Atlanta Hawks: Most Versatile Front Court in NBA?

The Atlanta Hawks starting front court seems to do a bit of everything. Is this the most versatile front court in the NBA in the 2015-16 NBA Season?

Not many NBA teams can say that they have two All-Stars at both the four and the five on their team. The Atlanta Hawks can say that with 3x All-Star Al Horford at center and 2x All-Star Paul Millsap at power forward. Many thought that Atlanta would look weak at the three after DeMarre Carroll‘s departure to Toronto, but SF Kent Bazemore has looked strong for the most part in his new role. Atlanta has a strong front court, but are they one of the best in basketball?

Where the Atlanta Hawks seem to have a distinct advantage over most teams 3 through 5 is in the players’ versatility. Paul Millsap is one of the most complete players in basketball. He’s an electric shooter from anywhere on the court, an outstanding pick pocket from the four, and a strong rebounder for an undersized power forward. His 113 Offensive Rating, 97 Defensive Rating, and 22.4 Player Efficiency Rating speak volumes about his value to the Atlanta Hawks.

Al Horford has expanded his shooting game to beyond the perimeter. He lit up the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night with his terrific outside shooting. His athleticism and lateral quickness makes him a great offensive player to begin with. His rating for 2015-16 thus far are 113 ORTG, 102 DRTG, and a team high PER of 23.4.

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Kent Bazemore has been the cherry on top for the Atlanta Hawks’ starting front court. The former ‘energy’ guy in the Atlanta Hawks’ rotation is now the starting three and has carried the team a handful of times with his athleticism and vastly improved shooting game. He’s shooting .467/.444/.889 on the year and playing great defense with a 104 DRTG.

When a team’s starting forwards and center are great both way players that can make outside shots and defensive stops routinely, you have to believe that the trio might stand as one of the best in basketball. In my eyes, there are only two front courts that are certainly better than what the Atlanta Hawks boast at this current time: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs.

Cleveland has LeBron James, Kevin Love, and it doesn’t matter who they put at center, whether it’s Tristan Thompson, Timofey Mozgov, or Anderson Varejao, that front court is elite. Yes, the centers don’t do much offensive work outside of the paint, though I like Mozgov’s smoothness down in the low post, but having LeBron James and Kevin Love able to play the stretch four is problematic for any team defensive. Should Cleveland figure out spacing in 2015-16, watch out!

Honestly, the San Antonio Spurs trio of Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Tim Duncan just isn’t fair. We’re talking about the best defensive player in the game in Leonard, the biggest free agent signing of the offseason in Aldridge, and the greatest winner the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan in Duncan. This was an amazing starting front court with Tiago Splitter there last year. It’s good being Gregg Popovich.

What I’m getting at is that the Atlanta Hawks are a mismatch for most teams in the front court. Frankly, this team is tremendously talented and outside of rebounding, this feels like a complete team in 2015-16. Atlanta isn’t skipping a beat with Bazemore starting at small forward. The Hawks still have great depth in the front court and on the wing with players like C Tiago Splitter and SF Thabo Sefolosha to name a few.

Next: Atlanta Hawks Play Boston Celtics in TD Garden

At the end of the day, it’s all about matchups and Atlanta is a problem most nights for most teams. Expect Bazemore to continuously improve starting with four All-Stars in Atlanta every night. Bringing Dennis Schroder, Splitter, and Sefolosha off the bench as the first part of the rotation gives Atlanta a dangerous basketball team 1 through 8. Though I would take Cleveland and San Antonio’s front court over Atlanta’s in a best of seven at this point, the Atlanta Hawks are still one of the best 3 through 5 in the NBA, even without DeMarre Carroll. Let’s Go Hawks!

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