One week left in the Hawks regular season

In this episode of the Locked On Hawks podcast, host Brad Roland provides a comprehensive breakdown of the Atlanta Hawks' playoff positioning with just one week remaining in the regular season. The Hawks are in a strong position, having gained ground after recent wins by the Sixers and Raptors, putting them two games ahead in the standings with four games left. The podcast covers a major roster move: the Hawks waived Caleb Houston and are expected to sign veteran center Tony Bradley to bolster their backup center depth, especially with Jock Landale sidelined by a high ankle sprain and Christian Coloco ineligible for the playoffs. Roland discusses Bradley’s fit within Quinn Snyder’s system, emphasizing his physicality and familiarity with the Hawks, though acknowledging he’s unlikely to play significant minutes. The episode also features a deep dive into Quinn Snyder’s coaching performance, where Roland argues that despite early-season struggles and low approval ratings, Snyder has navigated unprecedented roster instability—including injuries to Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis—and led the team to an 18-2 record in their last 20 games. Roland makes a case for Snyder as a legitimate Coach of the Year contender, citing his ability to adapt and stabilize the team, even if he’s not the top pick in betting odds. On offense, the Hawks have shown marked improvement in the half-court, rising to 12th in offensive efficiency over a 38-game sample since the January 11th roster reset, though they remain a below-average pick-and-roll team. The episode closes with a preview of the pivotal Monday night matchup against the New York Knicks, a potential playoff preview, with both teams healthy and the Hawks slight favorites. Roland notes the game’s national broadcast on Peacock and discusses the uncertain future of the Hawks’ local broadcast rights as FanDuel Sports Network prepares to exit NBA coverage.