Atlanta Hawks: 5 players crucial to playoff success

Atlanta Hawks player crucial to playoff success – Trae Young

By far the most important player for the Hawks on offense. He is the primary ball-handler and playmaker who is second in the NBA in assists, behind only Russell Westbrook. Young has shown great maturity this season, particularly given his All-Star snub.

In most games Young starts by getting his teammates involved, getting them engaged early, and opening up the floor for the second half. Young is showing that he has the ability to take what the defense gives him, either scoring or passing the ball out for a better shot.

Young is a 3-point marksman who can shoot the logo 3-ball better than anyone else in the league except Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard. Recently he has been shooting less from beyond the arc and penetrating into the paint for a floater or to pass over the defense for Capela or John Collins to get an easy bucket at the rim.

Without Young, the Hawks simply cannot produce enough offense to win a seven-game series in the first round, let alone making it deeper into the post-season. The Hawks have built a really solid roster but Young is the lynchpin that makes it all work.