Hawks win

[Ogaju]

I was so looking forward to a Hawks loss I probably jinxed it.

Looks like we have to get this lottery pick all by ourselves. I don't think ATL will get us there.

[Kane3387]

They barely beat Charlotte in OT. Milsap won't consistently play that well.

[Chris.J]

They barely beat Charlotte in OT. Milsap won't consistently play that well.

Not sure about that. I haven't seen Milsap play much in his career, but from everything I have seen he is no slouch. He can play ball, and now that he will be more of the focus of that team with Horford out - I think he cam pick up a lot of that slack.

[Vermont Green]

Atl has exactly two wins over teams with winning records, Dallas and LAClippers (both in Atlanta).  They are winning the games they are supposed to win so far but I will be surprised if they keep it up.  That may not change their draft position all that much but if we get a pick in the 15-20 from them, that is still better than I thought it would be when I thought we would get the Net's pick and expected the Nets to be one of the top teams in the league.

[hwangjini_1]

the problem i see is not atlanta being a mediocre to poor team without horford. the problem i see is the conference being so putrid. it will be virtually impossible for atlanta to play basketball so poorly as to miss the playoffs.

there are THREE, count them, THREE teams in the eastern conference with a w/l record of over .500. as it now stands, FIVE  teams with under .500 would qualify for the playoffs in the east.

the atlanta pick will more likely wind up in the 17-20 range, but we can always hope.

[Quetzalcoatl]

For us to get two lottery picks, we need the Nets to keep losing and the Cavs and Bulls to surpass us and the Hawks.  That seems incredibly unlikely.  Today alone, we won, the Cavs lost, the Hawks won and the Bulls lost.  The Nets lost too, but that really just helps ATL at this point.

[aporel#18]

Nobody should expect a lottery pick from Atlanta. The East is so bad that they'll probably make the playoffs by default.

Atlanta getting a lottery pick from the Nets was the main concern, but at some point the Nets will fire/relocate Kidd and get it together. The Atlantic is so miserable they should get a playoff spot.

I still believe the Nets pick will be worse than Atlanta. I'd love to see both teams in the lottery, but don't think it'll happen.

[JSD]

They barely beat Charlotte in OT. Milsap won't consistently play that well.

Millsap is going to be a monster... In a ton of Hawk losses.

[Moranis]

Hawks have all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs and help other teams keep the Nets out of the playoffs.  That means I think they will be looking to make trades to stay competitive.  I wouldn't be surprised to actually see them trade Horford.  They won't sell him off for pennies on the dollar, but I could see them making a this year type trade for a team.  You know a trade with Toronto for something like DeRozan & Lowry for Horford (and then they move Lowry some where else since they have Teague) or some similar type trade (maybe Boston for Green, Olynyk, and Crawford), where Atlanta picks up good solid pieces to help this year, but not something where they give up Horford for nothing, and the team acquiring Horford does so for the future.

[winsomme]

Hawks have all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs and help other teams keep the Nets out of the playoffs.  That means I think they will be looking to make trades to stay competitive.  I wouldn't be surprised to actually see them trade Horford.  They won't sell him off for pennies on the dollar, but I could see them making a this year type trade for a team.  You know a trade with Toronto for something like DeRozan & Lowry for Horford (and then they move Lowry some where else since they have Teague) or some similar type trade (maybe Boston for Green, Olynyk, and Crawford), where Atlanta picks up good solid pieces to help this year, but not something where they give up Horford for nothing, and the team acquiring Horford does so for the future.

The Nets and the Knicks also have all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs and both have more talent than the Hawks IMO...

[pokeKingCurtis]

Dire times like these, you need the man with a plan. Like me:

Hey, Hawks, would you be so kind as to not exercise your option to swap picks if the Nets fall to the lottery and you don't?

Do us a solid? Please? 

[dreamgreen]

Most teams record in the east right now does not mean that much (Miami and Indiana are legit). Sooner or later they all have to play west coast teams and go on a road trip, lets see what they look like by the trade dead line.

Atlanta could still be a playoff team or just as easily fall out of the playoffs. Most teams play well after losing their best player than reality sets in.

[winsomme]

Hawks have all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs and help other teams keep the Nets out of the playoffs.  That means I think they will be looking to make trades to stay competitive.  I wouldn't be surprised to actually see them trade Horford.  They won't sell him off for pennies on the dollar, but I could see them making a this year type trade for a team.  You know a trade with Toronto for something like DeRozan & Lowry for Horford (and then they move Lowry some where else since they have Teague) or some similar type trade (maybe Boston for Green, Olynyk, and Crawford), where Atlanta picks up good solid pieces to help this year, but not something where they give up Horford for nothing, and the team acquiring Horford does so for the future.

The Nets and the Knicks also have all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs and both have more talent than the Hawks IMO...

Actually the Nets and the Knicks have way more incentive because worst case scenario the Hawks just keep their own pick. Nets and Knicks have no pick so they have to be playoffs or bust...

[hardlyyardley]

Hawks have gone to OT three straight games, tying the last two at the end on treys...that'll be harmful on draft night