Atlanta Hawks: Bench Still Lethal in 2016?

The Atlanta Hawks were able to win so many games last season because of their tremendous depth coming off the bench. Will the Hawks’ reserves be lethal again in 2016?

Atlanta has a great starting five, with four 2014-15 All-Stars in its starting unit. While it is unlikely that PG Jeff Teague, SG Kyle Korver, PF Paul Millsap, and C Al Horford will all make it to Toronto for the ASG in February, I’d put the starting five of the Atlanta Hawks up against just about anybody in the Association and I’d like our chances.

However, where Atlanta tends to get the best of its opponent is when the game falls into the hands of the reserves. Atlanta’s role players coming off the bench were some of the very best in the NBA last season. Even with a slight shakeup of the roster, I still like HC Mike Budenholzer’s team to excel with its depth in bench rotation.

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It starts with the sixth man. Who is the Atlanta Hawks sixth man entering 2015-16? I see that being contested between three players of completely different skill sets. PG Dennis Schroder has shown that can command the offense as the primary ball handler when he’s on the court. He’s surely becoming the German Rondo or the Deutschland version of Tony Parker in Year Three.

The newly acquired C Tiago Splitter could start for most teams, but will likely come of the bench for Coach Bud as Thabo Sefolosha will start at the three, Millsap at the four, and Horford at the five. Splitter’s championship pedigree and strong low post game gives the Hawks talons on the glass at either end of the court. I’m thrilled to get a polished big man of Tiago Splitter’s caliber this season.

Kent Bazemore could stand as the next great 3 and D player for the Atlanta Hawks in an increased reserve role. He will be a key cog in the Hawks’ defensive identity as a main substitution of Sefolosha. Bazemore seems to have superior ball handling skills than Sefolosha and better range from three than Thabo. Now if we can just get Baze to make some free throws.

Outside of the sixth man candidates (Bazemore, Schroder, and Splitter), the Atlanta Hawks have even more depth. Shelvin Mack is a cerebral player as a PG/SG in Bud’s system. He’s well coached and loves to torch the Cleveland Cavaliers when these two Eastern behemoths meet up. Mack could come off the bench as the primary backup point guard on many contending teams.

Mike Muscala will likely now be the 4th big man in Coach Bud’s rotation behind Millsap, Horford, and Splitter. Moose has a fluid offensive game that makes him a great mismatch as a stretch five should Atlanta choose to attack in that fashion offensively. He improves with every minute of basketball he plays. I think he will grow even more defensively in Year Three. Getting Splitter should aid in his defensive development down low. Keep an eye on Muscala this winter. He could become a great player for the Atlanta Hawks.

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Out on the wing, Tim Hardaway, Jr. will help replace SF DeMarre Carroll‘s sweet outside stroke with a strong long-range game of his own. Hardaway is the son of one of the best outside shooters of the last 25 years. Anything we get defensively from Jr. is an added bonus at this point. I believe he will amp up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball playing for a winner in the Atlanta Hawks.

Justin Holiday brings great off the bench defensive tenacity as he was part of that great team in the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Holiday also comes from a strong basketball family as his older brother Jrue Holiday is a main piece for the New Orleans Pelicans. Perhaps Bud can find a few spots on the floor for Holiday to build on his outside shooting.

Let’s not forget about big man Walter Edy Tavares and other rookies like Lamar Patterson and Terran Petteway. They might contribute in a larger capacity than we expect them to in 2014-15. Overall, the Atlanta Hawks seem to have reloaded after a strong 2014-15 campaign. The starting five is still solid, but the bench is likely better than what the team had last year. Atlanta should once again contend in the Eastern Conference. Let’s Go Hawks!

Next: Atlanta Hawks: Top 10 Offense and Defense in 2016?

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