The Atlanta Hawks could be sneaky threats to nab the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, according to Bleacher Report.
The offseason praise keeps coming for the Atlanta Hawks.
The squad has had a busy few months, and it has led to lots of positive buzz.
Now, Bleacher Report is giving the Hawks some additional love, tabbing them as a team that "got better" this offseason. And BR isn't stopping there.
BR's Greg Swartz wrote that Atlanta could have the best defense in the NBA this season. He noted that the team had the second-best defensive rating in the league after the All-Star break last season behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have since lost key defenders Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks.
Swartz added that Atlanta has a revamped backcourt in the post-Trae Young era to go along with a deep roster, legit All-Star in Jalen Johnson and nice blend of young/veteran talent.
He closed by arguing that Atlanta is a "dark horse to come away with the No. 1 seed in the East," citing the team's defensive outlook.
It's extremely high acclaim for a Hawks team that is looking to keep moving in the right direction after making the playoffs last season as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
While Atlanta may not have the most talent in the East heading into the new season, that isn't always the determining factor in how the standings shake out. Just last season, the Detroit Pistons surprised people by claiming the East's top seed. A large part of their success was driven by their elite defense.
The Hawks may be able to create something similar this coming season, and if the chips fall their way, perhaps they truly will be a team to watch for the top seed in the conference.
Atlanta wing Corey Kispert has said that the team feels like it can stand "toe to toe" with the top contenders in the East. Perhaps that isn't as far-fetched as some may think.
There is some thought, however, that the team's short-term ceiling is dependent on the growth of rising star Jalen Johnson. One NBA executive recently said that Johnson could become a superstar if he develops a consistent jumper.
As such, his game will be a key area to watch this season in what will be his first full year as the team's clear centerpiece. Johnson was an All-Star and All-NBA selectee last season en route to Atlanta's playoff berth.
