After a big win over the Western Conference's top seed, the Phoenix Suns, the Atlanta Hawks seem set to be headed into the playoffs once again after missing the postseason each of the last three seasons.
Despite the recent playoff drought, it actually hasn't been that long since the Hawks were in the playoffs on an annual basis. The Hawks actually made the playoffs every year from 2008 until 2017, a stretch of 10 consecutive season.
That might come as a surprise to some, especially those outside of Atlanta, because often the Hawks games were broadcast on NBA TV and not in the more desirable ESPN or TNT window.
That's not going to be the case this season for a few reasons.
The Hawks are in a battle with the New York Knicks for the 4-seed, and at this time it seems somewhat likely that the Hawks and Knicks will matchup in the 1st round of the playoffs, only the home-court advantage is to be decided by who wins the 4th seed.
With an opponent like the New York Knicks, a team that was last in the playoffs in 2013, and the massive media draw that the Knicks tend to be, there is no way that a series between the Knicks and Hawks will not be on national tv.
That's not the only reason however, this Hawks team has some things that previous playoff squads didn't and because of that, the Hawks on their own, were always going to be more likely to draw better playoff coverage.
Jason Longshore, who hosts a Hawks podcast called 'No Swag Shop' with Mike Conti and Andy Bunker, discusses the Hawks win over the Phoenix Suns last night and how they are turning some heads around the league.
The Hawks have a bonafide superstar in Trae Young that is undoubtedly of interest to the national NBA fanbase, something they didn't have previously, and when they knock off teams like the Suns just a week away from the playoffs, the NBA schedule-makers will take notice too.
The Hawks currently sit in the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference at 37-30, just 0.5 games behind the Knicks for the 4th seed, and they take on the Pacers tonight in Indianapolis at 8pm, a game which you can hear on 92.9 The Game with Steve Holman and Mike Conti.