Hawks fans really despise us after visiting Peach Tree Hoops lol. They still think their current roster can beat us.
Well, had Bradley and Olynyk not been injured I'm pretty sure we would've taken Game 1, and left the Hawks dead in 6 games before getting ousted by the Cavaliers.
Now that we added Al Horford (and a few more to come) to play under Brad Stevens system, this team will demolish the Atlanta Hawks.
It definitely can and probably will, as of right now, imo.
They beat us in 6, but since then weve added Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk(basically), Al Horford, and Jaylen Brown while losing Evan Turner. They lost Teague and Horford and got back Prince Howard and splitter(?) Also take into account the fact that we were the younger team and its pretty logical to say we have a superior roster to them at this point.
And none of that even takes into account the fact that Crowder was hobbled pretty badly that series
Nolynyk gives us nothing, imo, but let's break it down as of right now -
Boston -
IT, Bradley, Serena Williams, Horford, and I have no idea who is going to play center for us, unless of course you want to put Horford, there, leaving, who, Amir or Swedish Meatballs as our starting 4? Great (sarcasm)
.
Bench - Smart, Rozier, Jackson, Hunter, Young, Bentil, and Brown. I didn't list Zizic and Yabusele because idk if either or even one of them will be playing with us at any point this year.
Atlanta -
Schroeder, Korver, Bazemore, Millsap, and Howard. I could very well see the Hawks moving Ashton Kutcher to the bench, Bazemore to the 2, and starting Taurean Prince at the 3, who is already better than Crowder, imo.
Bench - Deandre Bembry (great pick, imo), Tim Hardaway Jr, Mike Muscala, Mike Scott, Sefolosha, and Splitter. I apologize if I've forgotten anyone, so feel free to add to this list.
Based on all of that, Atlanta clearly has a better defensive team with their starters, imo, and their bench is pretty strong, as well. Probably the best way to counter Millsap would be starting Bentil, imo, but still, they have more size, especially at point guard and center, so we're still going to have trouble rebounding, most likely, and they have more shooting as well as a better playmaker off of their bench in Bembry than we do, assuming, of course, that Jackson gets zero court time, this year. Sigh.
Anyway, yeah, I'd give the edge to Atlanta as of right now.