Play-In Round Previews
Feb 7, 2022 9:40:44 GMT -5
Kots (Colorado GM), crossover (Golden St. GM), and 1 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Feb 7, 2022 9:40:44 GMT -5
EAST: Chicago vs. Atlanta
How They Got Here
Chicago is the #4 seed. They finished 7-9 and were third in the North Division.
Atlanta enters as the 5th seed. They also finished 7-9 and were second in the Southeast Division.
Postseason History
This is Chicago’s fourth straight playoff appearance, and their fifth postseason in franchise history. They enter as the defending champions, having defeated Miami, Tampa Bay, and Seattle en route to their first title in franchise history.
All-Time Playoff Record: 3-3
Finals Record: 1-0
Titles: 1 (2021)
The Hawks return to the postseason for the first time since 2016, when they last snuck in as a fourth seed at 7-9. Atlanta is looking for their first playoff win since 2011.
All-Time Playoff Record: 5-3
Finals Record: 1-0
Titles: 1 (2010)
Regular Season Meeting(s)
The Hawks and Bulls played in week 9 (Dec. 13-19). Chicago won 6-3.
Statistical Rankings Among Playoff Teams
Chicago
FG %: 10th (20th)
FT %: 2nd (3rd)
3PTM: 8th (9th)
REBS: 10th (14th)
ASTS: 10th (14th)
STLS: 10th (14th)
BLKS: 10th (14th)
TOS: 1st (7th)
PTS: 10th (13th)
Atlanta
FG %: 7th (16th)
FT %: 5th (6th)
3PTM: 3rd (4th)
REBS: 7th (9th)
ASTS: 3rd (5th)
STLS: 3rd (4th)
BLKS: 3rd (5th)
TOS: 2nd (9th)
PTS: 7th (8th)
KEY INJURIES
Chicago – Patrick Williams (wrist – out); Ben Simmons (protest – out); Dillon Brooks (ankle – out); Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (foot – out); Kristaps Porzingis (knee – DTD)
Atlanta – Willy Hernangomez (COVID protocols – DTD)
Series Notes
- This will be the first 4-5 match-up since 2011 when six teams from each conference made the playoffs.
-Chicago’s all-time franchise record is 70-136 (regular season)
-Atlanta’s all-time franchise record is 111-95 (regular season)
-Chicago is seeking to become just the third team in league history to win back-to-back championships. The last team to accomplish such a feat was the Brooklyn Nets (2017-18 & 2018-19).
The Bulls are back?
It’s been a long, strange trip for Chicago, but yes, after all of that, they are back in the playoffs yet again. What’s been fascinating about the Bulls is that it’s hard to point to any one trade they made this past off-season as a failure, but in the aggregate, it just hasn’t worked. Obviously the Mitchell for Simmons deal looks the worst, but Mitchell is currently battling a concussion and would be of very little help in the playoffs anyway. They shrewdly traded Julius Randle and change for Jaylen Brown. They made a great move sending out D’Angelo Russell for Cole Anthony and Saddiq Bey. It just hasn’t quite added up this year, for whatever reason. Now, that being said, they’re here, and the Knicks are vulnerable. If they get a couple of breaks, who knows, they might just get back to the Finals.
Wait a minute… the Hawks are here too?
That’s right, everybody, the Atlanta Hawks have broken their playoff drought. Once one of the league’s pre-eminent franchises, Atlanta fell on some hard times the last half decade. They alternated between “not quite in it” and “completely out of it” for a while before things finally went their way. It seems almost impossible, but Atlanta hasn’t won a playoff game in over a decade. This year, though, things are looking up. They’re much healthier than Chicago, and as has been mentioned, the Knicks are banged up. These one week sprints are always a toss-up though, so we’ll see what happens.
Chicago’s highlight of the season... week 16 vs. New York
Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to choose from. The Bulls didn’t register any marquee non-conference wins, and their wins in-conference were largely expected. Even this one against New York came against a Knicks team fielding barely any players. Still, a win over the top of the conference this close to the playoffs needs to be taken as a positive sign.
Atlanta's highlight of the season... week 8 vs. Brooklyn
We’re going to steer toward the drama for this one, and Atlanta’s week 8 victory over Brooklyn certainly had plenty of it. After the Nets came from behind to take what looked like a final lead, the Hawks embarked on a final day, final game comeback of their own. D’Angelo Russell hit two threes and picked up a steal in the final two minutes of the day to steal the win and help the Hawks snap a three game losing streak.
Who to keep an eye on for Chicago... Lu Dort.
The trade deadline acquisition from Memphis has been playing lights out of late, and the Bulls are really going to need him to keep up his high level of play if they want to make it out of the play-in.
Who to keep an eye on for Atlanta… Gordon Hayward
When Gordon Hayward is healthy and playing, it takes the Hawks to another level. Unfortunately for them, it seems he’s been on the bench far more often than he’s been on the floor. He finally came back from injury and COVID late last week. It remains to be seen what he has left in the tank.
Chicago's X-Factor: Devontae Graham
If there’s one guy who hasn’t quite worked out for Chicago, Graham is definitely that guy. He is shooting under 37% from the floor, and he just hasn’t quite been able to do anything with the starting point guard role. That said, he’s also capable of getting stupid hot and making 7 threes in a game. The Bulls need the latter out of him.
Atlanta's X-Factor: Spencer Dinwiddie
Sticking with the theme of underperforming point guards, Dinwiddie has had a tough time coming back from an ACL injury last year. He did, however, pick up a triple-double last week, so maybe he can put up some decent counting stats.
Chicago's Reason for Hope... they still have stars
For all of Chicago’s issues, both Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are still fantasy stars. Assuming both can play, they can make up for a lot of the holes elsewhere on the roster. If they can just get adequate performances from their role players, they can certainly make it to the next round.
Atlanta's Reason for Hope... they’re largely healthy
Only Willy Hernangomez’s status is truly in doubt, and that’s COVID-related. With Chicago, and then possibly New York, dealing with injuries, the Hawks should have the depth advantage. If their big names play Brown and Porzingis to a draw, the others should drag them across the finish line.
I'm a neutral observer, why should I root for Chicago?
It’s hard to say they’re a fresh face, given they won the title last year, but they would be a fresh face to the back-to-back club, currently occupied by Brooklyn, Tampa Bay, and… that’s it. Also, it would be kind of funny for the Bulls to win the title despite getting literally nothing all year from Ben Simmons.
I'm a neutral observer, why should I root for Atlanta?
Who doesn’t love a good comeback story? This would certainly qualify. We’re talking about a team that, again, hasn’t won a playoff game since TWO-THOUSAND-ELEVEN. Remember 2011? LeBron was wrapping up his first year in Miami and hadn’t even won a title yet. Oprah was still on TV and Harry Potter’s last movie had yet to be released. Of course, 11 years later, and LeBron, Oprah, and Harry Potter are very much a part of our culture, so maybe things haven’t changed that much…
POSTSEASON ROSTERS
Chicago
Anthony, Cole
Bazley, Darius
Bey, Saddiq
Brooks, Dillon
Brown, Jaylen
Dort, Lugentz
Graham, Devonte
O’Neale, Royce
Porzingis, Kristaps
Reid, Naz
Robinson-Earl, Jeremiah
Simmons, Ben
Williams, Patrick - IR
Atlanta
Adams, Steven
Coffey, Amir
Connaughton, Pat
Dinwiddie, Spencer
Finney-Smith, Dorian
Hayward, Gordon
Hernangomez, Willy
Jackson Jr., Jaren
Maxey, Tyrese
Metu, Chimezie
Middleton, Khris
Monk, Malik
Russell, D’Angelo
Tucker, PJ