Atlanta Hawks: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 season opener

1. Passing is key for Trae Young

Trae Young had a number of impressive passing occurrences in this contest and he finished with five assists alongside his 14 points and six boards.

He looked more comfortable than expected when running the offense. Some of the burden was taken off of his shoulders in the playmaking aspect because Waller-Prince was tasked with much of it as well, leading the team with six dimes.

Young’s shot has always been what got him places, but now what his team needs from him more than ever is his facilitation abilities. His shot was off for much of the night as he went 5-for-14 from the field, but he was still able to affect the game in ways other than scoring, whether it be pushing the pace or slicing in and out of the defense.

These parts of the game that aren’t necessarily scoring will be the key for Trae Young to become a solid NBA player. With a shot like his, the defenses will have to respect his range by stepping up. From that, Young can learn to manipulate the defenses much like Stephen Curry has done.

There will be many ups and many downs this season, but it is all part of the intense learning curve the Hawks have in front of them. Hopefully all the struggles and flashy plays by the young stars lead to a successful future in Atlanta.