Playoff Picture: Atlanta Hawks
By Luke Duffy
Why They’ll Win It All
In some ways, the Hawks mirror the Golden State Warriors in the West, albeit with less star power. They are the top two teams in the league in assists per game as a unit (the Warriors lead Atlanta 19.9 to 19.6 in that category). This shows a clear unselfishness that we see every time this team steps out on the court. Just as well, as it is this ball movement and unselfishness that has allowed them to be the team that they are.
Atlanta is also a top 10 offensive (sixth) and defensive (eighth, although they were as high as fifth as little as two weeks ago) team, ranking ahead of the likes of hard-nosed teams such as Chicago and Indiana when they are without the ball. The reason for this is simple, all of their pieces just fit together so well. DeMarre Carroll is the lockdown defender.
Kyle Korver is the historically good marksman, his constant movement on both ends a source of great sadness for opponents.
Mr. Automatic... Watch @KyleKorver score 11 points in 65 seconds in @ATLHawks W: http://t.co/kboVMOC8Yq pic.twitter.com/28692Vij1s
— NBA (@NBA) March 31, 2015
Center Al Horford has recovered from back-to-back season ending injuries to become perhaps the most slept on player in the league. We all know what he can do, his basketball IQ is through the roof and he’s relevant on both ends of the floor. Yet people still forget about him. Teague is (almost) an elite point guard in his own right,while Paul Millsap is a back to back All-Star who does whatever this team needs.
As starting fives go, there isn’t much better out there.
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