On eve of regular-season finale, Hawks’ playoff picture coming into focus

The Hawks have clinched a spot in the playoffs.

That’s right, the playoffs, not the play-in tournament.

The playoffs.

For the first time since 2021, the Hawks will begin their postseason run among the top six teams in the Eastern Conference. But they still have to wait until Sunday to find out where their playoff path begins.

“We’ve grown a lot, man,” Hawks guard CJ McCollum said after Friday’s win over the Cavaliers. “We’ve had a lot of conversations behind closed doors, watched a lot of film. We communicate at a high level. We hold each other accountable, and we aren’t afraid to ask questions.

“We aren’t afraid to say when we see something that we should be doing better individually. And I think that’s about growth. And we all like-minded individuals who work hard and want the same things for each other. So I think that’s kind of showed in how we play.”

The Hawks face the Heat in Miami on Sunday in their final regular-season game. They have some things to think about now, knowing they will not fall lower than sixth place.

The top four seeds in the Eastern Conference are solidified, with the Pistons, Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers all winning home-court advantage.

The third-seeded Knicks and No. 4 Cavaliers will host the sixth and fifth seeds, respectively, in the first round.

“The guys are happy,” Hawks guard Dyson Daniels said. “You know, all this means is Atlanta (not) being in the play-in tournament. So I’m just glad we get out of that. (But) job’s not done. We got a lot ahead of us. We don’t want to be a first-round exit.

“We want to go out there and really show what we’re made of. So, yeah, the guys are proud of each other. Yeah, we got one more in Miami. So, I don’t know what we are — fifth, sixth seed. Yeah, we are, definitely want the higher seed.”

The Hawks, of course, have played both teams in the past week and may have considered potential matchups.

So, as the Hawks get ready for the playoffs, they could opt to prioritize player health. They could decide to lean on other players in the final game of the regular season.

The team has already ruled out backup center Jock Landale, who has missed the last four games with a right high ankle sprain.

But the rest of the Hawks’ injury report on Saturday evening will provide the greatest indication of their plans for Sunday. The team would have to list the players’ status for the game, and so they could rule out the top of the rotation.

The Hawks have listed Daniels (left great toe sprain), McCollum (rest), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (right great toe sprain), Jalen Johnson (rest), Jonathan Kuminga (left knee; injury management) and Onyeka Okongwu (left index finger sprain) as questionable.

A win over the Heat sets the Hawks up for the fifth seed.