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IT'S HERE!!!! WE MADE IT!!!! BASKETBALL IS BACK!!!
Finally after such a long wait and very long and annoying summer, Hawks basketball has finally returned. With the return of NBA basketball, we also get the return of the nation's power rankings. There have been many moves made around the league so it will be interesting to see where the writers from different websites see the Hawks. So let's not waste any time and get started with this week's power ranking roundup.
Sbnation.com will start things off for us with Drew Garrison ranking us at #16 hoping that Horford stays healthy.
Please stay healthy this season, Al Horford. The Hawks still crept into the playoffs without their leading big man, partly thanks to a strong season by newcomer Paul Millsap (career-high 17.9 points per game). That success was particularly impressive considering Mike Budenholzer was in his first stint as a head coach.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com puts the Hawks at #17 after moving them up two spots from earlier this summer.
The Hawks fell off more defensively than offensively when they lost Al Horford last season, but with his return, the potential is there for Spurs East to be a really tough team to stop. They have a quick and competent point guard, a willingness to share the ball, Kyle Korver's shooting, and the floor-spacingest frontline in the league. Depth remains a concern.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com also moved the Hawks up a spot to #16 and hey it looks like someone believes in Coach Bud.
Al Horford didn't look great in the preseason, but just seeing him on the floor was a serious lift for a franchise that certainly needed one after its tumultuous offseason. I'd go so far as to say I see Atlanta as a sleeper in the East. And here's the proof: Mike Budenholzer got my preseason COY nod.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports gives the Hawks respect and puts them in the upper part of the East and at #10 in his power ranking.
The Hawks now have a healthy Al Horford playing alongside Paul Millsap in the post. Atlanta will be one of the East’s top teams.
Finally Kurt Helin of NCSsports.com puts the Hawks at #16 and asks some of the tough questions when it comes to the Hawks.
With a healthyAl Horford the Hawks are a solid playoff team in the Eastern Conference, landing somewhere in the middle of the pack. Like always. The big question around this team is who buys them.
Well that does it for the rankings for the opening week of the NBA season. Many of the rankings seem to be in the middle of the pack. Luckily for us, the Hawks get an early test for their first game of the season to see how they stack up against one of the top teams in the East. Anyway, let me know what you think and the comments and enjoy the season!