New Game, Same Problems as Hawks Fall to 0-2

The Atlanta Hawks wasted a valiant first quarter as they were defeated 131-117 by the Memphis Grizzlies. Things aren’t exactly coming up sunshine and daisies for Atlanta after things seemed to be turning around. Just as was the case in the opener, the team’s porous defense was it’s downfall in the end.

Three Observations

1. The second unit is struggling

The Hawks hung tight for most of the first half but ultimately could not keep pace with the Memphis Grizzlies. Lloyd Pierce went 11-deep in the game. For the most part, the starters held up their end of the bargain.

Once the second unit came onto the floor, Memphis pounced.

Kevin Huerter–who Pierce surprisingly turned to early than expected–was the only reserve to finish with a positive plus/minus on the night.

On the whole, all of the plus/minus numbers finished jumbled as Pierce had to find lineups on the fly that would feature some starters in hopes of keeping the game within reach. However, by the end of the third quarter, the game turned into prolonged garbage time.

As mentioned in the inaugural “3, 2, 1” recap, the absence of Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins are really hurting this team.

Alex Len has been a serviceable starter, but he was brought to Atlanta to serve as a tertiary option, not be counted on to wrestle with the Marc Gasol’s of the league.

Two huge losses to begin the season certainly don’t paint a rosy picture for this team, but save the judgment until this team is able to operate at full strength.

2. A perimeter defender needs to step up

Kent Bazemore and Taurean Prince made a name for themselves in the NBA due to their ability to fit the precious 3-and-D mold that has become all of the rage with NBA wings.

Yet, through two games, the Hawks have surrendered 126 and 131 points respectively.

On top of letting their opponents light up the scoreboard, have allowed two wing players to score 30 or more points against them. In New York, it was Tim Hardaway Jr’s revenge game that led the way. In game two, Garrett Temple splashed in a 30-point performance of his own.

Neither of these names is the type of players that any team should feel good surrendering such a high scoring total to.

Prince has seen his offensive burden rise with Collins out and a rookie in Trae Young running the show, but that doesn’t excuse him from his defensive duties.

The Hawks are going to need someone, preferably one of their starters on the wing, to become their go-to defender if they are going to keep teams from scoring their season-high against them the rest of the way.

3. Trae Young shakes off rust

All the hype, eyes, attention, columns, etc. were focused on Trae Young heading into the season opener. While he didn’t have a great opening performance, he was solid for a rookie finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

In his follow-up, he was more than solid. Young became the first player 20 years old or younger to have a 20-point, nine-assist game. The rookie was on fire to start the game, converting on a buzzer-beating three-pointer to put the exclamation point on a 13-point first quarter.

Playing at a quicker tempo certainly helped.

Young’s passing was once again his coup de gras; he easily could’ve finished the game with his first double-double if his teammates capitalized on a few of the easy looks he created for them.

While 0-2 should never feel good, this performance is a huge positive for Young. The rookie wall looms large over this entire season, but to already have an example of Young bouncing back on the page means that he’ll likely be able to drag himself over the proverbial wall when it does cross his path.

Two Questions

1. When will John Collins come back?

When Collins’ injury was announced it also came with the stipulation that the second year forward would miss at least the first three games of the season.

Collins isn’t due to be re-evaluated until Monday, a day after the Hawks next game. Would another horrid defensive performance make all parties more willing to get Collins back on the court quickly? Or is this season, like last year, already in the tank and does upper management care more about the number of ping-pong ball combinations than wins?

If it’s the latter, then the Hawks would be smart to let Collins sit out a prolonged stretch. Not only to ensure that Collins is 100 percent healthy when he steps back on the court, but also give Atlanta a nice cushion in the standings as well.

A lot is going to be made of the October 24th tilt against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks coming up. Having Collins out there to sure up some holes could help the Hawks brass avoid some embarrassing headlines if that game goes the same way as these first two.

Outside of saving face, getting Collins back immediately transforms this team.

2. Is this the year Taurean Prince makes “the leap”?

Taurean Prince was also part of Atlanta’s scorching start to this game. He poured in 15 of his team-high 28 points in the first quarter alongside Young.

Prince did a little bit of everything in that first quarter offensively. He hit threes, slashed to the basket, worked out of the mid-range, made plays for others. You name it, Prince did it.

Yes, it’s only two games, but Prince is averaging 24.5 points per game–shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from the perimeter–along with five rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game.

His jump in production from year one to year two was exemplary, but if he can keep this early season success going he’s in the conversation to potentially take home Most Improved Player honors.

Even if he doesn’t get the hardware, Prince has a chance to cement himself as a member of the Hawks’ core. Collins and Young’s spots are locked in, but after that, there are a lot of players battling to become part of the future in Atlanta.

As mentioned above, locking in on the defensive side of the ball is likely to get him there sooner than later, but if he can become a guaranteed two-way stud for the Hawks then this team is beginning to shape up into something truly formidable down the line.

One Prediction

1. Atlanta wins their next game

First things first, I am absolutely convinced that Lloyd Pierce–or someone on the Hawks coaching staff–reads these. Why do you ask? Look no further:

In all honesty, even though the prediction was spot on, Pierce did not stick with it for long. The two only shared the floor for two minutes in that first quarter stretch–Memphis outscored Atlanta 8-2 during that time.

They went back to it halfway through the fourth, but the game was decidedly out of hand by then (Memphis led 121-98).

For my second turn at gazing into the future, I am going out on an even bigger limb. Heading into Cleveland for an early evening clash on Sunday against the also winless Cavaliers, someone is going to leave the game with their first win.

The Cavaliers are without LeBron James, but they still roster Kevin Love, and they also have a rookie point guard they’re grooming for future stardom in Colin Sexton.

Young has made it known throughout his career that he rises to the occasion when matched against a player at his position he believes himself to be superior to. Young believes himself to be better than Sexton (he’s on record saying he believes he’s the best rookie in the entire 2018 NBA Draft class).

After Sunday night, the Hawks will no longer be winless.

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