Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce endured a rough 2018-19 season that bore little wins and no playoff appearance, but plenty of growth from Atlanta's young talent. Now, Pierce is looking to take another step forward, but this time he has his eye set on the playoffs. In order to achieve this, Pierce believes that defense and star guard Trae Young's improvement is key:
“Progression is the key word,” Pierce said. “We have to play better defense. We have to play together better. We are preparing our young guys to win games. If we do that, an all-star [selection for Young] is possible and the playoffs are possible.”
It would be a dream come true for Hawks fans if this team could make a postseason run with this roster. Atlanta is not lacking in talent, but the fact is that the team is so young it's unlikely that they have sustained success, which is key in building a record good enough for a playoff spot.
However, the Hawks do have several factors working in their favor. They play in an extremely top-heavy Eastern Conference, where getting a 6-8 seed is plausible even for a team that would never make the playoffs in the West.
They have three players in Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter who have proven they are more than ready to be impactful NBA players. If De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish play up to their potential, its not ridiculous to see the Hawks snatching a low playoff seed.
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