Friday night marked the fourth and final regular season match-up between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat. The Hawks lost a heartbreaker bringing the season series record to 1-3. This also marked the third straight game in the series that was decided by six points or less. Which sets up a pretty interesting picture for the playoffs.
The Heat have locked up the first seed in the east, and barring some unlikely outcomes to finish the regular season, if the Hawks win both of their play-in games, they will be eyeing the eighth and final seed in the eastern conference playoffs.
In this scenario the Hawks would look to become just the sixth team in NBA history to pull off the eight over one upset and the first to do it since the 76ers did back in 2012. A tall task, but not an impossible one.
First note, the Hawks are not your typical eighth seed. Atlanta made it to the Eastern Conference Finals just last year with what is essentially the same roster they have this season. The Hawks backed themselves into a corner as a litany of injuries, poor effort, and early season slumps saw them go from favorites to after thoughts.
That said, prior to their loss to the Heat, Atlanta had won 11 of their last 15 games. That sounds like a team getting hot at the right time.
Most importantly, the Hawks have something the Heat do not. A superstar. Miami is a strong group with depth, a great coach in Erik Spoelstra, and good leaders in Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. However, none of them match the star power of Trae Young.
Young, who will get serious consideration for First Team All-NBA honors, is averaging nearly 28 points and 10 assists, while shooting 46% from the field and 38% from three on the season. The fourth year player has started to make his claim to the title of "Best Point Guard in the League."
Pair that with the recent great play of Kevin Huerter, who's scored 20+ in five of the Hawks' last seven games, as well as, the possible return of John Collins, and the Hawks are primed to spoil someone's playoffs hopes.
Will it be Miami? Maybe, but first things first, take care of business in the play-in. Then the fun begins,