Early in the season, the Atlanta Hawks are hot, soaring to the top of the conference. They have seemed strong in all areas but that is not what was unexpected. The team has been constantly underestimated, though, so let’s look at why.
The Atlanta Hawks are again considered surprise performers this year, blossoming since the departures of Al Horford and Jeff Teague. Dwight Howard is thriving and other lesser pieces, like Mike Muscala, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Thabo Sefolosha are absolutely surging.
Atlanta is 9-2 so far, the joint second-best record in the league. They have won six straight to top the Eastern Conference. The Hawks have the second-best point differential too and are their usual selves with five players averaging 10 or more points per game. They also have two league leaders in field-goal percentage.
They are well and truly hot this year but that was not necessarily expected. Why were the Hawks underrated and why are they always the underdogs?
Why are the Hawks underdogs this year?
This past offseason was a big one for the Atlanta Hawks. Mike Budenholzer had a firm formula for success and his pass-friendly teams had started to make a habit of succeeding. With a starting five of Teague, Korver, DeMarre Carroll, Millsap and Horford, the 2014-15 Hawks struck a franchise-record 60 wins.
The team was a perfect match for Budenholzer’s style and were consistently among the NBA’s top offensive teams, even adding a defensive strength towards the end of last year. Horford and Millsap were a killer frontcourt on both ends. Korver was hitting threes like a madman and Teague was the driver and passer at the point.
So, when they lost Teague and Horford this summer, the Hawks became an unknown. Dwight Howard came in and Dennis Schroder was thrown in at the point so no one knew what to expect from the team. Different sources had the team finishing between fourth and sixth in the Conference. ESPN projected a 44-38 record.
That was a fair enough assessment. Howard’s fit with the team was dubious, to say the least, especially in comparison to the Dominican big man he replaced. And although he had shown promise off the bench, we could not say for sure how well Schroder would fare in his new expanded role.
It’s also obvious that no pundit or fan would have possibly expected Mike Muscala to start as he has done, leading the league in field-goal percentage, or for the superb performances of THJ and Sefolosha. The Hawks have one of the best net ratings in the NBA and they are strong on offensive and defensive ends, regardless of whether the starters or the bench are on the floor.
So, yeah, it is fair enough that the Hawks were underestimated coming into this NBA season.
Why are the Hawks always the underdogs?
It seems, though, regardless of the team or the coach, that Atlanta is constantly underrated. Going into this season, it was about Teague and Horford. Going into last season, it was about the loss of Carroll. Before that, it was about the losses of Joe Johnson or Josh Smith or just about the general mediocrity of the roster.
That is another reason in itself, though. The Hawks’ style of play has been very team-based and admittedly, that makes them easy to think less of. The franchise does not have a LeBron James or Russell Westbrook to give everyone confidence, so it is easy to doubt the team’s consistency. Most teams that succeed in the NBA have a superstar or two, or three, (or four if you’re greedy and from Oakland). So, experts and fans alike look to those teams to succeed ahead of the team teams.
The final reason is the best one for Atlanta. It is so hard to predict how teams and individuals will do. Trying to second-guess player progression at a team like the Hawks is almost impossible. Budenholzer’s staff have seen breakout seasons from DeMarre Carroll and Kent Bazemore. They have seen Horford and Millsap become truly recognised as elite big men. Schroder overcame early difficulties to become a Most-Improved and Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Shooting guard Kyle Korver even rounded out his game with improved passing and defense. So, when the Hawks lost Carroll, few expected Bazemore to fill the gap so well. And it was hard to ever imagine that a team without superstars could have four All-Stars.
We’re seeing this surprising development this year and it has again been a big reason why the Hawks have defied expectation. As was mentioned before, Muscala, THJ, and Sefolosha have become incredibly good so far this year and other players like Malcolm Delaney have also made quite an impact when few would have thought so.
So, yes, the Atlanta Hawks have been constantly underestimated. Whether it’s because they have lost key players or had vast improvements from unexpected performers or even because of Budenholzer’s style of play, experts and fans alike often have doubts about this team but the Hawks continue to surprise and impress. Atlanta is a new team this year, fifth in the power rankings. It will be exciting to see what they can do come spring.
They are thriving and it is good to be the underdog.