Hoops Habit
Fansided

Playing ‘Contender or Pretender’ With Eastern Conference Playoff Teams

By Jon Shames

Nov 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) drives through Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) drives through Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Hawks – 5th seed

The Atlanta Hawks are still struggling to keep themselves safely above the .500 mark, after having gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests. It’s inconceivable that this team is (more or less) the same club that notched 60 wins last season, 19 of which came consecutively. Atlanta just hasn’t been able to channel the firepower that made them an offensive juggernaut last year.

Part of this can be attributed to its drop off in three-point percentage. After shooting just less than 37 percent from downtown last year (third in the NBA), Atlanta now ranks 19th with a conversion rate of 34.7.

It’s no coincidence that Kyle Korver, the Hawks go-t0 sharpshooter, is shooting more than 10 percent worse from behind the arc than he did a season ago — though he’s still knocking his treys down at a 39 percent rate.

Interestingly enough, Atlanta’s defensive numbers have dramatically improved this year. The Hawks are second in defensive efficiency, trailing only San Antonio. They also force 16.5 turnovers per game, good for the league’s fourth-best mark.

With the Hawks, it’s all about consistency. This team has the coaching and the talent to make the NBA Finals, but seeing them channel all of that at once, especially after a failed regular season, seems unlikely.

So with that:

Verdict: Pretender

Prediction: First-round win vs. Miami (4-2); Second-round loss vs. Cleveland (4-3)

Next: Miami Heat