NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Are the Golden State Warriors back?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by teammates after he made a three-point basket against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on January 04, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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4-5. Previous: 6th. Atlanta Hawks. 17. team. 125.

Last Week: Lost to New York Knicks 113-108, Lost to Charlotte Hornets 102-94, Lost to Charlotte Hornets 113-105

This Week: 1/11 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1/13 at Phoenix Suns, 1/15 at Utah Jazz, 1/16 at Portland Trail Blazers

Last week was all about how the Atlanta Hawks were on the rise and looking like one of the best teams in the league. The optimism was bolstered because they were looking at a three-game week against the New York Knicks and two against the Charlotte Hornets.

Dropping all three is a great way to deflate the hype. Trae Young had a terrible week, averaging 18.0 points and 9.0 assists a game on shooting splits of .362/.214/.773. The leaked conversations he reportedly had with John Collins about the way he was running the offense seem to have been taken to heart and Young has not played the same since.

While it may not be the most fun playing with Young the way he was playing before, it is clearly far more effective than any alternative Atlanta as. De’Andre Hunter is slowly starting to breakout but him being better than Trae Young is not a recipe for a successful week. If there is a divide between Collins and Young. it may not be long before Collins is on a new team.

This slump unfortunately goes beyond those issues. Rajon Rondo and Danilo Gallinari have barely played this season. Bogdan Bogdanovic had struggled and is now injured too. The Hawks need to get past their issues and start playing like the dynamic offense that blitzed the league the first two weeks.