[SPORTS EXCLUSIVE] Atlanta Hawks Share a Bit of Strategy for Playoffs

On Friday, April 3rd, the day before the Atlanta Hawks faced the Brooklyn Nets, I had the pleasure to attend a practice session with the Hawks. I also got an opportunity to speak with Kent Bazemore, DeMarre Carroll and Coach Mike Budenhozer before the Saturday nights big game.

The Hawks beat the Nets with ease, 131-99, on Saturday night. One thing I knew that if the Nets fail to make the playoffs, the Hawks would get their lottery pick. When I asked Bazemore how important is getting that lottery pick, his response was “It’s very important, especially for a franchise that doesn’t land a lot of big time free agents. So taking advantage of your picks and building your in-house guys is very important to us. If they get out of the playoffs, it would be a really good pick for us.” Bazemore was perfect from the field making all four of his attempts and three of those coming from downtown, he finished with 11 points and 5 assists.

The starters didn’t really play that much this game and every player on the Hawks bench got 9 minutes or more of playing time. I asked Coach Budenholzer if resting the starters will affect his momentum going into the playoffs or he think it will help make his bench deeper. “I think it would make our bench deeper, make us better prepared and put us in a better place for the playoffs,” said Budenholzer. DeMarre Carroll led the Hawks with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. I asked Carroll will his scoring increase in the playoffs, since he has been averaging 19 points the last three games.

Carroll said “I just focus on defense, offense is a plus. My main focus is defense, I just try to hit the open shot when my teammates get me.” Carroll held former Hawk Joe Johnson to just 4 points in 20 minutes of action. When I asked Carroll if he is one of the best NBA perimeter defenders, his response: “I believe I am, everybody has their opinions. Hopefully I keep doing what I’m doing and I get on one of those all-defensive teams. That will be a start for me.”

The Nets are currently in 7th place in the East and battling the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics for the last two playoffs spots in the Eastern Conference. I asked Kent Bazemore if they could face the Celtics, Nets or Heat in the first round, which team he see as a favorable matchup. “I would think the Heat, if you could choose everybody would be happy. I think for us we play the best basketball we can, I don’t think it really matters who we face. I think we a good chance of beating a lot of teams when we playing Atlanta Hawks style of basketball,” said Bazemore.

The Hawks face the Nets the final time this season on Wednesday and have won all three matchups against them. I think the Nets or Celtics would be an easier opponent than Miami. Chris Bosh is out for the season and Miami would be more of a challenge. The Hawks should be well rested once the playoffs start and should be able to count on their bench also.

Photo Credit: USA Today