Hawks dominant defense turning heads

[Jamaaliver]

...the Hawks are second in the league with a team defensive rating of 95.8. They trail only the Clippers at 92.7.. And are also #2 in Net Efficiency Rating as a result. This seems like a trend that will carry us all year.

Hawks’ fourth-quarter defense best in NBA


There is something about that fourth-quarter defense.

The Hawks lead the NBA, by a wide margin, in allowing an average of just 20.1 points in the final period. The Celtics are second by allowing 25.8 fourth-quarter points.

“One of coach’s methods is to wear teams down,” Kent Bazemore said. “That may be what it is. We have such great depth and guys are playing so well off the bench that over time we wear times out.

In stark contrast, the Hawks are tied for last in the NBA with the Nets by allowing 29.0 third-quarter points.


Here’s how the Hawks’ defense ranks by quarter:

Q1: 5th, 24.1

Q2: 10th, 25.7

Q3: 30th, 29.0

Q4: 1st, 20.1

Here

[DirtybirdGA]

So good in the 4th, bad in the 3rd... lol

[Jamaaliver]

So good in the 4th, bad in the 3rd... lol

LOL...definitely my reaction as well.

Sounds like opposing coaches make strong halftime adjustments to get the upper hand.

And then Bud and co. Make counter-moves to offset any gains in the final period.


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[DirtybirdGA]

As long as they pull away with little time left for the opponent is ok.

[Robo_Claw]

Looks like our bench has a lot to do with our defense as well. #1 in Def Efficiency currently.

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fantasy/nba/teamstats/17/7/diffeff/1-1

[D21]

Thta's a strange thing to be 30th in 3rd then 1st in 4th but :
3rd quarter defense doesn't mean anything without offense. If ATL is first in offense in 3rd, it can mean that they are going all offense in 3rd, before increasing defensive pressure in 4th.
You don't have to defend 100% all the game, what is important is to keep a lead, and increase defense some moment.

Not sure this is exactly what happened but it's a possibility.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

...the Hawks have won seven out of their eight games so far this month.

Most importantly, the Hawks have emerged as an elite defensive team again over this last stretch. Atlanta is tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the best defensive rating in the league over the past 10 games.

Per NBA Stats, Atlanta ranks fifth in the league in defensive rating, giving up 102.4 points per 100 possessions on the season. For perspective, the Hawks’ defensive rating of 109.5 ranked 22nd during the team’s worst slump this season in December.

[Jamaaliver]

Hawks' most dominating lineup:

Atlanta Hawks: 15-6 (71.4%)

Dennis Schröder / Kent Bazemore / Thabo Sefolosha / Paul Millsap / Dwight Howard

...Atlanta relies almost entirely on their defense. The phenomenal defensive trio of Sefolosha, Millsap, and Howard absolutely locks up opposing offenses, allowing just a 99.9 offensive rating when they are on the floor together. (That’s way better than San Antonio’s league-best defense.) Even though they have the average margin of victory of a lottery-bound team, the Hawks are in good position to challenge the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards for playoff seeding thanks to their new lineup.

Here

[jayu70]

Hawks' most dominating lineup:

Atlanta Hawks: 15-6 (71.4%)

Dennis Schröder / Kent Bazemore / Thabo Sefolosha / Paul Millsap / Dwight Howard

...Atlanta relies almost entirely on their defense. The phenomenal defensive trio of Sefolosha, Millsap, and Howard absolutely locks up opposing offenses, allowing just a 99.9 offensive rating when they are on the floor together. (That’s way better than San Antonio’s league-best defense.) Even though they have the average margin of victory of a lottery-bound team, the Hawks are in good position to challenge the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards for playoff seeding thanks to their new lineup.

Here

We've missed Thabo these last games.