The Atlanta Hawks have benefitted from a top-heavy East

The Atlanta Hawks are feeling pretty good following their 127-100 win over the Toronto Raptors as they enjoy a couple of days off before their next game. But happenings in another game involving a conference foe will have just as much of an impact on their push for the postseason after making a deep run last year.

That may be a disappointment on the surface. But, given all that they have dealt with between injuries and COVID, some of the inconsistency is to be expected. It is easier to accept that when you consider what their best lineup can do when healthy.

But, as with every successful playoff run or run to the playoffs, there needs to be some good fortune.

Thankfully, playing in the Eastern Conference has afforded the Hawks just that.

The 10-seed and a play-in spot appear to be the floor for the Atlanta Hawks

With the Washington Wizards falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-86 on Saturday, and the Hawks winning, Atlanta is two games up for the final spot in the play-in tournament. While that is a far cry from where we thought they’d be coming into the season, it is also a far cry of where it seemed they would end up just a couple of months ago when they went 5-9 in December.

They also don’t have to worry about the New York Knicks who have lost four in a row and are just 4-14 since acquiring Cam Reddish to sit 12th in the conference at 25-35.

For what it’s worth, the Hawks are 12-8 in that same span.

It has been even better than the Knicks and Wizards floundering as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Raptors on Friday but have won just two of their last eight games. The Hawks are just one half-game behind them for the nine-spot and have already beaten them twice in three tries.

Nate McMillan knows just what the Hawks need to do as the season rounds out.

Toronto is currently the seven-seed but has now lost two in a row and will host the Hawks once more on Apr 5.

The Hawks got a historic night from Trae Young with 41 points and 11 assists while notching their third win without forward John Collins in the lineup as he works his way back from a strained foot suffered before the break.

Atlanta does have a road date with the Boston Celtics, who just beat them 105-95 two weeks ago, on Tuesday as well as a home tilt versus the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Chicago has won all three meetings between the two teams including a hard-fought 112-108 battle on Feb 24 upon returning from the All-Star break.

They will face the Wizards after that and will begin in earnest what is the fifth-easiest remaining schedule based on opponent win percentage.

Getting to even the same fifth-seed that they had last year is likely out of the question at six games back. But they can still get the eight-seed and, perhaps, even as high as seventh.  It does appear as though they are destined for the play-in tournament either way.