Thabo Sefolosha is healthy.
That might be the biggest reason for the renewed play of the Hawks forward early in the preseason. After the first three exhibition games, Sefolosha has scored 27 points, tied for second on the team behind only Dwight Howard.
“I had a great summer,” Sefolosha said recently. “The most important thing for me is physically I’m fresh. I’m feeling good. Now, I have more than 10 seasons in the NBA. I understand the game. I understand the team. I understand what the team needs. I’m just in a good place and try to bring what I can when I’m out there.”
In addition to his 27 points, Sefolosha has 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals. He is 8 of 13 (.615) from the field, 3 of 4 (.750) from 3-point range and 8 of 10 (.800) from the free-throw line.
Last season, Sefolosha went through a full campaign after the well-documented end of the 2014-15 season due to a broken leg and ligament damage suffered in an incident with police from which he was subsequently acquitted. He averaged 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals last season in 75 games. He ranked seventh in the NBA with a steal/turnover ratio of 1.25.
Still, there is more to Sefolosha’s all-around game with the start of his 11th season just weeks away. He said he has worked with the Hawks shooting coach while in Atlanta and his personal shooting coach while in his native Switzerland this summer. He also did video work to sharpen his game.
“To see what is available to me and when I’m successful and when I’m not successful,” Sefolosha said of the sessions. “Right now, I’m just trying to read the defense quickly and make good decisions. …
“I just try to simplify the game. Sometimes I try to make it hard. I might have an open shot but I’m already thinking about the drive. If I’m open I shoot it. If somebody is on me, I try to drive and find the easier play.
Sefolosha saw some time at power forward in Monday’s exhibition win over the Cavaliers. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer mostly made the move because the Cavaliers put a small lineup on the court. However, he admitted it was something the Hawks did on very rare occasions last season. If the opportunity presents itself again, you just might see Sefolosha at the top of the key initiating the dribble handoffs.
“He is playing well,” Budenholzer said. “He’s in a good rhythm. He’s taking good shots. When he is playing within himself, playing unselfishly, all the team things he does, he tends to shoot high percentages.”
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