Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference and being just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals, the Atlanta Hawks are still flying under everybody's radar. "Smart money" has the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, or Los Angeles Clippers winning the NBA championship. If somebody wants to walk on the wild side and have a more edgy and gutty pick, they'll pick the Chicago Bulls.
But you won't hear anybody picking the Atlanta Hawks. I want to raise the question "Why not the Hawks" and further ask, "What have they done to not deserve our respect?" They were pressed by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, splitting the first four games, but after that they dispatched of them rather easily, winning the series in six games.
In Wednesday's pivotal Game 5 with the series tied 2-2, the Hawks still found a way to win even after Paul Pierce hit a clutch shot to give the Wizards the lead with 8 seconds to go. Everybody was convinced that the return of John Wall for Game 5 would give the Wizards the easy win, but it turns out everybody was wrong. Al Horford, Kyle Korver, and Dennis Schröder all hit big shots down the stretch to give the Hawks the win.
What I think everybody is forgetting is that with each game they win, the Atlanta Hawks are getting more confident. I think in many ways their biggest enemy has been themselves. They haven't always had the belief that they are as good as their record indicates. But I think after Wednesday's come-from-behind win, which was won on a tip in by Al Horford, the Hawks are starting to believe that they can win a championship.
If you really think about it, why shouldn't they? They have played some pretty sloppy games and still found ways to come out on top. In addition, they can beat you in a wide variety of ways. Al Horford and Paul Millsap can kill you inside, Kyle Korver can kill you from beyond the arc, and both Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder can kill you by slashing to the basket and creating for others.
This Hawks team is very balanced, deep, and versatile. The only thing they have lacked in this post-season at times is confidence. But I think at this point, the confidence they need to win a title is coming. They've been on the verge of going down 2-3 a couple of times and both times they have found ways to come out on top.
I expect this team to be waiting for either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals with a renewed sense of optimism and confidence that we haven't seen from them all season. We can criticize and doubt them all we want, but as of right now they are still standing strong and in just as good of a position as anyone else in these playoffs to win the NBA championship.
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord
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