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.
Atlanta’s Four-Game Road Trip Rolls Along
Feb 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) drives the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) during the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports|Jordan Godfree/Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Hawks secured an exhilarating road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday evening. That win offset a frustrating loss for the team in Portland the previous day and undoubtedly lifted the spirits of the team at the halfway point of a four-game road trip. On Wednesday, the Hawks take on the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in the first meeting between the clubs this season.
Taking on the Warriors
Golden State is enjoying an excellent start to the 2024-25 campaign, posting a +9.4 net rating and a 10-3 record to rank in the top five of the league in both categories. In a familiar way to the past decade-plus, the Warriors are led by Steph Curry and Draymond Green, with Curry unlocking the offense and Green captaining a strong defense.
The Warriors are firmly in the top five of the NBA in defensive efficiency and opponent shooting efficiency while creating turnovers at a high level. It will be paramount for the Hawks to avoid ugly turnovers in this matchup, which has been a theme this season when Trae Young leaves the floor. On the other end, slowing Golden State’s three-point shooting is the top priority, as the duo of Curry and Buddy Hield leads the Warriors to top-tier marks in three-point accuracy (39.0 percent) and three-point volume (almost 42 attempts per game).
The Injury Situation
The Hawks could have their cleanest injury report of the season by the time the game tips off after 10 pm ET on Wednesday. Dom Barlow, Mo Gueye, and Seth Lundy (who is also injured) remain assigned to the team’s G League affiliate in College Park, and Cody Zeller remains away from the team at this juncture. However, only Jalen Johnson (left lateral lower leg inflammation) is on the injury report beyond that, and he is listed as questionable after being a late scratch on Monday.
Johnson’s importance to the team is well-documented, and the Hawks have struggled mightily without him on the court this season. However, it is positive that he is listed as questionable, rather than out, and Atlanta will hold its breath on his availability until Wednesday evening. For the Warriors, Kyle Anderson (neck) is listed as questionable and De’Anthony Melton (knee) is out. Stephen Curry (knee) and Kevon Looney (illness) are officially listed as probable as of Wednesday morning.
The streak had to end sometime. Even the 2015-2016 Warriors only (“only”) got to 24 wins to start their season. Ironically, they’d go on to lose the title to the Cavs that season.
That Cleveland lost to the Celtics, in TD Garden, without Isaac Okoro and with Darius Garland shooting 3-21 — well only the first half of that stings. If Garland made two more of those field goals the Cavs would’ve taken the game, and Okoro, out with an ankle sprain, will be back.
This game was a tester for the Cavs. Beyond a match against the defending champs and a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, it was an opportunity to see how the team responded to pressure, unfavourable conditions and expectation. NBA basketball is about winning, we all know this refrain well, but that the Cavs scoring dried up in crucial stretches while the team also fell into bad habits of turning the ball over in momentum-leeching moments, and they still managed multiple runs to come back within two, speaks pretty well to this group’s ability to respond.
What makes the Celtics so good, and a bit like a dream-crushing machine, is their ability to capitalize on and invert what usually brings their opponents wins. In the Cavs case, it’s their speed. Not just pure speed without aim, but their ability to push the pace within their offensive possessions because not one player tends to move in isolation from anyone else. Their lightning quick passing, their flashing cuts and counter-cuts, it’s all predicated on ball movement capitalizing on intuitive communication. A sixth sense of understanding where their teammates are on the floor at any given moment.
Boston was able to jam that up. Not entirely upend it, but chase with pace of their own enough that Garland at times appeared to be the pursued and not the pursuer. Where Garland rushed an offensive possession, where he went in for a fastbreak ISO drive to wrest the pace of the game back into his team’s hands, he bungled it. He’d botch an easy layup and go careening past the baseline, having to expend more energy to get back down the floor in the transition already underway. And the more he botched it, the faster he went. The Celtics saw this and upped the pressure on him, taking advantage of forced turnovers by draining three after three and all but eliminating a huge component of what’s made the Cavs so formidable — their rebounding.
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
Stat Trae Young delivered an outstanding performance with 19 assists, helping the Hawks secure a victory over the Kings. His playmaking ability was crucial in this tightly contested game. Full game recap. (AJC)
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Can Dalton Knecht Keep Up This Run?
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) react after scoring a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images|Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dalton Knecht has recently become a focal point in NBA fantasy discussions, thanks to his electrifying performances on the court. In a standout game, Knecht scored 37 points, including nine three-pointers, with an impressive 75% shooting accuracy. This remarkable display has fantasy managers buzzing, as Knecht’s shooting streak positions him as a valuable asset in leagues.
Knecht’s Shooting Streak: A Fantasy Goldmine
Over the past four games, Knecht has been on a tear, shooting 22 of 33 from beyond the arc, equating to a 67% success rate. Such efficiency is rare and highlights his potential as a sharpshooter. For fantasy managers, Knecht is a must-add player, especially given his current role in the Lakers’ starting lineup. However, while his shooting spree is impressive, it’s important to manage expectations, as maintaining such a high percentage is challenging over the long term.
Injury Updates and Their Impact on Fantasy Rosters
Knecht’s rise comes at a time when injuries are shaking up NBA rosters. Norman Powell’s hamstring injury, for instance, has left a gap in the Clippers’ lineup. With Powell likely sidelined for at least a week, players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey might see increased roles, offering potential value for fantasy managers seeking replacements.
Click the button below to get updates on Zach Edey’s ankle injury, and how Bradley Beal’s calf continues to cause problems for fantasy managers
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Hawks bounce back with roller coaster win over Kings The show focuses on Monday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings, including the surprise absence of Jalen Johnson, the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kobe Bufkin, a lights-out start, a three-point shooting barrage by Sacramento, De’Andre Hunter’s strong play, Trae Young’s passing brilliance, Dyson Daniels sealing the game, and much more.
Third quarter disaster, turnover issues doom Hawks in road loss to Blazers The show focuses on Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers, headlined by a disastrous third quarter and widespread turnover issues for Atlanta. Topics also include rough late-game execution, defensive rebounding problems, the return of Vit Krejci, and much more.
Hawks get revenge game win over Wizards, stay unbeaten in NBA Cup The show focuses on Friday’s win for the Atlanta Hawks over the Washington Wizards. Topics include another dynamic game from Dyson Daniels, NBA Cup considerations, the return of De’Andre Hunter and Trae Young, and much more.
