Final season, the Atlanta Hawks have been one of the most marvel groups within the NBA.
They completed 41-31, just right sufficient for 5th position within the Jap Convention, and after a powerful 4-1 sequence victory over the New York Knicks within the opening spherical of the playoffs, they shocked some observers through defeating Joel Embiid and the closely preferred Philadelphia 76ers within the semifinals, successful Sport 5 and Sport 7 in Philly.
This 12 months, the Hawks haven’t been just about as a success, and they’ll have to start the postseason through collaborating within the play-in event.
Nonetheless, no person within the East must underestimate Atlanta.
The Hawks Have Had Some Luck Towards The Most sensible Groups In The East
Atlanta has been up and down all season, however they’ve been aggressive towards the groups maximum believe to be championship contenders.
This common season, the Hawks have taken two of 3 video games towards the protecting NBA champion Milwaukee Dollars, the group that ended their spectacular run through defeating them within the Jap Convention Finals.
Atlanta has additionally received certainly one of 3 video games towards each the Sixers and Miami Warmth whilst taking two of 4 contests as opposed to the Boston Celtics, one of the most league’s freshest groups of overdue.
Extra importantly, towards the 2 hardest groups they might face within the play-in event, the Hawks have finished moderately neatly.
Atlanta is 3-1 as opposed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even supposing they’ve long past simply 1-2 towards the eighth-seeded Brooklyn Nets, they did beat them simply ultimate Saturday, 122-115.
TRAE YOUNG HAS ICE IN HIS VEINS ❄
Dagger for Hawks over the Nets 🙌percent.twitter.com/IZGyhiicJ9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 3, 2022
In that contest, the Hawks held Nets superstar Kyrie Irving to a dark 12-of-32 capturing efficiency, and even supposing he had 31 issues, it was once an overly inefficient 31 issues.
Two nights earlier than that, Atlanta blew out Cleveland 131-107 as Cavs standout Darius Garland shot simply 7-of-21 from the sector.
The Hawks Are Very Environment friendly Offensively
One among Atlanta’s largest strengths is in total offensive accuracy.
They lately rank 2nd within the NBA in offensive score, 6th in issues in step with recreation, and 2nd in 3-point capturing share.
The Hawks also are a group that doesn’t make a ton of errors, commiting the fewest turnovers within the league.
That makes it difficult for warring parties to fast-break on them and cross on large, game-changing runs towards them.
Even higher, Atlanta is fourth in loose throw share and tenth in loose throw makes an attempt.
The group doesn’t get a lot press as an offensive juggernaut, however it’s about as in a position to large video games on that finish of the ground as some other squad within the NBA.
The Giant Elephant In The Room
However most likely the most important explanation why the Hawks will probably be unhealthy as soon as the “2nd season” starts is Trae Younger.
In his fourth season within the professionals, he has put in combination his greatest season but, averaging 28.2 issues and 9.7 assists in step with recreation.
Younger has additionally advanced his potency and is hitting a career-best 38.3 p.c of his 3-pointers.
He has compiled 10 video games of no less than 40 issues this season to this point, together with a 56-point, 14-assist masterclass as opposed to the Portland Path Blazers in early January.
🤯 @TheTraeYoung turns into the primary participant in @NBAHistory with 56 issues and 14 assists in a recreation. percent.twitter.com/Sy4sbWeFJg
— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2022
If Younger is going off towards the Nets or Cavs all over the play-in event, it may well be lighting fixtures out for both squad.