The Hawks are staring down a two-game set with the Wizards on November 4th and 6th, and the matchup brings an added twist: Atlanta will see its former face of the franchise in Trae Young.
On paper, the Hawks may look like the stronger team. But Washington is bringing real punch with a young core that keeps growing and the veteran additions of Anthony Davis and Trae Young. If Atlanta wants to leave with two wins, the defensive game plan has to be sharp in two very specific areas.
First, the Hawks have to keep Ice Trae out of the lane.
Young’s damage has never really come from living on the perimeter. The danger starts when he turns the corner after a pick-and-roll, gets downhill, and starts forcing defenders to choose between the floater, the lob, or the pass to a teammate at the rim.
He can hit threes, sure, but that isn’t what makes him a nightmare. It’s the quick processing, the touch inside, and the way he can punish any crack in a defense once he gets moving toward the paint.
If Atlanta can keep him from operating in that interior space, and can cut off the paths to his lob partners, the Hawks’ odds improve fast.
The second issue is even bigger bodies on the other end.
Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis, when healthy, give Washington a chance to put one of the league’s most imposing interior defensive pairs on the floor. The comparison to Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the Cleveland Cavaliers isn’t out of place, because all four have the kind of size and tools that can wreck an offense around the basket.
Atlanta’s concern isn’t just the shot blocking, though. It’s the sheer size.
Sarr and Davis both stand near seven feet tall, which creates a tough assignment for an undersized Hawks frontcourt. Onyeka Okongwu has handled bigger names like Joel Embiid before, but dealing with one elite rim presence is different from dealing with two.
That’s why Jalen Johnson and Jock Landale should see extended minutes on the defensive end next to Okongwu. The Hawks may even lean into a double big + Jalen Johnson look to help blunt the impact of Washington’s size near the rim.
However it plays out, these two games should be a fun one for Hawks fans. Trae Young always draws attention, even when he’s wearing the other jersey.
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