A take from The Bill Simmons Podcast · Sep 22, 2026
- The Hawks miss the playoffs.
Bill asked which three of 11 East contenders miss the playoffs.
“I'm a little worried about Atlanta, so I'll take Atlanta, Charlotte.”
100%The playoff field is a black-and-white public record; standings alone can't settle play-in results, so no automatic rule fits.
How it’s graded: The Hawks are not in the 2026-27 NBA playoff first round (losing in the play-in counts as missing). Source: NBA.com 2027 playoff bracket. Settles: End of the 2027 NBA play-in tournament.
Who said it (100%): Reviewed and confirmed by an editor
