Hawks: When The Streak Ends...

[Calispursfan11]

I see them dropping a bunch of games right after just like every other team that has a long winning streak (for instance going 6-4 or 4-6 after the streak ends). The bubble pops so guys take it easy/lose confidence and snap back into the reality of their limitations. This is a historic streak but it's obviously not sustainable.

Luckily for the Hawks the East is a JV league in comparison to the West and there is still plenty of season left for them to regain their footing after the streak ends. They will still end up 1 or 2 seed in the East but the Wizards, Cavs and Raptors will make a run at them.

[rocknblues81]

I see them dropping a bunch of games right after just like every other team that has a long winning streak (for instance going 6-4 or 4-6 after the streak ends). The bubble pops so guys take it easy/lose confidence and snap back into the reality of their limitations. This is a historic streak but it's obviously not sustainable.

Luckily for the Hawks the East is a JV league in comparison to the West and there is still plenty of season left for them to regain their footing after the streak ends. They will still end up 1 or 2 seed in the East but the Wizards, Cavs and Raptors will make a run at them.

The problem with this theory is that they had a 9 game winning streak before this streak started and they didn't go on a big losing streak after that streak ended.

Why are people so impressed with the Wizards? They haven't done anything.

All they have is Wall (Good, but he plays reckless) Beal (good shooter, but not much else) and a bunch of role players. People talk about their bigs, but it's not like MG and Nene are the twin towers. Their decent players and that's all. They're not athletic enough to match up with Sap and Horford.

Moreover, Whitman is one of the worse coaches in the NBA. He has no clue what he is doing.

[ducks]

Hawks won 12 straight against west

[rocknblues81]

The Hawks took the best that the Pistons front court could offer and they're way better than Washington's front court.

[hater]

I remember when the rockets won 21 games or so just a few years ago

This Hawks team is better. But they are not beating Cleveland in 7 games.

[Calispursfan11]

The problem with this theory is that they had a 9 game winning streak before this streak started and they didn't go on a big losing streak after that streak ended.

Why are people so impressed with the Wizards? They haven't done anything.

All they have is Wall (Good, but he plays reckless) Beal (good shooter, but not much else) and a bunch of role players. People talk about their bigs, but it's not like MG and Nene are the twin towers. Their decent players and that's all. They're not athletic enough to match up with Sap and Horford.

Moreover, Whitman is one of the worse coaches in the NBA. He has no clue what he is doing.

Not impressed with the Wizards, tbh. They have slipped a bit as well (more like a reg. season team). The Hawks have a very good playoff type team that has proven they can hang with anyone. But not even the best of the best (i.e. Spurs over the past decade) are immune from serious slumping. Like I said, I think it is good that the streak is likely to end soon. Better for the team to experience some self doubt and adversity now than right before the playoffs tbh. That said, the Hawks play my favorite of any East team at present and are built for a deep playoff run.

[Calispursfan11]

I remember when the rockets won 21 games or so just a few years ago

This Hawks team is better. But they are not beating Cleveland in 7 games.

Cleveland's defense needs to improve even more if they plan on beating the Hawks in a playoff series imho. Lebron will be beasting again by then but he can't do it alone anymore. The other two of the Cavs big three are not what Wade and Bosh were tbh.

[DMC]

I remember when the rockets won 21 games or so just a few years ago

This Hawks team is better. But they are not beating Cleveland in 7 games.

Don't underestimate a team that moves the ball and has solid role guys, top notch outside shooters and a coach.

[ambchang]

The Hawks are legit. It's more to do with coaching and the team makeup than anything else, which is unlike the rockets that was heavily reliant on two players (TMac and Yao), or a player going on a tremendous hot streak that he has no business having (Jennings with the Pistons, Lin with the Knicks, etc ....).

The Hawks are like a hydra, you cut off one head, and there's still 4 heads, you can't really kill it that easily, and the chances of all of their players struggling at the same time is minimal.

That said, they are heavily dependent on Horford, like GSW is reliant on Bogut. Horford had some health issues, and once he goes, the Hawks have no chance in the playoffs and would become very vulnerable.

[Calispursfan11]

The Hawks are legit. It's more to do with coaching and the team makeup than anything else, which is unlike the rockets that was heavily reliant on two players (TMac and Yao), or a player going on a tremendous hot streak that he has no business having (Jennings with the Pistons, Lin with the Knicks, etc ....).

The Hawks are like a hydra, you cut off one head, and there's still 4 heads, you can't really kill it that easily, and the chances of all of their players struggling at the same time is minimal.

That said, they are heavily dependent on Horford, like GSW is reliant on Bogut. Horford had some health issues, and once he goes, the Hawks have no chance in the playoffs and would become very vulnerable.

Good post except they're not a hydra if they depend upon ford. Surely someone like Patrick Beverley will take him out.

[UZER]

I remember when the rockets won 21 games or so just a few years ago

This Hawks team is better. But they are not beating Cleveland in 7 games.

Lebrons kryptonite is teams that move the ball well. He can't defend all 5 positions. He lost to the mavs, spurs (should've been twice). The only team he handled well was the ball stopping no offense thunder.

Hawks have a legit chance against them because its not just a good offense. It's a really good offense with solid players.

The question for the hawks is how will the handle not have that one go to guy in the final moments of games. Hopefully someone takes up that role in the playoffs before they meet.

[ambchang]

Good post except they're not a hydra if they depend upon ford. Surely someone like Patrick Beverley will take him out.

, true.

I meant from an offensive perspective.

[Calispursfan11]

, true.

I meant from an offensive perspective.

I agree. Defensively they will be compromised when ford goes down.

[Calispursfan11]

Lebrons kryptonite is teams that move the ball well. He can't defend all 5 positions. He lost to the mavs, spurs (should've been twice). The only team he handled well was the ball stopping no offense thunder.

Hawks have a legit chance against them because its not just a good offense. It's a really good offense with solid players.

The question for the hawks is how will the handle not have that one go to guy in the final moments of games. Hopefully someone takes up that role in the playoffs before they meet.

It's probably gonna be Teague or Millsap tbh. Korver if open and time is winding down... All decent options.

[rocknblues81]

Not impressed with the Wizards, tbh. They have slipped a bit as well (more like a reg. season team). The Hawks have a very good playoff type team that has proven they can hang with anyone. But not even the best of the best (i.e. Spurs over the past decade) are immune from serious slumping. Like I said, I think it is good that the streak is likely to end soon. Better for the team to experience some self doubt and adversity now than right before the playoffs tbh. That said, the Hawks play my favorite of any East team at present and are built for a deep playoff run.

The team (don't laugh) has been slumping somewhat.

Teague's offensive game has been off for a few weeks, and the perimeter defense has slipped the last 5 games. 5 straight teams have hit 37.5% (or better) in 3's against them. Pero's shot has been off also. It's just that Millsap and Horford have been so good.

They played pretty mediocre against Portland with the exception of that 4th period. They had a tough time putting Minnesota and the Nets away. They had a tough game against Philly tonight. I know it's strange to say that they have been slumping, but here have been so struggles the last few weeks.

[Venti Quattro]

The team (don't laugh) has been slumping somewhat.

Plus they're starting to lose players to injuries like the rest of the league... Sefolosha is out for 6-8 weeks, how long is Demarre out?

[rocknblues81]

Plus they're starting to lose players to injuries like the rest of the league... Sefolosha is out for 6-8 weeks, how long is Demarre out?

We don't know.

John Jenkins came off the bench and scored 9 points... The scoring should be fine... This team has plenty of guys that can score, but defense is another matter. No way do they beat GS without Carroll and Thabo. I don't think that it's even possible.

[Infinite_limit]

Hawks will win the Super Bowl

[rocknblues81]

When you can score points you will win a lot of games.... Great shooting masks a lot of issues that you might have, but I do believe the team is somewhat slumping.

On the bright side, if this is what a slump looks like... Then it's going to be a good second half of the season.

[Venti Quattro]

I think the Hawks will start to come back down to Earth in Feb, they'll lose some games but still maintain a very good record. They have a killer 6-game West Coast trip in March though. Games against PHX, GSW and an OKC team trying to make the cut in the West...

[Venti Quattro]

Also, come to think of it, if Tobias Harris didn't hit that fluke game winner against Atlanta, they also could have had a 16-game winning streak, in addition to the 19 they're sitting on right now.

[Franklin]

mavs also ended a streak tonight, their 5 game losing streak prior to this game

[rocknblues81]

I think the Hawks will start to come back down to Earth in Feb, they'll lose some games but still maintain a very good record. They have a killer 6-game West Coast trip in March though. Games against PHX, GSW and an OKC team trying to make the cut in the West...

If The Thunder are still in the playoff race by then.

They haven't played the Suns yet, but they'll struggle with them. They struggle with young athletic teams that can move the ball and shoot.

Really the last two really impressive wins where against Toronto and Chicago. And those were 2 weeks ago.

They've basically done just enough to win since then.

[Venti Quattro]

They haven't played the Suns yet, but they'll struggle with them. They struggle with young athletic teams that can move the ball and shoot.

That's why I always get killed when I use the Hawks in 2k. Realistic...

[rocknblues81]

That's why I always get killed when I use the Hawks in 2k. Realistic...

Think about most the losses.... Lakers, Magic, Bucks and Toronto (twice).

I think those teams have some things in common.

I mean, the longer they keep this winning streak, the harder it will get. It's clear that teams (even the bad ones) have been playing at another level as this streak has continued. Everyone is coming at them as if it's a playoff game now. Even Minnesota and the Nets.