooter for the Hawks. His 3-point shot returned in a big way, as he went from .283 to .364 from beyond the arc. After his rotten year with Nets, you could have been forgiven for thinking Stevenson didn’t have much value left, but this season, he proved there is still a place for him in the NBA and he helped the Hawks more than anyone would have expected.

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Generated 5/18/2013.

Grade: B-