The Hawks have been mired in a notorious run of perfectly average play ever since a thrilling run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. By posting a 43-39 record and a 41-41 record in the two seasons that followed — including an oft-ridiculed streak of games played within one game of .500 — the team did little to dispel the notion that that postseason success was fluky.
A coaching and development staff overhaul in recent months was supposed to represent progression upwards in the NBA standings, but as of today the Hawks are both 6-6 in the regular season and 1-1 within East Group A of the In-Season Tournament group phase.