NBA recap: Rockets’ simple style of hoops, Hawks improving and more
Hawks finding an identity
The Atlanta Hawks are actually fun to watch and are in the midst of a 6-5 stretch that has taken them out of the pitfalls of the Eastern Conference. They’re still 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot and every win hurts their chances of climbing up the lottery odds, but they are finding an identity with their young players and playing the right way, which is more important than a chance at a top pick.
The Hawks received an ample amount of criticism for the trading the rights to Luka Doncic for the rights to Trae Young and the Dallas Mavericks’ 2019 first round pick, but Young is improving by doing less. Over that 11-game span, the rookie is averaging 15.1 points and 7.9 assists per game, and for the season is third in scoring and tops in assists among rookies.
He’s shooting only 3.2 3-pointers per game at 54.3 percent in that span, but is getting into the paint and looking for his teammates a great deal. He was without three of the Hawks’ best players for the early portion of the season as Kevin Huerter, John Collins and Dewayne Dedmon worked their way back from injury. With a team around him, the load has lightened and he’s becoming efficient from the field.
Outside of Young, Collins and Huerter are looking like perfect fits for this team. Collins is averaging a double-double (18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds) and is the ideal rim-runner to be paired with Young. Huerter is a sharpshooter that is knocking down 38.8 percent of his 5.2 3-point attempts per game since becoming a regular starter on Nov. 25. Huerter has more to his game, but that’s an impressive clip for a rookie.
The important thing with team-building is everyone having defined roles. Young is the main ball-handler, Collins is the rim-runner, Huerter provides shooting and the rest of the team will be filled in future drafts. Omari Spellman is getting playing time in the G League after playing a great deal in the early part of the season due to injuries, so he’s another well-rounded piece that could be part of their core.
There’s a lot of ifs and coulds in the NBA developing process. But if you play the right way and have multiple players that fit in your system, you’re on the right track, and that’s what the Atlanta Hawks have shown in recent weeks.