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.
Two-Way Excellence in Milwaukee
Dec 4, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks in the second at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone/Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks put together a strong, two-way performance on Wednesday evening. That effort netted the team a 119-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on the road and earned Atlanta its fifth consecutive win. Not only did the Hawks inch above the .500 mark for the first time since October, but Atlanta also extended its winning streak to a length the team did not reach at any point during the 2023-24 season.
Hello, Defense
Atlanta’s offense was rock-solid in Wednesday’s win, putting up slightly above-average efficiency that included a monster stretch in the first half. It was a balanced performance, and De’Andre Hunter continued his red-hot shooting off the bench.
However, it was Atlanta’s defense that truly led the way in this matchup. The Bucks came in on a seven-game winning streak and, during that run, Milwaukee scored more than 1.2 points per possession. In this game, the Bucks were held to exactly 1.00 points per possession (104 points on 104 possessions), and Atlanta was excellent in deterring Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did set a new season high in free throw attempts, much to the chagrin of the Hawks, but Atlanta owned the defensive glass and the possession battle overall. Ultimately, the Hawks produced 19 more shooting possessions than the Bucks, allowing Quin Snyder’s team to win comfortably despite a mediocre shooting night on the road.
Atlanta will aim to extend its winning streak on Friday evening against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Lakers look to rebound from a 41-point drubbing at the hands of the Miami Heat on Wednesday. That game will also have a double impact in that the Hawks own the Lakers’ 2025 first round pick unprotected as part of the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer.
Christmas lights are springing up, you can’t go anywhere without hearing Mariah Carey, and football players are making snow angels in the end zone. That means, somehow, the first quarter of the 2024-25 NBA season has come and gone. Let’s hand out some hardware!
Note: these aren’t forward-looking projections for the year-end choices. These are merit-based awards for the first 20-ish games that every team has played so far.
Eastern Conference MVP: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
There isn’t a single superstar in the game as well-rounded as Tatum. His headline ability, scoring, is understated and mathematically elegant. He’s averaging 28.4 points per game by taking advantage of the most valuable areas on the floor: he’s finishing at career-best levels (74% shooting at the rim, the same number as Giannis and a smidge above Anthony Davis), launching a monstrous 10.6 three-pointers per game, and earning the second-most free throws of his NBA life.
But all the high-wattage guys can score. It’s everything else that sets Tatum apart. He’s become an elite positional passer, as we saw in last year’s NBA Finals; he eats defensive rebounds with startling voracity; he’s a mean-as-hell pick-setter:
While star forwards around the league complain about having to guard centers, Tatum is quietly defending bigs more often than ever before (20% of the time, to be exact).
His one surface-level deficiency, offensive rebounding, has more to do with schematic choices than personal flaws.
With apologies to Giannis Antetokounmpo, doing his best to bring the Bucks back to relevance, Tatum is a no-brainer choice.
Western Conference MVP: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic is currently third in scoring, second in rebounding, second in assists, eighth in steals (!), and second in three-point percentage. You already know who’s on top of every advanced metric leaderboard. The Nuggets post a 129.1 offensive rating with Jokic on the floor, miles ahead of the Knicks’ league-leading 123.7; they post a 96.4 offensive rating without him, a Mariana Trench-length beneath the Wizards’ anemic 103.8.
Frankly, I’ve been writing about the NBA for a while, and despite my pharaonic vocabulary (and access to online thesauri), I’ve run out of ways to describe why and how Jokic is the MVP. When we’re talking about the league’s most videogenic player, just listing stats feels wrong, but it’s also the best way to convey his overwhelming dominance.
Not even Tatum can reach the oxygen-deprived heights that Jokic routinely (and literally!) resides in. The Nugget is the MVP of the conference and the quarter, without question.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Legacy Former Hawk Paul Millsap reflects on the moment that ignited his four All-Star appearances during his career. (AJC)
Must Read Zaccharie Risacher is handling the pressure of being a top pick well, despite a cold shooting start. (CBS Sports)
Must Read It was more than 1,000 days between games for Lonzo Ball. A look inside his grueling recovery and unprecedented return to the league. (ESPN)
Analysis Handing out early hardware for the 24-25 NBA season, including the rarely-seen “Unluckiest Team of the Quarter” award. (Basketball Poetry)
Friday, Dec. 06 | 7:30 PM | State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA) | Get Tickets
Nuggets @ Hawks
Sunday, Dec. 08 | 6:00 PM | State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA) | Get Tickets
TBD @ Hawks (NBA Cup: Contigent game)
Saturday, Dec. 30 | 12:00 AM | State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA) | Get Tickets
Replay: Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Fantasy Basketball: Key Takeaways from Tuesday’s Games
Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) falls to the ground after rolling his ankle against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury: What It Means for Fantasy Managers
Kevin Durant’s recent ankle injury is a significant concern for fantasy basketball managers. Durant, who has been a cornerstone for many fantasy teams, left the game after just 16 minutes, scoring 13 points with four rebounds. This re-aggravation of a previous injury could mean time on the sidelines, impacting his availability in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers should consider potential replacements or temporary fill-ins, such as Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neal, who might see increased roles in Durant’s absence. However, neither is a must-add in standard leagues, but they could provide short-term value in deeper formats.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Player Performances
In the clash between the 76ers and Hornets, Paul George’s resurgence was a highlight. Despite playing 37 minutes, George’s performance—29 points, eight rebounds, and six three-pointers—showed signs of his former All-NBA self. However, with a back-to-back game on the horizon, his availability remains uncertain, making it crucial for fantasy managers to monitor his status closely.
Tyrese Maxey’s shooting struggles continued, but his ability to contribute in other areas, such as free throws and defense, keeps him relevant in fantasy lineups. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a solid outing with 14 points and four three-pointers, making him a viable short-term option.
Charlotte Hornets’ Frontcourt Dynamics
The return of Mark Williams was a notable development, albeit with limited minutes. This situation presents a sell-high opportunity for Nick Richards, who posted an impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds. While there’s a chance Richards could outperform Williams, the Hornets’ long-term plans likely favour Williams, making Richards a potential trade candidate for savvy fantasy managers.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Hawks snap skid with resilient, impressive win over Wolves The show centers on Monday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with focus on the end of Atlanta’s losing skid, Garrison Mathews’ massive shooting contributions, Dyson Daniels’ continued excellence on the defensive end, notable contributions from Trae Young, red-hot shooting as a team, continued ball security problems, and much more.
Poor defense, dismal first quarter doom Hawks in blowout loss to Grizzlies Topics include the absences of Trae Young and Ja Morant, a dismal first quarter for the Hawks, continued turnover problems, porous defense, the need for improvement from Bogdan Bogdanovic, and much more.
Hawks stumble on offense, lose overtime thriller in San Antonio Topics include Atlanta’s offensive shortcomings, Trae Young’s apparent ankle tweak, ball security issues, Larry Nance Jr.'s hot shooting, De’Andre Hunter’s continued offensive explosion, a rough one for Dyson Daniels, and much more.
