Atlanta Hawks: 3 takeaways from 2017-18 season opener

Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Atlanta has plenty of long range shooting

The offensive system of Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer is predicated on moving the ball, spacing the floor and capitalizing on open looks. Even with five players making their first appearance for the Hawks Wednesday night, the philosophy seemed to be well established.

Atlanta hoisted up 18 shots from 3-point range and connected nine times, matching their average from last season.

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The Hawks mark the eighth different stop for veteran guard Marco Belinelli during his 12-year career, but he never submitted a better initial performance than he did in Dallas.

The reserves totaled 57 points for the Hawks, with 20 coming from Belinelli as he went 4-for-6 from 3-point range on the night.

Along with the sharpshooting of Belinelli, Kent Bazemore, Dennis Schroder, Luke Babbitt, Josh Magette and Malcolm Delaney all managed to convert at least once from 3-point range.

The massive roster changes vacated nearly 55 percent of the total 3-pointers the team made a year ago, but the Atlanta Hawks quickly proved their new crop of players includes viable long range shooters.