The Atlanta Hawks have qualified for the 2020-21 NBA playoffs. They beat the Washington Wizards in both of the home games and to top it off the Boston Celtics lost their matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers meaning that they are now unable to qualify directly for the playoffs.
The Hawks left it to the last minute to ensure they would qualify directly for the playoffs. They were down by 12 points early in the final before coming back to win the contest by four points. Again Trae Young led the way with 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists
The Hawks were without De’Andre Hunter who sat out due to injury management. He looked good in his first game back but the Hawks are playing the long game with Hunter. He is too valuable to this team to risk losing him in a regular-season game with the playoffs just around the corner.
The Atlanta Hawks just need to keep winning
More from Soaring Down South
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
The Hawks are so close to locking up the fourth seed. This will be tremendous for the franchise as it will give them the home-court advantage in the first round. This is crucial for the Hawks as they have been tremendous at defending their home court since the All-Star break.
On the flip side, they have been poor travelers. However, given how they have played this season, they deserve to have the advantage in the first round. They are now half a game in front of the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks.
The last two games for the Hawks are relatively easy, against the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets. Both teams have started to rebuild this season but the Hawks cannot take these games easily as they are still NBA teams.
The Heat take on the Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and finish against the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks have an easier schedule, where they play the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets and finish off against the Boston Celtics.
If the Heat loses a game and the Knicks don’t then the Knicks will finish in fourth thanks to the tiebreaker situation. If all teams win their remaining games, then the Hawks stay on top. The Hawks can only control their results but they can keep pressure on their competitors by continuing to win.