The civilian Eagles really deserve respect.

In the NBA this season, there are several unpopular teams that should not be underestimated, such as the Suns. After sending away Durant and Beal in the offseason, the Suns' popularity plummeted, leaving only Booker as an All-Star. Everyone thought that the Suns were about to fail, but they did not expect that they could still maintain their competitiveness in the playoffs. The Suns are currently 8-6 and ranked 8th in the Western Conference. The main reason is that Dillon is playing really well and is in better shape than the Grizzlies.

For example, the Raptors are currently ranked third in the Eastern Conference with 9 wins and 5 losses. They focus on team basketball, ranking third in the league with 29.9 assists per game. They are also good at fast break counterattacks, averaging 22.1 fast break points per game, ranking first in the league. As a civilian team, the Raptors also have stars in the lineup. Ingram + Barnes + Barrett all average about 20 points per game.

Like the Pistons, they rank first in the Eastern Conference with 12 wins and 2 losses, maintaining the second-best record in the league and the longest existing 10-game winning streak. As the biggest dark horse this season, the Pistons can rise mainly due to the rapid growth of young players. The management has a keen eye. The selected players such as Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson all have potential; coupled with the support of veterans such as Harris, Dunloe, and LeVert, although the Pistons have a young core, they do not lack combat experience.

In addition, their playing style is strong, they are not afraid of confrontation, and they defend fiercely. In the regular season, when the teams are generally not very big, the Pistons can indeed reap certain dividends. In addition to the Suns, Raptors, and Pistons, there is now another unpopular team that is about to rise, and that is the Atlanta Hawks.

After the Suns' latest game ended their five-game winning streak, the Hawks ushered in their own five-game winning streak, with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference. In terms of team statistics, the Hawks are already at the top of the league in many aspects; like the Raptors, they are also a team-oriented team, ranking first in the league with 30.4 assists per game. The team has strong athletic talent and a fast pace of play. The Hawks average fast break points of 19.3 points per game, ranking second in the league after the Raptors; they score 23.5 points per game on turnovers, ranking second in the league after the Thunder. Their fast break shooting rate is as high as 65.2%, ranking first in the league.

In addition, the Hawks are also one of the best teams in the league. They average 10.2 steals per game, ranking third in the league after the Pistons and Thunder. The team is home to Daniels, the steal leader last season. This season, Daniels averaged 2.3 steals per game, still ranking first in the league. The Eagle Thief is not in vain.

What’s interesting is that during the Hawks’ 5-game winning streak, star Trae Young did not play. Trae Young has missed 10 consecutive games due to a knee sprain, during which the Hawks recorded 8 wins and 2 losses; is there a possibility that the Hawks would be better without Trae Young? In fact, in recent years, Trae Young has been playing without any sense of presence, and at best he is only at the fringe All-Star level. When he first debuted, Trae Young and Doncic were known as the two unparalleled twins, but now they are being pushed further and further away by Doncic, and they have basically reached the upper limit of their abilities. You know, the second-year Trae Young averaged 29.6 points per game in the 19-20 season; but in the following seven seasons, he never reached this level again. In the 5 games he played this season, Trae Young averaged only 17.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game.

Why did Trae Young's evolution come to an abrupt end? The upper limit is not high, and the biggest factor is physical talent. His height and size are indeed a flaw. He is short and thin, and his explosive power is not as good as other guards. It is already good to be an All-Star. In the game, Trae Young's biggest problem is naturally his defense. His teammates need to help him defend, and he will also take a lot of ball rights on the offensive end; other players on the Eagles are not incapable of digesting the ball rights.

So, even if Trae Young doesn't play, the Hawks can still advance all the way. This is definitely not a coincidence. In addition to Trae Young, the Hawks have four players averaging more than 15 points per game, including Jaylen Johnson, Alexander Walker, Porzingis and Okongwu. I have to praise the Eagles' offseason operations, which can be called one of the biggest winners in the offseason.

They acquired Alexander Walker, a top 3D and high-quality puzzle piece for the championship team from the Timberwolves. When he came to the Hawks, Walker's scoring average nearly doubled, from 9.4 points last season to 17.8 points now, making positive contributions on both offense and defense. They traded with the Celtics to get Porzingis. Although Porzingis is a bit brittle, he is still an All-Star center. He was just recruited by the Celtics two years ago and helped them win the championship. The Hawks also want to take a gamble. As long as Porzingis is not injured, his role is obvious. In addition, the Hawks also signed Kennard to provide the team with more outside firepower. Kennard's career three-point shooting rate is as high as 43.8%, and he is one of the top off-ball shooters currently active.

These operations of the Eagle can be said to be sharp and have immediate results.

Regarding Trae Young, it seems that it is indeed time to leave the team, and it is not that there is no suitable next home for him. For example, the Rockets are in urgent need of a point guard; if Trae Young joins the Rockets and joins forces with Durant, do you think the Rockets can win the championship?