The Hawks lost the first game of the 2017 preseason 96-90 to division foe Miami Heat. Despite the loss, there was actually quite a lot to like from this young Atlanta team. The starting guards, Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder, kept the ball moving really well. Baze looked more comfortable as a ball handler than he did last year, a great sign for Hawks fans. As the starting center making his first appearance in a Hawks uniform, Dewayne Dedmon looked like the smart, savvy center that coach Bud brought him here to be. He finished with 12 points on an efficient 5-7 shooting. Taurean Prince on the other hand did not impress. He scored just three points in a team high 22 minutes of playing time. Ersan Ilyasova picked up where he left off last year going 2-2 from three point range.

There were a few players that stood out from the rest of the bench. John Collins grabbed a game high 15 rebounds and also contributed nine points. Luke Babbitt hit a pair of threes and helped space the floor, something that the Hawks love to do. The backup point guards Quinn Cook and Malcolm Delaney also impressed. Cook had nine points and Delaney had seven. Cook looked like the much better pg and could end up being the primary backup by the start of the year. Overall, the offense will most likely be much more enjoyable to watch than last year, as the Hawks have filled their lineup top to bottom with capable 3-point shooters.

The most glaring issue was, without a doubt, the defense. For whatever reason, coach Budenholzer’s teams always let their opponents shoot wide open threes seemingly every possession. The rotations were just a little slow, so time and time again the Heat found themselves with three point opportunities no more difficult than layups. This roster, without defensive anchors Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap, will have a tough time winning games. The offense has the potential to score a lot more than they did last year, but it’s hard to see them overcoming their many shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball.

featured image: peachtreehoops.com

By: Noah Lourie (@1788sports, @noah_lourie)