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Atlanta Hawks: 5 Questions Heading Into The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

May 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) restrains forward DeMarre Carroll (5) after an altercation with Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (not shown) during the second half in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) restrains forward DeMarre Carroll (5) after an altercation with Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (not shown) during the second half in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks
May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reaches for a ball going out of bounds during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Are The Hawks A Failure?

Let’s not even waste time with suspense on this one. The answer to that ridiculous hot take of a question is “Hell no.” Losing in such disappointing fashion will always be amplified when you’re talking about a 60-win team completely keeling over, but it shouldn’t take away from the kind of season the Hawks had.

In fact, this was without a doubt the best season the franchise has seen since moving to Atlanta in 1968. In January, the Hawks became the first team in NBA history to go 17-0 in a calendar month. In March, they won their division title for the first time in more than two decades. Not long after that, they set a franchise record with 60 wins.

For those saying the Hawks were a “failure” and that this result was predictable, you must not have been watching this team during the regular season. For those saying they won 60 games because they played in the East, consider that Atlanta went 22-8 against Western Conference teams, putting them on a 60-win pace even if they had played out West.

Losing to LeBron James, even with Kevin Love out and Kyrie Irving banged up, is nothing to scoff at after giving the fans of Atlanta the best season they’ve ever seen and blowing away all preseason expectations.

Bowing out in the conference finals without putting up a fight is one thing, but it doesn’t diminish the exemplary brand of team basketball the Hawks established this season.

Next: No. 3

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