NBA AM: Are You Sleeping On The Hawks?

Hawks ready to emerge as a sleeper in the Eastern Conference?

Even after recording their seventh-straight playoff appearance, the Atlanta Hawks are still searching for mainstream respect. The team reached the postseason in 2014 despite playing most of the campaign without two-time All-Star center Al Horford.

Horford is still working his way back from a second torn pectoral muscle, but recently returned to work his first five-on-five drills with the team. The veteran center believes this the most talented version of the Hawks he’s played on since entering the league in 2007.

“I think this is probably the deepest team I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” Horford told the Associated Press. “I’m real confident in our guys, the way they work and how they’ve played. I’m so excited about our team.

Horford also stated getting back into the loop, specifically the five-on-five drills was a positive for his piece of mind as we inch closer to the regular season.

“I felt good and I was glad to be back in the flow of things, working in the offense and getting some reps defensively,” Horford said. “That was important for me.”

Teammate Kyle Korver echoes Horford’s excitement about the coming season. Korver also notes that the Hawks might have one of the best chemistries in the league – after a summer of continuity.

“I just think everyone is very comfortable,” Korver said.  “Our management and coaching staff have done a good job of bringing in players who fit our system well. A big part of what we do is chemistry. This isn’t an isolation-heavy system. A big part of what we do is predicated on ball movement and chemistry and having a good feel for each other.

“Having 12 of our 15 back for a second year, and having a few new guys that are catching on quick, it’s just another year of building that.”

The Hawks re-signed forwards Elton Brand and Mike Scott during the offseason and managed to lure guards Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha via free agency. The team will also be aided by the return of third year guard John Jenkins who missed the majority of last season ailing from a back injury.

The Hawks open the regular season on October 29 at Toronto.

Suns expecting Anthony Tolliver to fill Channing Frye’s shoes

The Phoenix Suns flirted with 50 wins last season and narrowly missed securing a spot in the playoffs in a perennially tough Western Conference. The team won’t be able to sneak up on anyone this season and there are many who believe the team will come crashing back to earth.

The most noticeable piece missing from last year’s unit is veteran forward Channing Frye who started all 82 games for the Suns last season and posted averages of 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. More importantly, Frye connected on 37 percent of his three-point attempts, knocking down 160 during the 2013-14 campaign. Phoenix will undoubtedly need to replace Frye’s ability to stretch defenses and may have a guy on the roster ready to accept the role.

Veteran forward Anthony Tolliver signed a two-year $6 million deal with the Suns this past summer. Tolliver has connected on 35 percent of his three-point attempts throughout his six year career. Last season, with the Charlotte Hornets, Tolliver shot 41 percent on three percentage in Charlotte last season and may have found a long term role.

“It really, honestly made me realize how valuable my role is on this team — to spread the floor,” Tolliver told Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. “I felt like everybody was on top of each other a little bit. Part of that is it being early in the season but part of that is that’s what I do, being more of a spread four (power forward).”

There’s no question if Tolliver can shoot 41 percent from three-point range, the Suns will be in good shape come playoff time.

“What I hope to do every single year is come back a better player overall but also, for sure, better at my craft and that’s shooting,” Tolliver said. “Last year, I finished in the top 15 for 3-point percentage. This year, the goal is top five.”

Tolliver averaged 6.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 64 appearances with the Hornets last season.