DeMarre Carroll Emerges With Atlanta Hawks

By Andrew Shaw
Carroll
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

DeMarre Carroll came to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason after the Utah Jazz decided not to re-sign the small forward. The Hawks sure are glad that the Jazz passed on him too. Carroll has turned out to be a great signing for the Hawks for a small price. With the Hawks, Carroll was given the chance to become an every-day starter and so far he has not disappointed. Nicknamed the “Junkyard Dog” due to his hustle on the court, Carroll has lived up to that nickname so far this season. As an every-day starter, Carroll is averaging 9.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game for the Hawks. Those numbers are all career highs for the 6-foot-8 small forward out of Missouri. His play has been one of the underlying reasons for the Hawks’ success in the East so far this year.

Carroll plays with an unselfish attitude that all teams need. He’s a guy who cares about the success of the team over his own. Carroll does not need to have the ball in his hands at all times to make a difference. He makes a difference through his defense and outside shooting. In fact, Carroll really gives the Hawks an edge on defense. He’s a versatile wing player who can guard some of the best talent in the league. Top players better know that when you see Atlanta on your schedule, Carroll will not make your night easy. To go along with his defense, Carroll has also developed an outside shot with the Hawks this year as well. Already known as a great cutter towards the basket, the addition of an outside shot adds another dimension to his game. For the Hawks, he provides the team with exactly what the coaching staff wanted: a defender first and shooter second.

Carroll is developing into a solid NBA player who may have found his game in Atlanta. The Hawks made a very underrated signing in Carroll this offseason. Carroll provides the Hawks with a reliable starter that specializes in defense. I would even say that Carroll is the best defender on this Hawks team. GM Danny Ferry should get some major credit for the job he has done so far in Atlanta. The signings of Paul Millsap and Carroll turned out to be great ones for the Hawks.

Andrew Shaw is an Atlanta Hawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Him on Twitter @AShaw003, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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