Different Center, Different Team?
Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch): How different are these Atlanta Hawks from the teams we’ve seen in recent years, because of the switch from Al Horford to Dwight Howard at the center position?
Adam McGee (@AdamMcGee11): They’re not as different as you may think, but they’re different in a lot of the ways that matter most. I, like most with any sort of attachment to the Hawks, was unsure over how the team would look with Howard over Horford, but the early signs have been incredibly promising.
The system is still carrying the team forward in terms of ball movement, quality three point looks and defense, but most noticeably, the addition of Dwight has transformed the Hawks as a rebounding team. Rebounding has long been Atlanta’s Achilles’ heel, but through 10 games they now rank sixth in the NBA in rebounds, as opposed to 24th last season.
Howard gives them a different option offensively, and is certainly helping with his rim protection, but nothing is more important than his work on the glass. The team looks similar in many ways, but so far they’ve been better thanks to the rebounding.