⌕/
Atlanta Hawks · For a third consecutive year, the Atlanta Hawks won at least 41 games and found themselves in the postseason. They were the third-highest scoring team in the NBA at better than 118 points per game and also produced the seventh-best offensive rating. Just like the previous five seasons, the focal point of Atlanta’s offense was Trae Young, who averaged 26.2 points and 10.2 assists per game — his fourth straight campaign averaging at least 25 points while placing in the top-three in assists. Young’s offensive burden eased with the arrival of Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs to serve as Young’s backcourt mate. Murray posted averages of 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 2022-23, and he and Young became the first Hawks teammates since 1966 to put up 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in the same playoff game in a Game 3 first round win over the Boston Celtics. Veteran center Clint Capela averaged a double-double for the sixth straight season, while young members of the Atlanta core such as Saddiq Bey, AJ Griffin and Onyeka Okongwu all made positive developmental strides while helping the team win games. The high point of the season was Young’s game-winning 3-pointer in Game 5 in Boston, as the Hawks hung tough with the second-seeded Celtics before ultimately succumbing in six games. · State of Mint