Play-In purgatory. It's where the Hawks were for four consecutive seasons. Every year since the tournament was introduced, Atlanta has taken part in it. It became a running joke among those who follow the league closest. As they made the bold in-season move to leave an era behind, they entered a new one, and it's exceeded expectations in the most impressive way.
Jalen Johnson is undoubtedly the new face of the franchise. It's why the transition between regimes felt so seamless. He's taken this tag personally, determined to shock the world and lead his Atlanta Hawks to a deep postseason run. Well, he now gets his long-awaited chance.
His full-season dominance guided Atlanta to their best record in years
What the Hawks were able to do coming out of the All-Star break was remarkable, but that wasn't where Johnson's game took a leap. He's showcased this level of play dating back to the beginning of the year.
In his fifth NBA season, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent from three. Those incredible numbers earned him his first-career All-Star selection.
In fact, his numbers even took a dip in the back half of the season. As the Hawks began to win more, his production decreased, but his impact remained the same, if not greater. Sacrificing individual numbers for the greater good proves to the leadership that he possesses at such a young age.
This year's Atlanta Hawks squad moves the ball at a higher rate than anyone else in the NBA. Not only did they break the franchise record for most assists in a single season, but they also led the league in assists per game. It's fascinating they were able to achieve that the year they traded one of the best playmakers in league history, and all it shows is that Johnson has been ready for the moment.
This first round series isn't the ceiling of this Johnson-led squad
They truly don't have a ceiling. The Hawks could very well be a first-round exit, but they are just as likely to make a run to the NBA Finals. It's all going to depend on how they adjust to the inevitable half-court shift a postseason environment brings.
Even if their immediate postseason production is on the underwhelming side, it's important to remember exactly where they are as a group. Nobody expected them to be in this position at the beginning of March.
There's been no shortage of excitement in Jalen Johnson's first season as a top option. This is just the beginning, and Hawks fans should be thrilled to know the Play-In Tournament won't feature them for a long time. Hopefully, that is.
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