Ranking the best potential defensive teams in the Eastern Conference

6. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks upgraded defensively by acquiring Dwight Howard and downgraded offensively when Boston signed Al Horford.

The Hawks should make the playoffs again, but do not expect them to be a top-four seed like they were last year. If Howard stays healthy it will give them a premiere rim protector to lean on the entire season.

One thing that makes the Hawks defense interesting is the frontcourt combo of Paul Milsap and Howard. Milsap is an excellent defender who can defend stretch-4s. And Howard is known around the league for defending the paint.

This past year, Milsap made the All-Defensive Second Team after a stellar season on the defensive end. Although Howard is not the same defensive talent he was during his tenure in Orlando, he should be a formidable complement to Milsap.

The Magic frontcourt could be similar to the Hawks frontcourt if Bismack Biyombo gets the nod from Vogel to start over Nikola Vucevic. Biyombo and Howard are very similar, although Biyombo may be slightly better from the charity stripe. Milsap and Ibaka are similar because the can both defend the paint and perimeter on an elite level.

Offensively Milsap should complement Howard the way Rashard Lewis once did. If Howard is still a threat in the paint, it should bring the double team from down low to get Milsap some open looks.

The Hawks still have a lot to prove as they enter a new year with new expectations.

Next: Do it again?