Atlanta Hawks Final 20 Games Prediction
By Chris Guest
Magic @ Hawks, 4/1/18
This April Fool’s Day bout is no joke in terms of best odds for the number one overall pick, as both Orlando and Atlanta should be firmly in the running at this late point in the season.
Neither team should be shooting for the stars in this game, and the Hawks won only one of the previous three meetings between these two teams, 117-110.
This will be the last game the Hawks will play against a bottom-feeder, making it their last chance to pad their loss total.
Prediction: Hawks lose 115-92 (22-55)
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Hawks @ Heat, 4/3/18
The Heat should be in the thick of the playoff race at this late point in the season, and Atlanta has split their previous two meetings with Miami this season.
With Dwyane Wade back in the fold, the Heat should be barreling into a lower seed in the Eastern Conference behind Wade’s talismanic presence.
Prediction: Hawks lose 110-95 (22-56)
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Heat @ Hawks, 4/4/18
A road/home back-to-back with Miami for the Hawks might catch the home team unawares on this night, especially as this will be Atlanta’s fourth game in five days.
Again, the Heat will likely be jostling for playoff position, but sometimes this young Hawks team can get a little frisky at home against playoff-bound teams, and this might be a perfect opportunity for the Hawks to notch a late upset and go into the offseason with a sunnier disposition than might be expected.
Prediction: Hawks win 106-99 (23-56)
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Hawks @ Wizards, 4/6/18
The Wizards will almost certainly have a playoff spot locked up at this point, but they might have a reason to play hard in this game if seeding is still up in the air.
Even if the Wiz rest their main guys, the Wizards always seem to get up against Atlanta, and the Hawks will be coasting in the late season.
Prediction: Hawks lose 94-83 (23-57)
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Hawks @ Celtics, 4/8/18
The Celtics will almost certainly have a top-2 seed locked up in the Eastern Conference, but they might still be in the mix to grab the 1 seed from the juggernaut Toronto Raptors.
Kyrie Irving might take a page from LeBron James’s gamesmanship handbook and sit out for this game – feigning disinterest because of the Raptors’ lack of playoff pedigree.
Whatever the case, the Celtics have far more talent than the Hawks do, and Boston won these two teams’ only previous meeting by a 110 to 99 margin despite 31 points from Taurean Prince.
Prediction: Hawks lose 104-85 (23-58)
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76ers @ Hawks, 4/10/18
In the Hawks’ last game of the season, there are many variables about whether or not Philadelphia will play a full regiment of their big names.
If their seeding is locked up, it is likely that Philly will rest its injury-prone studs Embiid and Simmons, possibly opening the door for Atlanta to steal one in Philips Arena on the final game of the regular season.
Next: Tank Watch 2018: The Race for the Top Pick
With a finishing flourish, Kent Bazemore notches his first career triple-double, Dennis Schröder drops a career-high 40 and rookie John Collins pops off for a 20-point, 20-rebound masterpiece – setting up a fascinating offseason with style and panache. (A man can dream, right?)