The Atlanta Hawks made one of the biggest moves of the summer when they traded Dejounte Murray, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs. This team was in the Eastern Conference Finals just two seasons ago, but they took a huge step back last season by dropping to the eight seeds and falling in the Play-In Tournament.
They won both of their Play-In matchups but were quickly knocked out of the playoffs in five games by rival Miami Heat.
The decision to acquire Murray ensures the Hawks won’t be stuck like this again.
But there is some belief that, despite speculation that they are set for another major move by mid-season, they are already one of the most overlooked teams in the NBA and could be dangerous because of it. of that.
Improved Eastern Conference could put people to sleep on the Atlanta Hawks
Massive blockbuster trades for Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) — along with Deandre Ayton and Kevin Durant staying with their respective teams — eclipsed what was the blockbuster of the offseason when it ended. produced for the first time.
But Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks they might be a little too overlooked at this point.
“There are expectations for Atlanta, but nothing huge: Vegas set the over/under at just 45.5 wins. It would be a great season, but the Hawks could engineer something much bigger.
The projected win total would be just two games better than last season and four better than they had heading into their ECF run. This shows how much the East has improved during this period.
But the Hawks are a team well aware of its strengths and weaknesses.
“The theme for Atlanta’s offseason was defense,” Buckley explains. “That’s why the trade for Murray made sense. Well, that and its ability to take some of the attacking burden off Young, potentially resulting in more effective versions of both players. If they find their chemistry early and that the defense can enter even in the middle section of the efficiency rankings, then Atlanta just might find the two-way balance needed to navigate another Conference Finals.
Murray earned his first All-Star nod after leading the NBA in steals per game last season. He said there was no room for individual goals, only winning the coming season.
Surely the Hawks feel like he should help them win more games — better health, too.
As Buckley points out, the Hawks are firing the vast majority of the core that made that run to the Eastern Conference Finals. And their additions even beyond Murray were geared towards defending Moe Harkless and Justin Holiday whom they acquired in the trade from Kevin Huerter.
The Atlanta Hawks made one of the biggest moves of the summer when they traded Dejounte Murray, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs. This team was in the Eastern Conference Finals just two seasons ago, but they took a huge step back last season by dropping to the eight seeds and falling in the Play-In Tournament.
They won both of their Play-In matchups but were quickly knocked out of the playoffs in five games by rival Miami Heat.
The decision to acquire Murray ensures the Hawks won’t be stuck like this again.
But there is some belief that, despite speculation that they are set for another major move by mid-season, they are already one of the most overlooked teams in the NBA and could be dangerous because of it. of that.
Improved Eastern Conference could put people to sleep on the Atlanta Hawks
Massive blockbuster trades for Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) — along with Deandre Ayton and Kevin Durant staying with their respective teams — eclipsed what was the blockbuster of the offseason when it ended. produced for the first time.
But Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks they might be a little too overlooked at this point.
“There are expectations for Atlanta, but nothing huge: Vegas set the over/under at just 45.5 wins. It would be a great season, but the Hawks could engineer something much bigger.
The projected win total would be just two games better than last season and four better than they had heading into their ECF run. This shows how much the East has improved during this period.
But the Hawks are a team well aware of its strengths and weaknesses.
“The theme for Atlanta’s offseason was defense,” Buckley explains. “That’s why the trade for Murray made sense. Well, that and its ability to take some of the attacking burden off Young, potentially resulting in more effective versions of both players. If they find their chemistry early and that the defense can enter even in the middle section of the efficiency rankings, then Atlanta just might find the two-way balance needed to navigate another Conference Finals.
Murray earned his first All-Star nod after leading the NBA in steals per game last season. He said there was no room for individual goals, only winning the coming season.
Surely the Hawks feel like he should help them win more games — better health, too.
As Buckley points out, the Hawks are firing the vast majority of the core that made that run to the Eastern Conference Finals. And their additions even beyond Murray were geared towards defending Moe Harkless and Justin Holiday whom they acquired in the trade from Kevin Huerter.
