Atlanta Hawks Changing the Minds of Skeptics
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night 107-99. The big question now is if there is anyone still doubting if Atlanta is a true Eastern Conference contender.
If anyone still does, then he or she has not been watching the NBA this past week.
In their win on Saturday, the Hawks took an early lead, held Chicago at bay most of the game by double-digits, and then held on down the stretch despite Derrick Rose making some superb plays for the Bulls.
The win for Atlanta ended a week that saw the Hawks stomp on the three teams behind them in the Eastern Conference standings.
On Sunday, they defeated the Wizards by a whopping 31 points. The Hawks then defeated the Raptors on Friday by 21 and the Bulls on Saturday by 8.
Rose said the Hawks are great when it comes to ball movement on offense and their defense can be suffocating.
Atlanta has won 12 straight and 26 of its past 28 overall since Thanksgiving.
The game on Saturday was the halfway point on the schedule for Atlanta and already its 33rd win.
Last season the Hawks reached the postseason but won only 38 games the entire season.
Atlanta now returns home to end the month with a home stand of seven games.
Only the Golden State Warriors can rival the team shooting ability of Atlanta.
Kyle Korver the Hawks three-point specialist scored 24 points on Saturday against Chicago, but took just 10 shots.
Every one of Korver’s baskets was from beyond the three-point line. The Bulls could not keep track of help in transition.
However, what elevates the Hawks is not the long range offensive barrage by Korver and teammates. It is the team’s unselfishness and defense.
On Saturday, Atlanta had 31 assists on the night on 40 field goals.
During Atlanta’s just completed week of 5-0, the team had 30 assists or more on four occasions.
The team’s assists come for everyone. Jeff Teague had 11 to pace the Hawks, but Al Horford and Paul Millsap, two of Atlanta’s big men, combined to dish out 10. Seven Atlanta players had 2 or more assists.
Korver said this year’s Hawks team reminded him of his first season in Chicago and he has enjoyed every minute of it so far.
Defensively, the Hawks lead the NBA in defensive efficiency during the period they have 26 wins in 28 games.
The team plays great defense as a team, as they have mobile big men, which means the team can switch coverage.
Odds maker recently released updated odds for the NBA title and gave the Hawks a 38% of winning the title.
With seven straight home games now in front of them, Atlanta could stretch its lead over the rest of the East prior to the break for the All-Star Game.
