Team basketball seems like it’s an afterthought, but I think the Atlanta Hawks may have something to say about that . NBA Basketball in the “A” has been pretty dormant for the past few years. A few playoff runs by Joe Johnson and Josh Smith created a little buzz in Atlanta, but it was just a blip on the radar. After GM Danny Ferry unloaded Johnson’s big salary, and decided to let Josh Smith walk via free agency the team has been on the up despite not having a “star” on their team. The Atlanta Hawks are currently sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference, and if you watch them play it’s no secret why they are at the top of the East.
The Hawks have three legit All-Star candidates in Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and Paul Millsap to go along with a sharp shooter in Kyle Korver. Watching the Hawks play is a thing of beauty, because they play tough defense and they are one of the best teams at moving the ball as they are the second in the NBA in assists per game at 26.2 per game. The maturation of Jeff Teague and a healthy dose of Al Horford has been huge for the Hawks as they are becoming the talk of the NBA. Last season, the Hawks took the then No.1 seed Indiana Pacers to seven games, and they have carried that confidence over into this season.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer may be only in his second season as the coach for the Hawks, but he paid his dues as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs for seventeen years. The Hawks have been dubbed the “Spurs of the East”, and that may not be a stretch. With Budenholzer coming from the Greg Popovich tree he instills selflessness amongst his players and on any given night a different member of the Atlanta Hawks can beat you. The Hawks are one of few teams that doesn’t rely on hero ball to have success. The Hawks roster proves that you do not have to have a superstar on your team, but it is essential to have a bevy of quality players.
Basketball tickets have always been easy to come by as Phillips Arena would have empty seats when the old Hawks would suit up on the floor. Now that the Hawks are the toast of the town and the NBA it might be wise to watch the best show in town. Magic City, Onyx, and the Velvet Room have been popular places for entertainment in the ATL, but it may be time for the people in Atlanta to go see the team that plays in Phillips Arena– because they are pretty good.
