Atlanta Hawks: Studs and duds from confidence-building win over BOS

The Atlanta Hawks have won three-straight games and now sit 7-9, just two games out of the playoffs (not the play-in) if the season were to end today. Luckily, it doesn’t end for another handful of months yet. They say basketball is a game of runs, or ebbs and flows.

That is the best way to describe what the Hawks season has been like so far. This current streak immediately follows a four-game slide while they were out West.

We’ve been enamored with the play of John Collins who has taken the next step in his development, becoming a more consistent defender and playmaking option. He’s averaging 22 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals over the last four games.

Collins had 20 points on 69.2 percent shooting with 11 boards for his fifth double-double of the season.

The Atlanta Hawks have rounded into form over this homestand

Trae Young has been doing Trae Young things as usual. He had “just” 18 points and did not shoot well in this one, going 0-for-6 from three and shooting 33.3 percent overall. But he got to the free-throw line 10 times — his second time in four games with double-digit free-throw attempts — and finished with 11 assists.

The Hawks superstar point guard entered the night averaging 30.2 points over his last six outings; tops in the NBA over that span.

Atlanta’s dynamic duo have really been good all season. But they have picked it up of late, especially since returning from their road trip. Interestingly, their pace is slightly down over the last three games despite the talk (and evidence) of their faster starts.