Mike Budenholzer doesn’t want to talk too much about the Hawks’ early-season shooting success.
No one wants to be a jinx.
The Hawks are currently second in the NBA in team field goal percentage, shooting at a .478 clip. They have shot at least .500 from the field four times this season, winning each, including the past three games.
The Hawks have three of top five players in the NBA in individual field goal percentage. Mike Muscala continues to lead the league at .660. Dwight Howard is third at .622. Thabo Sefolosha is fifth at .600.
Howard’s high percentage makes sense since a great deal of his shots are dunks. However, Muscala and Sefolosha take their share of outside shots, including 3-pointers.
“I do think it’s rare that guys who are shooting a handful of 3’s each night,” Budenholzer said Saturday morning before the Hawks hosted the 76ers. “I think Thabo and Muskie each shoot a handful of 17-18 footers. If you are shooting those shots, you aren’t typically in the top five. Hopefully, we don’t jinx them. Let’s not talk about it. Hopefully, they are still there in 50 games.”
Sefolosha started the Hawks’ win over the Bulls on Wednesday by making his first seven shots.
Muscala (.702) and Sefolosha (.650) rank 1-2 in the NBA in effective field goal percentage, which gives more weight to 3-point field goals.
“I think it’s just sharing the ball,” Muscala said. “A lot of it’s getting more offensive rebounds, getting some steals, pushing it in transition, getting those easy buckets. It all helps in getting in a good rhythm.
“It’s about not overthinking it. It’s about finding the open guy because we do have good shooters, we have good finishers.”
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