Atlanta Hawks: What The New York Incident Means For The Hawks

By Greg Chin | Apr 13, 2015

Jan 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenhozer (right) and forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

During the early hours of Wednesday morning, Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic were arrested by New York police for allegedly resisting arrest and obstructing a police investigation. The two were found outside a New York nightclub where Indiana Pacers’ forward Chris Copeland was stabbed. Sefolosha also broke his leg in the incident, and will be out for the rest of the season.

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For the Atlanta Hawks, who are coming off a franchise-best season and are preparing for the upcoming playoffs, this is an unwelcomed distraction.

On the court, Sefolosha brings defense and three-point shooting – two key elements in the Hawks’ system. Thabo is averaging 5.3 points per game, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three. His defensive rating of 100 points per 100 possessions is the second-best mark in the team, and the team’s defensive rating is 7.2 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court.

However, one could argue that the team will be able to manage without Sefolosha’s contributions. He averages 18.8 minutes per game, and will only play 52 games this season due to injuries. He is ranked seventh in win shares on the team, and the team went 17-10 without him this season. He is a role player on the team – someone who has the potential to provide a win or two, but isn’t relied on regularly to win games for the team.

But Sefolosha’s absence won’t just be due to injury. The National Basketball Players’ Association could be filing charges against the NYPD, and the NBA is requesting more details surrounding the arrest and the treatment of Sefolosha while he was being detained. It is speculated that Thabo sustained his injuries during the arrest, and it was later revealed that he wasn’t allowed medical treatment while being detained, apart from being given a splint for his leg.

Again, this is the last thing the Hawks need. An investigation like this and the subsequent reports that follow could take months before the dust settles. Sefolosha and Antic could face repeated questioning, and the media spotlight will be firmly on the Hawks organization.

We’ve seen what undue attention can do to playoff teams in the past. Last season, the Los Angeles Clippers were embroiled in the Donald Sterling scandal when they faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round. They won the series in seven games, but many analysts felt as though the team should have done better against the Warriors, who were relying on an aging Jermaine O’Neal for minutes at the center spot due to injuries to Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli.

The 2013-14 Indiana Pacers were faced with rumours that Paul George had cheated with teammate Roy Hibbert’s partner. Despite the fact that the rumors were never proven, the team struggled against the eighth-seeded Hawks, and came close to losing the series.

The Hawks have the chance to win their first ever title since moving to Atlanta, and second overall in franchise history. The media attention surrounding this incident will naturally distract the players and pull the attention away from their playoff run. Coach Mike Budenholzer will have a lot on his hands, and will be severely tested on his player management.

But from what we’ve seen this season, all signs point to coach Bud capably handling this scandal.

This isn’t the first off-court scandal the Hawks have had this season. Earlier in the offseason, it was revealed that general manager Danny Ferry had read out loud a racist remark that was included in a scouting report for Luol Deng. A subsequent investigation then revealed another racist statement made by owner Barry Levenson in a 2012 email to other members of the Hawks’ front office.

Since then, GM Ferry has on an indefinite leave for the season, and Levenson has put his team up for sale. Budenholzer has stepped in to replace Ferry, and under his tutelage, has managed to galvanize the Hawks and lead them to the first seed in the Eastern Conference.

The impending investigations surrounding the details of Sefolosha’s arrest will undeniably have an adverse effect on the Hawks’ upcoming playoff run. The Hawks organization is torn between wanting a swift resolution to the matter and a desire for the truth to be revealed. In an America where police brutality is a very real problem, the Hawks have been placed in an unenviable position – right in the eye of the storm.

Next: NBA: Who's Going To Win The No. 2 Seed In The West?

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