Memphis Grizzlies Opposing Views: Atlanta Hawks

Hey, these teams aren’t so similar anymore. With the chaotic offseason drawing to an end, what do the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks look like?

For quite a long time, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks were two similar teams. No matter what, they would find a way to make the playoffs. They were never going to win a title — sans the year the Hawks were the first seed out East — but they were going to scare the mess out of their opponents.

Now, the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies have undergone somewhat of a facelift. One team may be towards the league’s basement, while the other will be fighting the good fight to stay alive in the postseason.

Will the Hawks and Grizzlies defy the odds once again to extend their seasons? Do the Hawks still possess the same element that makes them a difficult matchup?

Starting 5

PG – Dennis Schroder

SG – Marco Belinelli

SF – Taurean Prince

PF – Ersan Ilyasova

C – Dewayne Dedmon

Advantage for the Memphis Grizzlies

Pretty much everything

Notice how I only said “advantage?” Yeah, the Memphis Grizzlies have them beat at just about any category.

Dennis Schroder is a solid point guard, but Mike Conley is on a completely different level. Andrew Harrison or Mario Chalmers will go up against an unproven point guard in Quinn Cook. The Grizzlies’ floor generals should have their way in this one.

Marc Gasol has to tango against Miles Plumlee and Dewayne Dedmon. The Spaniard should be going off against these guys. He has the skill in the post and the 3-point shot to take their lunch money on offense. Then, both players aren’t threats on the offensive end, so Gasol can expend more energy on rim protection and help defense.

The Grizzlies matchup with their wings is compelling though. The Hawks have decent perimeter players, but only Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore have the defensive chops to stop the Grizz. Guys like Chandler Parsons, Tyreke Evans, Ben McLemore and Wayne Selden shouldn’t have too much trouble connecting from deep and scoring the basketball.

Advantage for the Hawks

That ball movement

The Atlanta Hawks may lack the talent they’ve possessed the past several seasons, but one thing remains: the Mike Budenholzer system. Budenholzer has done a spectacular job of integrating a system that maximizes a player’s potential. Look at DeMarre Carroll and Kent Bazemore rise to their paydays. Or, see how Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver flourished as All-Stars.

His Spurs-esque offense has become a dangerous force in this league as they rank in the top-10 in pretty much every advanced assist category.

The Hawks have shooters that can light it up from outside. If they keep doing more Spurs stuff, they can make this an interesting series.

Closing Remarks

The Atlanta Hawks will be a different team — one the Grizzlies should beat. They won’t be a playoff team, and the Memphis Grizzlies should take note of their inevitable fall.

Over the past several seasons, the Hawks stuck with the “good, but not great” mantra, and guess what happened? They lost the starting 5 (Teague-Korver-Carroll-Millsap-Horford) that got them to the top of the East for Taurean Prince, Mike Dunleavy and a slew of second-round picks.

The Memphis Grizzlies could be on the same path. They already lost Tony Allen and Zach Randolph for nothing. If things don’t look bright, they shouldn’t do what the Hawks did.

Stay woke.

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