Atlanta Hawks: Grinding Out A Win Streak

By Adam McGee | Mar 1, 2015

Feb 27, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Hawks have played some of the best basketball in the NBA this season, they just haven’t shown a lot of it recently. Saying that, the Hawks have now won four straight games to set up the start of a new potential streak, and have already extended their lead at the top of the East to a colossal 10 games.

As sports fans, we have a habit of associating great teams with their flashiest and most exhilarating performances. They’re the moments that stand out, and it’s kind of understandable.

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On the other hand, what often brings a good team over the line is their ability to grind out victories when they’re just not at their best. That’s when you learn whether a team is just a show pony, or if they have real champion pedigree.

Having let a couple of games slip away before the All-Star break, and having returned only to get smashed by 25 points at home to the Toronto Raptors, many were starting to have doubts about the Hawks.

A blistering first half of the season, and a 19 game win streak under their belt, clearly isn’t enough to fully convince many people that the Hawks are for real, but what’s followed in their last four games should really be making a big impact.

By their own standards, the Hawks have been pretty poor over the last seven days (dating back to their game against Milwaukee). Their play has looked disjointed, some of their players have looked fatigued, and most importantly of all there just hasn’t been a real flow to their game.

It’s just not what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from these Atlanta Hawks in so many ways, yet in the most important way (winning) it’s exactly the same.

There was a lot of talk earlier in the year about whether the Hawks would be half as effective when the pace of the game slows down come playoff time. This ignores the fact that without anybody really noticing it, the Hawks have arguably become a better team defensively than they are offensively.

When you consider their arsenal of offensive options, that’s a scary prospect too.

The numbers back it up though. Atlanta ranks sixth in the league in offensive rating scoring 106.3 points per 100 possessions, while on the other end their mark of only allowing 99.8 points is good enough for a tie of fourth spot with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Hawks understand what’s happening too. Following their 97-86 win over Milwaukee last Sunday, coach Mike Budenholzer said:

“We had that third quarter where it got tight. It was good for our group to have it get tight and then respond and find a way (and) get … better defensively.”

Then last night against the Miami Heat on the road, Budenholzer decided to rest Al Horford, Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll and Pero Antic. After his team narrowly came out on top, Budenholzer commented:

“Just working our way through the season,and trying to keep us in a good place health-wise.”

This is the real epitome of the Spurs effect in Atlanta. The Hawks are learning how to win. Whether they play well or not, they’re generally still going to be in the mix.

Combine that with the prospect of the Hawks getting time to rest and rotate players, and the rest of the East should be truly terrified.

This Hawks team is now all about Ws, and there’s no reason that they can’t carry on grabbing them right through to June.

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