Trae Young and Kevin Pangos collide into each other
After the 2017 season, the Atlanta Hawks went into a rebuilding mode. Quickly, the Hawks became one of the NBA’s worst teams. This afforded them the chance to draft Trae Young. Young is the Hawks’ first true franchise player since the Dominique Wilkins era. Last season, Young led the Hawks to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Trae Young would take the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015. Actually, this was the Hawks’ second-ever time, since being in Atlanta, advancing to the Conference Finals. They would lose to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Despite getting their first-ever Eastern Conference Finals wins, the Hawks would lose to the NBA’s eventual champions.
Since 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also been rebuilding. In 2017, Kyrie Irving demanded a trade, joining the Boston Celtics. The following year, LeBron James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, returning the Cavs to a lottery team. This team has built their pieces, including Collin Sexton and Jarrett Allen, forming a contender, again.
This is what led up to tonight’s game, where the Cavs end 2021 hosting the Hawks. Ironically, these franchises played each other in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals. Currently, the Hawks and Cavs are still playing, as Trae Young and Kevin Pangos collide into each other, scaring fans of both teams.
