State of the East (and West)

[TheFuzz]

Sorta related to tanking, so if it needs to be merged understood...

Basically, there are 5 sure-fire playoff teams in the East next year: Miami, Chicago, Brooklyn, Indiana and New York. We're #6 IMO, but we're right in the mix with the Wizards and possibly the Cavs/Pistons/Bucks/Raptors with Al Jefferson sending the Bobcats to mediocrity land. Considering we will probably have defensive troubles, we may miss the playoffs and if we make the right deal or get some "injuries" we may even try to miss the playoffs.

Let's take a look out West: OKC, Spurs, Clippers, Rockets, Warriors, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Blazers, Mavericks, Hornets, Minnesota and the Lakers will be contending for a playoff spot out west. That's 12 teams that would make the playoffs in the East.

Long story short, we would slip into the 7-10 lottery pick range by being the 9th seed in the East. Nothing to be proud of really, but I think it gives the Hawks a lot of flexibility as to where we want to land in the draft. If we shipped Horford off at the deadline, we could slip into the top 7 easily depending on the return. If we're looking like a really solid team, we'll look to upgrade at the deadline instead.

I still pretty-much-trust in Ferry, but say what you will about him, he gives us a pretty flexible roster year after year.

[DJlaysitup]

Well I would say one thing (a pipe-dream I suppose)...if we had a starting line up of Bynum (healthy and ready to play), Al Horford, Paul Milsap, Kyle Korver, and Jennings or Teague....we would be one tough pill to swallow for any of them.

[louwill16]

That does sound like a tough team to handle for opposing teams