PG Evaluations: Atlanta

Over the summer, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment

KEY NUMBER: 30 - The age of Mike Bibby. On a team loaded with young guns (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford), Bibby seems oddly out of place in Atlanta. He played like it too. Sure, he provides stability – and credibility – at the point in the two months he was in Atlanta after the trade from Sacramento, but his 41% field-goal shooting, ill-timed comments (see below), and generally ordinary play left a lot to be desired.

THE GOOD STUFF: Bibby gets a full year in Atlanta. Don’t underestimate the difficulty not only for the individual, but also the team, when you throw a new PG out there mid-season. But Bibby’s good, and really, if we’re all honest with ourselves, a lot of his ball-handling responsibility is brushed off onto the versatile Joe Johnson, saving Bibby’s legs with hopes he can unleash his oft-pretty but surprisingly-missing-of-late jumper. His health is better of late too; he missed a large chunk of the first half of last season, which was odd for a guy who had missed more than two games in a season just once in the prior nine seasons.

THE BAD STUFF: “Bandwagon fans.” That’s what Bibby called Celtics fans prior to the opening-round series with Boston. Of course, he responded to the booing and taunting by shooting 7-28 FG (including 1-3 in Game 7) in the four games at Boston, all while being thoroughly outplayed by Rajon Rondo. The lesson: Isn’t it obvious?

THE BACK-UP: Acie Law. Had a roller-coaster rookie year if there ever was one. Started out the season, almost by default, as the team’s starting PG. Then missed a good portion of both Nov. and Dec. with various ailments, came back, played patchy ball, very inconsistent, missed more time in February, then came back again, but by that time Bibby was firmly entrenched with the bulk of the minutes. Did have an 11-point game in the playoffs, albeit in a blowout Game 2 loss in Boston. Let’s give the kid a break - he’s 23 with hopefully plenty ahead.

EVALUATION: The days of Mike Bibby, circa ’02, hitting your clutch shots and consistently getting 18-20 are gone - that’s not his role in Atlanta. But if he can make open shots, shoot above 45% (which he has done before), have some semblance of a positive effect on Law, then Atlanta’s decision to trade for him will be a good one. Expect a better year from Bibby with a full season under him.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index