Atlanta Hawks: Modern Offensive System is Recipe for Future Success

However, Pierce is exceeding expectations so far through the thoroughly modern offensive system he has implemented through the team’s first 13 games.

According to Cleaning the Glass, the Atlanta Hawks have one of the most modern shot profiles of every team in the league. Though their effective field goal percentage is in the bottom third of the league at 51.2 percent, the Hawks are tied for 1st in the league with the Utah Jazz in corner threes attempted per game at 10.9 percent of their shots coming from the most efficient spot on the floor for offenses.

Beyond that, their 36.8 total three-point attempt rate is 4th in the league, behind only the Rockets, Bucks and Celtics. That doesn’t mean the Hawks are living beyond the arc, however. The Atlanta Hawks’ modern offensive system is also focused on getting good looks in the paint, and the team is attempting 42 percent of its shots at the rim – second only to the paint-focused Los Angeles Lakers.

Because 78.8 percent of the shots the Atlanta Hawks take are either at the rim or from three-point territory, that means the team is almost completely eschewing the mid-range game – which is exactly what you’d like to see from a young coach like Pierce.

Of course, though that shot profile is rather beautiful, the Atlanta Hawks offense is still not particularly potent, as the team is 29th in offensive rating according to Basketball Reference.