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.
Running Into the Jokic Buzzsaw
Jan 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) an center Clint Capela (15) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy/Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks closed 2024 with four straight victories, punctuated by a blowout win over the Toronto Raptors. That victory kicked off a six-game road trip, the longest of the season for Atlanta, and the Hawks returned to action on New Year’s Day in Denver. While the first half was competitive, the Nuggets broke things open in the third quarter, and the Hawks saw their winning streak come to a screeching halt.
Before the game even began, ominous clouds assembled for the Hawks when Jalen Johnson was added to the injury report with a shoulder issue. Johnson has been a bell weather for Atlanta all season, and the Hawks struggle mightily when he is off the court. That also took place in Denver, with the Hawks forced to go deeper into their bench with rather ugly results and tepid defensive resistance.
In the big picture, the 19-point loss represented a below-average performance from the Hawks, but not one that was utterly damning. Atlanta entered as a nine-point underdog after Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic were ruled out and, well, Denver has the best player on the planet on its roster.
In only 30 minutes of action, Nikola Jokic finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, even on a night when he “only” shot 50 percent from the field. The absence of Johnson made things even more difficult for the Hawks to slow him, but it was also a total buzzsaw for Atlanta to navigate when Jokic was operating at that level.
The Hawks will aim to bounce back on Friday evening in Los Angeles when they begin a back-to-back set against the Lakers and the Clippers. It remains to be seen whether Johnson and/or Bogdanovic will return for that matchup, but while Wednesday was a hiccup, it wasn’t necessarily indicative of any sort of negative trend for the Hawks.
The Orlando Magic are giving a one-fingered salute to the universe
Dec 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) dunks during the second half against the Miami Heat at Kia Center. | Mike Watters/Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic will never stop.
Injuries have piled up like rush hour traffic near the Disney parks. Orlando’s three best offensive players — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Mo Wagner — are all out, the first two with rare torn oblique injuries and the latter for the season with a torn ACL. They should be dead and buried, with the funeral service concluded long ago.
Instead, the Magic keep raging, sticking out their middle fingers to the basketball gods who seem determined to throw every obstacle imaginable in their path. They’re 3-3 in the six games since the elder Wagner’s injury (including the win in which he went down in the first quarter), pairing a defense that gets more ferocious after each blow with an offense that has cobbled together just enough points to keep things interesting.
Jalen Suggs has become the de facto number-one option, a role he is ill-suited for. Suggs is shooting 41% from the field and 31% from deep, but you’d never know fromthe 37% usage (a monstrous figure) he’s posted in the last six games. The Magic’s offense looks best when someone else can help him out. Rookie Tristan da Silva has been the unlikely second banana many nights — he’s had five games in his last eight of at least 15 points after only notching one such performance in his first 23. Consistency, unfortunately, is hard to find; da Silva also had two games in his last three where he scored exactly zero points.
But there are still plenty of reasons for concern.
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
Must Read Explore the New Year’s resolutions for the Atlanta Hawks. Key figures like Trae Young and Quin Snyder are highlighted in this insightful piece. (Soaring Down South)
Analysis Reflect on every NBA team’s biggest regret from the year 2024. The Hawks’ decisions and missed opportunities are examined in this comprehensive review. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Basketball Implications of Jaden Ivey’s Injury
Jan 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) grabs his leg as he falls to the court after being injured against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel/Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The start of 2025 in the NBA has been nothing short of chaotic, with injuries taking centre stage. Jaden Ivey’s injury is particularly concerning, as it appears to be quite serious. The Detroit Pistons guard was having a strong game with 22 points and five three-pointers before the unfortunate incident. The severity of the injury suggests that Ivey might be sidelined for the remainder of the season, which is a significant blow to the Pistons and fantasy managers alike.
Fantasy Implications of Ivey’s Injury
With Ivey potentially out for the season, the Pistons will need to adjust their lineup. Ausar Thompson is likely to see an increase in minutes and responsibilities. Thompson’s ability to contribute across various categories makes him a valuable pickup in fantasy leagues. While his shooting may be inconsistent, his defensive stats and hustle play could provide a much-needed boost to fantasy rosters.
Malik Beasley might also see an uptick in playing time, although his recent performances have been less than stellar. Beasley is primarily a points and threes contributor, and his role could expand in Ivey’s absence. For those in deeper leagues, Marcus Sasser could become a viable option, especially if Cade Cunningham faces any setbacks.
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Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Winning streak comes to screeching halt for Hawks in Denver Topics include the absence of Jalen Johnson, Atlanta’s widespread defensive struggles, productive offense from Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter, an ugly third quarter, and much more.
Larry Nance Jr. injury, Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season, and Happy New Year Topics include an update on Larry Nance Jr.'s hand injury, Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season to date, the Hawks signing Daeqwon Plowden to a Two-Way deal, the struggling Sacramento Kings, and much more.
Hawks create havoc, bludgeon Raptors for 4th straight victory The episode focuses on Sunday’s win for the Atlanta Hawks over the Toronto Raptors, headlined by Atlanta’s havoc creation even without Dyson Daniels, an utterly dominant game from Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter continuing to roll, the return of Onyeka Okongwu, and much more.
