The Atlanta Hawks went on the road and gave the Houston Rockets a run for their money before eventually falling 119-111.

 

THREE OBSERVATIONS

1.Lloyd Pierce was NOT letting James Harden get 30

After missing the Rockets last game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, Harden was back in the lineup for last night’s game. Prior to the game Harden had scored 30 points or more in the last 32 straight games that he played in–the second longest such streak in NBA history (significantly trailing Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 62 consecutive games).

During the scoring streak, Harden and the Rockets have seen all sorts of defensive schemes and matchups thrown at the reigning MVP, but still the All-Star still managed to get his points in the end. The Milwaukee Bucks probably used the most unique style, having their defenders sit entirely on his left side and give him the right side of floor non-stop.

As for Atlanta, Pierce didn’t cook up anything too exotic, but instead opted to throw multiple defenders at Harden whenever possible. If big set a ball screen the defender would either trap hard right away or make it look like he was recovering to his man after showing on the screen only to double back to stick with Harden. In the event the big had to commit fully to the roll man than the next closest player to Harden would leave his man to double Houston’s one-man show.

In the end, it worked. Harden finished the game with 28 points, snapping the streak at 32 games. You could tell the team was focused on keeping Harden short of the goal because as the clock wind down and Harden brought the ball across half court with around nine seconds left all five Hawks were locked in on him–with four being about an arms distance away or closer–and he had no choice but to hold onto the ball and let the clock run out.

2. Trae Young, Perimeter Sniper

On the season, Trae Young is shooting a pedestrian 32.9 percent on three-pointers. For someone who set the internet and ESPN ablaze with his outside shooting a year ago, it’s a rather disappointing figure. However, if you take a deeper dive into the numbers there’s a method to the madness.

In October, Young shot 34 percent from deep on 47 total attempts. December saw him rise that to 34.7 percent on 49 total attempts. Last month, Young converted on 33.7 percent of his 86 triples. All respectable percentages for a rookie, but why then is Young’s average below any of those? Well in November Young managed to shoot an awful 19.8 percent on 86 three-pointers.

Whatever problems he had that month have been exorcised, as for the month of February he is currently connecting on a season-high 43.9 percent of his threes and has shot 82 attempts. Young has looked much more like the player he was during his one year in college of late. Against the Rockets he made eight of his 12 three-point attempts. The NBA three-point line is 23 feet and nine inches away from the basket, of his eight makes his closest came from 28 feet away (four times) and he even had a couple from 30-plus feet.

3. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Taurean Prince!

Taurean Prince missed the game against Houston due to the birth of his second child. Congratulations!

 

TWO QUESTIONS

1. Is Rookie of the Year a race again?

For most of the season, Luka Doncic looked like a guarantee to take home Rookie of the Year honors. The Slovenian has been impressive in his first season and is easily the best player on the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic just botched his fourth triple-double of the year in the Mavericks loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last night.

However, the Mavericks no longer are in the playoff race and their 26-34 record isn’t that much better than the Hawks 20-41 record.

When comparing stats (Young: 17.5 points per game, 7.7 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 41 percent from the field and 32.9 percent on threes; Doncic: 20.9 points per game, 5.7 assists per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 35.3 on threes) Doncic’s stand above Young’s but Trae’s recent stretch of play (19.1 PPG, 8.1 APG, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37.8 percent on threes) is closing the gap between the two quicker than expected.

If Young can continue to keep playing at the high level he’s been on the past 35 games (and Atlanta’s record continue to inch closer to Dallas’), this vote could become interesting at season’s end.

2. Can Atlanta have an impact on the playoffs?

The chances of the Hawks making the postseason were erased a long time ago. Yet, with the season coming to a close there are teams that are hunkering down in an attempt to get themselves a birth into the NBA’s second season.

Two such teams who are likely to take their fight down to the wire are the San Antonio Spurs and fellow Southeast division-mates the Orlando Magic. The Spurs are currently in eighth in the West and a game ahead of the Sacramento Kings with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers right behind the Kings. Orlando is a half game behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth seed in the East.

The Hawks face both the Spurs and Magic twice down the stretch. Both games against the Magic are in Orlando while they have a home and away matchup against San Antonio.

Even though the Hawks are done for 2018-19 after their April 10th tilt against the Indiana Pacers, their four games against the Magic and Spurs could have a big impact on who plays in the postseason this Spring.

 

ONE PREDICTION

1. Hawks Begin March on a winning streak

As Travis Schlenk and many within the Hawks organization have been rampant to say on the record, Atlanta has a record that has been hovering around .500 in the past 30-plus games. Since the start of 2019, this team has looked entirely different than the one that was repeatedly getting blown out–no matter the opponent.

However, the team has turned a corner and with more healthy bodies likely joining the fray next month it is entirely possible that the team comes in like a lion as the old saying about March goes.

Trae Young’s play since his horrible November has steadily improved, John Collins nearly made an All-Star push despite missing more than the first month of the season, Kevin Huerter has been a pleasant surprise all season, and the team is buying into what Pierce’s selling them.

A strong finish to the year would be great for this team as it will provide them with a launch point for the 2019-20 season. With about a month and a half left to go, getting to start March with a back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls, a game against the Miami Heat who they’ve beaten twice already, and a reeling San Antonio Spurs team sets the table for Atlanta to run off a few wins.