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Power Rankings: Hawks Obliterating Preseason Predictions

It's Bonus Preseason Prediction Week!

In addition to the usual spate of power rankings from each of the major media outlets, each excerpt is followed by a bonus excerpt that takes us back to the preseason. Some were closer than others; we've graded each prediction accordingly. 

As it turns out, there weren't a whole bunch of experts who predicted that the Hawks would be leading the Eastern Conference on March 1.

(And yes, we're still a week away from March 1, but the Hawks have a 7-game cushion. Regardless of what happens between now and then, Atlanta was still be the Beast of the East going into next month.)

BONUS PRESEASON PREDICTION: (17th overall, 8th in East)

This prediction missed the boat on Schroder, Scott, Bazemore, and company. Worse, though, it put the Hawks in the bottom half of the NBA.  I do like the word 'floor-spacingest', because the Hawks are a lot of that. (Prediction grade: C+)

BONUS PRESEASON PREDICTION: (7th in East): 

Adding Thabo was a great move, and the Hawks are closing in on the playoffs faster than anyone else in the East. (Prediction grade: B)

BONUS PRESEASON PREDICTION: (47 wins, without explanation): 

The Hawks seem like a super safe bet to eclipse 47 wins, but at the same time, 47 wins this season would have put the Hawks much closer to the top than what some of the other rankings projected. (Prediction grade: B+)

BONUS PRESEASON PREDICTION: (Aldridge ranked the top-15 in the NBA; Hawks were left out without explanation): 

None of the Hawks' players were mentioned in Aldridge's lengthy NBA preview, so maybe he was following the "If you can't say anything nice ..." adage? At least Aldridge has the Hawks on top at the moment. (Prediction grade: C)

BONUS PRESEASON PREDICTION: (10th in the NBA)

Marc Spears got closer than everyone else. (Prediction grade: A-)

PRESEASON PREDICTION: (16th in the NBA)

Well, 16th in the NBA was way off, but the rest of the points made here were valid. (Prediction grade: C+)

Story by KL ChouinardTwitter:  @AnaheimAmigos