2015-16 NBA Season Preview: Atlanta Hawks

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Atlanta Hawks

2014-15

Offseason Roundup

Projected Starting 5

• PG Jeff Teague
• SG Kyle Korver
• SF Thabo Sefolosha
• PF Paul Millsap
• C Al Horford

MVP

Paul Millsap's the top scorer, Jeff Teague has the ball in his hands most often, and Kyle Korver's defense-bending marksmanship allows the offense to function the way it does. But the key for the Hawks is impending unrestricted free agent Al Horford, whose impact a season ago was masked some by a slow return to form following a pectoral tear in 2013-14.

For the season, the Hawks were 2.5 points per 100 possessions better with Horford on the court, seeing an appreciable jump at the offensive end without much of a change on defense. That impact was magnified from Dec. 15 onward, as Horford shook off any remaining rust and found a groove at both ends.

A deft passer from the block or the elbows, Horford has a variety of ways to score in close, rebounds well for his size, and is a deadly mid-range shooter. He's also a solid shot-blocker and a smart defender, and while he's probably better suited as a power forward, he works more than fine as a center in head coach Mike Budenholzer's system. If he ever steps out to the 3-point line regularly - a real possibility - he could become even deadlier.

Now there's just the matter of convincing him to stay at season's end.

Breakout Player

DeMarre Carroll's departure leaves a huge hole in the wing rotation, and while Thabo Sefolosha will be tasked with starting and guarding the opposing team's best wing, it's also a big opportunity for 26-year-old Kent Bazemore.

In his second season with the Hawks, Bazemore will be asked to defend and shoot from the perimeter. The first he can do effectively, if somewhat erratically, and he knocked down 36.4 percent of his outside looks last season, continuing an upward trend.

Once known primarily for his end-of-bench celebrations, "The Bazed God" has a real opportunity to prove himself a reliable 3-and-D man ahead of free agency.

Season Expectations

Most 60-win teams are due some regression, especially when they lose a starter in free agency. The unfortunate reality is that the Hawks were a very good team in a weak conference, and several teams - including two in their division - are on their heels for the title of the East's second-best team.

That's not to say the Hawks will take a big step back in 2015-16. Budenholzer's system is beautiful, the players commit to it, and the team added some size to help balance out the roster. They enter the season as favorites in what should be a Southeast Division dogfight, and most would pencil them in for second or third in the Eastern Conference.

That's all well and good, but this franchise has done the good-but-not-great thing for a long time. The Hawks missed the playoffs just four times in a 22-year stretch from 1977-99, and they've now made the postseason in eight consecutive seasons, but they haven't escaped their conference since 1961. The goal is greater than good.