The Atlanta Hawks are a game away from getting into the NBA Playoffs, as they will fight for the eighth seed in the eastern conference and a chance to take on the number one seeded Miami Heat on Sunday. However, we all know first they must take down the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland in the final play-in tournament game in the Eastern Conference. We all remember the Atlanta Hawks magical playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and in the eyes of many that Atlanta Hawk team seemed to be on full display Wednesday night in their first play-in tournament game where they dominated the Charlotte Hornets, and defeated them in blowout fashion 132-103. Is it too early to say the Atlanta Hawks team we saw defy the odds last postseason in back? Well. Jon Chuckery talked about it on The Jon Chuckery Show Thursday, and he thinks the Playoff Hawks are back.
Last year’s Atlanta Hawks team played great in all facets of the game in the postseason. Whether it was playing great defense, elite ball movement on offense, or controlling the glass on the both ends of the court, the 2021 playoff Hawks were firing on all cylinders, and Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets Jon Chuckery believes that version of the Hawks returned saying “They know exactly what this time of year is.” Now, Chuckery does mention and credit the point that Charlotte was not and is not as good of a team as Atlanta is saying “I’m going to be honest with you. Let’s keep it real, Charlotte had no business being in that game.” However, everyone who watched the game Wednesday night could tell the Hawks had a different energy in that game, and Jon acknowledged that as well saying “It’s like we’re built for these moments. Why we don’t get it the other times I don’t know, but again we’re past all of that, we can’t fix that now.”
As of right now the Atlanta Hawks do look built for the playoffs, and back in November after the ninth game of the regular season this year, Trae Young talked about his struggles getting motivated for regular season games and his desire to get back to playing in playoff games after the Hawks euphoric postseason run in 2021 saying “It’s the regular season. I’m not going to lie, it's a lot more boring than the playoffs.” Well, the Hawks aren’t in the playoffs yet, but they have their second postseason game of the year tonight that will determine whether they get into the playoffs, or if their season will come to a disappointing end. No one knows how this game will end, but I guarantee you Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks will not be bored, and that just might mean the Playoff Hawks are back.