The Atlanta Hawks are perhaps the most exciting team in the league right now. While they may not have the most talented roster, their players fit seamlessly with each other and with the style of modern basketball, which was best illustrated by the 2024-25 Indiana Pacers.
At Atlanta's media day, coach Quin Snyder fielded a question about the similarities between NBA Finals runner-up Indiana Pacers and this Hawks squad.
In response, Snyder said, "I think we were third in pace last year. I think we led the league in passes ahead, [though] we didn’t convert as many. I also think Indiana really took a step when you saw their defense take a step. A lot of respect for Rick [Carlisle, Pacers head coach], he’s a friend. We’ve been continuing to work on playing random basketball for lack of a better word, read-based basketball, I think that’s what we do. Our roster is beginning to formulate in a way that I think we’re more capable of doing that.”
The Pacers took the world by storm with an electrifying playoff run last season filled with the perfect recipe of upsets, buzzer beaters, and transition play. What stood out most about this Pacers team was how they were able to achieve team success without one of the best players in the league. Their two stars, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, would earn an All-NBA Third Team and All-Star nod respectively for their efforts last season.
But championship-caliber teams are almost always led by an All-NBA First Team player. The Pacers' remarkable success despite having this star power inspired teams around the league. While Snyder has always emulated the "Pacers style" of basketball, prioritizing transition and team basketball over isolation and star-reliance, he finally has a team with all the ingredients to succeed.
The league will be in trouble if Atlanta can mesh as well as Indiana did
The similarities between the Pacers and Hawks are striking. Both teams were led by an offensive savant who can score and create scoring opportunities for their teammates with ease (Trae Young and Haliburton). Both teams have a versatile power forward co-star who fills the stat sheet (Jalen Johnson and Siakam). Both teams had an elite rim protecting and three point shooting center (Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner).
Behind their "big three," both teams had elite shooting, high quality perimeter defense, and, perhaps most importantly, young players who carry an infectious energy. GM Onsi Saleh did his job by giving Snyder a talented and well-structured team to work with.
Now, Snyder is tasked with maximizing the performance of these players. Luckily for him, his pal Rick Carlisle laid the blueprint for him last year.
The team already plays "random basketball" at a fast pace, as Snyder mentioned in his media day appearance. Now, he has to capture Indiana's defensive magic while integrating three key new players into the roster: Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard.
This is no small task, but the team should be able to find their groove by the All-Star break. If Snyder can execute his vision, don't be surprised if the Hawks pull off a playoff run as surprising as Indiana's.