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The season is over for the Atlanta Hawks and it ended in disappointing fashion with a second consecutive sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. That has led many to suggest that a full reset of Atlanta's roster is necessary but many of the players and coaches do not agree.
Al Horford talked about the postseason loss with USA TODAY's Ray Glier and reiterated his stance that Atlanta's play the right way system can lead this team to greatness.
“I believe it. I believe it in my heart,” center Al Horford said. “I believe that the way we play makes us successful. We just have to figure out how we can take that next step as a group.”
Mike Budenholzer took a similar stance while speaking with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore about whether major roster moves were in order.
“Losing to Cleveland twice is tough,” Budenholzer said. “But to the fanbase, to people who think [about blowing it up], if we want to find a way to beat whether it be Cleveland or whoever the great teams in the league or our conference are, blowing it up is probably not the way to beat a team like Cleveland or whoever it may be that is very good.”
The important thing to remember is that the system versus superstar debate are not mutually exclusive. The Golden State Warriors for example have a superstar player in Stephen Curry and also employ a distinct system that fits their style. The San Antonio Spurs have employed star players but play the game the right way and put the team above themselves.
When the Miami Heat acquired LeBron James and Chris Bosh to go along with Dwayne Wade it took them a season to figure out how to make it work on the court. Michael Jordan's Chicago teams is another great example.
Having a superstar talent isn't enough in today's NBA. Having a superstar talent with an appropriate supporting cast and a system that brings out the best in all of them is the secret to success.
Talent is the key word above and is something that we talked about yesterday when setting the stage for what could be a pivotal offseason for the franchise.
This Hawks team has to find a way to add talent to their pool of players. Top to bottom this roster must improve if they hope to move past the upper echelon in the Eastern Conference. There is nothing wrong with Mike Budenholzer's system and good teams, great teams in the NBA, still play the game the right way.