Examining how the OKC Thunder fared versus the Atlanta Hawks last season and looking forward to how the teams compare in 2019-20.
Preparing for the 2019-20 season T.I. dives into each of the OKC Thunder opponents with a view of how the team will fare against each club. First up, let’s look at the Atlanta Hawks.
OKC Thunder fans wondering what the future holds may want to take a long hard look at the Atlanta Hawks. Much like Sam Presti will endeavor to “reposition and replenish” the Hawks undertook that route for a few seasons prior to General Manager, Travis Schlenk deciding it was time to go full bore with the rebuild.
Schlenk made some savvy moves along the way trading his third draft pick a season ago in order to get the player the Hawks wanted (Trae Young) while also padding their draft cupboard. The move paid dividends as Atlanta now boasts one of the most exciting young teams in the Association.
The Hawks are still a few years away from contention but as part of the easier Eastern Conference, nabbing a low playoff seed isn’t out of the question. Moreover, with the changes to the lottery draft format, teams can now make that push without fear it will automatically kill their shot at a high pick. That equates to a win-win scenario for the young Hawks who’ll covet the invaluable postseason experience to expedite their growth.
This summer the Hawks added two more solid draft picks (Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter) who’ll fit in beside their cornerstone trio of Trae Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter.
The Basics:
2018-19 Record: 29-53
Lottery Seed: Landed the eighth pick in the lottery.
Head Coach: Lloyd Pierce begins his second season as the bench boss.
Points per game: Ranked 12th (113.3) | Opponent points per game: Ranked 30th (119.4)
Pace: Ranked first (103.9) | Offensive Rating: Ranked 23rd (108.1) | Defensive Rating: Ranked 27th (113.9)
ranked
Vegas Odds:
Win-Loss: 36.0 games
Odds to NBA Title: +15000
Odds to Win Conference: +4000
* win/loss as per Westgate and Conference/Title odds as per Odds Shark
Last season the Thunder split the season series with the Hawks. Let’s review the changes the Hawks made this season with a view of what to expect when the team’s tipoff versus each other in the 2019-20 season.