Can the Hawks do it again?
The team faces that pressing question after a record-breaking season that captured the imagination of its city and fans. The Hawks set several franchise marks including 60 regular-season wins, with an undefeated month of January, the number one seed in the East and a trip to the conference finals. The end of the remarkable season came in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers. No one saw it coming.
For Hawks players and coaches, the question is not can they do it again but how they do it again. It’s a distinction that matters.
“I don’t think there is extra pressure,” Kyle Korver said of repeating the success. “I just think our standard is higher. I think it’s a good thing. We expect to play a certain way and to play at a certain level. We’ve been asked a lot about repeating the number of wins and getting to the conference finals. It doesn’t play in my mind. It’s all about how do we get better as a basketball team. How do we get to playoffs and feel we can beat anybody? How do we get to that point? That is what we are focused on. I think our standard is higher than it was at the beginning of last year.”
Al Horford said the success of last season has not been mentioned once in preparation for the upcoming season. He said this training camp has been smoother than the last with a core group of players and coaches who all know what is expected of them.
The Spurs organization has a history of sustained success with a current streak of 18 straight postseason appearances and five NBA championships. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer trained in the system for 19 years under Gregg Popovich before taking over the Hawks two seasons ago. Popovich knows a thing or two about playing as marked men. For the Spurs, the mantra is ‘no skipping steps.’ He sees a similar approach in Budenholzer.
“What they will probably concentrate the most on is not taking anything for granted, getting into that routine where we did it last year it will happen this year,” Popovich said. “You have to put in the work on a day-to-day basis, not skipping steps and understanding it begins with the defense. Everyone has to participate, keep the same focus they had last year. Bud and his staff will do that, without a doubt. I think the players have the character to understand that. That’s really what it’s all about. There will be some injuries from time to time, as we all have, but just maintaining that focus. It will start at the top with Bud. And his staff is a heck of a staff. If they see things lagging or lacking, they’ll set up and get it done. I guarantee you.”
The Hawks do have a slightly different look this season. The roster features 10 returning players, including the four starters who made the All-Star team last season in Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Horford and Korver. Millsap signed a big contract as an unrestricted free agent to remain. Gone is starting small forward DeMarre Carroll and reserves Elton Brand, Pero Antic and John Jenkins. Tiago Splitter and Tim Hardaway Jr. were acquired in trades, Justin Holiday was signed as a free agent and draft picks Edy Tavares and Lamar Patterson were signed.
With all the team accomplished last season they believe there is no reason they will take a step backward. Certainly a 60-win season will be a tall task but what matters is the postseason and a run at a championship.
“The answer is last year when we started the season we just wanted to be the best team we could,” Horford said. “We went out there, worked hard every day in practice and played hard in games. That led to having a successful season. Our approach this year is the same. Our guys are focused and hopefully we get an even better result. …. Last season was a good season but I feel we can be better as a team.”
The Hawks go into this season with a new management structure after the controversies involving majority owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry hung over the team all year. The result was a new ownership group, led by principle owner Tony Ressler, who took over in June. Budenholzer was named President of Basketball Operations in addition to his head coaching duties. Wes Wilcox was promoted to general manager and new front office personnel and structure is now in place.
Ultimately, Budenholzer said, it comes down to the players on the floor and the culture off it.
“The players who are here gives us our best chance to have success,” Budenholzer said. “But our approach every day is going to dictate how much success we do or don’t have. If we come to work and approach each day the right way, that’s what’s going to get you where you want to go. You don’t talk about it or think about it. It’s just how you come to work every day.”
