We're still three months out from the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season, but it's never too early to forecast what an electric playoff series against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers might look like for the Hawks.
Trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James in free agency has turned Philly into the latest iteration of the superteam in the NBA - at first glance, no team has the talent to keep up with the likes of Brown, James, Maxey, Embiid, and Edgecombe.
The Hawks might happen to have two aces up their sleeve, though - their newly-formed elite defensive trio on the perimeter and Joel Embiid's significant injury history.
Embiid's health is the greatest asterisk on this phenomenal Sixers squad
It's truly baffling to process in real time - soon-to-be forty-two year old LeBron James is far less of an injury risk than his decade-younger co-star, Joel Embiid.
While The King no doubt has encountered health concerns of his own during his extended stint with the Los Angeles Lakers since venturing West in 2019, he's still managed to play at least 60 games in each of his last three seasons. Meanwhile, Embiid hasn't eclipsed the 38-game mark in the same window.
While it's true that Philadelphia has two of the most capable defensive anchor-type bench centers in the league in Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona (note Andre Drummond departed in free agency to the New York Knicks this summer), neither Barlow nor Bona pose anywhere near the offensive threat that Embiid brings on a nightly basis at even 50% health.
Atlanta's defensive trio can shut down Philly's three-pronged offense
Remove Embiid from the arithmetic, and you're left with a three-headed snake flanked by a bevy of floor-spacing guards and wings.
Philly's roster includes snipers such as Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and even rookie LaBaron Philon to complement LeBron, Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, who will serve as the lead initiators.
While not many (if any at all) squads possess three legitimate All-Defensive caliber point-of-attack stoppers, Atlanta certainly does, thanks to the Lu Dort deal. Dort, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker happen to match up beautifully with the Philly three.
Dort is more than capable of matching LeBron's physicality that he's leaned on more and more in his golden years in the league - in fact, he just showed it in this year's playoffs en route to a sweep of the LA Lakers.
In the same vein, Dyson Daniels is a perfect counter to Jaylen Brown. Brown is slightly more explosive than James at this point in their careers, but doesn't quite possess the strength of LeBron. Daniels' quick feet paired with his towering 6'7 frame allow him to keep up with just about any offensive engine in the league, Brown certainly included.
Finally, Alexander-Walker has proven time and again he's the most capable of the Atlanta frontcourt defenders when dealing with quick, nimble guards.
While NAW can also switch onto bigs in the post to a surprisingly effective degree, I'd fully expect Quin Snyder to begin a hypothetical series against Philly with NAW guarding the lightning-fast Tyrese Maxey.
To boot, Atlanta has rookie Kingston Flemings - an incredibly promising defensive-minded prospect - waiting eagerly on the flank to bolster the Hawks' defensive trio's efforts.
I love Atlanta's shot at beating Philly in the playoffs, but it all comes down to Joel Embiid. With a healthy Process, Okongwu simply doesn't possess the frame to shut the post monster's volume scoring down.
That being said, history is on Atlanta's side - we'll have to wait and see what version of Joel Embiid marches into April.
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