Zach Lowe puts Atlanta Hawks in second tier in the East

In Zach Lowe’s tier-ranking post for Grantland published today, he pegged the Atlanta Hawks in the second-best tier in the Eastern Conference. Overall, it appears that this is the sixth-best tier of the entire league. In his analysis, Lowe focuses mainly on what the addition of Al Horford to the team for a full season will do:

"Horford has only dabbled with a corner 3, but he is by far Atlanta’s best interior defender, and he can guard power forwards if Mike Budenholzer decides to experiment with a bigger Horford-Antic frontcourt.4 The Hawks defended at a top-five rate when Horford was on the floor, and though they don’t have the personnel to maintain that level for a full season, Horford can transform this team into a real threat.He gives Atlanta a legit post-up option when the shot clock is ticking away, key for a team that has really only one perimeter player — Jeff Teague — capable of creating his own shot."

The Hawks should be better defensively with Horford, and when you remember the depth-wing additions of Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore to help out DeMarre Carroll, there’s real reason to be a bit optimistic about defensive progress.

With the Hawks in this tier are the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards (listed above Atlanta) and the Charlotte Hornets (at the bottom of the group).

For more on the Atlanta Hawks and their chances this season, be sure to check out our full team preview here.