They were pretty tough defensively though I think with NY its a product of Thibs playing a slowdown style moreso that having stout defenders. He still plays at a snails pace which sort of inflates their numbers. Philly and Milwaukee are definitely tough defensively however.

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Atlanta will place no higher than 6th next year. Book it!

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who do you have ahead of them?

I can see them finishing anywhere from #2 in the East to #5.


Brooklyn
Milwaukee
Philly
Miami
Atlanta

I think those are clearly the top 5 in the East. Maybe Boston can get up into that group, but I don't see it with their lack of quality players beyond the top of their roster. And Philly could end up dropping down out of that group depending on what happens with Simmons. Don't see the Knicks staying top 4. Bulls should be better, but not enough to make that leap. Charlotte still too young.

Hawks with a full year of McMillan and hopefully actually being healthy this year (they lost more games to injury than any team in the league last year) and I see them more likely being #2 than #6. Milwaukee will probably let off the gas a bit after winning which could lead to a bit of a lackluster regular season from them. Gotta remember, from March 1 the Hawks had the second best record in the NBA and then went to the ECF. Something tells me they are no joke.

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Yeah I give you the bump with McMillan but they aren't going to sneak up on anyone this year. They will be this year's version of the Miami Heat. With less talent mind you. Plus there will be some improvement (Namely the Pacers with Carlisle and the Bulls)

The teams that I believe will be better are.
1. Nets
2. Bucks.
3. Still Philly
4. Heat.
5..Boston
6. Bulls
7. Pacers
8. Hawks.

Knicks will drop out of the playoffs
I forgot about the silly playin thing but it will come down to the Bulls and Pacers for the 6th slot.

Hawks will definitely have to play their way in this year in order to make it.

You will have a much tougher fight on your hands this season Shakes. #2 seed might be a stretch.

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Avatar bet? Hawks finish top 6 I win, Hawks have to go through play in tournament or worse, you win.

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Hawks lineup next year is looking really nice....

Capela
Collins
Hunter
Bogi
Trae

Okongwu
Gallo
Reddish
Huerter
Delon Wright
Lou Will
Jalen Johnson
Sharife Cooper
Solomon Hill


Added Wright which is a huge need. Big PG who can play back up or play with Trae at times. Allows Lou Will to go back to off the ball where he is much better. Adding Dieng was nice too. Gives us a quality big man who can back up Capela while Okongwu recovers from surgery. Dieng is another big body which we need.

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That'll work. I'm in.

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How do you feel about Reddish? I don't watch much college ball but what I saw on film I liked. Preferred him to Carter for the Bulls.. I know you didn't care for him initially. Has that changed now?

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I've fallen in and out of love with Cam several times since we got him. Currently very in love with him. Interesting start to his career so far. When he was drafted his fellow classmates voted him as having the highest potential of any player in the draft class despite shooting terribly at Duke. His rookie year he started out terrible and then a month before COVID he started playing great. Thought he would pick up where he left off, but then he got injured and missed the summer and got off to another bad start last year. Then he got hurt and we never got to see him play with McMillan as coach. Word is that Reddish did not get a long with Lloyd Pierce. But, even as he struggled offensively his defense has been top notch since day 1.

We were told he would be out for the playoffs, but then he came back middle of teh Milwaukee series and looked amazing despite having a 3 month lay off and being on a minutes restriction. Went 6/7 from 3 in game 6 and was 9/14 overall from 3 in that series. And played his usual great defense.

I'm really looking forward to seeing him play next year with a real coach like McMillan. He's already on his way to being an elite wing defender, but could be a lot more than that. If he builds off his ECF play he could make a massive leap next year like Hunter made this year.

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Yeah I'm looking forward to seeing him too but there is a real logjam at the wing position in Atl. You have 4-5 guys that need and deserve to play but only 2 positions available.

They are going to have to move 1-2 of them in order to keep everyone happy. Young guys like to play big minutes in order to pad stats for that first big contract. Often times they would rather sacrifice winning in order to do that.
It's going to be interesting to see how they sort this out going forward.

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I'm not concerned about it. We have Hunter starting at 3 and Bogi starting at 2. Reddish backs up 3 and Huerter backs up 2. Those are our main 4 wings so Reddish should get plenty of time if he's playing well. Also, I'm sure there will be injuries along the way which will open up even more playing time. Plus Hunter can get minutes at 4 and Huerter/Bogi can get minutes at 1 which opens up more playing time for Reddish. We also have Delon Wright who is going to be primarily be the back up PG.

That leaves Lou Will and the rookies as potentially being out in the cold. I'm sure they'll find some time for Lou Will in there somewhere, but the rookies could have a tough time getting into the game. Maybe a year in the G league?



Either way, I think we can both agree as far as problems go, having too much wing depth is a good one to have.

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https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2947033-power-ranking-every-nba-team-post-free-agency


Bleacher report thinks I'm gonna win our avatar bet LTG


But they do give respect to the Bulls, having them as high as #13 overall in the league, but just 7th in the East.

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Not worried. No higher than 7th.. Flash in the pan was practically invented for teams like this.

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Hawks Knicks rematch on Christmas Day! So fired up for that!

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Trae already getting ready to ruin Christmas for everyone in NYC! Love it!

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zero national tv games last year to 19 this year.

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https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2947607-ranking-the-nbas-top-10-young-cores-ahead-of-2021-22-season



9 months ago Bleacher Report ranked Hawks #4 on this list. 3 months ago they were #2. Now they move up to #1. It's an exciting time to be a Hawks fan!

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top of the fucking pyramid baby!

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All those big names and the Jet down in the corner....thats great

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

well Ariza is right above him so apparently that's the area of the court where stars don't like to hang out

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damn I didnt even notice Ariza

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Nah I'm just happy as hell that the layover from the Finals to the start of the season is a short one. Time to expose the frauds that are your Atlanta Hawks!

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you need to stop, I only have room for so many sigs in my profile.

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The King of NY.

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I can see why this might be the case.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bogd ... eve-in-us/

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https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-top-10-under-25-trae-young-zion-williamson-looking-up-at-luka-doncic-deaaron-fox-barely-misses-cut/


Trae moving up to #2 on this list.

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Every player one 1-9 (with the exception of Jamal Murray) is a better basketball player than Trae Young. This is why unknown basketball scribes like Brad Botkin tend to remain unknown.

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