Atlanta Hawks: Top 5 Rivalries Entering 2015-16
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Hawks turned some heads with their outstanding 2014-15 NBA Campaign which completely changed this team’s perception of being stuck in perpetual mediocrity. Our Atlanta Hawks definitely ruffled some feathers last year and will certainly have a target on their backs entering 2015-16.
When you go 60-22 and finish with the best record in your Conference during the regular season, not everybody is going to like you. The other four teams in the Southeast Division now want a piece of the Champion Atlanta Hawks next fall.
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Even if you look outside of the division, just about everybody in the Eastern Conference but the Cleveland Cavaliers is gunning for the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta beat every team in the East last season, often times in dominating fashion.
When your team is playing well and so is your opponent rivalries begin to develop. Though the Atlanta Hawks are one of the oldest teams in the National Basketball Association, storybook showdowns have evaded this team for decades. While Atlanta definitely has teams that it gets up for, the Hawks still lack a Lakers-Celtics, Bulls-Pistons, Spurs-Mavericks level of a rival.
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I do sense that it will change here in the next few seasons under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. Spurs East will continue to put the Atlanta Hawks in the upper crust of the Eastern Conference so long as Bud stays in Atlanta and its star players stay healthy with its role players to continue to develop.
We will all have a clearer sense of who the Atlanta Hawks infuriated last season with their consistently strong performances. By taking the first swing at the Eastern Conference last season, here are the five strongest rivalries the Atlanta Hawks have entering the 2015-16 NBA Season.
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