Decade in Review: The 60-win ’14-’15 Atlanta Hawks

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 15: Atlanta Hawks teammates Jeff Teague #0, Al Horford #15, Kyle Korver #26, and Paul Millsap #4 pose with their Eastern Conference Team jerseys prior to the 64th NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia as part of the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 15: Atlanta Hawks teammates Jeff Teague #0, Al Horford #15, Kyle Korver #26, and Paul Millsap #4 pose with their Eastern Conference Team jerseys prior to the 64th NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia as part of the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Looking back fondly to the 2014-2015 Atlanta Hawks team that won 60 games.

The 2013-2014 Atlanta Hawks were up and down. Year one with a revamped roster and a new coach had mixed results, a team that failed to reach its peak because of a season-ending injury to Al Horford.

The next season however, would go down as one of the best in franchise history.

After a slow-ish start, the team had a historic few months as the year turned to 2015.

Atlanta lost just two games in December and January, amassing a total record of 31-2 during that time. In January, the team’s starting five was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month. A month later, four of them (Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Al Horford) were selected to the All-Star game.

They weren’t as hot in the season’s final few months, but still won enough to reach the coveted 60-win mark after the 40-8 start.

As the team found success in team-first play, most took steps back in terms of individual numbers.

Millsap lead the squad with 16.7 points per game, while adding a consistent deep stroke to his arsenal. While he added it, Kyle Korver perfected it. the now third-year Hawk drained 49% of his six attempts per game. the percentage led the league by a good 5%.

Only the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors averaged more assists per game, and Atlanta scored the 10th most points per game in the league.

They finished sixth in the league in both offensive and defensive rating.

They slid into the #1 seed in the East, drawing a scrappy, veteran-heavy Brooklyn team in the first round.

The Nets kept things interested, tying it up at 2-2, but the Hawks were able to escape in six games.

The next round against the younger Wizards played out in the same six games, with the Hawks winning despite dropping game one at home.

Atlanta then found themselves four wins away from the NBA Finals, but ran into a prime LeBron James in his first year back with the Cavs. The latter swept the 60-win Hawks.

It was undoubtedly a disappointing end to one of the best seasons in Atlanta Hawks history.

The team, especially the four All-Stars will all be remembered very fondly for long to come in Atlanta.