The Hawks walked out of Los Angeles with a loss, but the bigger issue was how uneven their offense looked in a 124-114 defeat to the Lakers on Nov. 9. Atlanta’s four-game winning streak ended with 19 turnovers, and the scoring came in waves: 22 points in the first quarter, then 35 in the second, 33 in the third, and just 24 in the fourth.
That kind of stop-and-start production won’t be enough for long, but Friday’s matchup with the Bulls gives Atlanta a chance to smooth things out. The Hawks visit Chicago on Nov. 13 at the United Center, and the setup is hard to miss. The Bulls are 1-9, and their defense has been a problem from the start.
Atlanta has already shown how volatile its offense can be from deep. Against the Lakers, the Hawks went 7-for-21 on 3-pointers in the first half before settling in with a 10-for-23 second half. Two nights earlier, in a comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 7, they were even colder, hitting just 12 of 46 from beyond the arc.
Chicago looks like the kind of opponent that can help fix that. The Bulls are giving up a league-worst 129.3 points per game, and their 123.6 defensive rating and minus-16.2 net rating both sit at the bottom of the NBA. Atlanta should be able to get the shots it wants in the half court while still leaning into what it does best: forcing turnovers and getting out in transition.
The perimeter matchup is especially favorable. Chicago ranks 29th in opponent 3-point percentage at 39.5% and 28th in threes allowed per game at 14.9.
The Bulls also have not held a single opponent under 124 points. Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, and Matas Buzelis have had trouble staying connected to shooters and keeping ballhandlers in front of them.
That opens the door for Atlanta’s outside threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Aaron Wiggins could be set up for a productive night, while Jalen Johnson, Jock Landale, and Dyson Daniels may also find more room to work after recent struggles from long range.
There is still one wrinkle Atlanta has to handle. Even with Chicago rebuilding, the Hawks are only 3-7 against the Bulls across parts of the last three seasons. A big reason has been trouble keeping guards out of the paint, which has led to defensive lapses.
This version of Chicago is also built around its young wings, Matas Buzelis and Atlanta native Caleb Wilson. Johnson and Daniels are likely to draw those matchups. If Atlanta can keep Buzelis and Wilson from making a major impact, the Hawks should put themselves in strong position against a Bulls team that has already shown plenty of defensive cracks.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Hawks Already Have One Roster Concern That Could Get Exposed Fast
With the Hawks having played more games than anyone else in the NBA and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, the early-season picture has already given them a decent sample size to sort through. There have been encouraging signs from the backcourt, and the overall record suggests they have handled the grind well enough to stay in the mix while the rest of the league catches up.
Even so, the roster still has a few spots that could become harder to hide as the schedule tightens. Atlantas depth has been part of the story, but the margins get thinner when certain rotation pieces are not giving the same kind of impact night to night, and that is where the Hawks may start to feel some pressure if the trend continues. Onyeka Okongwus role only adds to the importance of getting the rest of the lineup sorted before those concerns turn into a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]