19. Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are another team that I don’t have a real handle on. They have the talent to be a top-six team in the Eastern Conference but have continuously found a way to disappoint and fall short of expectations. It remains to be seen if that will once again be the case this year, but it would be foolish that the departure of John Collins (and a new coach) is going to make that much of a difference for the Hawks.
What I’d keep an eye on specifically is the situation that surrounds Trae Young. When he’s playing at a high level, he’s one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league. However, he’s coming off a season in which he struggled with his efficiency. Was that impacted by the arrival of Dejounte Murray? I don’t believe so but that’s something the duo will have to push back against this season.
The Hawks are too talented to be ranked 19th. I predict there’s a good chance that the Hawks finish the season closer to the top 10 than the bottom 20. We shall see.