Atlanta Hawks: Fun with numbers

Hoopdata.com has updated its stats through last night’s games and they reveal that the Hawks are the best team in the league.

After two games. Against bad opponents.

OK, it doesn’t mean much. But what’s the harm in my blog people looking at these lovely numbers before reality rears its (potentially disappointing) head?

The Hawks are No. 1 in defensive efficiency and No. 3 in offensive efficiency. They are No. 1 in opponent effective-field goal percentage and No. 3 in defensive rebounding rate.

Atlanta is No. 5 in true-shooting percentage , No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage and No. 4 in three-point attempts. The Hawks are No. 9 in free-throw rate and No. 3 in free-throw percentage.

Alas, there are some things that not even a miniscule sample size and lackluster opponents can cure. The Hawks rank No. 16 in block rate and 27 percent of their 161 field-goal attempts have been long 2s after 30 percent of their attempts last season came from the most inefficient distance.

Still, block rates don’t mean as much when the Hawks are holding opponents to .8 points per possession and the long 2s are not as damaging when they are shooting just as many 3s and making them at a good clip. Of course, these developments may not continue once the competition stiffens but the Hawks are dominating lesser opponents and that’s the best result possible at the moment.

Plus, isn’t it fun to look at those numbers no matter the context?

Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat