The Hawks have already packed a lot into the first stretch of their season. They’ve played 12 games, more than any team in the league at the time of Monday’s loss to the Lakers, and now they finally get a three-day break before heading back out Friday night against the Bulls in Chicago.
At 7-5, Atlanta has put together what looks like a solid opening month and sits fourth in the Eastern Conference. The schedule ahead gives them a chance to keep that spot, but only if they handle the kind of games that can trip up a team trying to stay near the top of the East.
That’s the first thing worth watching this week: can the Hawks avoid the kind of slip that turns a decent start into a missed opportunity? In the NBA, no game is automatic.
The Spurs were down 20 to the Bulls and still found a way to win, which was a reminder that if you’re loose enough, anyone can beat you. Chicago and Milwaukee are a combined 2-20, and while Atlanta is not being talked about like the league’s elite, these are the kinds of matchups it has to bank on.
If the Hawks want to keep pace, beating teams near the bottom is not optional.
The second question is what happens with the backup center spot now that Jock Landale is back in the mix. Atlanta’s center depth has been a little shaky, and when Landale was sidelined, rookie Zuby Ejiofor gave the Hawks some useful minutes.
They weren’t earth-shattering, but he brought something different than Landale has. That left plenty of fans wondering how the rotation would look once Landale returned.
Against the Lakers on Monday, Landale logged 14 minutes while Ejiofor played just 3:52. Ejiofor’s first-half run didn’t go well, and that likely explains why he didn’t see more action later.
Landale, though, didn’t exactly seize the job either. So the question for Quin Snyder is simple: how does he sort out those backup center minutes over the next two games?
The third issue is defense, because that’s where these next two games could swing. Atlanta has been sitting in the middle of the pack on that end, ranking 16th in points allowed per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. If the Hawks stumble against Chicago or Milwaukee, defense is the likeliest reason.
Chicago has players who can make life difficult, including Josh Giddey, Caleb Wilson, who left the game vs the Spurs, and Norm Powell, who did not play against the Spurs. Any of them could catch fire if Atlanta isn’t locked in.
Milwaukee brings its own threats, too. Tyler Herro can score in a hurry, and the team also has some intriguing young talent.
For the Hawks, the path is clear: tighten up on defense and take care of the games they should win. That starts tomorrow night in Chicago.
In Other News...
Hawks Get A Chance To Silence One Early Offensive Concern
The Hawks four-game winning streak came to an end Nov. 9 in Los Angeles, where the Lakers handed Atlanta a 124-114 loss and exposed an early offensive issue the team will want to clean up quickly. Turnovers and stretches of uneven execution made it harder for the Hawks to settle into their rhythm, and the defeat served as a reminder that even a productive offense can get derailed when possessions start slipping away.
A chance to respond arrives Nov. 13 against the Bulls, a matchup that should give Atlanta room to get back on track. Chicago has had its own defensive problems, which makes this a useful measuring stick for the Hawks as they try to sharpen their ball handling and find more consistency after a frustrating night in Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Johnson Must Take Over As Hawks Enter A Brutal Stretch
Jalen Johnson has opened the season with strong statistical averages, but the Hawks need more than production on paper as the schedule starts to tighten. After a recent game against the Lakers, the bigger concern was not what Johnson was capable of, but how aggressively he chose to impose himself on the night. For Atlanta, the next step is clear: its most versatile young forward has to play with more force and set the tone when the game gets heavy.
That challenge only grows as the Hawks move into a brutal stretch against some of the leagues tougher opponents. Atlantas hopes in those matchups are tied closely to Johnsons willingness to be assertive, attack earlier and carry more of the offensive load when the margin for error shrinks. If he can turn his strong start into a more commanding presence, the Hawks have a better chance of holding up through the difficult run ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Made One Early Rotation Mistake They Can't Keep Repeating
The Hawks offense has been at its best this season when Jalen Johnson is helping steer it, and the same goes for Dyson Daniels and Kingston Flemings, two other playmakers who have given Atlanta more ball movement and easier looks. Johnsons breakout year has come with him leading the team in assists, while Daniels and Flemings have also provided enough distribution to keep the attack from getting too stagnant.
Against the Lakers, though, Atlanta learned how fragile that balance can be when too many creators sit at once. The Hawks need at least one of those three on the floor to keep the offense organized and prevent long empty stretches, especially in games where the halfcourt possessions start to tighten up. It is the kind of rotation wrinkle that can swing a quarter quickly, and one Atlanta cannot afford to keep repeating. [Read more 🡒]