Fansided

Could the Atlanta Hawks become the worst team ever to make the playoffs?

By Keith Parish

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs? After letting Paul Millsap walk and dumping Dwight Howard? With a roster that has little prayer of winning 40 games?

Yeah, why not?

Sure, ESPN projects Atlanta to only have 27 wins. Andrew Johnson from Nylon Calculus currently estimates them to win roughly 34 games. Could that be enough? No one is saying the Hawks are going to be good. We’re just saying they could be good enough to have the eighth best record in the East.

Would I bet on it? Nope. What about Kevin Chouinard (@klchouinard), my guest on the latest episode of Fastbreak Breakfast? Kevin writes for Hawks.com and hosts the ATL and 29 podcast, and while he probably wouldn’t bet on it, he’d at least consider the odds. After all, Michael Jordan’s 1985-86 Bulls were 30-52 and they got in.

So can Dennis Schröder take advantage of potentially more space to drive with the departures of Millsap and Howard? Will the added shooting of veterans Marco Belinelli, Luke Babbitt and Ersan Ilyasova allow the young talents of Taurean Prince, DeAndre’ Bembry and John Collins to flourish? (And by flourish, I mean not lose 55 games).

ALSO COVERED:

  • Should Atlanta have fallen on their sword so to speak and waived and stretched Howard’s contract instead of acquiring Miles Plumlee?
  • The Knicks pried Tim Hardaway Jr. away in restricted free agency, how did that affect the Hawks rebuilding plans?
  • Who are the projected starters?
  • Will Collins be thrown into the deep end or brought along more slowly?
  • Important: does the front office even want to make the playoffs???

Next: 5 takeaways from the Kyrie Irving - Isaiah Thomas trade

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