Thabo Sefolosha, a veteran of three days and five practices with his new team, said he is starting to pick up the Hawks system.
He called it a “fun process” to learn the offense and defense that is very different from the past 5-plus seasons spent with the Thunder.
“It’s a lot of reading (the court),” Sefolosha said Thursday after the Hawks concluded the three-day stay at the University of Georgia to start training camp. “Everybody has a high I.Q. on the basketball court and that is what is required with the system that we play. It’s not easy to learn but at the same time it’s something I enjoy doing, just moving without the ball, reading guys, moving to where the ball is going and I can get my shots.”
The Hawks acquired Sefolosha, who was a free agent, in a sign-and-trade with the Thunder in July. He is a career .348 shooter from 3-point range and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team after the 2009-10 season.
There is no playbook so Sefolosha is full immersed in on-the-job training. The guard/forward said he has spoken with other wings Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll to learn more about the floor spacing required in the offensive system and where his shots will come from. Even when the ball is being driven to the basket there can be several spots on the floor that may be open for a kick-out and jump shot.
Sefolosha said the nuances will come in time by using the knowledge of the system and his basketball instincts.
“It’s 50-50,” Sefolosha said. “You have to know the system and where the other guys are going to be. When you have the ball in your hands you’ve got to know where the guys are moving and where the spot is going to be and even when you don’t have the ball in your hands you have to take in consideration what the other guys are doing. It’s really a thin balance of moving and staying within the system.”
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