9th seed – Atlanta Hawks
It’s been quite clear so far this season that the Atlanta Hawks have massively underperformed. Coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks are currently sitting outside the top 8 and can’t be viewed as anything less than a huge disappointment at this point in the season.
The combination of Trae Young and John Collins has left much to be desired and, for one reason or another, this supporting cast has been more of a bust than a boom. It’s quickly becoming apparent that perhaps what the Hawks found in the playoffs was nothing more than just a flash in a pan.
I’m concerned about where this team goes from here, especially after this season. Though, there’s simply too much talent on this roster for them not to finish as the 9th seed. It would still be a huge failure unless they go on another magical run in the postseason.