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Atlanta Hawks’ team defense is improving in second half

By John Buhler

Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) goes after a ball with Portland Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh (21) during the third quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) goes after a ball with Portland Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh (21) during the third quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Hawks aren’t orchestrating impressive winning streaks like last year, but the team’s defensive identity is trending in the right direction.

Part of what made the 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks such a great basketball team to watch was that they were a selfless team that played with incredible balance.

Atlanta finished sixth in both team offensive rating (108.9) and team defensive rating (103.1) en route to a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 regular season record.

At 26-19 through their first 45 games, the 2015-16 Atlanta Hawks are a good team certainly bound for the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the ninth straight season, but the thought of winning 60 games again is likely impossible at this point of the season.

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Atlanta is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but could capture its second consecutive Southeast Division title and probably clinch home court advantage in the first round as a top four seed.

While the Atlanta Hawks’ offense has been as lethal as it was in 2014-15, as it is 12th in the NBA in offensive efficiency (105.4), the team defense of the Hawks has improved significantly in the last few weeks.

Atlanta has the NBA’s sixth best team defensive rating at 103.0 and allows the eighth fewest points per game at 99.8. Though the outside shots aren’t falling as often as they did last year, this committed effort defensively is a great sign for the Hawks as they navigate their second half of the season.

Since losing in overtime to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, January 15th, 108-101, the Atlanta Hawks have kept their opponents under 100 points of offense per game.

Even though the Hawks lost on a buzzer-beater to the Phoenix Suns Saturday night, 98-95, that was the fifth straight game that Atlanta kept its opponent under 100 points, a season-best streak of defensive dominance.

Part of the reason behind the Atlanta Hawks’ rise in defensive tenacity this season has been because of their ability to win the turnover margin in games, aiding in the climb in team defensive rating. The Atlanta Hawks are second in the NBA in steals at 429 and force more turnovers than any team in basketball with 759.

Anchoring the Atlanta defense are starting power forward Paul Millsap and primary wing off the bench Thabo Sefolosha. Millsap and Sefolosha boast the two best individual defensive ratings of anybody on the Atlanta Hawks’ roster in 2015-16 at 98 and 101, respectively. Perhaps what is even better is than nobody on the 15-man roster has a defensive rating worse than 107. Usually there are at least a few guys who can’t play a lick of defense and have individual defensive ratings well above 110.

Next: Atlanta Hawks lose to Suns on buzzer-beater, 98-95

This bodes well for head coach Mike Budenholzer, as his defensive system for the Atlanta Hawks is starting to round into form here in the second half of the 2015-16 NBA season. Atlanta may not have as dominant of an offensive team it had only a year ago, but knowing that its defense is as good with the potential to play even better, Coach Budenholzer can help guide his team on another deep playoff run by leaning on its defense. That is a better recipe for success than living or dying by the three-ball.

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