Atlanta Hawks Player Profile: Paul Millsap

The summer of 2013 was a time of transition for the Atlanta Hawks. Josh Smith left for a rich deal with the Detroit Pistons, for better or worse, and the Hawks’ attempts to acquire a superstar were unsuccessful. Instead of a top 10 player, the Hawks picked up Paul Millsap on a two-year deal.

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Two years later, Millsap has become one of Atlanta’s most important players, and the collective organization and fanbase is still breathing sighs of relief that he did not take a four-year, $80 million deal with the Orlando Magic.

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Millsap is exactly the kind of big man the Hawks need. He’s a versatile offensive player who also has the intelligence and unselfishness that gives the franchise its identity. In a league where most star players are known for talking too much, Millsap is a quiet, steady presence.

The most notable quality in Millsap is his offensive versatility. He’s big enough to post up or drive through defenders off the dribble, while also having good range from most areas on the floor and being able to be the runner in a pick-and-roll.

Despite being 6-foot-8 and 253 pounds, Millsap isn’t a slow and clunky post up big. He has his share of dribble moves, and with a large frame, trying to stop him with a full head of steam on the drive is not a fun activity for a defender.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hawks guard Jeff Teague called him “a small forward in a power forward’s body.” Indeed, Millsap’s physical gifts make him a player who can play smaller than he actually is. His strength and ability to fake and take a strong first step to the hoop are a major part of his scoring ability.

Much like his frontcourt mate Al Horford, Millsap’s versatile offensive talents allow him to do a variety of things involving screens. He can roll to the rim or pop out to the midrange or behind the arc. He’s also smart about when to screen and what action to follow with.

In this clip, Millsap kind of looks like he’s screening right before crossing between Deron Williams and Jeff Teague. He sets a hard screen to the left and then steps out when D-Will doesn’t rotate. With Millsap, that plan will get shots like this whenever the point guard doesn’t switch.

Even if Williams had switched, Millsap could’ve easily powered through him (though at this point, most people could take Deron Williams off the dribble). When a team introduces not one, but two big men with scoring ability in many areas of the floor, pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops become the grease of the offensive wheel.

Millsap wasn’t always a versatile inside-outside guy. In seven seasons, Millsap only attempted 113 three-pointers with the Utah Jazz. When introduced to the Hawks, his skill set was expanded almost out of necessity. The Hawks thrive on stretching defenses, making them send four or even five guys to defend outside the paint.

It’s that M.O. that make the Hawks a progressive team in terms of the NBA spacing revolution. They force teams to leave center field uncovered, and when one guy attacks the rim, all those defenders standing outside have to scramble back to stop the drive. Once that happens, it’s just a matter of getting the ball to the perimeter.

That play also only works because both Teague and Kyle Korver A) have a third shooter to pass to and B) are willing to pass up on the shot. The Hawks with their shooting just make teams cover so much ground, and Millsap has been good at expanding his skill set to accommodate the system in which he plays.

That’s not something to take lightly. Not only did Millsap’s DraftExpress profile once include the phrase “clearly uncomfortable operating outside of 12 feet” but Millsap also didn’t get to exercise his shooting skills for much of his career. Now that he’s really been able to use that talent, he’s become a better player on offense.

Millsap’s one struggle with interior scoring is similar to that of Al Horford. While he’s physically and mentally able to post up, especially against small-ball 4s, he doesn’t really get the chance to do so in the Hawks’ offense. If he doesn’t get to exercise that skill, it sort of takes away the chance for the Hawks to use mismatches where smaller guys are guarding Millsap.

In theory, that makes small-ball a good decision for Atlanta’s opponents: stretch the defense with shooting, and don’t worry about having smaller guys on Millsap because he won’t abuse them on the block consistently. Millsap makes up for that by being able to use his quick feet to defend these smaller shooter on the perimeter.

May 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives on Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second half in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Head coach Mike Budenholzer preaches a defensive style that involves a lot of movement, both in one-on-one matchups and in team aspects like help defense. Millsap is neither a hulking rim protector or an athletic perimeter stopper. He’s solid at both. Place him anywhere on the floor and, at the very least, you’ll get a full effort.

While Millsap is a large guy who doesn’t blow anyone away athletically, he still has the quick step and length to cut off passing lanes if he’s out of the paint. He’s not prime Dwyane Wade, but he possesses both ball awareness and the ability to get the ball. That second part is a bonus from big men. Guys who can actually get the ball and get out ahead on the break are a defensive bonus.

Millsap is probably still at his best in straight up post defense. His height does put him at a disadvantage against the tallest of NBA players, but in the end, just being physical, keeping your hands up, and being able to keep up with funky moves is enough for acceptable interior defense.

Millsap’s quick footwork for his size once again becomes a major asset. He can stay with guys who try to swing around him on the block. If the player he’s against dumps it off to another player around the rim, he can step over and disrupt the shot.

Millsap’s overall defensive value is that he has great hands and great feet. He can hang with smaller guys to an acceptable degree on the perimeter, but he can also function as the last line of defense.

However, Millsap will have to do more on defense next season. The loss of DeMarre Carroll really puts a burden on him. I feel like I discuss this in every piece, but there’s a reason. The loss of a guy who can defend stars at a high level creates a ripple effect for the rest of the team.

Atlanta really could have given the Cleveland Cavaliers problems, because Carroll and Millsap combined for a great forward tandem on the defensive end. They could switch them between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James on pick-and-rolls. Without Carroll or an adequate replacement (I still think a healthy Thabo Sefolosha will be acceptable) Millsap will likely be the primary defender of star wings.

He can do it well enough, and he plays in a system where he can get good help, but it is one of those things where the surrounding personnel does affect how a guy looks. Millsap only becomes more important to the team, on both sides of the ball, when the forward position takes a hit.

The Hawks may very well go bigger with Millsap at the three. A lineup of Millsap, Horford, and Tiago Splitter will be able to hold up on both ends, but it’s all just speculation until the season starts and the rotations are decided.

Paul Millsap reiterated that there are no plans/talks to move him to small forward. He is willing to do what is needed.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) July 9, 2015

Regardless of how his role changes as the Hawks move forward, Millsap should continue to put up the same quiet but effective contribution. The Hawks thrive on having smart, unselfish players who can do a lot of different things, and that’s Paul Millsap.

For a guy who was the 47th pick once upon a time, being arguably the most important player on a very good team was hardly a forgone conclusion.

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