Hawks leaning on oft-overlooked Carroll, reserves against Cavaliers
ATLANTA -- Twenty-seven hundred fans showed up for Mike Muscala's final D-League appearance. Twenty-seven hundred people in a 63-year-old arena more than 600 miles from the NBA spotlight, logging 30 minutes off the bench for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. That was back in March. He was back on the Atlanta Hawks' bench two nights later, and now, less than two months down the line, he could be the first big man off the bench in the Eastern Conference finals.
Long journey, quick ascension.
"At this level, a lot of it's mental. You have to know that you belong. You have to go out there and compete like that," said Muscala, a 2013 second-round pick out of Bucknell. "If you have any doubts in your mind then you're already at disadvantage."
Muscala, who was stashed in Spain before joining the Hawks as a well-traveled D-League transient last season, is not a unique case on this Hawks roster.
Highlighted by breakout playoff performer DeMarre Carroll, more than half of Atlanta's roster spent at least some time in the NBA's developmental league. Carroll was playing for the Dakota Wizards four years ago -- before being waived by two other NBA teams. Reserve point guard Dennis Schroder spent time with the Bakersfield Jam during his rookie campaign, while Kent Bazemore spent the better part of two years being assigned to and recalled from the Santa Cruz Warriors. Mike Scott and John Jenkins, the team's 2012 draft picks, have followed similar paths.
In a salary-cap league, one with a postseason that has underscored the importance of quality depth, finding and developing bargain-bin talent that fits and complements a team's vision is a necessity. Whether it comes from cost-effective signings in free agency (Carroll) or smart post-lottery drafting (Schroder, Muscala), top teams must find ways to undercut the financial ceiling.
The Hawks' front office isn't the only to find and repurpose previously overlooked players. It's commonplace in a league of contrasting and evolving styles. However, the East's top seed, which will put its team-oriented approach to the test against the LeBron James-led Cavaliers starting Wednesday night, might be relying on such talent more than any other conference finalist.
It starts with Carroll.
As the lone Hawks starter that did not receive an All-Star nod, he's been the team's most consistent player this postseason, boasting team highs in points per game (17.1), offensive rating and win shares. Entering the conference finals, only well-known stars Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Jimmy Butler -- three players eliminated from the field -- posted higher win-share marks this postseason. Another contributing factor: On the other end of the floor, he's the Hawks' best wing defender. Carroll has accepted defensive assignments on opposing stars Joe Johnson and John Wall during this playoff run. A four-time MVP is next.
"Some players have that reserve tank or that extra (energy) or are always playing at a high speed, at a high level, high energy. I think it allows him to be good on both ends," coach and acting general manager Mike Budenholzer said of Carroll. "It's just kind of the way he's built. It's what makes him special.
" ... I think just from the very beginning he has an inherent confidence. We wanted him, we went after him (in free agency). We believed that he could really have a big impact for us. He's done it in open gym starting the first September."
When asked about Carroll being the lone All-Star snub in the starting five, Bazemore, the primary wing sub off the bench thanks to Thabo Sefolosha's season-ending injury, laughed and upped the stakes: "Hopefully he wins Finals MVP. Who knows?"
James is coming off a series in which he effectively shot 40.8 percent from the field and logged 27 turnovers. Though dominant as ever -- he averaged 26.2 points, 11 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the conference semis -- Chicago's Jimmy Butler made him work. That's going to be Carroll's task: Limit the efficiency, limit the damage. He played extremely well against the LeBron during the regular season, but this will be the biggest test of his blossoming career.
Budenholzer's bench might be the most pressing question. The starting unit has dominated opponents this postseason. All other lineup combinations have fallen short of that lofty standard, and if Atlanta is going to get past Cleveland it will likely need its depth to deliver.
"They're learning quickly, they're making adjustments," Horford said of the team's younger contributors. "They're better for it."
Bazemore will provide energy and a reserve LeBron defender off the bench. ("I've got six fouls and I'm willing to use every one of them," he laughed.) Inefficient at times, Schroder played much better in the Wizards series than in the first round and he'll once again serve as a pace-setter looking to get into the paint. Pero Antic, the lone Hawks bench player seeing significant minutes sans past D-League servitude, is another 6-foot-11 body to throw at the Cavs frontline. However, Muscala was far better and stole some of Antic's minutes against Washington. Mike Scott also saw his minutes disappear.
Somewhere in that group -- Schroder being the only first-round pick of the reserves, excluding Elton Brand and John Jenkins -- Budenholzer needs production. On both ends. In this all-too-simplistic narrative of "Top Team vs. Top Player," the Hawks will need quality stretches from many, if not all, of the aforementioned names.
"We'll just kinda see the game and feel the game and the series, and try to make sure we give ourselves our best chance," Budenholzer said. When asked about keeping all players involved despite shifting minutes, he continued, "I think the work they do before and after practice and the work that assistant coaches do with them, playing 3-on-3 with teammates, I think they all know at any moment they can have an opportunity to help their team. They're very committed to their profession.
"They stay ready."
