Atlanta Hawks season starts with Abu Dhabi game, ends playoffs with Celtics loss

The 2022-23 NBA season has been a bit of a whirlwind for the Atlanta Hawks. After acquiring Dejounte Murray and trading Kevin Huerter in July, it became clear that the Hawks’ season looked a bit different than 2021-22.

Before the season started, each Eagles player took a Polaroid and wrote down how they wanted the season to end. Most players wrote that they hoped the season would end with the Hawks winning the NBA title.

In September, the Hawks made history by playing their first NBA game in Abu Dhabi. atlanta daily completed the trip Provided coverage in the Hawks’ two preseason games against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Hawks started the season with impressive victories against the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic, but lost in Game 3 to the underdog Charlotte Hornets.

The Eagles have been inconsistent for most of the season, winning two games and losing the next. The team made history by staying within .500 for 26 consecutive games.

The season has also been marred by conflict between Trae Young and head coach Nate McMillan. During the All-Star break, McMillan was ousted and Quin Snyder was named head coach a few days later.

The coaching change caused some excitement, but the Hawks remained underwhelming, finishing the season 41-41.

But the Hawks were able to see the playoffs as an opportunity for a fresh start. An upset in the first round of the playoffs, locked in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

After losing their first two playoff games to the Boston Celtics, the Hawks will return home to win Game 3 in Atlanta. A disappointing Game 4 exit led most to overlook the Eagles’ chances for a Game 5 in Boston.

But Young will channel his heroics into the 2021 playoffs by hitting the game-winning 3-pointer to force Game 6 back home in Atlanta.

Behind Atlanta’s raucous crowd and performances by Atlanta rappers Rich Homie Quan and Pastor Troy, the Hawks had all the momentum going into Game 6. They would stay close to the Celtics throughout the game, only missing key shots in the waning fourth quarter.

In the end, the Eagles lost to the Celtics 128-120, ending the season. After a season of ups and downs, the Hawks look forward to next season, which could mean a lot of change over the summer.

About the author of the article

Asho

AR Shaw is executive editor of The Atlanta Journal-Journal. His work has been published in The Guardian, ABC News, NBC, BBC, CBC. He is also the author of Trap History: Atlanta Culture and the Global Influence of Trap Music.