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Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Jan. 21

By John Buhler

Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Hawks won the game 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

. . Previous: . Atlanta Hawks. 3. team. 125

The Atlanta Hawks have won their last three games and could distance themselves from most of the Eastern Conference should they continue to play well on their current West Coast road trip (@Sacramento, @Phoenix, @Denver).

I love this team’s bench and starting frontcourt, but we need to see the backcourt start to take flight before we can really think that this Atlanta Hawks team can challenge Cleveland in the East. For now, Atlanta should repeat as Southeast Division champions and is one of three teams that can play Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals, along with the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors.

81. . . Previous: . Toronto Raptors. 2. team

The Toronto Raptors have a 5.5 game lead over the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division and should easily get home court advantage in the first round as a top four seed in the East. Toronto has become the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest challenger in the East in recent weeks, as the Raptors are probably the most consistent team in the conference at the halfway point.

Anything less than a second round exit in the playoffs will cost head coach Dwane Casey his job. Toronto probably won’t win the East, but could take a game or two from Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals should those two teams meet.

Previous: . Cleveland Cavaliers. 1. team. 156. .

The Cleveland Cavaliers look like a dominant team in the NBA 95% of the time. They are they runaway favorite to win the Eastern Conference again this season, but when they play the upper crust of the Western Conference like the Golden State Warriors, the Oklahoma City Thunder, or the San Antonio Spurs, they usually come up short.

Next: Atlanta Hawks win third straight, beat Trail Blazers 104-98

The Cavaliers need to make a roster move or two figure out how to best beat one of those three teams they will likely meet in the NBA Finals this summer. LeBron James is only going to stay in his prime for maybe another year or two, so the time is now for the Cavaliers to win an NBA Championship.

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