This hasn’t quite been the campaign the Atlanta Hawks (14-14) were expected to have. They’ve dealt with injuries (again) and have had to battle through some tough losses (also again). Their 111-99 win over the Orlando Magic, who they will see again in a week, couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Hawks face the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls in six of their next seven games with road dates for the 76ers and Knicks.
They then head out for a six-game road trip against all playoff teams (plus Cleveland).
Through it all, Trae Young has been having a rather remarkable season, highlighted by a recent run of 25-point, 10-assist games, and is garnering recognition for it.
Trae Young would be tough to beat out for MVP if the Atlanta Hawks were winning more
This season, Trae Young is tied for second in the NBA with 27.0 points and is third with 9.3 assists per game. There have only been 14 previous instances of a player averaging at least 27 points and nine assists per game over an entire season. Oscar Robertson did it eight times from 1961-68.
If he keeps it up, Young would be just the second player since Tiny Archibald on a list that includes LeBron James, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook to do it twice.
Robertson (‘64) and Westbrook (‘17) were the only ones to win the MVP.
Young is averaging 30.3 points, 9.9 assists, 5.4 boards, and 1.4 steals in December. The only other player to put up similar numbers in this time is LaMelo Ball who has played just one game while in health and safety protocols.
NBA Math has Young fifth in its MVP projections but Basketball Reference doesn’t even have him in the top 10, going with the likes of Jarrett Allen and even Draymond Green instead. Not to knock their contributions to their respective teams, but there is likely a more logical explanation to their being on that particular list over Young.
RPR MVP Predictor standings, determined by Rolling Player Ratings and team success:
— NBA Math (@NBA_Math) December 16, 2021
1. Nikola Jokic: 14.79
2. Stephen Curry: 14.64
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 14.41
4. Kevin Durant: 14.23
5. Trae Young: 13.56
6. Jarrett Allen: 12.4
7. DeMar DeRozan: 11.99
8. Jimmy Butler: 11.86 pic.twitter.com/4AamjgDgVX
Wins.
Allen’s Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the role of 2021 Hawks and currently stand as the fourth-seed in the East heading into play Thursday. Green’s Golden State Warriors have the best record in the NBA.
However, the former’s team got major contributions from rookie Evan Mobley while the latter plays with the new all-time three-point leader in Stephen Curry.
The Hawks needed a get-away game against the woeful Magic to get back to .500 on the season. It’s hard not to imagine a world where Young is doing what he has been but the Hawks have gotten a few more shots to fall and a few more stops along the way. Their season and the narrative around Young would be entirely different.
Young overcame the preseason concerns about adjusting to the new shooting foul rules rather quickly. And has become more effective as the Hawks have become less healthy. Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have garnered most of the discussion.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has also been getting some love as he’s kept his injury-riddled team afloat in the West.
A few more wins and Young would be right there with those guys in the conversation.
If they really can use the win over Orlando as a springboard, especially defensively, the wins will come and he will be.