Atlanta Hawks the definition of mediocrity in 2023

The Atlanta Hawks season has been a Sisyphean quest to stay above .500. They got here, they noticed, and they Even Stevened for many of the season. In case you ever questioned what a wedgie between the rim and the ring personified this season was, it could be the 41-39 Atlanta Hawks.

Since falling to 24-24 on Jan. 23, the Hawks have alternated wins and losses at an interval by no means seen earlier than. They’d been hovering round .500 for 33 consecutive video games — having bested the NBA file of 24 — and 72 consecutive days till Wednesday evening once they missed the 40-40 boat by defeating the Washington Wizards.

This type of win-loss ratio purgatory was unparalleled in NBA historical past earlier than Atlanta crushed it. On March 21, Atlanta eclipsed the 2014-15 Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, and Jrue Vacation-led New Orleans Pelicans file inside one recreation of .500 after which prolonged it by eight extra video games. You might barely thread a needle between their scoring differential both. Earlier than breaking the streak, Atlanta had scored 9,322 whole factors and allowed 9,315 factors. Three days earlier, the Hawks have been 39-39 with a one-point scoring differential (9,209 factors scored to 9,210 factors allowed).

That good concord belied the tempestuous storm that’s brewed round all of them season. For each darkish cloud, a sunny one adopted. If there was ever a group that mirrored the circadian battle to thrive in fashionable society, it’s these Hawks. The 2023 Hawks are the brand new American Dream in 2023. Caught in place, however nonetheless persevering, then getting in their very own method and dodging particles the universe tosses of their path.

Each adjustment they’ve made bought them proper again to sq. one. Nate McMillan was fired in January and Quin Snyder was employed just a few weeks later. The gust of wind that blew Snyder in to fill in for McMillan’s sneakers wasn’t sufficient to knock the Hawks off their tightrope.

Even their strengths and weaknesses seesaw each other. By means of 80 video games, the Hawks permit the third-most factors per recreation and rating the third-most. I can’t think about the hopelessness it instilled in Hawks loyalists constantly gazing a group progressing and regressing on the escalator of mediocrity. One of the best ways to explain Atlanta’s 2022-23 conundrum could be falling down an escalator. For each step they get nearer to the underside, a brand new one manifests.

Even probably the most optimistic prognostications on the Hawks don’t have them making a run within the postseason. They’ve regressed since 2021 and with nothing to cling to, the Hawks .500 membership fashioned a cult following. Finally, the portion of the fanbase who was conscious of the file grew to become as neurotic about clinging to .500 as the opposite half who obsessed over their playoff seeding. I’d wager as many Hawks loyalists are upset their streak ended like this as there are ones ecstatic that their first actual successful streak in months has them Elmer’s glued in as an eighth seed within the play-in…for now. In the long run, the Hawks have discovered a approach to disappoint each factions.

On the few events the place Atlanta would fall off the straight and slim, a dropping streak would blow them proper on observe. Since a five-game win streak ended on Jan. 21, the Hawks haven’t received or misplaced greater than two in a row till Wednesday gave them their third consecutive win.

Trae Younger has been yin and yanging between coach-killer and franchise savior for years, so that is nothing new. Nonetheless, he’s vulnerable to dropping his Teflon Don standing. Dejounte Murray arrived because the mirror model of Younger and has had an equalizing impact. In the meantime, on the commerce deadline, General Manager Landry Fields stood pat and the outcomes remained remarkably constant.

It’s been an OCD paradise, however that doesn’t imply it has to finish out of equilibrium. The 41-39 Hawks shut out their common season with two of the Jap Convention playoff’s high three seeds in Philly and Boston.