There are only 24 games remaining for the Atlanta Hawks this season, and all 24 should be considered important games. It is safe to say this Hawks team has underperformed so far into the 2021-22 season. The All-Star break has come and gone, and currently, the Hawks hold the Eastern Conference’s 10th seed, with a record of 28-30. The Hawks will be thrown into the fire as it is not an easy schedule once they return to play on Thursday, February 24. The Hawks have a home-and-way battle with the Chicago Bulls, play the Toronto Raptors, and the Boston Celtics all within one week. This upcoming four-game stretch will be crucial in determining how the Hawks fare against plus .500 opponents, all of which are ahead of them in the standings. The Hawks have played inconsistent basketball all year. They managed to have two seven-game winning streaks but have failed to capture that magic for the majority of the season.
Starts with the Starters
It is no secret the Hawks’ offense runs through Trae Young. He is boasting a career stat-line, averaging 27.8 points and 9.3 assists per game, respectively. However, Young’s defensive ability does not match his offense. During the Hawks’ most recent seven-game winning streak, Young hustled consistently on the defensive end. He did not leave his assignment or get burned on backdoor cuts. For the Hawks to improve defensively, it should start with their best player leading by example. If Young can put up resistance on the defensive end, other perimeter players should follow, creating a more formidable defense.
The Hawks’ success starts with getting John Collins back on the floor and healthy. Collins sat out the final three games leading into the All-Star break with a strained right foot. When he does come back, look for Collins to establish his offense early in the game. If Collins can catch lobs from Young, and his teammates find him on mismatches in the post, it will produce open shots for wing players like, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, or De’Andre Hunter. The aforementioned wing players will also need to step up their games and do a better job of helping Collins, Clint Capela, and Onyeka Okongwu, clean up on the boards. In a recent 124-116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, only three Hawks players collected more than three rebounds, that was: Bogdanovic, Capela, and Delon Wright, whom each finished with seven rebounds. This is not a trend that should continue because the Hawks’ length on the wings can be the X-factor in winning the battle for the boards.
Since coming out of the University of Virginia, Hunter had the reputation of being a lockdown defender. Hunter has improved his three-point shooting and has the potential to be a great “three-&-D” player, as he is shooting 38% from behind the arc this season. However, Hunter is putting up 3.7 attempts from three per game. With a dynamic playmaker like Young, Hunter will continue to get more of these open shots, if he builds on his off-ball movement. He also will need to improve on handling passes in traffic while diving to the rim, if he is to become both a slasher and shooter.
Much has been said about Capela’s inability to finish easy shots around the rim this season. In reality, Capela is actually only shooting 0.08% less from the field this year compared to his season last year. He is still rebounding at an elite rate, averaging 12.1 boards, which is good enough for third in the entire NBA. The main reason for Capela’s regression in play this year is due to his lack of shot-blocking and rim presence, especially when comparing his previous seasons. After the All-Star break, one of two things needs to happen for the Hawks to improve on defense: either the perimeter defenders need to take pride in keeping their matchup in front of them or Capela needs to improve his rim protection. Both of these aspects shined during the playoffs just less than a year ago.
Kevin Huerter is best known for his several “breakout” games throughout his career. His most famous being a 27-point effort that led Atlanta to a series-clinching Game 7 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in last year’s second round. However, these games have not been a common occurrence for Huerter. He possesses a great mid-range pull-up and a push shot from 8 to 10 feet that seems automatic. He also handles the ball adequately, so if Huerter can get to these spots more often, fans could see more consistency from their two-guard. An aggressive Kevin Huerter is the best Kevin Huerter.
The Bench Brigade
Bogdanovic and Huerter both have very similar skill sets. However, Bogdanovic consistently has proven that he can preform night-in and night-out. Since coming back from resting his knee, Bogdanovic has averaged 16.2 points, along with 4.0 assists per game. He has developed great chemistry with the bench unit and especially with Okongwu. Bogdanovic’s passing vision and creativity have improved greatly, consistently finding Okongwu and other teammates for easy baskets. He even has taken a page out of Trae Young’s book with several no-look passes in recent games. If Bogdanovic continues this type of playmaking, the Hawks’ bench will continue to improve upon an already strong unit.
Danilo “Gallo” Gallinari stepped up his game after a slow start to the season. He has been fairly consistent, giving the Hawks 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game since November 29. Going down the stretch, his ability to take advantage of mismatches will be crucial to the Hawks’ success. Gallo is not the best defender, but Atlanta fans have seen him play quality defense on players like, Julius Randle, who are quicker than him at the power forward position. If he can provide sufficient defense on a consistent basis, it would be a great addition with players like Wright and Okongwu.
Delon Wright might be one of the most confusing players on this team. Last year, Wright had six 20-point games with the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings. Compared to this year, Wright only has one for the Hawks. He does play fewer minutes in a smaller role, but the aggressive Delon Wright did not show up until the 2021 Christmas Day game against the New York Knicks. He finished that game with 20 points and added three steals. His most impressive showing as an Atlanta Hawk. Wright always impacts the game defensively, sneaking into passing lanes and playing great on-ball defense. Down the stretch, Wright will need to become more aggressive in the pick-and-roll. If a defender goes under the screen, let it fly, and if he fights over it, Wright needs to use his height advantage, which he has on many back-up point guards in this league. Hopefully, Atlanta fans see a more confident Wright on the offensive end for the rest of the season.
Onyeka Okongwu has been a spark off the bench for the majority of this season. He throws down emphatic, crowd-pleasing dunks and rejects them on the opposite end to energize his teammates and fans inside State Farm Arena. His finishing ability around the rim is also impressive. For Okongwu to develop further into a defensive anchor, he will need to cut down his fouls. He had a tendency to foul three-point shooters early in the season but has improved in this area as the season has progressed.
It is not completely farfetched for the Hawks to improve on a rough season and have an electrifying 24-game stretch. If anything the team knows they have done it before, so they know what they can accomplish as a group. These adjustments are things to look out for in individual games because the Hawks should not focus on the standings too much. At the end of the day, teams want to control their own fate, and the Hawks, with some adjustments and an improved effort on the defensive end, Atlanta has this opportunity presented to them. Will they ultimately take it and run with it? Stay tuned…the show is not over yet.
