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The NBA season is a marathon that requires equal components resilience and brief reminiscences. Whereas it’s by no means smart to make sweeping declarations throughout the season, there are particular inflection factors when it’s protected to make observations in regards to the route of the group.
With roughly 60% of the season within the rearview mirror, the Atlanta Hawks are 25-24. Right now final 12 months, they had been 24-25. The February 9 commerce deadline is 2 weeks away and is well essentially the most pivotal second for the group because the group’s rebuild. Under are the solutions to lots of your mailbag questions.
Efficiency
Dejounte Murray defends LeBron James.
© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports activities
What’s going on with the protection? It is like they’re giving up 130 each night time.
You aren’t far off. Atlanta has surrendered 120+ factors in 5 of the final six video games. They’ve fallen to nineteenth in defensive ranking. The issues stem from their perimeter defenders and point-of-attack protection.
What’s the reasoning for Jalen Johnson and AJ Griffin not getting minutes?
The straightforward reply is protection. Johnson has had too many DNP (coach’s choices) for my liking. Nevertheless, Griffin ranks tenth in minutes per recreation amongst rookies. Their time is coming.
Is Trae’s inconsistent three-point taking pictures harm associated? He appears to be like banged up loads this 12 months, however perhaps they don’t discuss his accidents, so he could be a decoy.
No, I do not suppose Younger’s taking pictures woes are harm associated. He has had shoulder points, however that challenge was fairly well-documented. Younger is taking pictures 31.8% from deep on 6.8 makes an attempt per recreation (down from 38.2% on eight makes an attempt per recreation). Virtually all of his makes an attempt are thought-about open or broad open, with most photographs coming off the dribble.
Is the chemistry between Trae Younger and DeJounte Murray enhancing?
Completely. Whereas the protection has taken a step again in January, Younger and Murray have scored 10+ factors in six of the final seven video games.
Teaching
Trae Younger and Nate McMillan throughout a recreation.
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Will we ever see Justin Vacation play once more?
Sure, however I perceive your concern. Justin Vacation hasn’t performed in 12 video games. Nevertheless, coach Nate McMillan will bury a participant on the bench for weeks at a time after which throw them into motion when he feels the scenario is correct.
Why are we at all times blowing leads and making seemingly received video games coin tosses?
The gamers typically get complacent after they lead by double digits. However how a group with two All-Star level guards and a former level guard as a head coach mismanages so many leads, I’ll by no means know.
What’s our offensive philosophy?
Atlanta leads the league in pick-and-rolls. So loads of excessive screens set by Clint Capela and John Collins (generally concurrently and with each bigs rolling). Moreover, they run loads of units the place guards and wings come off pin-downs and obtain a go going downhill, which leverages their driving and playmaking talents.
Is specializing in De’Andre Hunter as a substitute of John Collins the appropriate transfer?
Hunter’s utilization price and shot makes an attempt are solely barely greater than Collins. Provided that Hunter is a 3-and-D wing and Collins is a pick-and-roll/pop put up participant, it is smart.
Roster Strikes
John Collins celebrates a play.
© Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports activities
Commerce Deadline is upon us. At this cut-off date, who/what ought to the Hawks get?
I like Atlanta’s backcourt and frontcourt. Including extra 3-and-D wings who can area the ground and reinforce the protection can be superb.
Do you suppose John Collins will keep?
No. Despite the fact that Collins has performed effectively and the group has pushed down his commerce worth, I am assured that is the 12 months they commerce him. The entrance workplace desires to get off his contract.
What about utilizing midlevel exception?
Atlanta’s entrance workplace by no means used their midlevel or biannual exception. It could be uncharacteristic of them to take action now.
Will the Hawks spend All-Star weekend on the lookout for trades, or will they sit again and watch once more this 12 months?
Final 12 months, I bought cooked for saying Atlanta misplaced the commerce deadline by staying put regardless that issues clearly weren’t working. Nevertheless, normal supervisor Landry Fields just lately gave a quote indicating the group can be lively on the commerce deadline, and I absolutely consider him.
Any information on a Bogdan Bogdanovic commerce, contemplating his contractual scenario?
So Bogdanovic is on the books for yet one more season at $18 million. Atlanta will look to maneuver him or Capela this summer time to unencumber cap area for Onyeka Okongwu’s upcoming rookie-scale contract extension.
Are we trying to purchase a professional small ahead to protect large wings?
Reliable? No, they simply signed De’Andre Hunter to a contract extension. The most effective anybody can hope for is a job participant.
Season Outlook
Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles previous Clint Capela.
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports activities
From February 9 to March 17, the Hawks don’t journey exterior the Jap time zone in any respect. Is that this an oddity for an NBA group?
It’s uncommon however not sudden. Over the previous few years, the NBA has finished an important job slicing down on journey for groups. The league took it to a brand new stage with this season’s schedule.
Provided that the Hawks have been a second-half-of-the-season group. Do you continue to suppose we will probably be a play-in group, or can they nonetheless take the sixth seed?
The sixth seed is achievable. Atlanta is one recreation behind the 7-seed New York Knicks and two video games behind the 6-seed Miami Warmth. Neither of these groups has been extraordinary this season. Additionally, the Milwaukee Bucks are at the moment the 3-seed, and Atlanta performs effectively towards them.
Dejounte Murray is clutch on protection. Do you suppose he’ll win the Defensive Participant of the Yr Award?
Murray has been an actual shot within the arm for Atlanta’s protection, however he isn’t a DPOY candidate. Not solely statistically, however the award has morphed right into a post-players class (Marcus Good was an outlier final 12 months). No Hawks gamers are profitable any awards this 12 months.
Do you may have the identical feeling that Nate McMillan goes to complete this season after which must discover a new group?
McMillan is unquestionably ending the season with Atlanta. Nevertheless, I’m assured the 2 events will make a clear break this summer time. Given all of McMillan’s feedback in regards to the latest technology of gamers, he isn’t accepting any extra head teaching positions.
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