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Atlanta Hawks
Overall: 29
Title track: 80
Ownership: 68
Coaching: T12
Players: 18
Fan relations: 35
Affordability: 27
Stadium experience: 70
Bang for the buck: 15
Change from last year: +19
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who learned from the best as a longtime assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, has led Atlanta to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. Last year, the team amassed 60 wins before falling to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. The Hawks set a franchise record with 25 sellouts; their 19-game winning streak tied for fifth best in NBA history; and in January, they became the first team in league history to go 17-0 in a month. No wonder they improved 19 spots in our rankings to crack the top 30.
What's good
Strong team chemistry bolstered the Hawks and gave them their greatest categorical rankings boost, up 27 places to 18th overall in the players category. The mainstays of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver in the backcourt and high-scoring big men Paul Millsap and Al Horford will look to lead the Hawks even deeper into the playoffs. Thabo Sefolosha proved a great addition last season, earning the best defensive rating on the team. He missed the playoffs due to a broken right leg suffered in an infamous incident with New York City police outside a Manhattan nightclub in April, but he's now been cleared for basketball activity. Forward DeMarre Carroll signed with the Raptors, but the acquisition of former Clipper Tiago Splitter has fans and teammates excited.
What's bad
Perhaps the only area the Hawks need to improve upon is, well, postseason results. They've made the playoffs each of the past eight seasons but have yet to advance to the Finals, which accounts for that 80th-place title track ranking, their worst showing this season. Still, last year's advancement into the Eastern Conference finals (where they fell in four straight games to LeBron's Cavs) shows they're closer to contending for a title. Then there's Philips Arena, which is ... Philips Arena (70th in stadium experience).
What's new
Budenholzer was the NBA Coach of the Year, and in our ratings he nearly elevated into the top 10 overall in the coaching category (up 26 spots from last year). The team also greatly improved in bang for the buck (up 22 places), in large part due to the $35.26 average ticket cost, which is almost $20 lower than the league average. Cheap tickets and a lot of W's is a strong combination. This season, Budenholzer's third at the helm, Atlanta fans hope he can replicate what his mentor, Popovich, pulled off in his third year as an NBA head coach -- a championship.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers | Full rankings