_East-Southeast - GDHQNBA15_2pg-Atlanta Hawks

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EASTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHEAST DIVISION Atlanta Quick, name the Eastern Conference team with the longest streak of playoff appearances. Yes, it’s the Atlanta Hawks, who, since ending their nine-year drought in 2007-08 have made a postseason appearance in each of the last seven seasons. Last year, the first under Coach Mike Budenholzer, they nearly upset top-seed Indiana, pushing the Pacers to seven games. And that was without injured center Al Horford. Horford, a two-time All-Star is back healthy, as is All-Star power forward Paul Millsap and hot-shooting veteran two-guard Kyle Korver—both of whom worked out with USA Basketball over the summer—and underrated point Jeff Teague. While offseason turmoil surrounded the team, primarily the front office, and specifically minority owner Bruce Levinson, who was forced to sell his stake, and general manager Danny Ferry, who was suspended, Budenholzer, acting GM, and his Hawks are keeping focused on extending their playoff streak to eight while eyeing a Southeast title. Defense When it came to defense, Hawks could have been short for “Ball Hawks.” Atlanta was a tenacious group that liked to pressure the ball, resulting in their making 8.3 per game (ninth in the League with 8.3 steals per game, fifth in the East and good for second in the Southeast behind only Miami. Atlanta, which had 27 games with double-figure steals, expects to be even better in 2014-15, as one of its main offseason acquisitions was defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha. One of the OKC’s top defensive players, the small forward will back up ferocious defender DeMarre Carroll (1.48 spg, 24th in the League) and add defensive depth to a Hawks team that had four players average better than a steal per game in Millsap (1.74, 9th), Carroll, Jeff Teague (1.13) and Kyle Korver (.99). Their ability to create turnovers led to 17.2 ppg off opposing miscues, eighth in the League. Keeping opponents from getting shots off helped a team that wasn’t overly effective in keeping them off the boards. Atlanta finished 28th in rebounding (40.7 rpg), and 18th in defensive rebounding (31.3 drpg). The rebounding numbers reflect the loss of Horford, who was pulling in 8.4 rebounds per game prior to his injury, and missed games by bigs Gustavo Ayon and Pero Antic. Millsap was a force in the paint, pulling down 8.5 rebounds, but after him, no other Hawk grabbed as many as six, with Carroll next at 5.5. Ageless wonder Elton Brand gave Atlatna valuable minutes and pulled down almost five boards a game. Second-year pro Mike Muscala also will be counted on to hit the boards. Rebounding was big, as Atlanta was 18-10 when it was equal or better to the opponent on the boards. They were 20-34 when outrebounded. Getting outrebounded two-thirds of the time is unacceptable for Budenholzer, and something he shouldn’t see in 2014-15. Horford’s return, obviously, makes Atlanta tougher on the glass, while first-round pick Adreian Payne, although drafted mostly for his offense, also is committed to the defensive end (you don’t play four years for Tom Izzo if you aren’t). At 6-10, 240, Payne also is a very good shotblocker, who left Michigan State as the Spartans’ all-time leader with 141 swats. He also was one of only nine players in MSU history to score 1,200 points, and 700 rebounds. Better pressure on the ball will be key, as Atlanta’s opponents shot 49.7 percent and at least 50 percent 23 times, in 2013-14, winning 21 of those games. Offense One word never used to describe the 2013-14 Atlanta Hawks was selfish. Atlanta led the League with assists on 66.7 percent of their baskets and ranked second in the NBA, tops in the Eastern Conference Paul Millsap Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images


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