An annual train at this level within the NBA season is to guage and grade an A crew based mostly on how they performed all through the season, in comparison with expectations. The Atlanta Hawks are an attention-grabbing crew going into video games forty fourth 12 months into the season. They’re simply 22-22 and presently in eighth place within the Japanese Convention, however they’ve outperformed (to this point) the expectations most had for them.
Regardless of their inconsistencies, the Hawks have proven that they will beat one of the best groups within the NBA. They’ve two wins over the Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers, to not point out different groups just like the Bucks and Lakers. Dyson Daniels has developed into top-of-the-line younger defenders within the league, Jalen Johnson has been taking part in at an All-Star stage for a lot of the 12 months, and De’andre Hunter is having one of the best season of his profession. Whereas Atlanta is probably not an NBA Finals contender, they’re a tricky crew when totally wholesome and could possibly be a risk to earn a run within the playoffs.
In relation to grades, there appears to be consensus that the Hawks deserve at the least a B, and ESPN’s Kevin Pelton gave the Hawks a B+:
Projected preseason wins: 36.5
Projected Mid-Season Wins: 41.9
Why this ranking: “The expectation was that the Hawks can be tied with final season’s 36-46 crew after breaking apart the Dejounte Murray-Trae duo in steals (3.1 per sport), whereas Jalen Johnson has develop into a powerful No. 2 choice on offense.
How they will enhance: Get higher play from No. 1 choose Zaccharie Risacher or scale back his position. Risacher has began 37 of the 39 video games he has performed, however is taking pictures simply 28% on 3s. Risacher’s growth is essential, however the proof that taking part in extra interprets into progress is blended. “
I believe a B+ is truthful. The Hawks aren’t essentially the most constant crew within the league, seemingly alternating between profitable streaks and dropping streaks, however they’ve proven quite a lot of promise. They’re going to be one of the vital attention-grabbing groups on the commerce deadline due to the potential for being consumers or sellers. Atlanta has the flexibleness to be both.
The large query popping out of final evening’s loss is the standing of Jalen Johnson. Johnson left final evening’s sport in opposition to the Raptors with a shoulder harm and was dominated out rapidly. It is exhausting to overstate how essential Johnson is to the crew and what an harm would do to the playoff hopes.
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