Were The Hawks The NBA’s Best Shooting Team?

The 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks were an elite team this past season.  Atlanta finished with a franchise-best 60-22 regular season record en route to its first ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance.  HC Mike Budenholzer’s team was a top ten unit in both offensive and defensive team rating (OFF: 108.9, DEF: 103.1.  Both were sixth in the Association.).

More from Atlanta Hawks

• Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend
• Atlanta Hawks Look to Continue Momentum Tonight Against Portland
• Joel Embiid Leads Sixers Over Hawks On Monday Night
• Atlanta Hawks: John Collins Playing His Best Basketball Of Season
• Atlanta Hawks Win Second Straight Against the Dallas Mavericks

It was the defensive intensity that changed the game for the Hawks, as its offensive prowess came a bit more naturally to the team.  Just about every player on the team had an above-average outside shot when compared to players on other teams at their position.  With the heavy ball movement and timely three-pointers, Atlanta had one of the most lethal attacks in all of basketball.  But there were other teams in the NBA that had great shooting in 2014-15 (Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and San Antonio Spurs come to mind).  Were the 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks the league’s best pure shooting team?

May 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots over Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) during the first half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta finished fourth in the NBA in team field goal percentage behind the Warriors, Clippers, and Spurs with a .466 mark.  The Hawks were the best 3-point shooting team in the East, behind only Golden State in the NBA with a .380 team shooting percentage.  Inside the arc, Atlanta shot .506 on their two-point attempts which was the best in the East and fourth in the league behind the Clippers, Warriors, and Mavericks.  At the free throw line, Atlanta shot the fifth best with a .778 mark behind Portland, Toronto, Chicago, and San Antonio.

While the Hawks didn’t lead the league in any major shooting percentage category, they were the only team to finish in the top five in FG% (4th), 3P% (2nd), 2P% (4th), and FT% (5th) in all of basketball.  So they were pretty much by far the best shooting team in the Eastern Conference and had a slightly more all-around shooting game than the San Antonio Spurs.

You could argue that the Atlanta Hawks had the best shooting season of any team in the Association.  I mean they are right there with Golden State, Los Angeles, and San Antonio.  Where I think Atlanta made its mark was with its mid-level tempo and getting open looks with its ball movement.  The Hawks finished fifteenth in pace (93.9 possessions) and second in team assists (2,111) behind the Warriors.  Atlanta played heady basketball on the offensive end of the court in 2014-15.  It looks like a balanced attack the team should have another fine offensive season in 2015-16 in Year Three of the Coach Bud Era.