Amir Coffey the latest to have big day versus the Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks (17-22) only allowed Amir Coffey of the Los Angeles Clippers to tie his career-high of 21 points on Sunday. The second-year man out of Minnesota shot 66.7 percent from the floor and went 5-of-8 from three-point range. But, even without setting a new career-best, Coffey’s performance continued a disturbing recent trend for the Hawks.

Coffey, who is averaging 5.3 points on the season but did have a pair of 14-plus-point outings just a couple of games ago, joins Malik Monk and Anfernee Simons as the latest fill-in guard to take the Hawks to task, particularly from the perimeter.

It isn’t as if the perimeter defense is surprising. But the Hawks inability to stop second-unit players is.

The Atlanta Hawks ‘want to’ is being outdone by bench players

Monk – who has started the last six games for the Lakers – went for 29 points on 11-of-20 threes; all season-highs. Simons has started three in a row now but the in the string was a career-high 43-point explosion against the Hawks in a loss that started their New Year off in rough fashion.

Framed against recent comments from Trae Young and John Collins about the team’s effort and energy on the defensive end, these kinds of things are inexcusable.

This isn’t to take away from Coffey, Monk (12.1 PPG, 39.7 3P%), or Simons (13.4 PPG, 39.03P%). But they are all typically players who come off of the bench. While the Hawks have gotten the bulk of their roster back and continue to struggle.

Yes, this was just the second game back for the likes of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Collins while Clint Capela missed the contest with an ankle injury.

Cam Reddish also left this one with an ankle injury after just over three minutes.

He’s seen his defense wane significantly this season but has been a key cog on offense as the Hawks navigated COVID and injuries. It stood as a double-whammy in this one as the Hawks also struggled from deep to the tune of just 1-of-13 on threes in the second half after going 6-of-13 in the first half.

We’ve tried to identify ways they can fix their leaky defense and who needs to take command of the situation. But it will be hard to fix this mess if they can’t even find ways to stop reserve players from having their best games of the season or careers.

It is somewhat on-brand, though. The Hawks have also been giving up 130-plus points pretty regularly of late. That this contest didn’t get to that point is probably the most positive takeaway.

The Hawks next play on Wednesday in what is the start of a home-and-home with the Miami Heat at State Farm  Arena where they have lost eight in a row.