One year ago this month, a mediocre Atlanta Hawks team found themselves facing the disheartening task of playing the rest of the season without center Al Horford, arguably the team’s best player. Horford went down with a torn pectoral muscle during an overtime victory on December 26, 2013, and had season-ending surgery a few days later. He was averaging a career high 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds at the time.
The Hawks organization failed to make any significant roster moves afterwards, opting to fill space with NBA Developmental League players, usually on 10 day contracts. Many saw this as a sign that the Hawks were hoping to fall out of the playoff race, land in the draft lottery, and return at full strength the following season with some key additions.
Unfortunately for management, the depleted Hawks continued to play just well enough to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, their 38-44 record barely edging out the New York Knicks team by just a single game.
The Hawks would go on to face the Indiana Pacers in the first round, alternating wins and pushing the Pacers to a seventh game before falling 92-80.
Not bad for a team that got no help from the front office in pursuing the postseason. While finishing under .500 is nothing to brag about, pushing a tough Pacers team to the brink was certainly a positive heading into the offseason.
The signing of defensively-minded guard Thabo Sefalosha was the team’s only significant roster move during the summer. With Horford back and the 2013-14 roster largely intact, the Hawks began this season by losing three of their first four games. They recovered afterwards, winning six of nine on the way to a 7-6 record. The Hawks looked to be well on their way to achieving the previous season’s success, remaining a sub .500 team and grabbing a lower playoff seed.
But since reaching that 7-6 mark, Atlanta has gone on a tear, winning 12 of 13 games. In the process, they have taken of advantage of some bad Eastern teams, but have also disposed of teams such as Chicago, Miami, Indiana, Houston and Cleveland, who fell 127-98 to the Hawks on Dec. 17. Now, the Hawks suddenly find themselves in second place of the Eastern Conference, trailing Toronto by two games.
So what’s behind the Hawks’ dominance as of late?
1- Head coach Mike Budenholzer – Budenholzer had already won the respect of the team last season for getting as far as they did without Horford in his first year at the helm. Now in his second season, the team has grown accustomed to the pass-oriented, floor-spacing offense that Buldenholzer has installed. The offense is similar to the one Buldenhozer learned during his years as an assistant coach in San Antonio under Greg Poppovich. The system has paid off, as the team currently ranks eighth in the league with 103.0 points per game, and is also second in the league in assists, averaging 25.8 per game.
2- Kyle Korver – The sharpshooting veteran journeyman guard just so happens to be having the best shooting season of his 14-year career. Korver is averaging 13.2 points per game, but it’s his ridiculous shooting that has allowed for the Hawks’ offense to open up, keeping defenses honest and allowing for more interior opportunities. Korver is shooting 51.9 percent from the field, but he’s been even more dangerous from three-point range, shooting a blistering 53.9 percent. He’s even made a franchise-record 49 free-throws in a row and counting, pushing his percentage up to 96.3.
Korver’s shooting played a major role in the Hawk’s road win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, as it has all season.
3- Jeff Teague – The young point guard has continued to improve in his 6th year in the league — all with the Hawks. He’s currently averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game to go along with 7.0 assists per game. Teague has grown exponentially Budenholzer’s system while displaying a growing confidence in driving to the basket, taking advantage of the space created by the ball movement and Korver’s outside presence. Teague’s three-point percentage isn’t that great (34.3 for his career,) and he had often settled for outside jumpers in the past. He has now become more intentional with the ball in his hands, getting penetration and drawing fouls on a more consistent basis. He is averaging a career-high 4.9 free-throws attempted per game.
4- Paul Milsap – The power forward has thrived since arriving in Atlanta via Utah, averaging a career-high 17.9 points per game last season in his first year under Buldenhozer. He has performed just as well this season, and currently averages 16.3 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. Milsap has also added three-point range to his skill set since joining the Hawks, and is currently averaging 1.0 makes out of 2.8 attempts, which adds even more difficulty in opponents defensive schemes.
5- Defense – Atlanta’s offensive attack has definitely been a major factor in their current surge, but their defensive play has been of equal importance. The Hawks have been able to pull off the rare feat of being a top 10 offense while also giving up 97.0 points per game, good for 7th in the league. Atlanta may not posses the bodies to provide superior protection around the rim, but they do well in keeping players covering often-exploited areas without taking too much away from their perimeter protection, relying on player chemistry and movement around and away from the ball. That’s a big credit to the coaching staff, who have managed to get a very good offensive team to commit together on the other side of the floor.
It’s worth noting that the Hawks have accomplished this start with Al Horford yet to fully regain his form from last season. He is currently averaging 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds on the year. It’s still early in the season, but If the Hawks remain committed to the systems that have gotten them to this point, they should remain towards the top of the Eastern Conference come mid-April. An improved Horford would only further aid the team and enable them to challenge for the No.1 seed, perhaps even becoming a title favorite in the process.
