The Atlanta Hawks have been rebuilding for a few years now and it feels like they may finally be ready to take the leap and make the playoffs.
Since the Atlanta Hawks last made the playoffs in 2017 they’ve slowly been building for the future. A future that hopefully involves the Atlanta Hawks hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
When teams set out on the path of rebuilding there are so many unknowns. It could take as little as one year if you’re lucky enough to land a generational talent but it could also last for decades. And there is no way of knowing which way your franchise might go.
Fortunately for the Atlanta Hawks, they were one of the lucky teams that landed a generational talent in Trae Young within the first two years of their rebuild. The Atlanta Hawks and their fans are more than happy with Trae Young but they could turn quickly if the team doesn’t start producing wins relatively soon.
The Hawks were one of the young Eastern Conference teams that received buzz as a potential playoff team coming into this season. However, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, they fell far short.
The biggest deterrent was the John Collins suspension. If Collins didn’t miss the first 25-games of the season due to an NBA drug policy violation, the Hawks season could have gone much differently.
Assuming Collins and the rest of the Hawks core are available for the majority of games next season, they should have a really great shot at making the playoffs. There are obviously no guarantees, but Hawks fans should, at the very least, be hopeful.
Let’s take a look at three reasons why their playoff chances next season are real.