NBA: 30 Storylines Driving The 2015-16 Season
Jun 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks owner Grant Hill (left) speaks as Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer gestures to Hill during a press conference at Philips Arena. The Atlanta Hawks officially announced today that it was purchased by an ownership group led by Tony Ressler, which Hill is a part of. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Hawks – Can They Do It Again?
Last season the Atlanta Hawks managed to out-Spur the Spurs and take the league by shock and awe when they claimed the best record in the Eastern Conference (and 2nd best in the NBA). Their coach, Mike Budenholzer, hails from the Greg Popovich school of thought, so it should come as no shock that they were able to implement solid team play to make up for not having any superstar players to lean on.
More from NBA News
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers hoping non-Heat team enters Damian Lillard race
- NBA Rumors: Is it inevitable that Donovan Mitchell will end up with Knicks or Nets?
- NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard trade talks to heat up with ‘perspective teams’
- NBA Rumors: Joel Embiid willing to ‘ride out’ James Harden situation?
They essentially had to make a choice in the off-season: DeMarre Carroll or Paul Millsap. They opted to go with the reigning All-Star and more proven commodity. Carroll proved to be a great player for the Hawks last season however, Millsap is simply a bigger necessity for the Hawks. Now, though, Thabo Sefolosha will be tasked with filling Carroll role as the team’s premier wing stopper.
The team filled up some holes in their bench depth with additions like Tiago Splitter and Justin Holiday, and they have a committed ownership group headlined by former NBA All-Star Grant Hill. It won’t be as easy to take the East by surprise from the start this season, and the jury is still out on whether they actually improved as a team in the off-season.
I’m a big fan of Hawks basketball, at least how they played last season, so heres hoping they manage to maintain their spot atop the East this coming season.
Next: Heat: Back? BACK