Atlanta Hawks Season Preview

Oct 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward

(4) brings the ball up court against the Miami Heat during the second half at Philips Arena. The Heat defeated the Hawks 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

THE STARTING FRONT-COURT

Paul Millsap, PF: Paul Millsap returns to the Atlanta Hawks this season on the heels of a multi-year deal with the club, shunning the Orlando Magic’s offer sheet to come back to the team in which he has found the most success in his career. Paul Millsap lacks the typical size for a power forward, but compensates for a lack of size with physicality and finesse.

Millsap’s skill-set is advantageous to the Atlanta Hawks’ offensive scheme, as his ability to stretch the floor with his mid-range and long-range shooting ability creates mismatches on the offensive end. Last season, Millsap added a three-point shot to his arsenal, further increasing his versatility. He also led the Atlanta Hawks in score last year, averaging 16.7 PPG on 47.6 percent shooting, while also averaging 1.8 steals and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Versatility is the name of the game with Paul Millsap, and as his stat-line shows, he is a capable rebounder and effective at stealing the ball on defense. The Atlanta Hawks have one of the most dynamic front-courts in the game, and what they lack in size, they more than make up in versatility. Millsap’s ability to shoot the ball also makes him a candidate to slide down to the small forward positions at times when Head Coach Mike Budenholzer decides to go with a bigger lineup.

Oct 16, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford (15) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward

(3) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Al Horford: The Atlanta Hawks venerable center Al Horford will once again start at the 5 for the team. A 3-time All-Star and the spiritual leader of the team, Al Horford is the most importance piece of the Atlanta Hawks starting lineup. As with Paul Millsap, Al Horford lacks size of a true center at the position he plays; but this season is different for the Hawks’ veteran with the addition of Tiago Splitter and Walter Tavares.

With the Atlanta Hawks adding a legitimate center in Splitter and an intriguing prospect in Tavares, Al Horford will spend time playing his natural power forward position this season when Head Coach Mike Budenholzer decides to employ a bigger lineup. Horford will still start at center for the Atlanta Hawks, providing his excellent mix of mid-range jump-shots and pick and rolls with PG Jeff Teague.

This season marks the second full year that Horford is a part of Mike Budenholzer’s system, presenting him with another chance to establish himself as one of the dominant bigs in the NBA. No other center in the NBA possesses Horford’s prowess in shooting the ball; and this offseason, Horford made it a point to add a three-point shot to his repertoire. Though the returns this preseason are difficult to indicate if it will have any impact on the Atlanta Hawks’ offense, the prospect of Horford adding a three-point shot (similar to Millsap) makes the Hawks’ offense more dynamic and gives the team even more mismatches to exploit.

Next: The Bench