Soaring Down South
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4 Reasons Why The Atlanta Hawks Will Make The Playoffs

By Colby Giacubeno

Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of basketballs sitting at the base of the stanchion before game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of basketballs sitting at the base of the stanchion before game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer calls a play in the second quarter of their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 118-107. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer calls a play in the second quarter of their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 118-107. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Same Leadership

Head coach Mike Budenholzer was hired in 2013 after 17 seasons as assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs that included winning four NBA Championships.

In his three seasons thus far, Budenholzer has compiled a 146-100 (.593) in regular season play. He has struggled somewhat in the playoffs winning 15 of the total 33 games.

Budenholzer is recognized as being one of the smartest basketball minds in the league. After all, he sat under Gregg Popovich for all that time in San Antonio and is trying to build his team in similar fashion.

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The Hawks have often been regarded as the Spurs of the East because of the philosophies and style of play that Budenholzer preaches. In years past, they have ran a free-flowing, 5-out motion offense that consisted of a lot of off-ball movement and constant passing. Now that Horford is gone and Dwight Howard is the new man at center, the offense will have to be tweaked to cater to his skills.

Howard is a dominant force in the paint whereas Horford played more perimeter-based offensively, so we may see more 4-out, 1-in sets that we aren’t used to see in Budenholzer’s offense.

The Hawks were already an elite defensive team. They finished second overall in the NBA in defensive rating (101.4) and sixth in points allowed per game (99.2). Howard should only help those ratings improve with his elite shot-blocking ability.

Horford was more of a finesse defender that thrived in guarding more mobile centers. While Howard will struggle in that sense, he is leaps and bounds a better protecting the rim and closing down the glass in comparison with Horford.

There will adjustments that will need to be made, but with Budenholzer at the controls, doubt is something that doesn’t need to exist.

Next: Their Star Is Staying Put

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