The Hawks.com team, with some help from Hawks PR, the Elias Sports Bureau and NBA Stats, put together a list of fun statistics as it relates to the Hawks clinching a playoff spot:
1) Good Company
The Hawks clinched a playoff spot on March 3, the earliest a team has clinched since the 1995-96 Bulls clinched on March 2. That Chicago team was the one that went an NBA-best 72-10.
2) Quite A Difference
Last season the Hawks clinched on April 12. This season's March 3 date is 41 days earlier. Quite an improvement.
3) Beasts of the East
Atlanta has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past 8 seasons, extending the longest active streak in the Eastern Conference. Only the San Antonio Spurs (17 straight seasons) have a longer streak, and they are in position to extend that as well.
4) Perspective
Just for fun, here is when the past 5 NBA Champions clinched playoff spots:
2010: Lakers clinch March 202011: Mavericks clinch April 92012: Heat clinch April 32013: Heat clinch March 82014: Spurs clinch March 22
5) Best Season Ever?
Atlanta's 48-12 record is its best 60-game start in franchise history. The previous best is the 42-18 record that the 1993-94 team posted after 60 contests.
6) Best Record Ever
The clinching win over Houston put the Hawks 36 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.
7) Best Against The Best
The Hawks are 11-2 against the top 8 teams in the West and an NBA-best 22-8 against teams with winning records.
8) Going Streaking
The Hawks clinched a playoff spot by winning their fifth game in a row Tuesday. It is the fourth such streak of 5 or more wins this season.
Story by Jaryd Wilson and KL Chouinard