The Atlanta Hawks are a resilient group. Yes, even their end-of-bench guys. The main rotation can't be the only ones bought into the organization's culture if they're serious about leaping into contention.
Carving out an identity means sticking with it even when struggles persist. Much of the offseason talk has centered around Atlanta's eye-opening defensive unit, but their successful offensive system that worked like a charm towards the end of last season shouldn't be ignored. Especially considering what the new additions are expected to contribute.
It doesn't look like Atlanta's movement-focused, three-ball-heavy nightly attack is going anywhere. If two preseason games are any indicator, they're going to continue letting it fly, even when the shots aren't falling.
Not giving up is what helped them secure their first preseason victory
The Spurs couldn't have seen it coming.
Atlanta was dreadful from beyond the arc for much of the first half during their Thursday night battle in San Antonio.
Minutes into the second quarter, after San Antonio had created a sizable gap in the scoring column, the Hawks had made just one three. It was CJ McCollum who knocked down a logo three early in the first frame, and it took an entire quarter for anyone to hit the next.
Atlanta was 1-15 from deep before they started to get it together. The game appeared to be way out of reach, but all it was going to take to gain some momentum was any sort of scoring spark.
Luckily for Atlanta, not only do they have several capable scoring engines, but they have the playmakers necessary to set them up for quality looks.
Suddenly, the Hawks were scorching.
Asa Newell checked in and hit a three. Corey Kispert and Kingston Flemings joined him soon after. McCollum then hit his second of the night to cut the San Antonio lead to just eight.
The Hawks never looked back after an epic comeback
In the first quarter, they were 1-12 (8%) from deep.
In the second, they went 10-15.
If they had steered course in the second frame after a deflating first, they wouldn't have been able to come back and give their end-of-rotation guys a chance to win it in the fourth.
They stayed true to what they know, and it produced quality results, even though it didn't look like it at all at first.
Atlanta must avoid letting a rough start ruin their momentum for the night, because if they don't, they'll be in good shape to win more often than not.
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