The Atlanta Hawks are rolling.

At 50-13, the Hawks are an eye-popping 10 wins ahead of the second place Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings. With about 20 games remaining in the season for each team, it's almost certain the Hawks will have home court advantage come playoff time.

Despite having (by far) the best record in the East, and a 50-win tie with the Golden State Warriors for the most victories in the league this season, many fans are still not sold on Hawks. The Hawks have been doubted all year, but they have proven skeptics wrong throughout the season.

So, are the Hawks real championship contenders or just another great regular season team?

The biggest reason fans have to take the Hawks seriously is because of their team balance. Sure they don't have a superstar, but they do have great roster depth. The Hawks have five players averaging at least 12 points per game this season. Speaking of balance, the Hawks have the No. 7 ranked offense and the No. 4 ranked defense. It doesn't get much better than that for head coach Mike Budenholzer.

We also can't count out the Kyle Korver factor. The Hawks are averaging the third most three pointers made per game, much in part thanks to their shooting guard Kyle Korver. Korver has made the third most 3-point shots in the NBA this season behind only Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. Korver isn't just making perimeter shots at a high rate, he's netting nearly 50 percent of the three pointers he takes this season.

Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap aren't superstars, but they are emerging All-Stars who fit this system very well. The Hawks don't have one ounce of team controversy or a gaping hole on offense or defense. Dominican center Al Horford has started 60 games this season, exceeding many expectations considering he missed much of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. Horford has the second most rebounds, and the most blocks on the Hawks this season.

To reinforce their East dominance, the Hawks are 3-1 against LeBron James and the Cavaliers this season.

Even with all the great rankings, a 10-win conference lead, and arguably the most balanced squad in the league, there are still some who aren't buying into the Hawks. Some NBA fans feel as if the Hawks success is somewhat flawed this season because they don't play in the heavy loaded Western Conference. The Hawks also have a history of letting fans down come playoff time. The Hawks have been eliminated in the first round each of the last three postseasons.

Although the Hawks are 3-1 against the Cavaliers this season, we all know it's a "superstars league." Come playoff time, superstars take over. The East has been won by a James-led team the last four consecutive seasons regardless of regular season record. Can the Hawks balanced squad defeat the Cavaliers big three? That's the big question in the East right now.

In all likelihood the Hawks and Cavaliers will do battle in the 2015 Eastern Conference Championship round. Regardless of which team comes out on top, NBA fans are in for a great finish.

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