The Hawks are suddenly back near the top of the playoffs bracket in the East after some mid-season struggles. There were rumors that the front office was considering blowing it up at the trade deadline. But just a month and a half later, they are looking as dangerous as any Eastern team outside of Cleveland and Toronto.
Al Horford and Paul Millsap still don’t get the recognition they deserve
The Hawks are only as good as their underrated and skilled frontcourt, both of whom remain overlooked when talking about the league’s best big men. Here’s what makes them so good.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
After a magical 60-win season last year, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see them remain among the conference’s elite. But considering their lack of obvious star power or unusual depth, their success could be considered unusual. Especially after they were meekly defeated by Cleveland in last year’s conference finals, and then lost top-wing defender DeMarre Carroll in free agency.
The best way to understand what makes the Hawks successful is to focus on their two underrated starting big men, Paul Millsap and Al Horford. They set the tone for everything Atlanta does well on both ends and are the engine that power one of the best teams in the conference. Neither gets the recognition they deserve.
Millsap creates chaos and Horford provides stability
It’s hard to be disruptive and in control at the same time on defense. Teams that get a lot of steals typically foul a lot, and when their gambles don’t pay off, they end up giving easy buckets in the paint. The Hawks, who have the best defense in the league since the New Year and the second-best for the season, have found the perfect balance between creating turnovers without it compromising the rest of their defense. That’s because of Millsap and Horford.
Millsap may seem a little small for a power forward, but he has a massive 7'1 wingspan. That length, combined with a low center of gravity, makes him an elite defender. Think about him as a proto-Draymond Green, someone who makes life hell to players that are bigger than him because he can hold his own when they try to bully him, yet has fantastic hands and mobility that allow him to get in passing lanes or strip smaller ball-handlers. He gets almost two steals per game, the most by any big man in the league.
While Millsap is disruptive in the traditional sense, Horford’s work is more subtle, but equally important. He won’t get gaudy steal numbers, but that’s because he shuts down passing lanes before they become available, forcing the offense away from an option it thought would be available. He leaves non-shooting centers open to play goalie, allowing the perimeter defenders to be aggressive. He makes a huge impact just by knowing where to stand.
The two big men personify the Hawks’ defensive principles. They are disruptive while still playing smart. They swarm careless ball-handlers not only with their perimeter players, but also with Millsap, in order to create turnovers. At the same time, they also know that being aggressive all the time could backfire. Sometimes, simply taking away easy baskets is the way to go, and Horford is a master at that.
As a result, Atlanta gets the third-most steals per game in the league while committing very few fouls and allowing a low percentage near the rim. That combination is extremely rare.
Their versatility keys the Hawks’ offense
Millsap and Horford and not only key on defense, like many other big men, but they also play an essential part in diversifying an offense that is designed to get three-point looks and help specialists get easy buckets.
The Hawks have two points guards who are shaky three-pointers off the dribble, which means every opponent goes under screens against them. If big men were allowed to drop back, as well, the paint would be shut off for dribble penetration. Yet, despite that widespread defensive coverage, the Hawks are fourth in the league in drives per game, according to SportVU tracking stats. That’s only possible because both Millsap and Horford are threats from the outside and incredibly crafty on-ball screeners. They prevent their men from packing the paint.
Both are also excellent passers on top of being dangerous shooters, which unlocks so much of what the Hawks' wings do on offense. The Hawks don't have many secondary perimeter creators on the court in almost any lineup, so when the point guard can't create, it's on Millsap and Horford to put Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore in scoring positions. They do that by using the threat of their shooting to clear the paint and facilitate from the perimeter.
How does a team that lacks elite shot creators leads the league in catch-and-shoot opportunities while ranking in the top 10 in shots close to the rim? Because of Paul Millsap and Al Horford.
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The Hawks will have to think long and hard about their future in the offseason as Horford’s free agency approaches. If they let him go, replicating the success they’ve had so far will be extremely difficult to do. The entire teams is built on having two big men who can do it all. It’ll be nearly impossible to find a replacement that replicates Horford’s skill set.
For now, this core will have another shot at pushing for 50 wins and going deep in the playoffs, and a second conference finals appearance is not out of the question.
Perhaps then Millsap and Horford will finally get the credit they deserve. It’s long overdue.
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