How the 2005 NBA Draft Could’ve Changed the 2008 Playoffs

Having the Atlanta Hawks constructed in this fashion and after a few years of maturation, this team would’ve also made the playoffs this year as a much higher seed than number eight ranking they achieved in the Eastern Conference.

Even if they had only achieved an eighth seed with Paul running the show, this  would have certainly meant a more competitive series against the Celtics, one that would have gone further than four games that it will likely go, and would’ve changed the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Another way the 2005 NBA Draft could’ve changed the playoffs this year would have been if the New Orleans Hornets were still in the Eastern Conference. If this were the case, the Hornets would clearly be one of the top four teams in the East, though what seed they would have been is not entirely clear?

This is all speculation because this isn’t the decision the team made, and the Hawks have been making bad decisions for a while.

They’re a young team learning to play together and win in the NBA, and it is great to see them in the playoffs. But it was apparent even prior to the playoffs that they were overmatched against the Celtics.

This isn’t a knock against the Eastern Conference: it is merely a what if question or, better yet, explaining how one choice from the 2005 NBA Draft could’ve really effected the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

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