The Hawks have wasted no time making their new offense look live-wire dangerous. Through three games, Atlanta’s attack has been one of the sharpest in the league, and the stat that jumps off the page is the most telling one of all: 33.3 assists per game, which leads the NBA.
That kind of ball movement has become the calling card of a very different Atlanta group. Since the Trae Young trade near the middle of a tough 2025-2026 season, the Hawks have shifted away from the old heavy pick-and-roll approach and toward a more varied system that gives multiple creators room to operate. The result has been an offense that feels less centralized and far more shared.
Jalen Johnson has been the biggest beneficiary and one of the biggest drivers of that change. In this setup, he has become one of the most complete and intimidating creators in the league, and the numbers back it up. He is posting a 39.3% USG%, which is 11 percent higher than last season, with his usage rising every year since 2023.
Even with that massive offensive load, Johnson hasn’t turned the Hawks into a one-man show. Atlanta’s other creators have kept the pressure spread around, with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and rookie Kingston Flemings all giving the offense different layers. Johnson has still thrived in the middle of it all, dishing out a 16-assist performance and averaging a 22-point triple double so far.
The only blemish came Saturday, when the Hawks lost a heartbreakingly close game to the Rockets. It ended any talk of an 82-0 season, but it did not change the bigger picture: Atlanta’s new motion-heavy offense is humming, and the ball is flying.
In Other News...
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 🡒]