Atlanta Hawks

Without a star, Hawks depending on coach Budenholzer to get them back on track

Published May. 5, 2015 1:22 p.m. ET

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The Atlanta Hawks are on a mission: To prove that a team can win an NBA title without a superstar. Sure, it's been done before, by teams like the Detroit Pistons of the early-00s. But it's not a coincidence that 2014-15 will be the first NBA Finals without Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant since 1998.

But there's undoubtedly value in having a star on the court in the pressure-packed environs of the NBA playoffs, as that leader can put the team on his back and steer through troubled waters. But the Hawks don't have that player, so they're instead dependent on coach Mike Budenholzer to get them through their 0-1 second-round hole against the Wizards.

And it all starts early for Atlanta, Fred Katz writes at Bleacher Report:

"The Hawks' guards make a concerted effort to run the ball up the court and begin their sets with enough time to run a couple of plays.

"'Our offense has more to do with pace,' said [DeMarre] Carroll. 'The more pace we have, the more flow we add into our offense with rhythm.'

"Starting quickly allows Atlanta to run another play or find secondary or tertiary options if the first ones fail. Even if a play takes a little longer than anticipated, the Hawks will often reverse the course off the ball, sending it to a point guard on the weak side or at the top of the key, set a quick ball-screen and run a meticulous pick-and-roll with the floor spread—another obvious Spursian trait."

In Game 1, the Wizards were able to limit the Hawks in transition and gum up Atlanta's initial offense. And Washington did it without overhelping or putting too much pressure on the backline of its defense. If the Hawks are to win Game 2 and even things up, Budenholzer will have to figure out a way to get Atlanta back into its early rhythm in the face of Washington's defensive adjustments.

(h/t Bleacher Report)

Photo Credit: John Bazemore/AP