Atlanta Hawks: Season Review: Erick Dampier
Season reviews presented in alphabetical order . . .
When I think back to Erick Dampier’s 2012 season with the Hawks, three memories stand out.
The first is from his introduction at Hawks practice on Feb. 9. Somebody asked Dampier if he thought his career might be finished before he got the call because, well, he was 36-years old.
“I didn’t really think that,” he said flatly. “With all of the injuries at some point some team would need my service.”
You won’t hear many 6-5 guys say that. This was the latest example of how cool it must feel to be 7-feet tall, motor coordinated and skilled at basketball.
Dampier also was asked if he’d been working out back home in Jackson, Miss., during his idle time: “I’ve been working out but I wouldn’t say it’s basketball shape.”
You had to be there to really appreciate it. The “working out” needed air quotes.
The second thing I will always remember about Dampier is that he ended up on the injury report in April in spite of not playing a game since March 18. At least the Hawks didn’t count him as missing games like they did with Pape Sy (never forget).
And my final, most relevant memory of Dampier is from Game 3 at Boston. As he headed to the scorer’s table to check in, a wise guy Celtics hack turned to me and asked: “Dampier?” I shrugged, unable to explain it . . . and then Dampier had his best game of the season. “Dang near spry” is how I described him in my blog post.
That was shocking enough, but Dampier validated that skin with another solid outing in Game 4. Yeah it was a blowout loss, but, still.
Here’s what I wrote about Dampier back when the Hawks signed him:
The biggest red flags for Dampier last season were drastic declines in his scoring and rebounding rates. The two are related because Dampier didn’t grab as many offensive boards and so didn’t have as many putbacks. But Dampier still was effective when he managed to collect misses: His 1.1 points scored per possession on offensive rebounds (on 31 possessions) ranked 84th in the league last season, according to Synergy Sports Technology.
And Dampier may still have some value as a defender. His opponent PER of 14.3 last season was solid. Dampier’s Synergy defensive numbers were good: .83 points per possession allowed, 83rd-best in the league. Plus, let’s face it: At this point the Hawks just need a big body to plug in the middle so bigs can’t bull their way to the basket at will and smalls at least have an obstacle to navigate on their way to the basket.
I guess Dampier filled that role effectively, but it’s hard to say for sure because he played just 83 regular-season minutes. Offered with the usual Small Sample Size Disclaimer are Dampier’s target=”new”strong opponent PER and .84 points per possession allowed. His rebounding rate bounced back even as his already-anemic scoring rate plummeted to rank near the bottom of the league.
The Hawks, flush with guards and wings on the roster, needed a big after Al Horford and Jason Collins went down. A center-starved league had snapped up nearly every quality big by then. The Hawks turned to Dampier, whose salary ended up pushing them further over the luxury-tax line.
(Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse are the answers to a future Hawks trivia question: Which players’ contracts contributed to the team paying the luxury tax for the first time in the franchise’s history?)
Dampier eventually worked himself into reasonable shape and showed he can be an effective defender in short stints even as he offers next-to-nothing offensively. Dampier provided some decent minutes in the playoffs in spite of essentially being on the shelf for more than six weeks.
In this league, that might be enough for Dampier to get another call when some team needs his service next season.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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213 comments Add your comment
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:45 pm
geez is queen playing in boston or atlanta?
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:46 pm
boston bricks tonight.
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:47 pm
guess we will see d wade and queen holding hands as they come to the podium all smiles tonight.
Astro Joe
June 7th, 2012
10:47 pm
Buddy, I have only started reading drat info in the past 2 weeks and watched maybe 3 hours of college ball last season… so I won’t mention any specific names.
I would like to see the Hawks draft a wing defender with a good shooting stroke. That player could eventually become a starter at either SG or SF… I’m envisioning a poor man’s Afflalo. I would also be good with a good rebounding wide body/space eater. Think a younger and more skilled version of Ivan. Lastly, a project center. The Hawks have plenty holes to fill. Even a sniper type would be good (as long as he isn’t a complete defensive liability).
I just think that given Teague’s inexperience and questions about his playmaking ability (for his teammates), I’d rather see a vet PG added (think Duhan, Earl Watson or Sebastian Telfair) who knows how to run a team for 12-15 minutes/game.
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
10:49 pm
Yea doc, everyone is stunned at what they are watching? Paul and Pietrus are being dismantled!
Astro Joe
June 7th, 2012
10:52 pm
drat info? Let’s change that to “draft info”.
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:54 pm
drat choice? is that what fans say after the hawks make their picks, aj?
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:54 pm
miami is pouring it on now, really classless as umm usual.
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
10:55 pm
doc he’s 5 assist from a triple double!
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:55 pm
too slow for you aj.
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:56 pm
he probably is as aware of it as you are slimj.
doc
June 7th, 2012
10:57 pm
doesnt boston have a pittman type on their team to clothes line wade or something?
Astro Joe
June 7th, 2012
10:58 pm
doc, yes, Kevin Garnett is their Pittman type. But he would clothes line Norris Cole, not Wade or Lebron.
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
10:59 pm
Paul shot 4-18?
If that were Le Machine “nimbers”? Oh the Humanity………….
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:01 pm
45-15-5…..just
Astro Joe
June 7th, 2012
11:01 pm
Slim, unfortunately for Lebron… only Game 7 nimbers will matter. Folk will forget tonight the moment the ball is tipped off in a few days.
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
11:04 pm
See LeBron, there’s no need for a “clutch” shot [or moment] when you and your team have a 22-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in a playoff game while you’re resting on the bench.
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:07 pm
AJ – 2 Teague’s on this team would be almost more than you could bear.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist…
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:07 pm
Great point High-sider. You put 30 up on Paul Pierce by the half, clutch shot irrelevant!!
Melvin
June 7th, 2012
11:08 pm
Give the Celtics Fans credit. Most of them stayed until the end of the game and chanted “Lets Go Celtics” until the final buzzer of a blowout lost…
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:08 pm
AJ you are correct Sir. Le Machine will have to do it again in game 7!
Paul got smoked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buddy Grizzard
June 7th, 2012
11:10 pm
“I would like to see the Hawks draft a wing defender with a good shooting stroke.”
Jeff Taylor from Vanderbilt seems to be that guy. I have a bad feeling he won’t last until 23. Those guys beat Kentucky in the SEC championship game which is no small feat.
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
11:11 pm
Celtics’ fans look and sound stupid with their chant “Let’s Go Celtics!” while their team is getting the doors blown off their asses. LMAO
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:11 pm
doc, he[45-15-5] put up Wilt like numbers [50-15-6] 1964! Whew…..
doc
June 7th, 2012
11:12 pm
aj you can go low on saturday at the us open but if you dont finish it off in round four it doesnt matter. the only thing that will matter right now is if he wins the trophy. oscar robertson, wilt and elgin baylor are similar examples of greatness that didnt win until late but none had the gall to say he was the king and let their play determine who they were.
doc
June 7th, 2012
11:13 pm
thing is i think queen has a 60 in his pocket and everyone knows it. he has to do just that every night in the playoffs.
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:15 pm
Well I think Saturday nite will be war with the Heat – Boston. Doc played it smart, and rested Pierce and Garnett, while Spoelestra let LeBron play 45 minutes and DWade 38.
Doc lost the battle to try and win the war. Who knows? These old Celts may want the privilege of winning on Miami’s home court.
But hats off to LeBron – he played like the best player since Micheal tonite. Sorry Kobe – but I still want Kobe in crunch time.
Rufus1
June 7th, 2012
11:16 pm
Wroten maybe the the Josh Smith of this draft…. 6′6, with a 6′9 wing span an NBA body, NBA athlete and PG skills.
At worst, he could be an ELITE defender(Tony Allen)… at Best, he could be a STAR…. at #23, I am willing to take a chance.
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:17 pm
H-S – I wonder if Josh thinks that chant is stupid?
Meaning he may want to play there with buddy Rondo.
Melvin
June 7th, 2012
11:18 pm
Pierce should have stayed in Miami tonight.
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:19 pm
If Philly amnesty’s Brand, that will change alot in the East – especially if they spend that 17.1 mill wisely.
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:21 pm
And the young Thunder are sitting at home relaxing…
Buddy Grizzard
June 7th, 2012
11:22 pm
A star? Wroten makes Stacey Augmon and Josh Childress look like Ray Allen.
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:32 pm
Paul forgot to T-bow? Hahahahah
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
11:33 pm
@Slimjr
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
9:52 pm
HS, when you play with a special player like that and he is in a zone, you’ll stand around and watch something wonderful happening before your very eyes! LOL..
—————————————————————————–
Then why don’t his [LBJ's] teammates grab a seat and get their popcorn ready like me? LOL
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:34 pm
MID-Range post, doc he owned it tonight!
Rusty
June 7th, 2012
11:41 pm
The stupid thing LD did was not to leave JT & the rest of the team in to play more minutes this was the playoffs,they have the whole off season to rest.LDlost the Boston series for the hawks.
Slimjr
June 7th, 2012
11:42 pm
Hey Paul why would you say he cant hold me after you hit that 3 the other night? Ya big dope!
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
11:46 pm
Buddy Grizzard
June 7th, 2012
11:22 pm
A star? Wroten makes Stacey Augmon and Josh Childress look like Ray Allen.
——————————————————-
Rick Sund [still] has an affinity for the Pacific Northwest as well as players from that area or who played in that area. He [Sund] re-signed Marvin Williams from Bremerton, WA, signed Jamal Crawford from Seattle, WA, and signed Vladimir Radmanovic who played for the Seattle Supersonics. From all these posts, it sounds like Sund has an interest in Tony Wroten, Jr., from Renton, WA.
Rufus1
June 7th, 2012
11:49 pm
“Wroten makes Stacey Augmon and Josh Childress look like Ray”- Buddy
Those players were drafted in the top 10… I am talking about the 23rd pick.
Any player we select at that point will have issues, I want the player with the issues that can be corrected…Shooting can be corrected.
Wroten is a penetrating, pass first guard who get to the line a lot…. We need that more than another shooter…. But I wouldn’t complain if we drafted Jeff Taylor, Nicholson, Royce White or Moultrie…. I hate FAB MELO
PS. Darius Miller will be just as good as Jeff Taylor.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tony-Wroten-5250/
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
11:59 pm
@SteveW
SteveW
June 7th, 2012
11:17 pm
H-S – I wonder if Josh thinks that chant is stupid?
Meaning he may want to play there with buddy Rondo.
————————————————————
I think Josh Smith is better off staying in Atlanta. I mean, hell, where else can the guy [Josh Smith] go and take all the stupid, bad and/or ill-advised shots [that] he wants without repercussions and consequences other than Charlotte, Washington and New Orleans?
Message to Josh Smith: You betta come on in, man [sic].
Rusty
June 8th, 2012
12:00 am
Rufus what the hell do you smoke.
Rufus1
June 8th, 2012
12:06 am
@Rusty ????… LIFE
Wroten has as much physical talent as Josh Smith had when he came out and the same issues…. We drafted Josh 18th.
You take a risk on a player with his kind of physical talent.
High-sider
June 8th, 2012
12:11 am
Bloggers on here want and are interested in the understudy [Tony Wroten, Jr.] but yet, they, the bloggers, are quick to dismiss the guide and director [Jamal Crawford] to the understudy. What’s up with that? [SMH]
Rufus1
June 8th, 2012
12:17 am
The Book on Jamal is written(and many of us don’t like it)… Wroten is in his 1st chapter and his story has many possibilities.
High-sider
June 8th, 2012
12:28 am
@doc
doc
June 7th, 2012
11:13 pm
thing is i think queen has a 60 in his pocket and everyone knows it. he has to do just that every night in the playoffs.
———————————————————————————————————
LBJ tries to get his teammates involved so, if he’s [LBJ] “off” in a particular game, someone else “can pick up the slack.”
High-sider
June 8th, 2012
12:42 am
@Rufus1
Rufus1
June 8th, 2012
12:17 am
The Book on Jamal is written(and many of us don’t like it)… Wroten is in his 1st chapter and his story has many possibilities.
————————————————————————————————————-
The so-called “Book on Jamal” is not finished. Trust me; I’m still writing it [the Book on Jamal]. The saga continues. You’ll see. [LOL]
UNC 2012 NBA [potential] Draft busts:
Kendall Marshall [most likely]
Tyler Zeller [very likely]
Harrison Barnes [likely]
John Henson [very likely]
Grandad
June 8th, 2012
12:51 am
Observations:
From a day of watching, listening, reading, and studying,
as many prospects as my feeble mind can tolerate in one day.
1. Tony Wroten is perhaps the worst shooter
I`ve ever seen at this level.
I`m not saying his shot is not fixable & he`s only 19 yrs old.
But; phewee that was pure ugly.
2. *** Scoop *** Thomas Robinson;
only measured 6-8 3/4 with shoes !
3. Royce White who has been diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder
* [It is manifested by his fear of flying]
Did a remarkable job with his interviews today.
Many scouts were concerned or noting
that his draft status might be contingent
upon how he handled the interview process.
R.W. – will most likely measure at around 6-7;
between 265 -280 lbs.
Were it baseball he would be a 5 tool player:
Score, shoot (both inside & out), rebound, pass, defend.
4. Arnett Moultrie – Did not show up ? //// “Bad move on his part”
5. Damian Lillard – shot the lights out //// However; most are saying;
” he`s not a pg ” //// comparison = Jet Terry
6. Scott Machado:
who is one of my guys, looked Great in point guard drills;
especially the defensive drills;
That`s where scouts had the most questions …
That`s all for tonite … More tomorrow.
G-dad
concerning S.M.`s ability to defend at the next level.
Grandad
June 8th, 2012
12:55 am
Not real sure how I did that ?
* That`s where scouts had the most questions …
concerning S.M.`s ability to defend at the next level.
However this ^^^^^above^^^^^ is how it should have been.
Grandad
June 8th, 2012
1:49 am
Hey Guys: ~~~ Sorry if this is 0ld News
This rumor has legs …
The Hawks are engaged in talks for Rudy Gay.
Rudy Gay to Atl. … maybe ?
* [remember, Memphis is trying to clear salary]
Also, the Hawks are trying to move up to the # 18 pick.
* [Minnesota] … has the 18th pick
____________________________________________
Most of Yawl know me:
I will propose trades & I love scouting;
However,
I rarely if ever drop a rumor.
note – legit source