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NBA Week 12 Power Rankings: Questions for each team after the break

By Corey Rausch

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center on January 05, 2021 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Jazz 130-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center on January 05, 2021 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Jazz 130-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

18-20. Previous: 22nd. Atlanta Hawks. 17. team. 125.

Last Week: Beat Toronto Raptors 121-120, Beat Sacramento Kings 121-106

This Week: 3/14 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3/16 at Houston Rockets, 3/18 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 3/20 at Los Angeles Lakers

Question: Is Nate McMillan that much of an upgrade over Lloyd Pierce in the short term?

Given all of the stories that came out about the Lloyd Pierce experience with the Atlanta Hawks, the only issue many have with the head coaching change at this point is the timing. Midseason firings are always complicated, but Nate McMillan is an experienced coach who is going to be tasked with getting this team back on track.

So far, the results are positive. The Hawks have won three games in a row, though the games against the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors were closer than ideal. During the Lloyd Pierce stretch, the Hawks were 11th in offensive rating and 23rd in defensive rating. In the small sample since they have jumped to eighth in offensive rating and have catapulted up to ninth in defensive rating.

The sample size is obviously small but it is promising. The Hawks are slowly getting healthier and are playing for McMillan in a more passionate way than Pierce ever inspired. If De’Andre Hunter is ever able to come back from injury, he is the exact kind of player McMillan would be able to see himself in. Further bolstering the defense while adding another perimeter player would do the Hawks a lot of good.