Where can the Atlanta Hawks go and who will be key assets this season?

For the Atlanta Hawks, it’s a new season with a lot to build upon. The team is young and they thrive off of success. As a normal NBA fan, how could you not be excited about what the future holds for this team? The Hawks have gained the respect around the rest of the NBA as teams will look to bring their “A” game against the team.

Last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals was not a fluke.

The Hawks were very prepared for what was placed in front of them. Being the underdogs through the postseason, we witnessed this team play with a chip on their shoulder, which resulted in dominant performances through the playoffs.

The Atlanta Hawks will have to navigate heightened expectations and improved competition

It wasn’t their wins that stood out for the Hawks, however. It was their demeanor and ability to overcome adversity. The challenges they were able to overcome in the postseason certainly gave them an identity as true contenders.

Coming into the 2021-22 season, once again the top dogs are Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and a few others. Young continues to prove that he can provide great leadership due to his ability to play make and set the tone on offense. Collins, on the other hand, brings the ability to space the floor and rebound.

It’s a balance that surrounds the Atlanta Hawks roster. Everyone understands their role on the team and makes sure to contribute in the best way possible.

But other contributors didn’t get the opportunity to produce at the rate they wanted to. For instance, De’Andre Hunter was a sniper through his first 17 games of last season. Oftentimes, his momentum would help elevate the Hawks as a team.

As Hunter went down with a knee injury, his presence was missed. Luckily, the Hawks continued to thrive as a collective and build momentum for the postseason.

How about Cam Reddish? How much anticipation is surrounding him going into the year? Towards the end of the Eastern Conference Finals, Reddish slowly emerged by providing a spark from three-point range. His last few games of the series give the team a lot of optimism heading into this season.

We understand that Reddish is still developing as an individual talent. But if he can remain a consistent rotational player, coach McMillan can rely on him to provide a spark on offense.

While the Hawks are looking to build off of their momentum from last season, the franchise did regroup and have a nice showing in the draft. The Hawks were able to draft Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper in the draft.

Johnson’s draft stock slipped due to his departure from Duke University. The Hawks were lucky to have him fall in their hands. He’s an elite power forwards who can impact the game both inside and out. With the unselfishness and ball movement the Hawks display, Johnson will get his touches on offense. His job will be to stay ready and in attack mode for each matchup.

The biggest key for Sharife Cooper this season is becoming that playmaker in the second unit for Atlanta. Can he make the game easier for his teammates on the court?

As Trae Young sits on the bench, Cooper will run the show. We already watched his connection with John Collins in the Hawks’ preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The alley-oop connection between the two was only a preview of Cooper’s impact on the Hawks.

With his versatility of scoring and distributing, his impact will elevate the Hawks tremendously this season.

What are the expectations for the Atlanta Hawks this season? With the eastern Conference continuing to get tougher, Atlanta believes it is their time.

Going through the season, fans and insiders will project whether the Hawks can capitalize off of last season’s run for another deep playoff push. Coach McMillan will make sure his team is prepared for each match in front of them.