It’s a new season in Georgia. The dread of the cold winter has finally left metro Atlanta, and the Hawks are heating up along with the rest of the city. Jalen Johnson has averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while leading his teammates to 10 consecutive victories, marking their longest win streak since the 2014-15 season.
The sudden development has put the Hawks on pace to make the Play-In with an advantageous position or even a potential playoff spot. Sitting at 37-31, Atlanta finds themselves the 8th seed in a highly competitive Eastern Conference.Â
After months of struggling and endless trade negotiations, they’re finally finding their footing. It’s the perfect time, as the rest of the year features one of the NBA’s easiest schedules in the league. Only six of their 16 remaining games will be against opponents well over .500, including two rematches against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, but their schedule opens the door to at least 10 more wins. It’s divine intervention for a ball club that almost fell to the bottom of the standings a couple of months ago.
There’s no telling where the Hawks season could end, but what’s for certain is the progress the made along the way.
Crediting The Catalyst
It’s been remarkable to see such a drastic change in execution this late into the League year. Having veterans on the roster has introduced a new outlook on the game, particularly in the fourth quarter.
CJ McCullom and Nickeil Alexander Walker have guided them to victory on multiple occasions, and it’s had an effect on Jalen Johnson as well. The last few games have been secured largely due to the budding star and his abilities.
He has asserted himself as the closer for this team, and they’ve followed his lead with no hesitation. It’s a part of their new identity as we enter a new era in the State Farm Arena. Having a point forward run the offense has created longer, taller lineups, something that wasn’t an option with former centerpiece Trae Young.
Removing all of their defensive liabilities and adopting a new defense-first playstyle has also translated to the offense as well. Rather than using isolations, they’re sharing the ball at a historic rate, leading the league in team assists with 30.3.  Â
If they finish the season with this number, it’ll be the first time in franchise history that the Atlanta Hawks led the league in assists. Yet another confirmation that we’re witnessing a culture shift in the Hawks’ locker room.Â
With new veterans keeping them disciplined, we'll get to see the true potential of the young core while the older players contribute consistently. Although the Hawks had big plans for the roster that they built in July of last year, this new team undoubtedly has more potential than the previous one. Â
Regardless of who’s wearing the red & black, the plan was to make the playoffs this season, and now the Hawks have a higher chance of achieving that goal as they plan for the ones ahead.