The Hawks return after completing a record-breaking 60-win season and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. The question now is whether they can do it again. Here are five keys for success:
Small forward
This position undoubtedly is the biggest question facing the Hawks this season. DeMarre Carroll, the starter for two seasons, is gone. The Hawks must replace one of their better defenders. Carroll also turned into an offensive threat when the opposition keyed on stopping the four other All-Stars in the lineup. Carroll also did the little things it takes to win. Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore are the options to start in place Carroll. Each will play significant roles regardless of who starts. The Hawks also brought in Justin Holiday to add depth. All three wings are considered small and will have to guard bigger players. Paul Millsap has been used at small forward at times this preseason as an option, but it’s not a permanent solution. Sefolosha is also returning from a broken right leg and has been brought along slowly. Hawks management is pleased with the structure of the backcourt and frontcourt. How the wing players respond this season will go a long way in determining the Hawks’ success.
Rebounding
It’s no secret the Hawks were a poor rebounding team last season. That clearly was one of their weaknesses. They finished 28th in the NBA in rebounding at 40.6 per game. Only the Knicks and the Heat were worse rebounding teams. The Hawks have made a preseason emphasis of improving the statistic. They have added a traditional center in 6-foot-11 Tiago Splitter and a project center in 7-3 Edy Tavares. Their height alone should help.
Health
It’s easy to say, but health is huge in the NBA. Two seasons ago the Hawks lost Al Horford 29 games into the season and finished eighth in the Eastern Conference. Last season, he was healthy and the Hawks had their remarkable run. It’s not just about one player but health is key to any team. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said recently that health is the biggest factor in sustaining a successful organization. The injuries the Hawks suffered at the end of last season to Sefolosha and during the playoffs to Kyle Korver had an influence in the series loss to the Cavaliers. How Sefolosha and Korver recover from their injuries also will be important. Sefolosha said he is still not 100 percent recovered. Korver is still trying to find his shooting groove after surgeries to his ankle and elbow. In addition, Shelvin Mack had surgery have suffering an injury in the final minutes of the series against the Cavaliers.
Depth
The Hawks have depth, and it was evident during the preseason. They won their first four exhibitions game in large part because their second and third units were notably better than those of their opponents. Should the Hawks face injury, depth will help. It will also be a factor in the up-tempo pace the Hawks play. Coach Mike Budenholzer typically likes to play 10 or 11 players in rotation. Fresh legs will be a factor. The Hawks are also developing depth at each position. Tim Hardaway Jr. was brought in, at the expense of a first-round draft pick, to add a backup to Korver at shooting guard. The Hawks really didn’t have such a luxury last season. Mike Muscala’s development gives the Hawks options at center and power forward. Mack is a steady influence at guard behind Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder.
Experience
The Hawks will need to learn from last season and not take their success for granted. Coaches and players are saying all the right things about looking forward and taking the season one game at a time. Still, they must learn from their deficiencies of last season — particularly their offense in the playoffs. This is a team that did not add a major piece in the offseason and lost a starter. In that regard, the group is essentially the same. That could be an advantage as most of the roster enters a third season in Budenholzer’s system. Adjustments are easier to make in the heat of battle with game-tested experienced players familiar with system. The championship experience of Splitter may be underrated.
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