2013 year in sports - Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

2013 year in sports - Atlanta Hawks

The 13 moments that defined the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, according to AJC's Chris Vivlamore.

Franchise worst loss to Bulls. The Hawks set franchise records for futility in a 97-58 loss at the Bulls on Jan. 14. The Hawks point total (58), points at half (20), points in a quarter (5 in the second), shooting percentage at halftime (.205) and made field goals (24) were all the lowest in team history. The Hawks were 2 of 21 from the field in the second quarter and did not score for the first 6:41. They had more turnovers (7) and fouls (6) than points in the period.

Lou Williams torn ACL. Just 39 games into his Hawks career, Lou Williams was lost for the season with a torn right ACL at the Nets on Jan. 18. Williams was injured driving to the basket. He was the team’s third-leading scorer at the time. Coach Larry Drew called the injury “devastating.” Williams went through extensive rehabilitation after surgery by Dr. James Andrews. He missed the start of the new season but returned on Nov. 15, almost 10 months to the day he was injured.

Big second half in win over Timberwolves. The Hawks set a franchise record for shooting percentage in a half by making 23 of 31 shots (.742) in a 104-96 win over the Timberwolves on Jan. 21. It was their highest percentage since the NBA began tracking shooting percentages by half in 1997-98. The Hawks outscored the Timberwolves 60-38 in the second half to erase a 14-point halftime deficit. The Hawks run included 7 of 9 3-pointers (.778) in the final two quarters.

Double OT win over Celtics. The Hawks erased a 27-point second-quarter deficit in a 123-111 double overtime win over the Celtics on Jan. 25. The Hawks overcame their biggest halftime deficit (19 points) in a home win in franchise history. Kyle Korver helped fuel the comeback as he came off the bench to score 27 points, including a career-best eight 3-pointers. Korver hit three 3-pointers as the Hawks erased a 10-point deficit in the final 4:44.

Jones takes out Bryant. Kobe Bryant suffered a severe ankle sprain attempting a game-winning shot with 2.6 left in a Hawks 96-92 win on March 13. As Bryant attempted his shot along the baseline he landed on Dahntay Jones and felt the Hawks forward undercut him. The NBA ruled the next day that a foul should have been called. It wasn’t the first run-in between the players. Jones called for fouls for pushing and tripping Byrant in the 2009 Western Conference finals while playing for the Nuggets.

Playoff victory. After dropping the first two games of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to the Pacers in Indianapolis, the Hawks returned home and won Game 3 90-69 on April 27. Al Horford had a game-high 26 points and 16 rebounds, his 16th career playoff double-double, in a game the Hawks led by as many as 28 points. The win came after the Hawks lost Games 1 and 2 by an average of 16 points. The Hawks evened the series with a win two days later.

Playoff elimination. The Hawks season came to an end following an 81-73 Game 6 loss to the Pacers at Philips Arena on May 3. The Pacers took the series, 4-2, by snapping a 13-game losing streak (both regular season and playoffs) in Atlanta. It was the only road win of the series. The Hawks trailed by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter and got as close as three points with 2:39 remaining. The game would be the final in Atlanta for several members of the team including coach Larry Drew and long-time Hawks player and local product Josh Smith.

Coaching saga. Despite being under contract until June 30, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry and coach Larry Drew agreed that both sides would explore other options. Ferry had interviewed several candidates for the yet-to-be-vacant position. Drew told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on May 17 that he would interview for the head coach position with the Bucks. “I’ve moved on from the situation,” Drew told the AJC before his initial interview in Milwaukee. Drew had a second interview with the team and was named head coach on May 31.

Budenholzer hired. The Hawks named long-time Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer as their 12th full-time coach on May 28. Budenholzer spent 19 seasons in San Antonio under coach Gregg Popovich. He also worked with Hawks general manager Danny Ferry when he was an executive with the Spurs. “I’ve been in San Antonio a long time,” the 43-year-old Budenholzer said. “It was going to take something like this opportunity, and this team, and this group to make me feel comfortable and feel great about this step. Atlanta has all that.”

Smith era comes to end. Josh Smith, who spent nine tenuous seasons with his hometown Hawks, hit the unrestricted free agent market and agreed to a four-year, $56 million with the Pistons on July 6. The Hawks selected Smith out of high school with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. During his Hawks tenure, Smith amassed impressive statistics. He left the team ranked in the franchise's top 10 in most statistical categories, including games, points and rebounds.

Drafting for the future. The Hawks had two first-round picks, Nos. 16 and 17 overall, in the NBA draft on June 27. With the 16th pick the team selected Shane Larkin but had already worked out a trade with the Mavericks, who selected center Lucas Nogueira out of the Spanish League. The Hawks used the 17th pick on point guard Dennis Schroder out of the German League. The Hawks selected center Mike Muscala out of Bucknell in the second round. Nogueira and Muscala signed to play in Spain. Schroder began the season with the Hawks before going to the D-League.

Korver sets NBA record. Kyle Korver broke the NBA record for consecutive games with a made a 3-pointer with his 90th straight on Dec. 6. The record of 89 straight games, held by Dana Barros, had stood since January 1996. Korver also passed second-place Michael Adams (79) and third-place Dennis Scott (78) in 2013. Korver had to wait four games, due to a rib contusion, before tying the record on Dec. 4 against the Clippers. He hit the record-breaker with 5:29 left in the first quarter two days later against the Cavaliers.

1/13

Franchise worst loss to Bulls. The Hawks set franchise records for futility in a 97-58 loss at the Bulls on Jan. 14. The Hawks point total (58), points at half (20), points in a quarter (5 in the second), shooting percentage at halftime (.205) and made field goals (24) were all the lowest in team history. The Hawks were 2 of 21 from the field in the second quarter and did not score for the first 6:41. They had more turnovers (7) and fouls (6) than points in the period.

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