Atlanta Hawks: A Preliminary Look at the Rotation

The Atlanta Hawks won their preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday by a final score of 98-96 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Though only a preseason game, the contest had a regular season feel to it, as many of the starters on both the Atlanta Hawks and the Cavs played over 20 minutes. As fans, we gleaned a lot from the game on Wednesday, but more importantly, we also got a glimpse of what the Atlanta Hawks’ rotation will probably look like during the regular season.

Head Coach Mike Budenholzer went with a starting lineup of Jeff Teague (1), Kyle Korver (2), Kent Bazemore (3), Paul Millsap (4) and Al Horford (5). The lineup remained the same as last season’s, save for the notable absence of the departed DeMarre Carroll. With Thabo Sefolosha currently on trial in New York City, and his health uncertain to begin the year, it’s a good bet that Bud will stick with Kent Bazemore as the team’s starting small forward.

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Against Cleveland, the first player to come off the bench for Mike Budenholzer was newly acquired C Tiago Splitter. Splitter will most likely come off the bench first during the regular season, as Bud can pair him with either Millsap or Horford, providing frontcourt flexibility and the ability to keep the Atlanta Hawks’ bigs fresh.

Once again, we will see Dennis Schroder spell Jeff Teague at the Point Guard position. The 22-year-old point guard out of Germany looks improved so far, even after a breakthrough campaign last year. Also look for Budenholzer to roll with two guard lineups, pairing Teague with Schroder in the backcourt.

Former Golden State Warrior Justin Holiday was the first player to come off the bench to man the SF position. Though Holiday has not had a lot of playing time, expect him to get significant minutes on the wing early in the season — especially if Thabo Sefolosha is not ready to play at the start of the year. Tim Hardaway, Jr. will spell Kyle Korver and whoever is starting at the SF position for the Hawks, as he played 15 minutes off the bench last night.

The tail-end of the rotation looks very intriguing, and shows the depth of the Atlanta Hawks this coming season. Shelvin Mack is slotted as the #3 PG, but could see time at the 2 as well. Mike Muscala made great strides in his game at the end of last season, and could be an intriguing pieced used at either the PF or C positions.

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Perhaps the most intriguing player at the tail-end of the rotation is 7’3” center Walter Tavares. Tavares will most likely be at the end of the bench, but when put into games, could benefit the Atlanta Hawks greatly. His size affords him the ability to alter shots and provide effective rim protection. On the offensive end, the Atlanta Hawks can utilize Tavares in the pick and roll game, leveraging his height to get to the basket.

Top to bottom, the Atlanta Hawks are on of the deepest teams in the NBA right now. From having one of the best young point guards backing up your All-Star starter, to Tiago Splitter providing Mike Budenholzer with flexibility in the frontcourt to mix and match, the Atlanta Hawks look deeper than they did a year ago, and more prepared for a long playoff run. Though the season has not yet begun, the rotation that the Atlanta Hawks currently possess shows the potential of this team and how far they could truly go.

The Atlanta Hawks season opener is on October 27th at Philips Arena. Keep staying True to Atlanta.

Next: Atlanta Hawks: 5 Things Learned vs. Cavs

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