Atlanta Hawks: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season

6. Hawks lock down Pacers with 13 steals and 11 blocks

The Atlanta Hawks were not a polished defensive team in 2018. However, their young players have the tools and Budenholzer has the system to get this squad back to being the top-10 stalwart they were from 2014-17. Their Feb. 28 matchup against the Indiana Pacers serves as proof.

The Hawks came away with 13 steals and 11 blocks on the evening. It was one of only 22 instances across the league in 2017-18 where a team recorded double-digit steals and blocks in a game. Atlanta also forced 24 turnovers and scored 29 points off of them. Their tenacity on defense offset the 21 turnovers they committed in the game themselves.

The Hawks had the game in hand most of the way, leading by as many as 23 points late in the third quarter. However, Indiana charged back with a 37-20 rally from 1:06 in the third to 1:02 in the fourth quarter. By that point the margin was only 101-99. Thankfully, Dennis Schroder stepped in and scored five of Atlanta’s final six points to secure the 107-102 win.