The Atlanta Hawks made a strong debut as they saw off the Dallas Mavericks to start the season off 1-0. Since then they’ve dropped two on the bounce, and will be looking to rebound rather quickly.
Three games in and the Atlanta Hawks are sitting near the rear on a 1-2 record. It’s early, but indications are that the exciting basketball will continue; unfortunately, the losses will also pile up as they continue to face more experienced competition.
As a Hawks fan, it’s hard to look at the team and believe that they are going out there simply to lose. Yes, they rather lost the initiative against Charlotte, but in the Sunday’s game in Brooklyn they rallied from 16 down to regain the lead, albeit briefly, in the 4th quarter.
Related Story: Hawks rookie John Collins notches first career double-double in loss to Nets
These boys want to play, and Coach Bud is certainly letting them do so.
Patterns in their play are quickly becoming evident and one subject in particular is of interest: the two-man game. The Hawks have been executing pick-and-rolls to great success, be it Dennis Schroder and Dewayne Dedmon, Malcolm Delaney and John Collins, or any other combination of guards and bigs.
Against Dallas we saw Kent Bazemore and Dedmon connect on multiple occasions for easy buckets from inside. Then we saw the rook John Collins work a great partnership with veteran Marco Belinelli that reaped a poster or two.
Collins seems to be enjoying his time at the 5 behind Dedmon, and he seems to take the role really naturally, after coming in as a power forward but being moved up due to Miles Plumlee’s injury.
Speaking more on the veteran presences in the team, Belinelli and Bazemore both seem to lead their respective units as the more experienced players on the team. Marco has been well traveled in his time in the NBA, but his skillset is undeniable and the Hawks should be happy with his services thus far.
Bazemore has also been an integral part of this Hawks culture for a couple years now. His relationship with Coach Bud is well noted, as Budenholzer has on numerous occasions displayed his fondness for the shooting guard and trusts him on the court.
"“Kent knows how much confidence we have in him, and I have in him and he’s just got to keep playing.” – Coach Budenholzer after the win over the Dallas Mavericks"
Kent also has a lasting relationship with Travis Schlenk, as the two connected from back to Bazemore’s days with the Golden State Warriors. The two-man game extends past the hardwood, and that’s what will ultimately lead to the team’s future success.
Kent Bazemore talks about his relationship with General Manager Travis Schlenk, which dates back to when both were with Golden State. pic.twitter.com/xsS61QJSCp
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) October 22, 2017
I know, I know, everyone is talking about the Hawks being good one day. Maybe it’ll be in three years, maybe it’ll take longer. But looking at the team go out and compete during these last three games has assured me that somewhere something is going very right.
The culture surrounding the team is one of positivity, with no ill will or toxicity in the locker room. All the players work for one another and whether it’s the two-man game, the starting 5, or those deep down the bench.
They’re not perfect, but that doesn’t mean that the grand plan is failing or that something is very wrong. Quite the opposite. Save for some defensive errors or offensive droughts, the team has potential, and that will only grow over the duration of the season and be reinforced in the summer of 2018.
Next: Postgame reaction to the Atlanta Hawks dropping to 1-2 against the Brooklyn Nets
In order for everyone to work together, it starts with two of them working together, and spreading throughout the organization from there. That is how a culture is built in the association and how a legacy is left to enjoy continued success in the future.