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Atlanta's primary starting five have epitomized team basketball this season
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How many of you hoop fans plugged the Atlanta Hawks in for the Eastern Conference's number one seed before the season began? Yeah, I thought so. The surprise team from the 'Dirty South' has exploded out to a 50-13 record, good for best in the East, and have almost guaranteed home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks became the first team to 50 wins this season with an impressive beat-down of the Sacramento Kings last night, which saw them break their franchise record for three point field goals made in a single game (20), notch 42 assists, and put up a whopping 76 points in the first half. They continued to do it the way they have the entire season, with impressive ball movement, great play from their All Star point guard Jeff Teague and incredible shooting from multiple players, notably sniper Kyle Korver. The Hawks came out shooting lights out from the get go and had 6 players score in double figures (their five starters and standout backup point guard Dennis Schroder), while shooting a ridiculous 60.2% from the field for the game. Sacramento posed no threat defensively and Kings' All Star center DeMarcus Cousins was never really able to dominate in the paint like he's accustomed to. Despite the lack of a stern test last night, the team basketball and outstanding shooting that Atlanta has displayed throughout this season has carried them to an impressive record and a legitimate shot at winning the Eastern Conference, possibly the NBA Championship. The obvious challenger in the East are the now-seemingly on-track Cleveland Cavaliers, with their successful pre-trade deadline acquisitions to complement the Big Three they formed in the offseason. It's hard to see the Chicago Bulls posing a serious threat moving forward without the face of their franchise in Derrick Rose, but they are also a tough challenge given the strength of their front court. The Hawks are playing arguably the best team basketball in the league this season with no true superstar, which many teams across the league lack, and are emulating the success of the San Antonio Spurs from previous seasons. If the Spurs have laid out the groundwork for winning championships, the Hawks are doing their best to follow that path. The concept of team basketball has gotten a little lost in today's NBA, but the teams that manage to keep all of their pieces involved manage to have the most success. That is no coincidence, and if the Hawks can continue this style and level of play, who's to say that any team can stand in their way of the Larry O'Brien Trophy?
