:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46010824/usa-today-8482901.0.jpg)
The regular season is getting close to ending and the Hawks managed to secure home court advantage through the ECF by having the best record in the east. The Hawks look to coast until the playoffs start and want to make sure that everyone is healthy. Anyway, let's take a look where writers across the nation rank our Atlanta Hawks in the latest power ranking.
Drew Garrison of SB Nation starts things off for us by putting the Hawks at No. 2.
The Hawks are in full-on cruise control mode, really living up to the "Spurs of the East" reputation they've built this season. That's no surprise considering they've clinched the conference already. The Hawks may drop games while starters rest, but that doesn't take away from what they've accomplished to be in position to let their guys rest up before the playoffs.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com keeps the Hawks at No. 3 and believes the Hawks will rest for the playoffs.
The Hawks will go into the playoffs with home-court advantage in the East, but probably without much momentum. Jeff Teague is dealing with an ankle injury and coach Mike Budenholzer is likely to give his starters more rest days down the stretch. The Hawks have three more back-to-backs, starting with Monday and Tuesday games against the Bucks and Pistons.
Next, Marc Stein of ESPN.com keeps the Hawks at No. 4 in his latest power ranking.
If you think we're tough, Atlanta, you don't want to hear about ESPN's Basketball Power Index. The BPI has the Hawks ranked at a mere No. 10, thanks to a 6-6 mark against teams .500 or better since Feb. 1, while giving them less than a 50 percent shot at reaching the Eastern Conference finals.
SI.com's Matt Dollinger moves the Hawks down to No. 6 and says don't panic.
The Hawks have lost as many games in March (six) as they had in December, January and February combined. Why isn’t that particularly concerning for Atlanta? The team deployed its usual starting lineup in just one of those defeats.
USAToday.com keeps Atlanta at No. 2 in this weeks ranking.
Banking all those wins earlier this season is huge now that they're not playing as well
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports thinks the Hawks need rest as he puts the Hawks at No. 6.
After clinching the East’s top playoff seed, Atlanta rested its starters in a loss to Charlotte on Saturday. The Hawks have been lackluster of late and appear in need of more rest.
CBSsports.com's Matt Moore drops the Hawks to No. 5 but seems to be the only one that picks up on the draft pick.
Hilarious subplot: Having clinched the East's top spot, the Hawks are resting starters against teams that can knock the Nets out of the playoffs but figure to use the starters vs. Brooklyn since they own the Nets' draft pick.
Finally, NBCsports.com's Kurt Helin puts the Hawks at No. 4 in his latest ranking.
Mike Budenholzer learned his craft next to Gregg Popovich — expect the Hawks to rest a lot of key players the next two weeks with the top spot secured (like they rested all five starters over the weekend). The good news for the ATL is whoever they get in the first round it’s basically a bye and they can use that to get their groove back.
That does it for the rankings for the week and we see that the Hawks have fallen but still remain in the upper part of the overall ranking. Hopefully during this time the Hawks get their roster healthy and ready for the playoffs. Anyway, as always leave your thoughts in the comments.