Does this Eastern Conference Finals result change the perception of the Atlanta Hawks?

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The Atlanta Hawks were a bottom feeder for nearly a half century after winning the 1958 NBA title. However, since 2008, the Hawks have made the playoffs in 13 of the last 16 seasons, including 10 seasons in a row from 2008-2017, and 2 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Despite this, the Hawks still do not seem to get much respect from the media. When they made the Eastern Finals in 2021, the storyline was about what Ben Simmons and the 76ers failed to do, not so much what the Hawks did right. When the Hawks lost the series to the Celtics this year, the storyline was about the Celtics struggling against an overmatched Hawks team, and not the valiant effort of the Hawks.

Does the result of the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals finally change the perception of the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated the Heat in the play-in and took 2 games from the Celtics this year? If not, do they need to get Jaylen Brown or win a title to finally get their due respect from the media?

[penbeast0]

They need to go to a finals or win a title to get respect, winning one round won't usually do it.

[Owly]

The Atlanta Hawks were a bottom feeder for nearly a half century after winning the 1958 NBA title. However, since 2008, the Hawks have made the playoffs in 13 of the last 16 seasons, including 10 seasons in a row from 2008-2017, and 2 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Despite this, the Hawks still do not seem to get much respect from the media. When they made the Eastern Finals in 2021, the storyline was about what Ben Simmons and the 76ers failed to do, not so much what the Hawks did right. When the Hawks lost the series to the Celtics this year, the storyline was about the Celtics struggling against an overmatched Hawks team, and not the valiant effort of the Hawks.

Does the result of the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals finally change the perception of the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated the Heat in the play-in and took 2 games from the Celtics this year? If not, do they need to get Jaylen Brown or win a title to finally get their due respect from the media?

Some interesting thoughts here not sure about all of it as a consistent whole but regarding the theme of playoffs framing (distorting) perceptions ... yeah that happens.

I think the SL Hawks weren't that great, but Boston had injuries and there weren't other great teams (especially in the West).

Hawks 2008 to now is one franchise but far more than one team. There could be a systemic media bias but I'd be inclined to look closer at what teams were deserving of more media attention, however that is measured.

Hawks 2008 to now. Yes they have made the playoffs a lot. Have they been good? Worthy of close attention?

RS win% 0.512981904.
RS average win percentage (i.e. shortened seasons e.g. lockout and covid-related, count equal to full 82) 0.5120625
SRS -0.220625

They've been an about average team.
Two years have had an SRS between 4 and 5. The '15 team got a fair amount of attention. Maybe you could say the '10 Horford-Smith Hawks could have got more publicity?

'21?
They beat a similar level Knicks team? They won 4-3 but were outscored by the 76ers. Gallinari having a really great turnover efficiency series probably isn't a story that sells. Then they get non-flukily beaten by a better team.
Could the story of a series be about what the notionally lesser team did right, sure. But that's probably, realistically, a story of a not great team punching above their weight for a short span. If it was the lesser team playing up. (I do think RS is the better baseline for typical performance of a team - I do think, related to the themes here that teams might not perform at that level for a single series).

'23
Defeated Heat ... yeah one game, not a game changer. Taking two games off Boston ... well (1) "the result of the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals" tilts both ways and (2) Boston more the 5 points per game better, this wasn't a smash and grab. Maybe Snyder can get more out of them in the future but this doesn't appear to be anything requiring attention.

I should perhaps there underline that I would (and perhaps should, given the format etc of playoffs) expect that attention goes toward "great"/high championship probability teams.

I don't think Brown is a difference maker, I may be wrong.

As one would expect a title would always change the narrative massively. It could for Miami. Maybe Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith really are circa 4 BPM level players. Maybe the Heat really, sustainably are a +10 level team versus playoff opposition with Martin on the floor. Maybe the RS doesn't matter at all any more. Teams play for the title so if that binary end result is all that matters for someone more than the process of how ... sneaking a title would change things hugely and Miami are making it look more possible (though don't want to overreact).

But even in this more equal era I don't see anything to get hugely hyped over in terms of what Atlanta have done.

[penbeast0]

...

But even in this more equal era I don't see anything to get hugely hyped over in terms of what Atlanta have done.

Unless of course you are a Wiz or TWolves fan. We only wish our teams had Atlanta levels of success.

[trex_8063]

...

But even in this more equal era I don't see anything to get hugely hyped over in terms of what Atlanta have done.

Unless of course you are a Wiz or TWolves fan. We only wish our teams had Atlanta levels of success.

I know "tribalism" has long been a major component of sports fandom, but it doesn't have to be [for you], unless you choose that.

You don't have to be a Wizards fan (just because it's closest to where you live, or because you always have been, or whatever). You can choose to cheer for whichever team(s) take your interest year-to-year, which ones feature your favourite players, etc.

Purely a fan of the game, rather than a loyal booster for a single franchise in perpetuity.

[penbeast0]

Nope, blood oaths in elementary school. No choice.