Brad Rowland here, the host of the daily Locked On Hawks podcast, with your daily Locked On Hawks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Hawks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
A Blowout (Schedule) Loss for the Hawks
Nov 4, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots past Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images|Brett Davis/Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks faced a challenging game against the Boston Celtics on Monday, resulting in a significant 123-93 loss. This game highlighted several critical aspects of the Hawks’ performance and the circumstances surrounding the matchup.
A Tough Schedule and a Strong Opponent
The Hawks were on the second night of a back-to-back set, having played and won against the New Orleans Pelicans just 24 hours prior. This tight schedule, combined with travel, placed them at a disadvantage against a well-rested Celtics team. Boston, known for its strong system and talented roster, proved to be a formidable opponent. For the first 16 minutes, the Hawks managed to keep the game competitive, even leading 44-41 at one point. However, a 34-9 run by the Celtics before halftime shifted the momentum entirely, leaving the Hawks trailing by 22 points at the break.
Injuries and Player Performance
A significant concern for the Hawks was the injury to star player Trae Young, who left the game in the second half with a right rib sprain. Young has been carrying a heavy workload, averaging 38 minutes per game, which is substantial for any player. His absence was felt deeply, as he is a crucial part of the team’s offensive strategy.
The Hawks struggled with shooting, going 6 of 31 from three-point range, which significantly impacted their ability to keep up with Boston’s scoring. The Celtics, on the other hand, were exceptional from beyond the arc, particularly in the first half, which contributed to their commanding lead.
Despite the loss, it’s important to note that the Hawks were expected to face difficulties against a team like Boston, especially given the circumstances. The betting markets had the Hawks as 10-point underdogs, reflecting the challenge they were up against. The combination of a tough schedule, injuries, and a strong opponent created a perfect storm that the Hawks couldn’t weather.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Hawks’ performance and future prospects, tune into the Locked On Hawks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Hawks Podcast:
- Analysis of the Hawks’ defensive strategies against the Celtics
- Impact of Trae Young’s injury on the team’s upcoming games
- A look at the Hawks’ shooting struggles and potential solutions
- Discussion on the Hawks’ bench performance and player rotations
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Injury Trae Young’s injury scare during the Hawks’ loss to Celtics raises concerns about team dynamics and future performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Hawks’ defeat by Celtics highlights defensive weaknesses and urgent need for strategic adjustments in upcoming games. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Hawks run into Celtics buzzsaw in blowout loss The show touches on Monday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics. Topics include the injury to Trae Young, Atlanta’s strong start, offensive issues, three-point shooting disparity, and much more.
Hawks dominate second half in road win over Pelicans The show analyzes Sunday’s matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans, including the return of Dyson Daniels, a dominant second half, Trae Young’s explosive third quarter, a big game from Jalen Johnson, Larry Nance Jr.'s revenge game, and much more.
Undermanned Hawks fall to Kings for 4th straight defeat The show breaks down Friday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings. Topics include continued injury issues for Atlanta, Garrison Mathews’ career-best shooting night, the lack of two-way lineups, a big game from Keaton Wallace, Trae Young’s massive workload, and much more.
