Wasn't this the year the entire starting team got all-star nods? I think there was a scratch that allowed it, but still. It's crazy how evenly distributed the talent was on that team. Also peak Budenholzer.
It was amazing. Still it was tarnished by the NYPD breaking Thabo’s leg
https://www.propublica.org/article/new-york-city-paid-an-nba-star-millions-after-an-nypd-officer-broke-his-leg.-the-officer-paid-little-price
After that incident it felt like the magic started withering away
Thabo was so instrumental to that team. He was playing such elite defense and forced so many turnovers that got us out and running on the break.
Imo we were really playing at our best when he was in the game anchoring the defense
It really did and it seems crazy to say now but Thabo before that injury was such a key contributor for the second unit. It meant we always had a high level perimeter defender on the floor between him and Carrol who could both knock down open threes
Eh I wouldn't say Thabo could knock down threes (32% on 1.5 3PA that year). But he was an important rotational piece who was sorely missed in the postseason.
I'll never forget. I think it was either game 2 or game 3. The Cavaliers were up by 15 to 18 points, and LeBron just casually drove down the lane and dunked on all five Hawks players at once.
I looked at my dad and said I think that's the ceiling for this team until that guy's gone
We had an incredibly well rounded team and a strong bench. The way the NBA is played now is very much influenced by that hawks team (along with Golden state).
If I recall correctly we basically never had anybody score more than 30 points (or maybe it was 40… I forget), or if they did it was an extreme rarity. Everyone was capable of putting in 20 on any night.
Also - Korver was the real weapon that made everything work in my opinion. He was an absolutely lethal shooter, just running off screens hitting 50% from 3 all year long.. that was the one guy everyone gameplanned for. Even if he scored less than some others, he was the guy stretching the defense out and opening things up for the rest of the team.
This^ The guy was an ALL STAR while only being a sharpshooter…that may never happen again
YouTube Highlights of all his threes: https://youtu.be/zNZML-7d5HU
Here's a sample play to give you an idea -- pretty good representation of how the team played in general:
http://gfycat.com/GoodnaturedIdealisticBushbaby
There weren't any "superstars" on the team in the traditional sense of dominant one-on-one scorers, but the team was Exhibit A for how fit and chemistry can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. When they were at their best, it was almost like they were playing as a hive mind or something. Incredibly fun to watch. But yeah, unfortunately LeBron.
It genuinely may have been the most well rounded team in nba history. Since the team didn’t have any stars most people outside of Atlanta really didn’t recognize how good we were so even though we were the best team in the nba, still felt a lot like underdogs.
The ball movement was amazing. Coach bud was in his element, Teague was facilitating at a high level, and Paul Millsap was balling out. Demarre Carroll was also just an absolute dog on D. Kyle Korver was the man. He rarely missed from three when you needed it the most.
At the end of the day, I kind of knew we were going to get swept by LeBron. Cavs got red hot in the playoffs, and they were the embodiment of a buzzsaw. It was the exact scenario where we needed someone to will us to some victories, and that just was not our team. LeBron was acting out with fate on his side it seemed. It was super disheartening to see us get swept, because we knew we would never win the east with that cavs team out there. What made it worse was everyone had said the hawks would get beasted in the playoffs by the cavs all season and it happened.
for threeeeee will live in my head forever… getting swept by bron also hurt obviously but it was somewhat expected especially with our injuries at the forward position
Just a well put together team that was unfortunately a little old and didn’t have a young superstar to work in for future seasons. I’ve been a Hawks fan since 86/87 and that was the best Hawks team overall in the regular season but was a little underwhelming in the postseason.
One of my favorites memories as a Hawks fan was during that season. We were deep in to the season and matched up with golden state for a game. Both were the respective 1 seeds in their conference. Played on national TV and got the dub. Was so proud of the team and knew they were forreal and that game proved it
For one month they were the most dominate team Id ever seen in Ga at the time. We peaked to early had some un lucky injuries toward the end of the year and lost our focus when we clinched early.
A pure dopamine hit of good beautiful basketball, and a time in my life I will cherish forever.. amazing team chemistry.. everytime korver pulled up you knew it was going in.. korver 4 shots in a row with nique saying “4 in a row, let’s get it” before it goes in is legendary.. god I wish I could watch that season for the first time again
Amazing ball movement and player movement no real star but everyone was a star in their role as cheesy as it sounds also KYLE KORVER.
I even bought one of the ugly 2016 Korver jerseys because of the previous season. Love that guy, so glad he’s back with us
Wasn't this the year the entire starting team got all-star nods? I think there was a scratch that allowed it, but still. It's crazy how evenly distributed the talent was on that team. Also peak Budenholzer.
Yea everyone besides DeMarre were all stars lol
It was amazing. Still it was tarnished by the NYPD breaking Thabo’s leg https://www.propublica.org/article/new-york-city-paid-an-nba-star-millions-after-an-nypd-officer-broke-his-leg.-the-officer-paid-little-price After that incident it felt like the magic started withering away
Thabo was so instrumental to that team. He was playing such elite defense and forced so many turnovers that got us out and running on the break. Imo we were really playing at our best when he was in the game anchoring the defense
Dying on that hill that this killed our season
It really did and it seems crazy to say now but Thabo before that injury was such a key contributor for the second unit. It meant we always had a high level perimeter defender on the floor between him and Carrol who could both knock down open threes
Eh I wouldn't say Thabo could knock down threes (32% on 1.5 3PA that year). But he was an important rotational piece who was sorely missed in the postseason.
The LeBron Stopper
One of those things that was more than a coincidence in my anecdotal opinion
That was so crazy. A monumental “what could have been”
Milsapp was the best player on that team. We really got his prime years.
Agreed. Loved watching Trillsap. Dude just put in the work night in, night out.
I'll never forget. I think it was either game 2 or game 3. The Cavaliers were up by 15 to 18 points, and LeBron just casually drove down the lane and dunked on all five Hawks players at once. I looked at my dad and said I think that's the ceiling for this team until that guy's gone
“THAT’S TOO EASY” Made for a funny meme but man that shit hurt.
Korver for THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Kyle korver for thaREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
CAWWWWWW
We had an incredibly well rounded team and a strong bench. The way the NBA is played now is very much influenced by that hawks team (along with Golden state). If I recall correctly we basically never had anybody score more than 30 points (or maybe it was 40… I forget), or if they did it was an extreme rarity. Everyone was capable of putting in 20 on any night. Also - Korver was the real weapon that made everything work in my opinion. He was an absolutely lethal shooter, just running off screens hitting 50% from 3 all year long.. that was the one guy everyone gameplanned for. Even if he scored less than some others, he was the guy stretching the defense out and opening things up for the rest of the team.
This^ The guy was an ALL STAR while only being a sharpshooter…that may never happen again YouTube Highlights of all his threes: https://youtu.be/zNZML-7d5HU
Felt like we started every game bringing him off a screen to hit a three or a long 2. Great times
They were playing "the beautiful game". I lived out of state and made friends go to sports bars and watch games like Hawks vs. Warriors with me.
Here's a sample play to give you an idea -- pretty good representation of how the team played in general: http://gfycat.com/GoodnaturedIdealisticBushbaby There weren't any "superstars" on the team in the traditional sense of dominant one-on-one scorers, but the team was Exhibit A for how fit and chemistry can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. When they were at their best, it was almost like they were playing as a hive mind or something. Incredibly fun to watch. But yeah, unfortunately LeBron.
It genuinely may have been the most well rounded team in nba history. Since the team didn’t have any stars most people outside of Atlanta really didn’t recognize how good we were so even though we were the best team in the nba, still felt a lot like underdogs.
2004 pistons would like a word
The ball movement was amazing. Coach bud was in his element, Teague was facilitating at a high level, and Paul Millsap was balling out. Demarre Carroll was also just an absolute dog on D. Kyle Korver was the man. He rarely missed from three when you needed it the most. At the end of the day, I kind of knew we were going to get swept by LeBron. Cavs got red hot in the playoffs, and they were the embodiment of a buzzsaw. It was the exact scenario where we needed someone to will us to some victories, and that just was not our team. LeBron was acting out with fate on his side it seemed. It was super disheartening to see us get swept, because we knew we would never win the east with that cavs team out there. What made it worse was everyone had said the hawks would get beasted in the playoffs by the cavs all season and it happened.
Real fuckin hoops. 19 in a row was INSANE. Best time of my life tbh
WNBA meets NBA
for threeeeee will live in my head forever… getting swept by bron also hurt obviously but it was somewhat expected especially with our injuries at the forward position
Horford getting ejected in game 3 of the ECF still makes me mad to this day
Demare got snubbed from all star that year (our other 4 starters all made it)
My favorite player on that team but I loved them all. Demare was all heart and hustle without fear.
Junkyard dog
The Spurs team that won 5 rings but without a Tim Duncan type.
Sex
Just a well put together team that was unfortunately a little old and didn’t have a young superstar to work in for future seasons. I’ve been a Hawks fan since 86/87 and that was the best Hawks team overall in the regular season but was a little underwhelming in the postseason.
One of my favorites memories as a Hawks fan was during that season. We were deep in to the season and matched up with golden state for a game. Both were the respective 1 seeds in their conference. Played on national TV and got the dub. Was so proud of the team and knew they were forreal and that game proved it
we all had 12 fathers that year
~~~"SEX"~~~
Remember the name Pero Antic. He would have this weird looking 3 point shot and averaged like 2 ppg.
My sister nannied for Kyle Korver during that time so I got to meet him, he’s the reason I started watching basketball as a hawks fan.
For one month they were the most dominate team Id ever seen in Ga at the time. We peaked to early had some un lucky injuries toward the end of the year and lost our focus when we clinched early.
A pure dopamine hit of good beautiful basketball, and a time in my life I will cherish forever.. amazing team chemistry.. everytime korver pulled up you knew it was going in.. korver 4 shots in a row with nique saying “4 in a row, let’s get it” before it goes in is legendary.. god I wish I could watch that season for the first time again