Are the Hawks a top 4 Eastern Team?

[Harry10]

well besides signing one or two more guys who will probably only average 1mpg next season, the roster seems to be set with the core intact and the addition of Crawford, Teague, and Joe Smith.

most of the other eastern teams also seem to be set in their rosters.

Are the Hawks going to be one of the top 4 teams in the east? Have home court advantage in the first round and/or make it to the second round of the playoffs?

as most people know, i'm going to say "yes" i think the Hawks are going to be a top 4 team in the east in 2010. I also think the Hawks are going to get past the second round in the playoffs.

Cleveland is going to be good even if Shaq is healthy or not healthy at the end of the season. Orlando lost a 20pt scorer but got a 20pt scorer, but the Lakers really showed how you can dominate the boards even Dwight Howard on the team. and the Celtics are going to be great, but i'm just not sure if KG, Paul, or Ray will be their, healthy, at the end of the season.

BTW: this board will be refreshed and brought back up in 9 months.

[killbuckner]

I'd say that they are the favorites to get the 4th seed but I'd also say they are more likely to finish lower than 4th than they are to get 4th.

[evildallas]

I believe the answer is yes, but with a drop off between #3 and #4. I believe we've done as much as any of the other teams around us in the standings if not more to improve our team. The biggest challenges will likely come from Miami, Chicago, Toronto, and Washington.

Miami didn't improve their roster, but will have their PG now has a season under his belt. I leave them in competition for 4 mainly because they have a star in a star league.

Chicago didn't improve in the offseason, but made deadline moves last year. They will have Brad Miller and John Salmons for the whole season and in theory have Luol Deng back. I think they'll be better, but I also suspect the loss of Ben Gordon who was counted on for so much crunch time offense will impact their record negatively keeping them out of 4th.

Toronto remade their roster which makes them a wild card. If everything clicks they could be much better. It is also possible that they don't click at all. I think something in the middle is likely leading to the playoffs, but not with a great seed.

Washington has the talent to take 4th. They even improved on it with offseason moves. However, they have serious health concerns. Until they prove they can stay healthy it is safer to doubt them.

This breakdown leads me to believe that short of injuries ourselves we should be able to hold down 4th place based on our core staying together and developing and the tweaks of Crawford, Smith, and Teague.

BTW, I'm hoping that Orlando's chemistry fails with the major changes of the offseason, but we'll have to wait to see how that plays out.

[ATL DirtyBird]

Orlando I dont beleive will be the same team, I think Washington wont revert to top 4 material. Gilbert is no longer Gilbert I dont care what they say. The Bulls im not sold on, and I dont beleive Toronto is a top 4 teams just bc they have Hedo.

[The J Rocka]

I'd say 4th or 5th

Depends on how much Crawford can contribute too