Atlanta Hawks: This team can still win a loaded Eastern Conference

The Atlanta Hawks did the unthinkable last season. They made a coaching change mid-season, went on a tear winning their first eight games under coach Nate McMillan. They were a Greek Freak-sized wall away from going to the NBA Finals.

The Hawks were no one’s favorite coming out of the east, let alone getting past the first round of the playoffs. With the showing that this team displayed during the second half of the season and the playoffs, the Hawks have put the other teams in the East on notice.

The Atlanta Hawks have one of the best-constructed teams in the NBA. They have their superstar in Trae Young, who had the New York Knicks at his mercy during the playoffs. They have knockdown shooters like Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, and Bogdan Bogdanovic that can hurt
opposing teams when they are on.

Young is a true play-maker and Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter are growing into capable 3-and-D guys. They also have versatility in the paint with John Collins, Gorgui Dieng, Onyeka Okongwu, and Clint Capela. They might even have Jahlil Okafor if they guarantee him.

The Atlanta Hawks can win the East if they can develop their chemistry

You take all that talent with the chemistry that they have and add in a coach like McMillan who knows the game of basketball and you got a team that can take the conference. Yes, this team is uber-talented but there are some areas of improvement that could be made.

Some of the questions that they need to answer are, can John Collins continue to develop especially on the defensive end? Will Young make better decisions with the basketball in hand? Out of the Huerter, Hunter, and Reddish, who is going to make the big leap?

The Hawks will have a tougher time next year in the East. The Nets will be healthy once again with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. The Bulls have made a ton of roster moves with the additions of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso.

The Boston Celtics had one of the more odds seasons in the NBA, but that roster is super
talented. The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t gone anywhere and even with the drama that’s going on in Philly, that team will go as far as a healthy Joel Embiid takes them.

This is a Hawks team that the city of Atlanta can be proud of. If the Hawks were able to make it past the Bucks, we could be having a conversation on if they would be able to defend their NBA championship. As long as the Hawks continue on the trajectory that they’re currently on, we should be having that talk in no time.