Even with the holiday lights shining bright, there’s a heavy dose of gloom hanging over State Farm Arena. The Atlanta Hawks are in the middle of their longest losing streak of the season - four games - and the timing couldn’t be worse. What started as a narrow, seven-point loss to the Hornets snowballed into a full-blown skid, punctuated by a 28-point drubbing at the hands of the Spurs just 24 hours later.
Morale was already shaky when the Bulls rolled into town, fresh off back-to-back wins in Cleveland. What followed was a shootout for the ages - a 152-150 thriller that felt more like an All-Star Game than a regular season clash.
But for Atlanta, it was another gut punch. Two nights later, same teams, same story.
Another tightly contested battle, another loss - this time 126-123. That’s four straight Ls, and none of them easy to swallow.
Now sitting at 15-16 and clinging to the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks are staring down a brutal stretch of schedule with more questions than answers. The frustration is real, especially after a controversial foul call on Zaccharie Risacher in crunch time against Chicago - a whistle that, by most accounts, shouldn’t have blown.
And just when it seemed like things might turn around, Trae Young returned to the lineup. His performances have been electric - the kind of outings that usually spark winning streaks.
But instead, the Hawks haven’t won a game since his return. That’s not on Young, who’s doing his part.
The issue runs deeper.
This team is at a crossroads, and the holiday break offers a brief window to reset. But with 31 games in the books and 51 still to go, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The upcoming schedule doesn’t offer much relief either - two games against the Knicks, plus matchups with the Timberwolves, Heat, and Thunder. That’s a gauntlet.
And while Miami has been skidding lately, they’re still a battle-tested squad. The Hawks will need more than just good vibes to survive this stretch.
What’s become clear is that this roster, as currently constructed, isn’t built to make noise in the postseason - let alone chase a title. There’s talent, yes.
But there’s also inconsistency, and it’s showing up in the worst ways. This is the same team that beat the Lakers while missing six rotation players - and then turned around and lost to the last-place Wizards at nearly full strength.
That kind of volatility doesn’t win in April and May.
Two offseason moves that were supposed to elevate the Hawks have instead added to the uncertainty. Luke Kennard was brought in to stretch the floor and provide reliable shooting.
But so far, he’s been hesitant - passing up open looks and failing to find a rhythm. For a team that needs spacing to unlock its offense, that’s a problem.
Then there’s Kristaps Porzingis. The big man was expected to be a difference-maker in the frontcourt, but health has been a recurring issue.
He’s missed the last seven games due to illness, and it’s not the first time he’s been sidelined this season. At 30, and on a $30 million one-year deal, the clock is ticking.
Atlanta doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for Porzingis to get right - not with the trade deadline looming on February 5th.
If the Hawks want to salvage this season, a move at center feels inevitable. The current rotation simply isn’t cutting it, and the front office knows it. Whether that means dealing Porzingis or finding a new anchor in the paint, something has to give.
Because if nothing changes, this young core could be looking at another early summer - and that’s not the kind of tradition Atlanta fans are hoping to keep alive.