OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark

Atlanta Hawks:

Week 11: 2-0
Won vs: Heat 94-80, Magic 115-112

Week 12 opponents: @Raptors, Kings, Cavaliers

Offense: (112.7) 11th
Defense: (112.5) 23rd
Net: (Plus +0.3) 14th

Nate McMillan moved up a seat when Travis Schlenk fired Lloyd Pierce and made it clear he had mixed feelings about accepting the position.

Not surprising given the manner in which Pierce was cut. To wit, it wasn’t Pierce’s fault the team was hit hard by injury:

• Kris Dunn – hasn’t played this season – expected back at month-end
• Bogdan Bogdanovic – 25 games
• De’Andre Hunter – 18 games (and will be out at least until March 19th)
• Rajon Rondo – 16 games
• Danilo Gallinari – 12 games (10 consecutive)
• Cam Reddish – 10 games

Given that list, it seems unfair Pierce was cut and the timing was made all the more smelly given Bogdanovic returned the game following his firing. Since the firing, several reports confirmed Trae Young, John Collins, and Cam Reddish were vocal about replacing Pierce.

McMillan collected two wins as the interim head coach prior to the break and will move forward with the potential of pushing the Hawks up the ladder. That’s the benefit of being in the Eastern Conference with a deep roster. Atlanta is currently seeded 11th but only three games back of the fourth-seeded Celtics.