The Atlanta Hawks are off to a solid start at 7-5 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, but there’s still plenty of room for this group to sharpen itself. That’s where the rotation comes in. Quin Snyder has already shown he’s willing to make a few pointed moves, and there are two spots where the Hawks could stand to lean harder in one direction.
One of those cases is Zuby Ejiofor, who has quietly made a strong argument for more minutes. He’s a backup center, so the sample is still small, but the early returns are hard to ignore.
In just 78 minutes, Atlanta has posted a 102.4 defensive rating with him on the floor, compared with 115.2 when he’s off it. The offense hasn’t fully caught up yet, but his overall impact has still shown up in the box score and beyond, with Ejiofor sitting at a plus-6.4 so far.
That kind of effect is not something you usually see from a rookie. Neither is the level of energy he’s bringing.
He’s already filled in when Atlanta has been short on frontcourt bodies, and his physical style has translated quickly. At 11.1 minutes per game, he’s still getting limited run, but there’s enough there to justify a longer look.
Even when Mo Gueye eventually returns, Ejiofor has done enough to earn more chances.
On the other side of the ledger is Lu Dort, who has not settled in the way Atlanta probably hoped. The Hawks took a swing by bringing him over from the Thunder after he had basically slipped out of their rotation, and the move has not paid off the same way.
Some of that comes with the territory, since he’s been pushed into backup power forward duty because of injuries. But the numbers are rough no matter how you slice them.
Atlanta has been 3.6 points better offensively without Dort on the court, and 12.5 points better defensively without him as well. He’s also been one of the least effective finishers around the rim in the league, converting just 46.7% in the restricted area. His usage rate is the highest it’s been in two years, yet that extra responsibility has only led to a career-worst 39% mark on two-point attempts.
The three-point shot has been better, with Dort hitting 35% from deep on solid volume, but that’s still a step down from the near-40% seasons he put together in Oklahoma City. It hasn’t been enough to offset the rest of the issues, especially his offensive limitations, his tendency to foul on defense, and the poor numbers on shot contests.
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 🡒]