The Hawks have opened the season 2-1, but the one loss already points to a problem they can’t keep ignoring: the center spot has gone cold from deep.
Onyeka Okongwu and Jock Landale have both struggled to stretch the floor early, and that showed up in Saturday’s single-digit loss to the Rockets. Atlanta shot just 13-for-49 from three, a rough 26.5 percent, while Houston finished 14-for-35, good for 40 percent.
Okongwu and Landale were a major part of the issue. Okongwu went 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, and Landale missed all four of his attempts. That kind of production does nothing to open up the floor, and it makes it harder for Atlanta to create space in the halfcourt.
The Hawks didn’t extend Okongwu at the contract deadline recently, so his long-term fit in Atlanta is a question worth watching if the perimeter shooting stays this shaky.
The need for a shooting center is obvious in today’s NBA, and the source points to the Knicks as the model, with Karl-Anthony Towns helping lead them to a championship last season by pulling opposing bigs away from the rim.
That’s the kind of impact Atlanta wants from its frontcourt, and in theory both Okongwu and Landale can provide it. The problem is that neither has been able to get going this season.
Okongwu, who is a career 35 percent three-point shooter, is hitting just 15 percent from deep so far. Landale, a 33 percent career shooter from three and someone who has reached 38 percent or better since 2024, is down at 11 percent to start the 2026-2027 campaign.
The Hawks get another shot at Houston on Monday in the second game of the double-header, and that rematch could tell a lot about whether this shooting slump is a blip or a real concern. If Atlanta’s bigs don’t start connecting from long range, a 2-2 record may be right around the corner.
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Hawks Face Two Problems That Could Decide A Wizards Sweep
The Hawks head into a quick two-game set with Washington on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6, and the matchup may turn on how well Atlanta handles the Wizards biggest strengths. Much of the attention will be on Trae Young, who can dictate the flow of a game with his offense, but the Hawks also have to be ready for a team that brings real size inside and can make life difficult around the rim.
For Atlanta, the defensive puzzle is twofold: slow down Young without overcommitting and find a way to survive Washingtons interior presence. However the Hawks choose to answer it, those adjustments could shape the entire series, especially if the Wizards are able to control the paint and force Atlanta into constant help rotations. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Have A Problem Against Physical Teams They Still Haven't Solved
The Hawks had another night where the early feel-good stuff faded fast, as a halftime lead over Houston turned into a loss once the game got more physical after the break. Atlanta could not keep its offense humming in the second half, and the Rockets gradually turned the possession battle into their favor by making the game harder, more crowded and less comfortable for the Hawks.
What stood out again was how quickly the margin disappeared once Houston tightened the screws. Atlantas shooting went cold, the rebounding edge slipped away, and the late-game stretches exposed the same issue the Hawks keep running into against rugged opponents: when the game becomes a fight, they have not yet shown they can consistently answer it. [Read more 🡒]
Atlanta Arena Mess Puts The Dream In A Brutal Finals Spot
With the WNBA Finals knotted at 2-2, the league is still sorting out where and when Game 6 will be played, and the hold-up centers on State Farm Arena. The building that normally hosts the Atlanta Dream is also home to the Hawks, and the venue has a scheduling conflict as the series shifts back to Atlanta after Game 5 on Monday in San Francisco.
League officials, the teams and arena staff are still exploring alternatives, but nothing has been finalized yet, leaving the Dream in an awkward spot as the Finals reach their most delicate stage. A decision is expected to come from the ongoing talks, and for now Atlanta is waiting to learn whether it will get the game it has earned, or whether the schedule will force another change of plans. [Read more 🡒]