NBA Standings: Atlanta Hawks in First Place in East Over Chicago Bulls Thanks to Al Horford

By Damon Salvadore First Posted: Jan 10, 2015 05:00 AM EST

Don't look now, but the Atlanta Hawks have single best record in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

At 27-8, the Hawks lead the Southeast division by three games over the Washington Wizards, who are 24-11. The Hawks have been one of the hottest team in the league over the last two weeks winning their last six consecutive games. The Hawks have also won nine of their last 10 games overall.

The Chicago Bulls trail the Hawks for second place in the conference by just two wins in the East. The Hawks defeated the Bulls on Dec. 15, 2014, 93-86. That was the first of three meetings between both teams this season.

Much of the reason the Hawks have been so successful this season is because Al Horford.

Horford is averaging 14.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. Horford has been the second-best rebounder on the Hawks this season behind only Paul Millsap. Horford and Millsap have worked very well together this season, giving the Hawks the No. 3 ranked defenses in the NBA.

Horford was introduced to basketball at a very young age while growing up in the Latin American island of Dominican Republic. His father, Tito Horford, played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Bullets at the NBA level in the 1980s and 1990s. Standing 7-foot-1, Tito Horford was drafted in the second round for his shot blocking abilities.

Younger Horford was drafted No. 3 overall by the Hawks in 2007, and he has played with the team every year since. Horford has made two All-Star appearances in his career, and there's a good chance he will make his third showing this year. Horford has averaged more than 10 rebounds per game every season of his eight-year NBA career.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers struggling to find themselves, the East is wide open this season. The Toronto Raptors have also been struggling this year, considering DeMar DeRozan has been battling leg injuries. The 24-11 Washington Wizards also pose a threat to the first place Hawks, especially taking into fact how well point guard John Wall is playing.

Horford only played in 29 games last season because he suffered a terrible season ending injury. However, Horford has returned strong shooting over 52 percent from the field this season. If the Hawks can finish the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, they will automatically receive home court advantage in the playoffs. This season, the Hawks are an impressive 15-3 at home, the best mark of any team in the East.

No one will ever mistake the 6-foot-10 Horford for a perimeter shooter, but interestingly enough, he has already made a career-high five 3-pointers this season, with nearly 50 games remaining. Unlike most notable centers and power forwards, Horford is a successful free throw shooter. Horford is making 73.3 percent of his free throws this season.

Horford also took the time to congratulate his fellow countrymen on Pedro Martinez, who was recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.