Atlanta Hawks: Five takeaways from the first six games
The Atlanta Hawks have gotten off to a hot start going 4-2 through the first six games. Let’s take a look at what we’ve learned thus far.
The Atlanta Hawks are 4-2 though the first five games of the season and are off to their best start in nearly a decade when they had an identical record through the first six games of the 2011-12 season. Even after blowing a 15-point lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Hawks have been firing on all cylinders, and keep in mind; the team is nowhere close to full strength.
Through six games, Hawks are top-five in the league in points per game (120), free throw attempts per game (27.8), free throw made per game (22.7), free throw percentage (81.4 percent), 3-pointers per game (15.3), 3-point percentage (40 percent), and rebounds per game (49.2). To top it off, their bench is ninth in the league averaging 39 points per game.
Related Story. Bulls: 5 takeaways from the first six games. light
The Hawks currently have the worst defensive rating (109.4) of any team above .500 other than the LA Clippers (111.4) and the Boston Celtics (112). The good news is, the Hawks also own the second-best offensive rating in the NBA (116.7), behind only the Milwaukee Bucks (118.9) and the fifth-best net rating in the league (7.3).
To help put things into context, the Dallas Mavericks posted the highest offensive rating of all-time (115.9) last season, which topped the previous all-time high set by the Golden State Warriors high octane offense the year prior (115). At this current rate, either the Bucks or the Hawks are on pace to set a new offensive rating benchmark for the third consecutive season.
Led by Trae Young‘s shooting and playmaking, the Hawks have become one of the most exciting teams and hottest stories in all of the NBA, and their playoff goals are looking as realistic and attainable as ever.
After losing a close battle against the Brooklyn Nets and then eventually blowing them out by 18 points just two nights later, the Hawks have emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the eastern conference. Coming off a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a game they should’ve easily won by double digits, the Atlanta Hawks will look to bounce back and keep the hot start going with a win over the New York Knicks. If the way they adjusted and came out in the second game against the Nets is any indicator, the Hawks should be just fine.
It is a tiny sample size of just six games, and it hasn’t all been pretty, but there’s a lot to be excited about so far and moving forward for the franchise. Here are my key takeaways and things to pay attention to as the season progresses without further ado.