Atlanta Hawks: Best, Worst, and Likely Paths to Finals
By John Buhler
Worst Case Scenario
Let’s say that we narrowly miss out on winning the Southeast Division in 2015-16, finishing second behind either Miami or Washington. Essentially we stumble just enough to finish either 4th or 5th during the regular season behind Cleveland, the Southeast Division winner, likely Chicago, and possibly Toronto.
Atlanta would face Toronto in Round One, a team that can put up points on the Hawks, home or away. Perhaps former Hawk F DeMarre Carroll reveals all of Bud’s secrets to his new HC Dwayne Casey in this first round, 4-5 matchup. Atlanta has to play six or seven games, but isn’t looking great moving on to the second round.
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There they would have to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gulp! Will Atlanta be physical enough inside to go the distance with the Cavs in this one? They would absolutely have to and Cleveland would have to lose a game or two to mental errors. Should that happen, the Atlanta Hawks could win in seven.
While logic would say that Chicago would be the worst team for the Hawks to face in this scenario, the Bulls have shown a proclivity to running out of gas in the last five postseason. Yes, Tom Thibodeau isn’t there anymore, but who’s to say that Hoiberg can rally the maligned troops to the ECF.
The one team I wouldn’t want to face in this worst case scenario would actually be a 6th Seeded Milwaukee Bucks team. Their youthfulness and strong defensive stance as a basketball team might be too difficult for the Hawks to overcome after 13 or 14 games against the Raptors and the Cavaliers. But somehow, someway, the Atlanta Hawks find the strength to carry on and beat Milwaukee in either six or seven.
The worst case scenario path to the NBA Finals for the Atlanta Hawks would be for the 4th-5th Seeded Hawks to go the distance in all three series against the 4th-5th Seeded Toronto Raptors, then the Top Seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, ending with a tough series with the 6th Seeded youthful Milwaukee Bucks.
Next: Most Likely Scenario