Soaring Down South
Fansided

Five bold predictions for the Atlanta Hawks 2017-2018 season

By Tyler Sellers

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 01: The Atlanta Hawks introduced their secondary logo on t-shirts that were distributed to fans during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Indiana Pacers during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 1, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 01: The Atlanta Hawks introduced their secondary logo on t-shirts that were distributed to fans during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Indiana Pacers during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 1, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
WASHINGTON, DC –  APRIL 26: Dennis Schroder /

2. Dennis Schroder Will  Eclipse 20 Points per Game On the Season 

Who would have ever thought during the midst of the Atlanta Hawks 60 win season, that the franchise would soon revolve entirely around Dennis Schroder? I bet there isn’t a canoe of fans who really saw that coming. What a difference 2 years makes!

Perhaps another intriguing moniker not directly related to the German dynamo, a frequent of the NBA Finals, 3x all-star, champion, scoring machine of a point guard, Kyrie Irving’s craving for his own team goes unfulfilled. For now anyway. That’s ironic, kind of funny?

Well, that’s the reality of the matter. Schroder is the captain of the ship going forward in Atlanta. He could start a Dennis Rodman like trend with his hairstyles, crash his Lamborghini on the way to practice this season, and still be the cornerstone of the Atlanta Hawks.

I’ve exaggerated that to a degree, but this is his team. Schroder put on a show against elite competition during the Hawks first round series loss to the Washington Wizards this past spring. Matched up versus John Wall, one of the top floor leaders in the game, Schroder elevated his level of play tremendously.

Mike Budenholzer was content while pacing the sidelines with Schroder playing an average of 35.7 minutes per game for the series. He put up the aforementioned 24.7 points and 7.7 assists per game. In addition to that he grabbed 2.3 rebounds, shot 45.5 percent field goals and a lights out 42.5 percent from deep. Perhaps most impressively, he protected the ball so well, he was to blame for just 1.7 turnovers on average.

To say that’s awesome would be a colossal understatement. Over the course of 31.5 minutes per game during the regular season, he committed twice as many errors per game with 3.3 turnovers. Going toe to toe with a larger, more athletic John Wall, 40 minutes of action at a time, one would expect an outrageously greater number of miscues.

Mike Budenholzer
PORTLAND, OR – FEBRUARY 13: Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks talks with Dennis Schroder /

This segment is in concentration to his scoring ability however, and I would be surprised if he didn’t carry his gaudy numbers from the playoffs into the coming season. With Paul Millsap gone, a 20 point projection is probably too conservative. He’s going to have so many chances to stuff the stat sheet, he can pick and choose his spots accordingly..

Dennis Schroder is already one of the most efficient finishers in the lane. He’s got a nice touch on any floater he attempts. While the form on his jump shot isn’t as graceful as you might hope for, he continues to improve his accuracy. Unlike seasons of the past, opponents will have to respect Schroder as a shooter when he is the ball handler on pick and rolls.

Dennis still hasn’t garnered enough attention nationally from the mainstream media to make a serious case for a all-star selection for this coming season. The Hawks likely struggle to win enough games, and the competition is too fierce at his position as well.  Guys like Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, John Wall and Kyle Lowry just to name a few will be too busy collecting the votes regardless of how much Schroder scores.