Atlanta Hawks: What We Learned From 32-Point Loss in Brooklyn

Recapping the Atlanta Hawks’ main takeaways from 32-point loss to Nets.

The Trae Young-less Atlanta Hawks fell to the Nets in Brooklyn Sunday Night by a score of 108-86.

The Hawks were never really in the game, with the Nets jumping out to a large lead early. Some might even say the Hawks were out of the game before the game, when Trae Young was announced as out shortly before tip. Atlanta falls to 1-3 without Young on the year.

The final three quarters went slightly better than the first, with the Nets maintaining their large lead rather than growing it. They did open the 2nd half on a 15-2 run however, which was the final nail in the likely already shut coffin.

Cam Reddish came alive in the 2nd quarter, producing some big plays en route to one of the rook’s better performances on the season.

Cam finished with 20 points and five nice steals to go along with. He was the lone highlight one of Atlanta’s bleakest nights.

The Hawks tallied 20 points in both the 3rd and 4th periods to close out the game, slightly outscoring Brooklyn in the 2nd half to go home with the 32-point loss. At one point, the Nets lead was at 39.

Atlanta and co. fall to 8-32, while the Nets draw nearer to .500 at 18-20.

What we learned:

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• Cam Reddish is most aggressive against the Nets

I’ve formed a bit of a pattern throughout various recaps this season: noting Cam Reddish’s hesitancy shooting. He’s created quite a habit of shooting 5-7 shots a night, despite being the starting five most the season.

Tonight, perhaps in Trae Young’s absence, Cam seemed to wake up, even looking like the alpha of the offense on multiple occasions. His 16 shot attempts were the 2nd highest in his career, missing his career mark by just one. He shot 17 back in early December against this same Nets team.

He was slightly more effective in the prior game, putting up 25 points, but was much more of a secondary option then. Hopefully tonight’s game was a step in the right direction for Reddish confidence-wise.

• Maybe not small ball?

Basically since John Collins‘ return from suspension, Lloyd Pierce has been playing small ball, trotting him out at the center. It’s an interesting tactic, especially given the Hawks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league now starting a 6-9 forward at the five, granted, Collins is the team’s leading rebounder.

I do think it’s a fun, instant mismatch on offense, but could make the rebounding worse as well. Tonight showed the latter, and the Hawks were out-rebounded 62-33. Ugly.

Collins, along with Kevin Huerter and Damian Jones, hit the team-high with five on the night. Small ball likely won’t be going anywhere soon, and neither will the Hawks’ woes on the boards.

• Trae Young is very, very good

Well here’s an understatement, but the Hawks’ offense was just so lost without him tonight. The ball movement was stagnant, and while Brandon Goodwin wasn’t completely awful in Young’s stead, he produced just 3 assists.

Stray Notes:

• Charlie Brown, Jr. and Paul Watson played major minutes for the first time, with the duo finishing with the team’s two highest +/-‘s.  Neither were good offensively however, with Watson going 0-6 from the field and Brown netting six points on 2-7 shooting.
• The Hawks recorded 16 steals on the evening, their most in a game since last April, although some were in garbage time. Cam grabbed 5, Bembry 4, and former Net Vince Carter totaled 3 in his final game in Brooklyn.

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1216505810584514560

• John Collins went 0-5 from three, now shooting 26% from deep since returning from suspension.

Atlanta will play next back at home, carrying their 4 game skid into a match up with the Suns.