Can The Atlanta Hawks Make A Deep Run In The 2026 Playoffs?

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By David Desa | Last updated Apr 4, 2026 11:09 AM ET

Over the past month, the Atlanta Hawks have looked like one of the best teams in the NBA, and all the numbers are backing up that statement. But the real question for them is whether this type of play is sustainable in the playoffs. As everyone knows, the playoffs are a whole different game and level of basketball. The game slows down, defenses are sharper, and you’re facing the best of the best in the league.

The Hawks After The Trae Young Trade

Many would think that after trading your franchise player, you would turn into a team that is just looking towards the NBA draft lottery and building for the future, but that wasn’t the case for Atlanta. Considering what Atlanta got back from the Young trade , many would say they lost the trade, as all they received from the Washington Wizards was Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum.

For the Hawks, it was addition by subtraction, and sometimes that’s all a team needs. Yes, Trae Young is a great player on offense, an amazing playmaker that can make everyone around him better, but what he does on one end doesn’t justify what he provides on the defensive end of the ball, and that is close to nothing. Atlanta had already seen what Jalen Johnson looked like, while Trae Young was out earlier in the season with injuries, as the number one option for this team, and he is doing a great job at that.

End Of Hawks Rant

Although Atlanta has looked like a great team over the past month, there are major questions that they haven’t had the chance to answer yet, and that’s what this roster will look like in the playoffs when they don’t have much experience in the postseason. With them most likely entering the playoffs as the 5th or 6th seed in the Eastern conference, as constructed, they would have to face against the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. This could be a blessing in disguise for the Hawks and a great opportunity for them, but only time will tell.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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