Atlanta Hawks playoff update with five games remaining

With the Atlanta Hawks having only five games left on the season they still have everything to play for. They are still mathematically able to take the final guaranteed playoff seed being only five games behind the Toronto Raptors but that is reasonably unlikely.

However, thanks to their recent win against the Cleveland Cavaliers they are only two games behind the Cavs for the seventh seed. They also have an identical record and the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets but the Hawks have to win more games than these two teams to get above them.

However, the recent win against the Cavaliers was important for so many reasons. One, it bought them a whole game closer in the standings which is important. It also gave them the win in the season series meaning that if the two teams are tied at the end of the regular season then the Hawks will finish above the Cavaliers. This is not to mention that the Hawks qualified for the play-in tournament with the win.

The Atlanta Hawks need to keep the hot streak going.

With Kevin Huerter having a really good streak of late, the Hawks have taken advantage by keeping Bogdan Bogdanovic coming off the bench. He has been a true offensive spark even with the loss of John Collins for the past few weeks and Danilo Gallinari only able to play on and off.

The Hawks have the ability to sneak above the Brooklyn Nets when the two teams meet at the start of April. This could be crucial to the Hawks getting into the seven vs eight play-in game which will give them two bites at the play-in cherry and also give them the best seeding chance possible.

With the top of the Eastern Conference being so tight there is no guarantee right now of who the higher seeded team will be in the first round. All the Hawks can do is focus on themselves and give themselves the best chance that they can.