Are the Atlanta Hawks issues due to constantly shuffling lineups?

The Atlanta Hawks (17-22) certainly won’t say it. But it is fair to wonder if they are simply suffering through the lag of having so many players in and out of the rotation. Especially amid recent comments in the media by general manager Travis Schlenk as well as John Collins and Trae Young regarding the team’s effort on defense.

Collins has also reportedly been displeased with his role to this point for some time. While we have praised his all-around growth, his usage rate is the lowest that it has been since his rookie season.

They seem to be facing similar issues as last season before their run. The difference is that there won’t be any coaching changes and, instead, players could be dealt away.

First, though, the Hawks have to be sure there isn’t a simpler answer

The Atlanta Hawks “starting” lineup has been unable to capitalize on its effectiveness

Consider that, in 39 games, the Hawks have had their preseason projected starting lineup for just 11 games. If you take De’Andre Hunter out and replace him with Kevin Huerter as the Hawks did following the former’s wrist surgery, the Hawks “starters” gain an additional 13 games but only nine of those games are starts.

Atlanta has gone 6-12 since the Huerter lineup last started together on Nov. 27.

Huerter has been involved in a few other iterations but the point is the Hawks starters with him at small forward have been on solid on both ends when healthy.

The group with Hunter went just 3-8 before he went down. Huerter’s group went 8-1. As encouraging as that is, it isn’t all good as Huerter’s starters played against a weaker slew of opponents than Hunter’s.

Still, after 13 games of Huerter with the four other starters at any point in the game, those lineups have a plus-34.8 net rating; the third-best on the team. And while it hasn’t had as strong of a showing with a plus-2.7 net rating, the Hunter lineups also came with most of the team shaking off offseason procedures.

The lineups featuring Hunter and four other starters still have more minutes.

But the Huerter groups are third in minutes, while the only others with higher net ratings on the Hawks are in the middle and bottom of the pack.

It isn’t just offense either with the group boasting the sixth-best defensive rating of any they have put on the floor again in far more minutes than any other with a similar rating to go along with the second-best offensive rating of any of the team’s lineups.

The Hawks would do well to address whatever dissatisfaction there may be. But it is also not something to completely dismiss as a contributing factor to all that has gone wrong this season.

Of the lineups to see at least 100 minutes together, the lineup featuring Huerter starting at small forward is second in the NBA in net rating.