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 Weekend to Forget for the Hawks
Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder on the court during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images|Dale Zanine/Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks faced a challenging matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, ultimately succumbing to a 125-113 defeat. Despite leading by as many as 18 points in the first half and maintaining an eight-point advantage entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks ran out of steam, allowing the Bulls to dominate the final period with a 35-15 run. This loss dropped the Hawks to a 4-7 record for the season and punctuated a tough weekend that also included a loss in Detroit.
Fatigue and Scheduling Woes
The Hawks’ grueling schedule played a significant role in their performance. Playing their fifth game in seven days, including a back-to-back with travel, the team was visibly exhausted. This demanding stretch is one of the toughest in the NBA, and it showed in the Hawks’ inability to maintain their energy levels throughout the game. Head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the fatigue, noting that the team was “gassed” in the fourth quarter. The Hawks’ schedule, combined with injuries to key players like De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović, left them shorthanded and struggling to keep up with the Bulls’ pace.
Offensive Struggles and Defensive Breakdowns
Offensively, the Hawks struggled with a 107 offensive rating, shooting just 31% from beyond the arc and missing eight free throws. Despite winning several statistical categories, such as free throw attempts and points in the paint, their shooting woes and fatigue were evident. The Hawks’ shot profile was solid, with a focus on high-value rim attempts and three-pointers, but their execution faltered, particularly in the fourth quarter where they posted a dismal 54 offensive rating.
Defensively, the Hawks allowed the Bulls to shoot 62% on two-point attempts, with Chicago excelling from mid-range. The Bulls also capitalized on the Hawks’ tired legs, pushing the pace and scoring 23 fast-break points. The Hawks’ defensive glass was another area of concern, especially when Clint Capela was off the court, as they struggled to secure rebounds and prevent second-chance opportunities.
Despite these challenges, the Hawks showed promise in the first three quarters, demonstrating their potential when fully energized and healthy. However, the fourth quarter collapse highlighted the impact of fatigue and the need for depth, particularly in the absence of key players.
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:
- De’Andre Hunter’s injury update and potential return
- Analysis of the Hawks’ upcoming schedule and challenges
- Player-by-player evaluations and performance breakdowns
- Discussion on the Hawks’ roster depth and potential moves
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
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
Analysis Can the Hawks move on in the NBA In-Season tournament? Sports Illustrated thinks so, giving us three reasons to believe in Atlanta.
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Hawks run out of gas, blow second half lead against Bulls The show dissects Saturday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls, including a strong start, the impact of five games in seven days, Atlanta’s fourth quarter flop, huge minute totals for Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, and much more.
Ugly start dooms Hawks in narrow loss to Pistons The show breaks down Friday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons, including a dismal start for Atlanta, strong play from Trae Young and Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. getting center minutes, the end-of-game drama, and much more.
Zaccharie Risacher’s big night headlines Hawks win over Knicks The show breaks a very strong victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the New York Knicks, including Zaccharie Risacher’s big night, Jalen Johnson’s stellar play, Atlanta’s potent defense, Dyson Daniels’ work against Jalen Brunson, the possession battle, and much more.
