I don't see them in the Championships though Reminds me of UTAH back in the day they always played at their highest level so come the playoffs. . .they will run into a team that shifts into playoff gear which they do not have. . . Rocket River
Funny thing about these types of discussions is everyone usually just craps on every other team's chances, knowing (or not?) that they have a much better than 50% chance of being correct. No team is ever favored over the field, no matter how dominant (cue "that guy" pulling one exception to the rule), so if you don't think the Hawks are going to win it, you're probably right. Winning a title is a tough thing, but there is a reason that the champ is overwhelmingly likely to be a 1, 2, or 3 seed. This mythical "playoff gear" doesn't really exist. Teams that do well in the regular season are likely to do well in the playoffs. You'd think that'd be an obvious statement but, well, here we are.
IMO the East is almost as wide open as the west this year. I think this may be the most parity the NBA has had in a long long time.
I love how every year, people always say something like "They won't win in the playoffs" about the team with the best record.
EC teams play EC teams 52 games per year. WC teams play EC teams 30 games per year. wow, am I on to sumpin?!
https://twitter.com/ethanjskolnick/status/563895576769888256 The Hawks have beaten Bulls (2x), Cavs (2x), Blazers (2x), Wizards (2x), Clips (2x), Grizz, Rockets, Thunder, Mavs, Raptors & now Warriors. They have the best winning percentage in the entire NBA against the top 8 teams in the West. Keep dismissing them and they'll keep making you look foolish.
This argument will not go away no matter what the facts are. Hawks are 28-6 vs the East and 14-3 vs the West. Same percentage. The 07/08 Celtics were 25-5 vs the West but people here still argued their W/L record was tainted because they were an EC team. It's like some are brainwashed and won't listen to reason.
Hawks have about 10 games on the 2 and 3 seed (TOR and CHI as I type). Can anyone in the East catch up to the Hawks this year, statistically in W/L?
Ehh I'm not dumb enough to think that having the best record in the lesser conference automatically makes it impossible to be the best overall team, but simple math would say that if certain west teams played an eastern schedule and kept their win% against each conference they would have a better record. You are right, same record for the hawks against both so swapping the 50 east games for 50 west and so on they would mathematically finish the same. Now take Houston. 23-14(62.2%)against the west 19-6(76.0%)against the east and swap conference schedules and just go off the win% they are going to come out with a better record than what they are currently on pace for. All that said, Hawks are damn good and would still be damn good if they played a western schedule.
No. More importantly: The Hawks STILL look like the best team in the East. While we can't be sure how they will react to playoff pressure, I'll be shocked if they don't meet the Cavs in the ECFs.
IMO, Dennis Schroder is the wild card. If he plays well in the playoffs, he takes them to another level. If he does not, it will be hard for them, It helps tremendously that they will in the East playoffs.
Yes, without question and should reach the Finals. Yet, I wouldn't be surprised if they lost to a lesser team (even beyond Cleveland).
