Soaring Down South
Fansided

The Atlanta Hawks have done well to avoid COVID issues so far

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 10: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena on December 10, 2021 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 10: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena on December 10, 2021 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It hasn’t quite been the season the Atlanta Hawks hoped for or envisioned as they sit at 13-13 and ninth in the East. Their 113-105 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday was a painful reminder of just how much work there is to be done yet. They struggled (again) in the fourth quarter as scoring in clutch games has become a chore.

Trae Young took responsibility for his late-game turnovers in that one while Nate McMillan cited the Nets switching on defense as the driving force behind the loss.

Even with all of their struggles to finish games and the injuries they’ve dealt with, there is one thing the Hawks have done better than a lot of teams in the NBA this season and that is deal with COVID.

As Atlanta Hawks opponents past and future succumb to COVID, they have remained mostly clear

Sunday brought news from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Chicago Bulls would be without star guard Zach LaVine as he and reserve forward Troy Brown entered into COVID protocols. They are the eighth and ninth Bulls players to enter protocols in the last two weeks, leaving Chicago with nine healthy players; one above the league minimum.

The Hawks won’t see the Bulls until two days after Christmas when they’ll meet for a home-and-home in a three-day span.

However, with the larger implications of forfeiture (especially given Chicago’s hot start) as well as simply being down their best players, it’s clear Atlanta has been rather fortunate at least in this regard.

Their one case this season was assistant coach Jamelle McMillan.

As the son of Nate McMillan, this caused the elder McMillan to isolate out of an abundance of caution and miss their 114-11 win over the Indiana Pacers; a game that counted as the head coach’s 700th victory.

Dealing with Onyeka Okongwu coming into the season recovering from shoulder surgery, as well as several others who underwent previously undisclosed procedures, was tough enough. To then lose De’Andre Hunter followed by Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish was brutal. Reddish is back while Bogdanovic and Okongwu could be back around Christmas.

Hunter is still a ways away by all accounts after his third surgery in a year and the Hawks also lost veteran reserve Solomon Hill for the season to a hamstring tear.

Imagine having to deal with COVID absences on top of all of that.

Several of their previous opponents are either dealing or have dealt with players missing games due to testing positive, including the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers who lost their top players in LaMelo Ball and Joel Embiid, respectively.

Next. Studs and duds after fourth-quarter collapse vs Brooklyn. dark

The Hawks entered the season fully vaccinated and, as of a couple of weeks ago, all players eligible to receive the booster shot had done so.

Home/Hawks News