The Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a tight race for a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, currently positioned 9th with a record of 28-34. With injuries plaguing their season, including to key player Jalen Johnson, the Hawks have struggled to find consistency. However, there have been promising performances from rookie Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels, who is making a case for Defensive Player of the Year. Their recent power ranking has them at No. 19, a slight improvement from the previous week.

Key contributors like Caris LeVert and Georges Niang have shown flashes of brilliance, especially with LeVert's game-winning layup against Memphis, but the team has faced challenges when they share the court. Defensive lapses have been evident, as the Hawks have allowed at least 127 points in their last four games. For Atlanta to make a playoff push, improved defensive play will be critical.