Soaring Down South
Fansided

Decade in Review: The 2015-2016 Atlanta Hawks

By Dallin Duffy

PHILADELPHIA - JANUARY 07: Kent Bazemore #24 and Paul Millsap #4 of the Atlanta Hawks stand on the court during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - JANUARY 07: Kent Bazemore #24 and Paul Millsap #4 of the Atlanta Hawks stand on the court during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Taking a look back to the semi-disapointing 2015-2016 Atlanta Hawks

Expectations were high for the Atlanta  Hawks, fresh off off a 60-win season that ended in the Eastern Conference semis.

The main core all returned, with just last year’s  starting forward Demarre Carroll leaving in free agency.

That role was filled convincingly by Kent Bazemore following his breakout season.

Al Horford, who had struggled with injuries throughout  the last handful of seasons, played a full 82 games, while Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver nearly matched that with 81 and 80, respectively.

They got off to a 7-1 start, looking like they were going to replicate the success of last year’s season.

After that however, they hit a bit of a bump, dropping a handful of games and finding themselves near .500 midway through December with a 14-12 record.

They won enough games to gather 48 wins, as did three other Eastern Conference teams, creating a bit of a pileup in the middle of the standings. they got the 4th seed through tiebreakers, going against the upstart Boston Celtics in the first round.

The Hawks won in six, with Paul Millsap and Isiah Thomas battling all series long, including a 45 point outing from Millsap.

To advance any further, they’d have to face the same LeBron Cavs team that swept them a season ago.

Things have a way of repeating themselves in the NBA, and Cleveland once again swept the Hawks.

The ended was less disappointing, sure, as getting swept as the 4th seed is less heart-breaking than getting swept as the 1st seed. But the ending was certainly not ideal.

Game four of that series ended up not being only the Hawks’ last game of the season, but the last Al Horford would play in a Hawks uniform.

He would go onto sign with Boston in the off-season, the first domino to fall in the Hawks eventual rebuild.

As for regular season numbers, Paul Millsap led the team with 17.1 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, securing his 3rd straight All-Star selection. Looking back, it was probably the best season of his solid career.

Jeff Teague put up 15.7 points per contest, with Al Horford trailing just behind with 15.2

The team made their living as a defensive force, allowing the 6th lowest points per game, racking up the league’s 2nd best defensive net rating.

Next. The 60-win Hawks Recap. dark

The final year of the Al Horford era ended as many of the years did prior: a mid-round playoff exit.

Next year, Paul Millsap was truly handed the key to the city, and the team brought in a future Hall-of-Famer in free agency.

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