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.
Offense, Not Defense, Has Been the Issue for the Hawks
Nov 26, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder talks with guard Trae Young (11) during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports | Winslow Townson/Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
As the Atlanta Hawks gear up for their next game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, there is a surprising narrative unfolding this season. While many expected the Hawks’ defense to be their Achilles’ heel, it’s actually the offense that’s been more problematic. Through 17 games, the Hawks rank 23rd in the NBA in offensive efficiency, a stark contrast to their defensive improvements.
Offensive Struggles and Key Absences
The Hawks’ offensive woes can be attributed to several factors, including injuries to key players. Bogdan Bogdanović, a top offensive contributor, has only played four games, struggling in three of them. His absence, along with De’Andre Hunter missing 11 games, has significantly impacted the team’s shooting capabilities. The lack of consistent ball handling beyond Trae Young and Keaton Wallace has also been a hurdle.
Historically, the Hawks have thrived on a potent offense, especially with Young on the court. However, this season, their shooting percentages have dipped across the board. They’re currently 20th in true shooting percentage and 21st in effective field goal percentage. The team is taking good shots but failing to convert them, a trend that needs to change for the Hawks to meet their potential.
Defensive Improvements and Future Outlook
On the defensive side, the Hawks have shown notable progress. They’re no longer in the bottom five defensively, a position they’ve occupied in recent years. This improvement is crucial, as the team’s strategy has always been to pair a strong offense with a competent defense. Despite their well-documented struggles with three-point defense, the Hawks have excelled at protecting the rim, a positive sign for their defensive strategy.
The Hawks’ current situation is a mix of challenges and opportunities. While the offense needs to find its rhythm, the defense’s upward trajectory offers hope. The return of Bogdanović and Hunter should bolster the team’s offensive output, and as young players like Risa Shea and Jalen Johnson continue to develop, the Hawks have the potential to turn their season around.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Atlanta Hawks’ season, tune into the Locked On Hawks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Hawks Podcast:
- The impact of Trae Young’s performance on the team’s turnover rate
- Analysis of the Hawks’ shot profile and shooting efficiency
- A look at the Hawks’ upcoming schedule and key matchups
- Listener mailbag: Addressing fan questions and concerns
It was the three second violation heard round the world. Kidding, but it was strange enough that you looked to confirmation of what you were seeing to those around you, and/or rewatched the replay of it several times.
Posted up under the Raptors basket, Rudy Gobert had Scottie Barnes on his back in a mismatch and was calling to Julius Randle for the ball. Beyond the arc. Randle dribbled the ball, unhurried, as the shot clock ticked down. He’s eyeing the lane, would clearly prefer to drive, and even plants a foot to take off from when the whistle finally comes for Gobert, strolling out of the key nonchalantly, with all the urgency you’d approach a dental appointment.
Still frustrated, Gobert then needlessly hip-checked Barnes at the other end, sending him to the line and sending the Raptors up in the match and in momentum. Toronto won 110-105.
You can take your pick for what’s more worrisome, because the perspective shifts depending on the root of a few problems the Wolves face.
That Gobert opted to showboat his frustration is definitely the most obvious, in terms of visibility. It isn’t the first time he’s let his petulant side out on the floor. That Randle saw Gobert — impossible not to with his long arm up and waving — and chose to ignore him, dribbling the ball into oblivion instead, is another concern. The biggest question around the Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade was fit — for playing style and chemistry. A slight detail that nearly gets lost in the sequence is that Jaden McDaniels hustled for a really long rebound, swung it to Randle, and the urgency of that move was immediately sapped by what transpired.
Taken individually, these would be wrinkles for a working team to smooth by the next match. And yes, both Randle and Gobert addressed the sequence, with Randle prompting media to “name a perfect family” and Gobert saying “people think great teams are the teams where the sky is always blue”. Normally, I’d enjoy an athlete beginning with a euphemism, in this case, it feels like aversion.
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 Veteran forward Larry Nance Jr. is expected to bring valuable experience and leadership to the Atlanta Hawks, contributing significantly to their defensive strategy and overall team dynamics. (Peachtree Hoops)
Replay The Atlanta Hawks secured a thrilling victory over the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Cup. Relive the excitement with detailed highlights and stats from this intense matchup. (Peachtree Hoops)
Feel Good Hawks guard Trae Young spent time giving back to the community with a day of service ahead of Thanksgiving, showcasing his commitment to making a positive impact off the court. (AJC)
Analysis Clint Capela continues to excel as the defensive anchor for the Hawks, providing crucial skills and stability that bolster the team’s defensive efforts. (AJC)
Preview The Dallas Mavericks will take on the Atlanta Hawks at the State Farm Arena at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Legacy Nikola Jokic continues to redefine basketball creativity with his full-court swat attempt against the Lakers, nearly achieving an incredible buzzer-beater despite the constraints of the Trent Tucker rule. (CBS Sports)
Biz NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill discusses his investment in women’s sports and managing Team USA, highlighting his active retirement and commitment to sports development. (The Ringer NBA Show)
Rumor Western Conference coaches and executives are reportedly frustrated with the East’s playoff picture, suggesting a shift to a 1-16 seeding format to enhance fairness and competition. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As we wrap up another thrilling week in the NBA, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances and crucial player updates that could impact your fantasy basketball strategy. With six games on the slate this past Sunday, there was no shortage of action and intrigue.
Player Updates and Injury News
One of the most significant updates this week involves Ja Morant, who has been upgraded to questionable. The Memphis Grizzlies have a consistent pattern of moving players from doubtful to questionable before they return to play, so Morant’s return seems imminent. Marcus Smart is also off the injury report, ready to make his comeback. However, the Grizzlies are still without Vince Williams Jr., who is sidelined for weeks, and Zach Edey.
In New Orleans, the return of key players is on the horizon. While Herb Jones remains out, Jordan Hawkins is back, and CJ McCollum is expected to play soon. Dejounte Murray has been upgraded to doubtful, indicating he might return later this week. These returns will undoubtedly shake up the rotations and fantasy implications for players like BJ Boston and ElfridPayton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been idle since Wednesday, and Alex Caruso, who aggravated a hip injury, is out again. This extended absence is concerning for fantasy managers holding Caruso. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng’s fractured finger will keep him out for three to four weeks, opening up reserve minutes for Dillon Jones until Jaylin Williams returns.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Hawks Mailbag: Offense vs. Defense, Turnovers, Expectations, and more Topics include the struggling offense for the Atlanta Hawks, positive signs on defense, realistic expectations for the 2024-25 team, making sense of the team’s turnover issues, and much more.
Road trip ends with a thud for Hawks in Chicago The show centers on Friday’s NBA Cup game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls. Topics include another shooting disparity for the Hawks, a tale of two halves, impact on the NBA Cup, encouraging signs from Bogdan Bogdanovic, and much more.
Hawks mailbag, NBA Cup, and Bulls preview The show answers listener mailbag questions on the first twenty percent (16 games) of the Atlanta Hawks season, the health of Trae Young, Atlanta’s rotation at full strength, the Hawks’ NBA Cup situation, Friday’s game in Chicago, and much more.
