Heading into a match against the hobbled San Antonio Spurs, the Atlanta Hawks have an opportunity to make a run for the second seed in the East.
Atlanta has done a remarkable job of surviving despite Trae Young’s absence, pushing from the depths of the East to the fifth seed after a five-game win streak. The streak came against injury-riddled, weaker competition, aside from the Phoenix Suns, who hold an identical 9-5 record to the Hawks. This easy slate was just the luck Atlanta needed – the squad could gain momentum against inferior competition while ironing out the issues that arose from losing their best player.
By some miracle, the Hawks have another easy stretch of games ahead that could launch the team even further up the standings. The potential streak begins with a trip down to San Antonio, who are without Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. De’Aaron Fox has been on a tear since returning from his injury, but so has Jalen Johnson, and the Spurs’ depth doesn’t compare to the Hawks with three critical players out.
Atlanta's next three games are against New Orleans, Charlotte, and Washington. Fun fact: these three teams have a combined seven wins, two fewer than the Hawks. While anything is possible, particularly against the hot-and-cold Hornets, the team will be the favorite in all three games. If the Hawks can continue to handle lesser competition, they’ll pull another four-game win streak.
The Eastern Conference is led by the Detroit Pistons, who hold an impressive 13-2 record. After Detroit, the gap between the second-seed Raptors and the fifth-seed Hawks is one game – why can’t Atlanta claim the second seed and reintegrate Young with vibes at an all-time high?
The Hawks have radically changed their identity on both ends of the floor without Trae Young. The fact of the matter is that the overly Young-centric offensive identity of old will never be enough to experience real postseason success. Not even former MVP James Harden could win in the postseason with an offensive system solely built around him.
Young must work to fit his game into the new rhythm Atlanta has found in his absence. The new identity consists of high-intensity defense and egalitarian offense. Young has the skill set to fit this scheme like a glove; the question has always been whether he is willing to step into a lesser role. If the team is as high as the two seed in the East, it makes it much easier for Young to be excited about accepting a reduced role.