:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45155886/usa-today-8311773.0.jpg)
Well Hawks fans I for one did not see any of this coming. I did not see the Hawks actually being a title contender early in the year nor did I see the defense improving by this much through the course of the season. I did't see it coming that the Hawks would be this tough on the road and I did not see it coming the Jeff Teague would improve on the defensive end by this much as well as Kyle Korver somehow becoming and even better shooter than he was last year. I did not se that Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha would be playing this important of a role for the Hawks and out playing my expectations of them when they first signed with the Hawks.
Hawks fans, this is a surreal moment right now watching the Hawks and feel as if I am in a dream. Needless to say, the performance from the Hawks in December was the greatest Christmas present that I could receive.
Now these are the power rankings and I know you want to see where this team is ranked across the nation. So before I continue 5,000 word long essay on why I love this Hawks team, let's get to the rankings.
Drew Garrison of SBnation.com moves the Hawks all the way up to #2 and is no longer using the easy scedule excuse that many have made for this team.
The Hawks are tearing through the league and leap all the way up to the No. 2 spot as they take control of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They've zipped through a West gauntlet: dropping the Trail Blazers on the road was the extra boost they needed to eclipse the elite West teams.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com does the unthinkable and puts the Hawks at #1
The Hawks' Legitimacy Tour ran through Portland, where they improved to 10-5 against teams currently over .500. Paul Millsap scored 53 points (16 in the fourth quarter) against the two above-.500 opponents -- the Cavs and Blazers -- they beat last week. The Hawks lead the conference and their leading All-Star vote-getter ranks 13th among East bigs.
USAtoday.com moves the Hawks up to #3 and takes a guess at who should make the all-star squad.
Who is the All-Star here? Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and Al Horford all may make it, with a little help.
Matt Moore of CBSsports.com declares his love and moves the Hawks to #2.
OK, folks, we're at DEFCON HAWKS. Atlanta just the second of a back-to-back in Portland on Saturday. That's not a signature win, that's putting your name in graffiti in giant letters all over the title race. They are stocked with smart, talented players and execute the right way in key situations. Tough team.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com moves the Hawks way up so that #EvenTheHawks can make the top spot in the power rankings.
This is the latest in a season that the Hawks -- on pace to win a franchise-record 62 games -- have topped the East since this committee (of one) started covering the NBA in 1993-94. The same season, as noted last week, when the Hawks stunningly dealt Dominique Wilkins for Danny Manning on deadline day.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports also puts the Hawks at #3.
Keep an eye on former Hawks star Dominique Wilkins, who could have a high-level role with the next ownership group in Atlanta.
Matt Dollinger of SI.com moves the Hawks up 5 spots to #2.
All hail the Hawks! Atlanta benefited from an easy schedule to start the season, but it has taken down the likes of the Blazers, Clippers, Mavericks,Rockets and Bulls in recent weeks. And if the Hawks' play of late has really impressed you -- and you have an extra couple hundred million lying around -- you can actually buy "100 percent" of the team. Kickstarter, anyone?
Finally, Kurt Helin of Nbcsports.com also moves the Hawks to #1 and hopes that the new owners don't change a thing.
Who is the No. 1 seed in the East now? That’s right. They have won 18-of-20 and are 7-2 against the West. My coach of the year at the 1/3 mark of the season: Mike Budenholzer. Let’s hope whoever is announced to buy this team (very possibly in the next couple weeks) doesn’t come in and start changing things around on the basketball side.
Well that does it for this week in the rankings. It appears that the Hawks have opened the eyes of writers across the nation and that they feel that the Hawks are indeed one of the top 3 teams in the NBA. Enjoy this Hawks fans, the team is looking good so let's enjoy this now and hope that they can continue to look this great for the rest of the season. Anyway let me know what you guys think in the comments.