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Atlanta Hawks: Is Trae Young Really That Bad on Defense?

By Dallin Duffy

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after drawing a foul on a three-point basket in the final minutes of their 122-117 loss to the Toronto Raptors at State Farm Arena on January 20, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after drawing a foul on a three-point basket in the final minutes of their 122-117 loss to the Toronto Raptors at State Farm Arena on January 20, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Dissecting Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and his defensive limitations.

Critics have been harsh on Trae Young‘s defense. For as good as the Atlanta Hawks point guard’s offense is, the criticism of his play on the other end may not be unwarranted.

Young is undersized, often out-muscled, and lacks the natural defensive IQ that other smaller guards use to offset their size on defense. Some have called him the worst defensive point guard in the league, others the worst defensive player in the league, regardless of position.

Those claims are closer to being true than Atlanta Hawks fans would like them to be, but they’re not 100 percent accurate either. Nine qualified players currently have a worse defensive rating than Trae, including three point guards (Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Knight, and Collin Sexton) as well as Damian Jones and Jabari Parker, two of Young’s teammates this season.

More accurately, Trae is the worst defending All-Star in the league. Young’s defensive rating of 116.1 ranked dead last among players named as an All-Star this season. The next closest was Devin Booker, who rang in at 112.5.

Even this shouldn’t have been true, as huge All-Star snub Bradley Beal owns a worse defensive rating. In fact, four of the five worst defenders in the league suited up for the Wizards this season.

Young’s defensive numbers have improved slightly from his rookie season and have even seen an uptick since this season began. In the month prior to the NBA shutting down, Trae was playing better than ever on that side of the court, providing high-energy plays and staying in front of opposing guards better than ever.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1232832782495252481

Yes, the All-star point guard is still one of the worst defenders in the league, but it’s not like he’s the worst defender in the league. The Hawks will still have to disguise him on defense, especially against when matched up against larger point guards like Ben Simmons or Malcolm Brogdon.

His improvement on D also leaves hope for the future, and there are many examples of smaller guards turning into solid defenders after a few years in the league. It wasn’t too long ago that James Harden‘s defense (or lack thereof) was the laughing stock of the NBA. While Harden isn’t going to make any All-Defensive teams these days, he’s now seen as a plus defender who shook the status of a one-way player.

It’s also pretty darn easy to look past his defensive limitations when he’s one of the premier offensive talents in the NBA.

Next. Season Grades: Bruno Fernando. dark

How can the Atlanta Hawks further improve Trae Young’s defense?

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