Lou Williams ready to try different offensive sets with Atlanta Hawks next season – NBA News
The Atlanta Hawks are one of those teams that are coming from an offseason which is yet to be graded, because only time will tell if the moves they made were the right ones or not.
But what we do know for sure is that the Hawks will come in next season a completely different team from last season. Not only will they have a different roster, but the changes will see them playing a different brand of basketball altogether.
The Hawks traded away Joe Johnson and his huge contract to the Brooklyn Nets, and recruited Philadelphia 76ers sixth man and their last season’s leading scorer Lou Williams. The addition of Williams makes this team a very interesting mix up, one to watch for next season.
The combination of Williams, Jeff Teague and Devin Harris at the guard position is going to be one that coach Larry Drew will have to manage keenly, but it has the prospect of becoming something special.
Williams recently spoke with the Atlanta Journal Constitution and said that he is ready to play off the ball next season with the Hawks.
“I was off the ball [in Philadelphia], I would prefer to be off the ball, and I think both of those guys [Teague and Harris] are on the ball. So I don’t think it will be an issue as much as people think it is. Once we open up camp I’m sure Coach [Larry] Drew will do a good job in figuring out where everyone is going to go,” said Williams.
The former Sixer knows that with the kind of combination the Hawks are running, they might be going for the pick and roll quite heavily, but believes he is more comfortable with creating shots off the dribble rather than being a shooter.
“More attacking than catch-and-shoot. Actually catch-and-shoot is one of the things I’ve been able to work on this whole summer. Coming down in transition and catching the ball and shooting, instead of catching and trying to create so much off the dribble,” added Williams.
Williams will have a good run at the training camp to get used to the team’s offense, and coach Drew is capable of managing different playing styles on his team. If the coach gets his combination right for next season, we might witness some interesting things from the Hawks.
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