Soaring Down South
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Power Ranking Every Atlanta Hawks Player During the 2017 Playoffs

By Nile Goodwyn

Nov 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kris Humphries (43) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hawks 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kris Humphries (43) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hawks 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ersan Ilyasova
Mar 1, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) celebrates a three-point basket in the second quarter of their game against the Dallas Mavericks at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Mike Muscala

Without much question, Mike Muscala was the most disappointing player for the Hawks during the 2016 postseason. Dunleavy was not expected to bring as much to the table as Muscala, who was playing great prior to the playoffs beginning.

Not a great rebounder (3.6 RPG in 2016-17) or defender (105.1 Defensive Rating), Muscala is most useful as a scorer. In the playoffs, Muscala shot 27.8 percent from the field, 11th worst by any player in the first round. His 0.8 field goals per game was a reduction from the 2.4 FGs made per game during the regular season. In the final three games of the regular season, Muscala averaged 10 points per game on a scorching 70.6 percent shooting clip. Only Dallas’ Salam Mejri shot as well, and he attempted 3.7 fewer shots per game. In the playoffs, Muscala’s shooting percentage plummeted 42.8 percent from the final three games of the regular season to the playoffs, taking him from a possible x-factor to a nearly worthless rotation player.

8. Jose Calderon

As Dennis Schroder’s primary backup, Jose Calderon held up relatively well.

Against the Wizards’ subpar bench, Calderon controlled the game when the benches were deployed. In just over 12 minutes, he ranked 5th out of all reserves (min. 4 games) in assists in the first round with 2.2. His effective 47.8 field goal percentage was helpful in keeping the team afloat when Schroder was out. Over his entire career, Calderon has been a defensive liability. During this series, though, Calderon played well on the defensive end.

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7. Ersan Ilyasova

Ilyasova was brought to the Hawks at the trade deadline in order to put the Hawks’ bench over the top. During his career, his marksmanship from the field has made him a much-wanted commodity, playing for six different teams over his 8-year career, including two stints with the Bucks. A career 36.6 percent shooter from behind the arc, Ilyasova could have ideally been the one shooter that the woeful shooting Hawks needed.

Instead, he connected on one three-pointer over six games and shot 20 percent from behind the arc. During the regular season, Ilyasova’s Effective Field Goal Percentage was 51.1%, the fourth-highest of his career. During his six games in the playoffs, his eFG% plummeted to 37 percent, which would have been the lowest of his career if translated over a full season.

Ilyasova did effective work on the boards, ranking fourth in rebounds per game (5.2) and second in offensive rebounds (2.3). He also shot nearly 80 percent from the free throw line, albeit with only 9 total attempts during the series. Ilyasova cannot be blamed for the Hawks defeat, but his drop-off from the regular season to the playoffs was dramatic and deterring.

6. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Not only did Tim Hardaway Jr. play a major key in losing the Hawks the series, he also potentially took money out of his own pockets. As an upcoming free agent, pre-Playoff Hardaway looked to be fetching a contract similar to teammate Kent Bazemore’s from last summer (4 years, $70 million). After a playoff performance where he shot below 30 percent from the field, teams in need of Hardaway’s skill set likely would not risk such a monumental deal on a player who disappeared in the playoffs.

Beyond that, Hardaway was negative on both sides of the court for the Hawks. Bradley Beal averaged over 25 points per game, and Hardaway looked lost at times attempting to guard him. Hardaway likely should have never been Beal’s #1 assignment, with Taurean Prince being an adequate defender. To an extent, Hardaway’s defensive failures cannot be blamed on him any more than the coaching staff.

He is, fully, to blame for his offensive inefficiency, though, and it may have been a key reason for the Hawks’ failures.

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