ASK IRA: Did Hawks get stung by their approach against Heat?

TL;DR

The Hawks faced disappointment after a season-ending loss to the Heat, impacting their playoff positioning. Their decision to rest key players led to a challenging first-round matchup against the Knicks instead of the Cavaliers.

Key points

Hawks lost to the Heat in their season finale
Decision to rest key players impacted playoff seeding
Hawks face Knicks in the first round of playoffs
Hawks hold Pelicans' lottery pick
Hawks positioned as No. 7 seed, Heat as No. 13

HawksHeatKnicksCavaliers

Q: Ira, you have always championed the playoffs as being the best thing. How do you think the Hawks are feeling about that today? – Ed.

A: Feeling like they were able to push for the playoffs while also knowing they hold the Pelicans’ lottery pick because of some shrew maneuvering at last year’s draft. No, it did not end well on Thursday night against the Knicks, but that also is part of the playoff experience, the sting of defeat. Sometimes that can make you stronger (although it didn’t for the Heat in the wake of last year’s first-round humiliation at the hands of the Cavaliers). When it comes to Heat-Hawks and which team is better positioned next season, it could come down to the lottery, where the Hawks (via New Orleans) are the No. 7 seed and the Heat the No. 13 seed. As it is, the Hawks’ decision to sit their entire primary rotation in their season-ending loss to the Heat left them with the Knicks as their first-round opponent. With a win that evening at Kaseya Center, the Hawks instead would have gotten the Cavaliers in the first round.

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Q: Precious Achiuwa over Tyrese Maxey. Still stings. – Samuel.

A: Yes, still does. But it also should stand as an abject lesson for those who insist on draft for need over best available talent. The Precious Achiuwa selection at No. 20 in the delayed 2020 draft came during a bastardized, compacted offseason due to the pandemic, when the Heat had a void at power forward and already had Tyler Herro coming off a breakout rookie season and bubble playoffs at shooting guard. (As a matter of transparency, Desmond Bane was my preference at No. 20 that year. Tyrese Maxey went at No. 21 to the , Bane at No. 30 to the Grizzlies.)

Q&A

What was the Hawks' strategy in their final game against the Heat?

The Hawks chose to sit their entire primary rotation in their season-ending loss to the Heat, which affected their playoff seeding.

How did the Hawks' loss to the Heat impact their playoff chances?

The loss resulted in the Hawks facing the Knicks in the first round instead of a potentially easier matchup against the Cavaliers.

What lottery pick do the Hawks hold for the upcoming draft?

The Hawks hold the Pelicans' lottery pick, which is significant as they are currently positioned as the No. 7 seed.