The Mo Evans Effect

by hawksdawgs on Mar 18, 2009 1:03 PM EDT

On the heals of this excellent article by J.A. Andande and the Hawks now being 13-1 with Mo Evans in the starting lineup, a new poll.

Feel free to propose a different reason or divulge want your vote means (or doesn't mean) for the future of the Hawks in the comments.

Poll

Why have the Hawks played so well with Mo Evans in the starting lineup?

Coincedense, other players just stepped up when Marvin went down.

53 votes

Mo does not take nearly as many shots away from the other four starters which allows more Hawks to get into a rhythem offensively.

39 votes

Chemistry, better team defense and offense with Mo on the floor.

48 votes

Nothing to do with Mo. Woodson has simultaneously opened the bench, and they have stepped up.

40 votes

180 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

How many of those 15 games

were played at home versus the road? If they have a winning record on the road during Marvin’s absence, then we have something.

by rbubp on Mar 18, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

excellent point.

unless someone beats me to it, in one hours time, i will have an answer to that.

regardless though 14-1 is really good.

by hawksdawgs on Mar 18, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

5 of the 15 have been on the road

all five have been wins.

by hawksdawgs on Mar 18, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Mo is not a lights-out type of player, but he does a lot of theings well. Not all of them show up in a box score. He plays good defense, and hustles for rebounds on both ends. The good thing is that he knows his offensive limitations and doesn’t try to impose himself. Usually, this leaves him open for a three, which he hits at 40% or more, or grabbing a rebound. He’s a great “glue guy”.

Now…is he better than Marvin? Not on offense. I just truly think this forces Woody’s hand at putting the bench in more. Flip had been great and Acie has been playing much better. Add in the toughness and selfless play of Zaza and Mario (who is a total zero on offense), and you’ve got a pretty good, scrappy bench that has blossomed lately. Sometimes I guess it just takes an injury to see what you really have.

by Duff_Man on Mar 18, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

he is

pssssssttt.

he’s childress with a jump shot

by MLT on Mar 18, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

hmmmm very interesting good sir. i shall chew on this.

could two people have a more different set of teeth though?

by hawksdawgs on Mar 18, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

We shall write their story...

“2 Grills, 1 Cup”?

by Duff_Man on Mar 18, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

AHHHH

the nightmares begin again

by acie4mvp on Mar 18, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

i should also note

obviously less hair.

i also think the “mo streak” coincides with his decision to stop wearing all the eye makeup. he was starting to remind me of a black kelly johnson.

it would be an interesting idea to compare current (read: good) hawks with those of recent (read: bad) years.

like:

Flip Murray: T Lue but consistent and not so fugly?

T Lue and Salim Stoudamire’s love-child? (yes I know that Flip is older than Salim, but c’mon. Imagine what that kid would look like…)

Acie Law: Anthony Johnson minus playing time?

Al Horford: Bizarro Lorenzen Wright (you know, with energy, hustle, skill, etc)

Marvin Williams (new): Marvin Williams (young) with work ethic.

any more?

by MLT on Mar 18, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

are these

just appearances? or is this also based on skill?

by acie4mvp on Mar 18, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

interesting question

   I’m not really sure it has one answer, but all four choices probably apply. My thought on this is: Even after Marvin does return (assuming he does return this year), I think he’s make a hell of a sixth man because of his ability to score the basketball.
   That’s why I was really hoping the Hawks would try to get a center at the trade deadline to move Horford to the 4 and Smith to the 3. I think Evans is clearly better as a starter just because he gets into a better rhythm. There are some games off the bench where he doesn’t get but 10-to-12 minutes and it’s hard to generate much rhythm in a quarter or less of action.
   Now for tomorrow night — big, big game. Closing out the homestand at 7-0 would send a hell of a message to the league as well as boost confidence going into Cleveland Saturday.
   I’ll post again after the game tomorrow night!

by tennesseehawk on Mar 18, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

coincidence

Just coincidence I think at least for these past few games. Joe, Josh, and Al have all stepped up their offensive games at the same time to make up the lost points and the Hawks are playing at home where they win at a high rate anyway. Also Marvin had more than a few games where he was mostly invisible which Mo is easily able to match or exceed. Now if the Hawks start winning road games at a higher percentage and get to the conference finals without Marvin, that would have to give Rick Sund pause when deciding who to bring back for next year.

by redwards95 on Mar 19, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Also

Mo simply starting does not equal a higher winning percentage. Somewhere I saw a correlation between Mario getting more minutes and the Hawks winning percentage increasing and I highly doubt anyone would say that there is much truth behind it or that warrants West getting a starting spot.

Coincidence and/or other bench players stepping up. I would vote for both at the same time if I could. Not only has Josh been stepping up lately, but Horford is scoring in bunches and Joe has been going off as well as our bench players really coming through more than they have in the past.

by Jesse28 on Mar 19, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions