Atlanta Hawks: 2015-16 positives, negatives from first half
By John Buhler
Top five defense. What has been arguably the best part about the Atlanta Hawks’ first half of the 2015-16 NBA season is that they are a better defensive team than they were last year. Atlanta is fifth in team defensive rating, allowing 102.4 points per 100 possessions and seventh in points allowed per game at 99.7.
Being able to dictate pace from dominance on the defensive end will only add to the Hawks’ overall game should the offense take off in the second half, as they are 15th in the NBA in team offensive rating at 105.2 points per 100 possessions and 12th in points per game at 102.4.
Player development program. The player development program of head coach Mike Budenholzer and his staff has helped elevate the play of several key players on the Atlanta Hawks’ 2015-16 roster. Kent Bazemore has become a worthy starting small forward in the Association and will command a significant pay raise in free agency this summer. Bazemore’s shooting has made him a valuable commodity in the league, as he is not just a defensive specialist anymore.
Shooting guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. has become a rotational player for the Hawks, as Budenholzer feels comfortable playing him now that he understands the tenacity he has to bring on the defensive end. He’s still not completely polished as an NBA player, but does seem to have the necessary student mentality to grow in the league and make a name for himself, getting out of the shadow of his All-Star father.
Other players like Mike Scott and Mike Muscala have made the most of their extended minutes in the first half of 2015-16. Budenholzer is comfortable in playing both former second round picks ample minutes in bigger roles in the Atlanta Hawks’ bench rotation.
Paul Millsap is an All-NBA caliber player. Paul Millsap is now a three-time NBA All-Star since coming to the Atlanta Hawks in summer of 2013. He’s a widely respective player among his peers and the league’s coaches. One could argue that Paul Millsap is the most underrated All-NBA caliber player in the National Basketball Association.
He’s highly efficient on both ends of the court, boasting a team-best 98 defensive rating and a great 111 offensive rating, the best among the Atlanta starters. Millsap is averaging nearly a double-double with 19.7 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.
He leads the team in PER (22.5), win shares (7.2), and value over replacement player (3.2). Paul Millsap’s first half has him in contention for his first All-NBA team nod. He’s been arguably the best power forward in the Eastern Conference in the first half of the 2015-16 NBA season.
Next: Negatives