Soaring Down South
Fansided

Atlanta Hawks: 3 Takeaways From Monday’s Loss to Denver

By Dallin Duffy

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 6: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on January 6, 2020 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 6: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on January 6, 2020 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 06: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets battles Alex Len #25 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA game at State Farm Arena on January 6, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2. The Hawks can still hang with the best

For the 2018-2019 season, the Atlanta Hawks developed a slightly annoying, yet entertaining trend in finding ways to hang around with top tier teams.

Usually they played their best games against the best teams, but wasted those efforts by eventually losing their grip on the game.

Maybe mercifully, the trend didn’t carry into this season, which the Hawks instead of simply getting blown out by the best of the best.

Lately however, and perhaps aligned with the return of John Collins, they’re doing that again.

First, they gave a real scare to the Boston Celtics, blowing an 18-point lead, then beating a talented Pacers team the next night.

They were really in this Nuggets game as well, down by just two about halfway through the fourth, and had to fall apart on defense to lose completely.

There’s a real case the Hawks are playing their best ball of the season, and while the season is too far gone, it’s not too late to get out of the basement.

It of course helps that this was just the 5th game all season in which John Collins and Trae Young both started and finished the game together, as they’re undeniably the team’s brightest stars.

The Hawks will have a chance to see if the trend is truly back, as they play the Rockets next game, with both JC and Trae ready to roll.

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