Studs and duds from the Atlanta Hawks most disappointing loss yet

Atlanta Hawks dud from the most disappointing loss: Clint didn’t dominate the paint like we’re used to seeing

The Hawks won the paint battle 50-36. Their bigger issue was fastbreak points where they got outscored 15-5. Clint Capela took a lot of flack for his efforts with regard to the former. And, while transition was a bigger issue for the team, it was Capela’s lack of offensive punch that has drawn the spotlight.

Capela finished with 14 rebounds – a battle the Hawks won 45-39 – and held his assignment to 2-of-7 from outside.

Therein lies the issue as Capela was drawn away from the basket, freeing up the middle for a Hornets team that was also knocking the ball down from three.

With Bridges and Oubre attacking from the wings, Capela’s primary assignment P.J. Washington was 1-of-4 overall and 0-for-3 from long distance.

The point total while facing a smaller opponent is simply not good enough.

Capela has Washington by three inches and is listed as 16 pounds heavier. Washington held Capela to 0-for-2 in the time matched up. The two attempts are more concerning than the zero makes. Washington held the eight Hawks he checked to just 9 points on 2-of-14 shooting combined.

This was the Hawks center’s third straight game with fewer than 10 points, though he has averaged over 11 boards in that time.

It comes after he had a 16-point, 22-rebound performance in the loss to the Knicks and a 23-point, 17-rebound outing the game prior; the tail-end of a stretch that saw him average 16.0 points and 16.2 rebounds over five games.

Perhaps it is fatigue after being over 35 minutes against the Knicks and then having to battle with the likes of Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Joel Embiid after that.

Whatever the case may be, the Hawks have to find a way to get their big man in the middle going offensively.