Hawks Still Too Inconsistent, But Flashes Of Brilliance Can Sure Shine Bright

The Atlanta Hawks are the definition of inconsistency right now, and that could ultimately define their season.

Theyve shown they can hang with the big boys, pulling off impressive wins against the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks.

But those highs are counterbalanced by baffling lows, like twice losing to the Washington Wizards, the leagues basement dwellers.

Its the type of unpredictability that keeps fans on the edge of their seats but drives coaches crazy.

Where Hawks Stand At 8-11, the Hawks are teetering on the edge of the play-in mix in the Eastern Conference.

Theres no shortage of talent here, but the cohesion and consistency needed to string wins together are clearly missing.

Trae Young , the teams franchise cornerstone, leads the league in assists but is struggling with his shooting efficiency.

No.

1 pick Zaccharie Risacher hasnt quite found his stroke yet, while the center tandem of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu hasnt given the team the production it needs on both ends.

Add in an up-and-down bench, and you have a roster that flashes potential but often falls short.

Hawks Optimistic View Its not all doom and gloom.

Risachers shooting slump could be temporary rookies often take time to adjust to the NBA, and his skill set is undeniable.

If he finds his groove, it could elevate the Hawks offense to a new level.

Similarly, Trae Youngs track record suggests hell figure out his scoring struggles, which could be a game-changer.

If Capela and Okongwu can stabilize and the bench finds its footing, Atlanta might surprise some people in the back half of the season.

The Realistic View Bleacher Reports Dan Favale pegged the Hawks at 34-48, and that feels like a plausible scenario if things dont come together.

They play in the Eastern Conference, where the margin for error is thinner than it seems.

A play-in spot is certainly within reach, but cracking into the actual playoff bracket feels like a long shot unless this team solves its issues on both ends of the floor.

Their draft obligation to San Antonio adds a layer of urgency they cant afford to tank, but they also arent in a position to go all-in on a win-now trade.

The X-Factors Zaccharie Risacher: Can he develop into the reliable shooter Atlanta needs him to be? Trae Young: Will his scoring catch up with his elite playmaking? Capela and Okongwu: Can they anchor the defense and provide consistent inside scoring? Bench production: Will the reserves step up enough to provide stability? Final Record Prediction If things break right, the Hawks could push into the 38-40 win range and snag a play-in spot.

But if the inconsistency continues, 34-48 might be an accurate forecast.

Either way, the Hawks will likely remain in that frustrating in-between zone, good enough to hang around but not good enough to make real noise.

Its a tough spot for a team with talent but no clear path forward.

More Hawks | All coverage from Hoops Wire This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission..

This article has been shared from the original article on yardbarker, here is the link to the original article.